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 Peter Stronach (  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
19th Sep 2017 Common Crossbill View Image 6 in Choisleadar Forst, Edinbane (JDJ)
19th Sep 2017 Whinchat View Image late bird at Milovaig (AS)
19th Sep 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image single near Moll (RMcM)
18th Sep 2017 Yellow-browed Warbler an early migrant at Drumfearn, Sleat, today (PK)
18th Sep 2017 Common Scoter three off The Aird, Gedintailor (NB)
18th Sep 2017 White Wagtail View Image 7 at The Aird, Gedintailor, and a single leucorhoa Wheatear (NB)
18th Sep 2017 Black-throated Diver View Image single at the Aird, Gedintailor, and a Red-throated Diver (NB)
17th Sep 2017 Sooty Shearwater View Image two on north skye pelagic out of Portree + two Manx Shearwater (RMcM et al)
17th Sep 2017 Storm Petrel two on north skye pelagic out of Portree + (RMcM et al)
17th Sep 2017 Pomarine Skua View Image single on north skye pelagic out of Portree + 12 Arctic Skuas and 8 Bonxies (RMcM et al)
17th Sep 2017 Cetaceans on north Skye pelagic several small pods of Harbour Porpoise, 200+ Common Dolphin in several pods, & a Minke Whale - also an unidentified breaching Whale sp (RMcM et al)
16th Sep 2017 Pink-footed Goose View Image see Gallery for image of satellite tagging data passing over Skye in the last few days
16th Sep 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image single flying across Broadford Bay (NB)
16th Sep 2017 Chiffchaff single at Viewfield House, Portree & single Willow Warbler also in Portree (NB)
16th Sep 2017 Grey Plover View Image scarce on Rum, there was a summer plumage bird at Shamhnan Insir today (SM) (see Gallery)
16th Sep 2017 Common Sandpiper View Image single on islet off Mallaig (R.Griffiths)
15th Sep 2017 Pomarine Skua View Image single dark morph adult in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
15th Sep 2017 Arctic Skua View Image three in Broadford Bay in morning (RMcM) then 8 in evening (equal dark & light morph (NB) and two off Waternish Point from the ferry (SD)
15th Sep 2017 Storm Petrel 5 off Waternish Point from the ferry (SD)
15th Sep 2017 Whooper Swan View Image four south over Kyleakin (A&EH)
15th Sep 2017 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein went over Uig in dark late evening (SG)
15th Sep 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image single at Camascroise, Sleat (R.Griffiths)
15th Sep 2017 Wheatear View Image straggler at Aird, Sleat (R.Griffiths)
14th Sep 2017 Pink-footed Goose View Image heard passing over Portree late last night (NB) and 100 south at Sconser this morning (JDJ) - skein over Broadford early afternoon (NB) then Portnalong late afternoon (ST); 60 over Broadford early evening (RMcM) then a skein over Uig late evening: also 105 over Kilmory, Rum (SM)
14th Sep 2017 Arctic Skua View Image 6 in the Narrows of Raasay & three Great Skua (JDJ)
14th Sep 2017 Tufted Duck View Image flock of c20 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
14th Sep 2017 Spotted Flycatcher View Image two at Harrapool (NB)
14th Sep 2017 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph bird at Neist Point (R.Griffiths)
13th Sep 2017 Hen Harrier View Image juvenile came from the direction of Staffin Island and continued south (K.White) - could well be a migrant from further north
13th Sep 2017 Pintail five flew from Ardnish towards Pabay (NB)
13th Sep 2017 Blackcap View Image male in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
13th Sep 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image single in Broadford Bay (R.Griffiths)
12th Sep 2017 American Redstart unfortunately not here but on Barra - only the 2nd record for Scotland - see the Blog.
