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 2017 Brent Goose View Image 1st group of the year (yesterday) with 8 at Sconser (B.Blackmore)
31st Aug 2017 Short-eared Owl View Image two at Ullinish (PS)
31st Aug 2017 Manx Shearwater View Image first 'grounded' youngster at Mallaig returned safely to sea (M.Carty) - any grounded birds found are best kept overnight in a box then returned to sea safely in daylight
31st Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image three in Staffiin Bay (MP)
31st Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image 7 at sea west of Point of Sleat from ferry (RMcM)
31st Aug 2017 Slavonian Grebe single at Loch Ainort is first of autumn (NB)
31st Aug 2017 Knot 6 in Broadford Bay & two Black-tailed Godwit (NB)
31st Aug 2017 Yellowhammer group of 5/6 at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (RMcM) (see Gallery)
30th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 6 at Ashaig in morning flew south (RMcM); two at Broadford Bay (NB) & 8 in Breakish Obbe in evening (NH)
30th Aug 2017 Knot 7 in Broadford Bay, two Bar-tailed Godwit & three Sanderling (RMcM, NB))
30th Aug 2017 Dunlin View Image heavy passage throughout the day with 260 in Broadford Bay and 200 Ringed Plover (RMcM NB)
30th Aug 2017 Teal View Image migrants arriving with 5 in Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH) and 3 at Ashaig (RMcM)
30th Aug 2017 Goosander View Image now 30 in Loch Portree (NB)
30th Aug 2017 Great Black-backed Gull View Image 118 in Loch Portree (NB)
30th Aug 2017 Pintail mixed flock of 5 Pintail and 10 Wigeon at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
29th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Ashaig in morning (RMcM) and 13 in Broadford Bay early evening (MB); also three in Breakish Obbe (NH)
29th Aug 2017 Goosander View Image 18 in Loch Portree (RMcM)
29th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 20 in Broadford Bay and four Sanderling (NB)
29th Aug 2017 Jay party of 6 at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (per SMacD)
28th Aug 2017 Pintail probably four at Glas Eileen, Broadford, one of which was taken by a Great Skua ( RMcM)
28th Aug 2017 Arctic Skua View Image five in the Sound of Rassay from Beal Point, Portree (NB)
28th Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image 7 in the Sound of Rassay from Beal Point, Portree (NB); three off Bornesketaig (RMcM)
28th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image five in Breakish Obbe in evening (NH)
28th Aug 2017 Starling post breeding flock of 500 at Lower Breakish (NH)
27th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image 14 between Ashaig and Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
27th Aug 2017 Twite View Image c100 at Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
27th Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image three over Milovaig (AS)
27th Aug 2017 Grey Wagtail View Image in Glendale area, two at Lower Milovaig and two at Hamara (AS)
27th Aug 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image three at Loch Portree (NB) and two at Broadford Bay (MB)
27th Aug 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image two at Broadford Bay (MB)
27th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image two at Loch Portree (NB)
26th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image nine on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
26th Aug 2017 Greenshank nine at Ashaig, Broadford and four Sanderling (RMcM)
26th Aug 2017 Common Sandpiper View Image still two in Broadford Bay midday (NB) and four in evening (MB)
26th Aug 2017 Storm Petrel single in outer Loch Snizort and two Arctic Skuas (ML)
26th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image four in Broadford Bay in evening (MB)
25th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two on Ardnish, Broadford (RMcM)
25th Aug 2017 Knot single in Broadford Bay (RMcM) and a single Sandwich Tern (NB)
25th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image five flew from Pabay to Ardnish (NB); three at Uig Bay (ML) and a single at Waterloo later (RMcM)
25th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image four at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
25th Aug 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image single off Camustianavaig (A.McLean)
24th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image five at Broadford Bay in evening (RMcM)
24th Aug 2017 Sandwich Tern View Image three in Broadford Bay (NB)
22nd Aug 2017 Knot four in Breakish Obbe (NH)
22nd Aug 2017 Redshank 97 at Loch Portree (NB) and 50+ at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
22nd Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 25 heading south of Bornesketaig + 5 Great Skua and 4 Red-throated Diver (NB)
22nd Aug 2017 Cetaceans in a 4 hour seawatch off Bornesketaig, a Minke Whale, 11 Harbour Porpoise and 30 Common Dolphin (NB)
20th Aug 2017 Red-breasted Merganser View Image 62 in moulting flock at Loch Ainort (RMcM)
20th Aug 2017 Buzzard 9 birds counted moving south-west over Kyleakin (A&EH)
20th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 30 at Broadford Bay (RMcM) & 9 flew south from Loch Portree (NB)
20th Aug 2017 Manx Shearwater View Image data from a satellite transmitter has just shown that a breeding bird from Bardsey Island, Wales, made a 500 kms journey to visit Rum overnight see my Twitter link
19th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image still four in Broadford Bay, two Whimbrel and a Bar-tailed Godwit (NB,RMcM)
19th Aug 2017 Hen Harrier View Image adult male seen at Peiness (TH)
18th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image four in Broadford Bay (JDJ) & a Whimbrel and 9 Wigeon (NB)
18th Aug 2017 Eider moulting flock in Loch Ainort now 400 (NB)
18th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still moving through with 4 in Broadford Bay early morning (JDJ); 8 in Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH) & 15 late afternoon Broadford Bay (RMcM)
18th Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image reported attacking a young Greylag Goose and a Heron on Breakish Obbe (F.Caldwell) - birds have now colonised Pabay and the Crowlins so they are regularly hunting in Broadford Bay - as the report suggests they will tackle anything!
