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 May 2012 Whimbrel View Image at least 2 still on Ardnish (RMcM, E&GM)
30th May 2012 Common Whitethroat View Image recent reports include singing birds at Eilean Ban, Kyleakin (A&EH), Broadford Industrial Estate (MB) and Keppoch, Strathaird (RMcM)
30th May 2012 Quail one calling on Waternish (SP) - our first report for two years.
30th May 2012 Barn Owl View Image single at Kensaleyre (N.Hindley)
29th May 2012 Spotted Flycatcher View Image single in Broadford Industrial Estate (MB)
29th May 2012 Common Redstart one singing near Carr Brae viewpoint, Lochalsh (BN)
29th May 2012 Wood Warbler now 5 singing birds at Carr Brae, with a similar number of Garden Warblers, and 7 singing Blackcap (BN)
27th May 2012 House Martin View Image single amongst Swallows at Bernisdale (H.Owen)
27th May 2012 Common Tern View Image numbers slow to return - pair mating at The Aird, Gedintailor (C.Atkins) and several pairs back around Loch Coruisk (RMcM)
26th May 2012 Common Dolphin terrific day for Common Dolphins in Loch Scavaig off Elgol with two large pods + a Minke Whale (RMcM)(see Cetaceans Gallery)
26th May 2012 ChiffChaff one in normal territory Lower Milovaig, but late back (AS)
26th May 2012 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 14 in summer plumage Broadford Bay + 20 Whimbrel (MB)
26th May 2012 Magpie our wandering visitor is still around - reported from Uig (J.Grant)
25th May 2012 Common Scoter 7 in Broadford Bay (MB)
25th May 2012 Scaup 4 in Broadford Bay and 14 Tufted Duck (MB)
24th May 2012 Common Whitethroat View Image birds still arriving with reports from the Old Sleat road on 22nd (J.Grant) and Ullinsh early this morning (PE)
24th May 2012 Sandwich Tern View Image two reported from the 'Brigadoon' in Loch Portree + Arctic Tern, Common Scoters and a forlorn Puffin! (PE)
24th May 2012 Grasshopper Warbler two reeling at Loch Bharabhaig, Sleat (JG)
23rd May 2012 Red Grouse close encounter with a male on south Rona (see Gallery) (D.Hammond)- this bird was seen on route to Church Cave snf apparently greets many visitors!
22nd May 2012 Common Scoter two in Loch Portree (PE)
22nd May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 4 at Ose (L.Millington)
22nd May 2012 Garden Warbler always a scarce bird on Skye, one was singing at Lower Milovaig (AS)
22nd May 2012 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 8 + a youngster in Kyle of Lochalsh (A.Hickey). Also a Minke Whale off Elgol (Misty Isle boat trips)
21st May 2012 White-throated Sparrow unfortunately no further sign to-day but two new images in the Gallery.
21st May 2012 Brent Goose View Image still a single at Broadford Bay (MB)
20th May 2012 White-throated Sparrow superb report of this extremely rare north American vagrant which appeared briefly in a Broadford garden to-day (R.Charlesworth) (See Gallery)
20th May 2012 Common Whtethroat two territorial birds now singing in the Glendale area - slow to return (AS)
20th May 2012 Spotted Flycatcher View Image first report of the year from Lower Milovaig (AS)
20th May 2012 Knot 8 at Ardnish including a bird in full summer plumage (A&EH)
20th May 2012 Greylag Goose View Image birds with 24 goslings at Ardnish (A&EH)
20th May 2012 Brent Goose View Image single on Ardnish(A&EH)
20th May 2012 House Martin View Image single reported over the co-op, Portree (J.Lawson)
20th May 2012 Ptarmigan View Image pair on Sgurr na Coinnich (S.Terry)
20th May 2012 Redpoll 10 'Icelandic' types at Flodigarry (LGRE)
20th May 2012 Whinchat View Image 3 near Camas Mor, Borneskitaig (LGRE)
19th May 2012 Common Scoter two females in Broadford Bay (MB)
19th May 2012 Iceland Gull View Image sub-adult still at Loch Portree (PE)
19th May 2012 Sanderling View Image 8 at Traigh +30 Dunlin (SMacD)
19th May 2012 Common Scoter 8 at Kyle of Lochalsh (LGRE)
18th May 2012 Brent Goose View Image still two at Glas Eilean, Broadford (RMcM)
18th May 2012 Pink-footed Goose View Image two with Greylags at Glas Eilean (RMcM)
17th May 2012 Magpie our wandering bird has now reached Kildonan, Edinbane (C.Tyler) continuing to be mobbed by birds which have possibly never seen a Magpie before!
