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
3rd Jun 2020 Rosy Starling adult in garden at Kyleakin this morning (A&EH) (see Gallery) - and remained throughout the day, probably a male - there is another influx this year
3rd Jun 2020 Lesser Whitethroat View Image territorial bird still at Broadford Industrial Estate (RMcM)
2nd Jun 2020 Lesser Whitethroat View Image still in full song at Broadford Industrial Estate this morning (NH)
2nd Jun 2020 Orca Re yesterday’s Neist sighting - Update - it is thought that the Bull is either Hulk, Scotland - Iceland migrant pod, or Busta, Northern Isles pod (Alison S)
2nd Jun 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image three in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
2nd Jun 2020 Whimbrel View Image three in Loch Portree (NB)
1st Jun 2020 Lesser Whitethroat View Image singing male heard at Broadford Industrial Estate by Phil Knott (from his office) sparked a self distancing local twitch - see Gallery - this is the 1st summer record since 2013, at Dunvegan & coincidentally on June 1st
1st Jun 2020 Orca another sighting at Neist Point - a bull, two females & two small calves moving north - (A&AS) - potentially extremely interesting observation as there is a view historical west coast pod is not reproducing (see cetacean Gallery)
1st Jun 2020 Eider moulting flock at Loch Ainort beginning to build up - 140 (NB)
1st Jun 2020 Arctic Skua View Image single south at Neist Point (AS)
1st Jun 2020 Buzzard a bird photographed by Martin Benson at Broadford Industrial Estate looks as if it has caught a rodent which was in a trap - we are confident the bird is not caught in the trap - see Gallery
1st Jun 2020 Ring Ouzel View Image bird flew across road at Druim na Cloich, head of Loch Ainort (NB)
1st Jun 2020 Ring Ouzel View Image bird flew across road at Druim na Cloich, head of Loch Ainort (NB)
31st May 2020 Goosander View Image 13 at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
31st May 2020 Turnstone four on Staffin Island (N.Jones)
30th May 2020 Shoveler pair at Lochailort (SC) + 6 pairs of Canada Goose, some with goslings (SMacD)
30th May 2020 Orca three off Neist Point heading south/west including large bull (AS)
30th May 2020 Great Skua View Image four following creel boat in Broadford Bay (NB)
30th May 2020 Glaucous Gull View Image sub-adult following creel boat in Broadford Bay - also drake Gadwall in the Bay (NB)
30th May 2020 Yellowhammer male in territory at Drumbuie, Lochalsh
30th May 2020 Common Tern View Image 25 on Loch Dunvegan
30th May 2020 Snow Bunting View Image summer plumage bird near summit of Ben Nevis (SC on daily exercise!)
30th May 2020 Goosander View Image 6 drakes on Loch Portree (ML)
29th May 2020 Sandwich Tern View Image three off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
29th May 2020 Swift 15 over Achintore, Fort William (SC) - this is one of the nearest breeding sites to us but bird wander extensively during fine weather like this
29th May 2020 Magpie report at Halistra, Waternish (J.Hewes) - probably the bird at Geary recently
29th May 2020 Common Redpoll single visiting feeders at Uig (ML) - separate from small flock of Lesser Redpolls
29th May 2020 Great Skua View Image pair at Suidhe Biorach, Elgol (GH)
28th May 2020 Corncrake View Image an unusual call recorded by Nick Hodgetts in Trotternish has been identified as a female Corncrake - the female call has a similar rhythm to the male but lacks the rasping - it is extremely unusual and has rarely been recorded but may occur when a female arrives in a territory with no male.
