Wednesday 30th December
Inverness: Two Kingfishers and six Common Snipe, Mekinch LNR (Phil Clark)
Skye & Lochalsh: Four Black-throated Divers in Loch Slapin off Kilmarie also two Red-throated Divers and eight Great Northern Divers (RMcM via skye-birds.com )
Tuesday 29th December
Easter Ross: Three Velvet Scoters, two Black-throated Divers and three Great Northern Divers past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: Single Brambling in Croy (Marcus Conway). 16 Scaup, Fort George (Blair Whyte)
Lochaber: Three Slavonian Grebes, Loch Morar, Arisaig (S MacD) via skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: Four Iceland Gulls, Uig Bay (Seth Gibson)
Monday 28th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Three Waxwings flew over Boat of Garten (Simon Eaves).
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Dean MacAskill). Four Snow Buntings with 80+ Skylarks, Newton Farm, Cromarty (Kevin Davis). Ruddy Shelduck in bay north of Ferry Point, Dingwall also Kingfisher on the River Peffrey (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: 50+ Fieldfares, Bunchrew (Thomas Plant). One Chiffchaff at Caledonian Canal marina (Tim Stowe). Still one Greenland White-fronted Goose and six Barnacle Geese, Balloch, also one Great-crested Grebe, Alturlie (Pete Gordon)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull, Bayfield, Portree also female Velvet Scoter still present, Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). Juvenile Glaucous Gull, Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) - via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: Tundra Bean Goose, Evelix, two drake Surf Scoters, Dornoch (Dean MacAskill). 18 Snow Buntings still at Dornoch Point (as per BirdGuides). Single Waxwing, Bonar Bridge (Gill Merriman)
Sunday 27th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Three Waxwings in Craigie Avenue/village hall area, Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan).
Inverness: One Greenland White-fronted Goose and three Barnacle Geese, Balloch (Colin Leslie) then later in the same flock two White-fronts, one Pale-bellied Brent Goose and five Barnacle Geese, also a neck collared Pink Footed Goose, "UBB" a female ringed in Aberdeenshire in 2016. 95 Scaup Alturlie and 107 Goldeneye, Kessock Bridge (all Tim Stowe)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls, Uig Bay (Seth Gibson). 1st winter Glaucous Gull, Knock Bay, Sleat (Steve Heap). Female Velvet Scoter, Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: 16 Grey Plover and 13 Snow Buntings, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 26th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: two Waxwings still in Craigie Avenue, Boat of Garten (Colin Ormiston). Two Hen Harriers at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Bob Swann). Two Red-throated Diver and single Great Northern Diver at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: female Velvet Scoter at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett) - via skye-birds.com
Friday 25th December
Happy Christmas/Nollaig Chridheil to all our sightings reporters and readers - Colin, Mike & Pete
Badenoch & Strathspey: two Bramblings and two Waxwings in Boat of Garten (Colin Ormiston)
Easter Ross: two Black Gillemot, two Red-throated Diver and single Great Northern Diver at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Sutherland: six Pale-belled Brent Geese at Embo (Susan Seright)
Thursday 24th December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Al McNee). Juv/1st winter Glaucous Gull past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), while the afternoon period saw five (2m/3f) Velvet Scoter, three Gannets and four Kittiwakes with five Tree Sparrows near the car park (Tim Stowe). Single Slavonian Grebe, two Golden Plover, two Red Kite, two Barn Owl and 19 Bar-tailed Godwit at Inver (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: c20 Tree Sparrows on the Leys estate (Alan MacAskill). Kingfisher at Dochgarroch with another at Muirtown pools, with Water Rail present at the latter also (Tommy You'd)
Skye & Lochalsh: Snow Bunting at Harris, Rum (Sean Morris). Iceland Gull in Uig bay ('ML') - via skye-birds.com
Wednesday 23rd December
