Sightings
This page acts as a news site of more notable reports and may contain errors and omissions. The official record is published as the annual Highland Bird Report (HBR) which details records which have been formally submitted and accepted. All records submitted via Birdtrack or directly to the Local Recorder, do go into compilation of the HBR. Photographs are copyright of the named photographer and may not be used without explicit permission of the named photographer. Photographs of schedule 1 species will not be displayed on this page during the breeding season, unless accompanied by a valid SNH licence. Similarly any photographs showing obviously tape-lured or distressed birds will not be displayed, please refer to the Bird photography - a new code of practice article from Scottish Birds. To send in your photos for the website please email highlandsocwebmaster@gmail.com.
Highland Records Committee (HRC) species are in green, Scottish Birds Rarities Committee (SBRC) species are in blue and British Bird Rarities Committee (BBRC) species are in red.
20th May
Sutherland: Little Egret at Dornoch Point by the last creek (Dean MacAskill).
Sutherland: Little Egret at Dornoch Point by the last creek (Dean MacAskill).
19th May
Sutherland: Iberian Chiffchaff, Balnakeil (Peter Stronach), also 3 Blue-headed Wagtail and 1 Yellow Wagtail there (per S Wotherspoon). Ruff Dalchork Hide (Kev Cuffbert).
Easter Ross: 2 Spotted Flycatchers at Tarbat Ness lighthouse plantation, 2 Common Redpoll at Tarbat Ness pond, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Pied Flycatcher at Brucefield plantation. 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat and another Spotted Flycatcher in hawthorn hedge. Singing Brambling Whitehaven farm house (Bob Swann).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Sutherland: Iberian Chiffchaff, Balnakeil (Peter Stronach), also 3 Blue-headed Wagtail and 1 Yellow Wagtail there (per S Wotherspoon). Ruff Dalchork Hide (Kev Cuffbert).
Easter Ross: 2 Spotted Flycatchers at Tarbat Ness lighthouse plantation, 2 Common Redpoll at Tarbat Ness pond, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Pied Flycatcher at Brucefield plantation. 1 Redstart, 1 Whinchat and another Spotted Flycatcher in hawthorn hedge. Singing Brambling Whitehaven farm house (Bob Swann).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
18th May
Sutherland: at Balnakeil an unstreaked Acrocephalus warbler, two Blue-headed and female Yellow Wagtail (per S Wotherspoon).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: unstreaked Acrocephalus warbler Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, Inverness (Jon Poyner).
Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Fieldfares together at withheld site - all such late sightings should be reported as they may refer to potential breeding.
Lochaber: male Ring-necked Duck, Loch nan Eala near Arisaig (Stuart Crutchfield). Male American Black Duck still at Strontian, near river mouth (per Birdguides).
Sutherland: at Balnakeil an unstreaked Acrocephalus warbler, two Blue-headed and female Yellow Wagtail (per S Wotherspoon).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: unstreaked Acrocephalus warbler Merkinch Local Nature Reserve, Inverness (Jon Poyner).
Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Fieldfares together at withheld site - all such late sightings should be reported as they may refer to potential breeding.
Lochaber: male Ring-necked Duck, Loch nan Eala near Arisaig (Stuart Crutchfield). Male American Black Duck still at Strontian, near river mouth (per Birdguides).
17th May
Sutherland: Iberian Chiffchaff Balnakeil, also Reed Warbler, Wood Warbler and Blue-headed Wagtail (all Peter Stronach).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male Ring-necked Duck, Loch nan Eala near Arisaig (R Dyer).
17th May
Sutherland: Iberian Chiffchaff Balnakeil, also Reed Warbler, Wood Warbler and Blue-headed Wagtail (all Peter Stronach).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male Ring-necked Duck, Loch nan Eala near Arisaig (R Dyer).
16th May
Sutherland: Turtle Dove Melness (per Facebook).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: Male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides). Tree Sparrow Canna (per Canna Rangers).
15th May
Easter Ross: Singing Brambling still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Near-adult White-tailed Eagle over Dingwall Business Park (Simon Cohen).
Lochaber: Male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: Singing Brambling still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Near-adult White-tailed Eagle over Dingwall Business Park (Simon Cohen).
Lochaber: Male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
14th May
Easter Ross: singing Brambling still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: singing Brambling still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
13th May
Sutherland: 12 Gadwalls Balnakeil Marsh (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: 18 Velvet Scoters Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), also possibly as many as 30 Great Northern Divers there - a high count for east coast (Dave Tanner).
