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
31st Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image 11 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
31st Aug 2011 Short-eared Owl View Image 5 to-gether at Ullinish confirms ealier reports of probable breeding in the area (per PE)
30th Aug 2011 Curlew Sandpiper View Image now two at Harrapool + 3 Black-tailed Godwit (MB)
29th Aug 2011 Curlew Sandpiper View Image single juvenile at Waterloo (RMcM)
29th Aug 2011 Swift single at Druimindarroch, Arisaig with 20+ House Martins (SMacD)
29th Aug 2011 Ring Ouzel View Image probable female on passage at Ord (GJohnson)(see Gallery)
28th Aug 2011 Sooty Shearwater View Image two north at Neist Point (MB,RMcM)
28th Aug 2011 Manx Shearwater View Image significant movement north at Neist Point - 1000 per hour in three hour watch (MB, RMcM)
28th Aug 2011 Great Skua View Image 9 north at Neist Point + an Arctic Skua - also an Arctic Skua at Staffin Slip (MB, RMcM)
28th Aug 2011 White Wagtail View Image 8 at Lower Milovaig, Glendale (AS)
27th Aug 2011 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image still excellent numbers with 35 at Ashaig + 3 Black-tailed and 7 Knot (A&EH)
26th Aug 2011 Sooty Shearwater View Image even more in the Minch to-day with 500+ from the Hebridean Whale Cruises + Little Gull, 2 Pomarine Skua and 30 Storm Petrels (Nick Davies)
26th Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image 15 at Traigh, Morar + 30 Ringed Plover (SMacD)
25th Aug 2011 Sooty Shearwater View Image c50 in The Minch just north of Skye waters from Hebridean Whale Cruise, Gairloch (RMcM) (see Gallery)
25th Aug 2011 Sabine's Gull probable 1st summer bird in The Minch just north of Skye waters (RMcM) (see Gallery and blog)
25th Aug 2011 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image still 37 in Broadford Bay + 2 Black-tailed Godwit and several Knot (MB) - also 7 Bar-tails and 5 Knot at Ashaig (A&EH)
25th Aug 2011 Common Sandpiper View Image another straggler at the head of Loch Long, Lochalsh (PSpeak)
25th Aug 2011 Pomarine Skua View Image two between Arisaig and Eigg from MV Sheerwater + Arctic and Great Skua (RDyer)
24th Aug 2011 Linnet at least 25 in mixed flock of finches at Hallin, Waternish (AM) - also 4 in a Twite flock at Kyleakin (LC)
24th Aug 2011 Swift further reports with a single at Kyleakin (LCard)and two at Staffin (MP)
24th Aug 2011 Kestrel two reports from Braes - a possible family group of 4 harassing a Raven at Ben Lee (WM) and a single bird play fighting with a Peregrine at Peinachorrain (MP)
24th Aug 2011 Goosander View Image 15 in Balmacara Bay - also a Grey Wagtail (BN)
23rd Aug 2011 Little Gull View Image single on sea east of Staffin Island from Hebridean Whale Cruises (Nick Davies) - see Gallery
23rd Aug 2011 Fieldfare View Image interesting report of 3 early birds on berries at Aird Bernisdale (AGalbraith)
23rd Aug 2011 Magpie bird found long dead at Torrin (SBungard) - probably the first record for Raasay
23rd Aug 2011 Sandwich Tern View Image two at Ashaig, an adult and a fledged youngster (RMcM)
23rd Aug 2011 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image continuing a run of good counts, 52 between Ashaig and Waterloo (RMcM)
22nd Aug 2011 Sabine's Gull three different birds identified from Hebridean whale cruises out of Gairloch - three miles n/east of Staffin Island (Nick Davies)
22nd Aug 2011 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 19 between Harrapool and Ardnish (A&EH)
21st Aug 2011 Common Sandpiper View Image single straggler at Balmeanach Bay (WM)
21st Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image 6 at Broadford Bay (am) then 18 in the afternoon (MB)
21st Aug 2011 Whimbrel View Image 26 in Broadford Bay + 37 Bar-tailed Godwit and 11 Knot (MB)
21st Aug 2011 Ringed Plover View Image good count of 110 in Broadford Bay + 94 Dunlin (MB)
21st Aug 2011 Twite View Image flock of 110 at Harrapool (MB)
20th Aug 2011 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 5 at Broadford Bay + 21 Whimbrel, 4 Knot & 3 Sanderling (MB)
20th Aug 2011 Swift single at Waterloo (MB)
19th Aug 2011 Merlin View Image probable fledged brood (3) harassing Golden Eagle near Dun Caan on Raasay (RMcM)
18th Aug 2011 Swift two at Croe Bridge at the head of Loch Duich with other hirundines (BN)
18th Aug 2011 Goosander View Image count of 17 at the head of Loch Duich + the single now resident Mute Swan (BN)
