Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffH 
As an aside, whilst watching Sea Eagles on Mull earlier this year I was told of one taking a Barn Owl (in flight) the previous day  - one protected bird preying on another - so there's another issue 
Jeff |
Our eagles - by which I mean Golden and WTSE, though relying a great deal on carrion, will prey on anything that's available: They DO take live lambs - and healthy ones at that, as well as the weak and sickly specimens. They will take virtually anything that flies from small nestlings, through crows to peregrines, and anything that walks and can be lifted, from a vole to a fox. It's always been the way, and it's nothing new.
The crofters - who seek to persecute the WTSE, invariably fail to mention the golden eagle which will not hesitate to take a lamb, but only during those early days of lambing when they are small enough to lift. This opportunistic window however does not last long.