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Bird sightings on the Island of Skye

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.

DATE SPECIES IMAGE DETAILS
31st December 2008 Blackcap click for image female at bird table Isleornsay for the last few days (RCottis)
31st December 2008 Lapwing click for image though a few Lapwing have wintered on Ardnish a count of 30 was exceptional (A&EH)
31st December 2008 Common Scoter 7 between Ardnish and Pabay - also 2 Long-tailed Duck (DR)
29th December 2008 Whooper Swan click for image 4 at Loch Mor,Waterstein + 3 at Loch Cuithir & 2 on Loch Fada (AS & CHawley) also 6 Golden Plover at Loch Mor(per AS)
29th December 2008 Black Guillemot click for image moving back to inshore waters with summer plumage bird at Loch Poolteil (AS)
29th December 2008 Turnstone click for image 12 at Waterloo (MFrench)
29th December 2008 Red-throated Diver click for image good count of 6 at Invertote (CHawley)
27th December 2008 Ptarmigan click for image 2 winter plumage birds on Sgurr na Coinnich / Beinn na Caillich, Kinloch (P&R Davison)
27th December 2008 Long-tailed Duck click for image 3 at Ardnish + 9 Slavonian Grebes, 8 Purple Sandpipers & 45 Turnstone (A&EH)
27th December 2008 Goosander click for image 4 at Loch Mor, Waterstein + 6 Goldeneye (A&AS)
27th December 2008 Fieldfare click for image 30 at Waterstein (A&AS)
26th December 2008 Black-throated Diver click for image 2 at Loch Pooltiel - also 3 Red-throats (A&AS)
24th December 2008 Merry Christmas just to wish all our site visitors & contributers a merry christmas & a happy new year with many thanks for all your support. Although we are away I will be trying to keep the site up to date - there may be the occasional glitch!
23rd December 2008 Glaucous Gull click for image one feeding on a Red Deer carcass on the tideline at Duisdalemore (RCottis)
22nd December 2008 Barn Owl click for image single seen at Achacork (CLomas)- & two between Drynoch & Struan (PElford)
21st December 2008 Hen Harrier click for image stunning male at Harrapool (DR)
20th December 2008 Long-tailed Duck click for image 2 in Broadford Bay during WeBS count - also a Grey Plover, 6 Greenshank, 7 Slavonian Grebe & 14 Purple Sandpiper (RMcM)
17th December 2008 Iceland Gull click for image currently three in Mallaig Harbour - an adult and two juvs. (SMacDonald)
17th December 2008 Blackcap click for image a male at Fank Brae, Mallaig (SMacDonald)
16th December 2008 Grey Phalarope click for image report from Sylvia Porter of a 'possible' bird in the surf at Staffin Bay - the description certainly suggests this and it is a species which is occasionally recorded in winter.
16th December 2008 Treecreeper click for image another report - this time from Sylvia Porter in Staffin. This is certainly quite remote from any suitable mature woodland with resident breeding populations - adding support to the theory that there may be Scandinavian immigrants about.
16th December 2008 Purple Sandpiper click for image 4 at Ashaig, Broadford (A&EH)
15th December 2008 Treecreeper click for image another report of a wandering bird in the 'Three Chimneys' garden at Colbost (S.Spear) - following other reports at Rhenetra and Glenelg there has been some discussion that some of these birds are very white breasted and 'possibly' Scandinavian in origin - it is extremely difficult to differentiate the two.
14th December 2008 Waxwing click for image still two stragglers at The Obbe, Kyleakin (A&EH)
13th December 2008 Barnacle Goose click for image at least 50 on the island of Clett - seen from Waternish (AMearns)
13th December 2008 Lesser Whitethroat click for image wintering bird still present at Halistra, Waternish,regularly at feeders in several gardens (AMearns, JHodgkin)
11th December 2008 Whooper Swan click for image 10 at Loch Cillchroisd, Strathaird - larger group than normal at this time of the year and possibly result of frosty weather further east.
9th December 2008 Snow Bunting click for image single at the roadside between Dunvegan & Skinidin (A&AS)
9th December 2008 Waxwing click for image still two at The Obbe, Kyleakin (A&EH)
9th December 2008 Slavonian Grebe click for image single at Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM)
8th December 2008 White-tailed Eagle click for image A young 2007 bird with a white tag & letter 5 at Loch Slapin earlier to-day (LCard)- now established that this bird fledged on Canna.
7th December 2008 Snow Bunting click for image a single bird at Lower Milovaig - also a Black-throated Diver in Loch Pooltiel (AS)
6th December 2008 Crossbill not exactly the normal habitat - but pair at Meanish Pier, Glendale (A&AS)
6th December 2008 Waxwing click for image still 9 at Arisaig + a single at Fank Brae, Mallaig & a male Blackcap (SMacD)
6th December 2008 Purple Sandpiper click for image 4 at Ardnish + 7 Snipe, 9 Golden Plover and 3 Lapwing (A&EH)
5th December 2008 Waxwing click for image still 5 at Kyleakin.
4th December 2008 Waxwing click for image still a few about with 5 The Obbe, Kyleakin (A&EH) and 8 at Arisaig yesterday (SMacD) - also 30 Goldfinches at The Obbe, Kyleakin.
4th December 2008 Twite click for image 2 at The Obbe, Kyleakin (A&EH) - this is a species which is scarce in winter as most of our breeding birds migrate.
3rd December 2008 Blackcap click for image male back in garden at Kyleakin (H&MS)
3rd December 2008 Purple Sandpiper click for image single at Waterloo along with 20 Turnstone (DR)- also 6 reported from Mallaig (SMacD)
3rd December 2008 Great Crested Grebe this is a scarce bird in the west and there was a single at the south end of Loch Morar (SMacD)
3rd December 2008 Water Rail report of a probable rail flushed from a ditch in woodland near Dunvegan Castle (LMillington) - the 2nd report within days suggests there may have been an influx following the bad weather further east. Further report from Brian Neath of one at Ardelve.
3rd December 2008 Woodcock report of 4 at Conchra, Lochalsh (BN)
2nd December 2008 Mallard we very rarely have this species on the site but a count of 108 at Loch nan Dubhrachan, Sleat, is good by our standards - the loch also had 35 Teal & 6 Whooper Swans. It is suspected that the local estate is putting out grain to attract waterfowl.
2nd December 2008 Waxwing click for image though most Waxwings have moved through there was a report from Stephen MacDonald of 6 on berries at Arisaig - still some stragglers about.
2nd December 2008 Reed Bunting click for image report of 5 at Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN)
1st December 2008 Treecreeper click for image a single in the garden at Rhenetra,Kensaleyre is a new record for the Dix family.
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