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
31st Oct 2019 Leach’s Storm Petrel single between Arisaig and Eigg (RD)
31st Oct 2019 Common Dolphin c35 in Outer Loch Snizort from the ferry (RMcM)
31st Oct 2019 Magpie north end bird seen at Kilvaxter (RMcM)
31st Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with Greylags at Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
31st Oct 2019 Redwing/Fieldfare when we get mixed flocks of thrushes such as now it’s reasonable to assume they are Scandinavian in origin and Redwing are of the race iliacus - confirmed by JDJ today who caught & ringed birds in Glen Varrigall today (see Gallery)
31st Oct 2019 Long-tailed Tit View Image lots of reports over the last two days with the best count 15 at Dunvegan Castle (CA)
30th Oct 2019 White-tailed Eagle View Image three juveniles on the Ascribs seen from the Lochmaddy ferry (RMcM)
30th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image juvenile still at Lochailort (SC)
30th Oct 2019 Chiffchaff single in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
30th Oct 2019 Common Gull 1200 in Loch Portree + 130 Black-headed Gulls (NB)
30th Oct 2019 Fieldfare View Image c500 at Camastianavaig (CH)
30th Oct 2019 Slavonian Grebe two off Ardnish (NH) & a ringtail Harrier at nearby Ashaig (RW)
29th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Tit View Image unusual in Lower Milovaig there were 6 this morning, the 1st since 2008 (AS); birds were moving through Kilmory, Rum, yesterday (SM) - birds also on Tiree today suggesting westerly movement
29th Oct 2019 Great Northern Diver View Image 4 from the Aird, Gedintailor + singleBlack-throated & two Red-throated Divers (NB)
29th Oct 2019 Snow Bunting View Image single at The Aird, Gedintailor (NB) - male still at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
29th Oct 2019 Whinchat View Image very late juvenile at Gedintailor, Braes (NB) (see Gallery)
29th Oct 2019 Fieldfare View Image 400 at Lephin, Glendale (AS)
29th Oct 2019 Little Egret View Image single on the pool at Ardelve, Lochalsh, flew up Loch Long (BN)
29th Oct 2019 Brent Goose View Image juvenile straggler still in Broadford Bay (NB)
29th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image single off Duntuilm (WW) & juvenile at fish farm Lochailort (SC)
29th Oct 2019 Swallow late bird at Arisaig (RD)
28th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 12 at Lochlonghead first thing this morning (PS)
28th Oct 2019 Snow Bunting View Image male still at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
28th Oct 2019 Lapland Bunting at least a single, possibly two on Oronsay, Ullinish (WW)
28th Oct 2019 Black-throated Diver View Image single off Neist Point (WW)
27th Oct 2019 Black-tailed Godwit View Image late single in Staffin Bay (MP)
27th Oct 2019 Snow Bunting View Image single still at Kilmory, Rum, (SM)
27th Oct 2019 Swallow two late birds in Harrapool (MB)
27th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 11 on Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (W.Wagstaff)
27th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Tit View Image 11 at Trumpan, Waternish (WW)
26th Oct 2019 Brent Goose View Image single juvenile still Broadford Bay (NB)
26th Oct 2019 Snow Bunting View Image single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
26th Oct 2019 Redwing/Fieldfare steady movement involving thousands of birds through Kyleakin this morning (A&EH)
25th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image still birds pushing south with two over Breakish Obbe (NH); herds of 21 & 20 over Lochailort (SC) & 10 over Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC)
25th Oct 2019 Brent Goose View Image a single with Whoopers over Lochailort (SC) & a single juvenile at Glas Eilean, Broadford (NB)
25th Oct 2019 Redwing/Fieldfare Lots of small groups with 150 at Kyleakin (A&EH) & massive 3500 Port Eorna - Drumbuie (predominantly Fieldfare) (DM)
24th Oct 2019 Woodcock singles last night at Lephin & at Borrodale, Glendale this morning (AS)
24th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 12 at Staffin Bay (MP) & 4 at Loch Ainort this morning; 17 at Broadford Bay this afternoon (PO-W)
24th Oct 2019 Brent Goose View Image family group of 5 at Kilmory, Rum (SM); 33 in Broadford Bay early evening with over 50% juveniles (NB)
24th Oct 2019 Fieldfare/Redwing 300+ at Ardnish, Inverailort (SC) & 200+ over Kyleakin Obbe (A&EH)
24th Oct 2019 Gadwall View Image group of 7 circled Broadford Bay several times & headed north (RMcM)
24th Oct 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 1st cy bird Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
24th Oct 2019 Jack Snipe View Image single again Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
24th Oct 2019 Glaucous Gull View Image juvenile at Portree flew to Black Rocks (W.Wagstaff)
23rd Oct 2019 Brambling View Image female on the Heaste road (NB)
