Highland Birds
  • Sightings
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
  • Recording
    • The Highland List
    • The Highland Recording Area
    • Submitting records >
      • Rarities
      • HRC description species
      • Highland SOC Species Focus 2021
      • Gazetteer
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Evening talks
    • Field trips
  • Where to go
    • Inverness-shire >
      • Fort George and Whiteness
      • In and around Inverness
    • Badenoch and Strathspey >
      • Speyside in general
      • Badenoch and Strathspey
      • Northern Cairngorms
    • Easter Ross >
      • Easter Ross in general
      • Chanonry Point
      • Tarbat Ness
    • Wester Ross >
      • Ullapool and Gruinard Bay
      • Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree
      • Loch Kishorn
    • Lochaber >
      • Fort William
      • Canna
      • Eigg
      • Rum
    • Skye and Lochalsh >
      • Lochalsh
    • Sutherland >
      • Southeast Sutherland
      • Melvich
      • Kyle of Tongue
      • Assynt
      • Loch Eriboll
  • Gallery
    • 2010-present
    • 2000-2009
    • 1990-1999
    • 1980-1989
    • Dark ages - 1979
  • Publications
    • Highland Bird Report
    • Highland Bird News
    • Books
  • Contact
    • Join the SOC
  • Links
  • Website history
  • Blog
ARCHIVE

​2017
January
February
March
​
April
​May
June
Picture
June 30th

Inverness-shire: Pochard at Loch Flemington.

Easter Ross: 6 Whimbrel southwest into the Dornoch Firth past Tarbat ness this morning. The Icterine Warbler was still singing at the same Nigg Oil Terminal location this afternoon.
First summer male Hen Harrier near Struan (David McGough)
First summer male Hen Harrier near Struan (David McGough).
Juvenile Cuckoo at Loch Achall (Andy Williams)
Female Ring Ouzel at Loch Achall (Andy Williams)
June 29th

Skye and Lochalsh:
Barn Owl at Portree.
​
Inverness-shire: Pochard at Loch Flemington.

Lochaber: Storm Petrel off Rum at Kilmory.

Easter Ross: 200 Canada Geese at Dalmore Distillery.
Fledgling Snipe on Skye (Bob McMillan)
Adult and Fledgling Snipe on Skye (Bob McMillan)
June 28th

Easter Ross: 225 Common Scoter SW past Tarbat Ness today between 0530 and 0830am.
​
Inverness-shire: 40 Manx Shearwater off Fort George.
​
June 27th

Sutherland: 2 Arctic Skua past Brora river mouth.

Easter Ross: 122 Common Scoter at Tarbat Ness.
Great Spotted Woodpecker at Loch Broom (Tessa Rhodes)
Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding young at Loch Broom (Tessa Rhodes)
Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding young at Loch Broom (Tessa Rhodes).
Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Loch Broom (Tessa Rhodes)
Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker at Loch Broom (Tessa Rhodes).
June 26th

Easter Ross: Great Northern Diver passed Tarbat Ness into Dornoch Firth this morning.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Three Black-tailed Godwits at Insh today.
Ringed Plover at Loch Achalll (Andy Williams)
Stonechat at Loch Achalll (Andy Williams)
Juvenile Golden Plover at Lochindorb (Mike Crutch)
June 25th

The previously reported Caspian Gull from Portree on Skye was actually a Great Black-backed Gull, we are awaiting ringing details...
Juvenile Dunnock at Ullapool (Andy Williams)
Juvenile Lesser Redpoll at Ullapool (Andy Williams)
June 24th

Skye and Lochalsh: A probable Red-crested Pochard (Helen and Ron Hodgson) reported at Loch Dunvegan near the Kinloch campsite.

Easter Ross: First summer Iceland Gull at Tarbat Ness at 1240pm.


Late news of a ringed Caspian Gull (D Sewell), at Portree, Skye yesterday, ring number "0U2B". This would be a first record for Highland if accepted!.
Iceland Gull at Tarbat Ness (Keith Langdon)
June 23rd

Sutherland: No sign of reported Great Grey Shrike at Scourie, between Scourie More and Scourie cemetery despite extensive search.

