Golden Eagle vs White-tailed Eagle

Theo's Tour - 26.08.25

Although a wet day was predicted, it turned into a beautiful afternoon. Theo began a private family tour in Craignure. They initially spotted Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Kittiwakes, Common Terns, and Eiders, along with a few Harbour Seals on offshore skerries. It was a wonderful selection of birds, with some starting their migration. At the following stop, they enjoyed excellent views of a pair of adult white-tailed eagles perched in the trees beneath a rainbow arc. It was like they were in a movie by the sounds of it!

While on the grassy moorland, they enjoyed incredible views of a hunting juvenile hen harrier. Then, a pair of adult white-tailed eagles appeared over the loch, with one briefly hunting before settling back on the hill. As they were leaving, a large female ringtail hen harrier flew straight past the van, heading to the nest field.

With the tide now receded, we turned our attention to otters. After searching for twenty minutes, just before lunch, Theo spotted a female otter walking along the shoreline. She paused to groom her fur before heading out to fish. The tour was ecstatic to have this close encounter with such a beautiful female otter. During an afternoon stroll, the tour observed an intense encounter where a golden eagle started diving towards the rocks, attacking a pair of adult white-tailed eagles. Theo said, "It was spectacular! Both parties flew off, calling out." The large female golden eagle perched in a dead tree, providing excellent views through the scope before soaring high above. The white-tailed eagles settled back on the shoreline, and soon their chick joined them. Two more adult white-tailed eagles appeared on the distant skyline and drifted by before the juvenile white-tailed eagle took flight and joined a sixth white-tailed eagle, this time a massive three-year-old bird. They soared around the hillside together for a few minutes in the sun before parting ways. I can't even put into words this experience—just eagles everywhere and incredible to see an interaction between the golden and white-tailed eagles.

To cap it all, another otter showed up beneath the tour, fishing for a while, leaving us unsure where to focus our attention! On the return journey in the van, Theo managed to spot two more otters fishing independently but close to each other along the shoreline. Now this is just getting ridiculous—otters and eagles galore. A call from the back of the van alerted us to a passing golden eagle, although it unfortunately didn't stay long. As we headed home, we saw a large group of Red Deer stags in the nearby fields, wrapping up an exceptional day.

Still speechless at the eagles and otters' action on Mull at the minute—an unbelievable tour and one to remember, seeing all the main species found on Mull.