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 May 2014 | Great Northern Diver |
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single off the Ascribs + 50 Kittiwake (HI) |
31st May 2014 | Quail | another report with a calling bird at Hallin, Waternish (AM) | |
31st May 2014 | Common Dolphin | group of 6 in Loch Portree (C.Alston) | |
30th May 2014 | Corncrake |
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several birds heard calling from the car cark at Trumpan, Waternish (C.Reynolds) - this is a good spot for listening but please do not enter the nearby fields!! |
30th May 2014 | Arctic Skua |
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singles at Neist Point (AMcL)& G.Hooton |
29th May 2014 | Arctic Skua |
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single off Waternish Point (G.Hooton) |
29th May 2014 | Great Northern Diver |
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single in Loch Bay (G.Hooton) |
28th May 2014 | Common Quail | calling bird near Eynort (J.Coleman) | |
27th May 2014 | Tawny Owl | successfully bred again at Torrin (G&J Hopwood) | |
27th May 2014 | Sanderling |
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4 in summer plumage in Broadford Bay (MB) |
26th May 2014 | Common Dolphin | c100 between Elgol and Rum + several Minke Whales | |
26th May 2014 | Common Tern |
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15 in Broadford Bay + 3 Common Scoter (MB) |
25th May 2014 | Hoopoe | bird reported from Tarskavaig late afternoon (M.Ashman) | |
25th May 2014 | Sanderling |
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5 at Ardmore, Waternish (MB, RMcM) |
25th May 2014 | Turnstone | 5 at Pool Roag + 3 Bar-tailed Godwit & c100 Ringed Plover & 100 Dunlin (MB, RMcM) | |
24th May 2014 | Kentish Plover | unfortunately no sign today (AW) | |
24th May 2014 | Whooper Swan |
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straggler still at Pool Roag (AW) |
24th May 2014 | Bar-tailed Godwit |
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three at Pool Roag (AW) |
24th May 2014 | Spotted Flycatcher |
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single near Broadford Cottage Hospital (MB) |
24th May 2014 | Corncrake |
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on the mainland, one calling near Arisaig (SMacD) |
23rd May 2014 | Kentish Plover | adult male found at Pool Roag, Dunvegan is a first record for the area (RMcM)(see Gallery) | |
23rd May 2014 | Sanderling |
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now 7 in Broadford Bay (MB) |
23rd May 2014 | Little Egret |
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bird now at Loch Snizort Beag at Kensaleyre (ML) |
22nd May 2014 | Sanderling |
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4 in Broadford Bay (MB) |
21st May 2014 | Tree Sparrow | still 5 showing in garden at Harrapool (AMacL) | |
21st May 2014 | Spotted Flycatcher |
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1st report with a bird at Earlish (NH) |
20th May 2014 | Little Egret |
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report of a bird at Loch Portree is probably the same recorded on the Kilmaluag River on the 17th (T.B.) |
20th May 2014 | Dunlin |
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31 at Loch Portree & 6 Golden Plover (T.B.) |
20th May 2014 | Common Crossbill |
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c25 including juveniles at Upperglen, Greshornish (MP) |
19th May 2014 | Dunlin |
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100 at Pool Roag + 50 Ringed Plover (RMcM) |
19th May 2014 | Whooper Swan |
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straggler at Pool Roag (RMcM) |
19th May 2014 | Whimbrel |
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6 at Staffin Bay (MP) |
19th May 2014 | Sanderling |
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single in summer plumage in Broadford Bay (MB) |
19th May 2014 | Nightjar | bird reported from Rum (per SM) | |
19th May 2014 | Redwing |
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single bird reported from Rum (per SM) |
18th May 2014 | Sanderling |
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single in summer plumage on Loch Slapin at Camas Malag + 10 Dunlin and 2 Turnstone (RMcM) |
18th May 2014 | Tree Sparrow | still feeding below bird table at Harrapool where numbers have built up to 8 (A.MacLennan)(see Gallery) | |
18th May 2014 | Common Scoter | 5 in Broadford Bay (MB) | |
18th May 2014 | Osprey |
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bird reported flying over the narrows at Kylerhea (per PJ) |
17th May 2014 | Whinchat |
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another report of a territorial pair at Harlosh (T.Bird) - male bird actively singing in darkness |
17th May 2014 | Turtle Dove | excellent record with a bird feeding in a garden at Aird Bernisdale (A&A Galbraith)(see Gallery) | |
17th May 2014 | Little Egret |
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single on the Kilmaluag River at Conista (M.Perry) |
17th May 2014 | Golden Plover | c20 at Loch Cillchroisd (S.Terry) | |
17th May 2014 | Black-headed Gull | 16 in Uig Bay (ML) - worth noting there is no recent breeding record for this species on Skye. | |
16th May 2014 | Turnstone | good count of c50 at Ardnish (A&EH) | |
16th May 2014 | Tree Sparrow | two below feeders in Harrapool is a first record in the area for several years (A.MacLennan) | |
16th May 2014 | Short-eared Owl |
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single between Uig and Staffin (MP) |
15th May 2014 | Comic Tern | count of 24 at Loch Treaslane (DFMacd) | |
15th May 2014 | Pink-footed Goose |
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single with Greylags at Broadford (MB) |
14th May 2014 | Corncrake |
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though birds will still be arriving, initial reports show good numbers of calling birds mainly in Trotternish and Waternish (SP). Away from normal areas there is a calling bird on Sleat (H.Martin) |
