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 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image last three seen off Arisaig from MV Sheerwater (RD)
29th Sep 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler another trapped & ringed at Glen Varrigall, Portree (JDJ) - this is the 3rd at this site giving an indication of the size of the migrating population; still two at Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
29th Sep 2020 Song Thrush View Image flock of 30 at Colbost, Dunvegan (AS)
29th Sep 2020 Goldfinch 80 at Pool Roag, Dunvegan + a late leucorhoa Wheatear (AS)
29th Sep 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image two at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
29th Sep 2020 Willow Warbler View Image late bird at Skiary, Kinlochhourn, Knoydart (SC)
28th Sep 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler one reported in Broadford Coop car park this morning;
28th Sep 2020 Whooper Swan View Image three south at Ullinish Point (PS)
28th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image flock of 27 still in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
28th Sep 2020 Fieldfare View Image single at Portnalong (ST)
27th Sep 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler two in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) - (see Gallery) - also a Fieldfare ; single bird still at Drumfearn (PK) (see Gallery) & two trapped & ringed Glen Varrigall, Portree (JDJ) (see Gallery)
27th Sep 2020 Redwing View Image c30 at Penifiler, Portree (RMcM) & 4 at Isleornsay (RC)
27th Sep 2020 Orca ‘John Coe’ and ‘Aquarius’ at Neist Point again heading across the Minch (AS) (see cetacean Gallery)
27th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image three pale bellied in Kildonan Bay, Eigg (JC) & 27 still in Broadford Bay (MB)
27th Sep 2020 Slavonian Grebe single in Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM)
27th Sep 2020 Common Scoter three in Broadford Bay, two males & a female (MB)
26th Sep 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler single at Drumfearn, Skye (PK) and Kilmory, Rum (SM) (see Gallery) - our first reports of the autumn
26th Sep 2020 Snow Bunting View Image 6 on the summit of Ben Nevis, Lochaber (SC)
26th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image 27 in Broadford Bay (MB) (see Gallery) - still a single at Loch Portree (NB)
26th Sep 2020 Scaup 7 in Broadford Bay - a drake & 6 fem/Imm (MB)
26th Sep 2020 Whooper Swan View Image three on Loch Suardal Dunvegan (ST)
26th Sep 2020 Kittiwake large numbers off Irishman’s Point, Broadford (MB) & 1000+ at Sound of Raasay (NB)
25th Sep 2020 Whooper Swan View Image three on Loch Eilt (SC); 6 south at Breakish this morning (P&RD) and 7 at Lochlonghead (PS); single at Loch Mealt, Staffin (ML) then 18 south in the early evening at Arisaig (MW)
25th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image still 35 in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
25th Sep 2020 Kittiwake c300 in Broadford Bay + an Arctic Tern (NB) brought in on the northerlies
25th Sep 2020 Sabine’s Gull two juveniles and an adult In Broadford Bay along with large influx of Kittiwake + 6 Arctic Skua (NB, MB)
25th Sep 2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image juvenile at feeders Millers Cottage, on Eigg (JC)
25th Sep 2020 Scaup juvenile at Loch Mealt along with Tufted Duck (ML)
25th Sep 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image still 30 south of Arisaig from MV Sheerwater (RD)
24th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image 30 in Broadford Bay looks like new arrivals (RMcM) & another 8 later (A&EH); four still at Loch Portree (JDJ)
24th Sep 2020 Grey Plover View Image single still at Ashaig Broadford (RMcM)
24th Sep 2020 Tufted Duck View Image 12 on Loch Mealt & a possible Scaup (ML)
24th Sep 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image big movement south today with multi-observer reports from Uig, Earlish, Waternish, Kildonan, Portnalong, Braes, Portree, Lusa, Drumfearn & Isleornsay. Also from Inverailort, Fort William & Morar in Lochaber. On north Rum 410 through in afternoon & good numbers also seen from the ferry at Eigg. In Lochalsh, 350 in four skeins over Balmacara in the morning & another 530 through in the afternoon - heading due east.