12th Sep 2017 Slavonian Grebe single in Loch Portree (NB)
11th Sep 2017 Storm Petrel single off Waternish Point from the ferry + 7 Manx Shearwaters & three Great Skua (RMcM,AW)
11th Sep 2017 Arctic Skua View Image two dark morph birds early morning (MB) and a pale morph bird in Broadford Bay (NB)
11th Sep 2017 Arctic Skua View Image two at Neist Point & 30 Manx Shearwater (J.Sundberg)
11th Sep 2017 Orca pod of 3-4 at Neist Point and Minke Whale (J.Sundberg)
10th Sep 2017 Sooty Shearwater View Image single off Waternish Point from the ferry (AW,RMcM)
10th Sep 2017 Storm Petrel five off Waternish Point from the ferry (AW,RMcM)
10th Sep 2017 Goldfinch c50 in Kyleakin (A&EH)
9th Sep 2017 Sabine's Gull terrific find by Neil Bennett of two juveniles in Broadford Bay late afternoon - pushed in by northerlies
9th Sep 2017 Arctic Skua View Image again blown in by northerlies, 17 birds mostly dark morph in groups of 11 and 6 in Broadford Bay (NB)
8th Sep 2017 Brent Goose View Image two separate groups of 6 at Broadford and 8 at Ashaig in morning (MB, RMcM); new party of 11 late afternoon Broadford Bay (RMcM)
8th Sep 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Loch Portree (NB) and five at Ashaig early evening (RMcM)
8th Sep 2017 Dunlin View Image 300+ in Broadford Bay and 200+ Ringed Plover (NB)
8th Sep 2017 Common Scoter 7 in Broadford Bay (NB)
8th Sep 2017 Pink-footed Goose View Image small skein over Portree late evening (NB)
7th Sep 2017 Brent Goose View Image single in Broadford Bay (PO-W)
7th Sep 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 14 in Broadford Bay in morning & 48 on Ardnish early evening (RMcM)
7th Sep 2017 Whimbrel View Image 7 in Broadford Bay in morning & two at Ashaig in evening (RMcM)
7th Sep 2017 Pintail flock of 27 in off sea at Ashaig, Broadford and flew south (RMcM)
7th Sep 2017 Sanderling View Image 10 in Staffin Bay (MP)
7th Sep 2017 Dunlin View Image 19 in Staffin Bay (MP) and 250 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
7th Sep 2017 Goldfinch 40 feeding on knapweed at Earlish (HH)
7th Sep 2017 Barn Owl View Image single at Glasphein, Staffin (MP)
6th Sep 2017 Whimbrel View Image single in Broadford Bay (PO-W)
6th Sep 2017 White Wagtail View Image six at Neist Point (RMcM)
6th Sep 2017 Manx Shearwater View Image 100 south Neist Point in two hours (RMcM)
6th Sep 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image still 11 in Broadford Bay and a Sanderling (NB)
6th Sep 2017 Red-breasted Merganser View Image 40 at the head of Loch Ainort and 9 Wigeon (NB)
5th Sep 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Broadford Bay and 11 Bar-tailed Godwit (RMcM)
5th Sep 2017 Knot 60 moved south through Broadford Bay in two flocks of 44 and 16 (RMcM)(see Gallery)
5th Sep 2017 Blackcap View Image male in Torrin Road, Broadford (NB)
5th Sep 2017 Great Skua View Image 5-6 following a fishing boat off Staffin (JDJ)
5th Sep 2017 White Wagtail View Image 7 at Lower Milovaig (AS) and lots passing through Broadford area (NB)
5th Sep 2017 Kingfisher single seen at Carbost heading towards head of Loch Harport (S.Bentall)
4th Sep 2017 Scottish Wildcat David Barclay will speak on 'Scottish Wildcat conservation past, present, future' at Broadford Village Hall 7;30pm, 6th of September.
