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 Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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male on feeders at Dunhallin, Waternish (RA) |
30th Nov 2019 | Tree Sparrow | still coming to feeders at Lower Milovaig (AS) | |
30th Nov 2019 | Pink-footed Goose |
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6 near Trumpan, Waternish (MS) |
30th Nov 2019 | Water Rail | single ran across road at Ashaig, Broadford (CMcA) | |
28th Nov 2019 | Goldcrest |
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up to 10 in garden in Staffin (SP) - these are possibly scandinavian migrants |
28th Nov 2019 | Water Rail | still visiting garden pond in Elgol (DW) | |
28th Nov 2019 | Common Crossbill |
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12-15 in Glen Varragill, Portree (JDJ) |
28th Nov 2019 | Bar-tailed Godwit |
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11 at Waterloo is the normal winter max for this site (NH) |
28th Nov 2019 | Whooper Swan |
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now 10 on Loch nan Cor, Inverinate (DM) |
27th Nov 2019 | Tree Sparrow | still at Lower Milovaig & on its 19th day (AS) - very unusual in winter | |
27th Nov 2019 | Whooper Swan |
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6 at Inverinate (D.Evans) |
26th Nov 2019 | Snow Bunting |
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two on the north side of Bealach na Ba, Applecross (RMcM) |
26th Nov 2019 | Little Grebe |
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12 at Loch Mor, Waterstein + 10 Goldeneye (AS) |
25th Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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another male, in garden at Portnalong (KS) |
25th Nov 2019 | Carrion Crow |
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single again at Uig ferry terminal (AS) |
24th Nov 2019 | Iceland Gull |
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1st winter at Bayfield, Portree (NB) - a different bird from Friday (see Gallery) |
24th Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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another male at Kyleakin feeding on fallen apples (HS) |
24th Nov 2019 | Common Scoter | female type still Loch Portree ( NB) | |
23rd Nov 2019 | Brambling |
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two at Kinloch, Rum + 50 Fieldfare (SM) |
23rd Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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males at feeders Caroy (MS) & at Kildonan (CT) - we regularly have records in Nov/Dec & the view is these are not local breeding birds but winter visitors from east Europe, a pattern which has emerged in the last 20 years |
22nd Nov 2019 | Yellow-legged Gull | adult still on Loch Poolteil, at the fishfarm (RMcM, AMcN, AW) | |
22nd Nov 2019 | Iceland Gull |
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first winter at Bayfield, Portree (NB) |
22nd Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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two at Stein, Waternish (SR) |
22nd Nov 2019 | Purple Sandpiper |
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14 on rocks of Mallaig Pier (NR) |
21st Nov 2019 | Red Kite |
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single at Elgol (IR) |
21st Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | 9 on Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig (SMacD) and four in Broadford Bay (RD) | |
21st Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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single near Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (SMacD) |
21st Nov 2019 | Long-tailed Duck |
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female type still by Arisaig Marina (SMacD) |
19th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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single over Drumfearn, Sleat (PK) |
19th Nov 2019 | Yellow-legged Gull | adult still at Lower Milovaig, Glendale (AS) | |
19th Nov 2019 | Woodcock | good numbers at Dun Ringill, Strathaird with up to 8 flushed on forest walk (IR) | |
19th Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | three at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (ML) | |
18th Nov 2019 | Black-throated Diver |
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14 on Loch Slapin, Kilmarie Bay & four off Lusa (RMcM) |
18th Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | three in outer Loch Ainort & three in Broadford Bay (RD,NB) with two off Lusa (RMcM) | |
18th Nov 2019 | Great Northern Diver |
