'Miracle' eagle with broken wing spotted back above Scottish coast

A sea eagle that defied expert predictions by surviving adulthood with a severely fractured wing has reappeared soaring above Scotland's west coast. Dubbed "the miracle eagle" of Mull, the now-adult male was first spotted three years after falling from its nest during a 2023 storm. Affectionately named Kinky for its distinct wing kink, the bird was rescued and cared for by its parents, an unusual case of extended parental care skipping a year's breeding season.

Retired RSPB officer Dave Sexton, who has worked with Scottish sea eagles for over two decades, expressed awe at the bird's resilience after spotting it over Loch Spelve this year. However, Sexton warned that Kinky, now a sub-adult, could face hostility from established eagle pairs as they challenge his dominance. Despite this, Sexton keeps a hopeful eye on the bird, emphasizing its reputation as a born survivor.

Sea eagles, also known as white-tailed eagles, were driven to extinction in the UK, with the last native bird being shot in Shetland in 1918. A reintroduction project in Scotland since 1975 has established a self-sustaining population, including a return to the Isle of Mull in the 1980s.