Skye Birds - A Birding Guide to the Isle of Skye
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Bird sightings on the Island of Skye and the neighbouring area

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 Peter Stronach (  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
31st Oct 2011 Brambling View Image another single visiting feeders at Lochlonghead (P.Speak)
31st Oct 2011 Short-eared Owl View Image single on Glas Eilean, Broadford (EH)
31st Oct 2011 Common Sandpiper View Image late single still on Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
31st Oct 2011 Barn Owl View Image one hunting at roadside Duisdalebeg, Sleat (RC) - also injured bird recently found Elgol taken to 'vet but had to be destroyed (K.Fullarton)
30th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image stragglers - still some juveniles with 9 at Harrapool and 5 at the head of Loch Ainort (MB,RMcM)
30th Oct 2011 Arctic Skua View Image single adult at the head of Portree Loch (MB,RMcM)
30th Oct 2011 Barnacle Goose View Image single in Portree Loch (MB,RMcM)
30th Oct 2011 Hen Harrier View Image male at Ollach, Braes (WM)
30th Oct 2011 Goldfinch 60 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
30th Oct 2011 Blackbird continuing influx with 20+ in Strathaird (RMcM) and 24 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
29th Oct 2011 Blackbird probably scandinavian birds - 11 in garden in Harrapool half of which were 1st winter (MB)
28th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image back in front of Waterloo/Harrapool and still 10 Brent Geese
28th Oct 2011 Arctic Skua View Image two between Arisaig and Eigg (RDyer)
28th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image 5 at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig and 22 at Traigh, battling to move south against the wind (SMacD)
27th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still around and spotted at Ashaig (A&EH)
27th Oct 2011 Redwing View Image a major influx including Fieldfare with 150 in a mixed flock at Lephin, Glendale (AS)and 45 Redwing and 60 Fieldfare in Broadford (MB)
27th Oct 2011 Woodcock a single bird at Lephin is the first report of the autumn (AS)
27th Oct 2011 White-tailed Eagle View Image an adult at Lochlonghead attempted to take a Goosander from the water (seen from kitchen window!)(PSpeak)
27th Oct 2011 Blackbird with the influx of Scandinavian thrushes also look out for Song Thrushes and Blackbirds - 10 Blackbirds at Lower Milovaig (AS), 30 in Broadford (MB) and 40 at Treaslane (Mick Brown)
26th Oct 2011 Brambling View Image another report, this time a pair at feeders Balmeanach (WM)
26th Oct 2011 Mute Swan View Image a single bird at Struan Causeway (PE)
26th Oct 2011 Goldfinch a number of reports of good flocks with 14 at Herbusta (NMacLeod)
25th Oct 2011 Brambling View Image 1st report of winter with male on feeders at Treaslane (Mick Brown)
25th Oct 2011 Great Northern Diver View Image 7 between The Aird and Balmeanach Bay (WM)
25th Oct 2011 Fieldfare View Image c30 at Caroy (MSellors)
25th Oct 2011 Common Scoter two in Broadford Bay (SB)
24th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image still 9 at Harrapool (A&EH)and 28 Bar-tailed Godwits
23rd Oct 2011 Blackcap View Image male briefly in garden at Lower Milovaig - first report of the autumn (AS)
22nd Oct 2011 Little Egret(s) for the record the bird found at Harrapool on 4th October is still with us. This is only the 4th record for Skye and the first since 2005. It now appears there has been a 2nd bird first seen at Loch Sligachan around 1700 hours on Saturday 15th by John Gillies. It was then seen at the head of Loch Ainort on Sunday, and other observers saw it at Luib on the morning of the 17th. We are extremely confident this is a separate bird so any additional information or sightings would be welcome. (Bob)
21st Oct 2011 Slavonian Grebe single at Pool Roag, near Dunvegan (PE)
20th Oct 2011 Redwing View Image c8 at Glendale (AS) and 10 at Kyleakin (A&EH)
20th Oct 2011 Common Sandpiper View Image very late bird reported from Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
20th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image 4 at Loch Harport (JThomas)
20th Oct 2011 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile still roosting at the fish pier (SMacD)
19th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image still 12 lingering at Broadford Bay and 6 at the head of Loch Ainort, mainly juveniles (RMcM)
19th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still showing at Broadford Bay - to avoid daily entries, unless we report otherwise assume it is still there!
