Skye Birds - A Birding Guide to the Isle of Skye
twitter

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
17th Sep 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 18 south through Kilmory, Rum (SM)
17th Sep 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again at Loch Poolteil (AS)
17th Sep 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image some passage again with 60 over Portree (NB); skeins of 40 & 50 over Gedintailor early afternoon (CA) and two small skeins of 18 and 30 over Ardnish, Broadford (PO-W)
17th Sep 2019 Great Skua View Image two west over Portree towards Glen More we’re going from east to west coast (NB)
17th Sep 2019 White-tailed Eagle View Image two juveniles seen leaving Lower Milovaig heading across the Minch towards Harris (AS)
17th Sep 2019 Wigeon 50 in off the sea at Ashaig, Broadford (NB)
17th Sep 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three in Breakish Obbe + 20 Bar-tails (NH)
16th Sep 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again at Loch Poolteil (AS)
16th Sep 2019 Brent Goose View Image still 14 at Loch Portree (NB) (see Gallery)
16th Sep 2019 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image still coming to feeders at Lyndale (CStevenson)
16th Sep 2019 Greenshank five at Breakish Obbe (NH) and three at Loch Portree (JDJ)
15th Sep 2019 Brent Goose View Image 11 at Ashaig, Broadford (NH) in morning & still 14 at Loch Portree (JDJ)
15th Sep 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image single at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
15th Sep 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image good movement south today with 47 over Upper Milovaig (AS); small skein over Rum (SM); two skeins of 110 over Portree (NB); two small skeins over Drumfearn (PK); and skeins of 110 & 75 over Morar in evening (SMacD)
14th Sep 2019 Brent Goose View Image still some passage with 13 at the head of Loch Ainort & 14 at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
14th Sep 2019 Leach’s Storm Petrel single reported from outer Loch Ainort (NB) & another from the Uig-Lochmaddy ferry in the afternoon
14th Sep 2019 Knot single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
14th Sep 2019 Arctic Tern View Image 8 in outer Loch Ainort (NB)
14th Sep 2019 Sabine’s Gull juvenile reported from the Uig-Lochmaddy ferry within Skye waters
13th Sep 2019 Brent Goose View Image 20 at Loch Portree (NB)
13th Sep 2019 Common Scoter single male in Broadford Bay (NB)
13th Sep 2019 Whimbrel View Image single in Broadford Bay + 12 Bar-tailed Godwits (NB)
13th Sep 2019 Great Skua View Image a darvic ringed Great Skua photographed on fly past at Neist Point on 5.8.2019 had been ringed as a nestling on the Shiants on 15.7.2008 so was 11 years old (AS)
12th Sep 2019 Brent Goose View Image 62 south-west from Broadford Bay this morning & 110 early evening (MB)
12th Sep 2019 Sanderling View Image 13 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD) & two at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
11th Sep 2019 Brent Goose View Image passage through Broadford Bay with groups of 3 & 12 midday then 48 in afternoon (MB, PO-W); 130 on the shore near Sconser Quarry (L.Hamilton)
10th Sep 2019 Manx Shearwater View Image young birds are fledging at the moment and with inclement weather are often disorientated by ambient light and land in towns and villages. As they cannot take off please try and rescue them, keep overnight in a box, and release over the sea.