28th May 2020 Magpie report of a bird at Geary, Waternish, two days ago (per SP)
28th May 2020 Redwing View Image information that a pair has successfully fledged young at a site in Lochalsh - though birds have bred in Highland previously this may be the first breeding record we are aware of in Skye and Lochalsh
28th May 2020 Lockdown Birding please see the blog for some details of recording complete lists on Birdtrack during local walks
27th May 2020 Canada Goose View Image single in Breakish Obbe (FM)
27th May 2020 Knot single at Lusa mouth, Broadford with 30 Dunlin & 25 Ringed Plover (RMcM)
27th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image single at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
27th May 2020 Eider broods of 6 & 5 at Lochailort, near the fishfarm (SMacD)
27th May 2020 Goosander View Image 6 males at the head of Loch Duich, Lochalsh (RC)
27th May 2020 Tree Sparrow last date at Lower Milovaig (AS)
26th May 2020 Sanderling View Image two at Lusa Mouth, Broadford, at high tide with 40 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover & a Turnstone (RMcM) (see Gallery)
26th May 2020 Lesser Redpoll View Image a female found dead at Breakish yesterday was found to have been ringed at Inverness on 10.3.19 & had travelled 102 kms from the ringing site - found by Seonachan MacLeod
26th May 2020 Whooper Swan View Image single at Ardmore, Waternish (SP) - perhaps the bird at Skeabost recently
26th May 2020 Greylag Goose View Image pair with five goslings at Loch Dunvegan (SW)
26th May 2020 Hawfinch female on feeders in Portree garden last night (W.Houlsby) - probably a Scandinavian bird heading home - a great lockdown bird
26th May 2020 Wood Warbler pair at Kinloch Sleat & good numbers of territorial Whitethroat near Leiter Fura path (MB)
25th May 2020 Canada Goose View Image single with Greylags at Feorlig, Dunvegan (CA)
25th May 2020 Corncrake View Image numbers in the north of the island are still relatively low but as birds are still arriving, sightings (or soundings!) are welcome
25th May 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image four in Broadford Bay & two Turnstone (RMcM)
25th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image two at Traigh, Morar, (SMacD) & single at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
25th May 2020 Sanderling View Image six at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
24th May 2020 Lapwing three pairs breeding at Suisnish, Raasay (SB)
24th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image two at Loch Portree + 9 Goosander & 83 Great Black-backed Gull (NB)
23rd May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 12 in field at Lower Breakish, Broadford (NF)
23rd May 2020 Sanderling View Image 7 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
23rd May 2020 Arctic Tern View Image 80+ in Broadford Bay & 30 Common Tern (NB)
22nd May 2020 Whimbrel View Image three at Traigh, Morar (SC)
22nd May 2020 Sandwich Tern View Image single north passed Mallaig (SC)
22nd May 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image three at Broadford Bay + a Knot (RMcM)
21st May 2020 Canada Goose View Image two at Plockton airstrip around for several days (JS)
21st May 2020 Sanderling View Image five at Lusa mouth, Broadford (RMcM)
20th May 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image four in the Sound of Raasay (RC)
20th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 7 on Sconser Golf Course & 9 in fields at Breakish (NF)
20th May 2020 Dunlin View Image 150+ 50 Ringed Plover & two Turnstone in Broadford Bay (A&EH)
20th May 2020 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird at Roskill, Dunvegan (S.Wood)
19th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image three at Traigh (SC) two at Loch Portree (NB) and 7 at Broadford Bay (MB, RMcM) & a single at Ashaig
19th May 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird still at Bayfield Portree (NB)
19th May 2020 Canada Goose View Image still three at Loch Portree (NB)
19th May 2020 Dunlin View Image 50 at Traigh, Morar (SC) & 100 at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
18th May 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy still at Bayfield Portree in morning & a 3cy in afternoon (NB) (see Gallery)
18th May 2020 Arctic Skua View Image three overland Rum (SM)
18th May 2020 Common Tern View Image about 10 starting to nest on the small island Loch Treaslane (AG)
18th May 2020 Sandwich Tern View Image single in Knock Bay, Sleat
18th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 6 north from Broadford Bay at high tide (RMcM)
18th May 2020 Dunlin View Image c200 & 80+ Ringed Plover at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
18th May 2020 Common Crossbill View Image a male was caught in a fruit cage at Crossal, Sligachan - successfully released (T.Ashton-Beaton) (see Gallery)
17th May 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird at Loch Portree (NB)
17th May 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with a small group of Greylags at Loch Meodal, Sleat
17th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image five at Loch Portree (NB) & 7 in Broadford Bay (RMcM) & possibly up to 15 on Sconser Golf Course (BB)
16th May 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird at Loch Poolteil (AS)
16th May 2020 Whooper Swan View Image single on the river bends at Skeabost (GF)
16th May 2020 Dunlin View Image another flush of birds in with 225 in Broadford Bay and 150 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD) (see Gallery)
16th May 2020 Ringed Plover View Image 75 at Broadford Bay (RMcM) and 30 at Traigh, Morar + 3 Sanderling (SMacD) (see Gallery)