23rd Sep 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image passage was noted from yesterday evening with reports from Lochlonghead (PS), Mallaig (SMacD), Portree (NB,JDJ), & Milovaig (AS). Singles with Greylags at Ardmore, Waternish (SP) and at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
23rd Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image 87 pale bellied in Broadford Bay (MB) are thought to be part of the same group at Loch Ainort yesterday & four at Loch Portree (NB)
23rd Sep 2020 Grey Plover View Image single at Ashaig, Broadford + 9 Bar-tailed Godwit (RMcM)
23rd Sep 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Broadford Bay + a single Whimbrel (RMcM)
23rd Sep 2020 Twite View Image 50 at Ashaig by the cemetry + 10 Skylark (RMcM)
22nd Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image good passage of pale bellied today with 24 at Loch Portree & 105 at the head of Loch Ainort this morning (NB); 47 in Broadford Bay (CB); on the Small Isles 42 at Kilmory, Rum (SM) & 11 at Laig Bay, Eigg (JC)
22nd Sep 2020 Knot two at Broadford Bay & a single at Loch Portree (NB)
22nd Sep 2020 Whimbrel View Image late single at the head of Loch Ainort (NB)
21st Sep 2020 Redwing View Image 40+ reported on Kyleakin forest track (A&EH)
20th Sep 2020 Chiffchaff singing bird (!) in forestry at Portree (NB)
20th Sep 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image numbers steadily declining with 5 in 3.5 hour seawatch at Neist Point (AS) & small numbers reported of Eigg from MV Sheerwater (SC)
20th Sep 2020 Greenshank four in Loch Portree still + two Turnstone & 18 Wigeon (JDJ)
18th Sep 2020 Ring Ouzel View Image single on north ridge of Stob Ban, Glen Nevis + 3 Ptarmigan (SC)
18th Sep 2020 Common Scoter 8 in Broadford Bay & 10 Common Tern still (NB)
18th Sep 2020 Ptarmigan View Image four on Sgurr nan Gillian (J.Mercer)
17th Sep 2020 Finches mixed flock at Harrapool consisting 140 Goldfinch, 40 Lesser Redpoll & 20 Siskin (NB)
17th Sep 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image juvenile at Loch Greshornish, Edinbane (DM)
17th Sep 2020 Little Gull View Image juvenile in Broadford Bay (MB) (SeeGallery) - also two Sandwich Terns (NB)
16th Sep 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image big movement of birds noted last night & continuing today with reports from Portree, Edinbane,Inverailort, Kyle, Broadford, Rum, Drumfearn, Isleornsay, Earlish, Uig, Camastianavaig, Portnalong, Carbost, Eigg & Sound of Raasay - multiple observers & locations involving thousands of birds
16th Sep 2020 Osprey View Image single bird fishing Lower Breakish/Ashaig area (JK) - several recent reports from south Skye & Lochalsh which may involve the same bird
16th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image two pale bellied with skein of 72 Pink-footed Geese over Kilmory, Rum this morning (SM)
16th Sep 2020 Sandwich Tern View Image groups of 13 & 10 in Broadford Bay (NB)
16th Sep 2020 Red-throated Diver View Image 7 in Broadford Bay (NB) & 4 off Sconser including a juvenile begging for food (DM)
16th Sep 2020 Ring Ouzel View Image single half way up Ben Tianavaig (DM)
16th Sep 2020 Orca report that ‘John Coe’ & ‘Aquarius’ seen in the Sound of Sleat heading towards Rum
16th Sep 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single at Kildonan, Eigg + 60 Lapwing & 4 Golden Plover (JC)
16th Sep 2020 Black-throated Diver View Image 25 in Loch Scavaig & 4 Great Northern Divers (GH)
15th Sep 2020 Minke Whale good conditions for sightings today with several reports off Eigg (RD) and singles off Neist Point (AS), off Elgol (DM) and in Sound of Raasay (NB)
15th Sep 2020 Willow Warbler View Image late bird at Scorrybreac, Portree (NB)
15th Sep 2020 Blackcap View Image three birds on elderberries at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
15th Sep 2020 Sabine’s Gull 1st winter bird on Oberon Bank, off Arisaig, from MV Sheerwater (RD) (see Gallery)
15th Sep 2020 Arctic Skua View Image two pale morph off Eigg from MV Sheerwater In the morning & single dark morph in afternoon(RD), four at Neist Point (AS) & single dark morph off Elgol (DM)
15th Sep 2020 Great Skua View Image five between Eigg & Arisaig (RD); 8 off Elgol (DM) with singles at Neist (AS) & off Kilmory, Rum (SM)
15th Sep 2020 Knot two off Sconser Quarry & a single Sanderling (SA)
15th Sep 2020 Common Scoter 8 south through Sound of Raasay (NB)
14th Sep 2020 Greenshank four at Camas Ban, Portree (SA)
14th Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image 6 at Kilmory, Rum (SM) & 7 in Broadford Bay (NB)
14th Sep 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image juvenile at Ardmore, Waternish (DM)
14th Sep 2020 Great Skua View Image still five in Staffin Bay (SB)
14th Sep 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image single with Greylags at Breakish Obbe (NH)
