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
29th Sep 2012 Fieldfare View Image 13 at Crossal (PE)
28th Sep 2012 Grey Plover View Image single in Staffin Bay (MP)
28th Sep 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 14 south at Loch Bracadale, Struan (MH)
26th Sep 2012 Lapland Bunting single in field at Gorsten, Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (SMacD)
26th Sep 2012 Whooper Swan View Image single on Loch nan Eola, Arisaig (SMacD)
26th Sep 2012 Black Wheatear a report was received (on 25th) of this species on the shore at Glen Brittle on 22nd September and this unconfirmed report has been carried on other websites. Further information on this sighting is sought from anyone visiting the area.
24th Sep 2012 Redwing View Image 7 near Greshornish (AS)
24th Sep 2012 Long-tailed Tit View Image 23+ at Gedintailor, Braes is a good count (C.Atkins)
23rd Sep 2012 Grey Plover View Image 4 in Broadford Bay + a single Knot (MB)
22nd Sep 2012 Goosander View Image now 27 at Loch Snizort Beag which is an exceptional count (JK)
21st Sep 2012 White-tailed Eagle View Image a recent report and photograph from Michael Tulley of a juvenile bird at Leiter Fura clearly shows a radio transmitter - probably an east Scotland release bird. On Sea Eagles see the blog/news for details of a talk by Sarah Stephenson on Monday 24th.
21st Sep 2012 Goosander View Image 21 at Loch Snizort Beag is an excellent count (JK)
20th Sep 2012 Northern Wheatear View Image stragglers at Holmisdale, Glendale and Waterstein(AS)
20th Sep 2012 Pink-footed Goose View Image c300 east over Elgol (RMcM)and two skeins of c120 east over Skye Bridge late afternoon and c100 at dusk, with skeins heard into late evening(A&EH)- also 100 'grey geese' south at the Aird, Gedintailor (WM)
20th Sep 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 18 south over Neist Point (AS)
20th Sep 2012 Greylag Goose View Image skeins of 30 and 60 over Lephin, Glendale(AS)
20th Sep 2012 Arctic Tern View Image probable juvenile at Camus a Mhor, Braes (WM)
20th Sep 2012 Arctic Skua View Image 5 south a The Aird, Gedintailor(WM)
20th Sep 2012 Turnstone c25 near Peinachorran, Braes (WM)
20th Sep 2012 Barn Owl View Image single between Glen Brittle and Carbost (KC)
19th Sep 2012 Manx Shearwater View Image as a follow up to the report on the 12th, a total of 634 have been ringed and released + 18 retraps in Mallaig, Arisaig and Morar (MC,SMacD)
19th Sep 2012 Red-breasted Merganser View Image female with three very late young at Ashaig (RMcM)
18th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image two in Staffin Bay(SP)
18th Sep 2012 Magpie resident bird in Uig still showing well (M.Lumb)
18th Sep 2012 Whimbrel View Image single on Staffin Island (RMcM)
18th Sep 2012 Pomarine Skua View Image adult between Arisaig and Eigg from MV Sheerwater (R.Dyer)
17th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image still 7 lingering in Broadford Bay (MB)
17th Sep 2012 Northern Wheatear View Image still stragglers with singles at Upper Milovaig (AS) and Waterloo (RMcM) + two at Staffin (SP)
17th Sep 2012 Leach's Petrel single off Arisaig from MV Sheerwater (R.Dyer)
17th Sep 2012 Whooper Swan View Image birds heading south in darkness over Mallaig (SMacD)
16th Sep 2012 Redwing View Image very early flock of 20 on hill road between Struan and Portree at Tortarder (PE) - birds also reported from nearby Amer (M.Herbert)
16th Sep 2012 Barn Owl View Image single bird reported from Amer, Struan (M.Herbert)
16th Sep 2012 Short-eared Owl View Image two on Ardnish (A&EH)and a single on Glas Eilean at dusk (MB)
16th Sep 2012 Whimbrel View Image three on Ardnish (A&EH)
16th Sep 2012 White Wagtail View Image on Loch Slapin, 8 at Kilmarie Bay and 2 at Camas Malag (RMcM)
14th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image 13 at Breakish Obbe (P.Phillips)
14th Sep 2012 Great Skua View Image 2 at the head of Loch Sligachan heading west overland: then 10 south at the Aird, Gedintailor in 3 hour seawatch (RMcM)
14th Sep 2012 Pomarine Skua View Image single + a light phase Arctic Skua at the Aird, Gedintailor in a 3 hour seawatch (RMcM)
14th Sep 2012 Arctic Tern View Image juvenile at the Aird, Gedintailor (RMcM)
14th Sep 2012 Short-eared Owl View Image single at Ashaig (P.Davison)
14th Sep 2012 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single reported from Breakish Obbe present for a few days (P.Phillips)
13th Sep 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper though our rare visitor was seen early yesterday morning (TH) it was not seen subsequently so may have moved on.