16th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 8 north from Broadford Bay (MB)
15th May 2020 Greylag Goose View Image another early brood of goslings noted at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (RD, MW)
15th May 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird at Scorrybreck, Portree (NB)
14th May 2020 House Sparrow View Image fledged brood at Achnahanaid, Braes, contained a leucistic white bird as has been the case in previous years (GR)
14th May 2020 Long-eared Owl View Image pair have bred on Canna with at least a single young (GG)
14th May 2020 Sanderling View Image two in Breakish Obbe & two Bar-tailed Godwit (NH)
14th May 2020 Dunlin View Image 150+ Dunlin & Ringed Plover at Traigh, Morar + two Sanderling (SMacD)
14th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image overall numbers appear to be declining so perhaps peak passage past - 4 in Broadford Bay (NB)
14th May 2020 Teal View Image female with brood of four noted at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (RD,MW)
13th May 2020 Whooper Swan View Image two still on the Black Lochs, Broadford, & noted that one may have an injured foot (RC)
13th May 2020 Jack Snipe View Image another late bird flushed on the Heaste Road, Broadford (MB):
13th May 2020 Sanderling View Image now 6 birds in Broadford Bay at high tide (MB) & three on Rum (SM); single at The Aird, Gedintailor (WM)
13th May 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with Greylags on Ardnish, Broadford (NH)
13th May 2020 Sandwich Tern View Image single in Pabay Sound & single Black-throated Diver (NH)
13th May 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 15 in the Sound of Sleat off Aird (KMacA)
13th May 2020 Spotted Flycatcher View Image still a single at Torrin & three different birds around Kilmarie, Strathaird
13th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 7 north from Broadford Bay late afternoon (NB)
13th May 2020 Short-eared Owl View Image single seen near Struan early evening (DMcG) - this has become a scarce bird in the area
13th May 2020 Tufted Duck View Image six in Broadford Bay at Harrapool (MB) - probably northward bound migrants
12th May 2020 Osprey View Image the bird seen at Loch Slapin on the 9th was ringed as a youngster on 8 July 2018 at a nest in the Dornoch Firth - it has probably spent the last two years in the wintering grounds in Africa
12th May 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
12th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 7 at Broadford Bay at high tide in morning (RMcM) & two at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
12th May 2020 Dunlin View Image numbers down in Broadford Bay at morning high tide with 160 + 100 Ringed Plover & three Bar-tailed Godwit (RMcM) single Sanderling later (NB)
11th May 2020 Guillemot following the recent report about mortality, four dead birds reported at Gedintailor (PD); also another at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
11th May 2020 Magpie long staying bird back at Ellishadder after an absence (per SG)
11th May 2020 Common Crossbill View Image adult male feeding a youngster near Broadford Post Office (NB)
11th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image high tide counts of 11 at Broadford Bay & four at Ashaig (RMcM)
11th May 2020 Dunlin View Image count of 260 Dunlin in Broadford Bay this morning + two Sanderling (MB,NB)
11th May 2020 Jack Snipe View Image single crossed the road near the head of Loch Slapin (RW) - this is a late date but within the known range
11th May 2020 Wood Warbler another report at Skye Shrubs, Portree (TH)
11th May 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 6 in Loch na Dal, Sleat (RC)
10th May 2020 Dunlin View Image still 300 in Broadford Bay + 100 Ringed Plover, four Bar-tailed Godwit & a single Sanderling; 150+ Dunlin at Traigh (SMacD)
10th May 2020 Canada Goose View Image still three in Loch Portree (NB)
10th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image only three in Broadford Bay & two at Loch Portree; three at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
10th May 2020 Spotted Flycatcher View Image a single on Rum (SM) & another at Torrin, Skye (NH)
9th May 2020 Waders with the wet & overcast weather lots of waders held up particularly Ringed Plover & Dunlin, at Traigh, on Rum and at Broadford Bay, Skye - specifics below
9th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 6 on Rum (SM) and 10 in Broadford Bay (RMcM); 9 north over Earlish (NH)
9th May 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image five in Broadford Bay + five Knot + five Bar-tailed Godwit (MB)
9th May 2020 Curlew Sandpiper View Image summer plumage bird at Traigh, Morar, on way home from work! (SMacD) (see Gallery)
9th May 2020 Osprey View Image bird at Loch Slapin photographed and darvic ringed so trying to trace it (RW) (see Gallery)
9th May 2020 Sanderling View Image three on Rum (SM) and two in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
9th May 2020 Dunlin View Image at least 300 in Broadford Bay (RMcM) with a similar number at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
9th May 2020 Brent Goose View Image 7 birds at Meanish, Glendale (A.Atherton) - spring records are rare and this is late - probably weather related
8th May 2020 Tree Sparrow A&AS have decided that the Tree Sparrow that arrived at Lower Milovaig on 05/05 is not the same as the one that left a fortnight before. TS 2 has different behaviour patterns to TS 1, who always used the same perch, same feeder and sat in the same spot in the hedge.
