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 May 2016 Hen Harrier View Image checked 4 pairs today, two on clutches of 5&6 eggs respectively, but two pairs have failed in early incubation for reasons unknown (RMcM)
31st May 2016 Common Crossbill View Image four at Choisleadar Forest, Edinbane (RMcM, AW)
30th May 2016 Wood Sandpiper bird confirmed at a probable breeding site in Lochalsh (J.Burrow, DM)
30th May 2016 Canada Goose View Image single at Bayfield, Portree (RMcM)
29th May 2016 Whitethroat View Image just arrived, two singing birds at Lower Milovaig and a Spotted Flycatcher (AS)
28th May 2016 Greylag Goose View Image 8 adults and 16 goslings at Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH)
28th May 2016 Common Crossbill View Image male in Choisleadar Forest (JDJ)
27th May 2016 Dunlin View Image two at Eilean Tioram, Dornie (T.Bunday)
27th May 2016 Wood Warbler two singing on Carr Brae Dornie (T.Bunday)
27th May 2016 Grasshopper Warbler one singing on Carr Brae Dornie (T.Bunday)
27th May 2016 Barn Owl View Image single seen at Achnacloich, Sleat (per VP)
27th May 2016 Goldeneye very late female on Loch Achaid na h Inich, Lochalsh (T. Bunday)
26th May 2016 Whinchat View Image one near the viewpoint on Carr Brae Dornie (T.Bunday)
26th May 2016 Black-throated Diver View Image single in Loch Bay, Waternish (T.Bunday)
26th May 2016 Common Redpoll Icelandic type displaying at Inverinate (LE)
25th May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image at least two birds at the Quirang (J.Davidson)
25th May 2016 Great Skua View Image two at Waternish Point (T.Bunday)
24th May 2016 Great Skua View Image two pairs at Staffin (D.Lockstone)
24th May 2016 Great Northern Diver View Image still stragglers about with singles at Torrin and in Loch Scavaig (T.Bunday)
23rd May 2016 Sooty Shearwater View Image a single of Waternish Point from the ferry (AW, AMcN) - May records for this species are unusual.
23rd May 2016 House Martin View Image pair occupying nest site at Harrapool (NB)
23rd May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image birds reported from Blaven (D.Rose) and Falls of Glomach, Kintail (T.Bunday)
23rd May 2016 Spotted Flycatcher View Image report from the end of Loch Long (T.Bunday)
23rd May 2016 Dipper two pairs on the Allt Gearraidh Dhroighinn with young (SB)
22nd May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image male in the Quirang (JDJones)
22nd May 2016 Whimbrel View Image single at Staffin beach (JDJones)
22nd May 2016 Whitethroat View Image singing bird at he Kilt Rock, Culnacnoc (JDJones)
22nd May 2016 Black-throated Diver View Image pair noted at a loch on Sleat (M.Ashman)
22nd May 2016 Tufted Duck View Image 6 (4mm) on Loch Cuithir (D.Morgan)
22nd May 2016 Whooper Swan View Image single still at the Lochan at Inverinate(LE)
21st May 2016 Arctic Skua View Image dark phase bird off Armadale + 60 'comic' terns (D.Morgan)
21st May 2016 Eider 60 on the Moll loop near the fish farm (A&EH)
21st May 2016 White Wagtail View Image still a single near the Coral Beaches at Claigan (A&EH)
21st May 2016 Great Skua View Image 4 pairs noted on Staffin Island LE)
21st May 2016 House Martin View Image pair noted nesting in a ravine at Staffin (LE) - though the use of natural sites by this species is known, this the first we are aware of locally.
21st May 2016 Whinchat View Image three pairs noted in Linicro area (LE)
21st May 2016 Great Northern Diver View Image 4 in Staffin Bay (LE)
21st May 2016 Arctic Tern View Image 50+ in Staffin Bay (LE)
20th May 2016 Whooper Swan View Image still a single on the lochan at Inverinate (RMcM)
20th May 2016 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image still a single at Waterloo (NB)
20th May 2016 Great Skua View Image three at Waternish Point (M.Hunter)
19th May 2016 Roseate Tern late report of a possible Roseate Tern photographed on the boat trips out of Dunvegan on May 10 by Nigel Searle - this has to be confirmed by the Highlands Records Committee.
19th May 2016 Red Grouse two cocks interacting beside the Heaste Road (NB)
18th May 2016 Potential Disturbance to Rare Breeding Birds please see the recent post on the blog. We have always carried a caveat to our reports that we will not publish information regarding sites of vulnerable species. We will also not publish images of Schedule 1 species during the breeding season.