Sutherland: 12 Gadwalls Balnakeil Marsh (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: 18 Velvet Scoters Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), also possibly as many as 30 Great Northern Divers there - a high count for east coast (Dave Tanner).
12th May
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: singing male Brambling Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner) - a late migrant.
Badenoch and Strathspey: singing male Brambling at withheld location (potential breeder) (per Pete Gordon).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: singing male Brambling Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner) - a late migrant.
Badenoch and Strathspey: singing male Brambling at withheld location (potential breeder) (per Pete Gordon).
11th May
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
10th May
Easter Ross: 10 Swifts Loch Kinellan (Mike Crutch).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian - now with a debilitating leg injury (per Birdguides). Yellowhammer again at feeders, Canna, where rare (per NTS Rangers).
Easter Ross: 10 Swifts Loch Kinellan (Mike Crutch).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian - now with a debilitating leg injury (per Birdguides). Yellowhammer again at feeders, Canna, where rare (per NTS Rangers).
9th May
Easter Ross: Hobby Avoch (Tim Meredith). Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (Blair Whyte). Large movement of birds north past Tarbat Ness, including 400 Gannets, 1500 Kittiwakes, 2000 Guillemots, 1000 Razorbills and 5 Great Skuas (Dave Tanner).
Wester Ross: Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles - 2 birds reported but male has apparently been paired to a female Shoveler (per BirdTrack).
Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Swifts Grantown on Spey (Sue Sykes).
Skye and Lochalsh: 3 Whimbrels Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan).
Inverness: 3 Whimbrels Fort George (Colin Leslie).
Easter Ross: Hobby Avoch (Tim Meredith). Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (Blair Whyte). Large movement of birds north past Tarbat Ness, including 400 Gannets, 1500 Kittiwakes, 2000 Guillemots, 1000 Razorbills and 5 Great Skuas (Dave Tanner).
Wester Ross: Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles - 2 birds reported but male has apparently been paired to a female Shoveler (per BirdTrack).
Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Swifts Grantown on Spey (Sue Sykes).
Skye and Lochalsh: 3 Whimbrels Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan).
Inverness: 3 Whimbrels Fort George (Colin Leslie).
8th May
Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua flew NE at Tarbat Ness, also 6 Manx Shearwater and 2 Arctic Terns (Dave Tanner).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: singles of Wood Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat on Canna (per Canna Rangers).
Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua flew NE at Tarbat Ness, also 6 Manx Shearwater and 2 Arctic Terns (Dave Tanner).
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: singles of Wood Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat on Canna (per Canna Rangers).
7th May
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides). Yellowhammer at feeders, Canna, where rare (per NTS Rangers). Nuthatch feeding young at Arisaig site where they bred last year - still a very rare breeder in Highland.
Wester Ross: male Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides). Yellowhammer at feeders, Canna, where rare (per NTS Rangers). Nuthatch feeding young at Arisaig site where they bred last year - still a very rare breeder in Highland.
6th May
Sutherland: 10 Whimbrels Dornoch (Dean MacAskill).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Little Egret at south end of Loch Insh (Steve Broyd).
5th May
Easter Ross: 7 Whimbrel and 2 Arctic Terns north Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Redstart South Sutor (Kevin Davis).
Wester Ross: Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (Alastair Matthewson).
Skye and Lochalsh: Reed Warbler Uig (per Birdguides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Little Egret flew over Broomhill Bridge towards Dulnain Bridge (Pete Gordon).
Sutherland: 10 Whimbrels Dornoch (Dean MacAskill).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Little Egret at south end of Loch Insh (Steve Broyd).
5th May
Easter Ross: 7 Whimbrel and 2 Arctic Terns north Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Redstart South Sutor (Kevin Davis).
Wester Ross: Blue-winged Teal still at Mellon Charles (Alastair Matthewson).
Skye and Lochalsh: Reed Warbler Uig (per Birdguides).
Lochaber: male American Black Duck still at Strontian (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Little Egret flew over Broomhill Bridge towards Dulnain Bridge (Pete Gordon).
4th May
Sutherland: Male Black-headed Wagtail ssp at Balnakeil, dropped into reedbed (S Wotherspoon).
Easter Ross: Pair of Arctic Skua (1 dark + 1 light morph) harassing the Kittiwake off Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye and Lochalsh: 6 Whimbrel at Traigh (S MacDonald) and 3 Whimbrel at Pool Roag (Bob McMillan). 11 Pink-footed Geese at Traigh, Morar (S MacDondald), 2 Great Skua heading south overland on shoulder of Ben Suardal, Strath (Neil Bennett).
