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.
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.
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)
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)
