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 Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter following fishing boat in outer Loch Kishorn (M.Bliss)
31st Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter still at Tokavaig (RMcM)
31st Jan 2017 Water Rail single at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
31st Jan 2017 Common Scoter just a single in Broadford Bay (NB)
30th Jan 2017 Common Scoter three female types Broadford Bay (NB)
30th Jan 2017 Lesser Redpoll View Image up to 12 at feeders at Uig with one showing characteristics of Common Redpoll (ML) - though these are separate species at the moment they are to be 'lumped' in 2017
29th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Lower Milovaig (AS) and also at Fernilea, Loch Harport
29th Jan 2017 Orca two reported at Neist Point late afternoon (AS)
29th Jan 2017 Treecreeper report from Broadford which is predictable (J.Donaldson) but from Staffin much less so (MP)
28th Jan 2017 White-billed Diver late report of a bird seen from the west car park Mallaig yesterday , no further details known
28th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Mallaig (SMacD)
27th Jan 2017 Brambling View Image single at Kilmory,Sleat (JL)
27th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter at Heaste (NB)
26th Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter still at Dunvegan (JDJ)
26th Jan 2017 Black Grouse View Image single male in roadside birches near Loch Cluanie but just in Lochalsh (RMcM)
26th Jan 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image c90 at Kilmaluag, + still a single Pink-foot with Greylags (JDJ)
26th Jan 2017 Golden Plover 28 at Kilmaluag (JDJ)
26th Jan 2017 Long-tailed Tit View Image recent reports of small parties on feeders at Camustianavaig (G.Barrett) and at Ullinish (PS)
25th Jan 2017 Birdtrack Please see my Blog regarding the use of Birdtrack
25th Jan 2017 Merlin View Image male seen flying through gardens in Portree (W.Houlsby)
24th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 2nd winter bird at Bayfield, Portree (NB) (see Gallery)
23rd Jan 2017 Slavonian Grebe 10 in Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (SMacD,RMcM)
23rd Jan 2017 Velvet Scoter still a female in Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (SMacD,RMcM)
23rd Jan 2017 Viking Gull this is a suspected hybrid between Herring Gull and Glaucous Gull - now mature it has been present in Mallaig Harbour in previous winters (SMacD,RMcM) (see Gallery)
23rd Jan 2017 Meadow Pipit View Image several at Lower Milovaig suggesting returning birds or migrants (AS)
23rd Jan 2017 Common Scoter single juvenile in Broadford Bay (NB)
22nd Jan 2017 Skylark View Image earlier than normal, bird back at Lower Milovaig (AS)
22nd Jan 2017 Lapwing 29 at Staffin (MB, RMcM) and 10 at Loch Mor, Waterstein (AS)
22nd Jan 2017 Greenland White-fronted Goose c10 at Kilmuir (MB, RMcM)
22nd Jan 2017 Purple Sandpiper View Image 4 at Duntuilm with 15 Turnstone (MB, RMcM)
22nd Jan 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image 160 at Balmacquien and 4 at Staffin (MB, RMcM) (see Gallery)
22nd Jan 2017 Eider c200 at Kyleakin (A&EH)
22nd Jan 2017 Jack Snipe View Image two in evening at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
21st Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Tokavaig for about a week now feeding on ground churned up by cattle (RMcM) (see Gallery)
21st Jan 2017 Ring-necked Duck a bit off our patch but a drake reported on the other River Shiel at Acharacle (D.Whitaker)
21st Jan 2017 Common Scoter 5 at Camas na Sgianadin, possibly the same group previously in BBay (NB)
20th Jan 2017 Black Grouse View Image male in birches above Loch Cluanie, about a mile out of Lochalsh (RMcM)
20th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image single at Tokavaig (V.Piddock)
20th Jan 2017 Pied Wagtail View Image mild weather encouraging birds to return with three in Broadford (NB)
20th Jan 2017 Dunlin View Image 67 in Broadford Bay is the best count in some time (NB)
19th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image still at least 8 at Loch Kishorn (RMcM)
19th Jan 2017 Black-headed Gull c90 at Balmacara Bay (RMcM)
17th Jan 2017 Pied Wagtail View Image wintering birds at Portree (TH) and Broadford (RMcM)
17th Jan 2017 Hen Harrier View Image male at Earlish (JDJ)
17th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
17th Jan 2017 Blackbird a half-grown young bird has been found dead at Cleadale, Eigg (per JC) - with fluctuating temperatures little wonder that some birds are confused!