Badenoch & Strathspey: c6 Snow Bunting around Cairngorm Mountain resort car park (Alan MacAskill/Dave Barnett)
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Tim Stowe). 149 Eider, 14 Red-throated Diver and single adult Gannet at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brant plus three Barnacle Geese amongst the goose flock at Wester Dalziel (Peter Stronach)
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile drake Velvet Scoter at Glenelg Bay (Bob McMillan), two Snow Bunting at Kilmory Glen, Rum (Sean Morris) - via skye-birds.com
Tuesday 22nd December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Sue Sykes)
Lochaber: juvenile Glaucous Gull at Mallaig harbour ('NR' via skye-birds.com)
Skye & Lochalsh: female Velvet Scoter still at Loch Portree (Andy Stables), 18 Great Northern Divers between Ardnish and Lusa (Bob McMillan) - per skye-birds.com
Monday 21st December
Easter Ross: two Slavonian Grebe, c100 Scaup and 44 Bar-tailed Godwit at Udale Bay (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: single Kingfisher, eight Little Grebe and a Red Kite at Merkinch (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Glaucous Gull plus female Velvet Scoter at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett) - per skye-birds.com
Sutherland: six adult and single 1st winter Little Gulls plus a 1st winter Iceland Gull at Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
Sunday 20th December
Inverness: Kingfisher at Muirtown locks (Alan Jones)
Skye & Lochalsh: 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and three Greenshank at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). Chiffchaff at Harrapool, Broadford (Martin Benson) - all via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: 23 Snow Bunting, 19 Grey Plover and single Black-tailed Godwit at Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 19th December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal on pond at Tain (per BirdGuides)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe, 6 Slavonian Grebes Alturlie (Blair Whyte), 4 Barnacle Geese with 2000 Pink-footed Geese Wester Dalziel (Blair Whyte).
Lochaber: juvenile Glaucous Gull Mallaig Harbour (Steven MacDonald), Long-eared Owl calling last night Lochlonghead (PS)
Skye & Lochalsh: Moorhen still at Loch Cillchroisd (Bob McMillan).
Sutherland: 30 Golden Plover, several Ptarmigan and lone Red Kite near summit of Carn Chuinneag (Thomas Plant). Eight Snow Bunting and 134 Sanderling at Dornoch Point, while at Loch Fleet were around 300 Linnet, 100 Brambling and five Greenshank (Dean MacAskill)
Friday 18th December
Easter Ross: drake Green-winged Teal still at Tain Links, 150m east of footbridge, Greenshank Coulmore (Bob Wilson).
Inverness: Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (Bob Wilson, Ann Sime).
Lochaber: juvenile Iceland Gull south over Eigg Pier (John Chester per skye-birds).
Skye & Lochalsh: 10 Common Scoters, 3 Slavonian Grebes, 4 Great Northern Divers Loch Ainort (Neil Bennett per skye-birds), single Snow Buntings on either side of Bealach na Ba (Bob McMillan).
Thursday 17th December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal on pond at Tain Links (Keith Barnes)
Skye & Lochalsh: Greenshank Drynock (Bob McMillan per skye-birds).
Wednesday 16th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: ad or near-ad Lesser Black-backed Gull Aviemore, 10 Bramblings with 700 Chaffinches Boat of Garten (Pete Gordon).
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal Tain Links (Simon Levene).
Tuesday 15th December
Easter Ross: drake Green-winged Teal offshore Tain Links (Kev Cuthbert).
Lochaber: juvenile Glaucous Gull Mallaig Harbour (NR per skye-birds)
Skye & Lochalsh: 8 Common Scoters Loch Ainort (NB per skye-birds).
Sutherland: 3 drake Surf Scoters, with 39+ Velvet Scoters, 2000 Common Scoters, 9 Snow Buntings Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill)
Monday 14th December
Easter Ross: drake Green-winged Teal wee pond at Tain Links (Dean MacAskill).
Skye & Lochalsh: 6 Common Scoters, 4 Great Northern Divers Loch Ainort (Neil Bennett per skye-birds).
Sutherland: 19 Grey Plovers, 8 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull Ullapool Harbour (per BirdGuides).
