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
31st Mar 2019 Yellowhammer pair at feeders at Plockton (JS)
31st Mar 2019 Chiffchaff singles at Drumfearn (PK) and Waterloo (PO-W)
31st Mar 2019 Swallow single at Drumfearn - first of the year (PK); followed is close 2nd by another in Treaslane Woods in the evening (DFMacd) and another at Kendram Cliffs, Staffin (SP)
31st Mar 2019 Long-eared Owl View Image single at Drumfearn (per PK)
31st Mar 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image 120 over Drumfearn early morning (PK) & 93 over Portree (NB) & 106 over Uig (SG); 40 over Broadford (PO-W)
31st Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 40 over Drumfearn early morning (PK) & 40 over Flodigarry (A.Ross) in afternoon ; 180 in four skeins through Broadford in morning (PO-W)
31st Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again present briefly at Loch Pooltiel (AS)
31st Mar 2019 Wheatear View Image big numbers on Milovaig loop walk - 37 counted (AS); 3 on the Quiraing (AR)
31st Mar 2019 Slavonian Grebe three at Loch an Cairidth (ST)
31st Mar 2019 Redwing View Image lots of Redwing passing through reported widely - hundreds roosting Drumfearn in evening (PK)
31st Mar 2019 Sand Martin View Image three at Arisaig (RD)
30th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 50+ flew west over Kilbride, Torrin (JJ); 28 north over Broadford; 40 in two groups north over Drumfearn (PK); 45 over Broadford early & 25 later (PO-W) P&RD); 50 north at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (RD); 35 over Soay (RC)
30th Mar 2019 Great Skua View Image single in Broadford Bay (NB)
30th Mar 2019 Brambling View Image five still in garden at Portree (NB)
30th Mar 2019 Yellowhammer single on feeders Miller’s Cottage, Eigg (JC)
30th Mar 2019 Redwing View Image still 300+ on Eigg in morning (JC)
30th Mar 2019 Wheatear View Image report of Male Lochlonghead (PS) ..birds always slower to arrive In Lochalsh
30th Mar 2019 Little Egret View Image bird still at Arisaig showing little sign of recent injury (RD)
30th Mar 2019 Purple Sandpiper View Image single at Boreraig, Strath (DM)
29th Mar 2019 Redwing View Image big movements today with groups of 40 today at Portree, Lyndale & Drumfearn - 100 in Heaste & 130 Broadford area (NB, PK, AS); 30 at Roag (MF); but massive 350 on Eigg (JC)
29th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 49 at Loch Cillchroisd, 50 at the Black Lochs & still 52 Loch Suardal early morning reduced to 22 in afternoon (NB, RC, GMcC); 21 at the head of Pool Roag (MF); 5 at Kilmory, Rum (SM) & 5 over Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
29th Mar 2019 Lesser Black-backed Gull View Image still moving through in small numbers - three at Broadford River (NB)
29th Mar 2019 Brambling View Image male at Sandavore, Eigg (per JC)
28th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image birds held up by wind with 52 on Loch Suardal (J.Maughan) & 22 at Loch Cillchroisd (JJ)
28th Mar 2019 Manx Shearwater View Image two at Kildonan Point, Eigg, today but birds apparently held calling at Cleadale on the 25th (per JC)
27th Mar 2019 Chiffchaff on Rum singing birds at Kinloch & two at Kilmory (SM)
27th Mar 2019 Wheatear View Image single at the Aird, Gedintailor (PD) & two at Coral Beach, Claigan (GMcC)
27th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image another report from the Torrin Road, Broadford (NB)
27th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 8 today at Loch Suardal, though 10 yesterday (GMcC)
27th Mar 2019 Great Skua View Image single back at Staffin Island (K&SW)
27th Mar 2019 Jack Snipe View Image single flushed near museum at Hungladder (SH)
27th Mar 2019 Barnacle Goose View Image 40 at Stenscholl, Staffin (MP)
26th Mar 2019 Greenshank birds returning to breeding territories with 6 at Loch Sligachan (JDJ) & a single at Heaste (NB)
26th Mar 2019 Slavonian Grebe five in Broadford Bay (NB)
26th Mar 2019 Common Scoter still 19 at Loch Ainort (NB)
25th Mar 2019 Wheatear View Image males at Upper Milovaig & Neist Point (AS); male at Ardnish, Broadford (PO-W) (see Gallery)