Easter Ross: First-summer Iceland Gull at Tarbat Ness at Brucefield Farm early morning. Favouring the recently cut silage fields either side of the lighthouse road and just north of the farm entrance road at NH935862. Also 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls present.

Inverness-shire: Green Woodpecker reported from Strathdearn at approx NH6916.
Northern Wheatear at Scourie (Andy Williams)
June 22nd

Sutherland: Great Grey Shrike reported at Scourie, between Scourie More and Scourie cemetery at 1330pm.

Wester Ross: Mediterranean Gull with Common Gulls at Red Point beach, Loch Torridon (NG727687).

Easter Ross: The Icterine Warbler still present late afternoon at Nigg Oil Terminal, same place as previous.
Whinchat on Skye (Neil Bennett)
Whinchat on Skye (Neil Bennett).
Spotted Flycatcher on Skye (Neil Bennett)
Common Sandpiper on Skye (Neil Bennett)
Mediterranean Gull at Red Point (Jamie Green)
Mediterranean Gull at Red Point (Jamie Green).
June 21st

Easter Ross: 7 Common Scoter at Tarbat Ness.

Strathspey and Badenoch: Green Woodpecker at Glentromie Lodge.
Stonechat at Knockan Crag (Andy Williams)
Wheatear fledgling at Inchnadampmh (Andy Williams)
June 20th

Easter Ross: 23 Manx Shearwater past Tarbat Ness and a single Whimbrel.
Barn Owl at Sleat, Skye (Bob McMillan)
Willow Warbler (Mike Crutch)
Osprey in Aviemore (Mike Crutch)
June 19th

Inverness-shire: Drake Pochard on Loch Flemington.

Sutherland: Pale-bellied Brent Goose and Whimbrel at Dornoch Point.

Easter Ross: Male Icterine Warbler still singing at Nigg Oil Terminal today, same area as previous.
​
June 18th

Inverness-shire: Green Woodpecker reported in Strathdearn.

June 17th

Easter Ross: Male Icterine Warbler still reported singing at Nigg Oil Terminal this morning and again in the afternoon, same area as previous.

Sutherland: Sooty Shearwater off Strathy Point, feeding offshore with Manx Shearwaters.


June 16th

​Lochaber: Adult drake Black Duck still at River Strontian mouth on island behind Post Office.

June 15th

Easter Ross: The Icterine Warbler was still at Nigg Oil Terminal this afternoon.
​

June 14th

Lochaber:
Single Storm Petrel from Mallaig-Armadale crossing today.

Sutherland: Immature Little Gull and Minke Whale seen from Brora today.

​Easter Ross: Male Icterine Warbler still singing at Nigg Oil Terminal this afternoon, same area as previously reported.
Common Sandpiper clutch at Loch Shin (Peter Stronach)
Common Sandpiper clutch at Dalwhinnie (Peter Stronach)
June 13th

​Inverness-shire:
 Singing male Pied Flycatcher at the Glenmazeran estate entrance gate wood, on the Coignafearn road, at lunchtime today.   

Easter Ross: 90 Canada Geese at Invergordon, plus at least three Eider broods.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Female Marsh Harrier hunting over moor to south of Lochindorb.
Leucistic House Sparrow at Ullapool (Andy Williams)
Leucistic House Sparrow at Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Tree Pipit at Loch Broom (Andy Williams).
June 12th

Sutherland:
Lesser Whitethroat still singing at the mound carpark this morning.

Skye and Lochalsh: 6 Whimbrel at Ardnish.
June 11th

Inverness-shire: Adult male Hawfinch coming to a garden in Fort Augustus this morning. No sign of the Woodchat Shrike at Garbole, Strathdearn this morning between 7-8am.

Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still at Strontian this morning at the river mouth.

Easter Ross: Male Icterine Warbler still at Nigg Oil Terminal this afternoon between 1-2pm, same area as previously reported.