14th May 2014 | Hen Harrier |
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four nests have been located in the study area so far indicating an ealy start to the breeding season. With reports elsewhere, this total may increase so all observations welcome (RMcM) |
14th May 2014 | Lesser Black-backed Gull |
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16 at Old Corry, Broadford (MB) |
13th May 2014 | Garden Warbler | two singing birds at Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN) | |
13th May 2014 | Whinchat |
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two singing birds at Balgown, Kilmuir (RMcM) and territorial bird at Dalavil, Sleat (SB) |
13th May 2014 | Greylag Goose |
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pair with a gosling at Eabost (PE) |
12th May 2014 | House Martin |
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first arrival back at the Morvich, Kintail, breeding site (RA) |
12th May 2014 | Cuckoo | just an update on the Great Cuckoo Race - Livingstone arrived back on Balmacara Estate around May 5th whereas Patch appears to be still in Spain - see http://www.bto.org/science/migration/tracking-studies/cuckoo-tracking | |
12th May 2014 | Ring Ouzel |
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two calling birds in the Quirang (ML) |
12th May 2014 | Common Crossbill |
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4-6 at Balmeanach plantation, Caroy (PE) |
12th May 2014 | Gadwall |
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pair on Loch Corlarach, Dunvegan are probably passage birds (M.MacInnes) |
11th May 2014 | Wheatear |
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at least 8 leucorhoa types in the Milovaig area(AS) |
11th May 2014 | Wood Warbler | singing bird at Duisdale Hotel grounds + two Tree Pipits (MB) | |
11th May 2014 | Redstart | singing bird at Coille Tokavaig, Ord + four Tree Pipits (MB) | |
11th May 2014 | Whimbrel |
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17 in Broadford Bay 6 Great Northern Divers (MB) |
11th May 2014 | Great Skua |
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two back in territory at Neist Point (AS) |
11th May 2014 | White Wagtail |
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four at Waterstein(AS) |
10th May 2014 | Linnet | 6 at Uig Bay (ML) | |
10th May 2014 | Arctic Tern |
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two at the Aird, Gedintailor (WM) |
10th May 2014 | Sedge Warbler |
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also singing at Lephin, Glendale (AS) and Lower Breakish (PP) |
10th May 2014 | Grasshopper Warbler | reeling bird near Kinloch House Hotel (M.Collins) | |
9th May 2014 | Sedge Warbler |
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singing at Carnach, Waternish (J.Hodkin), and three singing birds at Uig (M.Lumb) |
9th May 2014 | Whinchat |
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singing male at Hamara, Glendale (AS) |
9th May 2014 | Short-eared Owl |
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single at Ullinish (P&LE) |
8th May 2014 | White Wagtail |
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5 on Canna + several leucorhoa Wheatear (RMcM) |
7th May 2014 | Common Tern |
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three at Ullinish (PE) and at Uig Bay (MLumb) |
7th May 2014 | Red-throated Diver |
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two at Glenelg Bay + another dead on beach (P.Jones) |
7th May 2014 | Arctic Tern |
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two at Uig Bay (MLumb) |
7th May 2014 | Ring Ouzel |
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female at the needle on the Quirang (MSellars) |
6th May 2014 | Whimbrel |
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5 flying west near Greshornish, and 11 at Ardroag (RMcM) |
6th May 2014 | Whinchat |
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3 males in territories at Ardroag (RMcM)(see Gallery) |
6th May 2014 | Dunlin |
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95 at Pool Roag and 35 Ringed Plover (RMcM) |
5th May 2014 | Dunlin |
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202 in Broadford Bay + 95 Ringed Plover (MB) |
5th May 2014 | Wheatear |
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5/6 leucorhoa types in Elgol (RMcM) and a single at Harrapool (MB) |
4th May 2014 | Whimbrel |
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five at Broadford Bay (MB) |
4th May 2014 | Grasshopper Warbler | reeling bird at Lephin, Glendale (AS) | |
4th May 2014 | Great Northern Diver |
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4 off Tarskavaig (A.Drever) |
3rd May 2014 | Grasshopper Warbler | reeling bird at Fiscavaig (D.Morgan) | |
3rd May 2014 | Whitethroat |
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singing at Broadford (D.Jenkins) |
2nd May 2014 | Grey Wagtail |
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pair possibly breeding at Skeabost Bridge + 15 Sand Martins (TH) |
2nd May 2014 | Whimbrel |
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two at the head of Loch Slapin (RMcM) and two at Lorgill, Ramasaig (CH) |
2nd May 2014 | Common Crossbill |
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c4 in forestry near Edinbane (RMcM) (see Gallery) |
2nd May 2014 | Pink-footed Goose |
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single at Lochlonghead (PS) |
2nd May 2014 | Wheatear |
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c25 in the Lorgill, Ramasaig area (CH) - probably included some migrants |
2nd May 2014 | Short-eared Owl |
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single at Colbost, Dunvegan (D.Jenkins) |
1st May 2014 | Golden Plover | 9 on Ardnish + a Whimbrel (PP) | |
1st May 2014 | Common Scoter | 7 in Broadford Bay (MB) | |
1st May 2014 | Common Whitethroat |
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singing bird in Broadford Industrial Estate (MB) |