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. This page is currently updated for the SOC Highland branch by Pete Gordon and Mike Crutch.

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.
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​COVID-19

'Sightings' was restarted on 21 April to let everyone know what birds have been reported in Highland from people’s gardens, or incidentally during observers’ permitted daily exercise or essential travel. During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis it is imperative that this information does not encourage anyone to breach Government advice regarding travel restrictions and social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. News of some sightings will not be published where we consider that the risk of people being tempted to travel to see particular birds is too high (or, as is always the case, if it might reveal breeding sites of vulnerable species).

Rarities and Schedule 1 species Information should be passed via BirdTrack and/or emailed to the Highland Recorder at highlandrecorder@yahoo.com

Users of this page should also be aware that, following a change to BirdTrack reporting during the first week of May, editors of this page no longer have access to notable records and are asked to e-mail such reports to Pete and Mike for inclusion on this page to  highlandsocwebmaster@gmail.com  - thank you.

Highland Bird Report 2018 is now on sale. For details on how to obtain your copy, click "Publications" at the top of this page and buy!
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​2020
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Wednesday 15th July

Easter Ross:  two Whimbrel, c30 Swifts, nine Sandwich Tern (including three juveniles) at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Tuesday 14th July

Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Ring Ouzel in Cairngorm Mountain car park (Blair Whyte)

Easter Ross:  two Greenshank at Redcastle (Bob Wilson)

Monday 13th July

Skye & Lochalsh: 17 Greenshank and wo Bar-tailed Godwits at Loch Portree (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: single Wood Sandpiper at Dornoch, with c200 Linnets nearby.  Two Greenshank at Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)

Sunday 12th July

Easter Ross:  two Purple Sandpipers in summer plumage at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), third bird present by late afternoon plus two Knot (Mary Galloway).  15 Dunlin at Inver (Blair Whyte)

Saturday 11th July

Easter Ross: Whimbrel Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).

Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Kingfisher dead on A95 near Aviemore (Mike Coleman). 



Friday 10th July

Easter Ross: Bonxie and summer-plumaged Turnstone Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). 

Skye & Lochalsh: 3 Black-tailed Godwits Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan). 
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Thursday 9th July

Badenoch & Strathspey: 2 Dunlins from The Lookout, Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce)

​Skye & Lochalsh: 7 Bonxies Staffin Island and 2 Bonxies Loch Mealt (ML), Water Rail Monkstadt, Kilmuir (ML). 
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Wednesday 8th July

Easter Ross: 6 Manx Shearwaters Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Inverness: singing Lesser Whitethroat near Inverarnie by bridge over R Nairn (Bob Wilson). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: 75 Barnacle Geese (feral) Balavil (Dave Pierce).
Tuesday 7th July

Sutherland: Semi-palmated Sandpiper still at Dornoch Point (Sue Sykes).

Easter Ross: 37 Common Scoters and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), female Ring Ousel Redcastle (Lesley Bowman) - unusual time of year for this location. 


Monday 6th July

Sutherland: Semi-palmated Sandpiper still at Dornoch Point (Steve Broyd et al), 3 Bonxies, 6 Manx Shearwaters and 3 Puffins in evening Embo (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua (possibly 2nd summer), 2 Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), 2 Twites Wilkhaven Farm House (Dave Tanner). 

Skye& Lochalsh: Kite sp (probably Red) Struan - Portree hill road near to Totardor (M Harper).
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Sunday 5th July

Sutherland: Semi-palmated Sandpiper with Dunlin, 5 Sanderlings and Whimbrel Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), 2 Rosy Starlings Durness, present at least 10 days (per Sutherland Wildlife Group).


Saturday 4th July

Badenoch & Strathspey: Hawfinch in a private garden in Aviemore (Audrey Turner)

Sutherland: two Arctic Skuas at Littleferry (Neil Wilson).  Single Whimbrel at Loch Fleet (Alan MacAskill)
Friday 3rd July

Easter Ross: pale morph Arctic Skua off Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).  Juvenile Cuckoo at Chanonry Point (Mary Galloway).  Flock of c80 Siskin around Munlochy (Bob Wilson)

Sutherland: Storm Petrel off Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)

Thursday 2nd July

Easter Ross: 55 Common Scoter, five Manx Shearwater, 250 Kittiwake, two Puffin off Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Sutherland: 17 Wigeon and three Greenshank on Loch Fleet from Skelbo (Dean MacAskill)

Wednesday 1st July

Skye & Lochalsh: single Whimbrel and three Bar-tailed Godwits in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, nine Dunlin, seven Ringed Plover, four Sanderling and a Grey Plover (Dean MacAskill)

Tuesday 30th June

Easter Ross: single Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit in Munlochy Bay (Bob Wilson)

Skye & Lochalsh: single Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwits at Waterloo, Broadford (Bob McMillan)

Monday 29th June

Sutherland: Rosy Starling reported in a private garden in Brora (via Pete Cosgrove)

Skye & Lochalsh: reeling Grasshopper Warbler at Lochlonghead (northeast of Dornie - per skye-birds.com)

Wester Ross: four Black-tailed Godwits on the Lochcarron golf course (Ingrid Deschryver)
Sunday 28th June

Easter Ross: 16 Manx Shearwater, 116 Common Scoter, 150 Kittiwake and singletons of Black Guillemot and Puffin off Tarbat Ness  (Dave Tanner)

Saturday 27th June

Easter Ross: Water Rail Kinellan (Keith Barnes).

Skye & Lochalsh: single Whimbrels at Broadford Bay and Ashaig (Bob McMillan), 2 Arctic Skuas Neist Point (AS). 

Friday 26th June

Inverness: 3 Black-tailed Godwits Muirton Pools (Al McNee), Water Rail Whiteness (Blair Whyte), 22 Knots Whiteness (per BirdTrack)

Badenoch & Strathspey: Black-tailed Godwit by A9 bridge Kingussie, Kingfisher Ruthven Bridge Kingussie (Dave Pierce). 

Skye & Lochalsh: 250 (sic) Black-tailed Godwits Breakish Obbe, moved to Waterloo - failed/non-breeders (NH, Bob McMillan), Lesser Whitethroat still at Broadford Industrial Estate (Neil Bennett).

Lochaber: Rosy Starling Acharacle (per BirdGuides). 

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.Thursday 25th June

Sutherland: 32 Manx Shearwaters Embo 19.00-19.30 (Dean MacAskill).

Inverness: Water Rail Alturlie Pools (Blair Whyte), Corn Bunting Easter Dalziel (Blair Whyte) - all records of this species wanted.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Magpie in Grantown garden for past two days (Moira McLeod), Grey Partridge Muckrach  - both scarce in area.

Skye & Lochalsh: 2 Sandwich Terns Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan) - scarce in area.

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Wednesday 24th June

Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still singing at Broadford Industrial Estate (Neil Bennett), Black-tailed Godwit and Whimbrel Breakish, Obe (NH) 

Tuesday 23rd June

Sutherland: Great Northern Diver Brora rivermouth (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: 50 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner). 

Inverness: juvenile Cuckoo being fed by Meadow Pipit Loch Ashie (Blair Whyte), 20 Swifts and 6 Grey Wagtails River Ness at Braes (Alan MacAskill)

Monday 22nd June

Easter Ross: singing Grasshopper Warbler Quarryfield (Bob Wilson), Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshanks, 4 Wigeons Udale Bay (Kevin Davis),.

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling Teangue (H Dodgson), Lesser Whitethroat still at Broadford Industrial Estate (Martin Benson), Whimbrel Waterloo, Broadford (Bob McMillan), 2 Stock Doves cricket pith, Fort William (SC)



Sunday 21st June

Sutherland: Turtle Dove in private garden Durness (per Donald Mitchell), Reed Warbler briefly at Granny's Caravan Site, flew to south corner by burn (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: 2 Manx Shearwaters inbound Chanonry Point (Mary Galloway). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Swift Rum (Sean Morris). 
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Saturday 20th June

Easter Ross: c50 Common Scoter, three Puffin off Tarbat Ness  (Dave Tanner).  Drake Shoveler in eclipse plumage on the pool at Nether Kinellan by Strathpeffer (Keith Barnes)

Sutherland:  Mediterranean Gull off Embo, flew south into Dornoch Firth (Dean MacAskill)

Friday 19th June

Easter Ross: seven Common Scoter, single Red-throated Diver plus c800 auk species off Tarbat Ness  (Dave Tanner)

Thursday 18th June

Easter Ross: 17 Common Scoter and three Puffins off Tarbat Ness  (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling still at Kyleakin community centre (via Bob McMillan).  Common Redpoll visitings feeders in Uig (per skye-birds.com)

Wednesday 17th June

Easter Ross: 50 Common Scoter, four Black Guillemot, seven Sandwich Tern and ten Puffins off Tarbat Ness  (Dave Tanner)

Inverness: Whinchat with young on the Leys estate (Alan MacAsill)

Tuesday 16th June

Easter Ross: 18 Common Scoter, five Black Guillemot, six Sandwich Tern and single Great Skua and Puffin off Tarbat Ness  (Dave Tanner)

Inverness: Water Rail with young at Alturlie pools (Blair Whyte).  Greylag Geese with young on Loch Duntelchaig (Alan MacAskill)

Sutherland:  two Little Terns, five Manx Shearwaters, single Great Northern Diver and 16 Common Scoter off Embo (Dean MacAskill)

Monday 15th June

Badenoch & Strathspey: Spotted Flycatcher and c1,000 Greylag Geese at Lochindorb (Mike Crutch).  Water Rail with young near Boat of Garten (Kate Johnson via Facebook)

Sunday 14th June

Badenoch & Strathspey: Whooper Swan and two confirmed Marsh Harriers (non-breeding) at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce)

Easter Ross: c150 Common Scoter off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)

​Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Bob McMillan)

Saturday 13th June

Easter Ross: European Storm Petrel feeding off the point Tarbat Ness early morning (Dave Tanner).

Badenoch & Strathspey: singing Lesser Whitethroat Nethybridge - possibly the bird of 21 May (Pete Gordon).

​Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Neil Bennett), 2 singing Wood Warblers and a Garden Warbler Leitir Fura path, Kinloch  (PK), 2 singing Wood Warblers Cow Hill, Fort William (SC). 

Sutherland:  two Great Egrets on Loch Inchard (Carrier MacWeager via Facebook).  Single Pink-footed Goose at Skelbo (Dean MacAskill)
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Friday 12th June

Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Bob Mc Millan).
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Thursday 11th June

Inverness: Osprey and Goldeneye Loch Flemington (Blair Whyte).
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Badenoch & Strathspey: Quail at Aviemore, did two flybys at midnight. then stayed two hours calling intermittently (Peter Stronach).




Wednesday 10th June


Sutherland: During a seawatch at Embo 16.30-17.30 177 Manx Shearwaters north, also (all south) Bonxie 2, Black-throated Diver 1, Red-throated Diver 2, Sandwich Tern 4, Puffin 3, Auk sp 250+, Fulmar 21 and Kittiwake 34 (Dean McAskill).

Easter Ross: Canada Goose 3SE, Long-tailed Duck adult winter Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: 2 Kingfishers Whin Park (Penny Insole).

Skye & Lochalsh: 3 Arctic Skuas between Eigg and Muck (Ronnie Dyer), Lesser Whitethroat male still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Martin Benson), juvenile Cuckoo possibly hosted by Blackbird Portree (D Stammers). 
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Tuesday 9th June

Easter Ross: Peregrine, 35 Knots, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 57 Common Scoters south and Great Northern Diver SE Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). 12 Whooper Swans north  Avoch (Tim Meredith). 

Inverness: Corn Bunting singing Easter Dalziel (Blair Whyte), Kingfisher Whin Pond (Lynda Graham). 

​Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Neil Bennett).

Monday 8th June

Easter Ross: Still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack and 16 Pink-footed Geese north Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), 40 Pink-footed Geese north Heathmount/High Mills (Alan Hollick). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Bob McMillan).

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Sunday 7th June

Easter Ross: summer plumage Great Northern Diver, 3 Bonxies and dark phase Arctic Skua Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Whimbrel Udale Bay (Bob Wilson).