18th May 2016 House Martin View Image several nest prospecting at Kilbride, Torrin (JJ)
18th May 2016 Osprey View Image one circled over the forestry on Eigg then headed west (JC)
18th May 2016 Arctic Tern View Image three on Loch Eishort at Heaste (NB)
18th May 2016 Blackcap View Image three singing birds at Dunvegan + two Chiffchaff (ST)
18th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image still 10 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
18th May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image two near the south end of Loch Coruisk (D.Morgan)
18th May 2016 Arctic Tern View Image c10 on the island in Loch Coruisk (D.Morgan)
18th May 2016 Wood Warbler singing bird at Carr Brae, Dornie (I.Strickland)
17th May 2016 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Loch Beag, Struan (RMcM)
17th May 2016 Blackcap View Image male in garden at Kyleakin (A&EH)
17th May 2016 Sanderling View Image two at Harrapool and a single Whimbrel + c100 Ringed Plover & c100 Dunlin (RMcM)
17th May 2016 Bottlenose Dolphin seven reported in the Sound of Raasay (D.Morgan)
16th May 2016 Manx Shearwater View Image still scarce on the east coast of the island with two noted off Kilt Rock (PE)
16th May 2016 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird at Orbost (M.Hunter)
16th May 2016 Mandarin drake still at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (R.Dyer)
15th May 2016 Shelduck pair with 9 small ducklings at Loch Caroy (RMcM)
15th May 2016 Spotted Flycatcher View Image more reports with two different territories in Broadford, (MB) and two in Portree (NB)
15th May 2016 Sanderling View Image two in Broadford Bay (MB)
15th May 2016 Blackcap View Image at least ten territorial males in the policies of Armadale Castle (RMcM)
15th May 2016 Mandarin Duck drake still showing at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (SMacD)
14th May 2016 Spotted Flycatcher View Image at least four territories in Armadale Castle gardens and another two in Coille Drochaid a Mhuilinn (RMcM) (see Gallery)
13th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image 21 in fields at Trumpan, Waternish (JDJones)
13th May 2016 Wood Warbler three singing birds in Duisdale Woods, Sleat (RMcM)(see Gallery)
13th May 2016 White-tailed Eagle View Image information from Peter Elford of MV Brigadoon that both pairs of White-tails which can be viewed safely from the boat trips out of Portre, have successfully hatched.
12th May 2016 Black Redstart View Image female found and photographed at Eynort (Jon Pear)
12th May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image pair together on the Quirang (TH)
12th May 2016 Whinchat View Image pair at Aird Bernisdale + a Grasshopper Warbler (ML)
11th May 2016 Spotted Flycatcher View Image single in Armadale Woods (RMcM)
11th May 2016 Arctic Tern View Image 6 at Loch Treaslane (ML)
10th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image two at Upper Edinbane and seven at Ardmore, Waternish (MK, RMcM); still 22 at Traigh (SMacD)
10th May 2016 Dunlin View Image 95 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD), 50 at Ardmore, Waternish + 30 Ringed Plover (MK, RMcM)
10th May 2016 Great Northern Diver View Image still 18 in Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig, with the leucistic bird still present(SMacD)
10th May 2016 Canada Goose View Image single on Loch Treaslane (S.Watkins)
10th May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image single on the Quirang (M.Hunter)
9th May 2016 Tufted Duck View Image pair on Loch Meodal, Sleat early morning (RMcM)(see Gallery) - no sign of Ring-necked Duck.
9th May 2016 Blackcap View Image widespread reports of singing birds in Portnalong (ST), Broadford (NB) and Teangue (RMcM)
9th May 2016 Whitethroat View Image two reports of singing birds in Broadford, at the medical centre (RMcM) and the old Pier (NB)
9th May 2016 Whinchat View Image singing male at Scullamus (RMcM) and female at Harrapool (NB)
9th May 2016 Yellowhammer another report from Lochalsh of a singing bird near Duirinish (N.Hinchliffe)
9th May 2016 Mandarin Duck a drake on Loch nan Eala, Arisaig, is an unusual record for the west coast (RD, SMacD)
9th May 2016 Black Redstart View Image a nice male found just north of Applecross (I.Andrews)
8th May 2016 Ring-necked Duck drake found on Loch Meodal, Sleat, this morning by (K. Clark & R.Webb) and still there early evening (MB, RMcM) (see Gallery) - this is the first record for Skye and Lochalsh.
8th May 2016 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Luib (RMcM)(see gallery)
8th May 2016 Sedge Warbler View Image singing bird at Scullamus (RMcM) and Harrapool (MB)
8th May 2016 Grasshopper Warbler reeling birds at Harrapool (MB), Leiter Fura (PP), and Dunhallin, Waternish (RA)
8th May 2016 Turnstone 8 at Ardmore, Waternish (C.Matheson)
8th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image 16 at Ashaig + two Bar-tailed Godwit (A&EH)
8th May 2016 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 150+ north over Sleat early evening (RMcM)
8th May 2016 Great Skua View Image single chasing a Grey Heron at Luib (Janis)
7th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image 18 at Breakish Obbe (PP)
7th May 2016 Grasshopper Warbler at least one reeling bird at Ullinish (PS) & another at Monkstadt, Kilmuir (HM)
7th May 2016 Golden Plover 40 at Ardnish + 3 Bar-tailed Godwit (A&EH)
7th May 2016 Sedge Warbler View Image singing bird at Monkstadt, Kilmuir (HM)
7th May 2016 Dunlin View Image still moving through in good numbers with 20 at Ardnish (A&EH), 10 at Ardmore, Waternish (RA) and a single at Ullinish (PS)
7th May 2016 Spotted Flycatcher View Image first report for the area from Treaslane Woods (DFMacDonald)
7th May 2016 Red-legged Partridge View Image two crossed the main road near Kyleakin (A.Hodson) - this is the first report on Skye for several years.
