Glengarriff’s White Tailed Sea Eagles
A story loved by our passengers, locals and bird lovers alike. Now, speculation is high, as to whether or not there’s an egg to hatch in 2022.
Now, speculation is high, as to whether or not there’s an egg to hatch in 2022. In 2020, in a nest, high in a tree on Garnish Island, Glengarriff, two White Tailed Sea Eagles, (Blue) W and (Black) P became the lucky parents of 2 chicks, one of whom sadly passed away soon after. When the remaining chick was just two weeks old, dad W (seen below) took off, never to be seen or heard of again.
Raised her chick, named Sunniva, (pronounced sun-ava and means ‘gift of the sun’ and named after the first Norwegian female Saint) , all alone, with the assistance of local fishermen, ferrymen and Fota Wildlife Park. At 11 weeks old, on July 1st, Sunniva fledged the nest, but did not leave home. She stayed with her mum in the nest. However, with the arrival of another male, Brendan, in late November 2020, the nest was getting over crowded. Finally, on May 6th 2021 Sunniva left home, in search of her own path, leaving Mom P and Brendan in Glengarriff.
The new pair have yet to fledge a chick, but early this year they began to build a new nest close by to the old one and just yesterday, while out on a trip, Bantry Bay Charters got some shots of P perched in her new nest while Brendan sat on a tree, keeping watch close by.
We have yet to learn if any eggs have been laid this year but here’s hoping…