Inverness: Rosy Starling briefly on fat feeders Tomatin (per BirdGuides)

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling still at Kyleakin garden (EH), Lesser Whitethroat still on territory Broadford Industrial Estate (Bob McMillan). 
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Saturday 6th June

Easter Ross: a seawatch 0515-0645hrs off Chanonry Point included two Great Skuas, one Arctic Skua (dark phase), four Fulmars, 58 Kittiwakes, two Red-throated Divers and eleven Ringed Plover; a Red-breasted Merganser was enjoying the calm waters of a puddle on the the golf course following the overnight weather! (Kevin Davis).  Around Tarbat Ness were - amongst significant seabird movement - a White Wagtail,  three Great Skua, six Black Guillemot and single Great Northern Diver (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling still visiting a Kyleakin garden and the Lesser Whitethroat is still present in Broadford Industrial Estate (per skye-birds,com)

Sutherland:  four Whimbrel, 148 Sanderling and five Turnstone at Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill)

Friday 5th June

Easter Ross: a seawatch 0515-0645hrs off Chanonry Point yielded Arctic Skua (dark phase), two Common Scoter, four Red-throated Diver, three Fulmar, ten Greylag Geese and 80+ Common Tern (Kevin Davis).  Two Black-tailed Godwits at Redcastle (Bob Wilson)

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling still visiting a Kyleakin garden and the Lesser Whitethroat is still present in Broadford Industrial Estate.  In Broadford Bay, three Common Scoter, three Manx Shearwaters plus a single Sandwich Tern (per skye-birds.com).  Another Rosy Starling on feeders at Sassaig, Sleat (per Bob McMillan). 

Thursday 4th June

Easter Ross: 64 Common Scoter off Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling still visiting a Kyleakin garden and the Lesser Whitethroat is still present in Broadford Industrial Estate (per skye-birds.com).

Sutherland: Rosy Starling reported in Ardgay (David McAllister via Facebook).  At Dornoch were 22 Ringed Plover, four Whimbrel, 28 Sanderling, two Turnstones and 76 Bar-tailed Godwit while seen off Embo were three Little Tern plus singletons of Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and Great Skua (Dean MacAskill).

Wednesday 3rd June

Easter Ross: single Arctic Skua (dark morph) past Fortrose (Bob Wilson).  Single Great Skua, c300 Razorbill, c500 Guillemot and c150 Knot at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Inverness:  two Corn Buntings at Milton of Gollanfield, Water Rail heard at Loch Flemington - single Whooper Swan present also (Blair Whyte)

Skye & Lochalsh: Rosy Starling in Kyleakin (Alan Horner via Bob McMillan).  Lesser Whitethroat still present in Broadford Industrial Estate (per skye-birds.com)
Tuesday 2nd June

Badenoch & Strathspey:  Quail recorded overflying site near Boat of Garten in the early hours (Peter Stronach)

Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat still present in Broadford Industrial Estate (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: two Whimbrel, 62 Sanderling, nine Ringed Plover, four Dunlin and single Great Northern Diver and Great Skua off/at Embo (Dean MacAskill).  Rosy Starling in Melness, Tongue (via Facebook)
Monday 1st June

Badenoch & Strathspey:  breeding Shoveler confirmed (with six young) at Insh (Dave Pierce)

Easter Ross: single Arctic Tern past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Inverness:  Corn Bunting at Easter Dalziel, Grasshopper Warbler at Dalcross airport, 25 Goosander off Alturlie (Bob Wilson)

Skye & Lochalsh: Lesser Whitethroat in Broadford Industrial Estate; the last spring record of such on Skye was on 1st June 2013! (Bob McMillan, located by Phil Knott)
Sunday 31st May

Easter Ross: four Black Guillemot off Tarbat Ness; 35 Knot plus single Turnstone and Dunlin present also (Dave Tanner)

Inverness: two Corn Buntings (one singing) at Dalcross airport (Colin Leslie)

Sutherland: twelve Manx Shearwaters, two Whimbrel and single Black-throated Diver off/at Embo (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 30th May

Sutherland: 27 Canada Geese and 1 Pink-footed Goose The Mound and 2 Stock Doves Skelbo (Dean MacAskill).

Inverness: Common Crane west over Inverness (Andrew Whitelee). Male Gadwall and male Gadwall Loch Flemington (Blair Whyte), male Shoveler between Croy and Loch Flemington (Colin Leslie). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull following creel boat Broadford Bay, also 4 Bonxies and male Gadwall (Neil Bennett), male Yellowhammer Drumbuie (per Skye Birds), pair of Shoveler Lochailort (SC).

Friday 29th May

Sutherland: Hawfinch at feeders Golspie (per Pete Cosgrove).

Easter Ross: 9 Manx Shearwaters N Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: 16 Barnacle Geese Lonnie (per BirdTrack).

Badenoch & Strathspey: 17 Barnacle Geese N near Nethybridge (Steve Broyd), 6 Canada Geese Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan). 

Skye & Lochalsh: 3 Sandwich Terns Broadford (Bob McMillan), Magpie Halistra, Waternish (J Hewes). Common Redpoll on feeders at Uig (MC). 

Lochaber: 15 Common Swifts Achintee, Fort William (SC).

Thursday 28th May​

Sutherland: 2 Black-throated Divers, 75 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels and 28 Manx Shearwaters Coul Links (Dean MacAskill). 

Easter Ross: still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner). 

​Inverness: Great Crested Grebe South Kessock (Al McNee).

Badenoch & Strathspey: singing male Pied Flycatcher Loch Alvie and 17 Barnacle Geese Loch Insh (Dave Pierce). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Female Corncrake heard calling Trotternish - rarely heard,this suggests a female has arrived in territory lacking a male (Nick Hodgetts), pair of Redwings fledged young in Lochalsh, possibly first proven breeding in Skye and Lochalsh (per Bob McMillan))


Wednesday 27th May

Sutherland: Wood Warbler Migdale Wood (Di Alexander).

Easter Ross:  Still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).

Wester Ross: 2CY Iceland Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).

Inverness: Wood Warbler Glen Urquhart (Carol Miller).

Badenoch & Strathspey: pair of Pied Flycatchers, 3 Wood Warblers and CUckoo Craigellachie, Aviemore (Alan MacAskill).

Skye & Lochalsh: Canada Goose Breakish Obbe (FM), 1 Knot, 30 Dunlins, 25 Ringed Plovers Lusa Mouth (Bob McMillan).


 Tuesday 26th May

Sutherland: 4 Stock Doves Coul Farm (Dean MacAskill), 310 Ringed Plovers (tundrae  race), Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: Second calendar year Glaucous Gull Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith). 

Skye & Lochalsh: 2 Sanderlings, 40 Dunlins, 30 Ringed Plovers, and a Turnstone Broadford (Bob McMillan). Magpie Waternish (per SP). 


Monday 25th May

Skye & Lochalsh: Female Hawfinch  on feeders in Portree garden (per Bob McMillan). 
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Sunday 24th May

Sutherland: 378 Ringed Plovers, 32 Sanderlings, 76 Dunlins and 2 Little Terns Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and 5 Canada Geese Embo (Dean MacAskill). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: a Quail called half a dozen or more times between 22.15 and 22.35 near Insh (Dave Pierce).

23rd May

Badenoch & Strathspey: male Pied Flycatcher at Loch Insh, with female Marsh Harrier and single Whooper Swan seen again on/over the nearby marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh:  twelve Whimbrel in Lower Breakish, Broadford  (via skye-birds.com)

22nd May

Badenoch & Strathspey: single Whooper Swan still at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh:  three Bar-tailed Godwith and single Knot at Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan via skye-birds.com)

Sutherland:  14 Manx Shearwaters southbound past Embo this afternoon (Dean MacAskill)

21st May

Badenoch & Strathspey: single Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose and Marsh Harrier at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook).  Lesser Whitethroat in Nethybridge (Steve Broyd via Pete Gordon), Magpie present also (PG)

Inverness: c30 Swift over the River Ness in the city centre today (Alan MacAskill)

Skye & Lochalsh: five Sanderling at Lusa, Broadford  (via skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: Three Whimbrel and a Great Northern Diver at Embo (Dean MacAskill)

20th May

Skye & Lochalsh: four Great Northern Divers in the Sound of Raasay.  Seven Whimbrel attempting a birdie on the golf course at Sconser (via skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: Firecrest in a garden near Lochinver (R Cliff)

19th May

Badenoch & Strathspey: the Rare Bird Alert service is carrying a report of a Spotted Crake that was 'singing recently' at Insh marshes.  Although the site has historically held the species in spring/summer, your SOC Highland team would very much appreciate any reports like this to come to us directly, and with appropriate detail.  Such rarities can be reported just to the Highland Recorder (e-mail above or via BirdTrack) if you wish, especially as such data can later be used for conservation and similar efforts.

Easter Ross: two female Scaup still showing off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).  Spotted Flycatcher in Munlochy (Bob Wilson)

Inverness: waders around and about Alturlie included c30 Ringed Plover, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit plus small numbers of Knot and Dunlin (Alan MacAskill).  Single Whimbrel at Merkinch (Penny Insole).  Late report from 11th May of a Turtle Dove in Kilmartin, Glenurquhart (via BirdTrack)

Skye & Lochalsh: three Canada Geese on Loch Portree, 2cy Iceland Gull at Bayfield plus Whimbrel still present in and around the area (via skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: Seen at Dornoch point was the regular 2cy Iceland Gull, while on passage were 120 Pink-footed Geese, more than 360 Ringed Plover, and 210 Sanderling.  At Embo, a single Whimbrel, two White Wagtails, 'Nordic' Jackdaw and - near Grannie's Heilan Hame - Tree Sparrow gathering food (Dean MacAskill)

18th May

Easter Ross: two female Scaup off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)

Inverness: male Cuckoo calling early morning approximately one mile south of the city centre (Sue Tracey via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh: 2cy and 3cy Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree during the day.  Three Arctic Skuas over Rum (all via skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: 184 Sanderling and three Pink-footed Geese at Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill)

17th May

Easter Ross: drake Gadwall at Tain links (Bob Swann)

Inverness: Dotterel present again at Alturlie (Stuart Benn via Facebook).  14 Black-tailed Godwits at Muirtown pools (Al McNee)

Skye & Lochalsh: 2cy Iceland Gull and five Whimbrel at Loch Portree, seven Whimbrel at Broadford also (Neil Bennett and Bob McMillan via skye-birds.com)

16th May

Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker near Insh (Duncan Macdonald)

Easter Ross: Still 2000 Common Scoters and 2000 Long-tailed Ducks Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).  Two Gadwall on Loch Eye )Bob Swann)

Skye & Lochalsh: 2CY Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS). Whooper Swan Sheabost (GF), 225 Dunlins and 75 Ringed Plovers Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan), 150 Dunlins and 150 Ringed Plovers Traigh, Morar (S MacD). 

15th May

Sutherland: 500 Ringed Plovers and 700 Dunlins Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: 500+ Sand Martins Loch Eye - showing how cold it is (Bob Swan).

Inverness: Dotterel at Alturlie again in evening (Blair Whyte), Osprey fishing off South Kessock (Tommy Youd and Julie Vivers).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Nuthatch Abernethy, near Loch Garten RSPB (Neil Stonehouse).

​Skye & Lochalsh: 2CY Iceland Gull Scorrybreck, Portree )Neil Bennett).


14th May

Inverness: Dotterel still at Alturlie early morning (Stuart Benn).

Badenoch & Strathspey: migrant Honey Buzzard over moorland Glen Tromie (Dave Pierce). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Long-eared Owls with 1+ young Canna (Ranger Service). 
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13th May

Sutherland: Little Tern and 2 Great Northern Divers Embo and female King Eider still at Coul Links (Dean MacAskill). Wader passage held up at Dornoch Point with 482 Ringed Plovers, 70 Sanderlings, 6 Whimbrels and 1 Grey Plover, also 3 White Wagtails and an Osprey (Dean MacAskill).

Inverness: Dotterel still at Alturlie early morning  (Stuart Benn), 23 Black-tailed Godwits Muiton Pools (Tommy Youd and Julie Vivers).

Easter Ross: adult Iceland Gull near Cromarty (Kevin Davis), 2 Sedge Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie (Mary Galloway).

Skye & Lochalsh: Jack Snipe Broadford (Martin Benson), 2 Whooper Swans (one with injured foot) still at Black Lochs, Broadford (Martin Benson). 15 Great Northern Divers Sound of Sleat off Aird (KMcA).

12th May

Inverness: Dotterel Alturlie (Blair Whyte).

Easter Ross: 2000 Long-tailed Ducks and 2000 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).

Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull 2CY and 2 Whimbrels Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), 7 Whimbrels Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan).

