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 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
31st Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 25+ at Ashaig/Ardnish with 18 Golden Plover (A&EH)
31st Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 4 at Harrapool & 3 at Ashaig (RMcM, A&EH)
31st Aug 2015 Merlin View Image male at Cuidrach, Trotternish (ML)
31st Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image juvenile still in Broadford Bay at Harrapool (MB)
30th Aug 2015 Golden Eagle View Image BBC Scotland ran a story on 28th August claiming an 18 year old bird found dead at RSPB's Forsinard reserve was Britain's oldest Golden Eagle - this is nonsence - see my Blog.
30th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image five on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
30th Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image juvenile still in Broadford Bay (MB)
30th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 4 in Broadford Bay + 20 Turnstone & a Knot - also two Knot at Ashaig (MB,RMcM)
30th Aug 2015 Meadow Pipit View Image influx at Lower Milovaig with flocks totalling 110 (AS)- also 5 leucorhoa type Wheatears in the area.
30th Aug 2015 Golden Plover 6 at Ashaig, Broadford (A&EH)
30th Aug 2015 Ringed Plover View Image numbers reached 125+ in Broadford Bay today with a similar number of Dunlin (MB)
30th Aug 2015 Common Scoter count of 16 in Broadford Bay(MB)
29th Aug 2015 Hoopoe still visiting garden at Ardvarsar, Sleat early morning (S.Shone, RMcM) (see Gallery)
29th Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image juvenile still at Harrapool this morning (MB)
29th Aug 2015 White-tailed Eagle View Image pair at Loch Treaslane one of which was seen to take a young Merganser (DFMacdonald)
29th Aug 2015 Common Sandpiper View Image two stragglers at Uig Bay (ML)
29th Aug 2015 Hen Harrier View Image adult male at Uigshader then a probable juvenile ringtail (JK)
29th Aug 2015 Ruff juvenile at Broadford Bay (NB,MB)
28th Aug 2015 Ruff juvenile at Harrapool in morning (RMcM)
28th Aug 2015 Lapwing 40 at Satran & 70+ at Feorlig(RMcM)
28th Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 3 at Loch Greshornish, c30 at Loch Portree & 28 at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
28th Aug 2015 Goosander View Image 20 at the head of Loch Snizort-beag at Skeabost(RMcM)
28th Aug 2015 Redshank 55 at Loch Portree & 28 at Broadford Bay(RMcM)
28th Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 7 at Broadford Bay which flew south (RMcM) - then a terrific count of 65 early evening (MB)
28th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 16 at Breakish Obbe early evening (PP)
28th Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image juvenile again at Harrapool (MB)
28th Aug 2015 Knot 3 in Broadford Bay & 2 Sanderling (RMcM) - birds also recorded at Traigh (SMacD) & see Gallery for a Dutch ringed Sanderling
28th Aug 2015 Red-breasted Merganser View Image 70 moulting birds at head of Loch Ainort (MP); female with 5 well grown young at Struan (RMcM)
27th Aug 2015 Hoopoe one photographed at Ardvarsar at 2000 hours last night (S. Shone)(see Gallery) -also seen again at 1500 today.
27th Aug 2015 Common Swift two over Ardvarsar, Sleat (RMcM)
27th Aug 2015 Willow Warbler View Image juvenile at Ardvarsar, Sleat (RMcM)
27th Aug 2015 Kingfisher single seen on the Drynoch at the head of Loch Harport (S.Hopper)
27th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still a single at Waterloo with 15 Bar-tailed Godwit (RMcM)
27th Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image a single, possibly a new bird at Broadford Bay today (MB)
27th Aug 2015 Knot A flock of 20 briefly at Broadford Bay + 3 Sanderling (RMcM)
27th Aug 2015 Common Sandpiper View Image straggler at Uig Bay (ML)
26th Aug 2015 Marsh Warbler late report via the Recorder that a visiting Belgian birder found a singing Marsh Warbler at Uig on July 25 - in exactly the same spot as the 2013 record.
