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 |
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30th Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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adult at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) |
30th Apr 2018 | Black-tailed Godwit |
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7 at Waterloo, Broadford, tonight (RMcM) |
30th Apr 2018 | Sedge Warbler |
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two singing birds at Uig (R.Hewitt) |
30th Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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two at Staffin (R.Hewitt) & five at Waterloo, Broadford (RMcM) |
29th Apr 2018 | Linnet | getting back into territories with three at Lower Milovaig (AS) (see Gallery) | |
29th Apr 2018 | Brent Goose |
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still two lingering birds at Glas Eilean, Broadford Bay (RMcM) |
29th Apr 2018 | Golden Plover | 30 on Ardnish, Broadford (A&EH) | |
29th Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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9 at Traigh, Morar, this morning (SMacD) & 4 at Harrapool at high tide early evening (RMcM) |
29th Apr 2018 | Magpie | report from Glen Eynort (H. Russell-Long) | |
28th Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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two at Camas an Sgianadin, Broadford (STe); single at Neist Point (AS) & 6 at Ardnish (A&EH); two Harrapool at high tide (RMcM) |
28th Apr 2018 | Yellowhammer | pair and single male in territories at Duirinish, Lochalsh (RMcM) | |
28th Apr 2018 | Great Northern Diver |
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16 in Loch Brittle (R.Hewitt) |
28th Apr 2018 | Shelduck | a count of 18 at high tide at Harrapool is possibly a max in this area in recent years (RMcM) (see Gallery) | |
28th Apr 2018 | Glaucous Gull |
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juvenile still at Uig Bay (SG) |
27th Apr 2018 | Reed Bunting |
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still lots of reports coming in of birds below feeders from throughout the island - this may reflect the long winter and birds trying to get into breeding condition |
27th Apr 2018 | Brent Goose |
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still two spring stragglers in Broadford Bay (MB) |
27th Apr 2018 | White Wagtail |
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two at Roag & two at Ose (RMcM) |
27th Apr 2018 | Magpie | bird at Lyndale, Edinbane (C.Stevenson) - obviously a different bird from the one at Ellishadder! Probably the same bird seen Flashader on the 25th (JMcK) | |
27th Apr 2018 | Grasshopper Warbler | reeling bird at Ardmore, Waternish (SP) | |
26th Apr 2018 | Magpie | our ‘north end’ bird remains at Ellishadder and has apparently not had any away days (SP) ....this would suggest there was another bird about! | |
26th Apr 2018 | Brent Goose |
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still two birds on Glas Eilean, Broadford (RMcM) |
26th Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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five at Traigh, Morar (SMacD) & two at Ashaig, Broadford, & 20 Golden Plover flushed by a Peregrine (RMcM) |
26th Apr 2018 | Glaucous Gull |
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pale juvenile still at Uig (SG) |
25th Apr 2018 | Extramadura | spent last week visiting the Extramadura region of Spain on a birding trip organised by Steve from www.western-isles-wildlife.com. A summary in the Blog and images in the overseas gallery. | |
25th Apr 2018 | Tree Pipit |
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birds now back in territories at Duisdale, Sleat (RMcM) |
25th Apr 2018 | Brent Goose |
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two pale bellied birds at Broadford Bay (NB) |
24th Apr 2018 | Corncrake |
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1st bird of the year reported near Carbost today (per ST) - see the Blog for details of the RSPB summer survey from Shelagh Parlane. |
24th Apr 2018 | White Wagtail |
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two at Lower Milovaig (AS) (see Gallery) & singles at Ashaig and Camas Malag (RMcM) |
24th Apr 2018 | Whitethroat |
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another 1st report for the area in Harrapool tonight (MB) |
23rd Apr 2018 | Whinchat |
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1st reports of the year, both males, from Borneskitaig (J.Maughan) and Breakish (RMcM) |
23rd Apr 2018 | Cuckoo | more reports of calling birds from Waternish (RA) and Gedintailor (CA) | |
23rd Apr 2018 | Twite |
