Skye Birds - A Birding Guide to the Isle of Skye
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Bird sightings on the Island of Skye and the neighbouring area

The objective of this page is to keep everyone, locals and visitors, up to date with what birds are about. It is therefore dependent on everyone contacting me as quickly as possible to ensure I can update the site so that others might benefit from the observations. In the case of rarer species details would also be passed on the Highland Recorder John Poyner (  who may require a full description before the record was accepted. This website will very much be locally focused but some records will be included in the SOC Highland website www.highlandbirds.scot. and may also reach national sites.  We have complete discretion as to what information is added to these pages and will try to avoid any details which might reveal breeding sites of vulnerable species.  It is impossible to record everything reported and for the more regularly observed species, we would encourage the use of 'Birdtrack' - http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrack.  Records sent to us are also submitted to Birdtrack.

Date Species Image Details
23rd Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image two at Loch Portree - 1st winter & 2nd winter (NB)
23rd Nov 2020 Pintail female in Broadford Bay (NB)
23rd Nov 2020 Blackcap View Image Male still visiting feeders at Torrin (JB)
22nd Nov 2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image calling bird at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
22nd Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image adult at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
22nd Nov 2020 Barnacle Goose View Image 54 at Balmacquien, Trotternish (RMcM)
22nd Nov 2020 Gannet in an hour’s seawatch at Camas Mor, Bornesketaig - 100 Gannet, 100 Kittiwake, 200+ auks, 5 Great Northern Divers & two Red-throated Divers moving south (RMcM)
22nd Nov 2020 Kestrel 6 between Duntulm and Balmacquien, Trotternish (RMcM)
22nd Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 6 south at Port-an-eorna, Duirinish (DM)
22nd Nov 2020 Great Black-backed Gull View Image 187 at Loch Portree + 47 Wigeon (NB)
21st Nov 2020 Fieldfare View Image 15 on the Heaste Road, Broadford (NB) - small numbers only this winter
20th Nov 2020 Blackcap View Image male in garden at Isleornsay (RC)
18th Nov 2020 Snow Bunting View Image single in Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
18th Nov 2020 Blackcap View Image male on feeders at Torrin (JB)
18th Nov 2020 Jack Snipe View Image single at Islornsay, Sleat - also an exceptionally late Whimbrel (RC)
18th Nov 2020 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Mallaig Harbour + juvenile Iceland Gull (P.Cosgrove)
17th Nov 2020 Scaup Juv/female type still with tufties at Loch Mealt, Staffin (RMcM)
16th Nov 2020 Jay single over Drumfearn & flew towards Leitir Fura (PK) - there are only a handful of records for Skye & Lochalsh
16th Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image still moving south with two over Lochailort (SC), 10 over Arisaig (RD) & 13 south over Broadford Bay (A&EH); 7 on the wee loch at Inverinate (DE)
16th Nov 2020 Common Scoter five off The Aird, Gedintailor + 15 Great Northern Divers (NB)
16th Nov 2020 Razorbill View Image in an estimated 1000 auks off The Aird, Gedintailor, some 95% were thought to be Razorbills - also 60 Kittiwake (NB)
16th Nov 2020 Short-eared Owl View Image two near Struan at dusk (PS)
16th Nov 2020 Kestrel three birds within a half mile radius at Ullinish (PS)
15th Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 6 at Loch nan Eala, Morar (RD); 33 s/west over Lochailort (SC); 4 south over Lower Breakish (NH)
15th Nov 2020 Shelduck 6 on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM) & 18 in Broadford Bay later (MB) - don’t usually return from annual moult migration until December so these numbers are very unusual (see Gallery)
15th Nov 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 28 off Camusdarroch, Morar (Pete Cosgrove)
15th Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter Mallaig harbour (PC)
15th Nov 2020 Slavonian Grebe 8 in Pabay Sound, Broadford (NH)