Wester Ross: Female Hawfinch still present in Ullapool at 1845pm in the cherry trees by the football pitch.
​
A survey of the Barnacle Goose population in Cromdale, Badenoch and Strathspey, found 21 birds. This consisted of ten pairs and a single, five pairs had a total of 20 young, average of four young per pair. Another pair was on eggs and another four pairs had not bred.
Adult male Hawfinch at Fort Augustus (Jean and Tony Denison)
Barnacle Goose nest (Peter Stronach)
Gander Barnacle Goose on guard (Peter Stronach)
Barnacle Goose on nest with eggs (Peter Stronach)
Pair of Barnacle Geese, goose at back, gander at front (Peter Stronach)
Barnacle Goose creche (Peter Stronach)
Hawfinch at Ullapool (Andy Williams)
House Sparrow at Chanonry Point (Tessa Rhodes)
Ringed Plover at Chanonry Point (Tessa Rhodes)
June 10th

Skye and Lochalsh: Pintail at Loch Treaslane with Mallard flock.

Easter Ross: At
 Munlochy Bay this morning, 30 Bar-tailed godwit and later 22 Common Scoter outbound at Chanonry Point. Icterine Warbler still present at Nigg Bay in the same location.

June 9th

​Inverness-shire: First-summer female Woodchat Shrike still close to the bridge at Garbole, Strathdearn at NH759243.

Wester Ross: Female Hawfinch still at Ullapool in the cherry trees by the football pitch this evening, but elusive.

Easter Ross: Icterine Warbler still throughout the day today at Nigg Oil Terminal, vocal but elusive.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Canada Goose and 13 Goldeneye on the Broomhill flood.

Skye and Lochalsh: Five Whimbrel on Ardnish.
June 8th

Inverness-shire:
First-summer female Woodchat Shrike at Garbole, Strathdearn at NH759243, parking area and locations of the bird this morning shown below.

Easter Ross: Two Little Gulls at Chanonry Point with Common Tern flock, an adult and a first-summer.

Wester Ross: Hawfinch in cherry trees by football pitch in Ullapool at 0945am this morning. 10 Sanderling and 5 Dunlin at Red Point.
Woodchat Shrike at Garbole (Keith Barnes)
Woodchat Shrike at Garbole (Keith Barnes).
Garbole at 1230pm
Parking area and starred locations of bird this morning.
Long-eared Owl at Uig (Bob McMillan)
Tawny Owl at Borve (Bob McMillan)
Hawfinch in Ullapool (Andy Williams)
Hawfinch in Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Red-throated Diver off Longa (Mike Crutch)
Sanderling at Red Point (Mike Crutch)
Wheatear at South Erradale (Mike Crutch)
June 7th

​Lochaber:
 Drake Black Duck still at Strontian at 1030am and 1530pm, at the river mouth.

​
Easter Ross: Icterine Warbler still singing by the emergency vehicle access gate at Nigg Oil Terminal at NH793700 today.

Wester Ross: Whooper Swan at Loch Braigh Horrisdale. 

June 6th

Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still at Strontian at 2pm by the river mouth.

Skye and Lochalsh: Two breeding pairs of Redshank at Feorlig, Dunvegan, with adult incubating small young, a scarce breeder on Skye!. Adult Little Gull early evening in Broadford bay. Male Quail singing at Kilmuir.

Easter Ross: 17 Common Scoter off Tarbat Ness.

Wester Ross: 14 Golden Plover, 14 Greylag with a single Pink-footed Goose at Red Point farm. 21 Red-breasted Merganser at Gairloch.

Sutherland: First-summer Little Gull and 2 Storm Petrels past the river mouth this afternoon.
Brooding Redshank at Dunvegan (Bob McMillan)
Redshank at Dunvegan (Bob McMillan)
Dunlin at Red Point (Mike Crutch)
Pink-footed Goose at Red Point (Mike Crutch)
June 5th

​Easter Ross: Icterine Warbler still singing by the emergency vehicle access gate at Nigg Oil Terminal at NH793700 this morning. 2 Glaucous Gull at Brora river mouth today and a Little Gull. Single Whimbrel at Tarbat Ness.

Wester Ross: Juvenile 
Great Northern Diver at Opinan. Sanderling and  5 Dunlin at Mellon Udrigle. Arctic Tern and a Great Northern Diver in Gruinard Bay. Black-throated Diver x 4 at Mellon Charles. Bonxie on Loch Bad na h-Achlaise, Port Henderson.
June 4th

Sutherland:
First-summer male Common Rosefinch still singing  in willows behind pool at Scourie. Lesser Whitethroat still singing at the Mound, Loch Fleet.