17th May 2012 Brent Goose View Image two still on Glas Eilean, Broadford Bay (MB)
15th May 2012 Magpie still on the move and now reported from Gedintailor (C.Atkins)
15th May 2012 Brent Goose View Image two at Harrapool (MB)
15th May 2012 Stonechat View Image three broods on the Greshornish peninsula is encouraging (RMcM)
15th May 2012 Twite View Image birds still flocking with c30 at Greshornish (see Gallery) (RMcM)
15th May 2012 Short-eared Owl View Image single near Sconser Golf Course (L.Millington) & pair mobbing a juvenile Sea Eagle at Choisleadar Forest (RMcM)
15th May 2012 Common Scoter pair in Broadford Bay (MB)
15th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 8 in fields at Claigan, Dunvegan (M.McInnes)
14th May 2012 Magpie single on house roof at Heaste (J.Ward) (possibly the same bird seen recently in Mallaig)
14th May 2012 Pomarine Skua View Image 4 off Strathaird Point heading north (RMcM)
14th May 2012 Common Scoter two males in Kilmarie Bay (RMcM)
14th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 14+ at Traigh and 6 Turnstone & 20 Dunlin (SMacD)
12th May 2012 Blackcap View Image male in grounds of Cuillin Hills Hotel, Portree (K.Wickman)
11th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image single on Loch Portree and three on crofts at Elgol(RMcM)
11th May 2012 Collared Dove very interesting 'pale' bird visiting feeders in Harrapool - probably a leucistic bird rather than an albino (R.Thornton)
11th May 2012 Marsh Harrier probable female at Loch na Dal, Sleat (H.Birch)
11th May 2012 Snow Bunting View Image pair on Sgurr Dearg, Cuillin (M.Lates)
11th May 2012 Whinchat View Image still seemingly scarce with single at Hallin, Waternish (S.Parlane)
11th May 2012 Barn Owl View Image single at Portnalong (JT)
10th May 2012 Hawfinch one in garden at Arisaig for a couple of days (per SMacD)
10th May 2012 'Comic' Tern 6 back on Loch Treaslane (DF MacDonald)
10th May 2012 Lesser Redpoll View Image widespread reports of Redpolls at feeders at the moment which may reflect changeable weather and lack of natural food.
10th May 2012 Great Skua View Image 3 off Bracadale Point (PE)
10th May 2012 Magpie report of a single at Mallaig (per SMacD)
10th May 2012 Wood Warbler slow to arrive but now two singing at Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN)
10th May 2012 Garden Warbler single singing at Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN)
9th May 2012 Wood Sandpiper a scarce vagrant, single at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (S.MacD) (see Gallery)
9th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image terrific count of 27 at Traigh Golf Course, Morar (S.MacD)
9th May 2012 Whinchat View Image possibly three singing birds at Carr Brae, Lochalsh - later than normal (BN) - seem to be scarce elsewhere.