14th Nov 2020 Common Scoter two female types off Achnacloich, Sleat (RMcM)
14th Nov 2020 Blackcap View Image male at feeders in Portree (NB) (see Gallery)
14th Nov 2020 Scaup female type still at Loch Mealt, Staffin (JDJ)
14th Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image four at Storr Lochs (JDJ)
14th Nov 2020 Knot juvenile in Broadford Bay (MB)
14th Nov 2020 Snow Bunting View Image female by roadside at Knockbreck, Waternish (A.Sillence)
13th Nov 2020 Hen Harrier View Image a few birds around at the moment with a ringtail at Borve, Portree, (ML) and a ringtail at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
13th Nov 2020 Snow Bunting View Image single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
13th Nov 2020 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Mallaig harbour + a juvenile Iceland Gull (SMacD)
13th Nov 2020 Goosander View Image 7 off Broadford River (JB)
12th Nov 2020 Common Scoter two female/imm types Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC)
10th Nov 2020 Slavonian Grebe 4 in Pabay Sound & 8 Great Northern Diver (NB)
10th Nov 2020 Common Scoter 24 in Loch Ainort (NB)
10th Nov 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image two on Ardnish, Broadford (NH)
10th Nov 2020 Brambling View Image single in garden at Portree (JDJ)
9th Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at the mouth of the Broadford River (NB) (see Gallery)
9th Nov 2020 Snow Bunting View Image single at Salisbury’s Dam, Rum (SM)
9th Nov 2020 Blackcap View Image female in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
8th Nov 2020 Fieldfare View Image small flock at Portnalong + a few Redwing (ST) - been a very poor year for winter thrushes perhaps due to poor rowan crop
7th Nov 2020 Slavonian Grebe 9 at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (SMacD)
7th Nov 2020 Long-tailed Duck View Image three off Lusa mouth, Broadford - drake & two females (RMcM)
7th Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Loch Poolteil (AS)
7th Nov 2020 Arctic Skua View Image very late bird at Neist Point + 15 Purple Sandpipers (AS) (see Gallery)
7th Nov 2020 Lapland Bunting single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
6th Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at the head of Loch Portree (NB) & two at Loch Poolteil (AS)
6th Nov 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image group of 11 off Kilmory, Rum (SM) & 9 at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (NB)
6th Nov 2020 Black-headed Gull 200+ in the Portree area (NB)
6th Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 9 resting on Loch Carron (RMcM)
6th Nov 2020 Common Crossbill View Image 7 in Portree Forestry (NB)
5th Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
5th Nov 2020 Long-tailed Duck View Image single in the Narrows of Rassay from the Aird, Gedintailor (WM)
4th Nov 2020 Glaucous Gull View Image two 1st winter birds at Loch Poolteil & a 1st winter Iceland Gull (AS); 1st winter Glaucous feeding on a dead seal pup Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC)
4th Nov 2020 Brambling View Image female still at Miller’s Cottage, Eigg (JC)
4th Nov 2020 Shag terrific count of 320 off Staffin (SG)
4th Nov 2020 Magpie long staying bird still at Ellishadder (SG)
4th Nov 2020 Barnacle Goose View Image 44 on Staffin Island & 7 Great Northern Divers in Staffin Bay (SG)
4th Nov 2020 Great Skua View Image late single between Eigg & Muck (RD)
3rd Nov 2020 Eastern Yellow Wagtail unfortunately no further sign of the bird on Eigg (JC)
3rd Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image still some movement today with 12 flying south from Breakish Obbe & 8 through Broadford Bay (P&RD, RC); 4 at Loch Eilt & possible same birds later at Lochailort (SC)
3rd Nov 2020 Slavonian Grebe five at the head of Loch Ainort & two Common Scoter (RMcM)
3rd Nov 2020 Brambling View Image still two at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
2nd Nov 2020 Cuckoo sp bird seen briefly flying south of Uig Hotel this morning - Common cannot be discounted but interesting record (SG)
