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Have a great Hogmanay!!! - wishing all website followers good luck for the coming year!
31st December Sutherland: Black Redstart still at Brora at NC9098303770, feeding along rock armour between the beach car park and the harbour in small bay. Also seen to feed across the river on the east side along the wooden posts at the top of the beach. 850 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter and a Scaup off Dornoch today. Badenoch and Strathspey: 19 Hawfinch at Grantown on Spey today, see location under 24th November. Reported to fly towards the old bridge at 1130am. Skye and Lochalsh: Immature Glaucous Gull in Broadford Bay following creel boat. 30th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: Adult European White-fronted Goose (Mark Warren) on Carr Road, Carrbridge viewed from road at NH924232). Sutherland: Adult Mediterranean Gull (Dean MacAskill) at high tide at Brora, at the river mouth then flew south. Also a female/first winter type Black Redstart feeding on the rocks below the beach car park. Inverness-shire: Adult white morph Snow Goose (Hugh Insley) at Loch Ashie at dawn with Greylags, seen in flight, apparently without any black secondaries. 29th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 9 Hawfinch still at Grantown, see location under 24th November. Inverness-shire: Drake American Wigeon still at Clachnaharry sea lock today. 5 Waxwing at Daviot. Lochaber: First-winter Viking Gull at Caol at the fish factory. No sign of any Red-necked or Great Crested Grebes in Loch na Ceall, Arisaig today, or any surrounding areas. Easter Ross: Adult Mediterranean Gull at Brora from the beach car park at high tide at 1455pm. Redhead Smew still at southern end of Loch Eye at 15:15pm today, viewable from road close to Locheye Cottage. Skye and Lochalsh: 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree today. 28th December
Inverness-shire: Drake American Wigeon at Muirtown Pools then Clachnaharry Sea Lock at 1330pm. Sutherland: Adult Glaucous Gull from the beach car park at Brora at 4pm. Badenoch and Strathspey: 80 Waxwings at Dirdhu Court then flew towards Causer at 1pm. 27th December
Lochaber: Red-necked Grebe (Tom Moodie) and 3 Great Crested Grebe in Loch nan Ceall, off Millburn Cottage, Arisaig. 4 Waxwings in Morar briefly at 1230pm this afternoon. Badenoch and Strathspey: 9 Waxwing in Nethy Bridge. 26th December
No reports today. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!
25th December Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still off Tain links this morning at 10am. Skye and Lochalsh: First-winter Iceland Gull at the Broadford river mouth. 24th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 200 Waxwings in Nethy Bridge. 23rd December
No reports today. 22nd December
Easter Ross: American Wigeon still off Tain Links at 1500pm. Wester Ross: 10 Waxwing on the seafront near the campsite in Ullapool. Badenoch and Strathspey: 7 Waxwings at Dirdhu Court, in Nethy Bridge. Inverness-shire: 60 Waxwing in Smithton. 21st December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 6 Hawfinch still in Nethy Bridge, just upstream of footbridge opposite Lynstock Crescent, also 100 Waxwings in the village. 20th December
Easter Ross: Adult white morph Snow Goose (Bob Swann) at Loch Eye, in grass field near the large kirk on the B9165 at NH8578 with 950 Greylags. On other side of road 233 Whooper Swan in Oil Seed Rape field. Skye and Lochalsh: Female Blackcap at feeders in Kyleakin. Female Velvet Scoter still at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford. 19th December
Easter Ross: Female Smew back at Loch Eye today for its 3rd winter, on the south side of loch at the west end. Also good numbers of Coot (64), Scaup (62) and 17 Shoveler. 45 Waxwings at Brae Park in Munlochy Bay. Badenoch and Strathspey: Nordic Jackdaw again in Nethy Bridge, and 100 Waxwings still in Causer area and a single Hawfinch in Larch by the footbridge over the River Nethy. Sutherland: Adult Little Gull offshore at Brora and a Nordic Jackdaw (Birdguides) in the beach carpark. 18th December
Skye and Lochalsh: Adult Mediterranean Gull (Martin Benson) in Broadford Bay today. Badenoch and Strathspey: 100 Waxwings still in Nethy bridge at Dirdhu Court/Causer this morning. Mealy Redpoll between Grantown and Nethy Bridge on the Spey Way and 150 Waxwings. Inverness-shire: 17 Waxwings in a tree in Redwood Avenue, Milton of Leys this afternoon at 1430pm. 25 Waxwings at Cannich, flying over River Glass. 17th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 50 Waxwings at Kingussie by the primary school this morning. 12 Waxwings at Dalnahaitnach. Inverness-shire: Drake American Wigeon at Muirtown Basin again this afternoon. 