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 Jan 2021 COVID lockdown we will continue to record sightings from observers in gardens, on local exercise, essential journeys or work - we will not publish information which might encourage anyone to undertake unnecessary travel
23rd Jan 2021 Golden Eagle View Image three over Upper Milovaig, Glendale (AS) (see Gallery)
22nd Jan 2021 Long-eared Owl View Image the injured bird found at Ullinish a week ago (PS) is still in the care of Graham Ross though has a badly damaged wing and may not survive
22nd Jan 2021 Slavonian Grebe single on the brackish pool at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM) - my 1st record on this pool and flew out to sea (see Gallery)
22nd Jan 2021 Fieldfare View Image small flocks reported recently at Lyndale (SP) and Swordale, Broadford (A&EH) (see Gallery)
21st Jan 2021 Shelduck two returning birds at Pool Roag, Dunvegan (MF)
20th Jan 2021 Jack Snipe View Image single near Ashaig ,Broadford (RMcM) & another at Harrapool late afternoon (NB)
20th Jan 2021 Common Scoter single flew west at Lusa Mouth, Broadford + three Slavonian Grebes (RMcM)
20th Jan 2021 Purple Sandpiper View Image 6 on rocks at Lusa, Broadford at high tide (RMcM)
19th Jan 2021 Black-throated Diver View Image single in the Sound of Sleat off Armadale & four Great Northern Divers (RMcM)
19th Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image single juvenile on the shore at Isleornsay (RC)
17th Jan 2021 Glaucous Gull View Image single at Achabeag, Morvern (AK) & 1st winter bird at Bayfield, Portree (NB) (see Gallery)
17th Jan 2021 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at East Bay, Mallaig (SMacD)
17th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter single still at Loch Portree (NB)
15th Jan 2021 Barnacle Goose View Image 60 on crofts at Garafad, Staffin (SP)
15th Jan 2021 Fieldfare View Image flock of 30 near Linicro, Kilmuir (SP)
15th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter single still in Loch Portree (NB)
15th Jan 2021 Common Scoter single still at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (NH) (see Gallery)
15th Jan 2021 Golden Eagle View Image 6 over Scorrybreac, Portree, four adults & two sub-adults + two White-tailed Eagles & two Buzzards (NB)
15th Jan 2021 Dipper 7 including a pair, on a two mile stretch of the River Carron (JN)
14th Jan 2021 Long-eared Owl View Image injured bird found at Ullinish & taken to Graham Ross for rehabilitation (PS) (see Gallery) - appears to have become entangled in a barbed wire fence with serious wing damage
14th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter single still Loch Portree (NH)
13th Jan 2021 Common Scoter single imm /female type at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford + a Slavonian Grebe (RMcM)
13th Jan 2021 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Eigg Pier (JC)
12th Jan 2021 Common Crossbill View Image up to 11 birds, mostly males, on lodgepole pines beside the old road at Lusa, Broadford (RMcM, NB) - see Gallery
12th Jan 2021 Slavonian Grebe four off Lusa, Broadford, + four at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM); single at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (DB)
12th Jan 2021 Barnacle Goose View Image 50 on the south end of Isay, Waternish (RA)
12th Jan 2021 Goosander View Image 9 at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (RD)
12th Jan 2021 Black-throated Diver View Image three off Lusa, Broadford & two off Moll Road (RMcM)
11th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter single still in Loch Portree (NH)
11th Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image two on small lochan at Abhainn an t-Stratha Mhòir, near Torrin (RW)
10th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter single still in Loch Portree (NB)
10th Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image 5 on Loch na Sguabaidh, Torrin (RW)
10th Jan 2021 Common Scoter three in Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (SMacD)
9th Jan 2021 Jack Snipe View Image singles on the foreshore at Kyleakin (VB) and at Glas Eilean, Broadford (MB)
8th Jan 2021 Jay single reported from Strathcarron (JN)
8th Jan 2021 Purple Sandpiper View Image 4 on rocks off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
8th Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image three flew in & landed at head of Loch Ailort (SC)
8th Jan 2021 Slavonian Grebe 7 still in sw corner of Loch Morar (SMacD); three off Ardnish,Broadford (NH) & singles off Lusa (RMcM) and in Loch Carron (JN)
8th Jan 2021 Twite View Image three with Goldfinch on Isleornsay saltings (RC)
7th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter single still in Loch Portree (NB)
7th Jan 2021 Short-eared Owl View Image 2/3 birds noted at dusk near Struan (PS) - though this species is crepuscular in the breeding season, they tend to be nocturnal in winter when they sometimes roost communally
6th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter singles still at Loch Portree (NH) and off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
6th Jan 2021 Black-throated Diver View Image two off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM) and a single at Ardnish, Lochailort (SC)
6th Jan 2021 Jack Snipe View Image three at Duisdalebeg, Sleat (RC) and a single at Loch Cillchroisd (RMcM)
6th Jan 2021 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile still Mallaig harbour (SMacD)
6th Jan 2021 Rook View Image about 70 Rooks & 25 Jackdaws counted coming across the Sound of Sleat from Armadale direction as dusk approaching thought to be heading to communal roosts at Loch Morar (SMacD)
6th Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image two on Loch Mealt & three on Loch Leathan (NH)
6th Jan 2021 Pink footed Goose View Image single with Greylags at Valtos, Trotternish (NH)
5th Jan 2021 Lapland Bunting adult bird still on Ardnish, Broadford (NH, RMcM) (see Gallery)
5th Jan 2021 Snow Bunting View Image 20 on Trotternish Ridge near the Storr (TH)
5th Jan 2021 Slavonian Grebe 6 at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig & 7 in south-west corner of Loch Morar (SMacD) - this is an interesting record as Morar is a freshwater loch - this species normally winters on sea lochs
5th Jan 2021 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Mallaig Harbour again (NR)
5th Jan 2021 Great Northern Diver View Image 12 in Broadford Bay & 10 Common Dolphins (NB)
4th Jan 2021 Jack Snipe View Image single on Ardnish, Broadford + two Common Snipe (NH)
4th Jan 2021 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
4th Jan 2021 Blackcap View Image female feeding on peanuts at Isleornsay (RC)
4th Jan 2021 Purple Sandpiper View Image mixed flock of 50 including Turnstones at Neist Point (AS)
4th Jan 2021 Ptarmigan View Image pair on Beinn na Seamraig, Kinloch (MB)
4th Jan 2021 BarnacleGoose View Image 66 in flock at Balmacquien, Trotternish (SP)
4th Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image two on Loch Mealt Staffin (SP)
4th Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter another juvenile type - off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM) - now three birds in area which is unusual
4th Jan 2021 Lapland Bunting single on Ardnish, Broadford (NB) - winter records are very unusual.