25th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 90 on sea north of Kilmory, Rum (SM); 28 north at Ardnish, Broadford (PO-W); 73 in two groups north at Neist Point (AS)
25th Mar 2019 Greenland White-fronted Goose skein of 29 north over Neist Point (AS)
25th Mar 2019 Purple Sandpiper View Image 8 at Neist Point (AS) (see Gallery)
25th Mar 2019 Ring Ouzel View Image singing on a shed roof at Sartle, Staffin (MP)
25th Mar 2019 Common Scoter now 19 at Loch Ainort (NB)
25th Mar 2019 Great Skua View Image single of Brothers Point (K&SW)
25th Mar 2019 Ptarmigan View Image two on Beinn an Caillich, Broadford (LMacD)
24th Mar 2019 Brambling View Image 7 in garden at Portree (NB) & single at Miller’s Cottage, Eigg (JC)
24th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 26 in Breakish Obbe left early evening (MB,JP)
24th Mar 2019 Common Scoter female Loch Portree (NB)
24th Mar 2019 Meadow Pipit View Image notable arrivals on Rum (SM) & in Broadford area (MB)
23rd Mar 2019 Wheatear View Image 1st report on Skye, single on the hill Kilbride, Torrin (JJ)
23rd Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 17 over Drumfearn (PK); 11 north at Kilmory, Rum & 3 later at Kinloch (SM); 18 north at Loch Mealt (JDJ)
23rd Mar 2019 Canada Goose View Image 7 at Loch na Dal, Kinloch (NB)
22nd Mar 2019 Wheatear View Image first report of the spring st Kilmory, Rum (SM)
21st Mar 2019 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image a bird has been present around Kinloch, Rum, for a few days (per SM)
21st Mar 2019 Magpie 1st report of the ‘north end’ bird for some time but in its old haunts near the Museum at Ellishadder (JPW)
21st Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 12 north through the narrows of Rassay (PD)
20th Mar 2019 Brambling View Image still six visiting feeders at Portree garden with 5 males at one point (LB)
20th Mar 2019 Yellowhammer female still visiting feeders at Plockton (JS)
20th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 8 on the sea at Kilmory, Rum (per SM)
19th Mar 2019 Brambling View Image now six at feeders in Portree, 4 males & 2 females (NB)
19th Mar 2019 Blue-winged Teal a Drake was found by Bob at Mellon Charles, Aultbea, Wester Ross yesterday - there are images in the Gallery & also check the twitter feed
19th Mar 2019 Shelduck now 6 at Harrapool (NB)
18th Mar 2019 Fieldfare View Image 10 near Tarskavaig (DJ)
18th Mar 2019 Merlin View Image male near Ord today (JPW) & with a female at Torrin a few days ago, birds moving back into territories & a few migrants probably moving north
18th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 17 north over Lochailort (SMacD)
18th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image single again seen early evening Lower Breakish (HS)
17th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull has been elusive for a few days but showing on Loch Poolteil at Lower Milovaig early afternoon (AS)
17th Mar 2019 Brambling View Image four in garden at Portree still (NB) (see Gallery)
17th Mar 2019 Jack Snipe View Image single near the Heaste road, Broadford (MB)
17th Mar 2019 Little Egret View Image wintering bird still in Arisaig/Back of Keppoch area - appears to have an injury so may have suffered an attack, possibly from a Heron (SMacD) (see Gallery)
17th Mar 2019 Slavonian Grebe three at Loch an Cairidh, Dunan (JPW)
17th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image another report early evening at the head of Loch Sligachan (ST)
16th Mar 2019 Common Scoter 15 in Loch Na Cairidh at Ard Dorch (NB)
16th Mar 2019 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image two drumming birds at Armadale Castle gardens (NB)
16th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image bird found dead at Stonefield, Achnacloich (JMacD) - the carcass will be sent for analysis
15th Mar 2019 Wigeon these birds will soon be heading north but still 71 at Bayfield, Portree this morning (NB)
14th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull still showing in Loch Pooltiel at Lower Milovaig (AS)