9th May 2012 Wheatear View Image influx at Carr Brae, Lochalsh with 8 (BN)
9th May 2012 Ring Ouzel View Image singing male in the Bhasteir Gorge, Cuillin, (M.Lates)
8th May 2012 Red Kite View Image another report from the Borve area (T.Hodgetts)
8th May 2012 Blackcap View Image singing birds at Portnalong (S.Tate)and Skye Shrubs, Portree (T.Bowditch)
8th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 8-10 in fields at Uiginish, Dunvegan for several days (HMacDonald)
8th May 2012 Chiffchaff singing bird at Skye Shrubs, Portree (T.Bowditch)
8th May 2012 Cetacean News an excellent day for cetaceans off Elgol with c100 Common Dolphins in Loch Scavaig and a large Basking Shark - the first locally of the 2012 season (see the facebook page on http://www.mistyisleboattrips.co.uk/)
7th May 2012 Iceland Gull View Image still a sub-adult in Portree Harbour (PE)
7th May 2012 Grey Plover View Image single at Harrapool + 62 Dunlin & 72 Ringed Plover (MB)
7th May 2012 Shoveler pair still on Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (SMacD)
7th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image numbers building up at Traigh, Morar, with 18 and 20 Dunlin (SMacD)
7th May 2012 Sedge Warbler View Image singing bird at Lephin, Glendale (AS)
7th May 2012 Common Whitethroat View Image singing bird at Carr Brae (BN)
7th May 2012 House Martin View Image single at Isleornsay (RC)
6th May 2012 Corncrake View Image another calling bird this time in Waternish (R.Arnold)
6th May 2012 Northern Wheatear View Image continuing pattern with 20 in random count between Elgol and Broadford (RMcM)- new birds also noted at Lower Milovaig (AS)
6th May 2012 White Wagtail View Image single at Lower Milovaig (AS)and two at Peinachorran, Braes (WM)
6th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 6 in Broadford Bay (MB) & 10 over Upper Breakish in the evening (R.Davison)
6th May 2012 Sand Martin View Image still scarce with a single well away from water at Borrodale, Glendale (AS)
6th May 2012 Short-eared Owl View Image single in the Fairy Bridge area, near Dunvegan (C.Matheson)
6th May 2012 Ring Ouzel View Image singing male on Sgurr a Ghreadaidh, Cuillin, (M.Lates)
6th May 2012 Ptarmigan View Image pair on Ben Aslak (H.Birch)
6th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 24 in fields at Claigan, Dunvegan (M.McInnes)
5th May 2012 Northern Wheatear View Image more birds coming through with at least 3 at Elgol showing characteristics of leucorhoa (RMcM)
5th May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 10 at Ashaig (A&EH)and 15 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
5th May 2012 Shoveler a pair on Loch nan Eala, Arisaig is a scarce record (SMacD)
3rd May 2012 Brambling View Image late straggler with a male on feeders at Morar (SMacD)
3rd May 2012 Iceland Gull View Image still a single immature at Mallaig (SMacD)
3rd May 2012 Whimbrel View Image 9 at Ashaig (A&EH), a single at Loch Slapin, then 3 at Elgol over my head when I was cutting the grass!(RMcM)
3rd May 2012 Wheatear View Image fresh flush of arrivals with 4 at Ashaig and 5 at the head of Loch Slapin (A&EH., RMcM)
3rd May 2012 Golden Plover 11 on Ardnish (A&EH)
2nd May 2012 Corncrake View Image first reports of the year with calling birds at Uig (M.Lumb)and another site on Trotternish (SP)(see latest blog)
2nd May 2012 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird on the old Sleat road near Kinloch (J.Grant)
1st May 2012 Swallow numbers slow to arrive with first report from Treaslane, 3 weeks later than last year (D.F.Macdonald)- also at Uigshader (JK)- and other widespread reports.
1st May 2012 Sedge Warbler View Image single at Broadford Industrial Estate(MB)
1st May 2012 Grasshopper Warbler reeling birds at Broadford Industrial Estate (MB) & at Harrapool (R.Thornton)
1st May 2012 Hen Harrier View Image report of a ringtail in Lower Breakish late evening (A&EH)
1st May 2012 Ring Ouzel View Image pair on Sron na Ciche, Coire Lagan. (M.Lates)

© 2013 Skye Birds