10th Sep 2019 Great Skua View Image reports from Kimory, Rum (SM) and the ferry terminal at Raasay where there was also an Arctic Skua (G.Rees)
10th Sep 2019 Turnstone numbers building up with 26 in Broadford Bay (NB)
9th Sep 2019 Great Northern Diver View Image two off Drumbuie, Lochalsh (HS)
9th Sep 2019 White-tailed Eagle View Image two juveniles frequenting the Raasay Ferry terminal (RC)
9th Sep 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two roosting on offshore rocks at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
8th Sep 2019 Chiffchaff single in garden Lower Milovaig (AS)
8th Sep 2019 Long-tailed Tit View Image 17 at Woodend, Portree (PS)
7th Sep 2019 Great Skua View Image 4+ off Loch Scresort, Rum (SM)
7th Sep 2019 Sanderling View Image four juveniles in Broadford Bay (NB)
7th Sep 2019 Cetaceans perfect calm day for cetaceans with 50+ Common Dolphins seen travelling west off Loch Scresort, Rum (SM) and probably the same group off Neist Point (AS) (see cetacean Gallery) - also 2/3 Minke Whale at Neist
7th Sep 2019 Orca pod of 7/8 from the Uig - Tarbert ferry unfortunately just a few miles from Tarbert though heading east into Skye waters (RMcM) (see Cetaceans gallery)
7th Sep 2019 Willow Warbler View Image straggler at Armadale Castle Gardens + Spotted Flycatcher (JC,NR)
7th Sep 2019 Whitethroat View Image late single at Mallaig (JC,NR)
6th Sep 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still two at Traigh with 18 Sanderling on shore (SMacD)
5th Sep 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two at Traigh, Morar (SC)
5th Sep 2019 Twite View Image c100 at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
4th Sep 2019 Arctic Skua View Image between 12-4 in strong northerlies on Moll Road, at Sconser 105 moving west & south (NB) - this is a record count for Skye!; minimum of 13 in Broadford Bay in similar timescale (RMcM, SA)
4th Sep 2019 Great Skua View Image between 12-4 in strong northerlies on Moll Road, at Sconser 18 moving west & south (NB); minimum of 9 in Broadford Bay in similar timescale (RMcM, SA); also 5+ off Kilmory, Rum (SM)
4th Sep 2019 Great Northern Diver View Image singles in Broadford Bay (SA) and off Moll Road, Sconser + 8 Red-throated Diver (NB)
4th Sep 2019 Pomarine Skua View Image single in Broadford Bay late evening (SA, RMcM) and possible juvenile from Mallaig-Rum ferry this morning (SM)
4th Sep 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 50 over Rum (SM)
4th Sep 2019 Manx Shearwater View Image singles off Moll road, Sconser (NB) & in Broadford Bay (SA, RMcM)
3rd Sep 2019 Common Scoter 12 flew west over Broadford Bay (RMcM)
3rd Sep 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 16 in Broadford Bay, probably moved to Ashaig & then moved south (RMcM)
3rd Sep 2019 Sanderling View Image 20 in Laig Bay, Eigg (JC)
3rd Sep 2019 Slavonian Grebe 1st report of the autumn with two off Sconser Quarry (NB)
3rd Sep 2019 Knot 12 flew west into Broadford Bay (NB,RMcM)
2nd Sep 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 12 at Waterloo (SA) and 11 in Breakish Obbe (NH)
2nd Sep 2019 Knot 35 in Loch Portree (NB) - this is by far the largest count of this species at this site
2nd Sep 2019 Storm Petrel 11 between Eigg & Muck from MVSheerwater (RD)
2nd Sep 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Broadford Bay (R.Disanto)
1st Sep 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again at Loch Poolteil (AS)
1st Sep 2019 Sanderling View Image 19 on shoreline at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
1st Sep 2019 Willow Warbler View Image unusually a singing bird in Lower Breakish (NH)
1st Sep 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 14 in Broadford Bay & 4 in Loch Portree (RMcM, NB)
1st Sep 2019 Goosander View Image max count 16 at Loch Portree (JJ)
31st Aug 2019 Arctic Skua View Image single dark morph in Broadford Bay (NB)
31st Aug 2019 Ruff single on Traigh Golf Course + 9 Black-tailed Godwit (SMacD)
31st Aug 2019 Sanderling View Image 27 on the shoreline at Traigh (SMacD) and 44 in Broadford Bay (MB)
31st Aug 2019 Knot 9 in Broadford Bay (MB)
30th Aug 2019 Brent Goose View Image early passage with 7 in Broadford Bay (MB)
30th Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Broadford Bay in morning (RMcM)
30th Aug 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 21 in Broadford Bay at high tide + 4 Knot (NB,RMcM)
30th Aug 2019 Sanderling View Image 25 at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
30th Aug 2019 Sandwich Tern View Image 16 in Broadford Bay (NB)
29th Aug 2019 American Cliff Swallow see the Gallery for two images of the bird from Sam Langlois - and the Blog for the record of this rare find
29th Aug 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image max counts of 19in Broadford Bay + 5 juvenile Black-tailed Godwit (RMcM)
29th Aug 2019 Knot as well as several lingering birds in Broadford Bay, flock of 9 flew in late afternoon (RMcM)
28th Aug 2019 Cliff Swallow despite a search of the Milovaig & Neist area by several observers this morning there was no sign ☹️. Though there are a dozen records for this species in Britain this is a first for Scotland and the first in August. It is therefore one of the rarest birds ever seen on Skye and whilst a number of us are disappointed at not connecting with it at least Andy Stables saw it in his local patch!
