The below maps shows Aoibheall’s movements based on satellite data transmitted via the Argos satellite system and is usually 1-3 days behind real time, depending on when it was downloaded. All information and maps courtesy of the Golden Eagle Trust.

April 2017

A WHITE-TAILED EAGLE was at the south side of Ballyallia Lake at 1.30pm. The bird was still present up to 3pm and was observed wearing an Orange tag with No. 2 on left wing, and a Blue tag with No. 2 on its right wing. This bird is Aoibheall, one of the chicks that fledged the nest in Mountshannon during 2014. (Paidi Cullinan, Nuala and Tom Lynch, Myles Carey).Courtesy of www.clarebirdwatching.com

February 2015

Brief Update on Aoibheall’s Tour of the Provinces!

After spreading some time around Portumna, North Lough Derg, in December, Aoibheall is now moving around the flooded lowlands and bogs between South Offaly and North Tipperary.

As the spring approaches it will be interesting to see if she disperses further up the Shannon toward Lough Ree or returns to Lough Derg?

January 2015

Aoibheall is now moving up the Shannon and is just in the south on Offaly south-west of Banagher. She’s been there the past week after a long spell around Portumna. Lots of flooded areas round the Shannon so should be good hunting.

December 12th 2014

Over the last four and a half months or so since she took her first flight from her nest high up in a Scots Pine near Mountshannon, Co. Clare, its been fascinating to see the 2014 WTSE chick Aoibheall explore her watery environment on beautiful Lough Derg. Over the first four months she has been pretty much a ‘homebird’ staying within a kilometre or two of her natal area most of the time and only very occasionally (13-15 Oct) roosting away from Mountshannon. All that began to change in late November. On 23/11 she roosted for the very first time on Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) within a stone’s throw of the ancient round town and monastic settlement founded originally back in the late 7th Century by St. Caimin (hence the name of Aoibheall’s male parent!). Perhaps she was looking for the ancient ones blessing before she headed off on her travels?!

On 25/11 she had left Lough Derg for the first time and travelled 15km west to roost between Bodyke and Tulla. Coincidentally, on the very same day, Caimin (the Mountshannon male WTSE) was spotted by NPWS ranger Áine Lynch at Parteen Weir 18km south of Mountshannon and downriver from Killaloe. Over the years we’ve never had either adult this far from their territory. No distance for an eagle for sure but perhaps Aoibheall started her journey once he left? As in 2013 the adult male has shown what a brilliant parent he is.

On 26/11 Aoibheall returned east to roost in Raheen Wood near Tuamgraney on the edge of Lough Derg and next day was back in the nest area where she remained until at least late on 30/11. Although there was a gap in the GPS data over the next two days (due to low light levels resulting in the solar powered battery losing charge), by mid-day on 2/12 she had moved half way up the lake on the Tipp shore before roosting 12km north on the Galway side of the lake. Over the last 10 days she has been exploring the north end of the lake from Dromineer to Portumna (see map of her GPS tracks).

Not only has the GPS data been brilliant at tracking her movements it’s been exciting (and a little nerve-wracking!) to see her first-hand coping so well in the wild. On 5/12 she cruised all round the north end of the lake from Terryglass to Portumna and back, landing for a while on some of the islands. On 10/12 she spent over an hour soaring and hovering into the teeth of a gale. Looking at her she seemed to revel in it. She could have landed at any time but hey, landings for wimps (!), only descending to cover when a big wintery shower hit the lake. At one point she was mobbed by a male Kestrel, looking for all the world like a gnat in her presence. Following that a young Peregrine falcon joined in the fun and began dive-bombing her before heading off south.

It’s going to be interesting to see how long she stays on the lake and whether she returns to base in Mountshannon at any time or just keeps on going.

Bain taitneamh as an tsaoil:-)

November 28th

Over the last few weeks Aoibheall (2014 Mountshannon chick) has been very settled in and around its nest area and showing little sign of making a big movement away. She did make it a few km east along the shore towards Whitegate but soon returned to her usual haunts. Last weekend she visited Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) for the first time and roosted there overnight which is remarkable given how close it is to where she was hatched. Last week all three, parents and chick, could be heard calling excitedly on the offshore islands from Mountshannon pier. Maybe parents know something is up and it’s time for Aoibheall to spread her wings?! 

Last Tuesday (25th Nov) one of her parents, male Y (Caimin) was spotted by N Tipperary NPWS ranger Aine Lynch at Parteen weir south of Killaloe, 18 kilometres south of Mountshannon! Of course 18km is nothing for a White-tailed Sea Eagle, but given how faithful they are to their breeding ranges this was quite a trip away.

Finally in the last few days Aoibheall took off and headed west inland roosting overnight between Tulla and Bodyke (25/11), the same day Caimin was at Parteen….coincidence? The next day she headed back to roost near Tuamgraney, on the edge of Scarriff Bay. By now she may be back home but we will know more soon.

November 10th

Aoibheall has been active over the last week making short trips, mostly south and south-east, to the Ogonelloe and Tipperary shores. One of her more adventurous flights took in a 9km trip south to the slopes of Tountinna in the Arra Mountains, the highest peak on the east shore, perhaps using some of the autumn winds we’ve been experienced recently. But she is still using the Mountshannon area as base camp