17th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image in late morning 8 flew south from Broadford Bay and a single at Ashaig (RMcM); 15 arrived Breakish Obbe in evening (NH)
17th Aug 2017 Twite View Image c100 at Glas Eilean, Broadford (NB)
17th Aug 2017 Whinchat View Image 4 juveniles at Harrapool (NB) - possibly a 2nd brood?
16th Aug 2017 Sabine's Gull report from the Uig-Lochmaddy ferry off Waternish Point
15th Aug 2017 Peregrine View Image adult male over Broadford Bay (see Gallery)
15th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 6 at Broadford Bay (RMcM) and a single Knot (NB)
15th Aug 2017 Common Crossbill View Image two in Kinloch plantation, Sleat (RMcM)
15th Aug 2017 Merlin View Image singles at Ashaig (RMcM) and on the Heaste road (NB)
15th Aug 2017 Greenshank four at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM) and at Breakish Obbe (NH)
14th Aug 2017 Greenshank 7 at Loch Portree (NB) & 7 at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
14th Aug 2017 Common Sandpiper View Image still a single at Ashaig (RMcM)
14th Aug 2017 Sooty Shearwater View Image single off Rum from the Mallaig - Lochboisdale ferry
13th Aug 2017 Tawny Owl successfully fledged two young at Kyleakin (A&EH)
13th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 50 flew south over Broadford heading towards Sound of Sleat (MB, RMcM); 75 in Breakish Obbe late evening (NH)
13th Aug 2017 Greenshank report of 25 flying south from Breakish Obbe (NH)
12th Aug 2017 Rose-coloured Starling adult bird appeared again this morning in garden at Harrapool (R.Robertson)
12th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 8 south over Broadford at high tide this morning (MB,RMcM)
12th Aug 2017 Common Rosefinch View Image male at Kinloid Farm, Back of Keppoch, Arisaig around midday
12th Aug 2017 Twite View Image flock of 70 at Harrapool (A&EH)
11th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image still 40 at Broadford Bay first thing but had moved off as rain cleared mid morning (RMcM); 21 early afternoon were possibly new birds (MB)
11th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 75 arrived in Broadford Bay around midday (MB); 50 south at Breakish Obbe at 1700 (NH); another 40 at Broadford Bay evening (RMcM)
11th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image up to 15 in Broadford Bay including a colour ringed bird (RMcM, MB)
11th Aug 2017 Great Skua View Image four at Ardnish, Broadford (NH)
10th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image unprecedented numbers with 150 flying south through Broadford Bay late afternoon, and 104 in off the sea a short time later which then flew south, then another 150 arrived (MB) - total 430 through the day most of which were moving south despite the weather (see Gallery)
10th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 38 in Breakish Obbe (NH,JP) and 103 in Broadford Bay (MB)
10th Aug 2017 Dunlin View Image 180 in Breakish Obbe and a Grey Plover (JP)
10th Aug 2017 Great Spottd Woodpecker juvenile on feeders at Kilbryde near Torrin (JohnJ)
10th Aug 2017 Manx Shearwater View Image 2000+ in Sound of Sleat (RMcM)
9th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image still 4 at Glenconon, Uig (AB)
9th Aug 2017 Ring Ouzel View Image late bird on Flasvein, Trotternish (MP)
8th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image 4 south over Glen Conon, Uig (AB) and 5 over Brogaig, Staffin (DB)
8th Aug 2017 Twite View Image 53 at Glas Eilean, Broadford (TW) & c40 at the head of Loch Ainort (RMcM)
7th Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image 6 at Ardnish, Broadford + 3 Greenshank and a single Whimbrel (DB)
7th Aug 2017 Sooty Shearwater View Image single from the evening Uig-Lochmaddy crossing
6th Aug 2017 Green Sandpiper View Image single reported on the coast at Flodigarry (DB)
6th Aug 2017 Whimbrel View Image single on Ardnish (NH)
6th Aug 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image four at Loch Portree, three Greenshank & 14 Goosander (NB)
6th Aug 2017 Dunlin View Image numbers building up with 170 in Broadford Bay & 106 Ringed Plover (MB)
6th Aug 2017 Sanderling View Image 6 in Broadford Bay & a single Knot (MB)
5th Aug 2017 Shelduck fledged youngster at Broadford Bay (NB)
5th Aug 2017 Redshank 50 at Broadford Bay, 40 Dunlin & 30 Ringed Plover (NB)
5th Aug 2017 White Stork View Image Late..Late..News!! A White Stork was seen and photographed following a plough at Uig on 22.4.2016!! (Per SG) (James MacDonald) (see Gallery) - this is only the 2nd record for Skye.
4th Aug 2017 Grasshopper Warbler still a reeling bird at Tote (CH)
4th Aug 2017 Green Sandpiper View Image single on a small pool at Lowerglen, Greshornish (T.W.)
3rd Aug 2017 Hen Harriers 2017 delighted to report that we have experienced the most successful breeding season for years with 17 young from 7 active territories in Skye and Lochalsh (see Blog)
3rd Aug 2017 Greenshank 7 at Loch Portree, 80 Oystercatchers & 30 Redshank (NB)
3rd Aug 2017 Blackcap View Image family group at Scorrybreac, Portree (NB)
3rd Aug 2017 Short-eared Owl View Image single near Upper Milovaig (C.Gray)
2nd Aug 2017 Lapwing 40 at the head of Loch Harport included a number of juveniles (RMcM)
2nd Aug 2017 Greenshank 7 at Pool Roag (RMcM) & 3 at Skinidin, Loch Dunvegan (MP)
1st Aug 2017 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Loch Portree (DB)

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