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The objective of these pages is to keep everyone, locals and visitors alike, 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 event of rarities being found, details could be passed on to other website networks. Details would also be passed on the Highland Recorder Al McNee who might require a full description before the record was accepted. This website will very much be locally focussed but recognises the existing requirements of the SOC local recorder system and other networks such as Birdline Scotland . The intention is that Skye-Birds.com will enhance these systems. Skye-Birds.com will also have complete discretion as to what information is added to these pages. In particular, any details which might reveal breeding sites of vulnerable species will be excluded. No information will be published which may in any way put birds at risk.
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5th July 2008
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Kestrel
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On 21st April this year Peter Elford found a dead Kestrel below a cliff in Glenelg Bay - it had been ringed and it now transpires that the bird had been ringed as one of six nestlings at Boath near Alness on 8.6.2007 - it was 318 days old and had travelled 95 kms. |
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5th July 2008
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Greylag Goose
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a little advance warning that there is to be a Scottish Greylag Goose Survey during the last three weeks of August - specifically to record summering birds in areas to the north and west of the Great Glen. All counts are welcome at this time and in the lead up to it. Forms can be provided by contacting the site. (Bob) |
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4th July 2008
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Seabirds
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we had an SWT walk to Rubha Hunish to-day. Whilst Shag and Fulmar numbers appeared to be reasonable, there was a noticeable decline in Common Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwake. Also seen were Black Guillemot, Puffin and a pair of Great Skua. Up to 4/5 Minke Whale put on a terrific show in the afternoon sun. |
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2nd July 2008
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Swift
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3 over the Allt Ruaridh plantation, Balmeanach, Struan (RMcM) |
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27th June 2008
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Leucistic Rook
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this is probably the appropriate term for the Brown Rook which has been previously discussed on the site and the image is shown under recent reports. Murray MacDonald has written with a photograph showing a young brown Rook begging for food from an older normal coloured black Rook in their Portree garden. There is clearly a genetic strain which produces brown coloured Rooks in Portree and anyone who can contribute to this discussion is welcome to do so. Some leucistic birds can be very light coloured but the Portree birds seem to be a uniform chocolate colour. Because our population is isolated this strain may well persist. |
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25th June 2008
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Swift
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a single over Isleornsay is only the 2nd for the year (RCottis) |
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24th June 2008
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Linnet
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report from Andy Stables of at least three pairs in territories around Glendale - this is a scarce and localised breeder on Skye. |
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24th June 2008
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Linnet
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report from Andy Stables of at least three pairs in territories around Glendale - this is a scarce and localised breeder on Skye. |
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22nd June 2008
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Rook
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we carried a story regarding the brown Rook at Portree some time ago and it is still obviously going strong - Murray MacDonald suggests there may be two, one with stronger plumage characteristics than the other. |
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22nd June 2008
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Great Spotted Woodpecker
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adult feeding fledged youngster in garden at Kyleakin (A&EH)and also two young in garden at Isleornsay (RCottis) |
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22nd June 2008
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Hobby
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this is an extremely scarce species for Skye having only been recorded once previously in 2002. A lovely male was seen and photographed near Broadford by Pete Jones (see image in recent reports). The exact location is being withheld for the time being. |
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21st June 2008
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Barn Owl
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report from Murray MacDonald of a Barn Owl hunting at Kiltaraglen, Portree. Further report from Bill Peppe of a dead bird found below cliffs between Talisker & Fiscavaig. Most Barn Owls on Skye use natural crevices in rock, very often near the shore. |
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20th June 2008
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Great Skua
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Duncan Ritchie e.mailed with a list of 'Bonxie' sightings with up to 5 on Wiay, Loch Bracadale on 13/6 and other reports from Loch Scavaig, Kilt Rock and Staffin Island. A regular visitor, Duncan has been struck by the steady colonisation of Skye during the last few years. Just to repeat what has been said previously that it will be important to try and get some confirmed breeding attempts. |
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18th June 2008
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White-tailed Eagle
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for visitors coming to Skye it is suggested that they use the boats going out of Portree Harbour on a daily basis to see the birds. We have been critical of the management of these trips in the past but reports suggest they are operating in a much more bird-friendly way which is encouraging. It appears that breeding birds are not doing so well this year with only 4 nests still active. There are however lots of wandering juveniles including an East of Scotland bird which is fitted with a radio transmitter and also has a wing tag White 5. This is at least the second East Coast bird to reach the west coast and the second batch of chicks for this project will arrive in Fife later this week. No coloured wing tags will be fitted this year though birds will be fitted with coloured darvic rings |
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17th June 2008
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Manx Shearwater
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on a day of strong westerlies 52 flew south past Neist Point in under an hour (Duncan Ritchie) |
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16th June 2008
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Arctic Skua
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single bird harrying Terns at Claigan (Kate Smart) |
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15th June 2008
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Hen Harrier
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interim report on the study area in Central Skye - has found 9 pairs either on eggs or small young. Some birds have been very late in settling to breed. This is a similar number of pairs to 2007 when there was a serious problem with nest predation of young by foxes. See latest image in Gallery. (RMcM) |
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12th June 2008
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Leach's Petrel
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single seen from the Uig-Tarbert ferry - also two Storm Petrels (about half way across) - Simon Dix |
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11th June 2008
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Turtle Dove
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still visiting a bird table in a garden at Rhenetra, Kensaleyre (Simon Dix) |
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10th June 2008
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Blackcap
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singing bird at Willowbank, Portree (SHolliday) |
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10th June 2008
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Dunlin
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5 at Loch Brittle, possibly late migrants (SHolliday) |
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9th June 2008
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Manx Shearwater
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few reports still but group of 15 still frequenting the Sound of Raasay (Carol Hawley) |
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9th June 2008
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Black Guillemot
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18 in Loch Portree from the Lady Bee (SHolliday) |
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8th June 2008
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Turtle Dove
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this rare migrant has been found more regularly in recent years and Simon Dix found a single this afternoon at Rhenetra, Kensaleyre - seen later by RMcM. |
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8th June 2008
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Great Skua
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4 off Kilt Rocks, Staffin (SHolliday) |
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6th June 2008
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Whinchat
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at least 3 pairs on the fringes of Coishleadar Forest near Edinbane (see Gallery) (RMcM) |
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6th June 2008
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Short-eared Owl
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singles early morning near Sligachan and at Greshornish (RMcM)and at the Black Lochs on the 7th (Liz Phillips) |
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6th June 2008
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Rubha Hunish - Seabirds
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Bill & Deirdre Peppe commented on the lack of seabirds at this site - only a few Fulmars, virtually no Kittiwakes and a few auks mainly at sea. This is extremely disappointing but seems part of a declining trend and we will check it out on an SWT fieldtrip visit early next month (Bob) |
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6th June 2008
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Corncrake
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bird calling in area near Dunvegan (Ann Sime) |
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2008: January, February, March, April, May, June, July
2007: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2006: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2005: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2004: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2003: December |
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