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
10th Aug 2020 Arctic Skua View Image pale morph bird at Neist Point - also a Basking Shark (AS)
9th Aug 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Loch Portree + 26 Goosander (NB)
9th Aug 2020 Hirundines at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig, c200 mixed hirundines, predominantly Swallows with Sand Martins & House Martins (RD)
9th Aug 2020 Cetaceans in flat calm conditions up to 12 Minke Whale seen between Arisaig & Point of Sleat from MV Sheerwater (RD); about 80 Common Dolphins in Mooney Bay, Neist (AS) (see cetacean gallery) & 20 heading north off the Crowlins (RMcM)
9th Aug 2020 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph bird well off Lusa Mouth, Broadford (RMcM)
9th Aug 2020 Redshank good count of 115 in Broadford Bay + 50 Curlew & 60 Twite (A&EH)
9th Aug 2020 Great Skua View Image four in the sea near Wiay (ST)
9th Aug 2020 Whimbrel View Image five through Broadford Bay & south mid evening (MB)
8th Aug 2020 Lesser Redpoll View Image post breeding flocks building up with 50 at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
8th Aug 2020 Willow Warbler View Image widespread reports of singing Willow Warblers today from Broadford, Portree, Orbost, Glendale - clearly the good weather is inducing birds to sing very late (NB,TH, AS)
7th Aug 2020 Osprey View Image one fishing Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (RD)
7th Aug 2020 Dunlin View Image large numbers passing through with 300 in Broadford Bay & 110 at Ashaig (RMcM)
7th Aug 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 7 at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM) & a single at Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
7th Aug 2020 Great Skua View Image 10 off Lusa, Broadford following creel boats + two Sandwich Terns (RMcM)
7th Aug 2020 Common Redpoll single visiting feeders at Uig (ML)
7th Aug 2020 Sanderling View Image 11 at Kilmory, Rum (SM) + three at Ashaig, Broadford & a single Whimbrel (RMcM)
7th Aug 2020 Arctic Skua View Image single noted at Loch Mealt (MF)
6th Aug 2020 Storm Petrel single between Mallaig & Rum (SM) & 6 south & west out of Arisaig on MV Sheerwater trips (RD) - 19 also reported from Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry this morning though some will be in Western Isles (BG)
6th Aug 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image two probable sub-adults off Back of Keppoch from MV Sheerwater (RD)
6th Aug 2020 Great Skua View Image 5 between Mallaig & Rum from the ferry + 1000 Manx Shearwater & 250 Guillemot (SM)
6th Aug 2020 House Sparrow View Image 100+ on feeders at Lower Milovaig including lots of juveniles (AS)
6th Aug 2020 White-tailed Eagle View Image seven soaring together near Suisnish, mainly adults (RW)
6th Aug 2020 Cuckoo juvenile at Suisnish, Torrin (RW)
5th Aug 2020 Knot 7 in Broadford Bay (MB)
5th Aug 2020 Dunlin View Image 310 in Broadford Bay + 24 Sanderling (MB)
4th Aug 2020 Kingfisher single on the burn at Camusdarroch, Morar (per SMacD)
4th Aug 2020 Storm Petrel three from the Rum - Mallaig ferry (SM)
4th Aug 2020 Goldfinch 50+ in Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
3rd Aug 2020 Storm Petrel 10 in the Minch from the Uig-Tarbert ferry (SMacD)
2nd Aug 2020 Whimbrel View Image singles over Lochailort Fishfarm (SC) and at Loch Portree (NB)
2nd Aug 2020 Greenshank 12 at the head of Loch Sligachan & three at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM)
2nd Aug 2020 Red-breasted Merganser View Image 30 in moulting flock at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM)
2nd Aug 2020 Common Redpoll single on feeders at Uig (ML)
