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 Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single with 9 Bar-tails in Breakish Obbe (PP)
31st Aug 2013 Sanderling View Image 5 in Breakish Obbe (PP)
31st Aug 2013 Brent Goose View Image early arrival with 13 pale bellied in Broadford Bay (MB)
31st Aug 2013 Common Scoter 14 arrived Broadford Bay early evening (MB)
31st Aug 2013 Little Stint View Image single juvenile still in Broadford Bay (MB)
31st Aug 2013 Orca two at Neist Point (SH,PE) + two Basking Shark (see Gallery)
31st Aug 2013 Osprey View Image single bird following the River Snizort south near MacDiarmid School (I.Stewart)
30th Aug 2013 White Wagtail View Image 12 at Neist/Waterstein & 2 at Harrapool (RMcM)
30th Aug 2013 Wheatear View Image 3 leucorhoa at Neist/Waterstein (RMcM)
30th Aug 2013 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 10 at Loch Portree + 5 Dunlin & a Sanderling (RMcM)
30th Aug 2013 Little Stint View Image juvenile in Broadford Bay (MB)
29th Aug 2013 Sanderling View Image 11 in Staffin Bay (TB)
28th Aug 2013 Common Crossbill View Image 10+ near Bernisdale (SH)
27th Aug 2013 Little Stint View Image two in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
27th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single in Broadford Bay, + 4 Bar-tailed, & 4 Sanderling (RMcM)
26th Aug 2013 Basking Shark following the reports last week from a trip to Hyskeir, there have been further reports from Neist & Rubha Hunish, and 7 off Oronsay, Bracadale today (PP). Some 27 sharks have been tagged this year as part of an ongoing project - see http://www.snh.gov.uk/about-scotlands-nature/species/fish/sea-fish/shark-tagging-project
26th Aug 2013 Black-throated Diver View Image single at Nostie, Lochalsh (BN)
25th Aug 2013 Greenshank 8 at Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
25th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 10 at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
25th Aug 2013 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph bird at Waterloo (A&EH)
25th Aug 2013 Little Stint View Image max of 4 at Broadford Bay but no sign of Curlew Sandpiper (MB)
25th Aug 2013 Dunlin View Image 328 in Broadford Bay + 87 Ringed Plover(MB)
25th Aug 2013 Merlin View Image single noted at Struan and another at Skye Silver near Glendale on the evening of the 24th (JJ)
25th Aug 2013 Curlew 45 in Kirkton Bay, Lochalsh (BN)
24th Aug 2013 Little Stint View Image at least 3 juveniles in Broadford Bay (MB)
24th Aug 2013 Curlew Sandpiper View Image a juvenile in Broadford Bay (MB)
24th Aug 2013 Twite View Image flock of 150 at Rubha Hunish (PP)
24th Aug 2013 Sandwich Tern View Image two in Staffin Bay (MP)
23rd Aug 2013 Little Stint View Image single at Broadford Bay + a juvenile Ruff (S.Hart)
23rd Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image still a single in Broadford Bay (MB)
22nd Aug 2013 Storm Petrel single between Canna & Rum (PK, RMcM et al)
22nd Aug 2013 Great Northern Diver View Image 4 on the east coast of Rum (PK, RMcM et al)
22nd Aug 2013 Purple Sandpiper View Image 14 on Hyskeir + c20 Turnstone (SH,PK, RMcM et al)
22nd Aug 2013 Basking Shark c25 between Hyskeir and Canna, 4 Minke Whale and c30 Common Dolphins (SH,PK, RMcM et al) (see cetaceans Gallery)
22nd Aug 2013 Greylag Goose View Image c50 at Ardnish (A&EH)
21st Aug 2013 Wilson's Phalarope still showing at 1300 in Broadford Bay but proving elusive (RMcM)
21st Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 32 in Broadford Bay + 3 Knot (RMcM)
