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
30th Sep 2018 Manx Shearwater View Image a paper has just been published in the Ibis journal on the problems of Manx Shearwaters being grounded by ambient light in the west coast of Scotland particularly in the Mallaig area see - https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12594
30th Sep 2018 Gannet several hundred in the Sound of Raasay moving south to north, with a high percentage of juveniles (RMcM)
30th Sep 2018 Pintail four juveniles in the Sound of Raasay going north, and a single Brent Goose moving south (RMcM)
29th Sep 2018 Whooper Swan View Image two on Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (DFMacd)
29th Sep 2018 Mistle Thrush View Image 25 on the Heaste Road, nr Broadford (NB)
29th Sep 2018 Barn Owl View Image single at Blackhill, Edinbane (CR)
28th Sep 2018 Chiffchaff single still at The Lodge, Eigg (JC)
28th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image c20 flew from Broadford Bay towards Scalpay Narrows (NB)
28th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Loch Portree (NB)
28th Sep 2018 Common Scoter 20 in Broadford Bay + two Tufted Duck (NB)
28th Sep 2018 Great Northern Diver View Image single in Broadford Bay + 25 Turnstone (NB)
27th Sep 2018 Scaup 11 in Broadford Bay & three Long-tailed Duck (SW)
27th Sep 2018 Whooper Swan View Image single over Ashaig, Broadford (A&EH)
27th Sep 2018 Wheatear View Image straggler near the pier on Eigg (JC)
27th Sep 2018 Short-eared Owl View Image another report from Ose (CM)
27th Sep 2018 Chiffchaff another report, from Kinloch, Sleat (SW)
27th Sep 2018 Pink-footed Goose View Image 150 s/e at Kinloch, Sleat (SW)
27th Sep 2018 Redwing View Image 6 at Breakish Obbe (NH)
26th Sep 2018 Hen Harrier View Image ringtail at Earlish yesterday (A.Lockhart) & male at Glen Eynort today (C.Bird) and another Loch Cillchroisd (S.Wood)
26th Sep 2018 Great Northern Diver View Image single in Broadford Bay (NB)
26th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image still a single in Broadford Bay + a single Pink-footed Goose with Greylags (S.Wood, NB)
26th Sep 2018 Short-eared Owl View Image single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
26th Sep 2018 Arctic Skua View Image single dark morph bird in Loch Ainort off Luib (Micky)
25th Sep 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image 2nd cy bird again at Bayfield, Portree (JDJ)
25th Sep 2018 Velvet Scoter four off Kilmory, Rum (SM)
24th Sep 2018 Chiffchaff singing (!) birds reported today at Kinloch, Rum (SM), and at Portree (TH)...must think it’s spring
24th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image single bird at Broadford Bay (NB)
23rd Sep 2018 Pomarine Skua View Image single north in the Sound of Raasay from outer Loch Portree (NB)
23rd Sep 2018 Eider 50 in the Kyle at Kyleakin (A&EH)
23rd Sep 2018 Pink-footed Goose View Image still moving through over Portree last night after dark (JDJ) and small skeins south through Broadford today (P.O.-W); 140 over Kilmory, Rum (SM)
22nd Sep 2018 Great Skua View Image five in Outer Loch Snizort from the ferry & 350 Kittiwakes (RMcM)
22nd Sep 2018 Manx Shearwater View Image two in Broadford Bay & a Great Northern Diver (NB)
22nd Sep 2018 Hen Harrier View Image male on the Heaste road (T.Donaldson) and also at Elgol (IMacK)
22nd Sep 2018 Short-eared Owl View Image single at Ose (P.Meany)
21st Sep 2018 Pink-footed Goose View Image still pushing through with c500 s/e over Broadford in several skeins this morning (RMcM,NB); small skein s/e through Portnalong (ST); 540 south in 6 skeins at Staffin in an hour early morning (K.Mudd); at Broadford Bay early evening three skeins (150) s/e (NB) & 250 over Portree (JDJ)
21st Sep 2018 Goosander View Image 18 at Waterloo, Broadford (RMcM)
21st Sep 2018 Chiffchaff single in the Lodge orchard, Eigg (JC)
21st Sep 2018 Sanderling View Image four at Kilmory, Rum (SM) and two at Broadford Bay (NB)
21st Sep 2018 Whimbrel View Image long stayer still at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
21st Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Loch Portree (JDJ)
21st Sep 2018 Arctic Skua View Image two south high over Broadford with a possible Pom (NB)
21st Sep 2018 Whooper Swan View Image three south over Portree at dusk (JDJ) - the 1st of the autumn
20th Sep 2018 Grey Phalarope View Image single reported from MV Sheerwater a mile north of Eigg this afternoon (R.Dyer) (see Gallery)
20th Sep 2018 Sabine’s Gull adult south at Duntulm + 9 Manx Shearwater (JDJ)