26th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Broadford Bay & three Sanderling (RMcM)
26th Aug 2015 Sandwich Tern View Image two at Ashaig (RMcM)
26th Aug 2015 Heron 20 at Uig Bay (ML)
26th Aug 2015 Common Swift 15 at Staffin tonight along with other hirundines (MP)
25th Aug 2015 Sabine's Gull adult reported 5 miles east of Staffin from Hebridean Whale Cruises (ND)
25th Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 25 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
25th Aug 2015 Grey Wagtail View Image two in Uig Bay (ML) and a single at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
25th Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image still 3 in Broadford Bay + 13 juvenile Sanderling(MB)(see Gallery)
24th Aug 2015 Chimney Swift one reported flying south at sea three miles east of Staffin Island - this would be a first for the area of this American species but subject to acceptance by BBRC.
24th Aug 2015 Heron 23 at high tide roost on Loch Treaslane (RMcM)
24th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Breakish Obbe & a single Whimbrel (PP)
24th Aug 2015 Black Redstart View Image female still at Lonmore, Dunvegan, showing signs of head moult (H.Raee) (see Gallery)
24th Aug 2015 Little Stint View Image 3 juveniles in Broadford Bay (MB)
24th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 3 in Broadford Bay + 3 Knot still (MB)
24th Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 8 Whimbrel & 8 Bar-tailed Godwits flew south over Broadford Bay in evening (MB, RMcM)
24th Aug 2015 Common Swift an interesting coincidence but report of a single at Glasphein, Staffin in the evening (MP)
24th Aug 2015 Manx Shearwater View Image single noted in the narrows of Raasay (PE)
23rd Aug 2015 Golden Eagle View Image for a summary of the 2015 breeding season see the Blog (KC & KN)
23rd Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 10 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
23rd Aug 2015 Knot 3 in Broadford Bay & 2 at Ashaig (RMcM)
23rd Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 8 at Staffin Bay (MP)
22nd Aug 2015 Green Sandpiper View Image late news of a Green Sandpiper at Point of Sleat on 20.8.15 (T.Godfrey) - this is a scarce vagrant to the area.
22nd Aug 2015 Black Redstart View Image juvenile/female type photographed at Lonmore, Dunvegan (Hazel Raee) - this bird is very similar to the bird seen in the area at the end of May but there have been no reports since.
22nd Aug 2015 Common Crossbill View Image 12+ at Balmeanach, Caroy (PE)
21st Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 6 at Uig Bay (ML)
21st Aug 2015 Lapwing 40 at Feorlig & 8 at Loch Treaslane (RMcM)
21st Aug 2015 Greenshank 4 at the head of Loch Harport (RMcM)
21st Aug 2015 Lesser Black-backed Gull View Image 30 at Loch Treaslane, 65 at Skeabost Bridge & 100 at Loch Eyre (RMcM)
21st Aug 2015 Common Tern View Image 30+ at Skeabost Bridge(RMcM)
21st Aug 2015 Red-breasted Merganser View Image moulting flock of c70 at the head of Loch Ainort + 20 Arctic Terns(RMcM)
21st Aug 2015 Common Sandpiper View Image two stragglers at Uig Bay (ML)
20th Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 6 at Lower breakish (LP) then 10 at Ardnish later (RMcM)(see Gallery)
20th Aug 2015 Greenshank 8 on Ardnish + 3 Whimbrel & 2 Knot (RMcM)
20th Aug 2015 White Wagtail View Image single on Ardnish + three at Waterloo (RMcM)
20th Aug 2015 Gannet unusual numbers feeding at the head of Loch Snizort-Beag at Skeabost Bridge coinciding with influx of Sprats/Mackerel (GF)
20th Aug 2015 Great Skua View Image 7 at Staffin Island (L.Cross)
19th Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 6 at the head of Loch Greshornish (J.McKay)
18th Aug 2015 Linnet pair with brood of two at Waterloo (A&EH)
18th Aug 2015 Grey Plover View Image 7 at Ashaig + 4 Bar-tailed Godwit (A&EH)