Easter Ross: Icterine Warbler still singing by the emergency vehicle access gate at Nigg Oil Terminal at NH793700 this afternoon. 
​
Juvenile Dipper at Inchnadamph (Andy Williams)
House Martin at Inchnadamph (Andy Williams)
Common Rosefinch at Scourie (Andy Williams)
Wheatear and Willow Warbler near Elphin (Bob McMillan)
June 3rd

Easter Ross:
 Between 5-6 pm the Icterine Warbler was singing, but difficult to see at Nigg Ferry (NH793700). adjacent to "Emergency Vehicles Access"" gate,  also juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. Glaucous Gull, a faded 1st summer, in the high tide Gull roost at Tarbat Ness on the shore line just to the west of the lighthouse. Also summer plumage Purple Sandpiper at the point.

Skye and Lochalsh: C
alling Quail at Glenconon, Uig.

Sutherland: 
Lesser Whitethroat is holding territory and singing at The Mound car park adjacent to the A9.
Glaucous Gull at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Glaucous Gull at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Cuckoo at South Erradale (Mike Crutch)
June 2nd

Easter Ross:
Male Icterine Warbler (Robert Swann) elusive but singing occasionally in Sea Buckthorn and Sycamores at NH793700. See directions in photos below. Little Ringed Plover (K Blackmore) and Curlew Sandpiper reported at Udale Bay.

Sutherland: Singing first-summer male Common Rosefinch (Peter Stronach) at Scourie at NC156448. Seen late morning and later at 1630pm. Found initially in old conifer plantation to right of road as your drive down the road to the pier, then later in willows at the back of the pool. Whooper swan at Keoldale, with a European White-fronted Goose and a Pink-footed Goose. Whooper Swan at Balnakeil.

Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still at Strontian, by the village shop and post office.
Common Rosefinch at Scourie (Keith Barnes)
Common Rosefinch at Scourie (Peter Stronach)
Directions to Icterine Warbler at Nigg Bay
Directions to Icterine Warbler at Nigg Bay
Whooper Swan at Keoldale (Peter Stronach)
Pink-footed Goose at Keoldale (Peter Stronach)
European White-fronted Goose at Keoldale (Peter Stronach)
June 1st

​Easter Ross: Report of a Little Egret from the River Conon on the Brahan Estate today.

Badenoch and Strathspey:  Single male Pied Flycatcher, two Tree Pipit, at least 4 Spotted Flycatcher and two male Wood Warblers. at Craigellachie today.

Skye and Lochalsh: 
Quail near Hallin, Waternish.

Goldeneye with a brood of young seen in Badenoch and Strathspey today.


Picture



​Looking after Highland's birds


  • Sightings
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
  • Recording
    • The Highland List
    • The Highland Recording Area
    • Submitting records >
      • Rarities
      • HRC description species
      • Highland SOC Species Focus 2021
      • Gazetteer
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Evening talks
    • Field trips
  • Where to go
    • Inverness-shire >
      • Fort George and Whiteness
      • In and around Inverness
    • Badenoch and Strathspey >
      • Speyside in general
      • Badenoch and Strathspey
      • Northern Cairngorms
    • Easter Ross >
      • Easter Ross in general
      • Chanonry Point
      • Tarbat Ness
    • Wester Ross >
      • Ullapool and Gruinard Bay
      • Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree
      • Loch Kishorn
    • Lochaber >
      • Fort William
      • Canna
      • Eigg
      • Rum
    • Skye and Lochalsh >
      • Lochalsh
    • Sutherland >
      • Southeast Sutherland
      • Melvich
      • Kyle of Tongue
      • Assynt
      • Loch Eriboll
  • Gallery
    • 2010-present
    • 2000-2009
    • 1990-1999
    • 1980-1989
    • Dark ages - 1979
  • Publications
    • Highland Bird Report
    • Highland Bird News
    • Books
  • Contact
    • Join the SOC
  • Links
  • Website history
  • Blog