11th May

Sutherland: Hawfinch in garden Littleferry, present a couple of days (per Stan Holryd).

Inverness: Dotterel in field at Alturlie (Simon Ewing).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Common Crane over Mains of Garten flew towards Loch Garten/Nethybridge (Dave Pullan).

Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie back at Ellishadder (per SG), 11 Whimbrels Broadford Bay & 4 Ashaig (Bob McMillan), Jack Snipe crossed the road (why?) at Head of Loch Slapin (RW), Wood Warbler Skye Shrubs, Portree (TH).
10th May

Sutherland: juvenile Iceland Gull and Bonxie Embo (Dean MacAskill).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Lesser Whitethroat Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan), male Pied Flycatcher Tromiebridge (Dave Pierce), probable Glaucous Gull over Tulloch (Simon Eaves), arrival of Spotted Flycatchers eg 9 Nethybridge (Pete Gordon). Still 16 Pink-footed Geese at Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).

Skye & Lochalsh: 7 Brent Geese Glendale (A Atherton).

9th May

Easter Ross:  Sedge Warbler at Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)

Lochaber: Curlew Sandpiper at Traigh, Morar along with c300 Dunlin (per skye-birds.com)

Skye & Lochalsh: c300 Dunlin, two Sanderling and various wader movement due poor weather in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)

Small arrivals of Swifts in Strathspey and Inverness today

8th May

Badenoch & Strathspey: Black-tailed Godwit Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce)

Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing near Sleat - our friend Bob McMillan of the excellent skye-birds.com website notes this 5th record for Skye brings an unusually high annual count thus far for the species (per skye-birds.com)

7th May

Easter Ross:  Still several thousand Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh: seven Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Whimbrel and single sumplum Knot at Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)

Sutherland:  drake Garganey near Embo (Dean MacAskill)

6th May

Easter Ross: White Wagtail at Portmahomack, while offshore were c2000 Common Scoter with similar number of Long-tailed Duck; a single Velvet Scoter was also recorded (Dave Tanner via Facebook), juvenile Glaucous Gull Munlochy (Robert Wilson), 2 Grasshopper Warblers Quarryfield (Robert Wilson).

Inverness: pair of Shovelers and 2 Stock Doves near Croy (Colin Leslie).

Skye & Lochalsh: 13 Whimbrel at Broadford Bay, skein of c75 Pink-footed Geese over also (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)

5th May

Badenoch and Strathspey: Wood Warbler in Craigellachie NNR (Craig Johnstone)

Inverness: Wood Warbler in Strathglass (Carol Miller via Facebook)

Lochaber: Wood Warbler singing at Lochailort (per skye-birds.com)

Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing in Uig wood, Spotted Flycatcher at Blar Bubh on Eigg, Arctic Tern in Staffin Bay (per skye-birds.com)

4th May

Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing in the Armadale woods, Garden Warbler also (Bob McMillan).  Single Black-tailed Godwit at Balmeanach Bay (per skye-birds.com)

3rd May

Easter Ross: Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail (m.f. thunbergi ssp.) at Portmahomack, two Pomarine Skuas and c1,000 Long-tailed Duck also (Dave Tanner via Facebook)  BIRDERS ARE REMINDED OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES REGARDING NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL

Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull (2cy) at Bayfield, Portree plus Garden Warbler near the town also plus Arctic Terns in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennet/per skye-birds.com)

2nd May

Easter Ross: Arctic Skua Shandwick Bay (Simon Levene). 1000 Long-tailed Ducks still at Portmahomack, also Whitethroat (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: Swifts back at Muirton (Thomas Plant).

Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Eigg (1st record, presemably yesterday's Canna bird?) (John Chester), Wood Warbler Lisergary river walk, Portree (TH), Whimbrels at Rum (1), Broadford (4), Waterloo (14), Teangue, Sleat (8) and Back of Keppoch (21) (per Skye Birds).
1st May

Easter Ross: Whimbrel Portmahomack (Dave Tanner), Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie beach (John Carruthers).

Inverness: 12 Waxwings Westhill (Lynda Graham).

Badenoch and Strathspey: 9 Barnacle Geese Cromdale (feral birds from Highland Wildlife Park?) (per BirdTrack).

Skye & Lochalsh: Whimbrel, Cuckoo and Whinchat on Canna (Ranger Service). Magpie (yesterday's Canna bird?), Yellowhammer, Sedge Warbler and 3 Common Terns Rum (Sean Morris). 14 Whimbrels Back of Keppoch (S MacD), 5 Whimbrels Milovaig (AS).

Lochaber: Mandarin Dalelia, Acharacle (per BirdTrack).

30th April

Sutherland: Female King Eider Coul Links (Dean MacAskill), also there were a Red Kite feeding on a porpoise, a Bonxie, 3 Whimbrels and 6 White Wagtails (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: 2 Common Cranes overflew Strathrusdale (Neil Wilson), 1000 Long-tailed Ducks Portmahomack,also Fieldfare at Golf Course (Dave Tanner), Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie (Mary Galloway).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Whimbrels sound-recorded over Aviemore (Peter Stronach), 2 Pied Flycatchers near Aviemore (Craig Johnstone), 4 Whooper Swans, 56 Pink-footed Geese, Whinchat and Marsh Harrier Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce).

Skye & Lochalsh: A pair of Nuthatches thought to be feeding young Arisaig area (RD, MW), 10 Whimbrels Broadford Bay (Martin Benson)
29th April

Sutherland: 6 Whimbrels, 5 White Wagtails and Arctic Terns Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: 3 Whimbrels Rosemarkie Golf Course (John Carruthers).
 
Badenoch & Strathspey: 2 Pied Flycatchers Craigellachie NNR (per BirdTrack).

Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Canna (GG per Ranger Service) - first record for island. Marsh Harrier over Waterloo, Broadford (Bob McMillan), 8 Whimbrels Waterloo (Bob McMillan), Corncrake Trotternish but no calling birds on Skye yet (NH).

28th April

Easter Ross: Spotted Flycatcher  and 4 Sedge Warblers Portmahomack (Dave Tanner), Magpie Chanonry Point (Mary Galloway), 25 Wheatears near Quarryfield (R Wilson),

Badenoch & Strathspey: male Black Redstart in Boat of Garten garden (Val Inglis).

Skye and Lochalsh: Snow Goose sp Waterstein (RS), Whimbrels - 4 at Loch Portree and 7 at Broadford (Neil Bennett, Bob McMillan), 3 Canada Geese Loch Portree (Neil Bennett) 2 White Wagtails Lower Milovaig (AS), 2 White Wagtails Balmeanach Bay, Braes (WM), Whitethroat Mallaig (NR).  
27th April

Wester Ross: Grasshopper Warbler Ullapool (Andy Williams).

Easter Ross: 2000 Kittiwakes Dornoch Firth - clearly rich feeding there now (Dave Tanner).

Badenoch & Strathspey: immature/female Marsh Harrier Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce). 

Skye and Lochalsh: female Garganey Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)  (if acepted, only 3rd Skye record), 2 Whinchats in Broadford garden (Bob McMillan), singing Sedge Warbler Broadford (Neil Bennett).


26th April
​
Easter Ross: Grasshopper Warbler Quarryfield  (R Wilson).

Inverness: Yellow Wagtail in garden near Inverness (FP per Recorder)

Badenoch & Strathspey: adult Glaucous Gull Cromdale (per BirdGuides), still 20 Pink-footed Geese Nethybridge (Pete Gordon) , 4 Black-tailed Godwits Deshar Pool, Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan). 

Skye & Lochalsh: still 3 Whooper Swans near Broadford (RMcM). Magpie Portnalong (ST), Nuthatch still on feeders, Eigg (JC). 

Lochaber: Magpie near Fort William (SC) 

. This bird 25th April

Badenoch & Strathspey: Cuckoo on Dava moor (pers.comm.).  Waxwing remarkably visiting a seed feeder in a Kincraig garden (Suzi Duncan via Facebook) - this bird is an  escapee, close-ringed in 2017 which may account for unusual diet.

Skye & Lochalsh: Nuthatch on Eigg (1st ever record for the island), and Redwing still present on Rum. 30 Puffin on Loch Poolteil, Skye with sizeable auk sp. movement noted through The Minch.  Iceland Gull (2w) at Bayfield, Portree (per skye-birds.com)

24th April

Badenoch & Strathspey: Pied Flycatcher near Aviemore (pers.comm. - note that one was recorded in this area on 20 April, believed to be the earliest Highland record), Kingfisher near Nethybridge (via BirdTrack)

Inverness:  c20 Waxwings on Druid Road in the city (Simeon Ewing via Facebook).  c30 Golden Plover at Gollanfield (Paul Sharman via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh: Common Whitethroat near Sleat (per skye-birds.com)

23rd April

Inverness:  Cuckoo near Loch Ruthven and four Swifts over Loch Duntelchaig (Linda Kerr via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh: Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler in Scullamus (Bob McMillan)

Sutherland:  Redstart reported in Rogart (David Patterson via Facebook)

22nd April

Badenoch & Strathspey: Kingfisher on the River Spey at Broomhill (via BirdTrack)

Inverness:  Tree Pipit at Balnain, Glen Urquhart (Carol Miller via Facebook)

Skye & Lochalsh: reeling Grasshopper Warbler near Braebost.  Small groups of Greenshank and Whimbrel seen at Loch Portree and Loch Slapin.  Seven Blackcaps singing in woodland at Balmacara (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland:  Hawfinch in Clashnessie (C Puddephat)

21st April

Easter Ross: nine Wheatears around Portmahomack golf course area, plus c300 Long-tailed Duck just offshore (Dave Tanner via Facebook).  Ruddy Shelduck at Ferry Point, Dingwall and Whitethroat recorded on the Black Isle (via BirdTrack)

Lochaber: Hoopoe seen in Corpach  (per skye-birds.com).  Cuckoo at Allt Fearn (via BirdTrack)

Skye & Lochalsh: three reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Leitir Fura, Kinloch with single Garden Warbler and eleven Blackcaps, plus at least two Tree Pipits.  Grasshopper Warbler in Mallaig also.  Whinchat in Drumfearn and Lower Milovaig (per skye-birds.com)

(24/3 to 20/4/20 - SIGHTINGS PAGE SUSPENSION PERIOD IN RESPONSE TO THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEALTH LOCKDOWN)

23rd March

Badenoch & Strathspey: Wheatear near Newtonmore (Dave Pierce via Facebook)

Inverness: two Chiffchaffs on Ardersier common (Paul Sharman via Facebook)

22nd March

Badenoch & Strathspey: three Pintail on Loch Insh (Audrey Turner via Facebook)

Easter Ross: Greenland White-fronted Goose and Pale-belled Brent Goose amongst Pink-feet flock between Balblair and Gordon's Mill (Kevin Davis)

Skye & Lochalsh: Two first-winter Iceland Gulls at the head of Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: two Jays near sub-station at Loch Buidhe, Lairg (Scott Wotherspoon).  Lapland Bunting at Culkein (David Haines).  Four adult Surf Scoters , two Snow Bunting (Dean Macaskill) plus Red-necked Grebe and three Great Northern Divers off Embo (Tim Meredith).  Female Hen Harrier plus 82 Whooper Swans and 47 Velvet Scoters around Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill) -  Dean identified three female Surf Scoters later in the day.

21st March

Sutherland: 5 Surf Scoters (2 ad males, 1 second CY male and 2 females) Embo (Scott Wotherspoon).

Easter Ross: Chiffchaff just E of Hillockhead, near Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis).

Skye & Lochalsh: Adult and First-winter Iceland Gulls and 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls Portree (Neil Bennett), Chiffchaff Lower Milovaig (A Stables), first Wheatear Staffin (Kate Halliday). A Rook at Kildonan, Eigg was first on the island since 2014 (John Chester).

There are 2 male and 4 female Golden Pheasants in grounds of Greshornish Hotel, apparently.

20th March

Sutherland: 3 Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) off Embo Caravan Site (Dean Macaskill).

Inverness: "plenty" Chiffchaffs" singing Craig Dunain (Phil Clark).  

Badenoch & Strathspey: Osprey between Broomhill Bridge and Dulnain Bridge (Neil Stonehouse).

Skye & Lochalsh: possible 2nd winter American Herring Gull, 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls and first-winter Glaucous Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), 2 Blackcaps at feeders Isleornsay (RC), male Yellowhammer Miller's Cottage, Eigg (J Chester), first Great Skua outer Loch Carron (M Bliss). 