Sutherland: Male Black-headed Wagtail ssp at Balnakeil, dropped into reedbed (S Wotherspoon).
Easter Ross: Pair of Arctic Skua (1 dark + 1 light morph) harassing the Kittiwake off Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye and Lochalsh: 6 Whimbrel at Traigh (S MacDonald) and 3 Whimbrel at Pool Roag (Bob McMillan). 11 Pink-footed Geese at Traigh, Morar (S MacDondald), 2 Great Skua heading south overland on shoulder of Ben Suardal, Strath (Neil Bennett).
3rd May
Wester Ross: Blue-winged Teal displaying to female Shoveler at Mellon Charles (Adam Betty).
Lochaber: Little Egret still at Arisaig (various sightings).
Sutherland: Adult Little Gull at Brora along with 3 Whimbrel, circa 120 Long Tailed Duck and 11 Velvet Scoter. Whimbrel, White Wagtail, 5 Purple Sandpiper and drake eider with 'sails' (Dean MacAskill).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Drake Shoveler out from Lookout at Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce).
Wester Ross: Blue-winged Teal displaying to female Shoveler at Mellon Charles (Adam Betty).
Lochaber: Little Egret still at Arisaig (various sightings).
Sutherland: Adult Little Gull at Brora along with 3 Whimbrel, circa 120 Long Tailed Duck and 11 Velvet Scoter. Whimbrel, White Wagtail, 5 Purple Sandpiper and drake eider with 'sails' (Dean MacAskill).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Drake Shoveler out from Lookout at Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce).
2nd May
Sutherland: Blue-headed Wagtail at Balnakeil (S Wotherspoon).
Easter Ross: 2 Whimbrel on Cromarty beach, Common Whitethroat nearby and Sedge Warbler at the mouth of the Red Burn just outside Cromarty on Jemimaville road (Kevin Davis).
Sutherland: Blue-headed Wagtail at Balnakeil (S Wotherspoon).
Easter Ross: 2 Whimbrel on Cromarty beach, Common Whitethroat nearby and Sedge Warbler at the mouth of the Red Burn just outside Cromarty on Jemimaville road (Kevin Davis).
1st May
Inverness-shire: 2 Barnacle Geese at Lettoch Farm Loch, North Kessock (Gary Deplacido).
Easter Ross: 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Redcastle woods and 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing at the back of Rosemarkie beach near the fallen rusty gate (John via SOC bird news group).
Sutherland: 2 Grasshopper Warblers near Bettyhill also lots of Cuckoos and Sedge Warblers in the area (Rob Hughes).
Coloured ringed Twite ('hot pink' over white on left leg, yellow over BTO metal ring on right leg) visiting feeders at the Point of Sleat, Skye. This bird was ringed at Montrose Basin by Ben Herschell sometime between the 6th of November 2018 and the 6th of February 2019.
Yellow = North East Scotland Twite Project all years, WhIte = Montrose Basin ringing site all years and 'hot pink' = winter 2018/19, previous years will have different colours above the white ring on the left leg. This project has been running since winter 2008/09 with many movements of Twite from the east coast wintering grounds to west coast and western isles breeding territories so keep an eye out for colour ringed Twite and report them via the BTO website (https://app.bto.org/euring/lang/pages/rings.jsp) or directly to Ben Herschell at benherschell@hotmail.com.
Inverness-shire: 2 Barnacle Geese at Lettoch Farm Loch, North Kessock (Gary Deplacido).
Easter Ross: 1 Spotted Flycatcher at Redcastle woods and 1 Grasshopper Warbler singing at the back of Rosemarkie beach near the fallen rusty gate (John via SOC bird news group).
Sutherland: 2 Grasshopper Warblers near Bettyhill also lots of Cuckoos and Sedge Warblers in the area (Rob Hughes).
Coloured ringed Twite ('hot pink' over white on left leg, yellow over BTO metal ring on right leg) visiting feeders at the Point of Sleat, Skye. This bird was ringed at Montrose Basin by Ben Herschell sometime between the 6th of November 2018 and the 6th of February 2019.
Yellow = North East Scotland Twite Project all years, WhIte = Montrose Basin ringing site all years and 'hot pink' = winter 2018/19, previous years will have different colours above the white ring on the left leg. This project has been running since winter 2008/09 with many movements of Twite from the east coast wintering grounds to west coast and western isles breeding territories so keep an eye out for colour ringed Twite and report them via the BTO website (https://app.bto.org/euring/lang/pages/rings.jsp) or directly to Ben Herschell at benherschell@hotmail.com.