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7 in Kilmarie Bay (RMcM) four in Loch Ainort & 10 in Broadford Bay (NB); 12 off Lusa (RMcM) |
18th Nov 2019 | Common Scoter | 7 in outer Loch Ainort (NB) and two in Uig Bay (SG) | |
18th Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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female at feeders at Lower Milovaig (see Gallery) + Tree Sparrow still (AS) |
18th Nov 2019 | Cetaceans | late Minke Whale off Neist Point (AS); 25 Common Dolphin in Inner Sound 2 miles n/east of Lusa (RMcM) | |
18th Nov 2019 | Long-tailed Duck |
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1st winter still at Arisaig on Loch nan Ceall (RD) (see Gallery) |
17th Nov 2019 | Greenland White-fronted Goose | 6 adults grazing an island off Ashaig, Broadford (NH) - this may be part of a small flock which formerly wintered in the area but the remnant group has not been seen for several years | |
17th Nov 2019 | Snow Bunting |
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two over Barkeval, Rum (SM) |
17th Nov 2019 | Mediterranean Gull | 1st winter bird still at Loch Portree + 800 Common Gull & 280 Black-headed Gulls (NB) | |
17th Nov 2019 | Common Redpoll | single caught & ringed Glen Varragill, Portree (JJ) | |
17th Nov 2019 | Common Scoter | female type in Loch Portree (NB) | |
17th Nov 2019 | Whooper Swan |
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four at Loch Dhughaill, Sleat (R.Doughty); a single on Loch Mealt (JJ) & three at Loch Suardal (AS) (see Gallery) |
16th Nov 2019 | Yellow-legged Gull | adult again at Loch Poolteil (AS) | |
16th Nov 2019 | Tree Sparrow | still visiting garden feeders at Lower Milovaig (AS) | |
16th Nov 2019 | Fieldfare |
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still 200 at Kyleakin (A&EH) |
15th Nov 2019 | Pink-footed Goose |
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single with Greylags Breakish Obbe (NH) |
15th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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unfortunately two were found dead by the roadside at Ferindonald, Sleat, yesterday (DR) |
15th Nov 2019 | Snow Bunting |
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three at Shamhnan Isir, Rum (SM) |
14th Nov 2019 | Water Rail | bird still visiting garden pond at Elgol (DW) (see Gallery) - this bird looks like an adult so maybe a different bird from earlier | |
14th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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singles at Armadale Castle (SG) and Camascross (R.Campbell) |
13th Nov 2019 | Mediterranean Gull | 1st winter at Loch Portree (NB) (see Gallery) | |
13th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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two at Braebost, Edinbane (NB, RMcM) and a single with Redwing above Idrigill, Uig (S.Kirkup) |
13th Nov 2019 | Chiffchaff | single in Uig Woods (SG) | |
13th Nov 2019 | Carrion Crow |
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still in Uig but in the woods (ML) |
13th Nov 2019 | Tree Sparrow | single still visiting garden at Lower Milovaig (Alison Stables) | |
12th Nov 2019 | Carrion Crow |
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single at Uig Pier (SD) |
12th Nov 2019 | Iceland Gull |
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juvenile in outer Uig Bay from the ferry (SD) |
12th Nov 2019 | Fieldfare/Redwing | still about 150 in Kyleakin area (A&EH) & 100+ between Kilmore/Teague on Sleat (RMcM) | |
11th Nov 2019 | Brent Goose |
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straggler at Stein, Waternish (CM) |
11th Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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female at feeders Lower Milovaig + Tree Sparrow still (AS) (see Gallery) |
11th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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single in Portree garden feeding on apples (WH) |
10th Nov 2019 | Tree Sparrow | back on feeders at Lower Milovaig today (AS) | |
10th Nov 2019 | Skylark |
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single at Lower Milovaig today (AS) (see Gallery) - this species is mainly absent from Skye in winter |
10th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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8 in Breakish feeding on apples (N.Ferguson) |
10th Nov 2019 | Ptarmigan |
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two near the summit of Beinn na Cro (Red Hills) (A.Donald) |
9th Nov 2019 | Tree Sparrow | single at feeders Lower Milovaig this morning (AS) (see Gallery) - although recorded annually in the area most records are in spring: also a possible in Portree yesterday - one on Barra today as well!! | |