Sunday 13th December
Easter Ross: drake American Wigeon Drumancroy, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner), 28 light-bellied Brent Geese Nigg Bay (Bob Swann).
Inverness: Kingfisher Moniack Burn, Lentran (Thomas Plant), 2 Magpies Westhill (Kathleen Line).
Skye & Lochalsh: Moorhen still at Loch Cillchrois, Strath (Bob McMillan) - first on Skye since 2016.
Sutherland: 11 Little Gulls (8 ads, 2 1st winter, 1 2nd winter), first winter Iceland Gull, adult Pomarine Skua Brora River Mouth, 5 Greenshanks Loch Fleet, 110+ Bramblings Skelbo (all Dean MacAskill). 7 Jays Rosehall area (Neil Wilson).
Wester Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Saturday 12th December
Easter Ross: Single Fulmar and Great Northern Diver past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Single Barnacle Goose and leucistic Greylag Goose, Ardersier (Colin Leslie). Immature Golden Eagle and three Black Grouse, Ashie Moor and two Slavonian Grebes Loch Ashie (Blair Whyte).
Lochaber: Juvenile Glaucous Gull still at Mallaig harbour (SM) via Skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: Two juvenile Iceland Gulls still in Uig Bay (SG),Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (Bob McMillan), six Great Northern Divers and four Red-throated Divers in Loch Snizort (SC), Moorhen Loch Cillchriosd, Skye all via skye-birds.com.
Friday 11th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: One Jack Snipe and 800 Linnets along the River Spey between Boat of Garten and Nethybridge (Peter Gordon)
Easter Ross: 11 Purple Sandpipers near Portmahomack harbour (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe, Milton of Culloden (Dean MacAskill) then later two Great Crested Grebes and five Slavonian Grebes off Alturlie (Alan MacAskill) increasing to eight Slavonian Gebes at Alturlie (Blair Whyte)
Lochaber: Glaucous Gull at Mallaig harbour (NR) also 15 Great Northern Divers on Loch Ailort between Alisary and Roshven (SC) all via skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: 50 Turnstone at the head of Loch Slapin (Bob McMillan). Moorhen (rare on Skye) Loch Cillchroisd (C. Baillie) all via skye-birds.com
Thursday 10th December
Easter Ross: Hen Harrier and eight Grey Partridges, Bindal Croft, Tarbat Ness (Mary Galloway). Black-throated Diver past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Lochaber: Drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch Sheil, Acharacle (via BirdGuides)
Skye & Lochalsh: Six Whooper Swans, Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (MC) via Skye-birds.com
Wednesday 9th December
Lochaber: Juvenile Glaucous Gull and 10 Purple Sandpipers, Mallaig also drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch Sheil, Acharacle (Bob McMillan). Black Duck drake in Strontian Bay (per BirdGuides)
Sutherland: Adult Little Gull, Brora (Alan MacAskill)
Tuesday 8th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Scaup, Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: Female Blackcap in a garden at Bellfield, Inverness (Ross Barnett)
Skye & Lochalsh: Nuthatch on Eigg appearing daily on the feeders at The Lodge (NB) via Skye-birds.com
Monday 7th December
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). One Barnacle Goose, 154 Scaup and six Slavonian Grebes, Udale Bay (Tim Stowe)
Skye & Lochalsh: Juvenile Velvet Scoter, Glenelg Bay (Bob McMillan), 15 Great Northern Divers, five Slavonian Grebes and six Purple Sandpipers, Ardnish, Broadford (NH) all via Skye-birds.com
Sutherland: 17 Slavonian Grebes off Coul Links and 18 Snow Buntings, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
Sunday 6th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Single Waxwing, Grantown on Spey (Peter Stronach)
Easter Ross: 1st winter Glaucous Gull past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Juvenile Iceland Gull, Portmahomack Pier also intermediate morph Snow Goose, Nigg village (Bob McMillan)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe, Milton of Culloden (Kate Mennie). Male and female Gadwall, Loch Flemington and Great Northern Diver east of Fort George (Colin Leslie). Six Black-tailed Godwits, Alturlie pools (Blair Whyte)
