Dramatic webcam footage has shown that a sea eagle chick did not fall out of its nest as suspected – it was pushed.
The famous BBC Springwatch sea eagle was shoved from its nest on the Isle of Mull by another immature eagle trying to muscle in on the space.
This kind of behaviour has never been recorded before in Scotland according to bird experts.
The footage, supplied by Forestry Commission Scotland, shows the young invader gradually side up to the eagle chick who is screeching for its parents.
Eventually, after much wing flapping and a short fight-back from the chick, the invader forced the eight-week-old chick off the nest, falling 30 feet to the ground.
All was not lost though as the parents arrived back and swiftly chased the invader away.
Later, Forestry Commission Scotland rangers found the chick calling for food in the undergrowth and returned it safely to the nest.
John Taylor, Forestry Commission Scotland’s conservation ranger said: “This whole episode has been a real drama from start to finish.
“Immature sea eagles are often attracted to active nests as they think there may be food to scavenge. This was just a step too far!
“We’re pleased the chick was returned safely and the opportunistic invader got short shrift from the parents.”
RSPB Scotland’s Mull Officer Dave Sexton added: “This unique Forestry Commission Scotland webcam not only alerted us to the missing chick in the first place but it then revealed the quite remarkable and dramatic turn of events at the nest with the intruding immature sea eagle pushing the chick off the nest.
“I have never witnessed this kind of astonishing behaviour before in 30 plus years of observing them.”