9th Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | three in Broadford Bay & three Red-throated Divers (NB) | |
9th Nov 2019 | Long-tailed Tit |
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lots of recent reports (see Gallery) but 20 at Upper Tote (CH) one of best counts |
8th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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two at Drynoch at the main road junction (RMcM) |
8th Nov 2019 | Golden Plover | 40 at Feorlig (RMcM) | |
8th Nov 2019 | Whooper Swan |
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8 on Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (RMcM) |
8th Nov 2019 | Long-tailed Duck |
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female/juvenile type off pontoons at Arisaig (RD) |
8th Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | five in Loch Ainort + five Great Northern Divers (NB) | |
6th Nov 2019 | Brambling |
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single in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) |
6th Nov 2019 | Woodcock | 21 on the Kylerhea road at dusk + 3 Red Grouse (DDL) | |
6th Nov 2019 | Common Redpoll | probable candidate ringed with Lessers in Glen Varrigall, Portree, today (JDJ) (see Gallery) | |
5th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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two in Tianavaig Place, Portree (NB) (see Gallery for some lovely images from Neil) |
5th Nov 2019 | Snow Bunting |
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male still at Salisbury’s Dam, Rum (SM) |
5th Nov 2019 | Yellow-legged Gull | adult back at Loch Pooltiel (AS) | |
5th Nov 2019 | Fieldfare |
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100 at Lephin, Glendale (AS) |
5th Nov 2019 | Red-throated Diver |
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four in Broadford Bay & four Great Northern Diver off Lusa (RMcM) |
5th Nov 2019 | Water Rail | recorded on nocturnal migration at Strollamus last night - also Redwing & a Fieldfare (DDL) | |
4th Nov 2019 | Waxwing |
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6 reported at Ardvasar this morning (RBA) & two at Orbost (LS) |
4th Nov 2019 | Fieldfare |
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150 at Dunan (DDL) & c800 at Ardvasar (RMcM) |
4th Nov 2019 | Snow Bunting |
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male at Salisbury’s Dam, Rum (SM) |
4th Nov 2019 | Long-tailed Duck |
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two in Broadford Bay (NB) |
4th Nov 2019 | Oystercatcher | a colour ringed bird currently wintering in Broadford Bay was ringed as a breeding adult at south Iceland on 14.5.2019 - see https://wadertales.wordpress.com/2018/06/12/mission-impossible-counting-icelands-wintering-oystercatchers/ | |
3rd Nov 2019 | Common Crossbill |
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8 in Portree forestry (NB) |
3rd Nov 2019 | Brent Goose |
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juvenile straggler still in Broadford Bay (RMcM) |
3rd Nov 2019 | Storm Petrel | a bird caught at Duntulm in a ringing session on August 4 this year had been caught and ringed at Fair Isle on July 16th so had travelled 340kms - it was probably a non breeding bird (JDJ) | |
3rd Nov 2019 | Whooper Swan |
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three on Loch Fada (EC) & a single at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM) |
2nd Nov 2019 | Long-tailed Duck |
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juvenile still at Lochailort (SMacD) |
2nd Nov 2019 | Water Rail | bird tapping on the window of Miller’s Cottage, Eigg, last night (JC) | |
2nd Nov 2019 | Common Gull | 1100 at the head of Loch Sligachan (NB) | |
2nd Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | four at Loch Ainort + five Great Northern Divers (NB) | |
2nd Nov 2019 | Chiffchaff | single in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) | |
2nd Nov 2019 | Goldfinch | charm of 60+ birds at Kyleakin (A&EH) | |
2nd Nov 2019 | Blackcap |
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single on feeders at Treaslane (Michael Brown) (see Gallery) |
1st Nov 2019 | Iceland Gull |
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1st winter bird at Kilmory, Rum (SM) |
1st Nov 2019 | Swallow | two late birds at Arisaig (RD) | |
1st Nov 2019 | Brent Goose |
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lingering juvenile still at Broadford Bay (NB) |
1st Nov 2019 | Slavonian Grebe | four in Loch Ainort (NB) | |
1st Nov 2019 | Harbour Porpoise | 4 separate pods totalling 25 animals off Invertote (CH) |