The oldest sea eagle in the UK has left nature lovers stunned after being spotted on the Isle of Mull.
The male white-tailed eagle, known as Skye after the island where he hatched in 1994, was captured on camera by BBC Winterwatch.
The 28-years-old bird of prey was identified by a British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) ring attached to a leg before he fully-fledged.
The number was visible in footage shot by cameraman Jim Manthorpe for Winterwatch.
Dave Sexton RSPB Mull Officer said: "I'm just blown away that we've been able to confirm it is still Skye in that territory.
"I always hoped it was but it's hard to tell these days.
"Cameraman Jim Manthorpe's amazing footage allowed us to zoom in on the BTO ring and there it was.
"And he's a record-breaker too as he's in his 28th year."
Ornithologists are also trying to confirm if Skye's mate of 25 years, Frisa, was with him.
She would be older at 30 years old, if it is confirmed she is still alive, after hatching on Mull in 1992.
A female was filmed with Skye, but her ring was turned away from the camera and the identification numbers were not visible.
RSPB Scotland said work was continuing to confirm Frisa was still on Mull with Skye.
Mr Sexton added: "Now we need to work on reading the female's ring to see if it's still Frisa.
"If it is, she will be 30 this year so will then be the oldest known wild sea eagle ever in the UK.
"That would be a dream come true for me as Frisa, her mum Blondie and I go back a very long way and I feel a special connection to them all as the 'First Family' of sea eagles.
"It's thanks to Forestry and Land Scotland who have provided a forest home for this amazing pair of sea eagles since they first settled into the area in 1998
The white-tailed eagle is the UK's largest bird of prey and can have a wingspan of more than 2m (6.5ft).
The UK population was wiped out by the early 20th Century and today's birds are descended from reintroduced eagles.
Dave added: "Frisa and Skye paired up in 1997 and had their first chick in 1998, she too still nests on Mull.
"Since then, they have raised chicks, often two a year, at a variety of locations but usually never far from their Loch Frisa home.
"I've never seen any hint of a change of adult in their territory and in my heart I feel it is still my old friends.
"Frisa will be 30 this year, Skye 28.
"That's quite old for wild sea eagles. Their time with us is sadly running out."
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