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 2020 Brambling View Image male on feeders at Millers Cottage, Eigg (JC)
30th Oct 2020 Eastern Yellow Wagtail the Wagtail found on Eigg by John Chester has been confirmed from a sonogram of its call as an Eastern Yellow Wagtail, potentially only the 6th record for Scotland and the first away from the Northern Isles (see Gallery) - the precise location is being withheld and because of Covid restrictions there is no access to the island by visitors from outwith Scottish Tier 1 areas
29th Oct 2020 Storm Petrel single this morning on the Oberon Bank between Arisaig & Muck from MV Sheerwater (RD)
29th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image a single still at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
29th Oct 2020 Great Black-backed Gull View Image 90 at Loch Portree + 60 Black-headed Gulls (NB)
29th Oct 2020 Bar-tailed Godwit View Image 12 at Loch Portree + 40 Redshank & 49 Wigeon (NB)
28th Oct 2020 Yellow Wagtail sp still on Eigg though difficult to pin down in challenging weather (JC)
28th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image pair in Kilmory Glen,& two in garden at Kinloch, Rum (SM)
28th Oct 2020 Iceland Gull View Image 1st winter bird at Kilmory,Rum & two Barnacle Geese (SM)
28th Oct 2020 Carrion Crow View Image single at garden feeders Earlish (NH)
27th Oct 2020 Yellow Wagtail sp bird flushed on Eigg today - only seen briefly in awful conditions & will be looked for tomorrow (JC)
27th Oct 2020 Common Crossbill View Image pair near Broadford Primary School (NB)
27th Oct 2020 Common Scoter 20 at Loch Ainort (NB)
26th Oct 2020 Dipper several recent reports from Portree, Balmeanach Bay, Ashaig etc - in winter breeding birds come down the burns on to the estuaries and are often easier seen
26th Oct 2020 Blackcap View Image male in Kilmory Glen, Rum, & Brambling & Jack Snipe (SM)
26th Oct 2020 Snow Bunting View Image also in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) (see Gallery) - which managed to evade a Merlin
25th Oct 2020 Storm Petrel single today on the Oberon Bank between Arisaig & Muck from MV Sheerwater (RD)
24th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image male on feeders in Kyleakin garden (HS) & another caught & ringed Portree (JDJ)
24th Oct 2020 Sooty Shearwater View Image report of four In Loch Slapin off Camas Malag Torrin, during today’s gales (RW)
23rd Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 8 resting at Loch Snizort-Beag (MS)
23rd Oct 2020 Brambling View Image male visiting feeders at Portree garden (JDJ)
23rd Oct 2020 Long-tailed Duck View Image two in Loch Slapin + two Common Scoter (ST)
22nd Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image more passage today with birds noted in darkness over Portree; 5 skeins over Portree around 0900 (JDJ); 84 s/e over Kyle (NB); 82 east in two skeins north of Rum (SM)
22nd Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image big movements through the area today & possibly duplication of counts. At Arisaig 42 south in three skeins & 8 north (RD); at Ardnish Fishfarm Lochailort - 120 east in four skeins (SC); 29 east in three skeins off Kilmory, Rum (SM); 21 over Portree (JDJ) and 30 east over the Crowlins towards Lochalsh (RMcM) ; 14 south over Isleornsay (RC); family group of 5 at Loch a Ghlinne, Sleat (CW); three in Broadford Bay (PO-W) & 5 still Loch Suardal (TE)
