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
28th Feb 2018 Glossy Ibis View Image looks like the Kilmaluag bird may have moved on - report today of a bird at Sheigra, Sutherland
27th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image adult at Lower Milovaig (AS)
27th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Uig Bay (AB)
27th Feb 2018 Whooper Swan View Image singles at Kinloch, Dunvegan (MC) & longstaying possibly sickly bird at Glendale (AS)
26th Feb 2018 Glossy Ibis View Image Late report of bird at Kilmaluag at least between 21-23 February (G.Knaggs). - subject to confirmation this would only be the 3rd record for Skye - could still be in the north end
26th Feb 2018 Black-throated Diver View Image 30 at dusk outer Broadford Bay off Lusa + 20 Great Northern Diver (RMcM)
26th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC)
26th Feb 2018 Grey Wagtail View Image single Breakish Obbe (NH)
25th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image three - an adult and two juveniles in outer Loch Greshornish near the fish farm; three juveniles at fish farm in Lenish Bay, Loch Dunvegan (RMcM); juvenile at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
25th Feb 2018 Jack Snipe View Image single at Neist Point (RMcM)
25th Feb 2018 Common Scoter juvenile still in Loch Portree (NB) & two in Broadford Bay (MB)
25th Feb 2018 Whooper Swan View Image birds already moving back north with 5 on the River Snizort at Skeabost, and 12 on Pool Roag (RMcM)
25th Feb 2018 Shelduck 14 at Pool Roag and 4 in Loch Dunvegan (RMcM)
25th Feb 2018 Skylark View Image flocks of 40 at Pool Roag and 25 at Feorlig (RMcM)
25th Feb 2018 Glossy Ibis View Image late news of a probable Glossy Ibis at Kilmaluag last week - may still be in area
24th Feb 2018 Mandarin Drake still at mouth of Morar river with Mallard (SMacD)
24th Feb 2018 Kingfisher single still on Morar river (SMacD)
24th Feb 2018 Lapwing still 11 territorial birds at Loch Cillchriosd + 4 Golden Plover and two Whooper Swans on the loch (NB)
23rd Feb 2018 Skylark View Image 19 in Limepark, Broadford (NB) and 65 at Teangue (RMcM) - this species is now returning having been absent most of the winter - birds flock in cold weather
23rd Feb 2018 Crossbill four in Armadale Castle gardens (RMcM)
22nd Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image two at the fish farm in outer Loch Portree (NB)
21st Feb 2018 Brambling View Image single with flock of Chaffinches in Harrapool (P.O.-W)
21st Feb 2018 Skylark View Image c40 at Teangue, Sleat (RMcM) and birds back singing in territories (PK)
21st Feb 2018 Lapwing 11 displaying birds at Loch Cillchroisd, Strath (PK)
21st Feb 2018 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image three in garden at Kyleakin, two females and a male (A&EH)
21st Feb 2018 Black-throated Diver View Image 7 in the Narrows of Raasay and a Merlin (ML)
21st Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image single at Fanks, Kildonan (SP)
20th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Laig Bay, Eigg (JC) & another following creel boat in Broadford Bay (NB), and a single at Mallaig (SM)
20th Feb 2018 Goosander View Image female still on Eigg (JC)
20th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile following creel boat in Broadford Bay (NB) and three at Mallaig (SM) (see Gallery)
20th Feb 2018 Purple Sandpiper View Image two on Ardnish (P.O.-W)
19th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Uig Pier (RMcM) juvenile at Mallaig (AB)
19th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile in Loch Snizort from the ferry (RMcM) & 6 birds at Mallaig including an adult (SMacD, AB)
19th Feb 2018 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 18 at Ashaig, Broadford (A&EH)
19th Feb 2018 Viking Gull showing well at Mallaig (SMacD)
19th Feb 2018 Mandarin Drake still showing well at Morar (SMacD)
19th Feb 2018 Kingfisher wintering bird still showing well at Morar (SMacD)
