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April 30th
Wester Ross: 2CY Ring-billed Gull at the river mouth at Ullapool today at 1245pm (Iain MacDonald). Easter Ross: Grasshopper Warbler today near Rosemarkie at 11:20am at NH744597 (Susan Seright), and another singing at Rosemarkie beach past sheep field and small plank bridge (Mary Galloway). April 29th
Wester Ross: 17 Great Northern Divers on Loch Ewe, 4 in Gruinard Sound and 3 in Little Loch Broom (Andy Williams). Badenoch and Strathspey: Redstart on Granish Moor and a single in riverside trees by Aviemore golf course. Cuckoos at Carr Road, Carrbridge and Duthill (All Peter Stronach). April 28th
Inverness-shire: Ross's Goose at Strathdearn at 3pm, 100m downstream of Farr Road bridge on the bank of the River Findhorn (Simon Pawsey). This bird has been present for a while. Cuckoo at Fort George this evening along with 3 Wheatears and 1 White Wagtail (Colin Leslie). Wester Ross: 6 Canada Geese feeding at the western end of Loch Glascarnoch and 158 Pink-footed Geese over heading northwest. 3 Wood Warbler in Loch Luichart village (All Andy Williams). April 27th
Badenoch and Strathspey: Wholly unconfirmed report of House Finch yesterday in a garden in Nethy Bridge, by the playing fields (RBA/Dave Wheeler - Facebook). Inverness-shire: 11 plus White Wagtails around noon today, and two Wheatears (Mike Crutch). An adult Great Black-backed Gull seen at Granish Tip, Aviemore on the 2nd January 2018 was ringed as a pullus at Badbea, Berriedale in June 2003, thanks to Mark Oksien for the ringing details. April 26th
Skye and Lochalsh: Juvenile Glaucous Gull still at Uig (Seth Gibson). April 25th
Easter Ross: Single Arctic Skua past Chanonry point (Mary Galloway) at 1700pm probably the same dark phase Arctic Skua flew east past the point, while 8 Whimbrel flew west (Kevin Davis). Wester Ross: Single Manx Shearwater from the Ullapool-Stornoway ferry (Andy Williams). April 24th
Sutherland: Single Whimbrel on the beach at Balnakiel (Michael Fitch). Skye & Lochalsh: Corncrake reported near Carbost (S.T.) and a Whitethroat at Harrapool (Martin Benson) 1st Highland recording area reports of returning Corncrake and Whitethroat. April 23rd
Easter Ross: 2 Wood warblers near Contin (Keith & Rosie Barnes). Lochaber: Arctic redpoll reported at Dalnabreak, Loch Shiel (Pete Dale via Birdtrack). Skye & Lochalsh: Whinchat- 2 singles reported at Borneskitaig (J. Maughn) and Breakish (Bob McMillan). Badenoch & Strathspey: Hawfinch reported this morning at Granton on Spey (RBA). The Whinchats on the Isle of Skye are the first reports in the Highland region since a very early Birdtrack report of a bird at Loch Garten on April 8th. April 22nd
Inverness-shire: Castle Stuart- 2 Whimbrel, 2 Barnacle geese and single Pale-bellied brent goose (Colin Leslie). Wester Ross: Juvenile Iceland gull at the harbour (Andy Williams). Skye & Lochalsh: Sedge warbler in Broadford (Martin Benson). Lochaber: Wood warbler near Glen Cripesdale (Duncan Orr-Ewing via birdtrack) 1st report of Wood Warbler in the Highland recording area. April 21st
Sutherland: 9 Little gulls at north end of Brora beach (Mary Galloway). Skye & Lochalsh: Grasshopper warblers reeling at Tarskavaig (MB) & Riverbank, Broadford (NB). Inverness-shire: 80 Scaup at Alturlie point. No sign of the Lesser Scaup (Peter Gordon). Sedge Warbler at Loch Flemington (James Gordon). 1st reports of Grasshopper warblers and Sedge warblers in the region. Birders looking for the Lesser Scaup at Alturlie should be aware of a long-staying Aythya hybrid in the area. April 20th
Wester Ross: Iceland gull (adult) at the river mouth in Ullapool (Andy Williams). April 19th
Lochaber: Cuckoo reported near Fort William (Birdtrack) Skye & Lochalsh: Cuckoo at Drumfearn (PK) Easter Ross: Tree pipit at Fortrose hill (David & Mary Galloway) Inverness-shire: Lesser Scaup again at Alturlie off the point at high tide. April 18th
Easter Ross: Single Whimbrel and single Arctic tern at Tarbat Ness this morning (Dave Tanner). Two Whimbrel at Cadboll point (Simon Levene). Inverness- shire: Lesser Scaup (drake) reported off Alturlie point with Scaup. (Hugh Addlesee). Sutherland: Med. Gull (3CY) at the beach car park, Brora (Tom Wells). Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous gull (juv) again in Uig bay (SG). 9 Black- tailed godwits at Breakish (NH) A number of reports of Black-tailed godwits moving North on a broad front, with reports from both the East and West coasts over the past few days. First reports of Whimbrel trickling into the Highland region also. April 17th
