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 |
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28th Feb 2011 | Hen Harrier |
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several reports of ringtails with a single at Ullinish on the 27th (PE) and at least two near Maligar, Staffin on 28th (RMcM) Also a male near Orbost on 28th (PE) |
28th Feb 2011 | Lapwing | c10 birds including early displaying pairs near Maligar, Staffin (RMcM) | |
28th Feb 2011 | Whooper Swan |
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now 4 at Loch Suardal (PE) and also 2 at Loch Cillchroisd. |
27th Feb 2011 | Short-eared Owl |
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numbers seem to be falling in the Kintail roost with only 3 birds present - birds may well be dispersing to breed elsewhere. (RA) |
27th Feb 2011 | Lapwing | 20+ at the head of Loch Caroy, also 10+ Turnstone (M.Sellors) | |
25th Feb 2011 | Bullfinch | 8 at Lusa, all males (AH) | |
25th Feb 2011 | Lapwing | 11 at Ashaig (AH) | |
25th Feb 2011 | Merlin |
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bird seen near Ullinish (LHenderson) |
24th Feb 2011 | Dunlin |
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c70 at Ashaig, Broadford (A&EH) |
24th Feb 2011 | Lapwing | very few reports with singles reported from The Aird, Gedintailor, (PD) and Ardnish. | |
24th Feb 2011 | Woodpigeon |
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small flock of 15+ at Kilmarie, Strathaird (RMcM) |
24th Feb 2011 | Brambling |
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terrific flock of c60 reported from the grounds of Broadford Hotel (JP) |
23rd Feb 2011 | Merlin |
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male looking for garden birds at Kilbryde near Torrin (JJ) |
20th Feb 2011 | Grey Plover |
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6 between Harrapool and Ardnish (RMcM) |
20th Feb 2011 | Goldeneye | 14 on Breakish Obbe (RMcM) | |
20th Feb 2011 | Goosander |
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8 at the head of Loch Snizort-Beag (GFerguson), 3 on Loch Cillshroisd and a single on Loch Slapin (RMcM) |
17th Feb 2011 | Hen Harrier |
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10+, mostly ringtails in the winter roost on Trotternish - this is the biggest Feb count on record. (RMcM). Also a male at Ardnish, Broadford, which was probably a migrant bird on the move (M-MJ) |
16th Feb 2011 | Red-necked Grebe | single in Broadford Bay along with 12 Slavonian Grebes (DB) - there are only a handful of records for this species on Skye. | |
16th Feb 2011 | Greenland White-fronted Goose | 21 on Pabay (DB) and 25 at Kilmuir on the 17th (RMcM) | |
16th Feb 2011 | Black Grouse |
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birds obviously still in the Cluanie area with 3 by the roadside (DB) |
15th Feb 2011 | Grey Plover |
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4 on Ardnish (A&EH) |
15th Feb 2011 | Waxwing |
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2 feeding on crab apple tree in Kyleakin, first for a few weeks (A&EH) |
14th Feb 2011 | Starling | report of a big flock at Uigshader - nearly 200 (JK) | |
13th Feb 2011 | Golden Plover | flock of 40 over Lephin, Glendale (AS) | |
13th Feb 2011 | Starling | flocks of 60 at Galtrigill and 30 at Lephin, Glendale (AS) | |
13th Feb 2011 | Black Grouse |
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now report of 3 within Lochalsh not far from Cluanie (C.Alston) |
12th Feb 2011 | Meadow Pipit |
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signs of spring with a single at Glasphein, Staffin (MP) |
12th Feb 2011 | Gannet | two birds off Staffin (MP) | |
11th Feb 2011 | Skylark |
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c12 at Elgol look like early spring arrivals (RMcM) |
11th Feb 2011 | Short-eared Owl |
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also reports from Ullinish and nearby Eabost (PE) |
10th Feb 2011 | Short-eared Owl |
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in a systematic count of the Kintail roost, a minimum of 12 birds were counted - this is one of the largest roosts ever recorded in Scotland (RA,RMcM)- see http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/40/News/1207/ |
10th Feb 2011 | Black Grouse |
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single bird on Loch Cluny within Lochalsh boundary (BN) |
8th Feb 2011 | Barnacle Goose |
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flock of 44 at Staffin (TBowditch) |
6th Feb 2011 | Black-throated Diver |
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two in Balmeanach Bay, Braes (RMcM) |
5th Feb 2011 | Fieldfare |
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small flock of 15 at Elgol (RMcM) |
3rd Feb 2011 | Twite |
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two at Meanish Pier and a single at Lower Milovaig - back earlier than normal (AS) |
3rd Feb 2011 | Nuthatch | the Carr Brae, Dornie, bird last seen on 31st December has re-appeared in another garden lower down Carr Brae (Olive Campbell) | |
2nd Feb 2011 | Moorhen | single bird on Loch Cillchroisd, Strath (RMcM) | |
2nd Feb 2011 | Common Crossbill |
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6 near Peiness, Skeabost (JK), 2 near Broadford cemetry and 2 near Raasay cemetry (!!) (DCJ) |