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reflecting the cold weather, flock of 80+ on Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH) |
22nd Apr 2018 | Black-tailed Godwit |
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single at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) |
22nd Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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single near Uigshader, Portree (J.McKay) |
22nd Apr 2018 | Common Sandpiper |
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single at The Aird, Gedintailor, and a calling Cuckoo nearby (WM) |
22nd Apr 2018 | Sedge Warbler |
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singing bird Broadford (MB) |
21st Apr 2018 | Common Sandpiper |
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two at Lower Milovaig (AS) |
21st Apr 2018 | Grasshopper Warbler | reeling birds at Tarskavaig (MB) and Riverbank, Broadford (NB), as well as Edinbane (CR) & Ullinish (PS) | |
21st Apr 2018 | Sand Martin |
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four back in Quarry at Armadale (MB) |
21st Apr 2018 | Cuckoo | calling bird at Ellishadder (SP) | |
20th Apr 2018 | Magpie | single at Sconser (NH) & probably the same bird seen at The Aird, Gedintailor (WM) - not sure whether our north end bird is wandering? Bird still in the Mallaig area (SMacD) | |
20th Apr 2018 | Cuckoo | reports from Duisdalemor (CW) and Portnalong (ST); also Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN) | |
20th Apr 2018 | House Martin |
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several back at Quiraing House, Staffin (SP) |
19th Apr 2018 | Cuckoo | calling bird at Drumfearn (PK) & Kinloch (per CW) | |
19th Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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5 at Ardnish, Broadford (NH) & single at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) |
19th Apr 2018 | Common Sandpiper |
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two at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) and a single at Kinloch, Rum (SM) |
19th Apr 2018 | Canada Goose |
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still a single at Bayfield, Portree (JL) and three at Kinloch, Rum (SM) |
19th Apr 2018 | Gadwall |
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pair on the saltings Loch Portree, and 65 Redshank (JL) |
19th Apr 2018 | Brambling |
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single visiting feeders at Kinloch, Rum (SM) |
19th Apr 2018 | Snipe | 16 at dusk Lower Breakish (NH) | |
19th Apr 2018 | Common Scoter | 7 in Broadford Bay (NB) | |
19th Apr 2018 | Blackcap |
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singing bird Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN) |
18th Apr 2018 | Common Sandpiper |
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singles at Ardnish, Broadford (NH) and Uig Bay (SG) |
18th Apr 2018 | Glaucous Gull |
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juvenile again at Uig Bay (SG |
18th Apr 2018 | Black-tailed Godwit |
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9 at Breakish Obbe (NH) |
18th Apr 2018 | Yellowhammer | male at Kildonan, Eigg (JC) | |
18th Apr 2018 | White Wagtail |
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single at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) |
18th Apr 2018 | Canada Goose |
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two still Kyleakin Obbe & 7 Goosander (A&EH); single Canada Broadford Bay (NB) |
18th Apr 2018 | Common Scoter | still three Broadford Bay (NB) | |
18th Apr 2018 | Magpie | Bird reported at Edinbane (per JDJ) | |
18th Apr 2018 | Cuckoo | calling bird reported at Edinbane (per JDJ) | |
18th Apr 2018 | Willow Warbler |
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singing bird Carr Brae, Lochalsh (BN) |
17th Apr 2018 | Hawfinch | a male visiting feeders at Kilbride, Torrin, this morning (Anita Jones); yesterday’s bird at Portree seen briefly late afternoon (NB) - this is an extremely rare bird on Skye so two different birds is very unusual | |
17th Apr 2018 | Brambling |
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visiting feeders at Kinloch,Rum (SM) |
17th Apr 2018 | Glaucous Gull |
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juvenile again at Uig Bay & also an Iceland Gull (SG) |
16th Apr 2018 | Hawfinch | visiting garden feeders in Woodpark, Portree (Donald MacSween) | |
16th Apr 2018 | White Wagtail |
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two on Ardnish, Broadford (NB) |
15th Apr 2018 | Blackcap |
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three at Lower Milovaig, two males & a female (AS) |
15th Apr 2018 | Swallow | single at Ashaig, Broadford (M.Bliss) | |
