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
30th Apr 2010 Sedge Warbler View Image first report of the year, a calling bird at Harrapool (MB)
30th Apr 2010 Hen Harrier View Image There is a national census of breeding Hen Harriers taking place this year. Even casual sightings of birds could be extremely valuable, especially during the next 2/3 months. All records welcome.
30th Apr 2010 Blackcap View Image one singing in garden at Carr Brae, Dornie (BN)
29th Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image 5 at the head of Loch Slapin early morning + 22 Redshank (RMcM)
29th Apr 2010 Brent Goose View Image 4 pale bellied at Loch Portree + a Knot, 2 Greenshank and a pair of Wigeon (RMcM)
29th Apr 2010 Yellowhammer report of a pair feeding on grass seed at Kilbryde, Torrin (PJohnson)
29th Apr 2010 Whinchat View Image male at the Inverinate end of Carr Brae, the first of the year, + a reeling 'groper' (BN)
29th Apr 2010 Manx Shearwater View Image c200 per hour heading south at Neist Point - also 20+ Puffins close in (PE/LH)
29th Apr 2010 Dunlin View Image at Harrapool numbers have built up to 220 with 95 Ringed Plover, a Sanderling, 6 Whimbrel and still our two Black-tailed Godwit (MB)
29th Apr 2010 Common Scoter 2 in Achnacloich Bay (DR)
29th Apr 2010 Blackcap View Image single at Isleornsay (DR)
28th Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 9 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD), 7 at Ashaig and still 2 at Harrapool (A&EH)
28th Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image Two at Camusfearna/Sandaig (PJones), at Ardelve (BN) and at Camas Malag, Torrin (RMcM)
28th Apr 2010 Arctic Skua View Image two harassing Fulmars at Staffin Slip - also four Great Skua on nearby Staffin Island (SPorter)
28th Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image a good flock of 26 at Traigh, Morar + 18 Golden Plover and still a single Sandwich Tern (SMacD)
28th Apr 2010 Common Tern View Image single at Isleornsay (DR)
27th Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still two lovely summer plumage birds at Harrapool + reeling Grasshopper Warbler at nearby Green Gables Guest House (RMcM, R.Thornton)
27th Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image now 17 at Traigh, Morar + a Sanderling and 15 Golden Plover (SMacD)
26th Apr 2010 Cuckoo still no mass arrival - single at Loch Caroy (FReynolds)aand also at Lower Milovaig (AS)
26th Apr 2010 House Sparrow View Image leucistic bird with much white on the breast at Ardvarsar, busily nest building (K.Macleod)
26th Apr 2010 Redwing View Image late bird at Kildonan (TWilkinson)and still a pair at Lower Milovaig (AS)
26th Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still two at Harrapool (DR)
26th Apr 2010 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird at Harrapool (DR)
26th Apr 2010 Puffin a number showing in the sound of Raasay from the 'Brigadoon' - (PE)
26th Apr 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 5 heading north over Ullinish (PE)
26th Apr 2010 Wood Warbler a singing bird at Carr Brae + 4 Tree Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler & Cuckoo (BN)
26th Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image 7 on Traigh Golf Course with a wide variety of other waders + 5 Sandwich Tern at sea (SMacD)
26th Apr 2010 House Martin View Image first report from the area with a single at Traigh Farm near Mallaig (SMacD)
26th Apr 2010 Sedge Warbler View Image early report at Achnacloich (DR)
25th Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image the two at Harrapool are lingering (RThornton) + c90 Ringed Plover & 60 Dunlin (RMcM)
25th Apr 2010 Grasshopper Warbler a reeling bird at Choisleadar Forest, Edinbane (RMcM)
25th Apr 2010 Wheatear View Image big influx Back of Keppoch, Arisaig with 23+ along with many White Wagtails (SMacD)
25th Apr 2010 Ring Ouzel View Image one singing in Coire a Chrunda in the Cuillin (MLates)
25th Apr 2010 Greenland White-fronted Goose at least 6 near Trumpan Church, Waternish + 33 Golden Plover (SMidgley)
25th Apr 2010 Swallow 37 at roost at pool at Isleornsay (DR)
25th Apr 2010 Meadow Pipit View Image c200 in flock at Achnacloich, Sleat + 7 Greenland Wheatear (DR)
24th Apr 2010 Ringed Plover View Image 60+ at Harrapool and 20 Dunlin (RMcM)
24th Apr 2010 Cuckoo reports from the Edinbane area (BKillington)
24th Apr 2010 Little Auk single in the bay at Isleornsay (DR)
23rd Apr 2010 Cuckoo further reports from Heronfield, and Achacork, Portree (TMoore, Carol Lomas)
23rd Apr 2010 Greylag Goose View Image 50 north at Isleornsay (DR)
23rd Apr 2010 White Wagtail View Image 7 at Isleornsay (DR)
22nd Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still two at Harrapool (RMcM)
22nd Apr 2010 Pink-footed Goose View Image single on Croe Saltings, Lochalsh (BN)
22nd Apr 2010 Redwing View Image two stragglers in garden at Kyleakin (A&EH)
22nd Apr 2010 Sand Martin & Swallow 12 over the sea at mouth of River Sheil (BN) and a similar number over the sea at Armadale (RMcM)- with the first Swallow report from Raasay (SBungard)
22nd Apr 2010 Goosander View Image 10 at Shiel Bridge (BN)
22nd Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image two at The Aird, Braes, + Dunlin, three Golden Plover, and two Common Sandpiper (WM)
