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Sightings

This page acts as a news site of more notable reports and may contain errors and omissions. The official record is published as the annual Highland Bird Report (HBR) which details records which have been formally submitted and accepted. All records submitted via Birdtrack or directly to the Local Recorder, even if not mentioned on this page, do go into compilation of the HBR. Photographs are copyright of the named photographer and may not be used without explicit permission of the named photographer. Photographs of schedule 1 species will not be displayed on this page during the breeding season, unless accompanied by a valid SNH licence. Similarly any photographs showing obviously tape-lured or distressed birds will not be displayed, please refer to the Bird photography - a new code of practice article from Scottish Birds. To send in your photos for the website please email highlandsocwebmaster@gmail.com.

Highland Records Committee (HRC) species are in green, Scottish Birds Rarities Committee (SBRC) species are in blue and British Bird Rarities Committee (BBRC) species are in red.

ARCHIVE

​2016
January
February
March
​
April
​
May

30th June

Badenoch and Strathspey: No sign of Mediterranean Gull, despite searching. 95 Curlew along Carr Road, Carrbridge.

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool.

Easter Ross: 3 Magpie at Tarbat Ness, 15 Manx Shearwater past.
Cuckoo in Meadow Pipit nest in Caithness (Jonathan Clarke)
29th June

Badenoch and Strathspey: Mediterranean Gull (Dave Pierce) at 0720am in cut silage field, along Nethybridge to Dorback road at NJ025205, just after for sale/Galbraith sign. Third calendar year with full hood, with white darvic ring "JA605", ringed in Norway. Previously seen on Orkney at Tankerness on the 22/06/2015.

Sutherland: Male Yellow Wagtail (Birdguides) again at Balnakeil, on beach at 1330pm then flew towards marsh.

Lochaber: Black Duck (Peter Stronach) again at Strontian at 6pm.

Easter Ross: 14 Bar-tailed Godwit and 30 Curlew at the mound this morning. 14 Sandwich Terns and an Arctic Skua near the mouth of Loch Fleet.

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool.
Black Duck at Strontian (Peter Stronach)
Black Duck at Strontian (Peter Stronach)
Mediterranean Gull at Nethybridge (Dave Pullan)
28th June

Lochaber: 149 Canada Geese at Caol and 2 hybrid Canada x Greylag, 270 Sand Martins over river mouth and a further 33 Canada Geese at Glencoe village.

Skye and Lochalsh: 80+ Black-tailed Godwits through Broadford Bay today in several flocks.

Sutherland: Black-tailed Godwit at Dalchork.

Easter Ross: 20 Common Scoter at Tarbat Ness.
Black-tailed Godwits in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan)
Black-tailed Godwits in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan).
Black-tailed Godwits in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan)..
27th June

Easter Ross: 25 Manx Shearwater past Tarbat Ness.

Skye and Lochalsh: 250 Eider in moulting flock at Loch Ainort.

26th June

Easter Ross: Upto 1000 Manx Shearwater southwest past Tarbat Ness into Dornoch Firth.

Skye and Lochalsh: Adult Rose-coloured Starling (Judy Finlay) at Swordale.

Juvenile Little Grebe at Loch Kinellan (Keith Barnes)
Little Grebe at Loch Kinellan (Keith Barnes)
Whinchat at Falls of Docherty (Keith Barnes)
25th June

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool harbour at 0500am.

Sutherland: 2 Whimbrel flew north past Stoer head Lighthouse.
Jay at Contin (Keith Barnes)
24th June

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool harbour at 1011am.

Lochaber: Single Red Kite over the Saddle, Eigg.​

Skye: 2 Black-tailed Godwit in Broadford Bay.
​
23rd June

Badenoch and Strathspey: Icterine Warbler reported again at Laggan.

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool, on spit west of river mouth and beach.

Sutherland: 30 Common Scoter flew north past Stoerhead lighthouse.
​
22nd June

​Sutherland: single male White Wagtail still around the Bay of Culkein.

Skye: 8 Sandwich Tern in Broadford Bay.
​
21st June

Easter Ross: Two Arctic Skua and 2 Manx Shearwater past Tarbat Ness and 20 Common Scoter, with a Grey Partridge on land.

