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 Nov 2012 Black Guillemot View Image 22 in the area of the Sconser Ferry (MP)
28th Nov 2012 Magpie single bird still at Uig (C.Alston)
28th Nov 2012 White-tailed Eagle View Image adult bird seen regularly around the Kishorn Islands (K.Macrae)
28th Nov 2012 Shag count of 88 at Moonen Bay, Neist (M.Perry)
27th Nov 2012 Brambling View Image two regularly at feeders at Isleornsay (RC)and single at Amer, Struan (MH)
27th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image still c60 at Camustianavaig (RMcM) + 15 at Kyleakin and 2 in Kyle (A&EH)
27th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing still 750 at Camustianavaig (RMcM) & 200+ at Kyleakin (A&EH)
27th Nov 2012 White-tailed Eagle View Image one apparently fishing the River Varrigal (MP) - possibly looking for 'spent' salmon
26th Nov 2012 Snow Bunting View Image single at Elgol (RMcM)
25th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c50 still on the old road 1 x km west of Kyleakin (RMcM)
25th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing c500 still on the old road 1 x km west of Kyleakin (RMcM)
25th Nov 2012 Barnacle Goose View Image 14 on Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH)
25th Nov 2012 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image another report from the north of the island with a male at Cuillin Hills, Portree (PE)
24th Nov 2012 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image still visiting feeders at Fasach, Glendale (M.Fawkes)- also at feeders at Kyleakin (A&EH)
24th Nov 2012 Woodcock recent reports from Portnalong (S.Tait) and Kylerhea (D.McHutchison), and several birds flushed from the roadside at Lower Breakish to-night (D.Macintosh)
24th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing c350 at Kyleakin (HS) and still big numbers in Portnalong area (ST)
24th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image reports still from Kyleakin (HS), Broadford (MB) and Portnalong area (ST)
23rd Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image with superb berry crop in Camustianavaig area, numbers have now built up to 400+ (RMcM); still 100+ at Kyle (PS)
23rd Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing 2000+ in the Camustianavaig area(RMcM)
23rd Nov 2012 Yellowhammer pair on feeders at Kyleakin(RMcM)
22nd Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image another herd of 12 above Loch Eishort heading west (R.Ware)
22nd Nov 2012 Brambling View Image 30-40 at Conchra (PSpeak)
22nd Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image still 100 on the old road at Kyleakin (A&EH)
21st Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 14 on Ardnish, Broadford (Liz Phillips)
21st Nov 2012 Ptarmigan View Image excellent count of 10 on Ben Aslak (J.Grant)
20th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image still good numbers about with 60 at Skye Serpentarium, Broadford (C.Shearer); now 140 at Camustianavaig (C.Hawley); and 30 at Plockton (J.Storie)
20th Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 16 in the Inverinate/Shiel Bridge area including 3 juveniles (BN); 3 at Breakish Obbe (JP); still 2 adults and 3 juvs at Loch Suardal (RMcM)
20th Nov 2012 Golden Eagle View Image pairs are very active at the moment in the wind and sun with birds beside the road at Drumuie (see Gallery) and at Fairy Bridge (RMcM)
19th Nov 2012 Eider 120 in 'the Kyle' at Kyleakin is the best count since 2008 (H&MS)
19th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c30 in West Suisnish, Raasay (S.Bungard)
19th Nov 2012 Goldfinch 'charm' of 30 at Kyleakin (L.Card)
18th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 50 at Badicaul and 80 between Strathie and Plockton (BN); 40 at Camustianavaig (RMcM et al)(see Gallery)and 30 at Upper Ollach, Braes (C.Atkins);at least 500+ in the Plockton area (M.Werndly,M.Carty)
18th Nov 2012 Common Scoter single in Loch Portree off 'The Lump' (T.Bowditch)
18th Nov 2012 Greenland White-fronted Goose 11 at Ardnish, Broadford (MB et al); 6 probables west of Scalpay & later off Ardnish (RMcM, MB et al) then 24 at Kilmuir (RMcM et al)
18th Nov 2012 Slavonian Grebe 6 at Ardnish (MB et al) and 7 at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (RMcM et al)
18th Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image birds clearly still on the move with 3 at Loch Meodal (R.Ware), 3 at Ardnish (MB et al)and groups of 4 and 15 in flight near Ard Dorch (RMcM et al)
18th Nov 2012 Golden Eagle View Image great conditions for seeing birds with singles on Scalpay and above Sligachan; and pairs seen on Glamaig, at Glen Varrigal and on Ben Tianavaig - all seen from the roadside (RMcM et al)
18th Nov 2012 Grey Plover View Image single on Ardnish, Broadford MB et al)
17th Nov 2012 Chiffchaff very late bird at Lephin, Glendale (AS)
16th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 50 at Kyleakin (A&EH)& 230 at Plockton late afternoon (D.Palmar)
16th Nov 2012 Water Rail single across the road near Faoilean, Loch Slapin (S.Duffield)
16th Nov 2012 Glaucous Gull View Image immature from ferry off Uig (S.Duffield)
16th Nov 2012 Nuthatch report from Sallachy, Lochalsh (Reg Brown) - perhaps the Carr Brae bird is back?