19th March

Sutherland: A White-billed Diver flew south at Brorar at 16.00 (Gavin Woodbridge), 3 Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) off Embo Caravan Site (Lynda Graham, Peter Stronach) - an aberrant Common Scoter with extensive yellow on its bill is also present there, Snow Bunting Dornoch (per BirdGuides). 

Inverness: 32 Waxwings in larches Milton of Leys Primary School (David Bain). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: first reported Osprey near Boat of Garten (Neil Stonehouse).

Skye & Lochalsh: probable second winter American Herring Gull, 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls, 4 Iceland Gulls (3 first-winter, 1 second-winter) Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).  
​
18th March

Sutherland: now a pair of Surf Scoters off Embo Caravan Site (Dean Macaskill).

Skye & Lochalsh: 2 first-winter and a second-winter Iceland Gulls Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). Also a female Silver Pheasant.

Also males of Golden Pheasant and Lady Amherst's Pheasant at Strathdearn today (if you're into that kind of thing)
17th March

Sutherland: Drake Surf Scoter showing well by Embo Pier (Dean Macaskill), adult and 2 first-winter Little Gulls flew South past river mouth Brora (per BirdGuides).

Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull at harbour, Ullapool (per BirdGuides). 
​
Inverness: Chiffchaff Merkinch LNR (Alan Macaskill), Kingfisher Whin Pond, Inverness (per BirdTrack), Blackcap Cradlehall (per BirdTrack). 

Lochaber: Nuthatch Inchree (per BirdTrack). 

A Pink-footed Goose ringed in Iceland as an adult in 2017 was seen at Dornoch on 6th March. It spent its first winter in Norfolk but then spent summer 2018 in Lincolnshire. This is the first report since then. 
16th March   

​Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull and adult Glaucous Gull Ullapool Harbour (per BirdGuides). 

15th March

Easter Ross: American Wigeon drake Loch Eye, from jetty by Loch Eye House (Simon Levene). 

Inverness: Kingfisher and 2 Nuthatches Loch Killin (per BirdTrack). 

Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Iceland Gull Chracaig River, Portree (Neil Bennett). 
​

14th March

Easter Ross: single Sandwich Tern off Cromarty and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Kevin Davis).  American Wigeon present again on Loch Eye (Bob Swann)

Inverness: Great Crested Grebe (in summer plumage) off Alturlie, Gadwall on Loch Flemington (Dean MacAskill)

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree along with the 'probable' 2nd winter American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter again off the pier at Embo (George Gay)

13th March

Easter Ross: American Wigeon present again on Loch Eye.  Two Barnacle Geese amongst the Pink-footed Goose flock near LIDL supermarket, Tain (Dean MacAskill)

Lochaber: male American Black Duck reported again at Strontian (per BirdTrack)

12th March

Easter Ross: Pintail noted off Redcastle (Pru Ward via Facebook)

Sutherland: five Snow Buntings and a single Magpie at Dornoch Point.   Drake Surf Scoter off the pier at Embo amongst c300 Common Scoter (Dean MacAskill), Velvet Scoter also reported by BirdTrack

11th March

Badenoch & Strathspey: six Kittiwakes on Loch Insh, 58 Golden Plover also (Dave Pierce via Facebook)

Sutherland: six Little Gulls noted past Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)

10th March

Inverness: Kingfisher in Whin Park (via BirdTrack)

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree again (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: 100 Barnacle Geese at Keoldale, 16 Whooper Swans at Balnakeil (Gordon Birnie via Facebook)

9th March

Easter Ross: two Waxwings near Moor Farm, Tain (per BirdTrack)

Lochaber: male American Black Duck reported again at Strontian (per BirdTrack)

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), joined by a third bird by late morning (Bob McMillan).  Four Greenland White-fronted Geese at Kilmuir (per skye-birds.com)

First Osprey of the season sighted in Caithness airspace on the 6th and again today

8th March

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay, plus pair of Canada Geese at Jemimaville (Jack Harrison)

Lochaber: Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Caol spit (Tony Laidler)

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree in the morning with a different example - with a 2nd winter bird - in the afternoon.  Probable 2nd winter American Herring Gull was again showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: Glaucous Gull at Polin beach, Kinlochbervie (Gordon Birnie via Facebook)
7th March

Easter Ross: five Waxwings in Edderton (Russell Wood via Facebook)

Inverness: 'possible' Grey-bellied Brant near Castle Stuart amongst Pink-footed Geese (per BirdTrack)

Sutherland: Iceland Gull Helmsdale (George Gay).
​
6th March

Sutherland: Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese in field below school, Dornoch (Dean MacAskill), 43 Slavonian Grebes Embo (per BirdTrack).

Inverness: Richardson's Cackling Goose 1.5 miles NE of Culloden, also Grey-bellied Brent Goose (per BirdGuides), Kingfisher Muirton Locks (Tim Meredith). 

Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Chracaigh and second winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). 

​
5th March

Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter off Caravan Park, Embo (per Birdguides). 

Easter Ross: Whimbrel Udale Bay - very early (per BirdTrack). 

Inverness: possible adult Grey-bellied Brent near Culloden at NH752501 (per RBA), Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (per BirdTrack).

Skye & Lochalsh: 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls Portree (N Hinchliffe). juvenile Glaucous Gull Arisaid (R Dyer), juvenile Loch Eil, Duisky (Bob McMillan), pair of Nuthatches nr Arisaig (Bob McMillan), male Mandarin Morar River (per Bob McMillan). 

​
4th March

Easter Ross: White-tailed Eagle, probably 2CY, W over Avoch (Alister Clunas). 
​

3rd March

Sutherland: Snow Bunting on beach just past stream, Coul Links (per BirdGuides).

Badenoch & Strathspey: ca 10 Waxwings Boat of Garten, at first house on left entering village over R Spey (John Poyner). 

Inverness: single Kingfishers at Merkinch LNR and Whin Park, Inverness (David and Judith Edge).

2nd March

Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter with Common Scoters and 1000 Long-tailed Ducks Coul Links (per BirdGuides).

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck "from garage" early afternoon then flew off, Udale Bay (per BirdGuides), 51 pale-bellied Brent Geese plus male Blackcap nearby, Rosemarkie (Kevin Davies). 

Lochaber: Water Pipit at Caol VP, Fort William (per BirdTrack). 
​
1st March

Sutherland: male Surf Scoter at mouth of L Fleet, Coul Links though distant (Dean MacAskill). 

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (Grant Kay). 

Skye & Lochalsh: second winter Glaucous Gull Portree (Neil Bennett), juvenile Glaucous Gull Loch nan Ceal, Arisaig (R Dyer), first winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
29th February

Easter Ross: 28 Red-throated Divers, 76 Common Scoters, 22 Long-tailed Duck plus single Purple Sandpiper at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner).  Single Little Auk and Great Northern Diver off Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith)

Sutherland: Velvet Scoter at Embo - no sign of Surf Scoter but the large scoter raft has moved north, off Coul Links (Dean MacAskill)

28th February

Inverness: four Slavonian Grebes and 65 Black-tailed Godwits at Bunchrew (Al McNee)

Skye & Lochalsh:  1st winter Glaucous Gull at Kildonan Bay, Eigg (via skye-birds.com)

Sutherland:  drake Surf Scoter off Embo, amongst Common Scoter (Dean Macskill)

27th February

Easter Ross: 30 Whooper Swans just south of Moy Bridge, Marybank (Thomas Plant)

Skye & Lochalsh:  two Iceland Gulls, single Glaucous Gull and 4cy Viking Gull at Portree (Bob McMillan)

Sutherland:  three Little Gulls (two adult and one 1st winter) at Brora; two Brent Geese and 26 Purple Sandpipers at Embo (Al McNee), while Dornoch Bay held some 3,500 Common Scoters, two Velvet Scoters and some 800 Eiders (Al McNee/John Carruthers)

26th February

Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck still present on Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck and Slavonian Grebe at Udale Bay (Tim Meredith)

Inverness: Kingfisher at Muirtown Pools, Grey Wagtail on territory in Merkinch LNR (Al McNee)

Skye & Lochalsh:  the 2nd winter American Herring Gull again showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland:  23 Purple Sandpipers and 30 Sanderling at Brora river mouth (Allan Lawrence via Facebook)

25th February

Sutherland:  Slavonian Grebe on Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)
24th February

Sutherland: Little Gull off river mouth, Brora (per BirdGuides), juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale (per BirdGuides). 

Easter Ross: juvenile Glaucous Gull Marybank (per BirdGuides), 2 Barnacle Geese with 500 Pink-footed Geese opposite Wilkhaven Farm House, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). 

Lochaber: early Puffin Castle Tioram (per BirdTrack). 
​
23rd February

Inverness: Little Egret at Borlum Farm, Fort Augustus (per Kenny Hay)

Skye & Lochalsh:  the 2nd winter American Herring Gull showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (moving to Bayfield by afternoon) along with a 1st winter Iceland Gull and 4th winter Viking Gull, with a confirmed second 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield (Neil Bennett).  Tree Sparrow at Lower Milovaig (per skye-birds.com)

Lochaber: male American Black Duck (per BirdGuides).
22nd February

Sutherland: 3 Little Gulls off rivermouth, Brora (per BirdGuides).

Wester Ross: adult  Glaucous Gull and second-winter Iceland Gull, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck (Lynette Clark) and Green-winged Teal (John Poyner) Udale Bay.

Inverness: Snow Goose Arabella (George Gay).

Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), first-winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (N Bennett).

Lochaber: Black Duck by stream Kilcamb Lodge (per BirdGuides).

21st February

Sutherland: 5 Little Gulls off rivermouth, Brora (also Minke Whale swam northwards) (per BirdGuides).

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck off hide, Udale Bay (per BirdGuides), 13 Twite at Nigg (Blair Whyte). 
​
20th February

Easter Ross: Blue morph Snow Goose with 2000 Pink-footed Geese Arabella (NH804753) (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pink-footed Geese Balloch (NH741480) (per BirdGuides). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: 2 Waxwings near Tulloch (per BirdTrack).

Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Lower Milovaig (per BirdTrack), Water Rail Elgol (per BirdTrack).

Lochaber: Black Duck at rivermouth Strontian (per Birdguides).
​
19th February

Sutherland: juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale Harbour (Simon Levene).  120 Snow Buntings at Dornoch, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Embo, single Barnacle and Greenland White-fronted Geese amongst the Pink-footed Goose flock at Golspie, three Greenshank and a Peregrine at Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)

​Easter Ross: juvenile Glaucous Gull at Marybank (per BirdGuides), an adult White-tailed Eagle flew south over Tain Bay (Bob Swann). 
​
18th February

​Lochaber: a Leach's Petrel flying around a fish farm at Lochailort (Stu Crutchfield).
​
17th February

Easter Ross: Kingfisher at Arabella (around grid NH808753 - Simon Levene)

Sutherland: Little Gull off Brora River mouth (per BirdGuides), juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale (per BirdGuides).

Inverness: Short-eared Owl Inverness Airport (Duncan Macdonald). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow -legged Gull and second-winter Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (per BirdGuides). 

Lochaber: Kingfisher Cliff and River Shiel (per BirdGuides). 

16th February

Skye & Lochalsh: a juvenile Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree in morning, later a 2nd winter there (per Skye Birds). 
​
15th February

Easter Ross: single Waxwings - one along school path at Hilton of Cadboll (Judith Levene), the other in Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith). Unconfirmed report of 2 Great White Egrets in ditch at Shadwick Mains, near RSPB NIgg Bay hide, at NH797751 but no subsequent reports. 

