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 Nov 2010 Short-eared Owl View Image very interesting report of three birds at dusk - very noisy - at Ullinish (GLeatherbarrow)
30th Nov 2010 Skylark View Image unusual record of 2 at Balmeanach, Braes - probably weather related (WM)
30th Nov 2010 Golden Plover large flock of 60-70 at The Aird, Braes - also a single Purple Sandpiper on the point (WM)
30th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image still coming to nuts at Fasach, Glendale (M.Fawkes)
29th Nov 2010 Woodcock emaciated bird handed in to RSPB Office later died - obviously weather related - any other reports of weather related mortality welcome (SBentall)
29th Nov 2010 Barn Owl View Image bird hunting in daylight at Fasach, Glendale (M.Fawkes)
28th Nov 2010 Brambling View Image 4-6 at Liveras Park, Broadford (see Gallery) (MB)
28th Nov 2010 Woodcock single at Lower Milovaig is first this winter (AS) - perhaps the bad weather will push birds in.
27th Nov 2010 Brambling View Image a garden visitor at Carbostmore along with Chaffinches (David Hammond)
27th Nov 2010 Wren very interesting cold weather behaviour observed at Ellishadder where c10 Wrens were seen trying toget into a House Martin's nest to roost (Joan McLennan)
27th Nov 2010 Red Grouse bad weather movement with a sigle bird on The Aird, Balmeanach - also 12 Golden Plover on nearby Camus a Mhor (WM)
27th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image single in garden at Urquhart Place, Portree (S.Hodgetts)
25th Nov 2010 Nuthatch still regularly visiting Brian Neath's feeder at Carr Brae, Dornie (see Gallery)
25th Nov 2010 Reed Buntings starting to come to feeders with the cold snap - reports from Portnalong (JT) and from Herbusta (NMacLeod)
25th Nov 2010 Water Rail unfortunately one found dead on the road at Reraig,Lochalsh (D.&.T Glen-Riddell)
24th Nov 2010 BTO Atlas good weather to go out and do those final winter tetrads - courtesy of the M.V. Brigadoon we managed to do the winter visit to the two tetrads on South Rona - probably the most remote in our area. Managed to record some 25+ species including Woodcock, Bullfinch (see Gallery),Long-tailed Tit and Mistle Thrush (H.I. & R.McM)
24th Nov 2010 Slavonian Grebe single at Balmeanach Bay (WM)
23rd Nov 2010 Golden Eagle View Image interesting report of a bird hunting over The Aird, at Balmeanach, Braes - the bird was seen hunting two Herons and also had a go at a Greater Black-backed Gull before heading over the Narrows of Raasay (per Perry Dark)
22nd Nov 2010 Greenland White-fronted Goose wintering flock numbering around 24 seen to land on Ardnish (A&EH)
22nd Nov 2010 Common Crossbill View Image during tetrad visits by (BN) big numbers in vicinity of Mam Ratagan/Beinn a' Chuirn - perhaps 50-80 along with Siskins and Redpolls on Sitka Spruce - very few red (male) birds obvious.
21st Nov 2010 Long-tailed Duck View Image immature on Loch Mor, Waterstein (DCJ)
21st Nov 2010 Long-tailed Tit View Image flock of 10 at Achacork, Portree (CLomas)
21st Nov 2010 Buzzard count of 20 near Monkstadt, Kilmuir (RMcM)
21st Nov 2010 Greenland White-fronted Goose wintering flock of c25 at Chailium Chille, Kilmuir (RMcM)
21st Nov 2010 Ptarmigan View Image during tetrad visit group of 6 on Ben Aslak, Kinloch (DCJ)
21st Nov 2010 Gadwall View Image drake among Wigeon at the head of Loch Sligachan (RMcM)
21st Nov 2010 Blackcap View Image male at feeders at Ard Dorch (T.Swainbank)
21st Nov 2010 Wigeon on Lochalsh, 85 at Nostie Bay and 25 at Avernish (BN)
20th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image brief appearance this morning at Fasach, Glendale - also two male Blackcaps at feeders (per RMcM)
20th Nov 2010 Chiffchaff single at Orbost (AS)
20th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image straggler at Bharcasaig Bay, Orbost (AS)
19th Nov 2010 Long-tailed Tit View Image 14 at Lower Breakish (A&EH)
19th Nov 2010 Ringed Plover View Image c55 at Harrapool + 50 Dunlin (MB)
18th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image the Glendale bird moved to another garden and was last seen coming to feeders two days ago (per RMcM)
18th Nov 2010 Brambling View Image feeding in garden at Morar - also a female Blackcap (SMacDonald)
17th Nov 2010 Blackcap View Image male feeding on apples at Carr Brae, Dornie (BN)
16th Nov 2010 Common Crossbill View Image 12-14 at Rubha na Sgianadin, Broadford + a Greenshank & a Slavonian Grebe (JJ)
16th Nov 2010 Woodcock single at Rubha na Sgianadin (JJ) prompts me to suggest that numbers seem to be low this year!