16th Jan 2017 Whooper Swan View Image 5 on Loch Mealt (MP)
15th Jan 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image 27 at Fanks, Edinbane (JDJ)
15th Jan 2017 Hen Harrier View Image ringtail at Kilmuir (JDJ)
15th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 8 at Loch Kishorn, Wester Ross, all 1st winters apart from a single 2nd winter (NB,RMcM); one of the 1st winter bird is very dark and looks like a Kumliens type
15th Jan 2017 Mandarin drake still on the River Morar (SMacD)
15th Jan 2017 Teal View Image 52 at Loch Kishorn + 46 Wigeon & 32 Goldeneye (NB, RMcM)
14th Jan 2017 Little Auk single briefly in Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (NB)
14th Jan 2017 Slavonian Grebe up to 10 in Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford and 4 at Loch Ainort (NB); also 4 off Lusa (DM)
14th Jan 2017 Common Scoter five in Broadford Bay (NB, RMcM)
14th Jan 2017 Golden Plover 25 at Sartle, Staffin (MP)
13th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile near Duntuilm but no sign of possible adult Kumlien's (RMcM)
13th Jan 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image 105 in two groups at Kilmaluag, Trotternish (RMcM)
13th Jan 2017 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with Greylags at Kilmaluag (RMcM)
13th Jan 2017 Greylag Goose View Image 60+ at Reraig, Lochalsh (D.McKellar)
13th Jan 2017 Purple Sandpiper View Image two at Duntuilm with 8 Turnstone (RMcM)
13th Jan 2017 Snow Bunting View Image two over Drumfearn, Sleat (P.Knott)
13th Jan 2017 Whooper Swan View Image three at Loch Suardal, two adults and a juvenile (PS)
12th Jan 2017 Short-eared Owl View Image single at Dunhallin, Waternish (RA)
12th Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter reported from Dunvegan this afternoon
11th Jan 2017 Gannet another unseasonal single of Kildonan Point, Eigg (JC)
11th Jan 2017 Long-tailed Tit View Image Up to 5 visiting feeders at Plockton (JS)
10th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Bayfield, Portree (JDJ)
10th Jan 2017 Kumlien's Gull this is a hybrid species between Iceland and Thayer's Gull which breeds on Baffin Island, Canada and is a scarce vagrant to UK. An adult bird found at Duntuilm yesterday by Jonathan Jones shows characteristics of Kumlien's
10th Jan 2017 Hen Harrier View Image another report of a male at Heaste
9th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image single at Duntuilm (JDJ)
9th Jan 2017 Hen Harrier View Image male on the Heaste road (NB)
8th Jan 2017 Greenshank single at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
7th Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Arisaig (RMcM)
7th Jan 2017 Slavonian Grebe 12 in Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig & a female/juv. Velvet Scoter (RMcM)
7th Jan 2017 Mandarin drake at mouth of Morar river (RMcM) (see Gallery)
7th Jan 2017 Eider c200 in the the wintering flock at the Kyle, Kyleakin (HS)
7th Jan 2017 Whooper Swan View Image 5 at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (ST)
6th Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter bird on roof of Portree Co-op!! (NB)
6th Jan 2017 Brambling View Image single at feeders at Portnalong with Chaffinches (KS)
6th Jan 2017 Common Scoter two at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (RMcM) and 12 in outer Loch Portree (NB) long staying Velvet Scoter still at Broadford (RMcM)
6th Jan 2017 Hen Harrier View Image ringtail at Ullinish (PS)
5th Jan 2017 Velvet Scoter still a single at Camus na Sgianadin, Broadford (RMcM)
5th Jan 2017 Teal View Image 16 at Loch Snizort-Beag (GF)
5th Jan 2017 Blackcap View Image female visiting feeders at Fernilea, Carbost (T.Churchyard)
5th Jan 2017 Waxwing View Image single near Uig Hotel (S.Gibson)
5th Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter in Portree Harbour (RMcM) (see Gallery); juvenile bird also feeding beside a Creel boat in Broadford Bay (N.Scott)
5th Jan 2017 Goosander View Image three at Kyleakin Obbe and a single at Loch Cillchroisd (A&EH)
5th Jan 2017 Purple Sandpiper View Image two at Duntuilm, Trotternish (MP)
4th Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 4 at the hatchery outfall at Loch Kishorn, two 1st winter and two 2nd winter (RMcM) (see Gallery)
4th Jan 2017 Mandarin drake near the mouth of the River Morar (SMacD) - this is probably the bird which was previously at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig
4th Jan 2017 White-tailed Eagle View Image adult on the shore near the Scalpay narrows (AH); another at Loch Kishorn (RMcM) and one over Armadale (NMcI)
4th Jan 2017 Whooper Swan View Image recent reports include 8 near Shiel Bridge on the 2nd, and a single at Loch Meodal on the 3rd (RMcM); two at Loch Cillchroisd today (DM)
4th Jan 2017 Fieldfare/Redwing c20 near Suardal, Strath (DM)
3rd Jan 2017 Gannet 8 off Valtos, Staffin (NMacIvor)
3rd Jan 2017 Jack Snipe View Image single on Harrapool common grazings (MB)
2nd Jan 2017 Little Auk single came in off the sea at Staffin Bay (N.MacIvor)
2nd Jan 2017 Velvet Scoter now two reported from Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (JDJones)
2nd Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter bird still at mouth of Broadfod River (MB) - see Gallery
1st Jan 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter in Broadford Bay (MB)
1st Jan 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Loch Portree (RMcM)
1st Jan 2017 White-tailed Eagle View Image adult working the shore at Lusa, Broadford today seen by two observers over a three hour period (A&EH, JS); also a pair at Loch Cuithir (N.MacIvor)

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