April 30th
Inverness-shire: Drake King Eider still at Whiteness Head at 3pm with 150 Eider, also 30 Sandwich Tern. Easter Ross: 3 hours at Chanonry Point today gave 10+ Common Tern, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Dunlin, 7 Scaup, 2 Common Scoter. At Rosemarkie Burn mouth, 10 Whimbrel briefly before being disturbed by dogs. Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Black-tailed Godwit at Broomhill flash. 6 Twite at Dorback Junction. Waxwing at Causer, Nethy Bridge today. April 29th
Lochaber: The drake Black Duck (Jake Gearty) at Strontian still this morning. Inverness-shire: Drake King Eider still present at Whiteness head seen at 1357pm and 1600pm, please park at NH789562, walk north to coast and view from high sand dunes at NH801584. 9 Waxwings on Huntly Street today. Easter Ross: Immature Glaucous Gull in field on the way to Tarbat Ness this morning. 16 Black-tailed Godwit at Coulmore, Beauty Firth. Common Whitethroat near Drum above Avoch at NH690539, 30+ Common Tern at the rafts at Avoch NH698542, at least 6 Wheatears in field opposite Kirkmichael Church (Udale Bay) NH705659, and a Whimbrel with Curlew in the same field. Badenoch and Strathspey: Dunlin on Broomhill scrape. Wester Ross: Unconfirmed Ring-billed Gull reported at Ullapool. The Great White Egret found by Martin and Carol Benson in Broadford Bay on the 16th April 2017, was seen to have metal ring. From Martin's photographs it has now been discovered that the bird was ringed in Belarus!!!. It was ringed as a pulli at the colony in 2012 at Lukomlskoe Lake, approximately 2200km from Broadford, now that really is over the sea to Skye!. It was one of 250 ringed that year at the colony. (Many thanks to Matthias in Germany and Tatiana in Belarus for the information). April 28th
Inverness-shire: Drake King Eider still present at Whiteness head, please park at NH789562, walk north to coast and view from high sand dunes at NH801584. Lochaber: Adult drake Black Duck still at Strontian, at the river mouth at at 0745am and 1515pm. Reeling Grasshopper Warbler on Eigg. Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still from the hide at Udale Bay, also 248 Scaup. Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Wood Warblers at Craigellachie today. Skye and Lochalsh: 11 Black-tailed Godwits on Ardnish and 1 in Broadford Bay, where there are also 6 Whimbrel. Two reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Broadford. First record of Wood Warbler for Highland this spring!. A satellite-tagged Pink-footed Goose (Neck collar Brown 9L) was seen today next to the roundabout at Maryburgh, see tweet here. This goose attempted to migrate to Iceland (see tweet here) before retreating back to Easter Ross, let's see what it's next move is... April 27th
Sutherland: Nordic Jackdaw (Dean MacAskill) at Embo, see photo below. Easter Ross: Male Lapland Bunting in field at Tarbat Ness, with 460 Golden Plover c1ml SSW of Tarbat Ness at 14.50pm at NH937856. No further sign between 16:30-17:00pm, though first-winter Glaucous Gull overhead flying to gull roost in next field north. Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-feet opposite Auction Mart in Dingwall, east of A862 late afternoon. Inverness-shire: 3 Whimbrel at Alturlie, 43 Black-tailed Godwit at Castle Stuart. Drake King Eider (Tim Meredith) again from Whiteness Head today with 30 Eider and 2 Common Scoter. Badenoch and Strathspey: Drake Scaup on Loch Insh. 2 Redstart at Boat of Garten and 3 Brambling at Sliemore Steading. Skye and Lochalsh: First Whinchat reported at Portree and Grasshopper Warbler at Broadford today. Jack Snipe at Glen Hinnisdal yesterday. First Whinchat for this spring in Highland!. April 26th
Easter Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull past Tarbat Ness this winter, thought to be the same bird that has been present ca.2 weeks. April 25th
Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still at Strontian at the river mouth today, also a first-winter Glaucous Gull in Kinlocheil. Wester Ross: Juvenile Glaucous Gull at the river mouth in Ullapool today. Easter Ross: American Wigeon still present at Udale Bay today (11.30am), showing well from the layby/hide. Sutherland: Nordic Jackdaw (Dean MacAskill) at Embo today. Badenoch and Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck on Loch Insh and 500 Sand Martin. Inverness-shire: Little Gull at Alturlie. A first-winter male White-tailed Sea Eagle (16WhiteL) which was seen hunting over Craigellachie, Aviemore at 1430pm on the 23rd April fledged from a nest in Fife last year. He spends most of his time in Angus and Deeside, and amazingly he was in Glen Esk later that evening!. (Thanks to Owen Selly/RSPB Scotland for the info). April 24th
Lochaber: A female Marsh Harrier at Kilmory, Rum this morning and a Cuckoo. Drake Black Duck still at Strontian this morning at the river mouth. Easter Ross: 500 - 700 Golden Plover in field next to the A832 one mile east of Munlochy at NH666541 this afternoon. Also at least 30 White Wagtails on Fortrose Golf Course. American Wigeon still at Udale Bay showing well from layby, also two White Wagtails, one Lesser Black-backed Gull. Skye and Lochalsh: Cuckoo at Torrin. Inverness-shire: Magpie at Culloden Moor. Sutherland: 25 Whimbrel briefly at Embo plus White Wagtail and c150.Long-tailed Duck offshore. April 23rd
Lochaber: Grasshopper Warbler at Torlundy. Single Whimbrel on Rum. Wester Ross: Glaucous Gull in the harbour. Badenoch and Strathspey: 5 White Wagtails on the Broomhill Bridge flood. Sutherland: Sedge Warbler signing at a garden at Balchladich. First Grasshopper Warbler and Sedge Warbler of the spring in Highland. April 22nd
Lochaber: The Turtle Dove on Rum did not last long, found predated today. Cuckoo at Camas Pliasgaig, Rum. Wester Ross: Cuckoo at Arivegaig, Acharacle. Inverness-shire: King Eider back at Whiteness Head, near yellow buoy northeast of spit at 0930am and 4pm, seen displaying to female Eiders, video here. 2 Common Tern and 2 Whimbrels at Whiteness too. A Greenland White-fronted Goose at Alturlie Pools. Badenoch and Strathspey: Redstart at Loch Garten today. First Redstart record for Highland this year at Loch Garten. April 21st
Lochaber: Turtle Dove on Rum at Shamhnan Insir. Juvenile and second-winter Glaucous Gull on landfill site at Duisky, Loch Eil, also second-winter Iceland Gull late afternoon. Wester Ross: Common Sandpiper on the River Broom, Ullapool. Skye and Lochalsh: In Broadford Bay today, 18 Whimbrel, 3 Greenshank, 87 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 23 Turnstone. Magpie at Ellishader, south of Staffin. The Turtle Dove on recorded on Rum today is the first for Highland this year, and five days earlier than the earliest record in the last ten years!. April 20th
Badenoch and Strathspey: Common Sandpiper at Lochindorb. 30 Waxwing at Nethy Bridge, at Blairgorm/Sliemore. Inverness-shire: 2+ Common Sandpipers by the River Conon at Brahan. Skye and Lochalsh: 21 Black-tailed Godwits mid-afternoon flying round the small lochan at Ardmore Bay, Waternish. Tawny Owl on sitting on eggs in Inverness-shire today. April 19th
Lochaber: Adult drake Black Duck still at Strontian at the river mouth, as per usual!. Badenoch and Strathspey: Common Sandpiper at Lochindorb. April 18th
Sutherland: 2 Common Cranes (Peter Stronach) circling Loch Fleet then Skelbo Muir before heading southwest at 1410pm. Drake Ring-necked Duck (Peter Stronach) at Loch Croispol, Balnakeil, also second-winter Iceland Gull at Balnakeil Farm, and a single White Wagtail on beach. Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still at Strontian today. Easter Ross: 2 Swallows at Findon and 6 House Martins at Cromarty. Skye and Lochalsh: 3 Whimbrel in Broadford Bay, also 2 White Wagtails, 7 Swallows and 5 Sand Martins, no sign of Great White Egret. Inverness-shire: 5 House Martins and 200+ Sand Martins at Dochgarroch this morning. April 17th
