Sea Eagle chick 2007 white tags with black letters. photo by Sian Scott

Sea

Juvenile White tailed Sea Eagle and Common Buzzard for comparison. photo by Steve Williams.
 

Adult White tailed Sea Eagle  by kind permission of Iain Erskine 2006

Sea Eagle images by kind permnission of Iain Erskine

Sea Eagle images by kind permnission of Iain Erskine

Good views of White tailed Sea Eagles can be had from many areas on the island, and a circular route from Salen to Loch na Keal round to Loch Scridain and through Glen More, back to Craignure will provide plenty of opportunities to see both Golden Eagles and White tailed Sea Eagles.  Scarisdale Rocks in Loch na Keal is another favorite place, these birds can sit around for hours on the rocks provided they are not disturbed.Scan any and all of the hills for Golden Eagles which can be seen in most areas.

Each year the young birds are tagged on the upper wing only, with a coloured  tag with a white or black letter. Different wing tags are also used on some other birds and these have a single colour with a white base plus a number.
It is more valuable information when reports include tag details.
 

2008

2007     8 chicks. tags white with black lettering  A. E. G. L .M. P. two chicks have not been tagged
            two chicks were lost in April at Loch Frisa due to a tradgic freak accident when both chicks (only 
            days old) fell out of the nest which had slipped. 

2006    10 chicks. tags yellow with black letters:   A, C, E, F, G, H, L, N, O, P,

2005    8 chicks. tags red with white letters:    I, 0, S, V,  X,  Z, 
            (2 birds were not tagged) 

2004     6 chicks. tags  bottle green with white letters: A, H, O, X, Y, Z.
             Green 0 found dead near the nest, August 2004, believed to be natural causes

2003     7 chicks fledged . Pink  with black letters:  H, O, V, X, Z.
             (2 birds were not tagged)

 2002     Blue,           2001     White/solid black triangle, 2000     Yellow,
 1999     Red,            1998     Green,      1997     Blue,       1996   Grey,
 1995     White,         1994    Yellow,      1993     Red         1992     Green,     1991   Blue,
 1990     White,         1989    Yellow.      1988     Orange.

Frisa Chicks 2005 Tagged Red I (Itchy) & S (Scratchy)

Sea Eagle identification
The development of the white tail is not always a true guide to the age of a bird as many young birds can develop a full white tail long before reaching maturity. A more accurate way is to look at the beak which changes from being very dark in the first year to bright yellow at five and six years old.The iris is dark brown in the juvenile bird,changing to bright yellow by the 6th year adult bird.