Roseate Tern

21st June 2021

Roseate Tern has never been confirmed on Skye or for that matter west Highland. There is a long-term study at Coquet Island, Northumberland, under Dr Chris Redfern , of the University of Newcastle, where birds are fitted with geolocators which amongst other information, provides data on the dispersal of birds from the breeding colony. One such bird SK01058 01V0 moved north up the east coast of Scotland to Montrose Basin before tracking west across the Grampian, and reaching the west coast spending 26-28 August 2018, in the Minch between Waternish Point and outer Loch Bracadale (see map). The information was submitted to the Highlands Records Committee and the record was accepted and becomes a 1st for Skye. It is the first occasion in Highland where a record has been accepted purely on the basis of technology, without being seen by an observer.

THE BOOK

"A glorious little gem"

AMAZON

"A book such as this has to look backwards and the author does so succinctly, looking at the work of several of the pioneering naturalists before picking out the publications of JA Harvie-Brown and the Rev. Hugh Macpherson. I know this book fills a real gap in the information available for the Isle of Skye and it will surely sell well at local bookshops."

Andrew Currie Miscellany West Highland Free Press

"A total of 238 species have been recorded, with 14 of those 'red listed' as of high conservation concern ... another innovation has been the inclusion of Gaelic names for some birds. While this is not uncommon in a few other books, the addition of some regional Gaelic names is very unusual and very welcome."

Ray Collier Country Diary 'Up in the Skye' The Guardian

"Illustrated with beautiful photographs of current birdlife on the island, the publication also features sketches by Jean Thomas of The Little Gallery, Portnalong, stimulating the reader's interest further and allowing them to identify species they encounter on Skye."

The Hebridean