20th Sep 2018 Great Northern Diver View Image two south at Duntulm (JDJ) and single in Sound of Raasay (RMcM)
20th Sep 2018 Pink-footed Goose View Image five south at Duntulm in morning (JDJ); in evening 100 s/e over Kyleakin at 1815, then 150 south over Broadford at 1900 & 40 more at 1930 (RMcM); six skeins totalling 480 over Portree between 1915-2000 (NB, JDJ); at 2100 and in darkness skeins heard over Drumfearn (PK) and Uig (HM); 57 over Morar at 1845 (SMacD)
20th Sep 2018 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph north through the Narrows of Raasay & two Great Skua (RMcM)
20th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single juvenile at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
20th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image 12 in Broadford Bay (NB)
19th Sep 2018 Sooty Shearwater View Image in 4 hour seawatch at Camas Mor, Bornesketaig - two Sooties went N/east & two Manx Shearwater went s/West (RMcM)
19th Sep 2018 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 30 flew s/east at Bornesketaig (K.Mudd)
19th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image single adult at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
19th Sep 2018 Wheatear View Image straggler at Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
19th Sep 2018 Hen Harrier View Image males reported near Ord (E.Lenthall) and from the Struan-Portree hill road (LM)
18th Sep 2018 Barn Owl View Image single in early morning at Heaste (D.Rose)
18th Sep 2018 Small Gull a small Gull found at Bayfield, Portree, early morning (NB) was thought to have been a Bonaparte’s but on reviewing the images is missing some key features - maybe a hybrid - but hopefully it will turn up again and more images can be taken.
18th Sep 2018 Manx Shearwater View Image still good numbers being grounded at Broadford and returned to sea (MB) (see Gallery)
18th Sep 2018 Magpie north end bird still around and back at Elishadder (E.Cusack)
18th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image 13 in Broadford Bay late afternoon then 36 arrived (MB)
18th Sep 2018 Sanderling View Image 8 at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
17th Sep 2018 Leach’s Storm Petrel single within Skye waters from the Uig-Stornoway ferry (MW)
17th Sep 2018 Wheatear View Image straggler at Kilmory, Rum (SM) - lingering Whimbrel still there
17th Sep 2018 Long-eared Owl View Image single at Drumfearn, Sleat (PK)
16th Sep 2018 Knot 6 in Broadford Bay and a Sanderling + 22 Teal (RMcM)
16th Sep 2018 Grey Plover View Image single on Ardnish, Broadford (MB)
16th Sep 2018 Willow Warbler View Image late stragglers at Portree (NB) and Flodigarry (JPWalker)
16th Sep 2018 Sandwich Tern View Image single on Perches rocks, Eigg (JC)
16th Sep 2018 Wheatear View Image straggler at Upper Milovaig (AS)
15th Sep 2018 Sanderling View Image two at Staffin Bay (K.Mudd); 9 still at Kilmory, Rum, and a Whimbrel (SM)
15th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image nine in Broadford Bay (MB) + two Knot & 10 Bar-tailed Godwit (NB)
15th Sep 2018 Gadwall View Image five came in off the sea at Glas Eilean, Broadford (NB)
15th Sep 2018 Twite View Image 50 at Harrapool (NB) and c80 at Duirinish coastal path (R.French)
15th Sep 2018 Goldfinch c100 at Harrapool (NB) and 20 on Duirinish coastal path (RF)
15th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Loch Portree (K.Mudd)
14th Sep 2018 Manx Shearwater View Image young birds are fledging on Rum at the moment and liable to be grounded in windy weather - simple advice to place them in a box overnight and release them to the sea. Two were grounded at Glasnakille last night and will be released at Elgol today (M.Henderson); over 100 were grounded & returned to sea at Mallaig (MC)
14th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image flock of 26 passed through Broadford Bay early morning (MB) ; 10 heading towards narrows of Scalpay early evening . Re ringed birds see http://irishbrentgoose.blogspot.co.uk/
14th Sep 2018 Arctic Skua View Image two dark morph birds in the Sound of Sleat & four Great Skua between Rum & Point of Sleat (RMcM)
14th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Waterloo, Broadford (NB)
14th Sep 2018 Willow Warbler View Image single at Kilmory, Rum still & two Wheatears including a leucorhoa type (SM)
14th Sep 2018 Common Whitethroat View Image late single at Broadford Industrial Estate (MB)
13th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two at Loch Portree (NB) and 15 at Broadford Bay with only a single adult (RMcM) (see Gallery); three new birds arrived late afternoon (NB)