20th June

Badenoch and Strathspey: No sign of Icterine Warbler at Laggan at midday or 3pm.

Wester Ross: Grasshopper Warbler still singing at the end of Loch Broom. First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool harbour at 1000am.
​
19th June

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still at the harbour in Ullapool first thing this morning at 0630am.

Easter Ross: 5 Manx Shearwater and an Arctic Skua past Tarbat Ness.

18th June

Inverness: 223 Bar-tailed Godwit and 320 Knot at Whiteness Head.

​Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan at 1000am (NN614943).​​
18th June Ptarmigan at Beinn Dearg, Wester Ross (Andy Williams)
18th June Ptarmigan at Beinn Dearg, Wester Ross (Andy Williams).
17th June

No reports.

16th June

Lochaber: Nightjar reported singing at a site in Lochaber for the second night.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan at 1454am (NN614943).​​

Skye and Lochalsh: Grasshopper Warbler still reeling at Tote.

15th June

​Lochaber: Nightjar reported singing at a site in Lochaber.

14th June

Wester Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool on the pier in the harbour.
​
​Skye and Lochalsh: White-tailed Eagle collision with wind turbine - see Skye Birds blog here.
12th June Ring Ouzel fledgling at Cairngorm (Craig Round)
13th June

​Skye and Lochalsh: No sign of the male Black-headed Bunting at Glendale all day.

​Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan at 1454am (NN614943).​​

Easter Ross: 22 Common Scoter moving southeast past Tarbat Ness.
​
12th June

Skye and Lochalsh: Male Black-headed Bunting still on Skye in a garden at Glendale (Please note there is no access to this garden and all images have been taken from within the house itself).
​
11th June

Skye and Lochalsh: Male Black-headed Bunting on Skye at Glendale (In private garden, not viewable from road or public access land nearby). Magpie at still at Clachan, Staffin.
​
Wester Ross: Drake King Eider again showing well in Badentarbert Bay off the beach at NC011096 at 0903am.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan at 1149am (NN614943).​​
11th June Black-headed Bunting at Glendale (Andy Williams)
11th June Black-headed Bunting at Glendale (Andy Williams).
11th June Black-headed Bunting at Glendale (Martin Benson)
11th June Black-headed Bunting at Glendale (Martin Benson).
11th June Black-headed Bunting at Glendale (Martin Benson)..
10th June

Skye and Lochalsh: Male Black-headed Bunting on Skye at Glendale (restricted access/ private garden), video by Andy Stables below.

​Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan at 1140am (NN614943).​

Sutherland: Four Black-tailed Godwit and a male Ruff at Balnakiel.

10th June Black-headed Bunting on Skye (Bob McMillan)
10th June Black-headed Bunting on Skye (Bob McMillan).
9th June

Easter Ross: First summer Glaucous Gull at Tarbat Ness this morning following a lobster boat.
​
Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan (NN614943).​
​
8th June

​Wester Ross: Drake King Eider again in Badentarbert Bay off the beach at NC011096 at 0946am.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan (NN614943).​ Magpie between Nethybridge and Boat of Garten.
8th June Whinchat (Andy Williams)
7th June

Lochaber: Hobby (Birdguides) on Eigg this morning at Cleadale (NM478888).

Wester Ross: No sign or sound of the Quail this morning at the head of Loch Broom. First summer Glaucous Gull still in the harbour this afternoon and a presumed Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring). Grasshopper Warbler singing at Clachan, Loch Broom this evening.

Easter Ross: 18 Common Scoter southwest into Dornoch Firth past Tarbat Ness.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing at Laggan (NN614943).​

Skye and Lochalsh: Quail singing at Uig, at Glenconon.

Sutherland: Single Common Crane (David Haines) over Loch Nedd.
7th June Presumed Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring) at Ullapool (Richard Rafe)
7th June Presumed Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring) at Ullapool (Richard Rafe).
7th June Presumed Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring) at Ullapool (Richard Rafe)..
7th June Presumed Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring) at Ullapool (Richard Rafe)...
7th June Presumed Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring) at Ullapool (Richard Rafe)....
7th June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (Sir Jonny Rankin)
6th June

​​Easter Ross: Singing male Common Rosefinch at Rosemarkie at Scart Craig at NH745595, reported at 0900am and 1745pm.