Lochaber: 2 Iceland Gulls in Mallaig and the drake Black Duck still at Strontian by the shop.. Skye and Lochalsh: No sign of the Great White Egret at Broadford today. Sutherland: 2 Arctic Tern at Embo and 4 White Wagtail, Whimbrel at Dornoch Point and 7 White Wagtails. Easter Ross: 3 Pale-bellied Brents at Nigg beach. Wester Ross: First-winter Iceland Gull at Ardmair. First Arctic Terns and Whimbrel reported back in Highland in Sutherland. April 16th
Skye and Lochalsh: Great White Egret (Martin Benson) in Broadford Bay from midday today, from Hebridean Hotel car park. The egret is ringed above the knee on the right leg. This evening at 1800pm the egret was seen at Camus na Sgianadin, then seen to fly back towards Broadford area, so still around. Second-winter Iceland Gull also in Broadford Bay at the river mouth, also in the bay two Common Sandpipers. Easter Ross: Immature Glaucous Gull flew southwest into Dornoch Firth past Tarbat Ness this morning. 50 Scaup on the south end of Loch Eye. Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Scottish Crossbill (Mark Holling) in Anagach Woods today. Lochaber: Adult drake Black Duck still at Strontian. Black Swan still on Eigg. Inverness-shire: 6 Scottish Crossbills (Trevor Doherty) at Aigas. 20 Willow Warbler at Whiteness, with 12 singing and 30 Sand Martins, also 3 Sandwich Tern at Ardersier. April 15th
Lochaber: Drake Ring-necked Duck on Loch Shiel at Acharacle opposite the pier. Drake Black Duck still at Strontian on the island at the river mouth. Badenoch and Strathspey: Common Sandpiper at Loch Insh, also Long-tailed Duck and Scaup and a Common Sandpiper on the Spey at Kingussie. Firecrest (T.Churchyard) reported via Birdtrack at Abernethy. Inverness-shire: 2 Waxwing at Smithton. Skye and Lochalsh: Cuckoo calling at Portree. First Cuckoo reported in Highland on Skye!. April 14th
Lochaber: The Black Swan yesterday seen on Rum was on Eigg today. Drake Black Duck still at the shops at Strontian, must be a long queue. Badenoch and Strathspey: 18 Twite at Sliemore Steading with Chaffinch flock, also 15 Brambling, Linnets and 5 Lesser Redpoll. The Black Swan currently touring Lochaber, may be the same individual seen in Argyll from the 30th March to the 3rd April, see posts here. April 13th
Inverness-shire: One Swallow and a 'Nordic' Jackdaw (Al McNee) at Clachnaharry this evening. Tree Pipit at Fort George. 7 Waxwings in Croy on the village green this morning. Badenoch and Strathspey: Female Scaup still at Loch Insh and Tree Pipit at Loch Alvie. Lochaber: Adult and first-summer Iceland gulls at Mallaig Harbour this morning. Drake Black Duck still at Strontian in the bay. Black Swan on Rum!. April 12th
Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Tundra Bean Geese at Insh Marshes from the lookout with 900 Pink-footed Geese. Lochaber: Drake Ring-necked Duck still from the pier at Acharacle. Sutherland: First-winter Glaucous Gull on rocks and then flew south, also 7 Little Gulls and 2 Manx Shearwaters flew past. April 11th
Badenoch and Strathspey: Common Sandpiper, Magpie and Swallow at Cromdale. 12 Brambling still at Sliemore Steading, Nethy. Easter Ross: 200 Golden Plover at Tarbat Ness and a single Velvet Scoter. First Common Sandpiper of the spring in Highland!. April 10th
Lochaber: Drake Black Duck still at Strontian. Easter Ross: American Wigeon still at Udale Bay. Sutherland: 2 Little Gull at Brora. Small arrival of Swallows. April 9th