Skye & Lochalsh: A male Hawfinch reported under a garden feeder this morning at Kilbride near Torrin. (Anita Jones). This is a different bird to the one reported at Portree yesterday,with this bird also seen again today (Neil Bennet). Iceland gull and Glaucous gull (juv) in Uig bay (SG). Wester Ross: Iceland gull (adult) near the river mouth in Ullapool mid afternoon (Andy Williams). Inverness-shire: C50 Black-tailed Godwits at Alturlie point this morning (A. Macaskill) April 16th
Sutherland: Seven Tree sparrows visiting garden feeder at Balnakiel (Michael Fitch). Skye & Lochalsh: Hawfinch visiting garden feeder in Portree (Donald MacSween). Two White wagtails at Broadford (Neil Bennet). Wester Ross: Ring ouzel and Common sandpipers back at traditional sites. (Andy Williams/Tessa Rhodes). Badenoch & Strathspey: Stock dove along the Spey way near Nethy (John Poyner). Small numbers of common migrants including swallows, willow warblers and white wagtails reported from a number of sites throughout the Highland region. April 15th
Easter Ross: Circa 100 Long-tailed duck off Portmohomack (Dave Tanner). 2 Tree pipits at Mount High and 20 Pale- bellied Brent geese off Cromarty. (Kevin Davis) Inverness-shire: The SOC outing to Fort George/Whiteness head enjoyed a turnout of 20 birders who recorded 83 species in difficult conditions due to persistent haar. Highlights included 50 Sandwich terns, 1 common tern, two gadwall and a smattering of common migrants. An interesting find was a grounded Slavonian grebe. The bird was weighed, found to be in good health and released onto the sea. (Jon Clarke) 1st Tree pipits of the spring noted in the region. April 14th
Badenoch & Strathspey: Nuthatch reported on a garden feeder in Kincraig (Dave Pierce). Hoopoe on the minor road near Melgarve. (Mike Donaghy/Forbes Meek). Sutherland: Five bonxies from a fishing/pelagic trip in the Minch off Kinlochbervie. (Andy Williams) Skye & Lochalsh: Three common scoter in Broadford bay (Neil Bennet) Inverness-shire: 20 waxwings reported on Drumossie avenue, Inverness (Darrell Stevens). April 13th
Inverness-shire: Single House martin with swallows and sand martins at Loch Flemington. (Al McNee/John Carruthers). Wester Ross: Two Common sandpipers on the beach at Mellon Udrigle. (S & H). Lochaber: Black Duck reported at Strontian (Lee Evans). A number of reports throughout the Highland region of swallows and sand martins, with swallows as far north as Loch Eye (Easter-Ross) and sand martins as far north as Ullapool (Wester-ross). First spring record of common sandpipers. April 12th
Skye and Lochalsh: Sea watch off Neist point produced highlights of single Pomarine skua, single Great Skua and single Iceland gull, also 60 Manx shearwaters and 4 puffins. (Andy Stables) Wester Ross: Juvenile Iceland gull, at Ullapool harbour this morning. (Andy Williams) 1st Pomarine skua of the spring recorded off Neist point, Isle of Skye. April 11th
Sutherland: 42 Sand Martin and 2 Swallows at Loch Migdale, a Wheatear at Loch Fleet and Brora and also an immature Glaucous Gull at Brora (Dean MacAskill). Inverness-shire: 2 Little Gulls by the yellow buoy at Alturlie (Alan MacAskill). 1 Red-throated Diver, 1-Black-throated Diver, ca.420 Long-tailed Ducks between Fort George and Whiteness (Colin Leslie). Skye and Lochalsh: Juvenile Glaucous Gull at Uig Bay and two Iceland Gulls still at Greshornish Fish Farm. Arctic Tern at Kilmaluag Bay and an all dark Shearwater sp., probably a Sooty was in the Trodday Gap, Skye (All Bob McMillan). A Pale-bellied Brent goose (Photographed below) seen on 14th October 2017 was colour-ringed (66RY) and had been ringed in Dublin in 2010. These Pale-bellied Brent are from the ECHA (East Canadian High Arctic) flyway population. They breed very far north in Canada, and overwinter mainly in Ireland, although some birds also go to western and southern UK, the Channel Islands and France (mainly Normandy). They stage for a considerable period in spring and autumn in Iceland, and have a hazardous trip over the Greenland Icecap in between. The current flyway population is of the order of 38 - 40,000 birds. This bird is of particular interest, as it lies within an area (Moray Firth) where both the East Canadian High Arctic population and those from the East Atlantic flyway co-exist, as shown by ringing. On the 28th October 2017 it flew on to Strangford Lough, it was with an unringed mate and two juveniles. Thanks to Colin Leslie for the sighting and Graham McElwaine for the ringing info. First Arctic tern of the year today on Skye. April 10th
