No chicks for Hoy’s sea eagles this year

Those eagerly awaiting Orkney’s first sea eagle chicks in over a century will have to wait a little longer, it seems.

Both adult birds have been seen off their Hoy nest recently – a strong sign that the young pair has not been successful in raising a family this year.

Alan Leitch, RSPB Scotland’s sites manager in Orkney, said: “The birds have certainly kept us guessing this spring. It was quite a late start to incubation, and then in the last few weeks it hasn’t been clear whether or not any eggs might have hatched.

But with both birds spotted away from the nest at the same time, we can be sure enough that they are not raising chicks.”

The RSPB Scotland team will continue manning the viewpoint, at the Dwarfie Stane car park, from 11am – 4pm each day as long as visitors are getting good views.