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
30th Nov 2017 White-tailed Eagle View Image a wing-tagged bird has been seen several times at the head of Loch Sligachan in recent weeks (B.Blackmore). It transpired it is a male and was released in the east of Scotland scheme in 2012 - there was no record of it for the last 4 years.
30th Nov 2017 Water Rail possibly two birds calling in Harrapool (NB) - birds may have been making weather movements
30th Nov 2017 Short-eared Owl View Image single again at Ullinish (PS)
29th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image adult at mouth of Broadford River (NB); four juveniles at Mallaig (RMcM) and two at Inverailort (SMacD) (see Gallery)
29th Nov 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile on estuary at Morar, then juvenile at Mallaig later (RMcM) (see Gallery) - possibly different birds
29th Nov 2017 Viking Gull long staying bird still at Mallaig pier (RMcM)
29th Nov 2017 Jay three at Arisaig (RMcM)
29th Nov 2017 Slavonian Grebe 11 at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig + 4 Red-throated Divers & 42 Red-breasted Mergansers (RMcM)
29th Nov 2017 Barn Owl View Image single at Kilmarie, Strathaird (per RMcM)
28th Nov 2017 Common Scoter single female at Loch Ainort (RMcM)
27th Nov 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image single on Loch Snizort-Beag at Skeabost (R.Whyte)
27th Nov 2017 Common Scoter two female types in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
27th Nov 2017 Golden Plover c40 at The Aird, Gedintailor (WM) - assumed these birds down from hills because of snow
26th Nov 2017 Black-throated Diver View Image 5 in the Narrows of Raasay (RMcM)
25th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image at least three juveniles at Mallaig (SMacD)
24th Nov 2017 Jack Snipe View Image single in roadside ditch at Breakish (RMcM)
24th Nov 2017 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake in Balmeanach Bay, Braes - also 24 Golden Plover (WM)
24th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image still two at Lochailort (SMacD)
23rd Nov 2017 Common Scoter two females in Staffin Bay (MP)
22nd Nov 2017 Slavonian Grebe single at Loch Ainort (MP) and three in Broadford Bay (NB) and three in Applecross Bay (RMcM)
22nd Nov 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image four in Broadford Bay (NB) and 20 between Applecross Bay and Sand and (RMcM)
22nd Nov 2017 Ptarmigan View Image single male on the Applecross Hills (RMcM) (see Gallery)
22nd Nov 2017 Little Grebe View Image 11 at Loch Kishorn, and 18 Goldeneye (RMcM)
22nd Nov 2017 Black-throated Diver View Image four off Sand, Applecross (RMcM)
21st Nov 2017 Long-tailed Duck View Image female type still at the mouth of Loch Ainort (NB)
21st Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image still two juveniles at Loch Ailort fish farm (SMacD)
21st Nov 2017 Grey Wagtail View Image single at Balmeanach, Braes (WM)
20th Nov 2017 Greenland White-fronted Goose only 6-7 found in the Kilmuir flock so continuing to decline - nothing reported from the Broadford small flock as yet (RMcM)
20th Nov 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image c10 in Staffin Bay and c50 at Balmacquien (RMcM)
20th Nov 2017 Fieldfare View Image 23 in Uig Woods (ML)
20th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image adult at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
19th Nov 2017 More on Corncrakes Shelagh is holding a 'cakes & Corncrakes' information session at Kilmuir Hall tomorrow between 2-4, all welcome. Also advance notice that SWT Skye regional group are hosting a Corncrake talk at 7.30 pm on November 29 at Tigh na Sgire, Portree - all welcome.
19th Nov 2017 Chiffchaff two late birds at Lower Milovaig, and a Twite (AS)
19th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image now two at the fish farm at Lochailort (SMacD)
19th Nov 2017 Ring-necked Duck drake on Loch Sheil at Acharacle (PS)
19th Nov 2017 Black-throated Diver View Image 5 on Loch Slapin near Faoilean (RMcM)
19th Nov 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image 21 between Ord and Achnacloich, Sleat (RMcM)
19th Nov 2017 Viking Gull adult wintering at Mallaig again (PS)
18th Nov 2017 Wigeon 77 at Loch Portree and three Greenshank (JDJ)
17th Nov 2017 Corncrake View Image see the blog for a report by Shelagh Parlane on Corncrake performance on Skye in 2016 - unfortunately only 14 calling males.