2nd Aug 2020 Goosander View Image 25 at Loch Portree, 90 Curlew & 80 Oystercatcher (NB)
1st Aug 2020 Little Egret View Image single at Arisaig this morning (RD)
1st Aug 2020 Greenshank rare passage migrant at Meanish Pier on 1.8.20 (see Gallery)
31st Jul 2020 Magpie bird still present on Canna and thought to have been there for some time (GG)
31st Jul 2020 Sandwich Tern View Image three in Broadford Bay (NB)
31st Jul 2020 Hobby single reported chasing hirundines over Banavie/Corpach areas of Lochaber (SC)
28th Jul 2020 Mallard female with very late brood of two tiny ducklings at Isleornsay (RC) - also a female with brood of 4 small ducklings at Ose on 24th (LM)
28th Jul 2020 Spotted Flycatcher View Image successful breeding with two fledged broods Uig Woods & another at Glen Bernisdale (SG)
28th Jul 2020 Whinchat View Image fledged youngster at Idrigill, Uig (SG)
28th Jul 2020 Storm Petrel single off Waternish Point from the ferry (RMcM)
28th Jul 2020 Sanderling View Image three Kilmory, Rum (SM) & a single Broadford Bay (NB)
28th Jul 2020 Whimbrel View Image two in Broadford Bay + 50 Curlew & 60 Dunlin (NB)
27th Jul 2020 Sanderling View Image four in Broadford Bay & a single Knot with c80 Dunlin (RMcM)
27th Jul 2020 Greenshank 13 at the head of Loch Portree & 9 at Loch Sligachan (RMcM)
27th Jul 2020 Whimbrel View Image single over Craigard Bay, Eigg (JC)
27th Jul 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image 250 off a Kilt Rock, Staffin (SG) & 100 in outer Loch Snizort (RMcM)
27th Jul 2020 Shelduck brood of 5/6 successfully fledged at Ullinish (DMcG)
26th Jul 2020 Dunlin View Image 180 at Broadford Bay & 140 at Ashaig - thought to be different birds (RMcM) (see Gallery)
26th Jul 2020 Sanderling View Image 6 at Broadford Bay & 4 at Ashaig (RMcM)
25th Jul 2020 Golden Plover 15 on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
25th Jul 2020 Spotted Flycatcher View Image adult feeding young Isleornsay (RC)
25th Jul 2020 Orca the large bull Aquarius has been seen between Kilt Rock and Rona in the last few days
25th Jul 2020 Knot three in Broadford Bay (MB)
25th Jul 2020 Greenshank four in Broadford Bay (MB) & 18 at Loch Portree (NB)
25th Jul 2020 Redhank 58 in Broadford Bay (MB) and 25 in Loch Portree (NB)
25th Jul 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image four at Loch Portree (NB) & two in Broadford Bay (MB)
24th Jul 2020 Garden Buzzard! Alan & Elaine Horner feed Buzzards meat scraps in their Kyleakin garden - adult brought two recently fledged young to the garden today (see Gallery)
24th Jul 2020 Great Skua View Image single heading north-west over Portree ((NB)
24th Jul 2020 Whimbrel View Image four in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
23rd Jul 2020 Chiffchaff single at Uig Hotel (SG)
23rd Jul 2020 Whimbrel View Image 14 at Breakish Obbe & singles at Loch Portree & The Aird, Gedintailor (NH,NB, MH)
23rd Jul 2020 Sanderling View Image 7 at Ashaig, Broadford + 60 Dunlin & 20 Ringed Plover (RMcM)
23rd Jul 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image four at Loch Portree + 7 Greenshank, 90 Oystercatcher & 70 Curlew (NB)
23rd Jul 2020 Goosander View Image 25 at Loch Portree (NB)
23rd Jul 2020 Black-headed Gull 10 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
22nd Jul 2020 Dunlin View Image 120 in Broadford Bay with just a single juvenile (RMcM)
22nd Jul 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three in Broadford Bay, flushed & flew south (MB)
22nd Jul 2020 Long-eared Owl View Image single caught in camera trap at Ullinish on 15 July (PS)
21st Jul 2020 Wheatear View Image single juvenile leucorhoa type at Neist Point (AS) (see Gallery)