14th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image yet another report of a bird hunting early evening, at Kylerhea (AL)
13th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image group of 9 in Loch an Cairidh at Dunan - battling north against the wind (JW) - probably the same birds stormbound on Ardnish yesterday
12th Mar 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 9 resting at Ardnish, Broadford most of the day during gales (JP)
12th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull still at Lower Milovaig (AS) (see Gallery)
12th Mar 2019 Lesser Black-backed Gull View Image single at Loch Scresort, Rum (SM)
11th Mar 2019 Yellowhammer female on feeders at Plockton this morning (JS)
11th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult still at Lower Milovaig first thing (AS) then located at Loch Mor, Waterstein later (MB,RMcM) (see Gallery)
11th Mar 2019 Skylark View Image 40+ in several groups between Glendale & Waterstein (MB, RMcM)
10th Mar 2019 Twite View Image birds back at Roskill, Dunvegan, and visiting garden feeders (SW)
9th Mar 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy juvenile still at Loch Kishorn (RMcM) (see Gallery) & single still at Lower Milovaig (AS)
9th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult still showing well at Loch Pooltiel at Lower Milovaig (AS) (see Gallery)
9th Mar 2019 Goosander View Image six at Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
9th Mar 2019 Wigeon 70 at Lusa, Broadford (A&EH)
9th Mar 2019 Twite View Image c30 on the shore at Drumbuie, Lochalsh (DM)
8th Mar 2019 Lapwing 15 again at Loch Cillchroisd, Strath (NB)
7th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image single hunting Broadford River at 1800 (NB)
7th Mar 2019 Tawny Owl a bird stuck in a wood burning stove at Camascroise was rescued this afternoon - looks like it had gone down the flue and was trapped - stove had to be dismantled and it was released - great bit of work by Neil Hinchliffe & others (see Gallery)
7th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult still in Loch Pooltiel at Lower Milovaig today + juvenile Iceland Gull (A.Powell)
6th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult still on Loch Pooltiel at Lower Milovaig (A.Glaysher)
6th Mar 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird still at Loch Pooltiel this morning (per AS)
5th Mar 2019 Shelduck numbers building up with 7 at Pool Roag, Dunvegan (NB, RMcM)
5th Mar 2019 Barn Owl View Image single near the Marble Quarry, Torrin (GH) - possibly the same bird seen for the last two nights at Burnside, Torrin (CR)
5th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult still at Lower Milovaig this morning ranging widely in Loch Pooltiel including the fishfarm (AS et al)
5th Mar 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 2cy bird in Loch Pooltiel + 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull & a Black-throated Diver (AS et al) (see Gallery)
5th Mar 2019 Water Rail calling bird at small reed bed in Harlosh (NB, RMcM)
4th Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull still at Lower Milovaig this morning (AS)
4th Mar 2019 Lesser Black-backed Gull View Image two at Hamara, Glendale this morning (AS)
3rd Mar 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult showing again at Lower Milovaig (AS) - good images obtained - this is a rare record in Highland, and will be a first for Skye
3rd Mar 2019 Great black-backed Gull View Image 112 in Loch Portree + 79 Wigeon & 14 Bar-tailed Godwit & Peregrine (NB)
2nd Mar 2019 Brambling View Image Male in garden in Portree (NB) (see Gallery)
2nd Mar 2019 Canada Goose View Image five at Isleornsay (NB) (see Gallery)
1st Mar 2019 Great Northern Diver View Image numbers building up at Lusa with 61 as they move to deep water roost late afternoon (NB)
1st Mar 2019 Black-throated Diver View Image 15 off Lusa + 4 Slavonian Grebes & 23 Red-breasted Mergansers (NB)
1st Mar 2019 Red Grouse three at bealach on the Kylerhea road (NB)

© 2019 Skye Birds