Date |
Species |
Image |
Details |
31st Mar 2009 |
Cuckoo |
|
report from Roger Cottis of a bird flying near the Black Lochs south of Broadford - this would be one of the earliest records in Scotland. |
31st Mar 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
large group of 59 resting at Pool Roag (RForrest) |
30th Mar 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
Big movements north with 50+ at Milovaig (Clare Gray), then 100 north at Loch Dunvegan at 1500 hours and 49 on nearby Loch Suardal (Rob Wright) |
30th Mar 2009 |
White Wagtail |
|
starting to move through with two at Neist Point - also a female Merlin (AS) |
30th Mar 2009 |
Black-headed Gull |
|
38 at Broadford Bay + 4 Lesser Black-backs (MB) |
29th Mar 2009 |
Bird Atlas |
|
many of you who are already participating in the Atlas in Skye will have received an email from Bob Swann and myself about the coming breeding season Atlas visits. If you are participating in the Atlas and have not received this email please get in touch. We still have a good number of free tetrads so it is not too late to start participating - the more the merrier. Contact me through the site or at 01471 866305 if you need any further information - Bob.
|
29th Mar 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
the big flock of 40+ was still at Loch Meodal yesterday but birds were moving north to-day with two big herds of 30 & 40 over Lower Milovaig (AS) |
29th Mar 2009 |
Barn Owl |
|
single bird at Bernisdale (WBurge) |
29th Mar 2009 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
single at Holm Island which flew towards Raasay (CHawley) |
28th Mar 2009 |
Great Spotted Woodpecker |
|
male at bird table at Kyleakin (A&EH) - also recent reports from Lower Ostaig, Sleat, and Strathaird House. |
28th Mar 2009 |
Short-eared Owl |
|
several recent reports including Kildonan (HWest), the Ose valley (Rob Forrest), near Sligachan (KC), and Aird Bernisdale. |
27th Mar 2009 |
Merlin |
|
single through the garden at Lower Milovaig (AS) who has also commented that there are still few pipits about. The flush of migrants a week ago has certainly been halted by the cold, wet weather. |
27th Mar 2009 |
Canada Goose |
|
still a single at Kyleakin Obbe with two Greylags but seeing one of the Greylags off - Pair bonding ? (A&EH)- hybrid pairs of Canada/Greylag are apparently quite common amongst feral flocks. |
25th Mar 2009 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
probable third winter bird at Portree (RMcM) |
25th Mar 2009 |
Chiffchaff |
|
report of two birds at Lower Milovaig (AS) |
23rd Mar 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
large flock of 45+ still at Loch Meodal - obviously holding back until the weather changes. |
22nd Mar 2009 |
Chiffchaff |
|
1st report from Lower Milovaig (AS) |
21st Mar 2009 |
Wheatear |
|
another male at Broadford (MB) |
21st Mar 2009 |
Barn Owl |
|
report of a single at Kyleakin (A&EH) |
21st Mar 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
several reports of large group of Whoopers (up to 47) on Loch Meodal, Sleat. These are migratory birds heading north to Iceland. |
20th Mar 2009 |
Wheatear |
|
a female at Torrin and a male at Glasnakille (RMcM) + 2 males at Meanish Pier (AS) - there are now 9 records from 17-20 March which is the earliest ever group of records for this species on Skye. From the website, earliest dates in the last 5 years were 27.3.04, 20.3.05, 29.3.06, 27.3.07 and 30.3.08. |
20th Mar 2009 |
Owls |
|
three species of Owl seen from Steve & Helen Birch's house at Upper Breakish between 16th & 19th - Tawny, Barn and Short-eared - must be some kind of record. |
19th Mar 2009 |
Sand Martin |
|
another very early migrant - a single at Lower Milovaig (AS) |
19th Mar 2009 |
Barnacle Goose |
|
c90 feeding on Eilean Mor off Lyndale Point (RMcM) |
19th Mar 2009 |
Wheatear |
|
more early reports with 2 at Scorr Farm, Loch Pooltiel (K.Lindsley) and singles at Ardnish (A&EH)and Uiginish, Dunvegan (Heather MacDonald) |