Sutherland: 60 Twite and 120 Snow Buntings still around Dornoch Point.  Five Little Gulls seen southbound past Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)

14th February

Easter Ross: unconfirmed reports of two Great Egrets at Nigg Bay, seen from road between RSPB hide and Arabella, with single bird also seen to the north near Shandwick Mains (via John Poyner)

Inverness: Seven Waxwings around Barn Church Road/Moray Park Avenue, Culloden (Howard Loates), others seen at Barn Church Road/Tower Road junction (Mary Galloway)

13th February

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay (Lynda Graham).  Two Pintail off Redcastle (Mary Galloway)

Inverness: c30 Waxwings around Barn Church Road/Moray Park Avenue, Culloden (Howard Loates)

12th February

Skye & Lochalsh:  blue phase Fulmar seen from Uig-Lochmaddy ferry (Steve Duffield via Bob McMillan)

Sutherland:  four Little Gulls  present around the Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)

11th February

Badenoch & Strathspey:  single male Brambling and at least one Lesser Redpoll visiting feeders in an Aviemore garden (Audrey Turner)

Easter Ross: Black-throated Diver off Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Lochalsh:  the putative 2nd winter American Herring Gull showed again at Bayfield, Portree in the afternoon (Bob McMillan et al).   Five Barnacle Geese at Kilmaluag plus 43 others on Staffin Island (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: two Little Gulls still present around the Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
10th February

Easter Ross: 155 Dunlin, 15 Twite, 12 Turnstone plus singletons of Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot at Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis)

Inverness: Waxwing flock still present Tower Road/Culloden Road junction (John Poyner).

Skye & Lochalsh:  white goose of unknown sp. reported with Greylags on Loch Treaslane (via Bob McMillan)

9th February

Badenoch & Strathspey: 190 Lapwings at Duthil (Roy Dennis)

Easter Ross: 125 Whooper Swans and two Shelduck in Drumancroy Bay (Dave Tanner).  Six Pochard at Loch Eye (Simon Levene)

Inverness: 90 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Twite and Skylarks displaying at Lentran (Thomas Plant).  Waxwings now number 53 on Tower Road (Blair Whyte)

Skye & Lochalsh:  first winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree along with the putative American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett). 

Sutherland: two Little Gulls at the Brora river mouth, with a White-tailed Eagle in off the sea (Dean MacAskill)

8th February

Inverness: circa 35 Waxwings still present around Tower Road/Culloden Road junction through the day (Lynda Graham)

Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett) plus another on Loch Scresort, Rum (per skye-birds.com)

7th February

Inverness: 38 Waxwings Tower Road, Inverness (Steve Broyd). 

Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). 

Lochaber: an extremely early report of a Swallow over hills in Lochaber (per Paul Rowan). 

6th February

Sutherland: Nuthatch 100m N of large walkers' car park at Corriehallie (Al McNee).  Meadow Pipits back on breeding territory in the upper levels of the Alladale estate (Roy Dennis)
​
Inverness: 23 Waxwings top of Tower Road, Inverness (Colin Leslie), later 50 there (Simeon Ewing). 3 Brent Geese, 20 Snow Buntings and Grey Plover Whiteness Point (Craig Johnstone).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
 
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 (1st W and 2nd W) Iceland Gulls, Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). 


Lochaber: American Black Duck Strontian (Bob McMillan).

5th February

Sutherland: 106 Snow Buntings on beach at Dornoch (per BirdGuides). 

Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull Chracaig River, Portree but no sign of putative American Herring Gull (Bob McMillan). 

4th February

Inverness: probable pale 1st winter Glaucous Gull between Fort George and Ardersier this evening (Colin Leslie). 

Skye & Lochalsh: the third calendar year gull at Portree was present again. It is thought to be an American Herring Gull but RBA reports it as a Viking Gull (hybrid Herring x Glaucous). For photographs see http://www.skye-birds.com/gallery/skye-birds 
​
3rd February

Sutherland: 7 (5 ads, 2 first-winters) Little Gulls flew south Brora (per BirdGuides).

​Skye & Lochalsh: possible third calendar year American Herring Gull again at Chracaig River, Portree in afternoon (Neil Bennett). 


2nd February

Sutherland: First winter Iceland Gull on broken sea wall Helmsdale Harbour (Dave Tanner), 4000 Common Scoters, 1000 Long-tailed Ducks, 800 Eiders, 100 Scaups, 14 Velvet Scoters distantly from Dornoch Beach car park (Dean MacAskill). 

Easter Ross: 11 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 26 Shovelers Loch Eye (Dean MacAskill), Greenshank Munlochy (Kevin Davis), 33 pale-bellied Brent Geese Rosemarkie Burn (Kenny,Jenny). 

Inverness: 38 Snow Buntings, Pintail and Peregrine Whiteness Bay (Colin Leslie), female Blackcap Westhill garden (Simeon Ewing). 37 pale-bellied Brent Geese Fort George (David Shaw).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker Lochan Mor area (Kate Mennie). 

Skye & Lochalsh: possible third calendar year American Herring Gull Chracaig River, Portree, flew to outer loch (Bob McMillan), 3 Iceland Gulls there (Neil Bennett).


1st February

Easter Ross: single drake Velvet Scoter past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Lochalsh: three Iceland Gulls in Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).  Yellow-legged Gull still present at Loch Pooteil (Andy Stables)

31st January

Inverness: 157 Scaup off Seafield (Dave Pierce)

Skye & Lochalsh: Viking Gull (Glaucous/Herring hybrid sp.) at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)

30th January

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck in Udale Bay (Blair Whyte).  Greenshank at Munlochy Bay (Kevin Davis).  40 Pale-bellied Brent Geese around the burn mouth in Rosemarkie (John Carruthers)

Skye & Lochalsh: four different Iceland Gulls confirmed in the Portree area.  A second winter Herring Gull sp. sighting is also being investigated as features appear akin to American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett via Bob McMillan)

29th January

Easter Ross: two drake Velvet Scoter flew past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).  33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis)

​Skye & Lochalsh: two 2CY Iceland Gulls at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
28th January

Lochaber: 20 Purple Sandpipers at Mallaig harbour (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: 40 Snow Buntings at Dornoch point (Martin Bennett).  Iceland Gull (2CY) in Helmsdale harbour (Alister Clunas).  Nine Slavonian Grebes off Golspie (Blair Whyte)

27th January

Badenoch & Strathspey: Jack Snipe at Drumguish, also 177 Pink-footed Geese at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce)

​Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull again at Lower Milovaig (Andy Stables), first-winter Iceland Gull Loch Portree - a different bird (Neil Bennett). 

26th January

Easter Ross: Long-eared Owl on minor road between Redcastle and Charleston (NH5949 locality - Blair Whyte)

Sutherland: 80+ Snow Bunting at Dornoch Point with single Barnacle Goose amongst Pink-footed Goose flock nearby; two White-tailed Eagles over the Dornoch Firth; three Greenshanks at Loch Fleet; two Little Gulls at Brora (Dean MacAskill)

Wester Ross: Single Pink-footed Goose amongst Greylag flock at Strathcarron (Bob McMillan)
25th January

Badenoch & Strathspey: Female Merlin and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese Lochindorb (per Sue Sykes). 
​
24th January

Sutherland: Nuthatch Corriehallie (Andy Williams) - still a rare bird in Highland, all records wanted.

Inverness: Kingfisher Whin Park (per BirdTrack).

23rd January
​
​Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull again at Bayfield, Portree (Bob McMillan). 
​
22nd January

Sutherland: 167 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (per BirdTrack). 

Easter Ross: 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a ringtail Hen Harrier Udale Bay (Steve Broyd). 9 Brent Geese Rosemarie (Mary Galloway).

Inverness: 2 Grey Plovers and 6 Magpies Whiteness Bay (Jon Clarke). 

Skye & Lochalsh: 50 Barnacle Geese Staffin Bay (Neil Bennett), single Magpies at Kilvaxter and Ellishadder (Neil Bennett). 


21st January

Inverness: 10 Waxwings Cawdor Drive, Inverness (Phil Clark). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull feeding on pheasant at The Lookout, Insh Marshes (per BirdGuides).

​Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Bob McMillan). 

20th January

Sutherland: 2 adult Little Gulls & adult Iceland Gull flew S off Brora River (Dean MacAskill). 

Wester Ross: 2 Iceland Gulls in Harbour, Ullapool (Andy Williams). 

Inverness: Kingfisher Muirton Basin (per BirdTrack). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull still at Insh Marshes (per BirdGuides), female Blackcap in an Aviemore garden (Audrey Turner). 

Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull Talisker (J Cook), probable Iceland Gull flew past Kilmory, Rum (Sean Morris). 
​
19th January

Sutherland: 130 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point but no sign of Water Pipit or Shore Lark (Al McNee).

Easter Ross: Chiffchaff (probably abietinus) in garden Portmahomack for third winter (Dave Tanner).

Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull at The Lookout, Insh Marshes, also Waxwing flew over (Steve Broyd). 

Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull 2nd calendar year Loch Portree (NB), Glaucous Gull 2nd calendar year feeding on dead sheep Luib Score, Duntulm (NH), Glaucous Gull, no age given, Loch Brittle (per BirdGuides).

18th January

Badenoch & Strathspey: Glaucous Gull at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce), Glaucous Gull Loch Garten (per Birdguides).

Easter Ross: 45 Whooper Swans North Tarrel, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)

Lochaber: two Little Auks and two Long-tailed Ducks west of An Caol island, Caol (Tony Laidler)

17th January

Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull off Lub Score, Duntuilm (Bob McMillan)

16th January

Inverness: single Slavonian Grebe off Alturlie (Blair Whyte)

Skye & Lochalsh: single Iceland Gulls at the head of Loch Portree and Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)


15th January

Inverness: Greeland White-fronted Goose and four Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock adjacent to the B9006 at Ardersier (Colin Leslie)

Sutherland: six Little Gulls (mix of ages) at Brora river mouth (Dave Tanner)

14th January

Easter Ross: five Twite in Balintore harbour plus c30 near the hide at Nigg Bay (Simon Levene)

Inverness: c25 Waxwings in the cemetery on Chapel Street (Al McNee), with a singleton sighted on Caulfield Road (Blair Whyte).  Brambling sighted amongst mixed finch flock around beech trees in Daviot at A9/B851 junction (Sue Sykes)

13th January

Inverness: 28 Waxwings in the cemetery on Chapel Street (Thomas Plant via Facebook).

Sutherland: notable seabird movement in the stormy conditions off Embo, with single Great Skua amongst Kittiwakes and Fulmars (Dean MacAskill).  At least 13 Little Gulls (9 adults/4 immature) around Brora river mouth (Al McNee)
12th January

Easter Ross: 135 Whooper Swans, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and 65 Knot at Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)

Inverness: 25 Waxwings on Muirtown Street (Thomas Plant via Facebook).  Male and female Blackcaps in a Cradlehall garden (Blair Whyte)

Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull still at Bayfield, Portree (per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: report of Ring-necked Duck on Loch Loyal (via Andrea Goddard)

11th January

Sutherland: Water Pipit, male Hen Harrier and 60 Snow Buntings (Thomas Plant) also Shore Lark (per BirdGuides), adult + 1st winter Little Gull Brora (Dean MacAskill).  Possible Ross's Gull sighting at Balnakeil Bay (Chris Spray via John Poyner) - more information required.

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Portree (Bob McMillan). 


10th January

Sutherland: 2 adult Little Gulls off river mouth, Brora (per BirdGuides). 

Easter Ross: Greenland White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese just north of Gordon's Mill/Kirkmichael (Kevin Davis). 

​Lochaber: 76 Greenland White-fronted Geese Kentra Moss (per BirdTrack) - one of the very few regular flocks in our area.

​
9th January

Sutherland: Shore Lark east side beach, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), Ring-necked Duck Loch Ospidale, Skibo Castle (Dean MacAskill).

Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull near rivermouth, Ardmair (per BirdGuides). 

Easter Ross: 11 pale-bellied Brent Geese Nigg Hide (Dave Tanner), 4 Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese Poyntzfield, west of Udale Bay (Kevin Davis), Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (per BirdGuides).

Inverness: Waxwing by B9006 at national speed limit Westhill, Inverness (Kate)

​Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull (no age given) Duntulm, Skye (per Birdguides).

See late report of Green-winged Teal Udale Bay 3rd January.
8th January

​Inverness: Lesser Snow Goose (blue morph) and 2CY Greenland White-fronted Goose by A96 near Blackcastle at NH825539 - just in Highland Recording area (Craig Johnstone and Pete Gordon).
​
7th January

Inverness: Snow Goose (blue morph) and Greenland White-fronted Goose by A96 near Blackcastle at NH825542 (George Gay), Great Crested Grebe off Alturlie Sewage Works (Colin Leslie).

A moribund 25-tonne Sperm Whale was beached at Ardersier and died.

Badenoch and Strathspey: drake American Wigeon Insh Marshes, viewed from The Lookout (per BirdGuides). 
​
6th January

Sutherland: Shore Lark, Water Pipit, 30 Twite, 70 Snow Buntings on beach at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill).
​

5th January

Sutherland: Shore Lark on west side weed bank at Dornoch Point (Bob Swann).

Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pinkfeet by A96 opposite Highland Camper Vans (Mel Greenhalgh).
This bird in this sighting has subsequently been re-identified by Killian Mullarney, from photographs, as a Light-bellied Brent Goose.

Skye & Lochalsh: first-winter Iceland Gull briefly Portree Harbour (Neil Bennett), adult Yellow-legged Gull Lower Milovaig (AS).

4th January

Easter Ross: American Wigeon still present on Loch Eye (Bob Swann).  At Tain Links, around 70 Pintail and 45 Black-tailed Godwit (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: male Blackcap in a Cradlehall garden (Blair Whyte).  Three Whooper Swans on the lochan next to A96 at Culblair, opposite Dalcross Airport (Mike Crutch)

Skye & Lochalsh: 19 Bar-tailed Godwits at Broadford Bay, with 16 at Loch Portree.  Three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort, with in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: Water Pipit still on west side of Dornoch point, with around 120 Snow Bunting also  (Dean MacAskill)

3rd January

Sutherland: 3 Little Gulls Brora (per BirdGuides). 

Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal Udale Bay (per Mary Galloway). 
​
Skye & Lochalsh: adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS).

2nd January

Lochaber: American Black Duck Strontian (per Birdguides), also Canada Goose there.

1st January

Sutherland: Water Pipit Dornoch Point (per BirdTrack).

Easter Ross: two Waxwings near Hilton of Cadboll school (Judith Levene)

Skye & Localsh: Shoveler pair at Glas Eilean, Broadford (Bob McMillan)



2019

31st December

Inverness: Richardson's Cackling Goose seen with Pink-footed Goose flock east of Dalcross Airport alongside Old Military Road between Ardersier and A96 at lunchtime (I Broadbent/ J Nadin et al via Peter Stronach)

Skye & Lochalsh: three Slavonian Grebes in Broadford bay (per skye-birds.com)

30th December

Badenoch and Strathspey: no sign of American Wigeon on Loch Insh, however two Long-tailed Ducks and single drake Shoveler present (Pete Gordon)

Inverness: two Whooper Swans on the lochan next to A96 at Culblair, opposite Dalcross Airport (Mike Crutch)

Skye & Localsh: 17 Bar-tailed Godwits in Broadford Bay, with a single Knot.  Small numbers of Whooper Swans on Loch Shiel, Loch Meodal and at Inverinate (per skye-birds.com)

29th December

Badenoch and Strathspey: drake American Wigeon on Loch Insh (Audrey Turner)

Inverness: possible Grey-bellied Brant (a bird has been recently recorded at Nairn, with the Dark-bellied Brent Goose also) with four Barnacle Geese and around 2,000 Pink-footed Geese near Castle Stuart Links (Tim Stowe).  150 plus Scaup at Alturlie, 11 Pintail nearby at Seafield (Dave Pierce)

Sutherland:  Shore Lark at Dornoch (John Carruthers), plus  Water Pipit at Dornoch Point, plus drake Ring-necked Duck still at western end of Loch Evelix with Tufted Ducks (Al McNee) plus single Jack Snipe flushed loch-side (Blair Whyte).  Two adult Little Gulls at Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)

28th December

Sutherland: drake Ring-necked Duck with Tufted Ducks from causeway, Loch Evelix (Bob Wilson), Shore Lark and 25 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (Alastair Matthewson), also Water Pipit there (per BirdGuides). 

Easter Ross: 2 Grey Plovers and 3 Shovelers Nigg Hide (Dean MacAskill).

Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose opposite Castle Stuart Links (per BirdGuides). 

Badenoch and Strathspey: drake American Wigeon Loch Insh (per BirdGuides).
​
27th December

Inverness:  adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose opposite Castle Stuart Links (per BirdGuides),  Kingfisher Merkinch LNR Inner basin, then Muirton Basin (Alastair Matthewson).

​Skye and Lochalsh: first-winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
​
26th December

Sutherland: Shore Lark, Water Pipit and 25 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (Scott Wotherspoon), first-winter Glaucous Gull, adult Iceland Gull, Great Skua and 4 Little Gulls Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill). 

Badenoch and Strathspey: male American Wigeon Loch Insh, SW end seen from railway (Dave Pierce). 

25th December

Easter Ross: Waxwing Obsdale Road, Alness (Ian Herd).

Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS). 
​
24th December

Sutherland: Ring-necked Duck, probably first-winter, Loch Evelix (Dean MacAskill). 

​Easter Ross: Waxwing at 60 Obsdale Road, Alness (Ian Herd), Great Skua Tarbat Ness. flew into Dornoch Firth (Dave Tanner). 
​
23rd December

No noteworthy reports.

22nd December

Easter Ross: Female Hen Harrier Udale Bay (Tim Meredith). 

Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull head of Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). 

​
21st December

Sutherland: Shore Lark still showing at Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)

20th December

Easter Ross: American Wigeon still showing on Loch Eye, plus ten Pochard (Bob Swann)

Inverness: Water Rail heard amongst reeds on a small pond on the Carse of Ardersier (Blair Whyte)

Wester Ross:  201 Barnacle Geese at Mungasdale, 23 Great Northern Divers off Laide with five more along with six Black-throated Divers at Little Gruinard (Andy Williams)

19th December

Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker heard in Anagach woods, Grantown-on-Spey (via Facebook)

Easter Ross: probable Siberian Chiffchaff near allotments in Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis)

18th December

Skye & Localsh: first winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree, with an adult bird at the head of Loch Portree (Neill Bennett)

17th December

Skye & Localsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Broadford Bay (Neill Bennett)

Sutherland: Water Pipit x 2 and Shore Lark, amongst Rock and Meadow Pipits plus 32 Snow Bunting, feeding in tideline at Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)

16th December

Inverness: no sign of the Cackling Goose ssp. today near Balloch, though Grey-bellied Brent Goose plus three Barnacle Geese still present; five Slavonian Grebes off Alturlie Point (Andy Williams et al)

Sutherland: five Waxwings near Dornoch fire station (Dean MacAskill)

15th December

Inverness: possible Richardson's Cackling Goose still between Balloch and Newton of Petty at 57.505N 4.112W or grid NH735480, also adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose plus two Barnacle Geese present with same flock (Peter Stronach, Al McNee et al, through 1330hrs at least).

Lochaber: Kingfisher at mouth of River Nevis, grid NN108746 (Tony Laidler),

Skye & Localsh: two Iceland Gulls at Ashaig, Broadford (Bob McMillan)
 
14th December

Wester Ross: Waxwing over Castle Terrace, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
​
Easter Ross: drake American Wigeon Loch Eye (Bob Swann). 

Inverness: Richardson's Cackling Goose between Balloch and Newton of Petty at 57.505N 4.112W NH735480, also adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose and 2 Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese (per Birdguides).   Male Gadwall Loch Flemington (Blair Whyte).

Skye & Lochalsh: first-winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (JDJ). 
​
13th December

Sutherland: Shore Lark with 20 Snow Buntings Dornoch (Mark Breaks).

Wester Ross: adult Glaucous Gull on spit at Loch Broom, visible from Castle Terrace, Ullapool (per Birdguides), Kingfisher Clachan Estuary, Lochbroom (Tessa Rhodes).

Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (Alister Clunas)

Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Blue Snow Goose Newton of Petty (Mark Breaks).



12th December

Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose again near Castle Stuart at approximately NH751506 (per Birdguides)

​Skye & Lochalsh: male Blackcap at feeders Kyleakin (AH).
​ 
11th December

Easter Ross: 6 Black-tailed Godwits Udale Bay (per BirdTrack), male Hen Harrier near Tullich Wood, Munlochy (Bob Wilson).

Inverness: Black-tailed Godwit Alturlie (Colin Leslie).

Skye & Lochalsh: male Blackcap at feeders Achnahanaid, Braes (GR).
​
10th December

​Inverness: Kingfisher by canal at Torvean, Inverness (Alan MacAskill), Grey Wagtail River Ness, Inverness (Alan MacAskill). 

Skye & Lochalsh: first winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).

9th December

​Sutherland: Shore Lark Dornoch Point (per BirdGuides)

​Inverness: 12 Waxwings opposite Muirtown Primary School, King Brude Road (per BirdGuides).

Badenoch and Strathspey: 30 Waxwings flew past Forest Lodge, Abernethy Forest (Desmond Dugan). 
​
8th December

Sutherland: 10 adult Little Gulls Brora rivermouth and 2 first-winters flew S there (Dean MacAskill). 

Easter Ross: Chiffchaff Tain - Moor Farm - High Mills -Hartfield Farm Road (sic) (per Birdtrack).

Inverness: Great Crested Grebe Allanfearn, Alturlie (per Birdtrack)

Skye & Lochalsh: adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), first-winter Iceland Gull Loch Portree (Neil Bennett).
​
7th December

Sutherland:  Shore Lark still present at Dornoch point, twelve Snow Buntings also (Dean MacAskill)

6th December

Inverness:  Kingfisher on the River Ness near Whin Park (Carol Miller)

5th December

Badenoch & Strathspey:  late report of Great Grey Shrike at Milton Loch, Boat of Garten on 29 November (Sandy Young via Peter Stronach)

Inverness:  Single Pale-bellied Brent Goose and two Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock at Castle Stuart/West Dalziel (Blair Whyte)

Skye & Localsh: three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort (per skye-birds.com)

4th December

Easter Ross:  Two Swallows at Tain links (Kev Cuthbert)

3rd December

Sutherland:  Shore Lark still present at Dornoch point (Bob Swann)

2nd December

Easter Ross:  Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay (John Poyner)

Sutherland:  Shore Lark still present at Dornoch point, 300m east.  Male Hen Harrier in the area also (Al McNee)

1st December

Easter Ross: single Waxwing in Rosemarkie (per Peter Stronach)

Skye & Localsh:  two female Common Scoter in Uig bay.  Small numbers of Whooper Swans in the area (Loch Dunvegan, Kinloch and Arisaig - per skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: three Little Gulls around the river mouth in Brora.  Red-necked Grebe off Embo near the caravan park (Dean MacAskill)

30th November

Sutherland: Shore Lark on tideline at Dornoch Point (per BirdGuides).

Easter Ross: probable Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Fortrose towards Avoch but not relocated (Bob Wilson).

​Skye & Lochalsh: male Blackcap on feeders Dunhallin, Waternish (RA). 

29th November.

No news today
28th November

Wester Ross: Siberian Chiffchaff Ardmair (Andy Williams).

Easter Ross: 3 Waxwings Greenside Avenue, Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis). 

Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose near Castle Stuart (Jon Clarke), 2 Grey Plovers and 30 Snow Buntings Whiteness (Jon Clarke), 2 Shovelers and 2 Barnacle Geese Alturlie Pools (Blair Whyte), Great Skua Ardersier (per BirdTrack).
​
27th November

Sutherland:  "putative" 1st winter Kumlien's Gull feeding by pier, Embo, also adult Little Gull and 4 Great Skuas north there (all Dean MacAskill), immature Pomarine Skua and 3 Snow Buntings (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: Arctic Skua Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis).

Skye & Lochalsh: Tree Sparrow at Lower Minovaig (rare in winter on Skye) (AS).

Lochaber: Nuthatch Port na h'uamha, Loch Sunart (per BirdGuides)
​
The Hume's Warbler at Tarbat Ness from 5 November has been confirmed by DNA analysis as belonging to the (expected) humei subspecies.
26th November

Wester Ross: 2 Snow Buntings on north side of Bealach na Ba, Applecross (Bob McMillan).

Easter Ross: European White-fronted Goose (per BirdGuides).

Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose ​with Pink-footed Geese near Castle Stuart (Peter Stronach), also 2 Barnacle Geese (Blair Whyte). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing in garden next to Anagach Woods, Grantown on Spey (per BirdGuides).


25th November

Sutherland: 1st winter Iceland Gull west of Eilean Hoan, Durness (per BirdGuides), at least 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs around Durness Kirk (per BirdGuides), Siberian Chiffchaff Craft Village, Balnakeil (per BirdGuides). 

Easter Ross: male American Wigeon still on Loch Eye (Bob Swann), Kingfisher on boating pond at Dingwall (Andy Williams).

Inverness: Red-necked Grebe Fort George, seen from car park at west end (Allan Lawrence).

Skye & Lochalsh: another male Blackcap in garden at Portnalong (AS).