Lochaber: Glaucous Gull at Mallaig pier (SM) via skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: Two second-winter Iceland Gulls Uig Bay (SG), eleven Whooper Swan at Loch nan Corr, Inverinate (DM) all via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: Kingfisher, Loch Evelix (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 5th December
Easter Ross: Little Auk past Tarbat Ness, juvenile Red-necked Grebe off Portmahomack harbour (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: Nuthatch on Eigg - third sighting since April (Norah Barnes)
Sutherland: six Snow Bunting and Great Skua at Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill)
Friday 4th December
Easter Ross: three Woodcock plus a Barn Owl between Redcastle and Charlestown, while at Udale Bay were 86 Shelduck, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, single Goldeneye and Little Grebe (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: four Woodcock on the Leys estate (Alan MacAskill)
Sutherland: eleven Little Auk plus one predated by a Great Black-backed Gull past Brora river mouth, plus eight Little Gulls (five adult, one 2CY and two 1st winter), 16 Black Guillemot, three Fulmar and single Great Skua (Dean MacAskill)
Thursday 3rd December
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Intermediate morph Snow Goose with Pink-footed Geese flock near Nigg (Bob Swann)
Inverness: Slavonian Grebe at Clachnaharry's sea lock (Al McNee - bird was first seen there on 30/11 by Willy Ross)
Lochaber: drake Ring-necked Duck on Loch Shiel near Acharacle (Sandy McNeil)
Skye & Lochalsh: four Slavonian Grebe, seven Red-throated DIvers and five Common Scoter at Loch Ainort, with another three of the latter at Sconser quarry (Neil Bennett), Chiffchaff at Kinloch, Rum (Sean Morris) - all via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: four Grey Plover, ten Snow Bunting and 80 Twite on Dornoch beach (Dean MacAskill)
Wednesday 2nd December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Grey Wagtail at Dell of Killiehuntly farm, Insh (Dave Pierce). C130 Snow Buntings in Coire Cas (Fraser Todd)
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull and two Great Northern Divers at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: eleven Whooper Swan at Loch nan Corr, Inverinate ('DE' via skye-birds.com)
Tuesday 1st December
Easter Ross: juvenile Puffin, single Great Northern Diver and ten Red-throated Divers at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), while a single Barnacle Goose was seen amongst c50 Pink-footed Geese (David Tattersley). Great Northern Diver off Chanonry Point (Mary Galloway). Eight Whooper Swans at Udale Bay (Tim Stowe)
Inverness: Kingfisher in the Whin Park area of the city along the River Ness (Alan MacAskill). Single Swallow and two Slavonian Grebes at Merkinch (Penny Insole). Ten Grey Plover at Whiteness (Craig Johnstone)
Lochaber: Glaucous Gull at Mallaig harbour (John Chester)
Sutherland: 120 Fulmar on cliffs, 60 Ringed Plover on the beach, 550 Barnacle Geese and 10 Whooper Swans, Faraid Head and Balnakeil ( Gordon Birnie)
Inverness: Two Kingfishers and six Common Snipe, Mekinch LNR (Phil Clark)
Skye & Lochalsh: Four Black-throated Divers in Loch Slapin off Kilmarie also two Red-throated Divers and eight Great Northern Divers (RMcM via skye-birds.com )
Tuesday 29th December
Easter Ross: Three Velvet Scoters, two Black-throated Divers and three Great Northern Divers past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: Single Brambling in Croy (Marcus Conway). 16 Scaup, Fort George (Blair Whyte)
Lochaber: Three Slavonian Grebes, Loch Morar, Arisaig (S MacD) via skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: Four Iceland Gulls, Uig Bay (Seth Gibson)
Monday 28th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Three Waxwings flew over Boat of Garten (Simon Eaves).
