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ARCHIVE

​2017
January
February
March 31st

Inverness-shire:
King Eider still at Fort George, viewed from same position as yesterday. Pair of Magpie in the carpark. 2 Sandwich Terns at Chanonry Point today.

Lochaber: Drake Ring-necked Duck (A Dacre) on Loch Shiel at the western end viewed from Acharacle.

March 30th

Inverness-shire:
Adult drake King Eider (Colin Leslie) east of Fort George this evening, still present at 8pm per Jon Clarke. Park in the Fort George car park and walk north over grass to the coast and view north, bird is with a few Common Eider at approx NH764577. 49 Waxwings in Redwood Avenue, Milton of Leys, Inverness this afternoon at 17:10pm, they then flew off, heading down the hill towards Inshes.​
​

March 29th

Sutherland: Juvenile Glaucous Gull at Brora

Lochaber: Nuthatch at a garden in Clovullin. Viking Gull still at Mallaig.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Ring Ouzel at Coire na Ciste carpark and a single Waxwing. 7 Waxwings at Loch Vaa. 16 Sand Martins at Loch Insh.

Inverness-shire: Ring Ouzel in Strathnairn. 6 Waxwings at Inverfarigaig.
Viking Gull at Mallaig (Bob McMillan)
Colour-ringed Purple Sandpiper at Brora (Keith Langdon)
March 28th

Sutherland: 
Male Wheatear at Strath Brora and a pair at West Langwell near Rogart.

Skye and Lochalsh: Male Lapland Bunting seen and photographed at Ardnish, Broadford and a Whimbrel reported at Waterloo. Willow Warbler singing this morning Lower Milovaig then another two later.  Ring Ouzel singing Old Man of Storr​.

Lochaber: Viking Gull still at Mallaig and a Chiffchaff at Arisaig.

Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent goose at Tain.

Easter Ross: Green Woodpecker at Tollie Red Kites.

Inverness-shire: 2 Waxwing at Smithton.

First Whimbrel reported today from Skye!. 
Lapland Bunting at Ardnish, Skye (John Kennedy)
March 27th

Sutherland:
Single Snow Bunting on the beach at Dornoch and 3 Pale-bellied Brent.

Inverness-shire: 3 Wheatears today at Whiteness but no sign of the Black Redstart, 3 Water Rail calling at marsh on track. Pair of Gadwall on Loch Flemington.

Wester Ross: In Gruinard Sound, 4 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver and 12 Great Northern Diver.

Chiffchaffs widely reported.

March 26th

Inverness-shire:
Female-type Black Redstart still at Whiteness with three Wheatears and five singing Chiffchaff.

Skye and Lochalsh: 13 Wheatear in the Milovaig area today including several Greenland types.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Chiffchaff at Mains of Garten, Sand Martin at Broomhill Bridge. Green Woodpecker at Loch Vaa.

Easter Ross: Swallow at Nigg Ferry and 5 Chiffchaff at Kirkhill.

Wester Ross: Chiffchaff at Upper Broom and one at Morefield.

Sutherland: Chiffchaff at Brora and a Sandwich Tern.

First Swallow of the spring at Nigg Ferry! and arrival of Wheatears onto west coast of Skye.

March 25th

Inverness-shire: Pair of Ring Ouzels back on territory at Strathdearn. 31 Waxwings on Balloan Road, Inverness late afternoon. Chiffchaff at Smithton and Seafield, Inverness.

Easter Ross: 2 Velvet Scoter past Tarbat Ness.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Chiffchaff at Loch Insh.

Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still in the harbour at Ullapool this morning.

​First Ring Ouzel record this spring at Strathdearn today!.

​Also an interesting encounter between EJ the resident Osprey at Loch Garten and a Pine Marten at the nest, video here.
Leucistic Rock Pipit on Skye (Bob McMillan)
Leucistic Rock Pipit on Skye (Bob McMillan).
Leucistic Rock Pipit on Skye (Bob McMillan)..
Ring Ouzel in Strathdearn (Sam Borthwick)
March 24th

Sutherland: First-winter Little Gull from beach car park at Brora today, but no sign of the Black Redstart.

Easter Ross: Osprey at Loch Fleet today.

Inverness-shire: 30 Waxwings at Hilton Community Centre. 2 Magpie at Alturlie today.

Badenoch and Strathspey: 40 Waxwings at Insh today.

Lochaber: 2 Lapland Buntings at Shamhnan Insir, Rum (Amazing footage below of one eating a female Belted Beauty Moth!)
Lapland Bunting on Rum (Sean Morris)
Lapland Bunting on Rum (Sean Morris).
March 23rd

Sutherland:
Taiga Bean Goose (Pete Clark) reported from Bonar Bridge today, at NH6091.

Badenoch and Strathspey: 60+ Waxwing in Abernethy Forest today. 17+ Snow Buntings at Cairngorm car park.