15th Apr 2018 | Magpie | late report of a bird at Lyndale, Edinbane, on 9th - not sure whether this is a new bird or our resident bird wandering (C.Stephenson); bird also reported Upper Milovaig on 12/13 April (per AS) | |
15th Apr 2018 | Pink-footed Goose |
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another good movement north which included 115 at Drumfearn (PK); 100 over Portree (JJ); 150 at Lower Milovaig (AS) |
14th Apr 2018 | Water Rail | probable territorial bird caught on camera trap at Ullinish (PS) | |
14th Apr 2018 | Common Scoter | three still Broadford Bay (NB) | |
14th Apr 2018 | Willow Warbler |
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singing bird Duisdale, Sleat (CW) |
13th Apr 2018 | Swallow | a single at Lower Milovaig (AS) | |
13th Apr 2018 | Chiffchaff | several reports with calling birds at Portnalong (ST), Viewfield, Portree (NB), Kirkton, Lochalsh (CW), Morar (JC) and Kinloch, Rum (SM) | |
12th Apr 2018 | Long-eared Owl |
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territorial calling bird near Elgol (IR) |
12th Apr 2018 | Canada Goose |
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5 at the head of Loch Long (PS) and two at Kyleakin Obbe yesterday (A&EH) |
12th Apr 2018 | Sand Martin |
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three at Broadford River (NB) |
12th Apr 2018 | Swallow | single at Torrin (RMcM) | |
12th Apr 2018 | Pink-footed Goose |
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two skeins of 100 heading north at Gedintailor (CA); skeins of 80 & 120 north at Neist Point (AS) & 200 north over Elgol (MK) |
12th Apr 2018 | Willow Warbler |
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singing bird Portnalong (ST) |
12th Apr 2018 | Pomarine Skua |
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an early single north at Neist Point (AS) (see Gallery) |
12th Apr 2018 | Manx Shearwater |
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60 at Neist Point & 4 Puffin north (AS) |
12th Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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single juvenile at Neist Point (AS) |
12th Apr 2018 | Whimbrel |
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single off Ardnish, Broadford (NH) |
11th Apr 2018 | Glaucous Gull |
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very pale juvenile again in Uig Bay (SG) |
11th Apr 2018 | Arctic Tern |
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first of the year at Kilmaluag Bay (MP) |
11th Apr 2018 | Blackcap |
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female at Aird Volovaig, Kilmaluag, was probably a migrant (MP) |
11th Apr 2018 | Sooty Shearwater |
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an all dark Shearwater sp at Aird Volovaig, Kilmaluag, was probably a Sooty (MP) |
11th Apr 2018 | Great Skua |
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four territorial birds above Wiay (MK, RMcM) |
11th Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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two sub-adults at Greshornish fish farm (MK, RMcM) |
11th Apr 2018 | Crossbill | five at Choisleadar Forest, Edinbane, was a probable family group (MK, RMcM); small group also Uig Woods (SG) | |
11th Apr 2018 | Water Rail | calling birds at two sites including a new site at Harlosh (MK, RMcM) | |
11th Apr 2018 | Chiffchaff | two singing birds in Uig woods and a Willow Warbler (SG) | |
10th Apr 2018 | Pink-footed Goose |
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100+ north through Broadford Bay (RMcM) |
10th Apr 2018 | Willow Warbler |
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singing birds at Broadford (NB), Kildonan, Eigg (JC) and two at Milovaig (AS) |
10th Apr 2018 | Chiffchaff | singing bird in Broadford Industrial Estate (MB) | |
10th Apr 2018 | Yellowhammer | male at Kinloch, Rum (SM) | |
10th Apr 2018 | White Wagtail |
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another single at Milovaig (AS) (see Gallery) |
9th Apr 2018 | Wheatear |
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26 now in the Milovaig area but many are possibly local birds (AS) - other migrants have moved through |
9th Apr 2018 | Black Redstart |
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1st summer male at Howlin Fank, Eigg, today (Donald MacLean) (see Gallery) - this is only the 3rd record for the island. |
9th Apr 2018 | Swallow | our first of the year at Breakish Obbe (NH) | |
9th Apr 2018 | Willow Warbler |
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our first of the year at Islornsay (RC) |
9th Apr 2018 | Slavonian Grebe | four in Loch Ainort + 70 Eiders all drakes (RMcM) | |
9th Apr 2018 | Redwing |
