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 Nov 2019 Blackcap View Image 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 View Image 6 near Trumpan, Waternish (MS)
30th Nov 2019 Water Rail single ran across road at Ashaig, Broadford (CMcA)
28th Nov 2019 Goldcrest View Image 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 View Image 12-15 in Glen Varragill, Portree (JDJ)
28th Nov 2019 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 11 at Waterloo is the normal winter max for this site (NH)
28th Nov 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 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 View Image 6 at Inverinate (D.Evans)
26th Nov 2019 Snow Bunting View Image two on the north side of Bealach na Ba, Applecross (RMcM)
26th Nov 2019 Little Grebe View Image 12 at Loch Mor, Waterstein + 10 Goldeneye (AS)
25th Nov 2019 Blackcap View Image another male, in garden at Portnalong (KS)
25th Nov 2019 Carrion Crow View Image single again at Uig ferry terminal (AS)
24th Nov 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter at Bayfield, Portree (NB) - a different bird from Friday (see Gallery)
24th Nov 2019 Blackcap View Image another male at Kyleakin feeding on fallen apples (HS)
24th Nov 2019 Common Scoter female type still Loch Portree ( NB)
23rd Nov 2019 Brambling View Image two at Kinloch, Rum + 50 Fieldfare (SM)
23rd Nov 2019 Blackcap View Image 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 View Image first winter at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
22nd Nov 2019 Blackcap View Image two at Stein, Waternish (SR)
22nd Nov 2019 Purple Sandpiper View Image 14 on rocks of Mallaig Pier (NR)
21st Nov 2019 Red Kite View Image 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 View Image single near Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (SMacD)
21st Nov 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image female type still by Arisaig Marina (SMacD)
19th Nov 2019 Waxwing View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image still 200 at Kyleakin (A&EH)
15th Nov 2019 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with Greylags Breakish Obbe (NH)
15th Nov 2019 Waxwing View Image unfortunately two were found dead by the roadside at Ferindonald, Sleat, yesterday (DR)
15th Nov 2019 Snow Bunting View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image single at Uig Pier (SD)
12th Nov 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 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 View Image straggler at Stein, Waternish (CM)
11th Nov 2019 Blackcap View Image female at feeders Lower Milovaig + Tree Sparrow still (AS) (see Gallery)
11th Nov 2019 Waxwing View Image 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 View Image single at Lower Milovaig today (AS) (see Gallery) - this species is mainly absent from Skye in winter
10th Nov 2019 Waxwing View Image 8 in Breakish feeding on apples (N.Ferguson)
10th Nov 2019 Ptarmigan View Image 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 View Image lots of recent reports (see Gallery) but 20 at Upper Tote (CH) one of best counts
8th Nov 2019 Waxwing View Image two at Drynoch at the main road junction (RMcM)
8th Nov 2019 Golden Plover 40 at Feorlig (RMcM)
8th Nov 2019 Whooper Swan View Image 8 on Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (RMcM)
8th Nov 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image 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 View Image 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 View Image two in Tianavaig Place, Portree (NB) (see Gallery for some lovely images from Neil)
5th Nov 2019 Snow Bunting View Image male still at Salisbury’s Dam, Rum (SM)
5th Nov 2019 Yellow-legged Gull adult back at Loch Pooltiel (AS)
5th Nov 2019 Fieldfare View Image 100 at Lephin, Glendale (AS)
5th Nov 2019 Red-throated Diver View Image 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 View Image 6 reported at Ardvasar this morning (RBA) & two at Orbost (LS)
4th Nov 2019 Fieldfare View Image 150 at Dunan (DDL) & c800 at Ardvasar (RMcM)
4th Nov 2019 Snow Bunting View Image male at Salisbury’s Dam, Rum (SM)
4th Nov 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image 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 View Image 8 in Portree forestry (NB)
3rd Nov 2019 Brent Goose View Image 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 View Image three on Loch Fada (EC) & a single at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
2nd Nov 2019 Long-tailed Duck View Image 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 View Image single on feeders at Treaslane (Michael Brown) (see Gallery)
1st Nov 2019 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
1st Nov 2019 Swallow two late birds at Arisaig (RD)
1st Nov 2019 Brent Goose View Image 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)

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