2nd Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image possible duplication in these counts - 5 over Portree (NB); two over Staffin (LMacD); 35 at Lochailort + 14 & 20 flying south-west (SC); 25 on Loch Greshornish + another 30 over south (AS); 40 over Suisnish (RW); 30 in Broadford Bay (PO-W); groups of 5 & 12 south over Ashaig, Broadford (P&RD)
2nd Nov 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image 40 west over Kilmory, Rum (SM)
2nd Nov 2020 Tufted Duck View Image 18 off Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
2nd Nov 2020 Shelduck group of 11 flew from the north into Broadford Bay (RMcM) & seen flying east later (NB) - this is an extremely unusual record at this time of year
2nd Nov 2020 Wigeon 45 in several groups in Broadford Bay, probably migrants, then later 21 Common Scoter & 25 Teal (NB)
2nd Nov 2020 Gadwall View Image in an exceptional day for wildfowl in Broadford Bay, 18 is a record count (NB)
2nd Nov 2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image single at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
2nd Nov 2020 Blackcap View Image female in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
2nd Nov 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 17 in Broadford Bay + three Black-throated Divers (NB)
2nd Nov 2020 Carrion Crow View Image single on the shore at Kyleakin (ST) (see Gallery)
1st Nov 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2nd winter bird at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
1st Nov 2020 Whooper Swan View Image four sheltering Storr Lochs (CH)
1st Nov 2020 Brambling View Image two males & two females at feeders Eigg (JC)
1st Nov 2020 Barn Owl View Image recorded on trailcam overnight at Ose (CM)
1st Nov 2020 Jack Snipe View Image single in the gale at Shamhnan Insir, Rum (SM)
1st Nov 2020 Purple Sandpiper View Image several with Turnstones off West Bay car park, Mallaig (SMacD)
31st Oct 2020 Brambling View Image male on feeders at Millers Cottage, Eigg (JC)
30th Oct 2020 Eastern Yellow Wagtail the Wagtail found on Eigg by John Chester has been confirmed from a sonogram of its call as an Eastern Yellow Wagtail, potentially only the 6th record for Scotland and the first away from the Northern Isles (see Gallery) - the precise location is being withheld and because of Covid restrictions there is no access to the island by visitors from outwith Scottish Tier 1 areas
29th Oct 2020 Storm Petrel single this morning on the Oberon Bank between Arisaig & Muck from MV Sheerwater (RD)
29th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image a single still at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
29th Oct 2020 Great Black-backed Gull View Image 90 at Loch Portree + 60 Black-headed Gulls (NB)
29th Oct 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 12 at Loch Portree + 40 Redshank & 49 Wigeon (NB)
28th Oct 2020 Yellow Wagtail sp still on Eigg though difficult to pin down in challenging weather (JC)
28th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image pair in Kilmory Glen,& two in garden at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
28th Oct 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Kilmory,Rum & two Barnacle Geese (SM)
28th Oct 2020 Carrion Crow View Image single at garden feeders Earlish (NH)
27th Oct 2020 Yellow Wagtail sp bird flushed on Eigg today - only seen briefly in awful conditions & will be looked for tomorrow (JC)
27th Oct 2020 Common Crossbill View Image pair near Broadford Primary School (NB)
27th Oct 2020 Common Scoter 20 at Loch Ainort (NB)
26th Oct 2020 Dipper several recent reports from Portree, Balmeanach Bay, Ashaig etc - in winter breeding birds come down the burns on to the estuaries and are often easier seen
26th Oct 2020 Blackcap View Image male in Kilmory Glen, Rum, & Brambling & Jack Snipe (SM)
26th Oct 2020 Snow Bunting View Image also in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) (see Gallery) - which managed to evade a Merlin
25th Oct 2020 Storm Petrel single today on the Oberon Bank between Arisaig & Muck from MV Sheerwater (RD)
24th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image male on feeders in Kyleakin garden (HS) & another caught & ringed Portree (JDJ)
24th Oct 2020 Sooty Shearwater View Image report of four In Loch Slapin off Camas Malag Torrin, during today’s gales (RW)

© 2020 Skye Birds