Golden eagles take flight in southern Scotland as famous names join celebration
Record numbers mark milestone for the golden eagle conservation project
Last updated 15th Sep 2026
Golden eagles have soared to new heights in the conservation efforts of southern Scotland, marking a remarkable milestone this summer with the hatching and first flights of four young eagles.
These fledglings have been directly descended from birds translocated through a pioneering charity initiative, boosting the total number of successfully fledged golden eagles in the area to five this year.
Naming the Fledglings
Famous names are joining the celebration, with Dame Judi Dench naming GoldenEye as a nod to her role in the Bond film, and Sam Heughan naming Sassy in reference to his Sassenach Whisky brand.
Dame Judi Dench expressed her thrill: “I would like to congratulate the charity Restoring Upland Nature and everyone who has supported their pioneering work to restore this iconic species to record numbers in the South of Scotland. A real triumph over adversity.
"It is an enormous privilege to name a golden eagle that has fledged from the nest of an eagle translocated by the project. Many years ago, as the first female M, I instructed James Bond to 'find GoldenEye’ and here he is! I wish GoldenEye a long life soaring in southern skies and RUN the best of luck in their continued work. Seeing golden eagles in the wild is a truly awe-inspiring experience.”
Sam Heughan also shared his honour, saying, “It is a great honour to be invited to name a golden eagle that represents such hope for the future of this magnificent species in the South of Scotland. I’m delighted to know that this magnificent creature might explore the beauty of my hometown and surrounding area.”
Community and Conservation Success
This achievement not only celebrates successful conservation efforts but also highlights significant collaboration between community members and conservationists.
The RUN Chair, Michael Clarke, expressed gratitude: “We thank Dame Judi Dench, Sam Heughan, and all our partners and supporters, for helping us mark this exciting milestone."
Dr Cat Barlow, CEO of Restoring Upland Nature, explained the importance of today's news, stating, “Seeing not just one, but four young birds hatch, fledge and fly freely from the nests of golden eagles that we translocated to southern Scotland is a hugely significant milestone in our work to restore the species to southern skies."
Continued Efforts and Future Expansion
With support from partners like Forestry England and Defra, the groundwork for further expansion is underway to extend the successes of the project beyond southern Scotland, ensuring that more parts of the UK benefit from the return of golden eagles.
The newly named fledglings, GoldenEye and Sassy, represent not just a triumph for golden eagle recovery but also for the continued dedication of those involved in this vital conservation project.
The numbers have now restored the previously fragile population of golden eagles in southern Scotland to over 50 individual birds, marking the highest numbers seen in the area for three centuries.
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