21st Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still two at Harrapool + two Whimbrel (DR)
21st Apr 2010 Cuckoo second report of spring from Isleornsay (RC)
21st Apr 2010 Common Sandpiper View Image two at Armadale (DCJ)
21st Apr 2010 Swallow slow to return in any numbers but now back at Kilbryde (JJ) - also Sand Martin at Teangue (DCJ)
21st Apr 2010 Barn Owl View Image single bird in the evening north of Loch Mealt, Trotternish (MPerry)
20th Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 3 at Harrapool, Broadford, late morning (see Gallery) (RMcM)
20th Apr 2010 Common Sandpiper View Image single at Balmeanach, Braes, is the first since an early arrival on the 11th - also a Greenshank at Camus a Mhor (WM)
19th Apr 2010 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two and a Whimbrel at Harrapool at noon - still two Black-tails and 12 Whimbrel in the evening(MB)
19th Apr 2010 Whimbrel View Image 3 at The Aird, Balmeanach, Braes (WM)
18th Apr 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 7 resting in the sea at Loch Slapin near Faoilean (RMcM)
18th Apr 2010 Cuckoo 1st report of the year from Glendale (A.Laing, C.Gray)
18th Apr 2010 Brent Goose View Image single pale bellied at Harrapool with 10 Shelduck (see Gallery) - (MB)
18th Apr 2010 Black Grouse View Image male seen about 1.5 miles east of Cluanie Inn (DR) (seems to be about as near as they get to us)
17th Apr 2010 Knot single at Harrapool + 38 Redshank and 2 Greenshank (MB)
16th Apr 2010 Pink-footed Goose View Image skeins heading north with 80 over Loch Cillchroisd and 120 over Bernisdale (RMcM)
16th Apr 2010 Twite View Image 11 eating grass seed in garden at Kilbryde, Strath (P.Johnson)
16th Apr 2010 Canada Goose View Image single at Loch Brittle with Greylags (SB)
15th Apr 2010 White Wagtail View Image single at Lower Milovaig along with several Pied & c100 Meadow Pipits (AS)
14th Apr 2010 Osprey View Image single bird high over Loch Connan mid morning which drifted away south (RMcM)
12th Apr 2010 Whooper Swan View Image c60 heading NE over Dunvegan at 0800 (AS)
12th Apr 2010 Twite View Image last year a number of colour-ringed Twite were recorded in the area - these had been ringed over winter in the east of Scotland. Stephen MacDonald recorded acolour-ringed Twite at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig to-day - have a look-out for Twite with coloured socks!!
12th Apr 2010 White Wagtail View Image single at Kilmarie, Strathaird (RMcM)
12th Apr 2010 Greenshank 2 on Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
12th Apr 2010 Corncrake View Image report of a bird calling at Glenelg - this is an exceptionally early report (R.Rishton)
11th Apr 2010 Willow Warbler View Image arriving on a broad front with reports of singing birds - two at Lower Milovaig (AS), Harrapool (MB), Bernisdale (RMcM),at Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN), also at Morar and Arisaig (SMacD) - see Gallery
11th Apr 2010 Common Sandpiper View Image first arrivals with singles on the shore of Loch Ainort, Luib (RMcM)and at Arisaig (SMacD)
11th Apr 2010 Puffin birds arriving inshore with a single in Loch Pooltiel (AS)
11th Apr 2010 Snow Goose possible snow goose flying north over Arisaig with c200 grey geese (RDyer) - interesting that there was a similar report from Camuscross on 10.5.09.
11th Apr 2010 Greenland White-fronted Goose 35 heading north over Back of Keppoch, Arisaig + 9 Whooper Swans (per SMacD)
11th Apr 2010 Purple Sandpiper View Image two at Strathaird Point (MKirk)
11th Apr 2010 Wheatear View Image good influx with c20 at the Quirang, Trotternish (P&R Rishton)
11th Apr 2010 Ring Ouzel View Image pair on the Quirang, Trotternish (P&R Rishton)
10th Apr 2010 Sand Martin View Image 3 near Achacork, Portree - first report of the year(CLomas)
10th Apr 2010 Chiffchaff singing bird at Lower Milovaig (AS)
10th Apr 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 18 flying north over Torrin (PJohnston)
9th Apr 2010 Swallow another two reports with a single between Bernisdale and Skeabost, and another at Breakish (AS, MKirk)
9th Apr 2010 Greenshank single at Lower Milovaig + 3 Redshank (AS)
7th Apr 2010 Greylag Goose View Image c60 heading NNE over Waternish Forest (RMcM, MK)
7th Apr 2010 Swallow 1st report of spring with a single bird at Storr Lochs dam (perSB)
7th Apr 2010 Puffin 1st spring report of a single bird in Staffin Bay (Karl Phillips)
5th Apr 2010 Stonechat View Image report of first of the year at Carr Brae, Dornie (BN) - this species seems decidedly thin on the ground and has possibly suffered badly during the winter.
5th Apr 2010 Linnet report of single bird at Dunvegan (CAlston)
4th Apr 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 16 at Loch Coralach, Dunvegan (MB,RMcM)
4th Apr 2010 Common Crossbill View Image up to 5 in Choisleadar Forest, Edinbane (image in Gallery) (MB, RMcM)
3rd Apr 2010 Great Northern Diver View Image 5 in a group at Loch na Cairidh (TSwainbank)
2nd Apr 2010 Red-throated Diver View Image pair displaying on Loch Fada, Trotternish (MPerry)
2nd Apr 2010 Golden Plover 5 at Camus a Mhor, Braes (WM)
2nd Apr 2010 Slavonian Grebe still a single in Loch na Cairidh + 2 Red-throated Diver (TSwainbank)
1st Apr 2010 Iceland Gull View Image adult still at Mallaig Harbour (SMacD)

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