22nd Oct 2020 Arctic Skua View Image pale morph bird off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
22nd Oct 2020 Storm Petrel single off Arisaig from MV Sheerwater (RD)
22nd Oct 2020 Fieldfare View Image 250 heading north in Glen Brittle (NH) & 80 at Heaste and 40 Redwing (NB)
22nd Oct 2020 Black-throated Diver View Image single in Loch Slapin with 7 Red-throated Divers (ST)
22nd Oct 2020 Long-tailed Duck View Image female at the head of Loch Slapin + a Slavonian Grebe (ST)
21st Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 21 at Loch Mor, Waterstein, & 4 at Loch Suardal (JCo)
21st Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image 9 flying NE over Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC)
21st Oct 2020 Red-throated Diver View Image 8 in Loch Snizort-Beag (ST)
20th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image two on Loch Meodal, Sleat (JCo) & 6 south over the pier on Eigg (JC)
19th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image four at Loch Fada (JCo) and 6 south over Kilmory, Rum (SM); 6 at the head of Loch Ainort (NB)
19th Oct 2020 Red-throated Diver View Image 8 in Loch Snizort-beag off Kingsburgh (ST)
19th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe 8 feeding together at Loch Ainort (NB)
18th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler single still Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) & single Sligachan Hotel (PK)
18th Oct 2020 Arctic Skua View Image dark morph off Muck from MV Sheerwater (RD) & pale morph at Neist Point (AS)
18th Oct 2020 Great Skua View Image single at Neist Point + two Purple Sandpipers & four Minke Whale (AS)
18th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe three on Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig + 12 Little Grebes (SMacD)
18th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image five east over Kilmory, Rum (SM)
18th Oct 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 6 in outer Loch Snizort from the ferry (RMcM)
18th Oct 2020 Knot single at low tide Isleornsay + two Greenshank (RC)
17th Oct 2020 Greenland White-fronted Goose 10 south over Back of Keppoch, Arisaig (SMacD)
17th Oct 2020 Scaup female/imm still at Loch Mealt with 15 Tufted Duck (JDJ)
17th Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 130 south over Portree (JDJ)
16th Oct 2020 Common Redpoll at least one with Lesser Redpolls at Scullamus, Broadford (RMcM)
16th Oct 2020 Common Scoter single off Lusa, Broadford (RMcM)
16th Oct 2020 Woodcock single flushed near Kinloch Lodge, Sleat (PK)
16th Oct 2020 Great Spotted Woodpecker View Image single in woodland at Loch Eynort (RH)
15th Oct 2020 Red Kite View Image re yesterday’s satellite tagged bird - after it left the Kinloch roost it went to Glenelg and then continued back east to roost last night in Glen Morriston- clearly B&B prices in Skye were too high!
15th Oct 2020 Water Rail two calling birds at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (RMcM)
15th Oct 2020 Orca ‘John Coe’ and ‘Aquarius’ putting on another show at Neist Point today (per AS)
15th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe four at Ard Ghunel, Isleornsay (GP)
15th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image four at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (RMcM) & two at Loch Dhughaill, Sleat (GP)
15th Oct 2020 Scaup female/imm at Loch Cleat near Staffin (GP) - perhaps the bird which was on Loch Mealt recently?