18th Aug 2015 Cuckoo juvenile being fed by Meadow Pipit standing on it's back - at Geary, Waternish (RA)
17th Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 4 over Broadford Bay & a single Tufted Duck (MB)
16th Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 12 in Broadford Bay (MB) & a single at Lower Breakish (PP) & 15 at Loch Portree (TB)
16th Aug 2015 Knot a single in Broadford Bay (MB) & 4 at Loch Portree (TB)
16th Aug 2015 Curlew 48 at Loch Portree & two Whimbrel (TB)
16th Aug 2015 Dunlin View Image c100 still in Broadford Bay (MB) and 24 at Loch Portree (TB)
16th Aug 2015 Swift late single at Waterloo (J.Bentall)
16th Aug 2015 Lapwing c20 at Cuidrach (J.Bentall)
15th Aug 2015 Sabine's Gull single reported 3 miles east of Staffin Island from Hebridean Whale Cruises (ND)
15th Aug 2015 Common Sandpiper View Image still two in Broadford Bay (MB)
14th Aug 2015 Little Tern View Image two reported from Ashaig/Ardnish (A&EH)
14th Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image three at Ashaig/Ardnish (A&EH) + two Whimbrel
14th Aug 2015 Common Sandpiper View Image late single on Loch Cillchroisd + 12 Lapwing (J.Bentall)
14th Aug 2015 Meadow Pipit View Image a leucistic bird at Kylerhea (A.Law)(see Gallery)
13th Aug 2015 Short-eared Owl View Image juvenile bird found dead at Lower Breakish (LP)
13th Aug 2015 Twite View Image c70 at Lower Breakish (LP)
13th Aug 2015 Ringed Plover View Image 155 in Broadford Bay with similar numbers of Dunlin & 3 Sanderling (RMcM)
13th Aug 2015 Knot 19 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
12th Aug 2015 Blackcap View Image male caught in fruit cage on Raasay & released (SB)
12th Aug 2015 Cuckoo latish single at Scullamus, Breakish (RMcM)
12th Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image some excellent counts with c50 over Broadford Bay (MB), then 110 early evening over Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (C.Biel)
12th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 6 in Broadford Bay (MB) & 5 at Ashaig (RMcM)
12th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Loch Kishorn & five at Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
12th Aug 2015 Knot 5 on Ardnish + 4 Bar-tailed Godwit & 3 Grey Plover (RMcM)
12th Aug 2015 Ring Ouzel View Image single on Flasvein, Trotternish (MP)
12th Aug 2015 Canada Goose View Image 5 at Isleornsay (RC)
11th Aug 2015 Knot 4 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
11th Aug 2015 Highland Bird Report 2013 please see the Blog/News page for details of this publication as I have a few copies available.
11th Aug 2015 Grasshopper Warbler a very late reeling bird at Gillen, Waternish (D&J Franklin)
11th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 24 at Ardnish, Broadford + 5 Sanderling (RMcM)
10th Aug 2015 Dunlin View Image numbers much reduced in Broadford Bay but still 300+ (RMcM)
10th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image again, numbers reduced in Broadford Bay but still 28 (RMcM,MB) ; also 30 in Staffin Bay (ML) and 42 at Traigh (SMacD)
10th Aug 2015 Common Sandpiper View Image single at Harrapool (RMcM)
10th Aug 2015 Shag 150 in Staffin Bay & 6 Great Skua (ML)
10th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 24 in Broadford Bay afternoon & 33 new birds at Ashaig evening (RMcM)
10th Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image still two in Broadford Bay (RMcM) & singles in Staffin Bay (MP) and at Traigh (SMacD)
10th Aug 2015 Golden Plover 40 at Traigh Golf Course (SMacD)
9th Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image c40 at Waterloo (RMcM) which probably moved south, then 30 at Ashaig early evening and 30 at Harrapool (RMcM)
9th Aug 2015 Grey Plover View Image single at Staffin Bay (MP)
9th Aug 2015 Dunlin View Image huge numbers building up in Broadford Bay with c500 (RMcM)- also 60 Redshank.