12th Sep 2012 Manx Shearwater View Image with this stormy weather look out for Manx Shearwater strandings - mostly young birds they can be kept safe then released into the sea. There were 51 at Mallaig yesterday morning and 20+ this morning all ringed and safely returned to the sea (M.Carty, SMacD) See also http://www.snh.gov.uk/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release-details/index.jsp?id=773
12th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image c20 over Ardnish (R.Davison)with 9 later (A&EH)& 2 at Harrapool (MB)
12th Sep 2012 Pink-footed Goose View Image several skeins totalling several hundred moving south through Braes (C.Atkins) and 2 skeins of c200 each over Isleornsay (RC)
12th Sep 2012 Purple Sandpiper View Image an early report of 5 at Ardnish (A&EH)
12th Sep 2012 Spotted Flycatcher View Image single on fence at Glasphein, Staffin is a probable migrant (MP)
12th Sep 2012 Magpie stranger showing itself again at Idrigill, Uig (MP)
11th Sep 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper still in Broadford Bay and showing well (MB,RMcM)
11th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image 24 in Broadford Bay and flock of 60 over the Bay moving west (MB,RMcM)
11th Sep 2012 Pomarine Skua View Image on the back of north-westerlies excellent count of 10 + 3 Arctic Skua and 2 Great Skua, moving from Broadford Bay towards Scalpay (MB)
10th Sep 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper still showing well in Broadford Bay at 0830 (MB)and at 1800 (RMcM)
10th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image c30 west up Loch Sligachan (RMcM,JW) and 135 in Broadford Bay (MB)
10th Sep 2012 Northern Wheatear View Image singles at Loch Ainort and an obvious leucorhoa near Dunvegan (RMcM,JW)- also a pair at Harlosh (Abi Howard)
10th Sep 2012 Whinchat View Image juvenile straggler at Roag (RMcM,JW)
10th Sep 2012 Goosander View Image 11 at Loch Portree + 7 Wigeon (RMcM,JW)
10th Sep 2012 Leach's Storm Petrel single near Arisaig from MV Sheerwater (R.Dyer)
9th Sep 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper still in Broadford Bay moving between foreshore at Waterloo and Harrapool (RMcM)
9th Sep 2012 Pomarine Skua View Image juvenile seen from Uig-Lochmaddy ferry + 2-5 Storm Petrels (AJM)
8th Sep 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper showing well in Broadford Bay at Waterloo at 0800 (MB et al) (see Gallery)
8th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image 17 at Broadford Bay (MB,RMcM, IM)
8th Sep 2012 Short-eared Owl View Image single bird on Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH)
8th Sep 2012 Orca 7 between Arisaig and Eigg from MV Sheerwater - also Leather-backed Turtle the previous day (R.Dyer)
7th Sep 2012 Little Gull View Image another juvenile reported from Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
7th Sep 2012 Semipalmated Sandpiper juvenile bird found at Harrapool, Broadford Bay - a first record locally for this rare north American vagrant (MB)
6th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image 21 at Waterloo, Broadford (RMcM)
6th Sep 2012 Little Stint View Image juvenile at Waterloo + 2 juvenile Sanderling (MB)
5th Sep 2012 Red-breasted Merganser View Image c27 in eclipse at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM)
5th Sep 2012 Linnet 5 on the saltings at Isleornsay (RC)
4th Sep 2012 Linnet 24 at Lephin, Glendale (AS)
4th Sep 2012 Great Skua View Image 30+ north in two hours at Strathaird Point + 2 Arctic Skuas (RMcM)
4th Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image now 66 in Broadford Bay with arrival of new flock, then 9 later at Waterloo(MB)
4th Sep 2012 Whimbrel View Image 15 at Harrapool + 85+ Dunlin & 70 Ringed Plover (MB)
4th Sep 2012 Sanderling View Image 2 in Broadford Bay (D.Tanner)
4th Sep 2012 Pink-footed Goose View Image two at Staffin along with 75 Greylags (D.Tanner)
3rd Sep 2012 Basking Shark please see the blog for satellite tagged Basking Shark at Neist
3rd Sep 2012 Little Gull View Image 2nd year bird bathing with Kittiwakes at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
3rd Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image two at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) for 2nd day
3rd Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image now two in Broadford Bay (MB)
2nd Sep 2012 Great Northern Diver View Image three in Broadford Bay (MB)
2nd Sep 2012 Great Skua View Image 5 at Neist Point (MB,RMcM)
2nd Sep 2012 Wheatear View Image two northern race types at Upper Milovaig (AS) and a single at Neist Point (MB,RMcM)
2nd Sep 2012 Twite View Image c200 at Lephin, Glendale, harassed by a Merlin (AS)
2nd Sep 2012 Arctic Skua View Image single dark morph birds at Neist Point (MB,RMcM) and the sound of Raasay (PE)
2nd Sep 2012 Whimbrel View Image 15 at Broadford Bay + 2 Knot (MB)
1st Sep 2012 Manx Shearwater View Image please see the Blog for details of a shearwater event on Rum on 13th September.
1st Sep 2012 Brent Goose View Image still a single bird in Broadford Bay (SB)
1st Sep 2012 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph bird in Staffin bay (S.Porter)
1st Sep 2012 Sanderling View Image at least 30+ in Staffin Bay and 8 in Camas a Mhor Bheoil in wild weather (S.Porter)(WM)
1st Sep 2012 Red-throated Diver View Image single in sound of Sleat at Kilmore (A.Pritchard)
1st Sep 2012 Whimbrel View Image two at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)

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