17th Aug 2011 Sabine's Gull reports of two birds, an adult and a juvenile with Kittiwakes several miles east of Staffin Island on hebridean whale cruises, Gairloch. (see Gallery)
17th Aug 2011 Red Knot View Image 25 at Ardnish + a Sanderling (A&EH)
17th Aug 2011 Great Northern Diver View Image two off Ardnish, Broadford, suggests further early arrivals (A&EH)
16th Aug 2011 Common Sandpiper View Image still stragglers going through with 2 at the head of Loch Slapin (RMcM)
15th Aug 2011 Great Northern Diver View Image single at the head of Loch Treaslane for the last three weeks is a probable summering bird (DFMacdonald) whereas bird at Strathaird Point could be an early arriver (RMcM)
15th Aug 2011 Canada Goose View Image 10 at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig is a good count for the area (SMacD)
15th Aug 2011 Greylag Goose View Image c95 at Traigh, Morar, included a Greylag/Canada hybrid (SMacD)
14th Aug 2011 Barn Owl View Image single near Faoilean, Strathaird, in late evening (RMcM)
14th Aug 2011 Swift two at Lealt, Trotternish (MPerry)
14th Aug 2011 Red Knot View Image 69 on Ardnish, Broadford, is one of the best Skye counts on record (A&EH)- also 46 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD) (see Gallery)
14th Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image 6 at Ardnish (A&EH) and a single at Traigh (SMacD)
13th Aug 2011 Short-eared Owl View Image report of a family group of 4 near Carbost (WPeppe). Also probable breeding at Ullinish (PE) and Achacork, Portree (CLomas) - also regular sightings on the Sleat road outside Broadford (SDawber), so birds may have had a good year with high vole numbers about.
13th Aug 2011 Pomarine Skua View Image single from MV Sheerwater between Arisaig and Eigg (SMacD)
13th Aug 2011 Red Knot View Image 7 on the shore at Traigh, Morar + 3 Sanderling (SMacD)
13th Aug 2011 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 13 on Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH)
12th Aug 2011 Golden Eagle View Image unfortunately a poor year on Skye and Raasay with only 10 fledged young (KC, KN) (see Blog)
12th Aug 2011 Twite View Image c150 at Kyleakin (A&EH)
11th Aug 2011 Whimbrel View Image 4 at Ashaig, + 36 Redshank & 2 Greenshank (A&EH)
11th Aug 2011 White-tailed Eagle View Image several reports from Canna of an adult pair with three fledged young on the wing - an exceptional event.
11th Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image 10 at Traigh, Morar + 4 Turnstone (SMacD)
11th Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image only three in Broadford Bay + 75 Dunlin (MB)
10th Aug 2011 Arctic Skua View Image adult harassing Terns on the Kyle side of the Skye Bridge (RMcM)
10th Aug 2011 Sanderling View Image exceptional count of 35 between Harrapool and Waterloo (MB)
10th Aug 2011 Ringed Plover View Image exceptional count of 152 between Harrapool and Waterloo, + 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel and a single Knot (MB,RMcM)
10th Aug 2011 House Martin View Image report of a single bird in Uig (MLumb)
9th Aug 2011 Whooper Swan View Image summering bird still in Uig Bay (MLumb)
8th Aug 2011 Arctic Skua View Image 5 south through the Narrows of Raasay + a Great Skua north (RMcM)
6th Aug 2011 Golden Plover 60+ on the shoulder of Glamaig at 2000' (BDrummond)
6th Aug 2011 Great Skua View Image at least 6 pairs on Sanday, Canna (SMacD)
5th Aug 2011 Whimbrel View Image single above Elgol (RMcM)
5th Aug 2011 Ruff single at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig on the 5th had been around for a few days (SMacD)(see Gallery)
4th Aug 2011 Whimbrel View Image 7 at Ashaig (E.Horner)
3rd Aug 2011 Redshank good count of 84 on Ardnish + 90 Oystercatcher (A&EH)
2nd Aug 2011 Golden Plover 16 on Ardnish (A&EH)- other waders such as Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank in small numbers. During good weather many passage waders seem to fly through (Bob)
2nd Aug 2011 Short-eared Owl View Image one hunting at dusk beside the Dunvegan-Orbost road (SDawber)
1st Aug 2011 Canada Goose View Image single with Greylags at the head of Loch Caroy (M.Sellors)
1st Aug 2011 Whimbrel View Image 3 on Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH)
1st Aug 2011 Grey Heron View Image excellent count of 29 roosting in trees near Aird Bernisdale (ATurner)

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