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 Jul 2017 Black-throated Diver View Image three non-breeding birds on a Sleat loch (J.Cuthbert)
31st Jul 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image summer plumage bird in Staffin Bay (DB)
31st Jul 2017 Orca distant view of bull Orca, possibly John Coe, steaming north passed Flodigarry Island (DB)
30th Jul 2017 Sanderling View Image 9 at Broadford Bay (RMcM) and 6 at Traigh (SMacD); two at Staffin Bay (MP)
30th Jul 2017 Whimbrel View Image 4 at Broadford and 2 Knot (RMcM)
30th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two at Traigh (SMacD)
29th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still 8 on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
29th Jul 2017 Little Grebe View Image pair with two young on Loch Fada (DB)
29th Jul 2017 Knot single at Traigh (SMacD)
29th Jul 2017 Swift two along the cliff face near Kilmaluag (SP)
28th Jul 2017 Knot 95 at Broadford Bay is an exceptional count (MB, RMcM)
28th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still 8 at Broadford Bay, (MB,RMcM); 13 at Breakish Obbe in late evening (NH)
28th Jul 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image single in Broadford Bay + large flock of c300 Arctic and Common Terns many with young (MB, RMcM)
28th Jul 2017 Swift single at Ellishadder (DB)
28th Jul 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image two in Broadford Bay + 60 Redshank (MB, RMcM)
27th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 19 at Broadford Bay in morning + two Knot (RMcM)
27th Jul 2017 Arctic Tern View Image 18 in Broadford Bay including some recently fledged young (RMcM)
27th Jul 2017 Kittiwake Canna Kittiwake count highest since 2004 & breeding output above average. Contrasting with lowest ever Fulmar count & poor breeding success.(R.Swann)
26th Jul 2017 Grasshopper Warbler still reeling birds at Kyleakin (NH) and Breabost (SP)
25th Jul 2017 Eider Moulting flock of 350 at Loch Ainort - also 50 Red-breasted Mergansers (NB)
25th Jul 2017 Greenshank two at Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
25th Jul 2017 Sanderling View Image single in Broadford Bay (MB)
24th Jul 2017 Arctic Tern View Image 24 at Loch Eishort Heaste and 4 Common Tern (NB)
24th Jul 2017 Greenshank seven in Broadford Bay + 56 Curlew and 24 Redshank (R.Robb)
24th Jul 2017 Arctic Skua View Image pale phase bird off Neist Point (K.Roy)
23rd Jul 2017 Cuckoo Fledgling being fed by pipit in Ord recently (S.Arnold)
23rd Jul 2017 Turnstone 5 in Broadford Bay (MB)
23rd Jul 2017 Magpie north end bird still present at Ellishadder (DB)
23rd Jul 2017 Great Skua View Image single flew inland over Uig Hotel (SG)
23rd Jul 2017 Common Crossbill View Image adult male found dead below Turbine No 6, Edinbane (G.Jones) on 17th
22nd Jul 2017 Swift two at Harrapool (NB)
21st Jul 2017 Whimbrel View Image single over Loch Scresort, Rum (SM)
21st Jul 2017 Merlin View Image male at Waterloo (EH)
21st Jul 2017 Swift two over Drumfearn, Sleat (PK)
20th Jul 2017 Long-eared Owl View Image single reported on the A87 at Borve (SG)
20th Jul 2017 St Kilda forecast on Saturday 22nd good and availability for St Kilda out of Uig....contact http://www.gotostkilda.co.uk for details
19th Jul 2017 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird still at Scullamus, Broadford (RMcM) & one at Conordon, Braes yesterday (NB)
19th Jul 2017 Swift more reports with two on the Heaste Road, Broadford (NB); singles at Harrapool (PO-W) , Staffin (MP) and Lephin, Glendale (AS); single also recorded on Muck (J.Poyner)
19th Jul 2017 Whimbrel View Image 9 reported at Portree (O.Poisson)
19th Jul 2017 Common Redpoll no further details but 5 recorded on Muck (J.Poyner)
18th Jul 2017 Hen Harrier View Image new territory discovered on a west Skye island and probably three young fledged successfully - an interesting strategy perhaps to avoid foxes !!
18th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Breakish Obbe and three Greenshank (NH)
18th Jul 2017 Swift on Waternish, two reported at Hallin Park (J.Hawell) then excellent count of c30 at Trumpan (SP)
17th Jul 2017 Siskin up to 20 birds have died around garden at Kensaleyre in recent weeks (Tom Smit) - has anyone else experienced similar problems?