13th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image 13 at Broadford Bay, all of which were adults with three colour ringed (RMcM); five at Kilmory, Rum, with a colour ringed adult (SM)
13th Sep 2018 Great Skua View Image five at Kildonan, Rum (SM)
13th Sep 2018 Sanderling View Image now ten + a single Whimbrel at Kildonan, Rum (SM)
13th Sep 2018 Knot four in Broadford Bay (MB) (see Gallery)
13th Sep 2018 Leach’s Storm Petrel single off Waternish Point from the ferry (Birdguides)
13th Sep 2018 Sooty Shearwater View Image single off Waternish Point from the ferry (Birdguides)
13th Sep 2018 Short-eared Owl View Image two at Halistra in evening (CM)
12th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image 11 at Broadford Bay (MB) early with c20 later (P.O.-W); 50 flew sw from Broadford Bay late morning (RMcM); still 28 early evening (NB,MB)
12th Sep 2018 Sanderling View Image 7 at Kilmory, Rum, and a Whimbrel still (SM)
12th Sep 2018 Goosander View Image 14 at the mouth of the Broadford River (NB) (see Gallery)
11th Sep 2018 Brent Goose View Image 1st of the autumn with 40 south at Bornesketaig & 50 through Broadford Bay this morning (MB,RMcM) (see Gallery); 13 south at Ashaig in afternoon (A&EH)
11th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Loch Portree (NB)
11th Sep 2018 Manx Shearwater View Image numbers dwindling with just 40 south in three hours off Camas Mor, Bornesketaig (RMcM)
11th Sep 2018 Twite View Image c100 at Balmacquien (RMcM) & 50 at Rhuba Garbhaig, Staffin (JPWalker)
11th Sep 2018 Merlin View Image juvenile at Coruisk House, Elgol (IR)
11th Sep 2018 Great Skua View Image still 9 at Staffin Island (K.Mudd)
10th Sep 2018 Red Grouse single at the roadside Kinloch, Sleat (DMacI)
10th Sep 2018 Whimbrel View Image single at Ashaig, Broadford + single Sanderling (RMcM) - also single Whimbrel still & two Sanderling at Kilmory, Rum (SM) - wader numbers have eased off since last month
10th Sep 2018 Knot 35 at Waterloo (NB) and a single at Ashaig (RMcM)
10th Sep 2018 Pink-footed Goose View Image 9 flew s/east over Loch Mealt (K.Mudd)
9th Sep 2018 Whimbrel View Image singles at Loch Treaslane (M.Brown) and at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
9th Sep 2018 Knot two at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
9th Sep 2018 Redwing View Image early single at Uig Hotel (SG)
9th Sep 2018 Sanderling View Image four at Kilmory, Rum, (SM) and a single at Ashaig (RMcM)
9th Sep 2018 Goosander View Image 43 at the head of Loch Portree + 15 Bar-tailed Godwit (NB)
9th Sep 2018 Barnacle Goose View Image very early single at Loch Caroy (per JDJ)
9th Sep 2018 Merlin View Image single chasing Pipits near Carr Brae, Lochalsh (A.Bunday)
8th Sep 2018 Goldfinch flocks of 50 at Kyleakin (A&EH) & Scullamus, Broadford (RMcM)
8th Sep 2018 White Wagtail View Image five at Broadford river (NB)
8th Sep 2018 Common Dolphin c50 in the Sound of Raasay (RMcM) & at the same time a slightly bigger group off the Crowlins (A&EH) - probably the same group in Broadford Bay at 1800 (NB)
8th Sep 2018 Great Northern Diver View Image single off Ullinish (AMcL)
7th Sep 2018 Whooper Swan View Image summering bird still at Ardmore, Waternish (RMcM)
7th Sep 2018 Osprey View Image single reported Trumpan, Waternish (J.Niska-Virta)
6th Sep 2018 Pintail single still lingering at Loch Portree (JDJ)
6th Sep 2018 Goosander View Image now 37 at Loch Portree (JDJ)
6th Sep 2018 Black-tailed Godwit View Image juvenile in Broadford Bay (NB)
5th Sep 2018 Glaucous Gull View Image 2nd cy bird at Bayfield, Portree this morning (NB)
5th Sep 2018 Whimbrel View Image singles at Kilmory, Rum (SM) and at Broadford Bay (RMcM)
4th Sep 2018 Pintail juvenile/eclipse female in Loch Portree (JDJ) (see Gallery)
4th Sep 2018 Slavonian Grebe two in outer Loch Ainort are the first reports of the autumn (NB)
3rd Sep 2018 Goosander View Image 31 at the head of Loch Portree (NB)
3rd Sep 2018 Risso’s Dolphin five again at Neist Point today (AS) (see Gallery)
3rd Sep 2018 White-tailed Eagle View Image six on Loch Harport, four juveniles and two adults (L.Brown)
2nd Sep 2018 Knot four juveniles in Broadford Bay (MB)
1st Sep 2018 White Wagtail View Image five at Ashaig (NB)
1st Sep 2018 Red-breasted Merganser View Image 44 at the head of Loch Ainort (NB)
1st Sep 2018 Twite View Image 70 at Strollamus (NB)
1st Sep 2018 Bottlenose Dolphins pod of 6 again in Broadford Bay - also a Basking Shark (NB)
1st Sep 2018 Linnet excellent flock of 80 at Lephin, Glendale (AS)

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