19th Oct 2011 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile by the West Bay Car park, Mallaig (SMacD)
19th Oct 2011 Pomarine Skua View Image two off Eigg (RDyer)
18th Oct 2011 Grey Phalarope View Image a single in Broadford Bay is the first Skye record since the major influx in 2008 (MB)
18th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image c60 flew s/west through Broadford Bay in morning then 48 in the afternoon (RMcM)(A&EH). Also 7 at the head of Loch Ainort.
18th Oct 2011 Pomarine Skua View Image during strong northerlies at least 12 south at The Aird, Gedintailor (RMcM) with at least 14 in Broadford Bay in the late afternoon (possibly some of the same birds).(MB)
18th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still showing well in Broadford Bay (SB)
18th Oct 2011 Gadwall View Image drake at the head of Loch Sligachan + 28 Black-headed Gulls (RMcM)
18th Oct 2011 Purple Sandpiper View Image single at The Aird, Gedintailor + single Black-throated Diver, c500 Kittiwakes and 100 Gannets (RMcM)
18th Oct 2011 Fieldfare View Image c100 south at Gleann Lichd, Kintail (RA)
18th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image 8 resting at Eilean Tioram, Dornie (PSpeak)
18th Oct 2011 Great Skua View Image 4+ at The Aird, Gedintailor and 3 in Broadford Bay + 3 Arctic Skuas (RMcM,MB)
18th Oct 2011 Northern Wheatear View Image late bird at Ashaig (SB)
17th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image showing well at Harrapool am with a juvenile Peregrine also over Broadford Bay (SB). Also a report of an Egret at Luib from Janis. Our bird is either wandering or there are two!
17th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image still two juveniles at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM)and 38 in Broadford Bay late afternoon (MB)
17th Oct 2011 Fieldfare View Image 20+ on the Ord road (ALyle)
17th Oct 2011 Hen Harrier View Image male at Glas Eilean to-day and on the 15th, male at Bracadale Point on the 16th and male continuing to be reported Elgol.
16th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image report on birdguides of bird at the head of Loch Ainort - possibly the Broadford Bird as it was there later (MB)
16th Oct 2011 Common Scoter two in Broadford Bay(MB)
16th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image two juveniles at the head of Loch Ainort (THodgetts)
15th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image 3 juveniles in Broadford Bay (MB)
15th Oct 2011 Redwing View Image 14 at Broadford Industrial Estate(MB)and 20 at Elgol (RMcM)
15th Oct 2011 Goldfinch c40 at Glendale (AS)
15th Oct 2011 Goosander View Image 16 at Loch Snizort Beag (GF)
15th Oct 2011 Fieldfare View Image c20 at Elgol (RMcM)
15th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still at Broadford/Harrapool (MB)
14th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still at Harrapool/Waterloo (GF) - many locals and visitors have now seen this confiding bird - it can usually be seen from the roadside in either Harrapool or Waterloo - can I make a plea for observers to use these vantage points and to avoid the areas around Glas Eilean so as to prevent disturbance to the Egret, Geese or other migrants (Bob)
14th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image c15 flying over Lower Breakish (RDavison)
13th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still at Harrapool/Waterloo
13th Oct 2011 Redwing View Image single in garden at Kyleakin (A&EH)
13th Oct 2011 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 22 at Loch Portree remains a high count for this site (RMcM)
13th Oct 2011 Snow Bunting View Image 6 at Rubha Hunish (RMcM)
13th Oct 2011 Great Skua View Image 5 at Rubha Hunish harassing Kittiwakes (RMcM)
13th Oct 2011 Greenland White-fronted Goose 21 at Kilmuir is earlier than normal (see Blog)(RMcM)
12th Oct 2011 Slavonian Grebe 6 off Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH)
12th Oct 2011 Great Northern Diver View Image 7 in Loch Slapin (RMcM)
11th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image several reports with 5 at Lower Breakish (RD), 3 at Loch Meodal (AL), 25 at Loch Snizort-Beag (GF, JK), 13 over Kyleakin early evening (A&EH) and two groups moving south in darkness over Morar (SMacD)
11th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still at Harrapool(A&EH)
11th Oct 2011 Barnacle Goose View Image skein of 31 heading south over Broadford Bay (A&EH)
11th Oct 2011 Redwing View Image first autumn report with birds flying and calling in darkness over Morar (SMacD)
10th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still at Harrapool + large family group of c12 Brents (A&EH)
10th Oct 2011 Barnacle Goose View Image 3 skeins heading NE-SW over Braes, totalling 170 birds (WM)- unidentified skeins heading s/west over Loch Portree throughout the day may have been the same species (PE)
10th Oct 2011 Hen Harrier View Image recent reports include two ringtails at Achacork (CL)and males near Loch Cillchroisd (JJ) and Elgol (SButler) and a ringtail at Morar (SMacD) - migrants from further north may be pushing through.