19th Feb 2018 Skylark View Image singing bird at Ardmore, Waternish (SP)
18th Feb 2018 Green-winged Teal drake still in saltmarsh at the head of Loch Carron with 80+ Eurasian Teal (RMcM) (see gallery)
18th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image adult at Portree Harbour (NB) (see Gallery)
18th Feb 2018 Siskin c50 on the Camus Luanie road, Lochalsh (DM)
18th Feb 2018 Cormorant can you tell a Cormorant from a Shag - see the gallery for a nice image from Martin Benson
18th Feb 2018 Canada Goose View Image 7 at Isleornsay (RC)
17th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image two juveniles at Bayfield, Portree, this morning (JDJ) & three following creel boat in Broadford Bay in afternoon (NB)
17th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image adult in Laig Bay, Eigg (AB) and a juvenile following creel boat in Broadford Bay (NB)
17th Feb 2018 Gannet three off Staffin slipway (RW)
17th Feb 2018 Pied Wagtail View Image six noted in Broadford - signs of spring (MB)
17th Feb 2018 Barnacle Goose View Image 70 at Staffin Island put up by a White-tailed Eagle (RW)
17th Feb 2018 Twite View Image group of 5 at cattle feeders on Heaste Road (NB)
17th Feb 2018 Bullfinch 18 from the Leitr Fura path, Kinloch (DM)
16th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image two birds again at Bayfield, Portree, including an adult (JL); also a juvenile at Mallaig (AB)
16th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image Juvenile at Mallaig still (AB) and remains of a juvenile found at Point of Sleat (TG)
16th Feb 2018 Common Redpoll single at feeders Uig (ML)
16th Feb 2018 Jack Snipe View Image single flushed near Morar House (BenMacD)
15th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile still at Ardmore, Waternish (SP)
15th Feb 2018 Golden Plover 30 at Ardmore, Waternish and 14 Lapwing (SP)
15th Feb 2018 Kittiwake adult Kittiwake over Drumfearn this morning, probably blown on land by storms (PK)
15th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile again at Bayfield, Portree (JDJ)
15th Feb 2018 Whooper Swan View Image smaller numbers this winter - 4 on Storr Lochs (JDJ)
15th Feb 2018 Barnacle Goose View Image 20 at Staffin and 40 Golden Plover (JDJ)
15th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Loch Brittle (J.Dawson)
15th Feb 2018 Great Northern Diver View Image 6 in Loch Harport (J.Dawson)
14th Feb 2018 SWRFC Talk on Squirrel Reintroduction Becky Priestly will speak on the Red Squirrel reintroduction to SWRC at 7.30 pm on Friday 16 February in Kirkton Hall, Lochalsh - all welcome
14th Feb 2018 Skye Birds see the blog for an update on the 3rd edition of Skye Birds
13th Feb 2018 Mammals of Skye and Lochalsh Roger Cottis is giving a talk to Sleat Community Trust at An Crubh, Camuscross, on Thursday 15th February at 7.30 pm - all welcome
13th Feb 2018 Water Rail bird seen in garden in Drumfearn, Sleat (per PK)
13th Feb 2018 Barnacle Goose View Image big count of c300 Barnacle Geese on Isay, Claigan (J.Dawson)
13th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile still at Bayfield, Portree (JDJ)
13th Feb 2018 Rock Pipit 15+ feeding in fields at Earlish (LM)
13th Feb 2018 Twite View Image scarce in winter, there was a flock of 11 at Reraig, Lochalsh (DM)
12th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image adult still in Mallaig harbour and a first winter Iceland Gull (JC)
12th Feb 2018 Reed Bunting View Image recent report from Rum which is very unusual (SM); also several reports from Broadford, Teangue and Portree of birds using feeders in the cold weather - max 8 at Harrapool (MB)
12th Feb 2018 Green-winged Teal late report that a drake of this scarce American vagrant was at the head of Loch Carron yesterday with a group of Common Teal (per PS)
11th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile on loch at Dunvegan (J.Dawson) (see Gallery)
11th Feb 2018 Brambling View Image female visiting feeders at Portree (W.Houlsby)