14th Nov 2017 Chiffchaff very late bird at Lower Milovaig (AS)
14th Nov 2017 Long-tailed Duck View Image female type at the head of Loch Ainort (NB)
14th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile still at Bayfield, Portree (NB,JDJ)
14th Nov 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image 10 between Sconser and Moll (JDJ)
13th Nov 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
13th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Lochailort (SMacD)
12th Nov 2017 Sabine's Gull following a report in The Minch on the 10th, two juveniles found by MB in Broadford Bay - these are our latest known records and 9 in BBay this Autumn is our largest ever year count
12th Nov 2017 Long-tailed Duck View Image exceptional count of 19 north in Sound of Raasay from the Black Rock (NB)
12th Nov 2017 Common Gull exceptional count of 2000 in Loch Portree (NB)
12th Nov 2017 Blackcap View Image male in garden at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
12th Nov 2017 Kingfisher single still in the Morar area (SMacD)
11th Nov 2017 Eider 120 at Kyleakin (HS)
10th Nov 2017 Little Auk 12 in outer Loch Snizort from the ferry (AS) - with the prevailing winds look for more records over the next few days!
10th Nov 2017 Pomarine Skua View Image two in outer Loch Snizort from the ferry (AS) - an adult and a juvenile - also an adult Arctic Skua and a first winter Little Gull - great records for November!
10th Nov 2017 Sooty Shearwater View Image two in outer Loch Snizort from the ferry (AS)
10th Nov 2017 Jack Snipe View Image single at Ashaig, Broadford (NH)
9th Nov 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image at Staffin today, 57 at the mouth of the Stenscholl River, and 17 on Staffin Island (SG)
9th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image 2nd winter bird still at Portree...probably a different bird from the one seen originally (NB) (see Gallery)
9th Nov 2017 Wigeon at Loch Portree, count of 74, and 42 Curlew (NB)
9th Nov 2017 Common Gull exceptional count of 1550 at Loch Portree & 100 Black-headed Gulls (NB)
8th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile back at Bayfield,Portree again this morning (NB)
7th Nov 2017 Redwing View Image 50+ on Heaste Road, Broadford (NB)
6th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile still at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
6th Nov 2017 Snow Bunting View Image single still at Kilmory,Rum (SM)
5th Nov 2017 Slavonian Grebe two off Ashaig (A&EH)
5th Nov 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 23 at Ashaig (A&EH)
5th Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Bayfield, Portree still (NB) (see Gallery)
5th Nov 2017 Snow Bunting View Image single at Kilmory, Rum (SM) (see Gallery)
4th Nov 2017 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 12 off Ashaig (D.McKellar)
4th Nov 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image 60+ on Isay (RA)
4th Nov 2017 Tufted Duck View Image 7 in Broadford Bay (NB)
4th Nov 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image 7 in Broadford Bay (NB) and a Slavonian Grebe
4th Nov 2017 Chiffchaff single still in Kilmory, Rum (SM)
4th Nov 2017 Common Crossbill View Image 6 in Glen Brittle and 10 Bullfinch (J.Bentall)
4th Nov 2017 Woodcock single flushed at Uig (SG)
4th Nov 2017 Leach's Petrel bird flew briefly off Ardnish at high tide before heading back out to sea (DM)
3rd Nov 2017 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Loch Portree (JDJ)
3rd Nov 2017 Brambling View Image four at feeders at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
2nd Nov 2017 Kingfisher single still on the River Morar (Ben MacD)
2nd Nov 2017 Chiffchaff singles reported from Drumfearn (PK) and Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
2nd Nov 2017 Barnacle Goose View Image 30 on Staffin Island (JDJ)
2nd Nov 2017 Yellow Wagtail very unusual and exceptionally late record of a Yellow Wagtail feeding amongst deer at Shamnan Insir, Rum (SM) (see Gallery)
1st Nov 2017 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
1st Nov 2017 Great Northern Diver View Image two at Camas Dairich, Point of Sleat (P.Morley)
1st Nov 2017 Brambling View Image three on Rum, a single at Kilmory and two at Kinloch (SM)
1st Nov 2017 Chiffchaff a single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)

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