8th May 2020 Greylag Goose View Image two pairs with 11 goslings at Ashaig, Broadford (A&EH) - seems early?
8th May 2020 Spotted Flycatcher View Image single at Portree garden centre (NB) (see Gallery)
8th May 2020 Wood Warbler single at Duisdale, Sleat (RMcM) - this is the 5th record for Skye this year which is unusual
8th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image northwards passage continues with 12 in Broadford Bay this morning & 9 at Loch Portree early evening (NB,RMcM)
7th May 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 7 at high tide Broadford Bay in morning & three at Ashaig in evening
7th May 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 9 in Broadford Bay & 14 off Ashaig, Broadford, later - possibly some duplication
7th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image at high tide in early evening, 13 in Broadford Bay and 16 at Ashaig some of which headed north; 11 at Loch Portree in evening (NB)
7th May 2020 Wood Warbler singing bird at Kilmarie, Strathaird (IR) - proving to be a good year for this species
7th May 2020 Canada Goose View Image three lingering at Loch Portree (NB)
6th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 13 in Broadford Bay at early morning high tide (RMcM); single at Earlish (NH)
6th May 2020 Guillemot a number of dead and poor condition birds noted on the east coast of Skye at the moment - as the weather has been fine, maybe food shortages (see Gallery)
6th May 2020 Summer migrants with the protracted spell of good weather there seem to be good numbers of summer visitors including Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Whinchat, Blackcap and Grasshopper Warbler - does seem to be a shortage of Swallows!
6th May 2020 Common Tern View Image two at the Fishfarm Lochailort (SC) & two Arctic Tern in Broadford Bay (RC)
6th May 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image latish skein of 75 north over Broadford Bay (RMcM)
6th May 2020 Whooper Swan View Image still two on the Black Lochs, Broadford (RC)
6th May 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image five in Broadford Bay (RC) & two in Scalpay Narrows (RMcM)
6th May 2020 Common Redpoll bird showing characteristics at feeders at Uig (ML)
6th May 2020 Swift always scarce in the west there were 8 at Fort William this evening (SC) - eyes to the skies
6th May 2020 Twite View Image 8 over Uig Bay (SG)
6th May 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 11 at Ashaig, Broadford, all look sub-adults & fresh in (A&EH) (see Gallery)
5th May 2020 Tree Sparrow last seen on 20/4 returned to feeders at Lower Milovaig today (AS) (see Gallery)
5th May 2020 Wood Warbler singing bird at Lochailort (SC) and a single at Uig Wood (ML)
5th May 2020 Arctic Tern View Image 7 in Staffin Bay & two Great Skua (ML); three Arctic Terns & a Common Tern in Broadford Bay (NB)
5th May 2020 Spotted Flycatcher View Image 1st of the year at Blar Dubh, Eigg (JC)
5th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image 14 in Broadford Bay + 140 Dublin & 110 Ringed Plover (NB)
4th May 2020 Garden Warbler single still singing at Portree (NB), another in Armadale woods (RMcM) & a report from Torrin (JB)
4th May 2020 Wood Warbler singing bird at Armadale woods (RMcM) (see Gallery)
4th May 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM)
4th May 2020 Whimbrel View Image bird at Meanish Pier flew off over the Minch towards Harris (AS); 14 in Broadford Bay (NB)
4th May 2020 Arctic Tern View Image four in Broadford Bay & 6 Common Sandpipers - clearly still arriving (NB)

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