In an earlier issue of Boda Wennol I reported how a Red Kite reared in Inverness in 1997 had been reported from coastal plains in the south of Iceland during December of its first winter, some 1017km away from where it was ringed. It is the only record of a Red Kite in Iceland.

It might have been expected that this story would have a sad ending, with the bird either dying of starvation or leading a long and lonely existence - but not so. The tale has a happy ending (we may not know just how happy for some time!).

The wayward adventurer was caught in September 1999 by a local farmer who had been feeding it on meat scraps for nearly 2 years. The bird had been fouled by Fulmar oil and was barely able to fly . It was handed over to the Reykavik Museum where it remained in care, was cleaned of oil, and later flown back to Scotland, free of charge, by Iceland Air.

After another spell in quarantine it was released back near where it was reared on 1st March 2000. At four years old it could attempt to nest this season (but next year is much more realistic given the date of its release and its condition). It was seen again 10 days later, some 15kms away by Brian Etheridge of the RSPB's North Scotland Office.

Brian is the one who initially ringed it. We eagerly await further news of a rather special bird.