22nd Oct 2019 Redshank 35 in Broadford Bay is an unusually high count for this time of year (NB,RMcM) (see Gallery)
21st Oct 2019 Redwing/Fieldfare 500+ Fieldfare & some Redwing at Morvich, Lochalsh (MG); mixed flocks in good numbers at Ardvarsar (NH)
21st Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image four in Uig Bay (SG) & 5 on Loch Poolteil (AS)
21st Oct 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again at Loch Poolteil (AS)
21st Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image 7 east at Kilmory, Rum, this morning (SM)
21st Oct 2019 Brambling View Image arrival on Rum with small numbers at Kinloch & Kilmory (SM)
20th Oct 2019 Redwing/Fieldfare big fall over Kinloch, Rum, with several hundred of each species (SM); mixed flock of 1200 at Attadale, Strathcarron (DM); flock of 500 Redwing at Inverinate (MG); movements through Portnalong all morning (ST)
20th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 11 in the Kylerhea Narrows (PS)
19th Oct 2019 Magpie presumably the long staying bird - at Totescore ( L.Brooke)
19th Oct 2019 Barnacle Goose View Image two west over Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC)
19th Oct 2019 Greenshank 7 in Breakish Obbe (NH)
19th Oct 2019 Kittiwake 500+ in Broadford Bay + single Great Skua & Arctic Skua (NB)
19th Oct 2019 Little Gull View Image juvenile with Kittiwakes in Broadford Bay (NB)
19th Oct 2019 Common Scoter two in Broadford Bay (NB)
19th Oct 2019 Wigeon flock of 50 at Ardintoul, Lochalsh (RF)
18th Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler single with a mixed tit flock at Miller’s Cottage, Eigg (JC)
16th Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler single in Kilmory Glen, Rum, and three Chiffchaff (SM)
16th Oct 2019 Redwing View Image 300+ at Heaste & 30 Fieldfare (NB); also 400 in the s/east of Eigg (JC)
15th Oct 2019 Red Kite View Image single over the crofts at Loch Bay, Waternish, today (SP)
14th Oct 2019 Redwing View Image huge arrival from n/west this morning with estimated 3000 through Broadford (NH)
14th Oct 2019 Jack Snipe View Image single flushed again in Church Park, Eigg (JC)
14th Oct 2019 Fieldfare View Image 40 over Kildonan, Eigg + 10 Mistletoe Thrush & a Chiffchaff in Kildonan Glen (JC)
14th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 8 & a single Barnacle Goose over Kilmory, Rum (SM)
14th Oct 2019 Blackcap View Image female in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
14th Oct 2019 Skylark View Image very few winter on Skye - single seen flying from Meanish towards western isles (AS)
14th Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image 35 over Fernaig, Lochalsh (DM)
13th Oct 2019 Glaucous Gull View Image report from Aird Bernisdale this morning
13th Oct 2019 Black-throated Diver View Image feeding flock of 25 in Kilmarie Bay, Loch Slapin, this morning - + 3 Great Northerns (RMcM)
13th Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler single still in sycamores behind Skye Candles, Broadford + a Chiffchaff (MB)
13th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake still in Broadford Bay (MB)
13th Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 113 s/east over Portree (NB)
13th Oct 2019 Slavonian Grebe excellent count of 9 at Port an Eorna, Duirinish (RF)
12th Oct 2019 Arctic Tern View Image still three in Broadford Bay (MB) + drake Long-tailed Duck still (NB)
12th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image five in Loch Poolteil in morning then 29 over Lephin, Glendale, later (AS); 13 at Loch Suardal (ST); 5 at Ardnish (NB) were possibly the same birds flying south over Kinloch, Sleat later (RMcM); two at Waterloo, Broadford (NB)
12th Oct 2019 Water Rail calling bird at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (ST)
12th Oct 2019 Blackcap View Image male in Kilmory Glen (SM)
12th Oct 2019 Slavonian Grebe 6 in outer Loch Ainort & two in Broadford Bay (NB)
11th Oct 2019 Barnacle Goose View Image 14 south over Kilmory, Rum (SM)
11th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image birds migrating late last night over Lower Milovaig (AS); 9 east over Kildonan, Eigg (JC); 10 resting Duisdale Bay, Sleat (NH) & 10 on Loch Harport (RMcM, JB)
11th Oct 2019 Swallow still some stragglers with singles at Broadford (RMcM) and Portree (TH)
11th Oct 2019 Wheatear View Image straggler in Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
11th Oct 2019 Arctic Tern View Image still two in Broadford Bay (MB)
11th Oct 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 20 in Broadford Bay + two Knot and three Golden Plover (RMcM)
11th Oct 2019 Shag colour ringed bird at Meanish Pier has probably been ringed on the Shiants (GMcC) (see Gallery) - also another colour ringed bird at Luib (BB) but still trying to get details
10th Oct 2019 Tufted Duck View Image 16 flew through Broadford Bay (RMcM)
10th Oct 2019 Little Tern View Image two again in Broadford Bay late afternoon & three Arctic Terns (NB
10th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake still Broadford Bay (NB)
