A white-tailed sea eagle chick that hatched in Fife woodland has fledged the nest.
The chick was fitted with white wing tags and a satellite transmitter so staff at Forest Enterprise Scotland and RSPB Scotland could monitor its behaviour.
It is the latest fledgling from the East Scotland Sea Eagle project, which successfully reintroduced white-tailed sea eagles to Fife between 2007 and 2012.
Earlier in the season it was announced that the nest contained twins, although one of the siblings died of natural causes in June.
Owen Selly, RSPB Scotland’s sea eagle officer, said: “As in previous years, the nest site has been closely monitored by our dedicated RSPB Scotland nest watch volunteers who help to protect the birds from disturbance and study their behaviour.
“It’s fantastic to have another healthy chick fledge from the Fife pair, which was one of only two pairs to breed successfully across the east of Scotland this year.”
This is the fourth successful nesting attempt for the sea eagle pair, who have fledged a single chick each year since their first attempt in 2013.
The adults were both released in 2009 as part of the reintroduction project in Fife which is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, Forest Enterprise Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Graeme Findlay, Forest Enterprise Scotland’s environment manager, said: “Having been heavily involved in the release of the birds, and being lucky enough to have them choose one of our forests for the first successful nest in the east of the country, everyone within the local team is delighted at the part the National Forest Estate has played in helping to reintroduce this magnificent species back to the east of Scotland.”
RSPB Scotland and Tayport Community Trust are inviting people to the Tayport Sea Eagle Festival on Sunday August 28.
The event will take place at the Common on Tayport Promenade from 1pm to 4pm.
Families can enjoy a range of stalls and activities including wildlife watching, storytelling, eagle tracking and face painting.