15th Oct 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image 7 on Loch Slapin at Ob Gauscavaig (GP)
14th Oct 2020 Red Kite View Image satellite tagged bird left the Beauly area yesterday & roosted last night in forestry at Kinloch, Sleat (DP)
14th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image male on feeders at Miller’s Cottage, Eigg (JC) & single still Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
14th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe three off Lusa, Broadford & a Black-throated Diver (RMcM)
14th Oct 2020 Redwing View Image hundreds moving through Drumfearn - also a few Fieldfare (PK)
14th Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single at Shamhnan Insir, Rum (SM)
13th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler two at Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM), and singles at Kilmore, Sleat (NH) and the marina, Arisaig (PG)
13th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image calling bird at Blackpark, Broadford (NB) & two at Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
13th Oct 2020 Redwing View Image 50 over Kildonan, Eigg, heading towards the mainland (JC) - probably Icelandic birds
13th Oct 2020 Jack Snipe View Image single on Scullamus common grazings, Broadford (MB)
12th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 16 at Lochailort (SMacD)
11th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler singles still at Kinloch, Rum (SM), at Tormore, Sleat(RMcM) and at Broadford Hospital (MB)
11th Oct 2020 Blackcap View Image female at Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
11th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 6 over Kilmory, Rum (SM); 23 over Loch Snizort (MS) (see Gallery)
11th Oct 2020 Chiffchaff single in Miller’s Garden, Eigg (JC)
11th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image two at Home Farm, Portree (NB)
11th Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 40 over Portree in morning (NB) & 60 east up Loch Morar in evening (SMacD); single with Greylags at Kilmuir is possibly a resident (ML)
11th Oct 2020 Goldeneye three at Loch Morar are the first of the autumn (SMacD)
11th Oct 2020 Ptarmigan View Image 8 near the mast at Bealach nam Ba, Applecross + 40 Golden Plover (RHewitt)
10th Oct 2020 Long-tailed Duck View Image pair in Broadford Bay & possibly more in flight but distant (RMcM)
10th Oct 2020 Great Skua View Image single west through Broadford Bay in morning (RMcM) & dark morph Arctic Skua in afternoon (NB)
10th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler a garden✅ at Kinloch, Rum (SM); single in Broadford (MB)
10th Oct 2020 Common Scoter two drakes off Sconser Quarry (NB); in Broadford Bay two flew west then flock of 13 landed distantly (NB, RMcM)
10th Oct 2020 Swallow still 10 Isleornsay (RC)
9th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image good early movement south with 19 over Traigh, Morar; 8 at Loch Eilt & 40 in two groups over Lochailort (SC, SMacD); also 20 s/e over Broadford (RMcM); 23 in two groups over Arisaig later (RD)
9th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler still calling bird at Drumfearn, Sleat (PK) & two birds Broadford Industrial Estate (NB)
9th Oct 2020 Barnacle Goose View Image 19 over Kilmory, Rum & single Brambling in Kilmory Glen (SM); skein of 114 over Loch Eynort (RH)
9th Oct 2020 Long-tailed Duck View Image 8 briefly in Broadford Bay + mixed flock of 24 Scaup/Tufted Duck (NB)
9th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe four in Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (NB)
9th Oct 2020 Kingfisher single reported at Scalpay Jetty (NBr)
8th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler single calling at Drumfearn (PK) & single still Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM); another garden ✅ at Harrapool (MB)
8th Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image four on Ardnish, Broadford, & a single on the sea nearby (RMcM); also a single with Greylags on Eigg (JC)
8th Oct 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image three at Ashaig, Broadford (DM)
8th Oct 2020 Greenshank five in Loch Harport & 30 Lapwing (RH)
8th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image 8 on Ardnish, Broadford (PO-W) & a single at Loch Harport (RH)
7th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler two+ at Drumfearn, Sleat, this morning (PK) and a garden ✅ in Broadford (MB); at least two in Broadford later (per PK); two near Edinbane Inn in afternoon (MB)”
7th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe two in Camas na Sgianadin & a single in Broadford Bay (NB)
7th Oct 2020 Mistle Thrush View Image 25 flying west over Broadford (NB)
7th Oct 2020 Great Northern Diver View Image three in Loch Brittle (RH) & a single in Broadford Bay (GA)
7th Oct 2020 Black-throated Diver View Image two in Loch Brittle (RH)
7th Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single still Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
7th Oct 2020 Swallow two late birds Isleornsay (RC)
7th Oct 2020 Barn Owl View Image report from Glendale (S.Powell)