​Wester Ross: Single Iceland Gull at Loch Kishorn, a 2nd winter bird, also a female Wheatear.  Single Ptarmigan on the Applecross hills.

Easter Ross: 4 Chiffchaffs in Rosehaugh Estate near Avoch, Chiffchaff also singing at Brahan today.

Inverness-shire: 
Black Redstart still at Whiteness Head at the old yard, also at Whiteness 4  Chiffchaff (3 singing) and a male Wheatear​.

EJ back at Loch Garten this morning eating a Trout!.
Ptarmigan on the Applecross hills (Bob McMillan)
Ptarmigan on the Applecross hills (Bob McMillan).
Wheatear at Loch Kishorn (Bob McMillan)
Snow Bunting at Cairngorm (Mike Crutch)
Snow Bunting at Cairngorm (Mike Crutch).
Snow Bunting at Cairngorm (Mike Crutch)..
March 22nd

Lochaber:
Iceland Gull at Kilmory, Rum.

Skye and Lochalsh: 4 Mute Swans at Loch Harport and a Carrion Crow at Kildonan, Edinbane.

Easter Ross: 500 Kittiwake past Tarbat Ness.

Wester Ross: Juvenile Iceland Gull near Sheildaig and two second-winters at Applecross today.
​
March 21st

Inverness-shire:
140 Scaup at Milton of Culloden.
​
March 20th

​Inverness-shire:
 Two adult Blue and intermediate morph Snow Geese still halfway between A96 and Ardersier from B9006 at approx NH794532 with several hundred Pink-feet and a few Greylag, and a leucistic Pink-foot. Greenland White-fronted Goose by Castle Stuart Golf Club driveway and two Barnacle Geese.

Wester Ross: Second-winter Iceland Gull and First-winter Glaucous Gull at Ullapool harbour today.

Lochaber: 2 Wheatear on Rum at Shamhan Insir in north Rum. Iceland Gull at Galmisdale Bay, Eigg.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Sand Martin at Loch Insh.

​First Wheatears back in Highland!!
Snow Geese at Ardersier (Jon Clarke)
Snow Goose at Ardersier (Andy Williams)
Snow Geese at Ardersier (Bob McMillan)
Teal at Dingwall (Bob McMillan)
Iceland Gull at Ullapool (Scott O'Hara)
Glaucous Gull (Scott O'Hara)
The first Wheatear! - Rum (Sean Morris)
March 19th

​Inverness-shire:
Two adult Blue and intermediate morph Snow Geese (Jon Clarke) halfway between A96 and Ardersier from B9006 with several hundred Greylag and Pink-feet, and a leucistic Pink-foot. Black Redstart still at Whiteness Head today and a Chiffchaff in with the tit flock there.

Easter Ross: Five Little Gulls at Brora today, three adults and two first-winters.

Wester Ross: Glaucous Gull in the harbour.

Badenoch and Strathspey: 28 Waxwings over Dell Road then flew towards the church.
Snow Geese at Ardersier (Jon Clarke)
March 18th

Badenoch and Strathspey:
20 Waxwing at Causer crossroads in Nethy Bridge.

Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still in flooded field just beyond the fire station.

Easter Ross: Chiffchaff singing at Loch Kinellan this morning, Magpie over the Heights of Achterneed.
​
March 17th

Sutherland: Three Little Gulls at Brora today, two first-winters and an adult. The Black Redstart is still present on the rocks beneath the beach carpark, also a Sandwich Tern (First in Highland this year!). 1200 Common Scoter off Dornoch beach.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Sand Martin at Loch Insh. 100+ Bramblings at Sliemore Steading, Nethy Bridge this afternoon. 10 Waxwing at Loch Morlich flew west over the loch early afternoon.

Inverness-shire: Black Redstart still at Whiteness Head in the old yard and 50 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Carse of Delnies..

Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still from the hide at Udale Bay this afternoon. Single Bonxie flew east past Tarbat Ness.

First Sandwich Tern and Sand Martins of the year!.
Black Redstart at Whiteness Yard (Jon Clarke)
March 16th
​
Wester Ross:
 First-winter Iceland Gull this afternoon at Achnahaird, also a 1st returning Greenshank and 22 Barnacle Geese at Altandhu. Adult Iceland Gull at Ardmair.

Inverness-shire: Water Rail at Alturlie Pools.
Iceland Gull at Ardmair (Andy William)
Iceland Gull at Ardmair (Andy William).
Iceland Gull at Ardmair (Andy William)..
Barnacle Geese at Altandhu (Andy Williams)
Barnacle Geese at Altandhu (Andy Williams).
Barnacle Geese at Altandhu (Andy Williams)..
March 15th

​Wester Ross: Second-Winter Iceland Gull around the river mouth today at Ullapool, and Viking Gull still.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Hawfinch still by the River Nethy viewed from the road between the postbox and the Smithy. Build up of Oystercatchers (52) and Common Gulls (41) at Lochindorb today. 2 Tundra Bean Geese still at Dell of Killiehuntly and Long-tailed Duck still at Loch Insh and a Scaup.

