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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31st Oct 2012 | Woodlark | the Eigg bird is still present (JC) and being extremely obliging for a Skye visitor (see Gallery) | |
31st Oct 2012 | Stock Dove | single bird still present on Eigg (JC) | |
31st Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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8 heading west down the sound of Sleat off Aird (RMcM) |
31st Oct 2012 | Pomarine Skua |
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dark morph bird seen from Mallaig-Eigg ferry (RMcM) |
31st Oct 2012 | Slavonian Grebe | two off Ashaig (A&EH) | |
31st Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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150+ with Redwings at Auchmore (Jan Storie) |
31st Oct 2012 | Common Scoter | 3 in Balmeanach Bay (WM) | |
31st Oct 2012 | Great Northern Diver |
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6 in Balmeanach Bay (WM) |
30th Oct 2012 | Hooded Crow | the tame 'hoodie' at Struan may well have a history - a similar bird was in Portree Harbour and was thought to have been 'hand reared' in either Plockton or Sleat (Colin Alston) | |
30th Oct 2012 | Common Scoter | single female at new Raasay Pier (MPerry) | |
29th Oct 2012 | Waxwing |
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first report of the autumn with a singles at Morar (SMacD)and on Eigg (perJC) |
29th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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3 at Ashaig (P&RD) |
29th Oct 2012 | Snow Bunting |
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c20 on the shoulder of Blabheinn (J.Bowie) |
28th Oct 2012 | Hooded Crow | for obvious reasons 'hoodies' are rather wary of humans but Malcolm Herbert from Amer, Struan has an exceptionally tame bird which is uninjured, is strong on the wing, and will even allow him to pick it up - see the Gallery for a picture of Malcolm and his 'bird' | |
28th Oct 2012 | Jack Snipe |
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single on Ardnish (P.Phillips) |
27th Oct 2012 | Woodlark | a rare find and the 2nd record for Eigg recently - at Kildonan (J.Chester) | |
27th Oct 2012 | Stock Dove | a single at Kildonan,the first record on Eigg since 2003 - two rarities on the one day - a great reward for the Eigg 'bird man' John Chester. (There is no record for Stock Dove on Skye) | |
27th Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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another huge influx with c1500 at Holmisdale, Glendale (AS) - still big numbers at Torrin. |
27th Oct 2012 | Brambling |
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single female on feeders at Isleornsay with other finches (RC) |
26th Oct 2012 | Woodcock | two in Glen Varrigal (C.Alston) | |
26th Oct 2012 | Swallow | late straggler at Morar flying around in sleet & snow showers (SMacD) | |
26th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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4 flying south/west at LochLonghead (PSpeak) |
26th Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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major movement through Torrin - c2000 birds including Redwing and a few Mistle Thrushes - gorging on rowan berries (RMcM) |
25th Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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c80 at Gedintailor, Braes included a few Redwings (C.Atkins)& c30 at Achnahinich and Achnandarach, Lochalsh (J.Storie), and 30 at Lephin, Glendale (AS) |
25th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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3 flying over Achnahinich, Lochalsh (JStorie) |
25th Oct 2012 | Long-tailed Tit |
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flock of 24 at the old road Kyleakin (A&EH) |
24th Oct 2012 | Brambling |
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two males with Chaffinches at feeding station at Amer, Struan (MH) |
24th Oct 2012 | Raven | 28+ roosting above Loch Beag, Struan (MH) | |
24th Oct 2012 | Red Kite |
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a Black Isle reared Red Kite is presently on Skye in the Dunvegan area - tagged blue left wing and red right wing it is satellite tagged and called Ruaridh - it can be tracked at http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/tracking/tollieredkites/index.aspx - (Alison MacLennan, RSPB) |
23rd Oct 2012 | Snow Bunting |