10th Oct 2011 Scaup single amongst Eiders in Loch Portree (PE)
9th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image still 12 in Broadford Bay (A&EH) - may well be two adults and brood of ten seen earlier by DW
9th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image several reports with 20 over Broadford Bay (A&EH), 9 at Loch Vatten, Roag (PE)and 6 north over Achacork, Portree (CLomas)
8th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image 11 at Harrapool with c100 Twite on Glas Eilean (A&EH)
8th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still in Broadford Bay (MB) -see Gallery for lovely flight shot
8th Oct 2011 Manx Shearwater View Image grounded bird found in Broadford Co-op car park and safely released (Neil Scott)
7th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still at Harrapool - also 4 Black-tailed Godwit (MB)
7th Oct 2011 Scaup 30 in Broadford Bay + 4 Tufted Duck and 60 Wigeon (MB)
7th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image up to 60 in Broadford Bay (EH)
7th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image 12 at Storr Lochs (SPorter)
7th Oct 2011 Northern Wheatear View Image a single leucorhoa bird at Camus Malag, Torrin.(DW)
7th Oct 2011 Swallow straggler at Shiel Bridge (DW)
6th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still showing well in front of Harrapool (RThornton)
6th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image Counts of 45 (A&EH) and 70 (A.Gillatt) showing between Harrapool and Waterloo
6th Oct 2011 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 3 at Harrapool (A&EH)
6th Oct 2011 Pomarine Skua View Image two and four Arctics harassing Kittiwakes off Ard Dorch (MB)
6th Oct 2011 Great Northern Diver View Image single in Balmeanach Bay (WM)
6th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image flock through The Aird, Balmeanach with 6 remaining - also 28 Golden Plover (WM)
6th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image 19 in Broadford Bay + a Grey Plover (SB)
5th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still in Broadford Bay at Harrapool (GYoxon)and later moved to Waterloo (MB)
5th Oct 2011 Barnacle Goose View Image 4 at Harrapool - also 12 Greenland White-fronts (SB)
5th Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image groups moving through Broadford Bay with counts of 52 (MB) and 97 (A&EH)
5th Oct 2011 Whooper Swan View Image 20 at Loch Mealt, Staffin (JMacLennan)
4th Oct 2011 Manx Shearwater View Image single bird dead in Dunvegan Road, Portree - probable storm victim (Debbie Roberts)
4th Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image still in Broadford Bay (SB) - see Gallery
3rd Oct 2011 Little Egret View Image a single bird found at Harrapool by Alan Gillatt is only the 4th record for Skye and the first since 2005.
3rd Oct 2011 Barn Owl View Image report of single at Upper Breakish (RDavison)
2nd Oct 2011 Black-throated Diver View Image 3 in Broadford Bay (MB)
2nd Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image family group of 5 in Broadford Bay (MB)- bigger flock has moved on.
1st Oct 2011 Corncrake View Image very interesting late record of a bird calling near Sconser Quarry (IHastie)
1st Oct 2011 Brent Goose View Image 30 at the head of Loch Ainort (IHastie)& 37 at Harrapool (MB)
1st Oct 2011 Chiffchaff single at Roag (IHastie)
1st Oct 2011 Jack Snipe View Image 1st of autumn on Glas Eilean, Harrapool + 5 Black-tailed Godwit (MB)

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