4th Sep 2017 Wheatear View Image three leucorhoa types at Meanish Pier and two White Wagtails (AS)
4th Sep 2017 Whinchat View Image still a juvenile at Harrapool (NB)
4th Sep 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image five in Broadford Bay and a single Knot (NB)
3rd Sep 2017 White Wagtail View Image three at Upper Milovaig (AS) and six at Ashaig (RMcM)
3rd Sep 2017 Twite View Image 30 at Lower Milovaig and a comment that flocks are much smaller than in previous years (AS) - I would agree
3rd Sep 2017 Goldfinch leucistic bird at Drumfearn, Sleat (RMcM) (see Gallery)
3rd Sep 2017 Goosander View Image 13 at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
2nd Sep 2017 Carrion Crow View Image single at Torrin (RMcM)
2nd Sep 2017 Linnet 30 at Lephin, Glendale (AS)
2nd Sep 2017 Grey Phalarope View Image single at sea a mile off Arisaig from MV Sheerwater (R.Dyer)
1st Sep 2017 White Wagtail View Image four - two adults & two juveniles Broadford (NB)
31st Aug 2017 Brent Goose View Image 1st group of the year (yesterday) with 8 at Sconser (B.Blackmore)
31st Aug 2017 Short-eared Owl View Image two at Ullinish (PS)
31st Aug 2017 Manx Shearwater View Image first 'grounded' youngster at Mallaig returned safely to sea (M.Carty) - any grounded birds found are best kept overnight in a box then returned to sea safely in daylight
31st Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image three in Staffiin Bay (MP)
31st Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image 7 at sea west of Point of Sleat from ferry (RMcM)
31st Aug 2017 Slavonian Grebe single at Loch Ainort is first of autumn (NB)
31st Aug 2017 Knot 6 in Broadford Bay & two Black-tailed Godwit (NB)
31st Aug 2017 Yellowhammer group of 5/6 at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (RMcM) (see Gallery)
30th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 6 at Ashaig in morning flew south (RMcM); two at Broadford Bay (NB) & 8 in Breakish Obbe in evening (NH)
30th Aug 2017 Knot 7 in Broadford Bay, two Bar-tailed Godwit & three Sanderling (RMcM, NB))
30th Aug 2017 Dunlin View Image heavy passage throughout the day with 260 in Broadford Bay and 200 Ringed Plover (RMcM NB)
30th Aug 2017 Teal View Image migrants arriving with 5 in Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH) and 3 at Ashaig (RMcM)
30th Aug 2017 Goosander View Image now 30 in Loch Portree (NB)
30th Aug 2017 Great Black-backed Gull View Image 118 in Loch Portree (NB)
30th Aug 2017 Pintail mixed flock of 5 Pintail and 10 Wigeon at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
29th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Ashaig in morning (RMcM) and 13 in Broadford Bay early evening (MB); also three in Breakish Obbe (NH)
29th Aug 2017 Goosander View Image 18 in Loch Portree (RMcM)
29th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 20 in Broadford Bay and four Sanderling (NB)
29th Aug 2017 Jay party of 6 at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (per SMacD)
28th Aug 2017 Pintail probably four at Glas Eileen, Broadford, one of which was taken by a Great Skua ( RMcM)
28th Aug 2017 Arctic Skua View Image five in the Sound of Rassay from Beal Point, Portree (NB)
28th Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image 7 in the Sound of Rassay from Beal Point, Portree (NB); three off Bornesketaig (RMcM)
28th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image five in Breakish Obbe in evening (NH)
28th Aug 2017 Starling post breeding flock of 500 at Lower Breakish (NH)
27th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image 14 between Ashaig and Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
27th Aug 2017 Twite View Image c100 at Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
27th Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image three over Milovaig (AS)
27th Aug 2017 Grey Wagtail View Image in Glendale area, two at Lower Milovaig and two at Hamara (AS)
27th Aug 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image three at Loch Portree (NB) and two at Broadford Bay (MB)
27th Aug 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image two at Broadford Bay (MB)
27th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image two at Loch Portree (NB)
26th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image nine on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
26th Aug 2017 Greenshank nine at Ashaig, Broadford and four Sanderling (RMcM)
26th Aug 2017 Common Sandpiper View Image still two in Broadford Bay midday (NB) and four in evening (MB)
26th Aug 2017 Storm Petrel single in outer Loch Snizort and two Arctic Skuas (ML)
26th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image four in Broadford Bay in evening (MB)
25th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
25th Aug 2017 Knot single in Broadford Bay (RMcM) and a single Sandwich Tern (NB)
25th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image five flew from Pabay to Ardnish (NB); three at Uig Bay (ML) and a single at Waterloo later (RMcM)
25th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image four at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
25th Aug 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image single off Camustianavaig (A.McLean)
24th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image five at Broadford Bay in evening (RMcM)
24th Aug 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image three in Broadford Bay (NB)
22nd Aug 2017 Knot four in Breakish Obbe (NH)
22nd Aug 2017 Redshank 97 at Loch Portree (NB) and 50+ at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
22nd Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 25 heading south of Bornesketaig + 5 Great Skua and 4 Red-throated Diver (NB)
22nd Aug 2017 Cetaceans in a 4 hour seawatch off Bornesketaig, a Minke Whale, 11 Harbour Porpoise and 30 Common Dolphin (NB)

© 2017 Skye Birds