10th Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image there was an ill straggler at Shamhnan Insir, Rum, which looks as if it has been predated by an Eagle (SM) (see Gallery)
10th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image four at Lochlonghead (PS) & still 8 at Loch Suardal (GMcC)
10th Oct 2019 Goldeneye drake in Loch Carron is 1st of autumn (RMcM)
10th Oct 2019 Merlin View Image male in garden at Kilbride, Torrin (JJ)
9th Oct 2019 Little Tern View Image two small terns noted last night in Broadford Bay were still present this morning with one close inshore (NB,MB,RMcM) - this is an exceptionally late record. Also three Arctic Tern
9th Oct 2019 Little Gull View Image adult in Broadford Bay with Kittiwake (MB)
9th Oct 2019 Velvet Scoter two in Broadford Bay + two Common Scoter (RMcM)
9th Oct 2019 Brent Goose View Image flock of 10 on Glas Eilean, Broadford, late afternoon included a dark bellied bird, extremely rare in the west (NB) (see Gallery)
9th Oct 2019 Arctic Skua View Image four south in the lower Sound of Raasay (RMcM) and a single at the Perches, Eigg (JC)
9th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake in a Broadford Bay still + Great Northern Diver & Slavonian Grebe (NB, GA)
8th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake still in Broadford Bay (G.Allen)
7th Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler still behind Skye Candles, Broadford (NB)
7th Oct 2019 Chiffchaff singing bird at Lower Milovaig (AS) & singles still behind Skye Candles, Broadford (NB) & Portree (LB)
7th Oct 2019 Jack Snipe View Image first of the autumn at Church Park, Eigg (JC)
7th Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image two lingering at Kildonan, Eigg (JC)
7th Oct 2019 Redwing View Image small numbers at Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM) and at Kildonan Glen, Eigg, where there were also 7 Mistle Thrushes (JC)
7th Oct 2019 Grey Plover View Image two in Broadford Bay (per PK)
6th Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler single again behind Skye Candles, Broadford (MB)
6th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake still in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
6th Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 7 in Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC) & 5 over Kilmory, Rum (SM); 8 on Loch Suardal (GMcC)
6th Oct 2019 Common Gull 800+ Loch Portree (NB)
6th Oct 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult again at Loch Pooltiel (AS)
6th Oct 2019 Chiffchaff single in Broadford (MB) & two in Portree (NB)
5th Oct 2019 Redwing View Image some passage noted last night and small groups recorded today at Glen Varragill and Broadford with 50 in largest flock (NB,JDJ)
5th Oct 2019 Chiffchaff single in Broadford (NB)
5th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake still in Broadford Bay...4 other LTDuck flew east through the area (NB)
5th Oct 2019 Slavonian Grebe two in Broadford Bay (NB) & three reported Loch na Cairidh
4th Oct 2019 Great Northern Diver View Image single in Broadford Bay + drake Common Scoter still (NB)
4th Oct 2019 Chiffchaff single Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
4th Oct 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image drake in Broadford Bay (NB)
3rd Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler single at Heaste (NB)
3rd Oct 2019 Twite View Image 120+ at Heaste (NB)
3rd Oct 2019 Lapwing 37 at Drynoch & 40 at Feorlig (RMcM)
3rd Oct 2019 Common Scoter drake in Broadford Bay (NB)
3rd Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 10 on the estuary at Morvich, Kintail (DM)
2nd Oct 2019 Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsi a small Canada Goose of the above form recorded with Barnacles at Duntulm on 7.4.2009 by P.Dolton & M.J. Learoyd (which has been pending) has now been accepted by BBRC. It is a 1st record for Highland.
2nd Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 12 south over Isleornsay (RC)
2nd Oct 2019 Blackcap View Image two at the surgery, Eigg (JC)
2nd Oct 2019 Purple Sandpiper View Image three at Neist Point + a Minke Whale (AS) (see Galleries)
2nd Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image three grounded at Traigh, Morar - left behind from the recent passage! (SMacD)
1st Oct 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with Greylags Kildonan, Eigg (JC): passage still today with reports from Loch Morar, Lochailort, Portree, Kyleakin, Flodigarry and Gedintailor - over 500 in several skeins over Kilmory, Rum (SM) with a similar count over Portree (NB)
1st Oct 2019 Chiffchaff two at Portree (NB)
1st Oct 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 11 south at Portree (NB) & 19 over Kyleakin early evening (A&EH)
1st Oct 2019 Common Scoter two drakes in Broadford Bay + three Slavonian Grebes (NB)
1st Oct 2019 Yellow-browed Warbler still behind Skye Candles in Broadford (MB)

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