Skye Birds - A Birding Guide to the Isle of Skye

Bird sightings on the Island of Skye and the neighbouring area

The objective of these pages 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 Peter Gordon (  who may require a full description before the record was accepted. This website will very much be locally focused but has become part of the SOC local recorder system and other networks and we hope we can enhance these systems. We will also 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.

Date Species Image Details
28th Feb 2009 Glaucous Gull View Image still in the Ardelve area of Lochalsh with Herring Gulls, coming to bread in a local garden (BN)
28th Feb 2009 Barn Owl View Image single bird seen between Sligachan and Portree (BN)
26th Feb 2009 Sponsored Bird Race a Skye team previously participated in the Highland and Moray Bird Race but this no longer takes place. We are having our own bird race on Sunday 8th March when Roger Cottis, John Phillips, Martin Benson and myself will try and see as many different species as possible on the day - hopefully around 70. My son Neil is presently working with Global Vision International on an educational project in Antigua, Guatemala, and we are trying to raise some funds to help purchase school equipment. Sponsorship and any donations are of course extremely welcome. Any other teams would of course be welcome. Further details about the GVI project or about getting involved please contact Bob through the site.
26th Feb 2009 Woodcock during an hour's walk through recent clearfell at Keppoch, Strathaird, a total of 7 were flushed suggesting there is a major spring passage north (RMcM)
25th Feb 2009 Barn Owl View Image continuing reports from Portnalong area where one is roosting on Jean Thomas's croft.
25th Feb 2009 Barnacle Goose View Image excellent count of 150 at Kilmaluag and 50 at Staffin (Colin Alston)
22nd Feb 2009 Skylark View Image a group of 15 this time but coming in from the sea at Neist Point, presumably from the Uists (A&AS)- other migrants in the area included a Lapwing at Lower Milovaig and a Pied Wagtail at Meanish Pier.
22nd Feb 2009 Tufted Duck View Image 2 at Loch Mor with 4 Goosander and 7 Goldeneye (A&AS)
22nd Feb 2009 Jack Snipe View Image single near Boreraig, Strath (MB)
21st Feb 2009 Skylark View Image 3 at Lower Milovaig (AS) and also a single at Elgol - numbers still generally low.
21st Feb 2009 Black-headed Gull generally a scarce bird in the north-west of the island so a single at Lower Milovaig was unusual (AS)
21st Feb 2009 Iceland Gull View Image single on the coast of Loch Portree at Penifler (RCottis)
20th Feb 2009 Hen Harrier View Image report of a female at Lower Breakish (P&RDavison) - there have also been recent reports of males at Ullinish, Kildonan and Greshornish. As the weather improves, birds are now moving back into territories both on Skye and probably further north so all sightings are welcome. Last year was a poor breeding season largely because of nest predation and also because of the deliberate trampling of a brood of 5 young. It is hoped that the coming year's breeding season will have better outcomes. (Bob)
19th Feb 2009 Glaucous Gull View Image a 2nd or 3rd winter bird at Ardelve, Lochalsh (BN)
19th Feb 2009 Water Rail remains received via Deirdre Peppe of a dead bird found at Glen Eynort about 10 days ago - this would be at the time of the cold weather when this rare winter visitor would struggle for food.
19th Feb 2009 Golden Eagle View Image Rob Wright is a regular para-glider who often flies from MacLeod's Table North - Rob was flying at 1750' when he spotted a Golden Eagle below him. The bird climbed 1000' to give him the once over before heading off towards Glendale providing Rob with a memorable encounter.
17th Feb 2009 Shelduck good count of 18 at Ardnish + 10 Lapwing & a Grey Plover (A&EH)
17th Feb 2009 Barn Owl View Image although a single has been seen regularly at Upper Breakish two different birds were seen to-night (SBirch)
11th Feb 2009 Glaucous Gull View Image 2nd winter at Faoilean Fish Farm, Strathaird (RMcM)
11th Feb 2009 Snow Bunting View Image report of 9 on the shore at Eilean nan Gall at the head of Loch Duich - also 4 Stonechat & 3 Meadow Pipit (Rule Anderson)
10th Feb 2009 Barn Owl View Image single at Harrapool (MB)
10th Feb 2009 Goldeneye good count of 12 on the Storr Lochs with 5 males - concentrated in the unfrozen areas (MPerry)
9th Feb 2009 Golden Plover count of 35 at Trumpan, Waternish during tetrad visit when a total of 30 species were recorded including Skylark, Reed Bunting, Peregrine and Jack Snipe. Try and get these 2nd winter tetrad visits in before the end of the month!! (Bob)
9th Feb 2009 Song Thrush View Image count of 13 at Dubh Aird, Plockton, along with 5 Fieldfare & 4 Mistle Thrush (BN) - also 11 at Trumpan, Waternish (RMcM)
8th Feb 2009 Jack Snipe View Image 2 at Glas Eilean, Harrapool (MB) with a single at Trumpan, Waternish on the 9th (RMcM)
8th Feb 2009 Skylark View Image moving back despite the weather - 3 at Glas Eilean, Harrapool (MB) with 6 at Trumpan, Waternish on the 9th (RMcM)
8th Feb 2009 Barn Owl View Image another report from Sleat, this time from Tarskavaig (Val Piddock)
7th Feb 2009 Red-throated Diver View Image 3 in Raasay Narrows + a Black-throated Diver (WM)
6th Feb 2009 Grey Wagtail View Image invariably a comment is made about the scarcity of a species then it turns up - there were 3 at Kilmarie, Strathaird this morning (see Gallery) (RMcM)
5th Feb 2009 Stonechat View Image report of 2 on the shore at Ullinish along with a Grey Wagtail (PE) prompt the comment that both species appear to be much scarcer than last winter - probably a result of the harder winter.
5th Feb 2009 Golden Plover flock of 38 at Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM)
5th Feb 2009 Black-throated Diver View Image singles off the Aird, Gedintailor, Braes (WM) and in the Sound of Sleat off Ardvarsar (RMcM)
4th Feb 2009 Barn Owl View Image single observed in early evening at Ferindonald (ADrever)
3rd Feb 2009 Greenland White-fronted Goose 20 at Ardnish + 9 Shelduck, 9 Lapwing & 60 + Ronged Plover (A&EH)
2nd Feb 2009 Lapwing despite the cold weather 4 back in a breeding area at Ullinish (PElford)
1st Feb 2009 Gadwall View Image 4 at the head of Loch Sligachan including 3 males (RMcM)
1st Feb 2009 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image one on garden feeders at Kyleakin (A&EH)

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