21st Jul 2020 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph bird south at Neist Point + 300 Manx Shearwaters & good numbers of Puffins (AS) (see Gallery)
21st Jul 2020 Swift three over Isleornsay, Sleat (NH)
21st Jul 2020 Canada Goose View Image 11 at Isleornsay, Sleat (RC)
21st Jul 2020 Twite View Image post breeding flocks forming with 25 at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
21st Jul 2020 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird still at Black Lochs, Broadford (NH)
21st Jul 2020 Nuthatch single at feeders at The Lodge, Eigg - possibly the same bird previously reported (per JC)
20th Jul 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image c200 off Neist Point (AS) (see Gallery)
20th Jul 2020 Dunlin View Image 130+ in Broadford Bay, but only two juveniles (MB)
20th Jul 2020 Oystercatcher 70 at the head of Loch Portree + 60 Curlew, single Whimbrel & Bar-tailed Godwit (NB)
20th Jul 2020 Greenshank 12 at the head of Loch Portree + 22 Redshank (NB)
19th Jul 2020 Risso’s Dolphin five off Meanish Pier, Milovaig (AS)
19th Jul 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 7 in Broadford Bay & a single Knot (MB)
19th Jul 2020 Rosy Starling still visiting feeders in garden at Erbusaig (KMacI) (see Gallery) - confident it’s a different bird from the one at Kyleakin a month ago
19th Jul 2020 Redshank 28 in Broadford Bay & 20 at Ashaig (MB,RMcM)
19th Jul 2020 Dunlin View Image c200 in Broadford Bay (A&EH) & 75 at Ashaig (RMcM)
19th Jul 2020 Ringed Plover View Image 70 at Ashaig & two Whimbrel (RMcM)
19th Jul 2020 Cuckoo recently fledged bird in the rain at Saraig, Loch Duich, on 19.7.20 (RF) (see Gallery)
19th Jul 2020 Common Redpoll single on feeders at Uig (ML)
18th Jul 2020 Sanderling View Image 27 in Broadford Bay + 120 Dunlin & 30 Ringed Plover (A&EH, NB, RMcM)
18th Jul 2020 Whimbrel View Image 24 flushed by a Sparrowhawk & flew south from Broadford Bay (NB)
18th Jul 2020 Sooty Shearwater View Image single in the Minch from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry
17th Jul 2020 Rosy Starling visiting garden feeders at Erbusaig again (KMacInnes)
17th Jul 2020 Arctic Skua View Image pale morph bird at Neist Point (SC)
17th Jul 2020 Whimbrel View Image 9 in evening Broadford Bay (MB), a single at Loch Portree (NB) & 10 at Ardmore, Waternish, in evening (SP)
17th Jul 2020 Greenshank 15 at the head of Loch Portree & 25 Goosander (NB)
16th Jul 2020 Rosy Starling single at Erbusaig with juvenile Common Starlings (K.MacInnes) - maybe a different bird from the one at Kyleakin a few weeks ago - or maybe not!
16th Jul 2020 Storm Petrel single off the coast of Eigg from MV Sheerwater (RD)
15th Jul 2020 Blackcap View Image pair in a garden at Kyle of Lochalsh (SS); still two singing in patch at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
15th Jul 2020 Redshank 35 in Broadford Bay + three Greenshank (RMcM)
15th Jul 2020 Sanderling View Image single at mouth of Lusa River, Broadford, + three Turnstone (RMcM)
15th Jul 2020 Bullfinch pair with three fledged young in garden at Portnalong (ST)
14th Jul 2020 Arctic Skua View Image single south past Neist Point (AS)
13th Jul 2020 Goosander View Image 23 at Loch Portree (NB)
13th Jul 2020 Greenshank excellent count of 17 at Loch Portree + two Bar-tailed Godwit (NB)
12th Jul 2020 Orca & Risso’s Orca ‘John Coe’ close in at Neist Point + 6 Risso’s Dolphins (AS) (see Cetacean Gallery)
12th Jul 2020 Common Swift 5 at Glenfinnan, Lochaber (SC)
12th Jul 2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image visiting feeders at Kilbride, Torrin (JJ)
11th Jul 2020 Red-breasted Merganser View Image three broods totalling 17 young at Loch Beag, Struan (ST)

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