15th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 60+ at Rhuda Mor, Plockton (J.Storie); c125 at The Obbe, Kyleakin (RMcM); 'several hundred' reported from Kyle (J.Storie); 80+from Camusterrach Manse, Applecross (P.Buckley), and a massive 550 in two flocks at Fiscavaig (Sue Tait). Still scarce in Mallaig area with 6 in a local garden (M.Affleck)
15th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing 50+ at Rhuda Mor, Plockton (J.Storie); c150 at The Obbe, Kyleakin, c100 at Torrin & c200 near Kilmarie, Strathaird (RMcM)
15th Nov 2012 Tern sp very late report of a 'Tern' flying over the wee skye bridge on the Kyle side (A&EH)
14th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c60 feeding on Hawthorn in Broadford Hospital grounds (Callum Macdonald); 15 at Kyle (L.Card) & several reports from Kyleakin the best of which was 100+ (M.Scott, L.Card, A&EH)- also 100+ at the Leisure Centre, Kyle (A&EH), and 30 at Culnamean, Glen Brittle (JG)
14th Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 2 at Loch na h-Airde near Rubha Dunain, Glen Brittle (JG)
13th Nov 2012 Goldfinch 30-40 birds at Borve (T.Hodgetts)
13th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 12 at Kilmore, Sleat (per U.MacL); 10 at Drimindarroch, Arisaig (SMacD)
13th Nov 2012 Red Grouse 5 from Uigshader to Woodend (JK)
13th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing still 1000 birds in the Kyleakin area (A&EH)
12th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c50 at Kyleakin (RMcM)pales to insignificance beside a massive 1000+ concentration in Kyle (BN)
12th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing still huge numbers going through with 1000 at Kyleakin (A&EH) and 400 at Torrin (RMcM)
12th Nov 2012 Yellowhammer male again visiting gardens at Kyleakin (A.Hickey)
11th Nov 2012 Fieldfare View Image 4-500 new arrivals at Lochlonghead (PS)
11th Nov 2012 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image single feeding on fatballs at Fasach, Glendale (M.Fawkes) - this as far west as the species has been recorded suggesting continued range expansion.
11th Nov 2012 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile bird by the roadside on the Torrin road outside Broadford (MB)
11th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c40 by the Skye Serpentarium, Broadford (MB)
11th Nov 2012 Siskin a distinctive bird coming to feeders near Carbost has a 'blonde' head (D.Hammond)(see Gallery)
11th Nov 2012 Barnacle Goose View Image c60 near Cuidrach, Trotternish (C.Atkins)
10th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 60+ at Plockton (Jan Storie), c20 in Kyle of Lochalsh (H.Scott) and 2 at Kyleakin (A&EH)
10th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing still a heavy passage through with 'thousands' of birds in Glen Arroch, Kylerhea road (Jenny Grant), and 500 through Plock and Eilean Ban (A&EH)
10th Nov 2012 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter 'garden bird' on Martin's lawn at Harrapool (MB)
10th Nov 2012 Ptarmigan View Image 7 pure white birds on Ben Aslak (J.Grant) - this is as good a count as has been recorded recently.
9th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image two at Aird of Sleat (J.McDermott), 20 at Isleornsay (RC), 20 at Gedintailor (WM), 30 at Ard Dorch (J.Grant) and 100 at Kyleakin(A&EH) - again with Fieldfares/Redwings. Also 40+ at Carbost and 12 at Portnalong (T.Bowditch)
9th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing massive numbers at Isleornsay - several thousand (RC); c300 at Kyleakin (A&EH)
8th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c50 at Kyleakin (A&EH) & 20 at Luib na Moil (RMcM)- both these groups were with flocks of mixed thrushes so well worth checking these out. Also 10 at Glasnakille (M.Day) & 8 at Broadford Hospital later (MB)
8th Nov 2012 Fieldfare/Redwing 2000+ at Kyleakin in a huge flock(A&EH); c200 at Plockton (Jan Storie) & 300 at Kylerhea (P.Phillips) - with smaller flocks elsewhere.