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still good numbers passing through with 100 at Kyleakin (A&EH) and 200 at Snizort, one of which was taken by a Merlin (M.Simpson) - also several reports elsewhere including 90 Harrapool & 70 Heaste (NB) & 160+ at Geary (G.McCracken) |
9th Apr 2018 | Great Skua |
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two following fishing boat off Plockton Lighthouse (M.Bliss) |
9th Apr 2018 | Chiffchaff | single singing in The Glebe, Eigg (JC) | |
9th Apr 2018 | Whooper Swan |
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11 flying n/west across Broadford Bay (NB) - possibly the same birds came off the sea at Loch Mealt to join the 13 birds already there (MP) |
8th Apr 2018 | Chiffchaff | single Lower Milovaig (AS) and on Rum (SM) | |
8th Apr 2018 | Sand Martin |
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single at Morar (SMacD) |
8th Apr 2018 | Blackcap |
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female at Kinloch, Rum (SM) and a Brambling at the feeders |
8th Apr 2018 | White Wagtail |
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single at Lower Milovaig (AS) |
8th Apr 2018 | Redwing |
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200 at Cleadale, Eigg, (JC); with hundreds on Rum (SM) and several reports elsewhere on Skye with 400 roosting in the evening at Drumfearn (PK) |
8th Apr 2018 | Yellowhammer | female at feeders Miller’s Cottage, Eigg (JC) | |
8th Apr 2018 | Whooper Swan |
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two at Loch Suardal (G.McCracken) |
7th Apr 2018 | Hawfinch | male at Rock Cottage, Rum (SM) | |
7th Apr 2018 | Sandwich Tern |
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single in Broadford Bay (MB) |
7th Apr 2018 | Wheatear |
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major influx with 18 at Milovaig (AS) |
7th Apr 2018 | Great Skua |
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single in Broadford Bay with 10 Great Northern Divers (NB) |
7th Apr 2018 | Common Scoter | three in Broadford Bay and a single still Loch Portree (NB) | |
7th Apr 2018 | House Martin |
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first of the year in Broadford (NH) |
6th Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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1st winter bird at Bayfield, Portree (SJ) |
6th Apr 2018 | Black-tailed Godwit |
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single in Breakish Obbe (NH) |
6th Apr 2018 | Peregrine |
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probable male at Balmacquien (AC) |
5th Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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two juveniles at The Aird, Gedintailor (NB) and a single at Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC) |
5th Apr 2018 | Slavonian Grebe | two in summer plumage off Ardnish, Broadford (NH) | |
5th Apr 2018 | Wheatear |
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three at The Aird, Gedintailor (NB) |
5th Apr 2018 | Common Scoter | single in Loch Harport at Carbost (SJ) | |
4th Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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juvenile at Loch Kishorn (RMcM) (see Gallery) |
4th Apr 2018 | Redwing |
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c30 at Isleornsay (RC) (see Gallery) & 20+ at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH) - lots of Icelandic birds passing north through the island at the moment - info on Twitter that birds are already arriving back Iceland |
4th Apr 2018 | Greylag Goose |
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leucistic bird at Strathcarron (seeGallery) (RMcM) |
4th Apr 2018 | Glaucous Gull |
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very pale 2nd CY Glaucous Gull at Uig (SJ) & a juvenile at Kilmarie Bay, Loch Slapin (RMcM) |
3rd Apr 2018 | Magpie | single now at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig for over a week (per SMacD) - a potential mate for our north end bird which was originally seen at Mallaig!! | |
2nd Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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juvenile at Bayfield, Portree (NB) & remains of a dead bird found on Rum (SM) |
2nd Apr 2018 | Pink-footed Goose |
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15 with Greylags at Claigan, Dunvegan (SJ) |
1st Apr 2018 | Iceland Gull |
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two juveniles at Greshornish fish farm (RMcM); a single at Bayfield, Portree late afternoon (NB) & two Broadford Bay early evening (RMcM) |
1st Apr 2018 | Barnacle Goose |
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c30 on Eilean Beag off Lyndale (RMcM) |
1st Apr 2018 | Wheatear |
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three males and a female at Milovaig (AS) |