3rd Jan 2021 Greenland White-fronted Goose 8 adults at Kilmuir, Trotternish (RMcM)
3rd Jan 2021 Barnacle Goose View Image c60 at Balmacquien, Trotternish (RMcM)
3rd Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter juvenile still at Loch Portree + 17 Bar-tailed Godwits (NB)
3rd Jan 2021 Reed Bunting View Image 5+ at Dunvegan (CA)
3rd Jan 2021 Water Rail calling bird flying round Breakish Obbe early morning (NH)
3rd Jan 2021 Red-breasted Merganser View Image 40 off Ardnish, Broadford + 20 Black Guillemots (NH)
2nd Jan 2021 Slavonian Grebe 8 off Ardnish, Broadford (NH), three in Broadford Bay (NB) & two in Loch Carron (RMcM)
2nd Jan 2021 Common Scoter single female/imm in Loch Carron (RMcM)
2nd Jan 2021 Turnstone 30 at Loch Sligachan & 28 in Broadford Bay (NB), with c30 at the head of Loch Carron (RMcM)
2nd Jan 2021 Great Northern Diver View Image 11 in Broadford Bay + 5 Red-throated Divers (NB)
2nd Jan 2021 Whooper Swan View Image two at the head of Loch Sligachan (NB)
1st Jan 2021 Velvet Scoter juvenile still at Loch Portree (JDJ)
1st Jan 2021 Water Rail calling bird at Loch Suardal & 7 Whooper Swans (JDJ, JB)
31st Dec 2020 Snow Bunting View Image single on the hill behind Ardnish Fishfarm, Lochailort (SC)
31st Dec 2020 Fieldfare View Image flock of 70 at Kilbride, Torrin (NH)
30th Dec 2020 Common Scoter five still on Loch Ainort (NB)
30th Dec 2020 Black-throated Diver View Image four in Loch Slapin off Kilmarie + two Red-throated Divers & 8 Great Northern Divers (RMcM)
30th Dec 2020 Minke Whale late record - one feeding in Loch Slapin/Coruisk jetty area (RMcM)
29th Dec 2020 Iceland Gull View Image four in Uig Bay, all juveniles (SG) - northerlies bringing in new birds
29th Dec 2020 Slavonian Grebe three in sw corner of Loch Morar, Arisaig (SMacD) - as Loch Morar is a freshwater loch this is an unusual winter record
28th Dec 2020 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Loch Portree still + juvenile Velvet Scoter (NB)
28th Dec 2020 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
27th Dec 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2nd winter at Bayfield, Portree (NB) with 1st & 2nd winter birds at Uig Bay (SG)
27th Dec 2020 Velvet Scoter still at Loch Portree, now confirmed as juvenile bird (NB)
27th Dec 2020 Water Rail Calling bird at Loch Cillchroisd, Strath (RMcM)
27th Dec 2020 Snow Bunting View Image single at Harris, Rum (SM)
27th Dec 2020 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter at Knock Bay, Teangue, Sleat (S.Heap)
26th Dec 2020 Velvet Scoter female still in Loch Portree (NB)
26th Dec 2020 Tree Sparrow single at Beacarrie, Orbost (CA)
25th Dec 2020 Whooper Swan View Image six on Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (NR)
25th Dec 2020 Brent Goose View Image two on the shore at Arisaig (RD)
24th Dec 2020 Merry Christmas wishing all our website contributors and followers a very Merry Christmas and hopefully more freedom in 2021 to enjoy our wildlife
24th Dec 2020 Snow Bunting View Image single at Harris, Rum (SM)
24th Dec 2020 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile still in Uig Bay (ML)
24th Dec 2020 Water Rail single crossing the road in Broadford (NB)

© 2021 Skye Birds