14th Sep 2020 Common Dolphin 15-20 in a feeding frenzy with Gannets at Loch Ainort (NB) were possibly near Sconser later (DM) & c30 near the Black Rock, Portree (SA)
14th Sep 2020 Goosander View Image 14 at Sconser flew into Loch Sligachan - 10 Common Tern still at Sconser (DM)
13th Sep 2020 Arctic Skua View Image two pale morph off Castle Island, Eigg, from MV Sheerwater (RD)
13th Sep 2020 Knot numbers building through the day to a max of 38 in Broadford (MB)
13th Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image 9 in Broadford Bay + two Whimbrel & two Bar-tailed Godwit (MB)
12th Sep 2020 Arctic Skua View Image juvenile in Broadford Bay (MB
12th Sep 2020 Whinchat View Image late juvenile in Broadford (NB)
12th Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image two at Kilmory, Rum & a ringtail Hen Harrier (SM)
12th Sep 2020 Osprey View Image single over Erbusaig today (JB)
11th Sep 2020 Storm Petrel 7 from MVSheerwater south of Eigg (RD)
11th Sep 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image single off Orbost (S.Berry)
11th Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
11th Sep 2020 Turnstone 15 at Traigh, Morar & 20 off West Bay, Mallaig (SMacD)
10th Sep 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two in Breakish Obbe (NH)
10th Sep 2020 Turnstone 18 at Tarskavaig + 17 Ringed Plover & 14 Twite (GR)
9th Sep 2020 Arctic Skua View Image single dark morph bird at Neist Point (S.Berry)
9th Sep 2020 Whimbrel View Image single at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
9th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image family group of five in Broadford Bay (NB)
8th Sep 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image still good numbers near the Rum breeding colonies with raft of 3-400 off Eigg from MV Sheerwater (RD)
8th Sep 2020 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph bird off Arisaig + large pod of Common Dolphins from MV Sheerwater (RD)
8th Sep 2020 Slavonian Grebe Icelandic birds arriving with single in Loch Ainort + 11 Common Scoter off Sconser Quarry (NB)
8th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image 25 at Bayfield, Portree (NB)
8th Sep 2020 Knot 12 at Traigh, Morar + 5 Turnstone (SMacD)
8th Sep 2020 Raven a conspiracy of 21 on the Mam Ratagan pass, Lochalsh (A.Bunday)
6th Sep 2020 Ring Ouzel View Image single on Sgurr nan Each, Torrin (ML)
6th Sep 2020 Manx Shearwater View Image still 30 north at Neist Point during 4 hour seawatch + 12 Common Dolphins & a Minke Whale (AS) (see Gallery)
6th Sep 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image now 11 in Loch Portree + 6 Greenshank & 11 Wigeon (JDJ)
5th Sep 2020 Twite View Image c100 at Waterloo, Broadford (AH)
5th Sep 2020 Knot 24 at Ashaig, Broadford & four Turnstone (NH)
5th Sep 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image single off Sconser Quarry (NB)
5th Sep 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image single at Camascroise, Sleat, + 4 Turnstone & 35 Ringed Plover (G.Rees)
4th Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image five in Broadford Bay & two at Ashaig (RMcM)
4th Sep 2020 Knot 41 in several groups Broadford Bay (RMcM) - also 43 Redshank (NB)
4th Sep 2020 Golden Plover flock of 70+ flew south from Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
4th Sep 2020 Brent Goose View Image flocks of 18 and 8 pale bellied into Broadford Bay early afternoon, then another 10 in evening - 1st of autumn (MB,RMcM) (see Gallery)
4th Sep 2020 Black-throated Diver View Image single in Broadford Bay (NB)
4th Sep 2020 Whimbrel View Image single at Loch Portree + 6 Greenshank & four Bar-tailed Godwit (NB)
4th Sep 2020 Leach’s Petrel single from the Eigg-Mallaig ferry (JC)
3rd Sep 2020 Osprey View Image single seen several times battling against the wind in early evening at Lochlonghead (PS)
3rd Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image 13 in Broadford Bay (NB)
3rd Sep 2020 White Wagtail View Image five in Broadford Bay & 30 Twite (NB)
3rd Sep 2020 Common Scoter single at Loch Ainort (NB)
3rd Sep 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 10 at the head of Loch Portree + 5 Greenshank & a Knot (NB)
3rd Sep 2020 Sooty Shearwater View Image single on Loch Slapin off Camas Malag, Torrin (RW); also 7 reported off Arisaig yesterday (per BG)
2nd Sep 2020 Whimbrel View Image two in Broadford Bay in morning (RMcM) & 20 in Breakish Obbe early evening (NH)
2nd Sep 2020 White Wagtail View Image two in Broadford and a single at Ashaig (NB,RMcM)
2nd Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image three at Ashaig, Broadford, & a single in Broadford Bay (RMcM)
2nd Sep 2020 Wigeon 17 in Broadford Bay in morning flew south (RMcM)
1st Sep 2020 Sanderling View Image two in Broadford Bay + a single at Ashaig yesterday (NB, RMcM) - also 15 Common Dolphins Broadford Bay)

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