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, 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.
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, 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.
22nd September
Easter Ross: Sooty Shearwater 11kms SE of Tarbat Ness (Andy Williams).
Skye and Lochalsh: The Yellow-legged Gull still at Loch Poolteil (per A Stables).
Lochaber: 4 Gadwalls Linhe and Lochy Mouth (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: Sooty Shearwater 11kms SE of Tarbat Ness (Andy Williams).
Skye and Lochalsh: The Yellow-legged Gull still at Loch Poolteil (per A Stables).
Lochaber: 4 Gadwalls Linhe and Lochy Mouth (per BirdTrack).
21st September
Sutherland: Balearic Shearwater and 3 Pomarine Skuas south Embo (Dean MacAskill). Kingfisher by A835 15 minutes N of Ullapool (Mike Crutch).
Easter Ross: juvenile Little Gull off Tain Links (Bob Swann), Gadwall Loch Eye (Bob Swann).
20th September
Easter Ross: juvenile Pomarine Skua Chanonry Point (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: immature Pomarine Skua South Kessock (Jenny McNee)
Badenoch and Strathspey: first Fieldfare Nethybridge-Grantown (John Poyner)
Skye and Lochalsh: Pomarine Skua Uig-Lochmaddy Ferry (per Birdguides) - also 2 Killer Whales, 1 Minke Whale
Lochaber: Lapland Bunting Kilmory, Rum (Bob McMillan)
Easter Ross: juvenile Pomarine Skua Chanonry Point (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: immature Pomarine Skua South Kessock (Jenny McNee)
Badenoch and Strathspey: first Fieldfare Nethybridge-Grantown (John Poyner)
Skye and Lochalsh: Pomarine Skua Uig-Lochmaddy Ferry (per Birdguides) - also 2 Killer Whales, 1 Minke Whale
Lochaber: Lapland Bunting Kilmory, Rum (Bob McMillan)
19th September
Sutherland: Barred Warbler trapped and ringed Melvich (per E Maughan). Juvenile Little Gull off Embo Pier (Dean MacAskill)
Easter Ross: Adult Pomarine Skua and 2 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 11 kms SE of Tarbat Ness (Andy Williams)
Sutherland: Barred Warbler trapped and ringed Melvich (per E Maughan). Juvenile Little Gull off Embo Pier (Dean MacAskill)
Easter Ross: Adult Pomarine Skua and 2 juvenile Long-tailed Skuas, 11 kms SE of Tarbat Ness (Andy Williams)
18th September
Skye and Lochalsh: Pomarine Skua from Uig - Lochmaddy Ferry (per Birdguides). The Yellow-legged Gull still at Lower Milovaig (per A Stables).
Lochaber: Black Duck above second bridge Strontian in afternoon (but not seen in four-hour search in morning) (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Juvenile Marsh Harrier Invertromie/Ballochbuie (Insh) (Dave Pierce).
Skye and Lochalsh: Pomarine Skua from Uig - Lochmaddy Ferry (per Birdguides). The Yellow-legged Gull still at Lower Milovaig (per A Stables).
Lochaber: Black Duck above second bridge Strontian in afternoon (but not seen in four-hour search in morning) (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Juvenile Marsh Harrier Invertromie/Ballochbuie (Insh) (Dave Pierce).
17th September
Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua passed Tarbat Ness into Dornoch Firth this morning (Birdguides).
Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua passed Tarbat Ness into Dornoch Firth this morning (Birdguides).
16th September
Wester Ross: Juvenile Sabine's Gull, 2 Pomarine Skua, 3 Whooper Swan and 2 Sooty Shearwaters on the Highland side of the Minch from the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry (Peter Stronach).
Easter Ross: Juvenile Black Tern, juvenile Little Tern and 60 Common Tern on Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: Juvenile Sabine's Gull, 2 Pomarine Skua, 3 Whooper Swan and 2 Sooty Shearwaters on the Highland side of the Minch from the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry (Peter Stronach).
Easter Ross: Juvenile Black Tern, juvenile Little Tern and 60 Common Tern on Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill).