17th Jul 2017 Eider count of 330 in moulting flock at Loch Ainort (NB)
17th Jul 2017 Red-breasted Merganser View Image count of 33 in moulting flock at Loch Ainort (NB)
16th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still six in Broadford Bay at Harrapool (NB) (see Gallery) - with only two later
16th Jul 2017 Sanderling View Image single with Dunlin in Broadford Bay (MB)
16th Jul 2017 Eider c200 in eclipse flock at Loch Ainort (O.Poisson)
15th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 4 at Waterloo, Broadford Bay early afternoon (RMcM) and six later (NB)
15th Jul 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image three at Loch Portree and two at Waterloo, Broadford Bay (RMcM)
15th Jul 2017 Redshank up to 80 in Broadford Bay and 110 Dunlin (MB)
15th Jul 2017 Whimbrel View Image two over Broadford Bay (MB)
14th Jul 2017 Dunlin View Image 23 in Breakish Obbe in the morning (NH) and 95 at Waterloo in the evening (RMcM)
14th Jul 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 26 at Breakish Obbe (NH) and 18 at Waterloo (RMcM) in early evening
14th Jul 2017 Sanderling View Image two at Waterloo (RMcM) in early evening + two Bar-tailed Godwit
13th Jul 2017 Grasshopper Warbler reeling bird still at Scullamus, Broadford (RMcM)
13th Jul 2017 Pine Marten see the Gallery (Other Wildlife) for a super image from Roger Cottis of a Pine Marten squeezing out of a garage roof space in Sleat
13th Jul 2017 Sand Martin View Image three pairs in roadside bank at Heribusta, Kilmuir (A.O'Grady)
11th Jul 2017 Rose-coloured Starling very elusive but seen again in a Harrapool garden (per MB)
10th Jul 2017 Wigeon flock of c50 high over Broadford and flew south towards Sound of Sleat (RMcM)
10th Jul 2017 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image juvenile visiting feeders at Kyleakin (A&EH)
10th Jul 2017 Corncrake View Image bird with a chick noted at a Trotternish site (AB)
9th Jul 2017 Redshank c150 at high tide Loch Portree (RMcM) and 24 at Broadford Bay (MB) are probably early returning Icelandic birds
9th Jul 2017 Dunlin View Image 54 in Broadford Bay (MB) - another indicator that waders are on the move
9th Jul 2017 Black-throated Diver View Image two in summer plumage Talisker Bay (G.Masters)
8th Jul 2017 Common Guillemot View Image Bob Swann reports having caught two guillemots ringed as chicks on Canna in 1978; 9 days and 13 days short of their 39th birthdays - new UK longevity record
8th Jul 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image two, including an adult in breeding plumage at Loch Portree (NB)
8th Jul 2017 Greenshank good post-breeding count of 13 at Loch Portree (NB)
8th Jul 2017 Rose-coloured Starling still present but elusive and often in gardens on its own - seen in garden Harrapool
7th Jul 2017 Spotted Flycatcher View Image report from Glen Conan, Uig (AB) and fledged brood of 4 at Scullamus (RMcM) (see Gallery)
7th Jul 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image 11 in Broadford Bay (NB)
7th Jul 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image two at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
6th Jul 2017 Woodcock reports of up to three roding birds in Kilmarie, Strathaird recently (IR)
6th Jul 2017 Highland Bird Report 2015 please see the Blog for details of the report now available at £9
6th Jul 2017 Collared Dove interesting leucistic bird at Kinloch campsite, Dunvegan (M.Cullen) (see Gallery)
6th Jul 2017 Rose-coloured Starling present again at Harrapool at 1410 (John Fraser) and again at 1810 (NB) (see Gallery)
6th Jul 2017 Swift in afternoon two over Broadford (NB)
6th Jul 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image 16 in Broadford Bay (MB)
6th Jul 2017 Common Scoter seven in Broadford Bay (NB)
6th Jul 2017 Yellowhammer juvenile visiting feeders at Plockton (JS)
5th Jul 2017 Cuckoo young bird being fed by Meadow Pipit in our garden at Scullamus, Broadford (RMcM) (see Gallery)
5th Jul 2017 Eider moulting flock of 270+ now at Loch Ainort (NB)
5th Jul 2017 Tufted Duck View Image away from Trotternish this is a scarce breeding bird so female with 6 ducklings on Loch Cillchroisd is a good record (RMcM)
5th Jul 2017 Great Skua View Image pair holding territory on Isay (SB) and 3-4 pairs on Wiay (NR)
5th Jul 2017 Rose-coloured Starling re-found by Malcolm Smith at Harrapool and roosted with other Starlings in sycamore beside Hebridean Hotel (see Gallery)
4th Jul 2017 Rose-coloured Starling unfortunately no reports of the bird today - further report yesterday that an adult bird was seen at Swordale, Strath on June 30 which may be the same bird seen in Harrapool
4th Jul 2017 Arctic Skua View Image two off Neist Point (G.Masters)
3rd Jul 2017 Rose-coloured Starling nice adult bird at Harrapool with small group of Common Starlings (NB) (see Gallery)
3rd Jul 2017 Hen Harrier View Image a single Young has already fledged at one site, and still at least 5 active territories in Skye and Lochalsh with another possible territory to be followed up (RMcM)
3rd Jul 2017 Cuckoo recently fledged bird being fed by a Meadow Pipit in my garden at Sculamus (RMcM)
3rd Jul 2017 Quail one flushed from hedgerow between Hallin and Geary, Waternish (G.Masters)
2nd Jul 2017 Long-tailed Tit View Image flock of 30+ at Harrapool (FO-W)
2nd Jul 2017 Common Scoter flock of 35+ in Broadford Bay, all males (MB)
2nd Jul 2017 Blackcap View Image male carrying food in Portree garden (NB)
1st Jul 2017 Heron caught on camera trap at Ullinish eating a vole (PS)

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