Lochaber: Manx Shearwater at Kilmory, Rum and 50 Greenland White-fronted Geese. Inverness-shire: 4 Blackcap singing at the Longman landfill and a single at Drummond. Easter Ross: Willow Warbler at Tarbat Ness, late morning, in the small Scots Pine plantation (NH9287184582) along the track between Bindal Farm House and Ballone Castle. Willow Warbler on the Heights above Dingwall. Blackcap at Loch Kinellan. Skye and Lochalsh: 3 Swallows at Treaslane and 31 Pale-bellied Brents in Staffin Bay. Wester Ross: Glaucous Gull in Ullapool still. 2 Blackcap singing at Achnashellach station. Badenoch and Strathspey: Scaup still at Loch Insh. Sutherland: 14 White Wagtail at Dornoch Point. Small arrival of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, first Manx Shearwater this spring. Fall of White Wagtail at Dornoch Point. April 8th
Easter Ross: Willow Warbler between Cromarty and Jemimaville. Badenoch and Strathspey: Tree Pipit at Carrbridge and Kingfisher at Broomhill Bridge. Wester Ross: Two Glaucous Gulls reported in Ullapool harbour and a single Glaucous Gull at Gairloch. Willow Warbler in Ullapool area. Inverness-shire: 2, possibly 3 Corn Buntings singing at Gollanfield this morning. First Tree Pipit reported. April 7th
Inverness-shire: The drake King Eider was off Whiteness at midday with about 70 Eider, east of the spit viewed from NH800585. Corn Bunting at Gollanfield. Wester Ross: Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool. Sutherland: 75 Slavonian Grebe off Coul Links. Badenoch and Strathspey: Scaup on Loch Insh. April 6th
Easter Ross: One Willow Warbler at Hill of Fortrose. Badenoch and Strathspey: House Martin at Avielochan. Stock Dove at RSPB Insh Marshes. Skye and Lochalsh: 155 Barnacle Goose at Balmaqueen. First Willow Warbler in Highland. Herons with hatched eggs in Speyside and Easter Ross. April 5th
Inverness-shire: Drake King Eider still present at 1035am and 1350pm, amongst the raft of 18 Commons, east of the yellow buoy. Also nine Sandwich Terns sat on the beach west of the Fort. Single Swallow at Alturlie today. At Chanonry Point between 0930-1030am, 700 auks mainly Razorbills, 27 diver sp mostly Red-throated, 50+ Kittiwake adult and juvs, 7 Sandwich Terns, 20+ Gannets mostly adults. Lochaber: Drake Ring-necked Duck still on the west side of Loch Shiel viewed from Acharacle pier, also 50 Sand Martins. Badenoch and Strathspey: 8 Waxwings today southwest of Wester Dalvoult, Sout of Boat of Garten at NH941177. Easter Ross: Swallow at Munlochy. Several Sandwich Tern in the Cromarty Firth between Nigg Ferry and Cromarty. Also 3 Pale-bellied Brent and c3000 Pink-footed Geese from Nigg RSPB hide. Single Bonxie past Tarbat Ness. Wester Ross: 4 Sand Martin on Loch Broom. Sand Martins starting to filter north en masse, and single Swallows reported. April 4th
Badenoch and Strathspey: 2 Tundra Bean Geese at Dell of Killiehuntly. 470 Sand Martins today at Loch Insh, single Swallow at Deishar Road Flood, Boat of Garten. 2 Pairs of Ring Ouzel at Cairngorm and 3 Snow Bunting. Skye and Lochalsh: Single first-winter Iceland Gull at Tokavaig. Big arrival of Sand Martins into Speyside. April 3rd
Wester Ross: Glaucous Gull in Ullapool harbour today still. Badenoch and Strathspey: 25 Sand Martins at Boat of Garten at NH 948184 just north of Mill on B970. Easter Ross: 1 Sand Martin this morning at Hilton of Cadboll and a Swallow at Arabella. April 2nd
Wester Ross: 2 Bonxies at Rhue and passage of Pink-footed Geese northwest over Ullapool today, 380 birds in three skeins. Easter Ross: Approximately 200 Long-tailed Duck just offshore at Portmahomack, just northwest of the harbour wall. Inverness-shire: 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Fort George. April 1st
Inverness-shire: Drake King Eider showing very well from northeastern ramparts of Fort George by the yellow buoy at 1pm. Also 34 Pale-bellied Brents, 6 Sandwich tern and 2 Magpie at Fort George too. A single Crested Tit at Loch Flemington by the loch side layby. Leucistic House Sparrow on Essich Road, Inverness and 9 Waxwings (see photo). Wester Ross: 2 Whimbrel at Reiff, also 3 Wheatear at Achnahaird today. Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon again at Udale Bay today from the hide and 400 Scaup off Jemimaville. 2 Sandwich Terns this morning at Shandwick Bay. |