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Dean MacAskill). Four Snow Buntings with 80+ Skylarks, Newton Farm, Cromarty (Kevin Davis). Ruddy Shelduck in bay north of Ferry Point, Dingwall also Kingfisher on the River Peffrey (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: 50+ Fieldfares, Bunchrew (Thomas Plant). One Chiffchaff at Caledonian Canal marina (Tim Stowe). Still one Greenland White-fronted Goose and six Barnacle Geese, Balloch, also one Great-crested Grebe, Alturlie (Pete Gordon)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull, Bayfield, Portree also female Velvet Scoter still present, Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). Juvenile Glaucous Gull, Galmisdale Bay, Eigg (JC) - via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: Tundra Bean Goose, Evelix, two drake Surf Scoters, Dornoch (Dean MacAskill). 18 Snow Buntings still at Dornoch Point (as per BirdGuides). Single Waxwing, Bonar Bridge (Gill Merriman)
Sunday 27th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Three Waxwings in Craigie Avenue/village hall area, Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan).
Inverness: One Greenland White-fronted Goose and three Barnacle Geese, Balloch (Colin Leslie) then later in the same flock two White-fronts, one Pale-bellied Brent Goose and five Barnacle Geese, also a neck collared Pink Footed Goose, "UBB" a female ringed in Aberdeenshire in 2016. 95 Scaup Alturlie and 107 Goldeneye, Kessock Bridge (all Tim Stowe)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls, Uig Bay (Seth Gibson). 1st winter Glaucous Gull, Knock Bay, Sleat (Steve Heap). Female Velvet Scoter, Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: 16 Grey Plover and 13 Snow Buntings, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 26th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: two Waxwings still in Craigie Avenue, Boat of Garten (Colin Ormiston). Two Hen Harriers at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Bob Swann). Two Red-throated Diver and single Great Northern Diver at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: female Velvet Scoter at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett) - via skye-birds.com
Friday 25th December
Happy Christmas/Nollaig Chridheil to all our sightings reporters and readers - Colin, Mike & Pete
Badenoch & Strathspey: two Bramblings and two Waxwings in Boat of Garten (Colin Ormiston)
Easter Ross: two Black Gillemot, two Red-throated Diver and single Great Northern Diver at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Sutherland: six Pale-belled Brent Geese at Embo (Susan Seright)
Thursday 24th December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Al McNee). Juv/1st winter Glaucous Gull past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), while the afternoon period saw five (2m/3f) Velvet Scoter, three Gannets and four Kittiwakes with five Tree Sparrows near the car park (Tim Stowe). Single Slavonian Grebe, two Golden Plover, two Red Kite, two Barn Owl and 19 Bar-tailed Godwit at Inver (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: c20 Tree Sparrows on the Leys estate (Alan MacAskill). Kingfisher at Dochgarroch with another at Muirtown pools, with Water Rail present at the latter also (Tommy You'd)
Skye & Lochalsh: Snow Bunting at Harris, Rum (Sean Morris). Iceland Gull in Uig bay ('ML') - via skye-birds.com
Wednesday 23rd December
Badenoch & Strathspey: c6 Snow Bunting around Cairngorm Mountain resort car park (Alan MacAskill/Dave Barnett)
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Tim Stowe). 149 Eider, 14 Red-throated Diver and single adult Gannet at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brant plus three Barnacle Geese amongst the goose flock at Wester Dalziel (Peter Stronach)
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile drake Velvet Scoter at Glenelg Bay (Bob McMillan), two Snow Bunting at Kilmory Glen, Rum (Sean Morris) - via skye-birds.com
Tuesday 22nd December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal still at Tain links (Sue Sykes)
Lochaber: juvenile Glaucous Gull at Mallaig harbour ('NR' via skye-birds.com)
Skye & Lochalsh: female Velvet Scoter still at Loch Portree (Andy Stables), 18 Great Northern Divers between Ardnish and Lusa (Bob McMillan) - per skye-birds.com
Monday 21st December
Easter Ross: two Slavonian Grebe, c100 Scaup and 44 Bar-tailed Godwit at Udale Bay (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: single Kingfisher, eight Little Grebe and a Red Kite at Merkinch (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Glaucous Gull plus female Velvet Scoter at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett) - per skye-birds.com
Sutherland: six adult and single 1st winter Little Gulls plus a 1st winter Iceland Gull at Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
Sunday 20th December
Inverness: Kingfisher at Muirtown locks (Alan Jones)
Skye & Lochalsh: 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and three Greenshank at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). Chiffchaff at Harrapool, Broadford (Martin Benson) - all via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: 23 Snow Bunting, 19 Grey Plover and single Black-tailed Godwit at Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 19th December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal on pond at Tain (per BirdGuides)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe, 6 Slavonian Grebes Alturlie (Blair Whyte), 4 Barnacle Geese with 2000 Pink-footed Geese Wester Dalziel (Blair Whyte).