8th Nov 2012 Snow Bunting View Image single on the forest track at Kylerhea (P.Phillips)
8th Nov 2012 Common Scoter 4 in Balmeanach Bay (WM)
8th Nov 2012 Storm Petrel a late single two miles south of Point of Sleat (R.Dyer,MV Sheerwater)
7th Nov 2012 Fieldfare View Image still big numbers moving through in mixed flocks with Redwings - c1000 at Duirinish (RMcM) and at Kyleakin (A&EH)
7th Nov 2012 Goldfinch 60+ on the crofts at Halistra, Waternish (S.Parlane)
7th Nov 2012 Barn Owl View Image another report of a single north of Borve (N.Hodgetts)
7th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 20 at Kyleakin & 30 at Kylerhea moving with Redwings/Fieldfares (A.Hickey)
6th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 30+ near the Hebridean Hotel, Harrapool early afternoon (J.Storie); 40 at Black Park, Broadford (H.Stephenson); & 80 on the Heaste road later (MB)
6th Nov 2012 Redwing/Fieldfare c200 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
6th Nov 2012 Long-tailed Tit View Image c24 on the old road at Kyleakin (A&EH)
6th Nov 2012 Twite View Image c50 on the Glen Brittle road (RMcM)
5th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image amazing numbers continue at Broadford with 300 behind the Blythswood Charity shop and c100 at the Watermill Cafe (Jenny Grant); 9 over Elgol mid-morning then 8 at Torrin (RMcM) :100 at Camustianavaig (T.Hodgetts); no evidence of large numbers in Broadford early afternoon but c150 on the Broadford end of the Kylerhea Road (P.Phillips)
5th Nov 2012 Fieldfare View Image 300+ at Camustianavaig (TH) & 50+ near the Ord road (A.Lyle); 200 at Torrin, 100 at Loch Cillchroisd and 150 in Broadford area (RMcM)
5th Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 6 south over Morar (SMacD)
5th Nov 2012 Barn Owl View Image single near Drumuie Quarry outside Portree (A.Turner)
5th Nov 2012 Red Grouse 6 counted on the forest track at Kylerhea (P.Phillips)
4th Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image massive influx - initial report from Kyleakin (LC) then numbers built up steadily in Broadford throughout the day reaching a massive 160-70 by late afternoon (MB). Also terrific count of 200+ at Isleornsay (RC), and 11 at Ord (S.Arnold). In the north, 14 at Lower Milovaig (AS) and 100+ at Dunvegan (RC)- see Gallery. In Lochalsh, 80 at Ardelve (J.Grant)
4th Nov 2012 Red Grouse 4 on the Struan - Portree 'hill road' near the Snizort Bridge (MH)
4th Nov 2012 Fieldfare View Image 430+ heading south towards Sleat from Broadford (MB) and c400 with Redwings at Torrin (RMcM)
4th Nov 2012 Long-tailed Duck View Image female in Balmeanach Bay (WM)
3rd Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image c10 by the church in Elgol briefly (RMcM); 30-40 at Ard Dorch & 20 at Teangue (T.Hodgetts)(see Gallery); 2 at Rhubana, Morar (SMacD)
3rd Nov 2012 Fieldfare View Image c500 with Redwings moving s/west at Glasnakille(RMcM)- also big numbers of Starlings on the move; also c300 at Broadford (MB) & 200+ at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
3rd Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 4 at Loch Druagrich (MH)
3rd Nov 2012 Meadow Pipit View Image 60 on the croft at Lephin, Glendale may well be migrants (AS)
2nd Nov 2012 Waxwing View Image 30 in trees by the Kylerhea Ferry and 5 in trees at the Otter Haven Car Park (A.McLean);40 at Black Park, Broadford (H.Stephenson); a single in a Morar garden in the morning and 3 there in the afternoon (SMacD)
2nd Nov 2012 Blackcap View Image male at Morar (SMacD)
2nd Nov 2012 Barn Owl View Image bird re-occupying regular site at Mallaig (SMacD)
2nd Nov 2012 Whooper Swan View Image 5 on the Black Lochs headed south over Drumfearn (R.Ware)
1st Nov 2012 Magpie bird still present at Uig (M.Lumb)

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