Where Eagles Stare

They fixed us with a gaze that makes smaller mammals quake. It gave me the shivers too.

While I watched them with some high-power, image stabilised binoculars. They used what nature had given them.

They still probably had a better view of us.

Two sea eagles were hunting as we approached the loch on the north of the Isle of Mull that leads to Dervaig. The Poll Athach area if you're checking the OS map.

We left Kilchoan last Sunday at 9am and, 33km later, returned by 4pm. A lot of time had been spent eagle-watching. Although we've had a house in the area for ages, we still managed to find a route which was new to us. There are probably many more, it's that kind of place. Why we moved here!

At this point, I'd love to be able to offer photographic evidence.

How I wish I could publish a stunning shot of the pair taking to the sky in unison, the sea water draining from their golden-yellow talons, their dark shapes all but camouflaged against the rock, were it not for the flash of brilliant white that is their tails.

But I can't.

I only had my compact camera, and while I took some snaps, they're distinctly of the "honestly-that-blob's-an-eagle" variety.

I can offer only two things.

The first is the view the sea eagles probably had of one of these daft paddling humans as they blundered into their loch.

The second is to share this wonderful memory.