Easter Ross: 2 Grey Partridge at Tarbat Ness.

Skye and Lochalsh: Juvenile Iceland Gull at Castle Moil, Kyleakin.
Viking Gull at Ullapool (Andy Williams)
March 14th

Lochaber: House Martin (!!!) on Eigg this morning, also a wintering Greenshank.

Wester Ross: Three Iceland Gulls at Ullapool at the river mouth at 1700pm, two second-winters and a first-winter. Also present second-winter Viking Gull and four Lesser Black-backed gulls, first of the spring in Ullapool.

March 13th

Easter Ross:
Second-winter Iceland Gull on coastal rocks today at 1050am near Geanies House, north of Hilton of Cadboll. 2500 Pink-footed Geese at Tarbat Ness. Drake American Wigeon still at Udale Bay today. 25 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Rosemarkie.

Wester Ross: Non-adult Iceland Gull distantly on Isle Martin roost this morning.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Chiffchaff at Loch Insh and the Long-tailed Duck still.

Red-throated Divers back on loch in Badenoch and Strathspey.
American Wigeon at Udale Bay (Toby Green)
March 12th

Inverness-shire:
Female-type Black Redstart at Whiteness head today in the old construction yard.

Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still at Udale Bay today.

Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Tundra Bean Geese still at Dell of Killiehuntly today and a Long-tailed Duck on Loch Insh.

Wester Ross: Glaucous Gull at Laide to day.
Black Redstart at Whiteness Head (Colin Leslie)
March 11th

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

Easter Ross: Bonxie past Tarbat Ness.

Sutherland: Adult Little Gull at Brora from the beach carpark today.

Recording of night-time displays, including wing beats!, of freshly arrived male Lapwings on arable land near Nethy Bridge below.
March 10th

Lochaber: First-winter Glaucous Gull at Galmisdale Bay on Eigg today.

March 9th

Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Tundra Bean Geese at Insh Marshes today at NH8002. 13 Waxwing at Insh in Badan Dubh.

Wester Ross: First-winter Iceland Gull still at Ullapool today, also a second-winter hybrid gull, either Viking or Nelson's Gull.

Easter Ross: Adult white morph Snow Goose (Jimmy Fraser) again with Greylags in a grass field just south of Loch Achnacloich.

Lochaber: Fourth-winter Viking gull still at Mallaig harbour today and Nuthatch (Bob McMillan, I MacNiven) still coming to feeders in Arisaig.
Iceland Gull at Ullapool (Andy Williams)
Snow Goose at Loch Achnacloich (Jimmy Fraser).
Snow Goose at Loch Achnacloich (Jimmy Fraser)
Viking Gull at Mallaig (Bob McMillan)
Viking Gull at Mallaig (Bob McMillan).
March 8th

Easter Ross:
Drake American Wigeon still at Udale Bay today.

Inverness-shire: Drake Green-winged Teal still at Loch Flemington today.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Hawfinch still at Grantown.

Wester Ross: First-winter Iceland Gull in Ullapool today.

​March 7th
 
Inverness-shire: Kingfisher at Merkinch Nature Reserve today.

Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Waxwings still at Causer, Nethy Bridge today.
Kingfisher at Merkinch (Andy Williams)
Kingfisher at Merkinch (Andy Williams).
March 6th
 
Skye and Lochalsh: Water Rail at Loch Suardal, Dunvegan.
 
Inverness-shire: 24 Waxwings at Abernethy Forest. Great Crested Grebe on the sea yesterday from Whiteness.

First Osprey reported over Nigg Ferry in the Cromarty Firth (Charlie Philips)

Picture
Greylag flock at Dundonnel (Andy Williams)
Slavonian Grebe at Camusnagaul (Andy Williams).
Slavonian Grebe at Camusnagaul (Andy Williams)
Picture
Picture
Viking Gull at Mallaig (Peter Stronach)
Iceland Gull at Caol (Peter Stronach)
Iceland Gull at Caol (Peter Stronach).
Iceland Gull at Caol (Peter Stronach)..
March 2nd

Wester Ross: Kingfisher at Clachan, Loch Broom today at 5pm.

Inverness-shire: Drake American Wigeon at Muirtown Basin still today. 115 Scaup at Seafield.

Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still at Dale Bay today at 1350pm. 16 Waxwing in Tain.

March 1st

Badenoch and Strathspey: 31 Waxwings at Causer, Nethy Bridge still and four Hawfinch, one between the postbox and the Smithy.

Inverness-shire: Drake American Wigeon still at Muirtown Basin at 1655pm.

Skye and Lochalsh: 5 Common Scoter on Loch Ainort.

Lochaber: Kingfisher at Acharacle Pier.

Sutherland: Water Rail at Balnakeil, Durness.
Hawfinch at Nethy Bridge (Steve Broyd)
Grey Wagtail at Nethy Bridge (Steve Broyd)

Picture



​Looking after Highland's birds


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