15th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image still a single along with c20 Redwings at Kensaleyre (SClarke)
15th Nov 2010 Teal View Image 18 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
15th Nov 2010 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 9 at the head of Loch Portree (T.Bowditch)
15th Nov 2010 Slavonian Grebe single in Loch Harport off Portnalong - there are few reports from the west of the island. (Tim Bowditch)
14th Nov 2010 Goldfinch 'charm' of 23 at Harlosh (TBird)
14th Nov 2010 House Sparrow View Image excellent count of 80 at feeders at Lower Milovaig (AS)
14th Nov 2010 Slavonian Grebe 2 at An Dubh-aird, Plockton + 3 Great Northern Divers and single Red-throated Diver (BN)
14th Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 4 south over Kyleakin (A&EH)
13th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image at least a single bird at Ashaig (RMcM)and another single at Kensaleyre (SClarke)
13th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image an update on the Crested Tit found by Mairi Fawkes at Fasach, Glendale - the bird is still coming to feed though less regularly than at first. There has been much discussion on whether the bird is a Scottish bird or a vagrant from Scandinavia but as the plumage differences are fairly subtle, this has so far proved impossible to establish.
13th Nov 2010 White-tailed Eagle View Image 4 on Isay, Dunvegan, with two adults and two juveniles (JK)
13th Nov 2010 Black-headed Gull a flock of 70 at Balmeanach Bay is exceptional (WM)
12th Nov 2010 Merlins and Hen Harriers over the last month there have been numerous reports from various observers on Harriers and Merlins, both from low and high ground. Certainly in the case of Merlins many of these are likely to be migrants. The Harrier sightings are more complex. Some are from the breeding areas suggesting adult birds are lingering. Other records, which are widespread, may well be migrants and certainly roost counts in Trotternish have always peaked in November. (Bob)
11th Nov 2010 Brent Goose View Image very late stragglers still pushing through with 20 over Broadford Bay (MB)
10th Nov 2010 Swallow an extremely late bird at Lower Milovaig, Glendale (AS)
10th Nov 2010 Brent Goose View Image 6 at Lusa, Broadford (AH,EH)
10th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image 4 at Morar (SMacD)
10th Nov 2010 Greylag Goose View Image 103 in flock at Traigh + 2 Pink-feet and hybrid Canada (SMacD)
10th Nov 2010 Snow Bunting View Image Single at Traigh + 12 Golden Plover (SMacD)
9th Nov 2010 Long-tailed Tit View Image flock of 9 at Glasphein, Staffin (MP) - (worth checking any L-t Tit flocks for birds with all white heads which are migrants from north Europe - Bob)
8th Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 4 flying south between Borve and Uigshader (JK) + two resting on the shore near Skinidin on the 7th MB,RMcM)
7th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image still using garden feeders at Fasach, Glendale, and seen be several obervers to-day - see image in Gallery by Martin Benson.
6th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image still visiting garden feeders at Fasach, Glendale (MFawkes)
6th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image 3 at Uigshader (JK),6 at the Library Car Park, Portree (CLomas) and 2 at Broadford (MB)
6th Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 22 at Loch na Dubriachan, Sleat, including 9 juveniles + c35 Teal (RMcM)
6th Nov 2010 Slavonian Grebe single at Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM)
5th Nov 2010 Nuthatch bird has now been coming to Brian Neath's feeders at Carr Brae, Dornie now for 6 weeks - seen by RMcM to-day!
5th Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image 5 in Kyle (RMcM) and 30 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
5th Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 17 flying south over Breakish early morning (R&RDavison) and also 4 east over Elgol at 0800 (RMcM)
5th Nov 2010 Crested Tit View Image received digital images to-day (see Gallery) of a Crested Tit at feeders at Fasach, Glendale, yesterday and found by Mairi Fawkes. This is an amazing record and the first for Skye and Lochalsh. It also illustrates the importance of trying to get a photographic record of rare birds, irrespective of the quality - well done Mairi!
4th Nov 2010 Greenland White-fronted Goose 7 at Luib (Sam Foster)
4th Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 12 at Broadford Bay, (SB) 6 at Kyleakin (AH) and 5 at Loch na Dubriachan (MP)
4th Nov 2010 Mallard 73 at Loch na Dubriachan, Sleat + 19 Teal, 15 Greylag and a single Pink-foot which is possibly a feral bird (MP)
4th Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 25+ at Loch Snizort and 35+ at Loch Duich (NRoberts)
3rd Nov 2010 Brent Goose View Image single straggler at Balmeanach, Braes - and in the Narrows of Raasay 5 Gannet, 3 Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Northern Diver as well as Kittiwakes and auks (WMarshall, PDark)
3rd Nov 2010 Greenland White-fronted Goose 15 at Ord + 6 Whooper Swans (SB)
3rd Nov 2010 Dipper 3 at the mouth of the River Brittle (NRoberts)
2nd Nov 2010 Brambling View Image male visiting feeders in Mallaig to-day (SMacD)
2nd Nov 2010 Slavonian Grebe single at Staffin Bay ws unusual (NRoberts)
2nd Nov 2010 Barn Owl View Image report from Kensaleyre (NRoberts)
1st Nov 2010 Waxwing View Image single bird seeking berries in garden at Glasphein, Staffin (MPerry)
1st Nov 2010 Wheatear View Image a very late Wheatear at the Old Pier, Raasay (CAlston) - whilst birds have been reported in late October in previous years this may well be our first November record.
1st Nov 2010 Whooper Swan View Image 4 on Loch Leathan (EMitchell)
1st Nov 2010 Barn Owl View Image one found injured with a broken wing in Arisaig was handed over to SSPCA (SMacD)

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