21st Aug 2013 Purple Sandpiper View Image 8 at Broadford Bay + 4 Whimbrel and 4 Knot (EH)
21st Aug 2013 Arctic Skua View Image single dark morph bird in Sound of Raasay (PE)
20th Aug 2013 Wilson's Phalarope bird relocated this morning at 0900 hours at Glas Eilean, Broadford Bay ....and still showing at 1500 (RMcM)...and again at 1800 (please observe from either the Heb Car Park or the 1st pull off in Waterloo)
20th Aug 2013 Red-breasted Merganser View Image moulting flock of 42 on Loch Ainort (RMcM)
20th Aug 2013 Sanderling View Image single at Pool Roag and 5 at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
20th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image still at least one in Broadford Bay (P.Knott) and 6 reported on Breakish Obbe (EH)
20th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 17 in Broadford Bay at Harrapool + 10 Whimbrel (RMcM)
20th Aug 2013 Whinchat View Image two broods at Pool Roag, probably from 2nd clutches (RMcM)
20th Aug 2013 Swift single at Portnalong (W.Brown)
20th Aug 2013 Red Kite View Image single reported from Carnach, Waternish (J.Hodgkin)
20th Aug 2013 Long-tailed Skua single reported from the Sound of Raasay from MV Brigadoon (PE)
19th Aug 2013 Ring Ouzel View Image single alarming bird at Dun Dubh, Quirang (S.Bungard)
18th Aug 2013 Wheatear View Image two birds showing characteristics of leucorhoa at Milovaig (AS)
18th Aug 2013 Sanderling View Image 22 at Staffin Bay +50 Dunlin & 4 Turnstone (MP)
18th Aug 2013 Mistle Thrush View Image flock of 15 near Stein, Waternish (SH)
18th Aug 2013 Great Shearwater this rare vagrant was spotted amongst manxies at the mouth of Loch Snizort from the ferry (A.Stevenson) - if accepted this would be the first record since 1885.
18th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 14 at Broadford Bay + 8 Bar-tailed, & 10 Sanderling (A.Stevenson)
17th Aug 2013 Wilson's Phalarope no sign in Broadford Bay today
17th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single in Breakish Obbe early was joined by flock of 22 later (PP)
17th Aug 2013 Greenshank 9 in Breakish Obbe + 3 Knot & 4 Bar-tailed Godwit (PP)
16th Aug 2013 Arctic Skua View Image single dark morph bird in Broadford Bay (GR)
16th Aug 2013 Wilson's Phalarope an unusual wader found by Gerry Rawcliffe in Broadford Bay late this morning and subsequently photographed this afternoon, has been identified as a juvenile Wilson's Phalarope (RMcM)(see Gallery)
15th Aug 2013 Whimbrel View Image 13 at Broadford Bay (G.Rawcliffe)
15th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single in Breakish Obbe (PP)
15th Aug 2013 Dunlin View Image numbers still peaking with 230+ in Broadford Bay + 8 Sanderling (MB)
15th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image report of a possible group in Breakish Obbe (PP) then 5 reported from Broadford Bay (T.Campbell)
14th Aug 2013 Greenshank though there was still an adult and recently fledged youngster in a breeding territory in Strath yesterday, there were 8 at the head of Loch Sligachan and 2 in Loch Portree to-day (RMcM)
14th Aug 2013 Goosander View Image 11 in Loch Portree (RMcM)
14th Aug 2013 Curlew c80 in Loch Portree + 7 Bar-tailed Godwit(RMcM)
14th Aug 2013 Sabine's Gull adult c.5 miles east of Kilt Rock from Hebridean Whale Cruises this morning; also juvenile Little Gull
14th Aug 2013 Common Scoter single in Loch Portree (PE)
13th Aug 2013 Hen Harrier View Image for a summary on the 2013 breeding season please see the blog.
