A “miracle” eagle feared unlikely to survive after breaking his wing has been spotted alive and well on the Isle of Mull three years later.
The White-tailed Eagle, nicknamed Kinky because of the distinctive bend left in his injured wing, was seen again on the Scottish island as he approaches maturity.
Naturalist and presenter Iolo Williams was working as a wildlife guide for Nature Scotland Wildlife Tours when the bird reappeared, as reported by Need To Know.
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He said: “I’d heard the incredible story of Kinky’s survival against the odds in 2023 and his parents still caring for him over a year later.
“So, to now see him alive and well, aged three and approaching maturity, is an absolute joy.
“Kinky is a truly inspirational eagle.”
The sighting marks the latest chapter in an extraordinary survival story which began in July 2023.
During bad weather, Kinky fell from his nest on Mull as a chick and suffered a serious break to his left wing.
Experts feared the injury could prevent him from surviving independently, with large birds of prey relying heavily on powerful flight to hunt and feed.
He eventually fledged, although weeks later than his uninjured sibling.
But what happened next stunned experts.
The following breeding season, Kinky was spotted at a new nest site still being fed by his parents – behaviour said to have never previously been recorded in the species.
He remained dependent on them for far longer than expected.
Then, in 2025, his parents began breeding again and Kinky disappeared from the area.
Fears grew that he may not have survived his first winter alone.
But those concerns were dramatically put to rest in July last year when Blair Ketteringham, a crew member aboard the Mull Charters vessel Lady Jayne, spotted an immature eagle circling over Eorsa in Loch na Keal.
The kink in its wing immediately gave the bird away.
Now, one year on, Kinky has once again been seen on Mull and appears to be thriving.
His tail is gradually changing from brown to the striking white which gives White-tailed Eagles their name.
The species does not usually reach sexual maturity until around five years old, meaning Kinky still has another major challenge ahead.
As he begins searching for a mate and territory, experts say he may come into conflict with established pairs.
RSPB ambassador Dave Sexton said: “I’m in awe of this bird!
“He had a death-defying start in life but things are about to get even tougher.
“As he nears maturity, looking for a mate and a territory of his own, he might clash with established pairs and that doesn’t always end well.
“But Kinky’s a born survivor; I’m keeping everything crossed for him.”
His survival is all the more remarkable given the history of the species in Britain.
The UK’s last native White-tailed Eagle was shot in Shetland in 1918.
A reintroduction programme began in Scotland in 1975 and eventually established a self-sustaining population.
Further projects have since helped return the species to England and Northern Ireland.
There are now around 200 breeding pairs across the UK.
And after surviving a broken wing, an unprecedented period of parental care and his first winter alone, Kinky is now edging closer to adulthood.
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