19th Mar 2009 |
Canada Goose |
|
single apparently paired with a Greylag at Kilmaluag (RMcM)- coincidentally another with Greylags at The Obbe, Kyleakin (A&EH) |
19th Mar 2009 |
Lapwing |
|
good count of 26 on Ardnish + 4 Purple Sandpiper & 2 Golden Plover (A&EH) |
18th Mar 2009 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
two sub-adult birds coming to a garden feeding station at Carr Brae, Dornie, along with Herring Gulls (BN) |
18th Mar 2009 |
Sand Martin |
|
first report of spring and again early - at Lusa (MPerry) |
17th Mar 2009 |
Wheatear |
|
a very early male at Elgol + the first pair of Twite, and lots of Pied Wagtails, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing - spring has sprung (RMcM)-report of lots of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wags. in Broadford as well (MB) |
17th Mar 2009 |
Barn Owl |
|
single Harrapool/Broadford near main road (MB) |
17th Mar 2009 |
Whooper Swan |
|
21 heading north towards Claigan at Dunvegan (M. Wright) |
17th Mar 2009 |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
|
single at Fasach (AS) |
17th Mar 2009 |
Gannet |
|
2 at Meanish Pier - also a Woodpigeon, a relative rarity at Lower Milovaig (AS) |
17th Mar 2009 |
Great Northern Diver |
|
excellent count of 16 between Drumbuie and Port-an-eorna - also 3 Slavonian Grebes (BN) |
16th Mar 2009 |
Short-eared Owl |
|
one hunting at Ullinish (L.Henderson) |
16th Mar 2009 |
Moorhen |
|
still 3 at Loch CillChroisd (RMcM) |
16th Mar 2009 |
Redwing |
|
two birds in garden at Lower Milovaig behaving very much as a pair with chasing and singing (AS) |
15th Mar 2009 |
Barnacle Goose |
|
single at Ardnish is unusual (A&EH) |
14th Mar 2009 |
Lesser Black-backed Gull |
|
single at Broadford River, first report this spring. (MB) |
14th Mar 2009 |
Gannet |
|
spring reports of singles at Gedntailor (PDark) and Staffin (DCJardine) |
14th Mar 2009 |
Barnacle Goose |
|
counts of 120 at Staffin and at Kilmaluag - also on the goose front 13 Greenland Whitefronts at Kilmuir and a single Brent Goose still at Loch Greshornish (DCJardine) |
14th Mar 2009 |
Gadwall |
|
still 3 at Loch Sligachan + 3 Goosander (DCJardine) |
12th Mar 2009 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
now 2 over Eilean tioram, Ardelve (BN). Brian also reported his first 4 Skylarks - interesting that they are quite a bit later than in Skye. |
10th Mar 2009 |
Glaucous Gull |
|
still at Ardelve with Herring Gulls (BNeath) |
9th Mar 2009 |
Moorhen |
|
this species is scarce on Skye so 3 at Loch Cill Chroisd, Strathaird, is unusual and encouraging for potential breeding (RMcM) |
8th Mar 2009 |
Skye Bird Race |
|
unfortunately weather conditions for our sponsored race were rather hostile but we still managed a creditable 62 species mainly in the south of the island only going as far north as Portree. Highlights included 3 Gadwall at Loch Sligachan, 2 Iceland Gulls at Portree, a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Isleornsay and c100 Kittiwake off Ord. Full list supplied on request. (R.McMillan, M.Benson, R.Cottis & J.Phillips) |
7th Mar 2009 |
Barn Owl |
|
hunting and seen catching a vole at Breakish in mid afternoon (JPhillips) |
5th Mar 2009 |
Redwing |
|
small flocks of Redwing in Broadford suggesting return migration of Icelandic birds. (MB) |
4th Mar 2009 |
Greenland white-fronted Goose |
|
small flock of 15 on Ardnish + 40 Golden Plover and 2 Purple Sandpiper (A&EH) |
1st Mar 2009 |
Greenshank |
|
single on Loch Slapin, possibly the early return of breeding birds (see Gallery) (RMcM) |
1st Mar 2009 |
Twite |
|
30 at Tokavaig, Sleat, which may be early returning birds (MB) |
1st Mar 2009 |
Brent Goose |
|
single bird on the shore at Loch Greshornish along with Wigeon (HWest) - records in spring are fairly scarce. |
1st Mar 2009 |
Jack Snipe |
|
single in garden at Luib near dusk (Janis Miller) |