15th September
Sutherland: 1 Balearic, 23 Sooty and hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, 1 Pomarine, 2 Arctic and 21 Great Skuas, all at Balnakeil (Nina O'Hanlon and Rob Hughes). 5 hour swatch from Strathy Point; 5 Pomarine Skuas, 1 adult Long-tailed Skua, 33 Arctic Skua, 32 Bonxie, 56 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Leach's Petrel, 10 Common Tern and 100's of Manx Shearwaters (Dean MacAskill).
Skye and Lochalsh: 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese Broadford (NH)
Badenoch and Strathspey: Marsh Harrier Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce)
Sutherland: 1 Balearic, 23 Sooty and hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, 1 Pomarine, 2 Arctic and 21 Great Skuas, all at Balnakeil (Nina O'Hanlon and Rob Hughes). 5 hour swatch from Strathy Point; 5 Pomarine Skuas, 1 adult Long-tailed Skua, 33 Arctic Skua, 32 Bonxie, 56 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Leach's Petrel, 10 Common Tern and 100's of Manx Shearwaters (Dean MacAskill).
Skye and Lochalsh: 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese Broadford (NH)
Badenoch and Strathspey: Marsh Harrier Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce)
At least one of the Insh Barnacle Geese is confirmed to be a feral bird from Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig as its ring indicated it had been ringed there in 2016. In January 2018 it was sighted in Dumfriesshire).
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14th September
Skye and Lochalsh: 1 Leach's Petrel, 13 pale-bellied Brent Geese in Loch Ainort (NB), 14 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in Loch Portree (NB). Juvenile Sabine's Gull reported from the Uig-Stornoway ferry within Skye waters (per Skye Birds). 13th September
Easter Ross: 570 Red-breasted Mergansers off Ballintraid is an exceptionally high count (Bob Swann) Skye and Lochalsh: 20 Pale-bellied Brent Geese in Loch Portree (NB) Badenoch and Strathspey: 163 Barnacle Geese at Dell of Killiehuntly (Dave Pierce) - too early for Svalbard birds and likely to be local birds en route to wintering grounds (some are known to winter on Solway), immature Marsh Harrier at Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce). |
12th September
Easter Ross: 410 Ballintraid Pier is a high count (per BirdTrack). An early Long-tailed Duck at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Common Redpoll (Mealy or NW-type) dropped into Mountain Garden Cairngorm after rain shower (J Poyner), 80 Barnacle Geese Dell of Killiehuntly (Dave Pierce) - very early for migrants.
Skye and Lochalsh: 62 Brent Geese Broadford Bay am, 110 early evening (M Benson).
Easter Ross: 410 Ballintraid Pier is a high count (per BirdTrack). An early Long-tailed Duck at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Common Redpoll (Mealy or NW-type) dropped into Mountain Garden Cairngorm after rain shower (J Poyner), 80 Barnacle Geese Dell of Killiehuntly (Dave Pierce) - very early for migrants.
Skye and Lochalsh: 62 Brent Geese Broadford Bay am, 110 early evening (M Benson).
11th September
Inverness-shire: 3 Swifts at Craig Dunain, Inverness (Sam Borthwick).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Ring Ouzel in the Mountain Garden at Cairngorm (J Poyner).
Skye and Lochalsh: 63 (3, 12 and 48) Brent Geese in Broadford Bay (MB, P O-W), 130 Sconser (L Hamilton).
Inverness-shire: 3 Swifts at Craig Dunain, Inverness (Sam Borthwick).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Ring Ouzel in the Mountain Garden at Cairngorm (J Poyner).
Skye and Lochalsh: 63 (3, 12 and 48) Brent Geese in Broadford Bay (MB, P O-W), 130 Sconser (L Hamilton).
10th September
Sutherland: Black Scoter with Common Scoters at Achmelvich Bay (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: 9 Ospreys in the Beauly Firth (Sue Pettit).
Skye and Lochalsh: Great Skua at Kilmory (Sean Morris), Great Skua and Arctic Skua at Raasay (G Rees).
Sutherland: Black Scoter with Common Scoters at Achmelvich Bay (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: 9 Ospreys in the Beauly Firth (Sue Pettit).
Skye and Lochalsh: Great Skua at Kilmory (Sean Morris), Great Skua and Arctic Skua at Raasay (G Rees).
