Skye Birds - A Birding Guide to the Isle of Skye

The Skye Birds Species List

For those new to lists of this nature, the species list and scientific names which follow are listed in the Voous sequence. Some of the names may be unfamiliar, but follow the recent recommendations of the British Ornithologists Union which have been adopted by the Scottish Ornithologists Club.  Historical records have been included where there is a reasonable provenance. Otherwise, rarer species have only been included where the record has been published in official reports such as the Atlases, or accepted by the Local Recorder or, in appropriate cases, the Scottish Records Committee.  Three committees oversee rare records.  The Highland Records Committee (HRC) for local rarities; the Scottish Birds Records Committee (SBRC) for scottish rarities (http://www.the-soc.org.uk/sbrc.htm); and the British Birds Rarities Committee (BBRC) for british rarities (http://www.bbrc.org.uk/).  Rarities have been identified in the species list by the use of the appropriate committee initials.  In respect of these rare birds, and others not listed, a full description will be required.  Photographic evidence can also be extremely helpful.

Because Skye has never been a recording area in its own right, and is part of the wider Highland recording area, it is accepted that this 'list' may be incomplete.  We welcome any additions and will update things as we go. As things stand the Skye species list shown below stands at 248, and an effort has also been made to comment on status.

248 results.   Displaying 61 to 80. VIEW ALL

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Species Image Details
Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) A scarce vagrant on Skye with a record from Waternish Point on 31.5.2010
White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) View Image Scarce passage migrant. (HRC)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) View Image Vagrant - historical record. (BBRC)
White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) View Image Bred historically and now successfully re-established as a rare breeding resident.
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) a scarce vagrant - single record only near Portree on 30.5.10
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) View Image Bred historically. Wandering birds from the new Highland population occur almost annually.
Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) View Image A scarce vagrant.
Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) View Image Breeding resident in small numbers.
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) A scarce vagrant.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) View Image Common breeding resident.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) View Image Common breeding resident.
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) A very rare winter visitor. (SBRC)
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) View Image Breeding resident.
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) View Image Historical breeding status unknown. Wandering birds from the growing Scottish population occur annually.
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) View Image Uncommon breeding resident. Passage migrant.
Merlin (Falco columbarius) View Image Breeding resident in depleting numbers. Mainly summer visitor. Also occurs on passage.
Earasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo) A scarce summer vagrant. (HRC)
Gyr Falcon (Falco rusticolus) A scarce winter visitor. (BBRC)
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) Breeding resident.
Water Rail (Rallus aquaticu) Breeds in small numbers. More widespread in winter.

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Black Kite

A Black Kite seen by Dan Brown west of Portree on 30th May 2010 has been accepted by the SBRC and becomes No.248 on the Skye list.  Dan took photographs of the bird, described as a tatty adult, and these were submitted by RMcM to SBRC and the record has now been accepted on the basis of the photographic evidence alone.  Whilst this underscores the importance of obtaining images of rare species it is unfortunate that some observers, despite promptings by the Recorder, seem reluctant to submit descriptions.

Bean Goose

The "tundra" Bean Goose fround by Bob McMillan in Eilean Chaluim Chille, Kilmuir, Trotternish, on  13.1.12      has been accepted by the Highland Records Committee.  It therefore becomes No.247 on the Skye list.  The bird associated with Greylag geese and remained for several weeks.

Red-rumped Swallow

The bird seen and photographed at Talisker House by Ian Fulton on 29th June 2011 has now been accepted by the SBRC and is No 246 on the Skye list - see Blog.

Black Stork

A Black Stork seen by C&H Lewis at Waternish Point on 31st May 2010 is No. 245 on the Skye list and has been accepted by the BBRC.  This bird had been ringed as a chick in northern Hungary in 2007.  It was a wandering bird and also seen elsewhere in the Highlands, in the Western Isles and also on Shetland.  This was a different bird from one seen later in the year at Kyle of Lochalsh (see Blog)

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