12th Aug 2013 White-tailed Eagle View Image up to 9 birds seen circling and tumbling to-gether west of Portree (L.French)
12th Aug 2013 Ring Ouzel View Image two on Beinn na Caillich (G.Rawcliffe)
12th Aug 2013 Golden Plover 52 in flight between Beinn na Caillich and Beinn Dearg Mhor (G.Rawcliffe); and 34 on the shore at Balmeanach Bay (WM)
12th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image still an adult and two young in Broadford Bay (MB)
12th Aug 2013 Common Scoter eight in Broadford Bay (MB)
12th Aug 2013 Whimbrel View Image report of 10 on the coast at Portnalong (J.Green)
11th Aug 2013 Cuckoo recently fledged birds being fed by Meadow Pipits at Tote (CH)and at Portnalong (ST)
11th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image still 7 in Broadford Bay, 3 juveniles & 4 adults, + 65 'comic' terns (MB)
11th Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 4 early in Broadford Bay which moved on, then 9 later (MB)
11th Aug 2013 Dunlin View Image now c190 in Broadford Bay + 2 juvenile Sanderling (MB)
11th Aug 2013 Grasshopper Warbler single still reeling near Uig campsite (S.Duffield)
11th Aug 2013 Spotted Flycatcher View Image adults feeding young at Portnalong (ST)
10th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image still 5 this morning at Waterloo, two adults and three juveniles (DB) - these are the first record for Skye since 2002 (see Gallery)
10th Aug 2013 Carrion Crow View Image single with Hooded Crows at Borreraig, Strath (PE)
10th Aug 2013 Swift single at Kyleakin (L.French)
10th Aug 2013 Cuckoo singles, probably juveniles reported from Waterloo (DB) and Kylerhea (L.French)
10th Aug 2013 Long-eared Owl View Image probable single near forestry at Loch Leathan, the Storr (L.French)
9th Aug 2013 Cuckoo another report, this time from Rhenetra - also a Whinchat (N.Taylor)
9th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image group of up to 7 still present in Broadford Bay, located at Waterloo (D.Blakesley) and seen later in the evening in front of Harrapool (MB)
8th Aug 2013 Turnstone 14 on Ardnish + 50 Dunlin (A&EH)
8th Aug 2013 Little Tern View Image group of 6 reported off Ardnish, Broadford (G.Rawcliffe) - this is an exceptional record for this scarce vagrant locally.
8th Aug 2013 Peregrine View Image fledged young on the wing near Milovaig (SH)
8th Aug 2013 Dunlin View Image 170+ in Broadford Bay + 2 Sanderling (MB)
8th Aug 2013 Black-throated Diver View Image single in Broadford Bay (MB)
8th Aug 2013 Cetaceans Up to 3 Minke Whales were off Neist on the 3rd (SH) and one was breaching several miles south/west of Elgol yesterday (MK). News has also come through of a pod of 3 Killer Whales off Neist on 31st July (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlODhYOAc3k&nomobile=1)
7th Aug 2013 Whimbrel View Image two on Ardnish + a Grey Plover (D.Blakesley)
7th Aug 2013 Cuckoo juvenile on telephone wires at Eynort/Grula junction (S.Davies)
6th Aug 2013 Great Northern Diver View Image three in Tarskavaig Bay (G.Rawcliffe)
6th Aug 2013 Grey Plover View Image two on Ardnish, Broadford + 60 Dunlin & 36 Ringed Plover (A&EH)
5th Aug 2013 Sanderling View Image 5 at Staffin Bay + 9 Dunlin (MP)
5th Aug 2013 Great Northern Diver View Image summering bird at Churchton Bay, Raasay (L.French)
5th Aug 2013 Spotted Flycatcher View Image report of single at Raasay House (L.French)
4th Aug 2013 Dunlin View Image numbers in Broadford Bay up to c150, + 4 Knot & 4 Sanderling (MB)
4th Aug 2013 Sandwich Tern View Image four - two adults and two juveniles - in Broadford Bay (MB)
4th Aug 2013 Tufted Duck View Image female with late brood of small ducklings on Loch Mealt (DB)
3rd Aug 2013 Manx Shearwater View Image in seawatch at Neist Point up to 1500 per hour south (RMcM)
3rd Aug 2013 Dunlin View Image 30+ at Pool Roag and 120 at Broadford Bay(RMcM)
3rd Aug 2013 Greenshank 3 at Pool Roag and at Broadford Bay(RMcM)
3rd Aug 2013 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 19 at Broadford Bay (RMcM)& 4 in a field at Feorlig (D.Blakesley)
3rd Aug 2013 Sanderling View Image 11 at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
3rd Aug 2013 Knot 6 at Waterloo in morning (DB) with 13 at Broadford Bay later (RMcM)
3rd Aug 2013 Sandwich Tern View Image two at Waterloo, Broadford (D.Blakesley)
3rd Aug 2013 Whimbrel View Image six at Waterloo, Broadford (D.Blakesley)
3rd Aug 2013 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 5 at Waterloo, Broadford (RMcM)
1st Aug 2013 Short-eared Owl View Image very scarce this year - single near Kilmaluag (L.French)

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