​
Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing (listen to video below) in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan at 1430pm (NN614943).​

Wester Ross: Singing Quail at the head of Loch Broom (
NH181853) at 23:20pm. Sooty Shearwater from this morning's Ullapool to Stornaway sailing; also 2 European Storm-petrels and 6+ Minke Whales​.

Skye and Lochalsh: 4 Whooper Swan at Loch Corlarach, Dunvegan
6th June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (Bob McMillan)
6th June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (Bob McMillan).
6th June Bonxie at Handa (Mike Crutch)
6th June Arctic Skua at Handa (Mike Crutch)
6th June Fulmar at Handa (Mike Crutch)
6th June Bonxie at Handa (Mike Crutch).
6th June Wheatear at Handa (Mike Crutch)
6th June Arctic Skua at Handa (Mike Crutch)..
7th June Crested Tit (Sir Jonny Rankin).
7th June Crested Tit (Sir Jonny Rankin)
5th June

​Easter Ross: Singing male Common Rosefinch at Rosemarkie at Scart Craig at NH745595 (See photo and video below). Walk northeast along beach for 15 minutes, bird was singing in bushes at burn mouth in obvious cut in the cliff. Later seen 200m further northeast and singing in clifftop bushes.

Wester Ross: Drake King Eider again in Badentarbert Bay off Badenscaillie cemetery (NC034059).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan at 1230pm and 1500pm (NN614943).​

Moth news: Massive invasion of the micro Diamond-back moths Plutella xylostella. Check any areas of long vegetation and watch for small white moths in flight, which look like this.
5th June Common Rosefinch at Rosemarkie (Peter Stronach)
5th June Common Rosefinch at Rosemarkie (Peter Stronach).
5th June Diamond-back Moth in Speyside (Peter Stronach)
4th June

​Wester Ross: Drake King Eider again in Badentarbert Bay off Badenscaillie cemetery at 1156am (NC034059).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan at 0745pm (NN614943).​ 1 Parrot Crossbill and 6 Scottish Crossbill (Mark Eaton) at Loch Mallachie (NH9718)
.
Easter Ross: 2 juvenile Magpies at Tarbat Ness around pools. Wood Sandpiper on south shore of Loch Fleet this evening.

​Inverness: Corn Bunting singing at Inverness Airport along southern perimeter fence close to Bristol building this morning. Stock Dove singing at Mains of Connage this morning.
2nd June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (Dennis Morrison)
4th June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (Dennis Morrison).
3rd June

​Wester Ross: Great White Egret at Poolewe on the 30th May, see photo below. Drake King Eider again in Badentarbert Bay off Badenscaillie cemetery at 0918am (NC034059).

Easter Ross: Storm Petrel feeding off the beach carpark at Brora.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan at 1220pm (NN614943). 5​ Scottish Crossbills (Birdtrack - K Kirkham-Brown) at Loch Malachie at RSPB Loch Garten.
30th May Great White Egret at Poolewe (Carol MacKintosh)
30th May Great White Egret at Poolewe (Carol MacKintosh).
3rd June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (James Walsh)
3rd June Icterine Warbler at Laggan (James Walsh).
2nd June

Wester Ross: Drake King Eider back in Badentarbert Bay off Badenscaillie cemetery at 11am (NC034059). Glaucous gull still at Ferry terminal in Ullapool.

Easter Ross: Storm Petrel off Tarbat Ness.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan at 9am, 1315pm and heard only at 3pm (NN614943).​
​
2nd June King Eider at Badenscaillie (James Walsh)
2nd June King Eider at Badenscaillie (James Walsh)..
2nd June King Eider at Badenscaillie (James Walsh)..
1st June

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan (NN614943).

Wester Ross: No sign of Little Egret in bay at Poolewe at 10am. First summer Glaucous Gull still in the harbour.

Skye and Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull still at Luib.

Picture



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