11th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image still three juvs at Loch Ailort fish farm (SMacD)
11th Feb 2018 Common Scoter still two in Broadford Bay (MB)
10th Feb 2018 Slavonian Grebe 6 in Broadford Bay (NB)
10th Feb 2018 Great Northern Diver View Image 17 in Broadford Bay, two Red-throated Divers and a single Black-throat (NB)
10th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image singles again at Bayfield, Portree (NB) and Uig Bay (SG); also an adult again and two juveniles at Mallaig (JC)
10th Feb 2018 Goosander View Image very scarce in the Small Isles, the long staying male at Loch Scresort, Rum, has been joined by a female (SM) - maybe the bird seen on Eigg on the 5th
10th Feb 2018 Short-eared Owl View Image two in evening at Lower Breakish (NH)
10th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image two probable first winters at Mallaig (JC)
10th Feb 2018 Purple Sandpiper View Image 8 on offshore rocks off West Car Park at Mallaig (JC)
9th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image 2nd winter bird still on Canna and another report from Kyle of Lochalsh (per RBA)
9th Feb 2018 Purple Sandpiper View Image two at Ardnish, Broadford and four Slavonian Grebes (NH)
7th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image probable 2nd winter bird on Canna (G.Gibson)
7th Feb 2018 Barn Owl View Image a bird sheltering in an outbuilding at Morvich, Kintail, was in poor condition-probably weather related (RA)
6th Feb 2018 Jay bird seen and heard yesterday by Rule Anderson at Dorusduain, Morvich - there have been unconfirmed reports from Lochalsh in the past but this is positive information on further range expansion by this species
6th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image still two juveniles at Bayfield, Portree (JDJ) and a juvenile still at Uig Bay (SG)
6th Feb 2018 Purple Sandpiper View Image two still at Duntulm (JDJ)
5th Feb 2018 Goosander View Image female at Kildonan, Eigg, is the first record since 2005 (JC)
5th Feb 2018 Skylark View Image first reports of the spring from Lower Milovaig, Glendale (AS) and The Aird, Gedintailor (NB)
5th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image three juveniles and an adult at Mallaig (see Gallery); another juvenile at Glenuig (RMcM); juvenile again at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
5th Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Mallaig (see Gallery) (RMcM)
5th Feb 2018 Mandarin drake back at Morar and displaying to a female Mallard (RMcM)
5th Feb 2018 Ring-necked Duck a wee bit out of our area but a drake with Tufted Duck at Acharacle on Loch Sheil (RMcM)
5th Feb 2018 Lapwing 4 at Loch Cillchriosd, Torrin, possibly returning breeders (AB)
4th Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile still at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
4th Feb 2018 Purple Sandpiper View Image three at Duntuilm (MB, RMcM)
4th Feb 2018 Magpie long staying bird still at Ellishadder (MB, RMcM)
4th Feb 2018 Grey Wagtail View Image two wintering birds still at Waterloo (M.Manvell)
3rd Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juvenile at Bayfield, Portree (NB) & two on a whale carcass at Mallaig including an adult (SMacD)
3rd Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile on whale carcass at Mallaig (SMacD)
2nd Feb 2018 Pintail drake still at the head of Loch Carron with Mallard (RMcM)
2nd Feb 2018 Black-throated Diver View Image 16 betwen Applecross Bay and Sand (RMcM)
2nd Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image juveniles still at Bayfield, Portree (JDJ) and at Uig Bay (SG)
2nd Feb 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image adult at Bayfield, Portree this afternoon (JDJ) (see Gallery) - adults are very scarce with us but it is proving an exceptional year for the species
1st Feb 2018 Iceland Gull View Image two again at Bayfield, Portree, in morning (NB,JDJ)
1st Feb 2018 Canada Goose View Image 7 at Isleornsay (RC)

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