​A Cormorant at Loch Insh on 23rd November had been ringed as a pullus in April 2016 at Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Nottingham
​
24th November

Inverness: Grey-bellied Brant Castle Stuart at approximately  NH750503 (per Sam Viles) - presumably last winter's bird. 2 Black Guillemots Fort George (Colin Leslie), 10 Waxwings Murray Terrace, Smithtown (Catherine Clark), Kingfisher between last two lock gates Muirtown (Blair Whyte).

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennet) - different to bird of 23rd, male Blackcap on fallen apples Kyleakin (HS). 

​
23rd November

Inverness: drake American Wigeon at Merkinch (Colin Leslie)

Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (per BirdGuides)

22nd November

Inverness: 35 Waxwings in the Bught Park area (Martin Benson).  Intermediate phase Snow Goose with five Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock opposite Castle Stuart golf course entrance, best viewed from Easter Dalziel road (Colin Leslie)

Skye & Localsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: Shore Lark still present at Dornoch, along the burn running towards the point.  Circa 30 Snow Buntings also (Stuart Edwards)

21st November

Inverness: 50+ Waxwings around Inshes roundabout (Susan Seright)

Sutherland: three Little Gulls past Brora.  Shore Lark still present - with Snow Buntings - feeding in the tide line at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill)
20th November

Inverness: 35+ Waxwings around Inshes roundabout (per local reports).  Great Crested Grebe just off Milton of Culloden, with 14 Pintail nearby, while at Alturlie were 84 Scaup (Dave Pierce)

19th November

Easter Ross: American Wigeon on Loch Eye, nine Pochard and three Barnacle Geese present also (Dean MacAskill)

Skye & Localsh:  Yellow-legged Gull at Lower Milovaig, three Slavonian Grebes at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: Snow Bunting on Dornoch beach (Simon Levene), plus a Shore Lark foraging towards the point.  Greenland White-fronted Goose at Embo plus two Pale-bellied Brent Geese (Dean MacAskill)

18th November

Skye & Localsh:  three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort, three in Broadford Bay and two off Lusa (per www.skye-birds.com)

17th November

Easter Ross: Waxwings still present on Shore Road, Tain (Dean MacAskill)

Skye & Lochalsh:  1st winter Mediterranean Gull on Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)

Sutherland: Greenland White-fronted Goose at Dornoch amongst Pink-footed Geese flock (Dean MacAskill)

16th November

Badenoch & Strathspey:  single Snow Bunting at roadside, north end of Lochindorb (John Picton).  Drake Pochard on Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)

Easter Ross: four Waxwings at Aldie farm, Tain (per R & G Aitken)

Lochaber: three Long-tailed Ducks on the River Lochy estuary near to Caol spit (Tony Laidler)

15th November

Easter Ross: At Udale Bay, single Kingfisher, Ruddy Shelduck and Shoveler plus eight Black-tailed Godwit.  Also circa 335 Scaup off Jemimaville (Kevin Davis)

Inverness: drake Green-winged Teal on Loch Flemington (per Peter Stronach).  30 Waxwings on Muirton Street, Inverness (Al McNee).  Kingfisher at Muirton basin (Tim Meredith)

14th November

Badenoch & Strathspey:  single Waxwing by the Aviemore police station (Duncan Macdonald via Facebook)

13th November

Easter Ross: 20 Waxwings in Tain (junction of A9/Hartfield Gardens)

Skye & Localsh: Mediterranean Gull (1st winter) on Loch Portree (Neil Bennett).  Single Chiffchaff in Uig woods (per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland:  Short-eared Owl over Dornoch airfield, seven Snow Buntings on beach near Dornoch point (Bob Wilson)


no reports for 12th November

11th November

Easter Ross: Swallow Hilton of Cadboll (per BirdTrack), Hume's Warbler still at Tarbat Ness (per Birdguides).

Inverness: 30+ Waxwings Muirtown Street (Simeon Ewing), 3 Waxwings Raigmore Hospital Car Park (Alison Fraser).

Badenoch & Strathspey: 1 Waxwing in a private garden north Aviemore (Audrey Turner), Northern Gannet recently Loch an Eilein (per Birdguides), female Long-tailed Duck and female Common Scoter Lochindorb (per Birdguides).

Skye & Lochalsh: Brent Goose Stein, Waternish (CM per Skye Birds),  Waxwing Portree (WH, per Skye Birds).
​
10th November

Sutherland: No sign of Red-breasted Flycatcher at Keoldale but Waxwing present, also Little Egret at Kyle of Durness, plus 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs in willows east of Durness Church (Bob McMillan).

Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler Tarbat Ness (Alastair Matthewson), Ruddy Shelduck & Little Egret Udale Bay (P Clark).

Inverness: American Wigeon and Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (Blair Whyte).

​Lochaber: 2 Snow Buntings around lighthouse, Ardnamurchan (per BirdGuides).

9th November

Sutherland: Little Egret Achnahaird (per Stuart Edwards), Hoopoe near Reiff (per Stuart Edwards).

Ross: Hume's Warbler still in nettles and willows at Tarbat Ness (Steve Broyd), Snow Bunting Tarbat Ness (Steve Broyd), Jack Snipe, Blackcap and Swallow South Sutor (Kevin Davis). 

Inverness: dead Little Auk Whiteness (Colin Leslie). 

Skye and Lochalsh: Tree Sparrow at feeders Milovaig (AS) - autumn records on Skye are rare.


​
8th November

Skye & Localsh: two Waxwings at Drynoch, 40 Golden Plover at Feorlig (Bob McMillan)

Sutherland: Red-breasted Flycatcher (female or 1st winter bird) in plantation at Keoldale, grid NC386652. Five Siberian Chiffchaffs in willows just east of Durness kirk (Andy Williams)

7th November

Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed Geese on stubble south of entrance track to Brucefield Farm, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: 20 Waxwings Garbole, Strathdearn (John Poyner).  American Wigeon near the Clachnaharry sea lock, Kingfisher at Muirtown Pool (Al McNee)

Wester Ross: 8 Waxwings at Inverbroom farm, Ullapool (Tessa Rhodes)

6th November

Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Pullan, Peter Norgate), "Several" Waxwings Godsman Tyres, Tain (Dean McAskill), 12 Waxwings Recycling Centre, Shore Road, Tain (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: 12 Waxwings near courtyard Muirtown Street, Inverness (Simeon Ewing).

​Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck Loch Insh, present for a week (Dave Pierce) - a rare inland record.
5th November

Sutherland: Siberian Chiffchaff Midgarty, south of Portgordon (Dean McAskill), 3 Waxwings Dornoch (per SOC Member).

Wester Ross: 5 Waxwings by bridge, Moss Road, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).

Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler by pool in willows and nearby nettle bed Tarbat Ness NH940875 (Peter Stronach, Bob Swann), Olive-backed Pipit in plantation Tarbat Ness (Peter Stronach, Bob Swann), Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (C Johnstone), Little Egret Udale Bay (John Poyner), 3 Little Auks & 2 Arctic Skuas Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis).

The Hume's Warbler (a first for Highland) was trapped and ringed today and had been heard three days ago. The Pipit (probably a first for Highland) was not seen in the afternoon.

Inverness: 9 Waxwings by Barn Church Road, south Of Culloden Academy, Culloden (SOC Member), 2 Waxwings Harrowden Road, Inverness (Sam Borthwick).

Skye & Lochalsh: Adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), 2 Waxwings Tianavaig Place, Portree (per BirdGuides).

Lochaber: male Black Duck downstream of second bridge on Strontian River (per Birdguides).


4th November

Sutherland: Hoopoe near Summer Isles Hotel, Aciltibuie (Stuart Edwards), six Little Auks past Embo this morning, with afternoon skua passage southbound into the Dornoch Firth noted including twelve Pomarine Skuas (9 adult/3 juveniles) and single Arctic Skua (Dean MacAskill). Swallow again at Inverpolly (Stuart Edwards). 

Inverness: 7 Waxwings by Barn Church Road, south Of Culloden Academy, Culloden mid afternoon (per Birdguides).

Skye & Lochalsh: 6 Waxwings Ardvasar (per RBA), 2 Orbost (LS). 

Lochaber: Swallow Acharacle (per BirdTrack).

3rd November

Easter Ross: Little Auk at Chanonry Point (Alister Clunas) plus Sooty Shearwater (Mary Galloway).  Off/at Tarbart Ness 1st winter Iceland Gull, 3 Great Skua, 3 Purple Sandpiper plus significant Kittiwake and Gannet movement (Dave Tanner)

Wester Ross: two Iceland Gulls still present at Applecross (Pete Gordon).  Two Waxwings in Ullapool (Andy Williams)

2nd November

Skye & Localsh: Chiffchaff at Kilmory Glen, Rum.  Four Slavonian Grebes still present on Loch Ainort (per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: two Sooty Shearwater, three Manx Shearwater, single Little Auk, twelve Great Skua, two Arctic Skua and eleven Little Gulls past Brora, with significant Gannet passage (1600/hour) offshore.  Also 1st winter Glaucous Gull and single Little Gull at the river mouth (Dean MacAskill)

Wester Ross: two Iceland Gulls at Applecross (Pete Gordon).  Six Waxwings in Ullapool (Andy Williams)

1st November

Easter Ross: Kingfisher along the River Peffery in Dingwall (Doreen Manson).  Drake American Wigeon still on Loch Eye, along with 17 Pochard and 700 Whooper Swans (Bob Swann).  Single Swallow at Nigg (Blair Whyte)

Skye & Localsh: Iceland Gull at Kilmory, Rum.  Two Swallows at Arisaig.  Four Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort (all per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: 60 Twite at Brora (by the radio station).  At Embo, twelve Twite, adult Little Gull and nine Slavonian Grebes.  At Dornoch point, a single Merlin along with two Snow Bunting, four Grey Plover and 17 Rock Pipits (Dean MacAskill)

Wester Ross: see late report of Hoopoe on 31st October below


31st October

Sutherland: late Swallow Inverpolly (Stuart Edwards), Waxwing Midgarty Burn, south of Portgower (Dean McAskill). 

Easter Ross: Waxwing Ardvannie, Edderton (Bob Swann). 

Wester Ross: Hoopoe videoed near the Am Fuaran Bar, Altandhu (postcode IV26 2YR, per Stuart Edwards)

Badenoch & Strathspey: 20 Waxwings N end of Aviemore (Bob Turner).

Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Kilvaxter (Bob McMillan) - a rare Skye record.



30th October

Still no news,


29th October

Sutherland: Tengmalm's Owl 2 miles south of Forsinard, flushed from fenceposts by A897 and went into forestry on east side at approx. NC881400 late at night (per BirdGuides), 2 (ad and 1st W) Little Gulls Brora (Jenny & Al McNee). Probable Siberian Chiffchaff by waterworks building NC904034 Brora (Dean McAskill).

Easter Ross: adult Little Gull Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). 

Inverness: Waxwing in private garden, Inverness (per Birdguides). 

Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing Mackenzie Crescent, Nethybridge (John Poyner).

Skye & Lochalsh: Little Egret on pool at Ardelve, Lochalsh, flew up Loch Long (BN), late juv Whinchat Gedintaillor, Braes (Neil Bennett), Brent Goose Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett), 6 Long-tailed Tits Lower Milovaig (AS).
These Long-tailed Tits were the first there since 2008 and are part of an unusual westward movement with birds also noted on Rum yesterday and today on Tiree, the first there since 2013.
​
28th October

Sutherland: 3 1st W Little Gulls Brora rivermouth (Dean McAskill).

​Easter Ross: Kingfisher between Tarradale and Tomich Burn on Beauly Firth (Martin Hind).

Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (per Birdguides). 

Badenoch and Strathspey: Great Grey Shrike Mossbank, near Nethybridge NJ04225 (Pete Gordon), 

Skye & Lochalsh: Lapland Bunting Oronsay, Ullinish (per Bob McMillan). 


27th October

Sutherland: 8 Snow Buntings and 3 Grey Plovers Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill).

Wester Ross: adult Glaucous (or Viking) Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).

Easter Ross: Little Egret and Greenland White-fronted Goose Udale Bay (Blair Whyte), White-fronted Goose Killen (Blair Whyte), 2 Black-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).

Skye & Lochalsh: 2 (late) Swallows Harrapool (Martin Benson). 
​
26th October

Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (Colin Leslie, Sam Borthwick), Kingfisher Merkinch (Sam Borthwick).

Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing Nethybridge (by Nethy House Café, then Craigmore Crescent) (Pete Gordon).

Skye & Lochalsh: juv Brent Goose Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)


25th October

Sutherland: 2 Swallows and 1 Arctic Tern (all late) Loch Fleet (Dave Slater).

Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (Kevin Davis), drake American Wigeon by jetty on far side Loch Eye (Dave Tanner).

Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (per BirdTrack). 

Skye and Lochalsh: Brent Goose Loch Ailort (SC), Brent Goose Glas Eilean, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
​


24th October

Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (J Poyner).

Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull Portree, flew to Big Skerry off Scorrybreac (per Birdguides),33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (>50% juvemiles) Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett), 7 Gadwalls Broadford Bay, then flew south (R McMillan), 5 Brent Geese KIlmory, Rum (Sean Morris), Iceland Gull 1CY Kildonan, Eigg (JS), Jack Snipe Kildonan, Eigg (JS).

​Lochaber: 54 Greenland White-fronted Geese Kentra Moss (per BirdTrack).

23rd October

Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent Goose still near Ullapool river mouth (Andy Williams), adult Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring hybrid) back at Ullapool (per R Archer).

​Lochaber: male Black Duck Strontian (upstream beyond second bridge then flew to river mouth) (per Birdguides). 
22nd October

Skye & Localsh: 35 Redshank in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/Neil Bennett)

Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent Goose near Ullapool river mouth (Andy Williams).  Adult Viking Gull in Ullapool also (R Archer)
21st October

Easter Ross: Little Egret at Udale Bay (Gary Deplacido)

Inverness: single European White-fronted Goose seen near Norbord plant floods (with Pink-footed Geese) before flying towards Castle Stuart (Jon Clarke).  Swallow seen over Seafield Road earlier in the day (Sam Borthwick)

Skye & Localsh: 500 plus Fieldfare at Falls of Glomach, Morvich (Mary Galloway). Brambling at Kinloch and Kilmory, Rum. Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (both per www.skye-birds.com)

Wester Ross: Grey Plover at Achnahaird, NW of the dunes (Andy Williams)
20th October

Sutherland: single Waxwings near Durness health centre and in Kinlochbervie (Andy WIlliams).  Jack Snipe and Black Redstart in field near old radio station, Brora - latter near the big dune, adult plus 1st winter Little Gulls near the river mouth at Brora, single Snow Bunting on Dornoch beach (Dean MacAskill).  Great Egret at Kinbrace around grid ref NC841314 (C L Mitchell via Facebook)
19th October

Inverness: 25 Whooper Swans over the city (Sam Borthwick)

Skye & Localsh: Little Gull juvenile in Broadford Bay (per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: two Chiffchaff (one possibly Siberian ssp) along the Midgarty Burn, Portgower grid area NC9912, first winter Iceland Gull off Embo pier (Dean MacAskill),

Wester Ross: five Slavonian Grebes on upper Loch Torridon (Bob McMillan)
18th October

Easter Ross: Iceland Gull (1st winter) and Little Gull at Tarbart Ness  (Dave Tanner).

Skye & Localsh: Yellow-browed Warbler in vicinity of Miller's Cottage, Eigg (J Chester)

17th October

Easter Ross: 14 Whooper Swan at Tarbart Ness  (Dave Tanner).  Little Egret at Udale Bay (Pru Ward)

Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler in vicinity of Balnakiel craft village, Durness (Andy Williams)

16th October

Easter Ross: Jack Snipe at Tarbart Ness  (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Localsh:  Yellow-browed Warbler in Kilmory Glen, Rum (per www.skye-birds.com)

15th October

Easter Ross: 65+ Slavonian Grebes on the Cromarty Firth, plus circa 250 Scaup (John Poyner)

Inverness: two Kingfishers at Muirtown Pools (Alan MacAskill)

Skye & Localsh: wing tagged Red Kite over Loch Bay, Waternish (per www.skye-birds.com)

14th October

Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler ringed at Lentran (Alex Penn via Facebook)

Skye & Localsh: some 3,000 estimated Redwings through the Broadford area this morning (per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland: one, possibly two Yellow-browed Warblers plus three Blackcaps along the Midgarty Burn, Portgower grid NC996125 (Dean MacAskill)

13th October

Caithness:  unconfirmed report of Siberian Lesser Whitethroat at Noss Head (per Birdguides)

Easter Ross: drake American Wigeon on Loch Eye, plus 2 Gadwall and 8 Pochard.  Six hundred plus Whooper Swans on nearby fields (Bob Swann).  Kingfisher seen from the bridge in Avoch (John Carruthers)

Skye & Localsh: 25 Black-throated Divers in Kilmarie Bay, Loch Slapin, Skye (Bob McMillan).  Yellow-browed Warbler still behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Martin Benson).  Glaucous Gull at Aird Bernisdale (per www.skye-birds.com)

Sutherland:  Great Egret eastern end of Loch Borralan, Altnacealgach (David Haines; late report of this bird from 10th October also received today from Mark Keighley).  Adult Little Gull plus 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls near the river mouth at Brora (Dean MacAskill)

12th October

Easter Ross: three Whooper Swans over Tarbart Ness.  Significant Gannet and auk sp. movement/feeding over the water and into the Dornich Firth (Dave Tanner).  Hobby at Lentran, plus Yellow-browed Warbler ringed nearby (Alex Penn via Facebook)

Inverness: three Grey Plovers, Fort George (Colin Leslie).  Yellow-browed Warbler near cow field on west side of Loch Flemington (per Birdguides)

Skye & Localsh: 6 Slavonian Grebes in outer Loch Ainort plus two in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett).  Continued movement of Whooper Swans in and around Skye

Sutherland: juvenile Little Gull in wader roost at Dornoch Point (Dave Tanner)

11th October

Badenoch and Strathspey: Sixteen Swallows feeding over Insh this evening (Dave Pierce)

Easter Ross: five Whooper Swans over Portmahomack plus single Arctic Skua at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)

Skye & Localsh: Barnacle Goose 14 south over Kilmory, Rum (Sean Morris).  Whooper Swan - birds migrating late last night over Lower Milovaig (Andy Stables); 9 east over Kildonan, Eigg (JC); 10 resting Duisdale Bay, Sleat (NH) & 9 on Loch Harport (Bob McMillan).  Bar-tailed Godwit 20 in Broadford Bay plus two Knot and three Golden Plover (Bob McMillan).  Wheatear singleton in Kinloch Glen, Rum (Sean Morris).

Sutherland: Grey Phalarope showed all day through 1630hrs alongside the River Borgie by footbridge in area of Dalness, grid ref NC653546 (Peter Cosgrove et al).  Adult Little Gull plus 1st winter Iceland Gull near the river mouth at Brora (Mark Keighley)
10th October

Easter Ross: single Arctic Skua off Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)

Sutherland: Grey Phalarope both on and alongside the River Borgie by footbridge in area of Dalness, grid ref NC652545 (Peter Cosgrove).  At Strathy Point, 11 Barnacle Geese, 26 Sooty Shearwater and single Storm Petrel (Dean McAskill).  At Brora, two Purple Sandpipers, two House Martins and four Little Gulls (Mary Galloway)
9th October

Inverness: Curlew Sandpiper Whiteness Bay (Colin Leslie).

Easter Ross: Whimbrel at Dalmore pier, Cromarty (Jimmy Fraser)

Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Little Terns still at Broadford Bay, also adult Little Gull (Neil Bennett, Martin Benson, Bob McMillan). A Dark-bellied Brent Goose with Light-bellied Brent Geese Glas Eilean, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
8th October

Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Little Terns Broadford Bay were very late (Neil Bennett, Martin Benson, Bob McMillan).

Sutherland: adult Sabine's Gull at Brora (Mark Keighley)
​
7th October

Easter Ross: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats Tarbat Ness. Also 3 Ring Ousels, 30 Song Thrushes and a Blackcap (All Bob Swann). An orange-legged Pink-footed Goose Udale Bay (per C Round).

Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
​
6th October

Sutherland: Little Auk & 2 Little Gulls north Lothbeg Point (Dean McAskill).

Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann), Short-eared Owl Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).

Skye and Lochalsh:  Yellow-browed Warbler behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Martin Benson). Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS). 
​
5th October

Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler Brucefield Plantation, Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann), Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann).
​
4th October

​Sutherland: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers near Laxford Bridge and 1 Sheigra (per Birdguides).

Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (per Birdguides).

Easter Ross: 1 (or 2) Taiga Bean Geese Udale Bay (Al McNee), White-fronted Goose (unraced) Udale Bay (Blair Whyte), Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann). 

Lochaber: Black Duck still at Strontian (per BirdTrack)

3rd October

​Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Keith Barns).

Easter Ross: Sooty Shearwater, 8 Pomarine Skuas, 2 adult Little Gulls Embo (Dean MacAskill), 2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Little Gull Golspie (Dean MacAskill), Male American Wigeon Loch Eye (Bob Swann).

Inverness: male Lady Amherst's Pheasant at large Strathdearn (John Poyner)

Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Heaste, near Broadford (Neil Bennett).


2nd October

Sutherland: Juv Sabine's Gull N Sheigra (per BirdTrack), Yellow-browed Warbler Scourie Lodge (per Birdguides), Yellow-browed Warbler Loch Duart Beg (per Birdguides).

Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Bob McMillan, Peter Stronach).

Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua SW Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Great White Egret Moy Bridge, River Conon (Doreen Manson).

Inverness: 2 Mandarin Ducks Kilravock (per BirdTrack).
1st October

Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler Sheigra (per Birdguides)

Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Andy Williams)

Easter Ross: Black Redstart Conon Bridge, single Kingfishers at Conon Bridge and Dingwall (Simeon Ewing)

Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Broadford (Martin Benson)


​30th September

Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler Sheigra (per Birdguides)

Easter Ross: Black Brant Udale Bay (identification disputed) (per Susan Seright), Little Egret Udale Bay (per BirdTrack), Egret sp ("Grey Heron sized" so probably Great White Egret) River Conon (Edwin Hafiz),  Pomarine Skua Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)

Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers Harrapool, Broadford (Martin Benson)

​

29th September

Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler Keoldale Plantation, Durness (Bob McMillan), Yellow-browed Warbler Scourie, near burn (Andy Williams), 2 Yellow-browed Warblers Durness Health Centre (Bob McMillan), 2 Jays Strathy Village (per P Higson) (unusual so far north and may be migrants, 2 also seen in Orkney today)

Easter Ross: Jay flying south Portmahomack may also be a migrant (Dave Tanner)

Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers Drumfearn (NB & PK)

Lochaber: Green Woodpecker Uilleann, Morvern (per BirdTrack) (out-of-range birds are reported almost annually although this is essentially a sedentary species)
​
28th September

Sutherland: Hobby Strathy Village (Kevin Davis), 2 Yellow-browed Warblers Sheigra (per BirdGuides)

Wester Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler on road to Rhue, a few miles N of Ullapool (Andy Williams)

Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (per BirdTrack)

Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Drumfearn (PK)

27th September

Sutherland: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers (Andy Williams)

Easter Ross:  Pomarine Skua Chanonry Point (per BirdGuides)

Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Portree (Neil Bennett) 
​
26th September

Sutherland:  Yellow-browed Warbler Durness, near Health Centre (Per BirdGuides) 

Wester Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler Morefield, Ullapool by path on N side of river (Andy Williams)

Easter Ross: juvenile Little Gull and 1 Pomarine Skua Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis)

Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Drumfearn, Skye (PK)

​
25th September

Easter Ross: 2 Pomarine Skuas Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis)
24th September

Easter Ross: 3 Pomarine Skuas Chanonry Point (per BirdGuides)

Inverness: 2 Pomarine Skuas Fort George (Mike Crutch), 4 there (Alan MacAskill) 

​Skye and Lochalsh: The Yellow-legged Gull still at Loch Poolteil (A Stables).
23rd September

Wester Ross:  2 Leach's Petrels, 2 Pomarine Skuas Ullapool-Stornoway Ferry (also 30+ Storm Petrels, 30 Arctic Skuas & 50 Great Skuas) (John Poyner)

Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (per BirdTrack), Long-tailed Skua and 12 Arctic Skuas Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis). Great Egret Dingwall area (per BirdGuides)

​Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (Bob McMillan)

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).

​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)


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)
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).
17th September

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).
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)
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).
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).

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).
​
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).



​Looking after Highland's birds