16th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: A candidate Nordic Jackdaw (Pete Gordon and Steve Broyd) at Causer Crossroads today along with 140 Waxwings. Also 23 Waxwings galavanting around Cromdale. Inverness-shire: 20 Waxwings in open country moving through a patch of Rowans on the Allt a Chomhlain in West Affric yesterday (NH0717). Skye and Lochalsh: 17 Common Scoter in courtship display (5 ad males with ad females and juveniles) in Broadford Bay this afternoon. 15th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: Huge flock of 1100 Waxwing (Roger Tozer) this morning in Aviemore. 180 Waxwing in Nethy Bridge in the Causer area. Large flocks of Lesser Redpolls near Revack (240) and at Balliefurth (180). Easter Ross: Sooty Shearwater flew past Tarbat Ness at 0830am this morning heading south. 180 Waxwings in Station Crescent area of Fortrose today. Kingfisher at Tain links. Inverness-shire: 58 Waxwings alongside the lock at Dochgarroch at midday. 75 Waxwings in Smithton and 150 in Croy, 81 on Southside Road, Inverness. 14th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 70+ Waxwings still around Nethy Bridge this afternoon in the Causer area. 8 Waxwings loitering in the Balmenach area of Cromdale this morning. Still 3+ Hawfinch at Grantown at 13.30pm, downstream of Old Spey Bridge, shortly past 2nd fishing hut, on larches on left. Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still showing well today at Udale Bay, also present three Black-tailed Godwit and a Pintail. Sutherland: Pale-bellied Brent and 6 Velvet Scoter at Dornoch Point. Inverness-shire: 80 Waxwing at Smithton. 13th December
Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon still at Tain Links today, at NH781827.60 Waxwings near the entrance to Alness Golf Course today at 14.05pm, a flock of 16 birds still there at dusk, 15.25pm. Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Hawfinch still downstream of the Old Spey Bridge in Grantown at 4pm, directions below. 50 Waxwings ghosting over Grantown High Street today. 200 Waxwings still in Grampian View/Strathspey Avenue area in Aviemore. 50 Waxwings at Loch Insh. Skye and Lochalsh: Single Velvet Scoter still at Achnacloich and Camas na Sgianadin. Inverness-shire: Drake American Wigeon still present at Clachnaharry this morning. 28 Waxwings at Smithton and 15 at Dochfour Business Centre. 12th December
Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon present at Tain links again at 1028 at high tide. Sutherland: A single Greenland White-front with 8 Greylags at Altnaharra this morning. Badenoch and Strathspey: 6 Hawfinches still present in Nethy Bridge, across the footbridge from Lynstock Crescent, in larches, map below. 15 Waxwings also in Nethy Bridge and 10 flew over Croft James. Inverness-shire: 12 Waxwings at Smithton and 50 at Balloch. Wester Ross: 2nd winter Iceland Gull at Loch Kishorn. Skye and Lochalsh: Juvenile Glaucous Gull at the Aird, Gedintailor. With 3 drake American Wigeons in Highland area at the moment, how many females are we missing?!. 11th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 13 Hawfinches still in larches opposite Lynstock Crescent in Nethy Bridge, directions below. Also 250 Waxwings in the village. 50 Waxwings in Grantown at the end of Rhuarden court in pines by the burn. 200 Waxwings still in Aviemore. Inverness-shire: 50 Waxwings in Inverness by the Police HQ at lunchtime. Skye and Lochalsh: White Wagtail present at the pier for it's 15th day at Uig, very unusual winter record!!!. Confirmed that the white morph Snow Goose at Alness recently was the same bird as recorded in the Beauly Firth and at Udale Bay. Unusually it has a black secondary feather, amongst the white ones on it's left wing, which makes it instantly identifiable!. Photos in flight below from Tore and from Alness. 10th December
Badenoch and Strathspey: 10 Hawfinch still in Nethy Bridge, park on Lynstock Crescent walk across footbridge and view Larches, see map location below. They are perching in the Larches then coming down to feed in the Bird Cherry trees which are along the riverside. 500 Waxwings in Aviemore on Dalfaber Road, 80 Waxwings in Boat of Garten by Milton Loch, 250 at Nethy Bridge by Nethy Bridge pottery. Inverness-shire: At least 50 Waxwings in Braeside Park, Balloch this afternoon, 12 Waxwings in Balnafettack Road this afternoon, and 30 by the Junior School in Drumnadrochit. Also the drake American Wigeon still on the sea lock at Clachnaharry. Skye and Lochalsh: Another female type Velvet Scoter, at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford. 9th December
Inverness-shire: Late news of a drake Green-winged Teal (Sue Pettitt) reported from Phopachy Point yesterday. 60 Waxwings at Miller Gardens , Inverness at midday and 36 today at Smithton. Badenoch and Strathspey: 13 Hawfinches in Nethy Bridge in larches west of the River Nethy opposite Lynstock Crescent, viewable from the footbridge at NJ012201, early afternoon. 100 Waxwings in the Dirdhu Court/Causer area this morning and another 90 in trees along the B970 by Nethybridge Pottery. 8th December
Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon (Bob Swann) at Tain links today. 100 Waxwing in Strathpeffer. Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Hawfinchs still present at Grantown between 0830am and 1430pm, downstream of the Old Spey Bridge, view from NJ043265, see map below. Immature or female Long-tailed Duck off the east shore of Loch Insh. 90 Waxwings at Nethy Bridge at Causer early afternoon. 150 Waxwings at the smokehouse in Grantown this morning then flew south. Inverness-shire: 260 Waxwings in Balnafettack Road, Inverness, at 1030am briefly before flying west. 60 Waxwings at Beechwood Park, Inverness. 20 Waxwing in Croy and 20 Waxwings in Smithton. 7th December
Inverness-shire: 150 Waxwings still In Inverness at Torvean Golf Course at 1430am, at the junction with the A82. 150 Waxwings on Barn Church Road, Culloden and 400 at Holm in Inverness. Lochaber: Two first-winter Iceland Gulls in Galmisdale Bay, Eigg, today. Badenoch and Strathspey: 200 Waxwings on High Street in Grantown today, 10 Waxwings at Croft James, Dulnain Bridge. Single Pochard on Loch Insh. 6th December
Easter Ross: No sign of the adult white morph Snow Goose at Alness today. 35 Waxwings present in the trees around the library at Cromarty, nearby this morning a single Barnacle Goose amongst 2000 Pink-feet on the mud just east of Jemimaville, also Black-throated Diver offshore. Inverness-shire: 600 Waxwings in two separate groups, in Inverness at Torvean Golf Course at 1015am, c200m on the left before the junction with the A82. 70 Waxwings in Balloch today also. Badenoch and Strathspey: 120 Waxwings performing outside the Post Office at Boat of Garten this morning, at 0930am. 7 Hawfinch still at Grantown on Spey, see location below. 5th December
Easter Ross: Single Little Auk flew southeast past Tarbat Ness this morning. 12 Waxwing at Ardvannie near Edderton and 16 Waxwing in Cromarty by the surgery. Badenoch and Strathspey: 70 Waxwings at Nethy Bridge in the Dirdhu Court area. Inverness-shire: 175 Waxwing at Smithton. 4th December
Easter Ross: Adult white morph Snow Goose at Alness Point today again at 1500pm. It was with a flock of Greylags, again east of the river mouth at NH660680. Best access is to park in the business park at NH654679 and walk south then east to view from NH658679. 64 Coot on Loch Eye. Sutherland: Single Arctic Skua flying west over Stoer Head lighthouse. Inverness-shire: American Wigeon still present at Clachnaharry. A couple of hundred Waxwings in garden for the last couple of days in Moy Terrace, Lochardil. 340 Waxwing at Smithton today. 30 Waxwings at Tomatin next to the layby on the A9 at NH794312. Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Hawfinch still in Grantown and 500 Waxwing in Aviemore today. Lochaber: Black Duck again in Strontian today at 1115am, upstream of the bridge between school and firestation. 3rd December
Inverness-shire: 81 Waxwings around the Inshes roundabout, Inverness this lunchtime. Lochaber: Single Waxwing at Kilmory, Rum. Easter Ross: American Wigeon again at Udale Bay today. 40 Waxwing in Tain. Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Hawfinch still at Grantown today, same area as previous. 95 Waxwing at Loch Insh. 2nd December
Easter Ross: Adult white morph Snow Goose at Alness Point today again from 1400pm to 1600pm. It was with a flock of 150+ Greylags, just east of the river mouth. Badenoch and Strathspey: Still a single Hawfinch at Grantown near the second fisherman's hut at 1015am. At least 250 Waxwings still in their favoured trees in Craigellachie Crescent, Aviemore at 08.45am. Skye and Lochalsh: Single Waxwing at Kyleakin Obbe with small flock of Redwings. Inverness-shire: 89 Scaup at Castle Stuart. 156 Waxwing at Smithton today. 1st December
Easter Ross: Adult white morph Snow Goose (Jimmy Fraser) at Alness Point today at 14.39pm, with 40 Greylags. At 14.48pm it flew over the firth towards Alnessferry on the Black Isle. 47 Black-tailed Godwits in flight off Chanonry Point at 0945am today. Inverness-shire: 400 Waxwings at Crown today, 220 in Smithton and 200 at Lentran, cNH586454 at 1130 hours today. Kingfisher still at Muirtown pools catching fry and 7 Little Grebe on the canal. 3 Brambling at Leys Castle Estate and a flock of 150 Fieldfare. Badenoch and Strathspey: 80 Waxwing at midday in the Dirdhu Court/Causer area. Male Brambling in a garden in Aviemore today. Skye and Lochalsh: Single Velvet Scoter still at Achnacloich, Sleat. (The emaciated Eagle Owl collected in Morvich (photos below), is to be donated to the Natural History Museum in Edinburgh. Tests are to be undertaken to see whether this is actually a genuine vagrant from the continent rather than offspring of a wild breeding pair or an escapee. This 2010 British Birds paper describes tests on feathers of an Eagle Owl found in Norfolk, using stable isotope analysis to see whether it had originated on the continent. It also describes known movements of continental Eagle Owls post-fledging of up to 1200km) |