Badenoch and Strathspey: 4 Swallows at Lochindorb (Sue Sykes). April 9th
Sutherland: Migrant flock of 95 Bramblings flew over Ardgay, Sutherland (Peter Stronach). Lochaber: Black Redstart on Eigg at Howlin Fank (John Chester). Badenoch and Strathspey: Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing on a woodland bird survey at Insh Marshes this morning (Pete Moore). Skye and Lochalsh: First Swallows and Willow Warblers reported back on Skye today (Bob McMillan). April 8th
Inverness-shire: Single Swallow at Corrievorrie, Strathdearn today (Dave Slater). Possible Black Kite reported today at 1208pm 1 mile southeast of Conon Bridge flew over Leanaig (RBA). Wester Ross: A single Sand Martin and 66 Great Northern Diver at Melvaig, 60 Great Northern Diver in Gruinard Bay. 13 Slavonian Grebe in Loch Ewe at Inverasdale and 8 at Aultbea and another 8 in Gruinard Bay. 100 Redwing at Aultbea and 100+ at Gairloch (All Bob McMillan). Badenoch and Strathspey: Greenshank at Loch Insh today (Steve Broyd). Lochaber: No sign of Hawfinch on Rùm at Kinloch today (Sean Morris). First Swallow for the spring recorded up Strathdearn today. Large broad front movement of Redwing through Skye and the western Highlands, movement mirrored on Western Isles too. April 7th
Lochaber: Male Hawfinch on Rùm this morning (Sean Morris) Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Ring Ouzels at Cairngorm, 2 on the lower car park and 1 on the upper car park (Dave Slater). 4 Ring Ouzels at Slochd this morning (Bob Wilson). Skye and Lochalsh: Influx of Wheatears on to Skye with 18 at Milovaig and a Sandwich Tern in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan). Easter Ross: Bonxie past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Wester Ross: Rustic Bunting at Alligin Shuas for 2 hours in a private garden (Peter Collen). 2 Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull at Ullapool today (D Orr-Ewing) Inverness-shire: 7 Red-throated and 1 Black-throated Divers east of Fort George along with 140 Red-breasted Mergansers and 35 Sandwich Terns. At Castle Stuart 42 Whooper Swans flying north and 3 Chiffchaffs (Colin Leslie). Last year Ring Ouzels on Cairngorm were repeatedly tape lured whilst on territory, it would be appreciated if visiting birders refrained from doing this for the coming breeding season!. April 6th
Lochaber: Two Wheatears on Ben Nevis path, 500m past the Inn, also 3 Snow Buntings at halfway (Stuart Crutchfield). April 5th
Sutherland: Red-necked Grebe at Bay of Culkein (D and A Haines). Inverness-shire: Willow Warbler at Whiteness (B Whyte) April 4th
Easter Ross: Adult Iceland Gull out of the Inner Moray Firth then southwest past Tarbat Ness into the Dornoch Firth (Dave Tanner). Wester Ross: Iceland Gull in Ullapool Harbour today (Tessa Rhodes). Skye and Lochalsh: 2CY Glaucous Gull at Uig (Sean Jaques) and another 2CY bird at Kilmarie, Loch Slapin, tonight (Bob McMillan). Badenoch and Strathspey: Wheatear at Insh Marshes (Pete Moore). Late news of a Hawfinch in at garden near Ledmore junction, Wester Ross (K Woodsford). April 3rd
Easter Ross: Manx Shearwater feeding off the north of Tarbat Ness this morning (Dave Tanner). April 2nd
Wester Ross: 2 Wheatears at Mellon Charles (Mary Galloway). Easter Ross: Single Manx Shearwater past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Adult Glaucous Gull in Muir of Ord at Drynie Park in a field this afternoon (RBA). Lochaber: Juvenile Iceland Gull at Kilchoan again flew past pier at 1730pm (RBA). April 1st
Lochaber: Ring Ouzel at Beinn Mheadhoin in Morvern (Alan Kennedy). Adult drake Black Duck reported on the Strontian river today (RBA). Skye and Lochalsh: 4CY Iceland Gull at Broadford Pier tonight. Two at Greshornish fish farm (RMcM) and a single at Bayfield, Portree (NB) and two at Broadford (RMcM) (all juveniles). Inverness-shire: Two Gadwall on the marsh at Whiteness this evening (Colin Leslie). 35 Black-tailed Godwits at Castle Stuart bay and a Little Egret still (James Gordon). 2 pair of Mandarin ducks on the River Findhorn at Strathdearn, just past Glenmazeran (John Picton). Skye and Lochalsh: Little Ringed Plover reported at Staffin Bay in field (RBA). First Ring Ouzel of the year in Morvern today. |
Highland Birds
