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 |
31st Jan 2007 |
Iceland Gull |
|
report on the 'BirdGuides' alert of 3 Icelands at Portree Harbour. |
31st Jan 2007 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
report on 'BirdGuides' alert of single bird at Portree Harbour. Other bird at Heaste is still around, usually on its own and frequenting the small Bay behind the old school to the west of the fish farm. (DR,RMcM) |
31st Jan 2007 |
Waxwing |
|
overall numbers are scarce this winter but this is the first for our area with 2 in the garden of the Tingle Creek Hotel, Erbusaig (Dennis Bates) |
29th Jan 2007 |
Goldeneye |
|
good count of 8 at Ardnish, Broadford (DR) |
29th Jan 2007 |
Purple Sandpiper |
|
count of 10+ at Ardnish - and also a single Greenshank (DRogers) |
29th Jan 2007 |
Slavonian Grebe |
|
always scarce on Lochalsh there was a single at Strathy Bay, west of Plockton (BN) |
28th Jan 2007 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
following a report from Roger Gentle of a white gull at Heaste Martin Benson checked it out and confirmed a first winter Glaucous - there are currently three different birds on Skye. |
28th Jan 2007 |
Knot |
|
single in Broadford Bay (MB) |
28th Jan 2007 |
Carrion Crow |
|
single at Broadford (MB) |
28th Jan 2007 |
Barnacle Goose |
|
report from Ken Crane that a single has been consorting with Greylags at Glen Brittle for most of the winter. |
27th Jan 2007 |
Grey Plover |
|
single at Ardnish |
27th Jan 2007 |
Bar-tailed Godwit |
|
count of 17 during WeBS count - much more this winter than recent years. Conversely no Greenshank seen. |
27th Jan 2007 |
Goldeneye |
|
scarce this winter in Lochalsh but 6 on Loch Achaidh na h-Inich and 5 on Loch Lundie (BN) |
25th Jan 2007 |
Barnacle Goose |
|
showing well in Trotternish with 85 at Staffin and 110 at Kilmaluag |
25th Jan 2007 |
Redwing |
|
flocks of 40 at Duirinish and 33 at Dubh-aird, Plockton (BN) |
24th Jan 2007 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
still 2 at Portree with at least one Iceland Gull (MB) |
23rd Jan 2007 |
Fulmar |
|
territorial occupation at Neist Point with at least 50 pairs back on nest ledges (AStables) |
20th Jan 2007 |
Gannet |
|
scarce in winter but 3 at Neist Point and 3 off Milovaig Pier (AStables) |
18th Jan 2007 |
Song Thrush |
|
early songster at Dunvegan (Bernard Cookson) |
17th Jan 2007 |
Black-headed Gull |
|
excellent count of 60 at Kyleakin (A&EHorner) |
16th Jan 2007 |
Whitefronted Goose |
|
the 'Broadford' flock has been conspicuous by its absence this winter so 29 over Harrapool is encouraging (DRogers) |
16th Jan 2007 |
Turnstone |
|
22 on the shore in Broadford at the mouth of the Broadford River - also 53 Rock Doves (DR) |
10th Jan 2007 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
a single showing well at Portree (see pic) and two Iceland Gulls (MBenson) |
9th Jan 2007 |
Purple Sandpiper |
|
12 at Strathaird Point |
7th Jan 2007 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
two this morning - a 1st winter bird on the refuse disposal site with typical plumage - and another probable 1st winter bird, but with much whiter plumage, at the mouth of the Varrigal River in Portree Loch - also a 1st winter Iceland. (MB RMcM) |
7th Jan 2007 |
Grey Wagtail |
|
though the species can be found on the shore in winter at Lochalsh it was unusual to find one on Carr Brae - also a female Pied Wagtail - both products of the mild weather. (BN) |
6th Jan 2007 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
report via the Bird Guides site of a 1st winter bird in Portree Harbour - as well as a 1st winter Iceland. |
6th Jan 2007 |
Ringed Plover |
|
big count of 90 at Waterloo (A&EH) |
5th Jan 2007 |
Crossbill |
|
we get few reports so a pair in the forest near Kyleakin is well worth recording - our species is the European Crossbill (A&EH) |
4th Jan 2007 |
Barnacle Goose |
|
report from Donald Brown of flock of 55 near Staffin Slip. |
2nd Jan 2007 |
Iceland Gull |
|
1st winter bird at mouth of Broadford River -noon to-day - see photograph (MBenson) |
2nd Jan 2007 |
Twite |
|
scarce in winter there were 2 near Struan |
2nd Jan 2007 |
Barn Owl |
|
report of bird at Struan causeway - Peter Elford & Linda Henderson. |
1st Jan 2007 |
Turnstone |
|
8 at Portnalong Pier (JThomas) |
1st Jan 2007 |
Goosander |
|
3 at Portnalong Pier (JThomas) |