28th Aug 2019 Little Stint View Image single in Broadford Bay (MB)
28th Aug 2019 Common Sandpiper View Image late bird at Loch Pooltiel (RMcM)
28th Aug 2019 Whimbrel View Image two at Pool Roag & two Bar-tailed Godwit (NB et al)
28th Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 6 in Broadford Bay late afternoon increasing to 17 by evening (NB,RMcM)
28th Aug 2019 Knot four in Broadford Bay & 13 Sanderling (RMcM)
27th Aug 2019 Ruff single reeve still in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
27th Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 9 in Broadford Bay + 6 Bar-tailed + 6 Knot (RMcM)
27th Aug 2019 Dunlin View Image 200+ in Broadford Bay & 200+ Ringed Plover & 10 Sanderling (RMcM) - birds moving south at high tide
27th Aug 2019 Whimbrel View Image two in Broadford Bay (RMcM) & two in Loch Portree (NB)
27th Aug 2019 Goosander View Image 13 in Loch Portree (NB)
27th Aug 2019 American Cliff Swallow MEGA!!! Bird seen early evening at the Loch Poolteil pier, Lower Milovaig - last seen around 8pm
26th Aug 2019 Ruff single in Broadford Bay + 12 Knot & 8 Sanderling (RMcM)
26th Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single in Broadford Bay + 11 Bar-tailed Godwit (RMcM)
26th Aug 2019 Ringed Plover View Image 150 in Broadford Bay + 130 Dunlin (RMcM)
26th Aug 2019 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image report from Lyndale, Fanks - well north of our normal range (C.Stevenson)
25th Aug 2019 Twite View Image 30+ near the summit of Ainshval (781m) Rum (SM); flock of 100+ on saltings at Glas Eilean, Broadford Bay (0m) (RMcM)
25th Aug 2019 Sanderling View Image 11 in Broadford Bay early increasing to 18 later (MB)
25th Aug 2019 Knot 5 flew west in Broadford Bay (MB) then 26 later (PO-W)
25th Aug 2019 Redshank numbers in Broadford Bay increased throughout the day to 90 by early evening (MB); also 5 Bar-tailed Godwit
24th Aug 2019 Little Gull View Image single with Kittiwakes at mouth of Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (RD)
24th Aug 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image still 18 in Broadford Bay + 10 Sanderling (RMcM)
24th Aug 2019 Whimbrel View Image 12 south through Broadford Bay & 8 Knot (RMcM)
23rd Aug 2019 Whimbrel View Image 6 in Broadford Bay early (RMcM) & three over Broadford Industrial Estate afternoon (PK) & a single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
23rd Aug 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image good arrival Broadford Bay with 30+ by late afternoon (RMcM); 6 at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
23rd Aug 2019 Curlew 93 at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
23rd Aug 2019 Sandwich Tern View Image two in Broadford Bay + 30 Arctic Tern (RMcM)
23rd Aug 2019 Ringed Plover View Image 100+ in Broadford Bay + three Sanderling & a single Knot (RMcM)
23rd Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single over SE Bays, Eigg (JC)
23rd Aug 2019 Albatross sp Albatross sp (possible Black-browed) seen crossing bows of MV Loch Nevis ferry between Rum and Mallaig late afternoon (per SM) flying south towards Arisaig/Ardnamurchan
23rd Aug 2019 Magpie long staying single bird still at Ellishadder (DB)
22nd Aug 2019 Arctic Skua View Image two south off Loch Scresort, Rum (SM); single off Armadale harassing 70 Kittiwake (Ludwig)
21st Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC) & five in Broadford Bay (P.Markwell)
21st Aug 2019 Knot 7 in Broadford Bay + 3 Sanderling & a Whimbrel (RMcM)
21st Aug 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again at Loch Poolteil (AS)
20th Aug 2019 Whitethroat View Image single at Meanish Pier, Milovaig, was probably a migrant (AS)
20th Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Traigh golf course, Morar, in evening (SMacD)
19th Aug 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image singles at Kildonan, Eigg (JC) & at Ardnish, Broadford still (RMcM)
19th Aug 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult still at Lower Milovaig, Glendale (AS)
19th Aug 2019 Knot 6 in Broadford Bay + five Bar-tailed Godwit & 40 Redshank (PO-W) (RMcM)

© 2019 Skye Birds