9th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image good movement with up to 35 in Broadford Bay (MB,RMcM), 52 at Traigh (SMacD) with three at Staffin Bay (MP)
9th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image up to 52 in Broadford Bay (HB,MB,RMcM) with 21 at Staffin Bay (MP)
9th Aug 2015 Turnstone up to 10 in Broadford Bay (HB,RMcM) with 3 at Staffin Bay (MP)
9th Aug 2015 Short-eared Owl View Image single at Lonemore (D.Brown)
9th Aug 2015 Knot 5 in Broadford Bay + 60 Redshank and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit (HB,MB,RMcM)
8th Aug 2015 Dunlin View Image 180 in Broadford Bay and 30 at Ashaig (RMcM); increasing to 250+ later (MB)
8th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 4 at Harrapool and 10 at Ashaig (RMcM); 13 at Traigh (SMacD)
8th Aug 2015 Knot a single at Harrapool and 4 at Ashaig (RMcM) (see Gallery)
8th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 26 in Broadford Bay (RMcM) (see Gallery)
8th Aug 2015 Redshank 25 at Waterloo (RMcM) & 16 at Traigh (SMacD)
8th Aug 2015 Canada Goose View Image 14 at Traigh (S.MacDonald)
7th Aug 2015 Redshank 40 at Loch Portree (RMcM)
7th Aug 2015 Grasshopper Warbler still reeling at Tote (CH)
6th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image good count of 27 in Broadford Bay + two Bar-tailed Godwit (DB)
5th Aug 2015 Little Tern View Image still 3 in Broadford Bay + a Sandwich Tern (DB)
5th Aug 2015 Knot 9 in Broadford Bay(DB)
5th Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 18 in Broadford Bay (DB) & 5 at Loch Brittle (RMcM)
5th Aug 2015 Arctic Tern View Image c70 at the head of Loch Harport spooked by three White-tailed Eagles (RMcM)
5th Aug 2015 Red-breasted Merganser View Image moulting flock of 38 at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM)
4th Aug 2015 Long-eared Owl View Image two young still around the site near Dunvegan, now fully feathered. (M.Forsyth) (see Gallery)- young bird still around Dunhallin, Waternish (RA)- two breeding records is excellent for an elusive species.
4th Aug 2015 Little Tern View Image four in Broadford Bay + a Sandwich Tern (DB)
4th Aug 2015 Knot 4 summer plumage birds at Ashaig in the morning (RMcM) & 5 at Harrapool afternoon (MB); 11 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
4th Aug 2015 Lapwing 25+ at Satran, Carbost (ST)
4th Aug 2015 Golden Plover 26 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
4th Aug 2015 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 2 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
3rd Aug 2015 Spotted Flycatcher View Image adults with three fledged young at Portnalong (ST)
3rd Aug 2015 Great Skua View Image 9 over Staffin Island included breeding birds (DB)
3rd Aug 2015 Whimbrel View Image 4 at Dunan(DB)
2nd Aug 2015 Eider moulting flock of 250+ in Loch Ainort (RMcM)
2nd Aug 2015 Twite View Image 72 at Waterloo (DB)
2nd Aug 2015 Sanderling View Image 8 at Waterloo (DB)
2nd Aug 2015 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image two at Broadford Bay + 80 Dunlin (MB)
2nd Aug 2015 Ring Ouzel View Image single at Coir an t-Seasgaich, Trotternish (SB)

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