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6 on Dun Cann, Rassay (P.Phillips) |
23rd Oct 2012 | Red-throated Diver |
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6 off Duntuilm Castle (A.McLean) |
23rd Oct 2012 | Minke Whale | a late single in the Little Minch north of Waternish - scoped from Uig (A.McLean) | |
23rd Oct 2012 | Goldeneye | 3 in Loch Kishorn (RMcM) | |
23rd Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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5 on Loch a Mhulinn, Applecross (RMcM) |
23rd Oct 2012 | Great Northern Diver |
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27 between Camusteel and Callakille, Applecross (RMcM)and 4 in Loch Scavaig (J.Storie) |
23rd Oct 2012 | Black-throated Diver |
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10 between Applecross Bay and Lonbain (RMcM) |
22nd Oct 2012 | Blackcap |
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male at Earlish (N.Hodgetts) |
22nd Oct 2012 | Long-tailed Tit |
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c10 on feeders at Caroy (MS) |
22nd Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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c25 on the summit of Garbh Bheinn (P.Phillips) |
22nd Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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2-300 at Sallachy, Loch Long (P.Speak) |
21st Oct 2012 | Brambling |
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3 in Glen Elchaig, Kintail (H&MS) |
20th Oct 2012 | Yellowhammer | male back on bird table at Kyleakin (A&EH) | |
20th Oct 2012 | Turnstone | 32 in Broadford Bay (MB) | |
20th Oct 2012 | Starling | flock of 150 at Balmeanach, Braes (WM) - seem to be good sized flocks this year suggesting a good breeding season | |
20th Oct 2012 | Long-tailed Tit |
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flock of 9 through garden at Ose (L.Millington) |
20th Oct 2012 | Barnacle Goose |
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first report of the autumn with 30 at Stenscholl, Staffin (C.MacLeod) |
20th Oct 2012 | Pink-footed Goose |
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single with 50 Greylags at Trumpan, Waternish (Andy McLean) |
20th Oct 2012 | Redwing |
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up to 100 at Breabost for several days(J.Nicholson) |
19th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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15 east over Elgol (RMcM) |
19th Oct 2012 | Great Skua |
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single still at Rubha Hunish harassing Kittiwakes (ADimmick) |
19th Oct 2012 | Magpie | the 'Uig' bird appears to have moved to Kilvaxter (ADimmick) | |
19th Oct 2012 | Swallow | two stragglers at Tarskavaig (J.Bentall) | |
19th Oct 2012 | Snow Bunting |
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single female near the summit of The Storr (J.Nicholson) |
19th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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7 east over Fanks, Edinbane (J.Nicholson) |
18th Oct 2012 | Long-tailed Duck |
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single male off Bernera Beach, Glenelg Bay (P.Jones) |
18th Oct 2012 | Grey Geese | small skeins still moving east over Skye Bridge (Greylags or Pink-feet?)(A&EH) | |
18th Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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two flocks of 40+ moving south, gorging on rowan berries at Amer, Struan (MH) |
17th Oct 2012 | White Wagtail |
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late single at Elgol (RMcM) |
17th Oct 2012 | Magpie | still showing at Uig, outside the Ferry Inn (M.Lumb) | |
17th Oct 2012 | Golden Plover | 20 near Talisker Bay (J.Bentall) and 8 at Ardnish (RMcM) | |
17th Oct 2012 | Goosander |
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12 at the mouth of the Drynoch, mainly males (J.Bentall) |
17th Oct 2012 | Redwing |
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'several hundred' at Isleornsay with a few Fieldfare (RC) |
17th Oct 2012 | Greenshank | single north of Gairbh Eilean, Loch Dunvegan (J.Nicholson) | |
15th Oct 2012 | Hen Harrier |
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recent reports include a male and female at Loch Duagrich (MH) and males at Loch Meodal (A.Lyle)and Eynort (S.Davies) |
15th Oct 2012 | White-tailed Eagle |
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widespread reports at the moment with juveniles at Ullinish and Dunan, a pair at Uigshader and an adult at Elgol. (PS,JK et al) |