6th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler single at Portree early morning (NB); two caught & ringed Glen Varrigall (4th for site JDJ); two calling Broadford (NB,MB); singles in Sleat at Drumfearn (PK), Kilmore (NH) and Tormore House (RMcM) - 8 different birds is the largest daily total ever recorded on Skye. (see Gallery) Also 5+ in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
6th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe single at Loch Ainort & a Great Northern Diver (NB); single Slav also Broadford Bay (GA)
6th Oct 2020 Brambling View Image male in Kilmory Glen, Rum + a male Blackcap (SM)
6th Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting still at least one Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
6th Oct 2020 Wheatear View Image late bird near the head of Loch Slapin (PK)
6th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image four over Drumfearn, Skye, (PK) & possibly same birds later over Inverailort, Lochaber (SC); two at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan & 8 east over Loch Harport (RH); 12 over Loch Slapin late morning (JB); 8 over Kilmory, Rum (SM); 5 at Loch nan Eala, Arisaig, eventually moved south (MW)
6th Oct 2020 Chiffchaff single in Broadford (NB) (see Gallery)
5th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler single at Kinloch Glen and at least 10 in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) -these are unprecedented numbers but in line with large nos being reported on western isles; singles at Drumfearn, Skye (PK) & Broadford Industrial Estate (MB)
5th Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image still two at Kinloch, Rum (SM); no significant movement but small skeins still moving south at Breakish (RMcM) & 80 east at Leitir Fura, Kinloch (DM)
5th Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image three s/e at Ard Dorch (NB)
5th Oct 2020 Wheatear View Image late birds at Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) & on Beinn na Seimrig, Kinloch (DM)
5th Oct 2020 Kingfisher single at Lochailort (SC)
5th Oct 2020 Chiffchaff single at Heaste (NB)
5th Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single still Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
4th Oct 2020 Slavonian Grebe single in Loch Portree (JDJ)
4th Oct 2020 Scaup female still with Tufties at Loch Mealt, Staffin (JDJ)
4th Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler two still in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
4th Oct 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image two at Waterloo, Broadford (NH)
4th Oct 2020 Barnacle Goose View Image five at Ashaig, Broadford (RMcM)
4th Oct 2020 Goosander View Image 17 at the head of Loch Harport (RH)
4th Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single still in Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
4th Oct 2020 Brent Goose View Image two pale bellied on Staffin shore (SP)
4th Oct 2020 Redwing View Image 90 at Duirinish, Lochalsh (DM) & 40 at Isleornsay (RC)
4th Oct 2020 Crossbill sp 10 near Arisaig we’re probably Commons (per RD)
3rd Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image two east up Loch Long at Dornie (JS); 6 west at Kyle early afternoon (RH) & presumed same group later south over Harrapool (A&EH)
3rd Oct 2020 Goosander View Image 13 at Lochlonghead (PS)
3rd Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler at least two in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM) ; single also in Uig Wood (SG)
3rd Oct 2020 Redwing View Image flocks moving west in Breakish (NH); birds also in Uig Woods (SG)
3rd Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image still on the move with 50 south over Portree (JDJ) with a similar group south over Broadford late afternoon (A&EH)
3rd Oct 2020 Barnacle Goose View Image skein of 65-70 east over Uig Hotel SG)
3rd Oct 2020 Brambling View Image new arrival of a male in Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
3rd Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single still Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
2nd Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single still Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM) (see Gallery)
2nd Oct 2020 Whooper Swan View Image three at Lochailort, Morar (SC); two south at Traigh, Morar (RD); 13 on the sea at Staffin Bay before moving east (LMacd) & seen later Brother’s Point (NB)
2nd Oct 2020 Black-tailed Godwit View Image single on Glas Eilean, Broadford Bay (NH)
2nd Oct 2020 Greenshank 6 in Loch Portree & 10 Bar-tailed Godwit (NB)
2nd Oct 2020 Scaup single still at Loch Mealt with 12 Tufted Duck (NB)
2nd Oct 2020 Chiffchaff single with 20 Long-tailed Tits at Kildonan Glen, Eigg (JC)
2nd Oct 2020 Wheatear View Image late bird at Kilmory, Rum (SM)
1st Oct 2020 Yellow-browed Warbler still a single at Kilmory Glen, Rum (SM)
1st Oct 2020 Lapland Bunting single in Kinloch Glen, Rum (SM)
1st Oct 2020 Pink-footed Goose View Image skein of 100 over Harrapool mid afternoon (A&EH)

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