6th May 2016 Ring Ouzel View Image male at Falls of Glomach, Kintail (RA)
6th May 2016 Common Whitethroat View Image singing bird at Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
6th May 2016 Sedge Warbler View Image singing bird at Kildonan, Rum (SM) and 4 singing on Eigg (JC)
6th May 2016 Grasshopper Warbler two reeling birds at Choisleadar, Edinbane (RMcM) and at Traigh, Morar (SMacD); single at Talisker House (A.Hodson)
6th May 2016 Arctic Tern View Image 9 at Eigg Pier (JC)
6th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image 4 at Breakish Obbe in afternoon (PP) and 6 at Waterloo early evening (RMcM); still40 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
6th May 2016 Whinchat View Image singing male at Cuagach, Eigg (JC)
6th May 2016 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still two at Traigh, Morar & 100 Dunlin (SMacD)
6th May 2016 Yellowhammer singing bird at Drumbuie, Lochalsh (N.Hinchliff)
6th May 2016 House Martin View Image single at Satran (A.Hodson)
5th May 2016 Dunlin View Image numbers building up with 130 in Broadford Bay + single Knot & Sanderling (RMcM)
5th May 2016 Brent Goose View Image single pale bellied at Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC)
5th May 2016 Common Redpoll two at feeders in Uig showing characteristics of islandica + 5 Linnets (ML)
5th May 2016 Mute Swan View Image single at the head of Loch Harport is the first record for some time (A.Hodson)
5th May 2016 Canada Goose View Image two at the small loch an at Duntulm, with Greylags (A.Hodson)
4th May 2016 Whimbrel View Image still 37 at Traigh, Morar with smaller numbers in the Back of Keppoch area (SMacD); 3 in the Broadford Bay area (RMcM)
4th May 2016 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Traigh, Morar(SMacD)
4th May 2016 House Martin View Image another single at Ostaig, Sleat (RMcM)
4th May 2016 Pink-footed Goose View Image 18 grounded at Kilmory, Rum due to gales (SM)
4th May 2016 Corncrake View Image see recent post on Blog
3rd May 2016 Corncrake View Image calling bird at a site on Trotternish yesterday (L.Murdoch)
3rd May 2016 House Martin View Image single reported from Staffin (TB)
3rd May 2016 Whooper Swan View Image single still at a Loch Suardal (RMcM) - where incidentally there was a Mallard with only a single small duckling.
3rd May 2016 Whimbrel View Image 10 at Sconser Golf Course & 3 near Loch Greshornish (RMcM); 11 at Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM); an impressive 44 at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
3rd May 2016 Blackcap View Image singing bird at Blackpark, Broadford (NB)
3rd May 2016 Sandwich Tern View Image two in Broadford Bay (NB)
3rd May 2016 Golden Plover 30+ at Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM)
3rd May 2016 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Gorsten, Arisaig (SMacD)
2nd May 2016 Linnet reports of birds visiting feeders recently with 8-10 at Ullinish (PS) and 2 at Uig (ML)
2nd May 2016 Tree Pipit View Image at least three territories in Armadale woods + two singing Chiffchaff & two singing Blackcap (RMcM)(see Gallery)
2nd May 2016 Common Redpoll another bird showing characteristics of 'islandica' type visiting feeders at Uig (ML)
2nd May 2016 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (SMacD)
2nd May 2016 Common Tern View Image three at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
2nd May 2016 Whimbrel View Image significant influx with 41 at Traigh, Morar, 23 at Gorsten and 12 at Back of Keppoch (SMacD); 12 at Kilmaluag (NB), three at Camus Mor, Bornesketaig (JDJ) & singles at Camas Malag and Waterloo (RMcM) & Old Corry (J.Bentall)
2nd May 2016 Great Northern Diver View Image 6 at Camas Mor, Bornesketaig and a Black-throated Diver (NB)
2nd May 2016 Golden Plover 38 at Kilmaluag (NB)
2nd May 2016 Whooper Swan View Image a single at Kilmaluag (NB)
2nd May 2016 Tufted Duck View Image pair on Loch Cillchroisd (J.Bentall)
2nd May 2016 Woodcock single seen near Old Corry, Broadford (J.Bentall)
1st May 2016 Common Tern View Image two back at Loch Treaslane are probably Common (DFMacdonald)
1st May 2016 Gadwall View Image drake at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM) (see Gallery)
1st May 2016 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Traigh, Morar (SMacD)
1st May 2016 Common Scoter 29 off Arisaig (R.Dyer)

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