Lochaber: juvenile Glaucous Gull Mallaig Harbour (Steven MacDonald), Long-eared Owl calling last night Lochlonghead (PS)
Skye & Lochalsh: Moorhen still at Loch Cillchroisd (Bob McMillan).
Sutherland: 30 Golden Plover, several Ptarmigan and lone Red Kite near summit of Carn Chuinneag (Thomas Plant). Eight Snow Bunting and 134 Sanderling at Dornoch Point, while at Loch Fleet were around 300 Linnet, 100 Brambling and five Greenshank (Dean MacAskill)
Friday 18th December
Easter Ross: drake Green-winged Teal still at Tain Links, 150m east of footbridge, Greenshank Coulmore (Bob Wilson).
Inverness: Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (Bob Wilson, Ann Sime).
Lochaber: juvenile Iceland Gull south over Eigg Pier (John Chester per skye-birds).
Skye & Lochalsh: 10 Common Scoters, 3 Slavonian Grebes, 4 Great Northern Divers Loch Ainort (Neil Bennett per skye-birds), single Snow Buntings on either side of Bealach na Ba (Bob McMillan).
Thursday 17th December
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal on pond at Tain Links (Keith Barnes)
Skye & Lochalsh: Greenshank Drynock (Bob McMillan per skye-birds).
Wednesday 16th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: ad or near-ad Lesser Black-backed Gull Aviemore, 10 Bramblings with 700 Chaffinches Boat of Garten (Pete Gordon).
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal Tain Links (Simon Levene).
Tuesday 15th December
Easter Ross: drake Green-winged Teal offshore Tain Links (Kev Cuthbert).
Lochaber: juvenile Glaucous Gull Mallaig Harbour (NR per skye-birds)
Skye & Lochalsh: 8 Common Scoters Loch Ainort (NB per skye-birds).
Sutherland: 3 drake Surf Scoters, with 39+ Velvet Scoters, 2000 Common Scoters, 9 Snow Buntings Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill)
Monday 14th December
Easter Ross: drake Green-winged Teal wee pond at Tain Links (Dean MacAskill).
Skye & Lochalsh: 6 Common Scoters, 4 Great Northern Divers Loch Ainort (Neil Bennett per skye-birds).
Sutherland: 19 Grey Plovers, 8 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull Ullapool Harbour (per BirdGuides).
Sunday 13th December
Easter Ross: drake American Wigeon Drumancroy, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner), 28 light-bellied Brent Geese Nigg Bay (Bob Swann).
Inverness: Kingfisher Moniack Burn, Lentran (Thomas Plant), 2 Magpies Westhill (Kathleen Line).
Skye & Lochalsh: Moorhen still at Loch Cillchrois, Strath (Bob McMillan) - first on Skye since 2016.
Sutherland: 11 Little Gulls (8 ads, 2 1st winter, 1 2nd winter), first winter Iceland Gull, adult Pomarine Skua Brora River Mouth, 5 Greenshanks Loch Fleet, 110+ Bramblings Skelbo (all Dean MacAskill). 7 Jays Rosehall area (Neil Wilson).