15th Oct 2012 | Goosander |
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10 at Loch Slapin (RMcM) |
15th Oct 2012 | Slavonian Grebe | two at Ardnish (A&EH) | |
15th Oct 2012 | Redwing |
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8 near Loch Bracadale (C.Crowther) and overnight fall in south Skye though no big flocks + single Fieldfare at Aird (RMcM) |
15th Oct 2012 | Black-tailed Godwit |
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report of single at Loch Beag (C.Crowther) |
14th Oct 2012 | Common Scoter | two in Loch Portree from MV Brigadoon (PE) | |
14th Oct 2012 | Grey Plover |
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two on Ardnish (A&EH) |
14th Oct 2012 | Snow Bunting |
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12 on the shore at Meanish Pier (AS) |
14th Oct 2012 | Woodcock | first report of the autumn with a single at Lower Milovaig (AS) | |
14th Oct 2012 | Goldcrest |
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two probable migrants at Lowe Milovaig(AS) |
14th Oct 2012 | Redwing |
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50+ at Glen Brittle (S.Terry) |
14th Oct 2012 | Lapwing | c15 on the beach at Loch Caroy (M.Sellors) | |
13th Oct 2012 | Redwing |
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reports still scarce but 18 at Lephin, Glendale (AS) |
13th Oct 2012 | Yellowhammer | a nice male on the Horner's bird table at Kyleakin (A&EH)which was obviously doing the rounds as it later visited the Scott's (H&MS) (see Gallery) | |
12th Oct 2012 | Wheatear |
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late straggler at Balmeanach Bay (WM) |
11th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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family group of 5 still at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan & 3 on Loch Fada yesterday (RMcM) |
11th Oct 2012 | Moorhen | two juveniles on Loch Suardal, Dunvegan(RMcM) | |
10th Oct 2012 | Orca | a small pod of at least 5 Killer Whales including 2 bulls, moving west near An t-Iasgair, Lub Score at 1300 (RMcM) | |
10th Oct 2012 | Eider | c95 off Sconser Quarry (RMcM) | |
10th Oct 2012 | Bar-tailed Godwit |
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19 In Loch Portree + 14 Redshank(RMcM) |
10th Oct 2012 | Great Northern Diver |
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7 in Camas Mor, Bornesketaig & 4 Red-throats(RMcM) |
10th Oct 2012 | Greenland White-fronted Goose | early arrival of wintering flock with 24 at Kilmuir, only one of which was juvenile (RMcM) | |
10th Oct 2012 | Goldfinch | c50 at Kilvaxter(RMcM) | |
10th Oct 2012 | Slavonian Grebe | two at Luib na Moil(RMcM) | |
9th Oct 2012 | Hen Harrier |
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recent reports of males from Coillore (PE), Elgol (DW) and Ullinish (PS) |
7th Oct 2012 | Black-throated Diver |
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6 in Kilmarie Bay, Loch Slapin + a Great Northern Diver (RMcM) |
7th Oct 2012 | Goldfinch | flock of 30+ at Earlish (L.Murdoch) | |
7th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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herd of 9 on Loch Druagrich and 13 over Garalpin (MH) |
7th Oct 2012 | Grey Wagtail |
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still a scarce bird on the island - recent reports include 2 on the Broadford River (PE) and a single at Ord (S.Arnold) |
5th Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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5 on Loch Suardal - pair with 3 cygnets (RW) |
4th Oct 2012 | Fieldfare |
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12 at Amer, Struan (MH) |
4th Oct 2012 | Twite |
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still small flocks about with 4 on Beinn Dearg Mhor and another 2 on Bealach na Sgairde (J.Grant) |
3rd Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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14 now in Loch Portree (PE) |
2nd Oct 2012 | Brent Goose |
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still a single in Broadford Bay + a Knot and 45 Ringed Plover (MB) |
1st Oct 2012 | Wheatear |
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still two at Staffin Slip (SP) |
1st Oct 2012 | Whooper Swan |
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c15 in Staffin Bay (SP) & 14 in Loch Mealt (JMcL) - same birds? |
1st Oct 2012 | Wheatear |
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still two at Staffin Slip (SP) |