Wester Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Saturday 12th December
Easter Ross: Single Fulmar and Great Northern Diver past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Single Barnacle Goose and leucistic Greylag Goose, Ardersier (Colin Leslie). Immature Golden Eagle and three Black Grouse, Ashie Moor and two Slavonian Grebes Loch Ashie (Blair Whyte).
Lochaber: Juvenile Glaucous Gull still at Mallaig harbour (SM) via Skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: Two juvenile Iceland Gulls still in Uig Bay (SG),Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (Bob McMillan), six Great Northern Divers and four Red-throated Divers in Loch Snizort (SC), Moorhen Loch Cillchriosd, Skye all via skye-birds.com.
Friday 11th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: One Jack Snipe and 800 Linnets along the River Spey between Boat of Garten and Nethybridge (Peter Gordon)
Easter Ross: 11 Purple Sandpipers near Portmahomack harbour (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe, Milton of Culloden (Dean MacAskill) then later two Great Crested Grebes and five Slavonian Grebes off Alturlie (Alan MacAskill) increasing to eight Slavonian Gebes at Alturlie (Blair Whyte)
Lochaber: Glaucous Gull at Mallaig harbour (NR) also 15 Great Northern Divers on Loch Ailort between Alisary and Roshven (SC) all via skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: 50 Turnstone at the head of Loch Slapin (Bob McMillan). Moorhen (rare on Skye) Loch Cillchroisd (C. Baillie) all via skye-birds.com
Thursday 10th December
Easter Ross: Hen Harrier and eight Grey Partridges, Bindal Croft, Tarbat Ness (Mary Galloway). Black-throated Diver past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Lochaber: Drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch Sheil, Acharacle (via BirdGuides)
Skye & Lochalsh: Six Whooper Swans, Loch Suardal, Dunvegan (MC) via Skye-birds.com
Wednesday 9th December
Lochaber: Juvenile Glaucous Gull and 10 Purple Sandpipers, Mallaig also drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch Sheil, Acharacle (Bob McMillan). Black Duck drake in Strontian Bay (per BirdGuides)
Sutherland: Adult Little Gull, Brora (Alan MacAskill)
Tuesday 8th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Scaup, Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: Female Blackcap in a garden at Bellfield, Inverness (Ross Barnett)
Skye & Lochalsh: Nuthatch on Eigg appearing daily on the feeders at The Lodge (NB) via Skye-birds.com
Monday 7th December
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). One Barnacle Goose, 154 Scaup and six Slavonian Grebes, Udale Bay (Tim Stowe)
Skye & Lochalsh: Juvenile Velvet Scoter, Glenelg Bay (Bob McMillan), 15 Great Northern Divers, five Slavonian Grebes and six Purple Sandpipers, Ardnish, Broadford (NH) all via Skye-birds.com
Sutherland: 17 Slavonian Grebes off Coul Links and 18 Snow Buntings, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
Sunday 6th December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Single Waxwing, Grantown on Spey (Peter Stronach)
Easter Ross: 1st winter Glaucous Gull past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Juvenile Iceland Gull, Portmahomack Pier also intermediate morph Snow Goose, Nigg village (Bob McMillan)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe, Milton of Culloden (Kate Mennie). Male and female Gadwall, Loch Flemington and Great Northern Diver east of Fort George (Colin Leslie). Six Black-tailed Godwits, Alturlie pools (Blair Whyte)
Lochaber: Glaucous Gull at Mallaig pier (SM) via skye-birds.com
Skye & Lochalsh: Two second-winter Iceland Gulls Uig Bay (SG), eleven Whooper Swan at Loch nan Corr, Inverinate (DM) all via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: Kingfisher, Loch Evelix (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 5th December
Easter Ross: Little Auk past Tarbat Ness, juvenile Red-necked Grebe off Portmahomack harbour (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: Nuthatch on Eigg - third sighting since April (Norah Barnes)
Sutherland: six Snow Bunting and Great Skua at Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill)
Friday 4th December
Easter Ross: three Woodcock plus a Barn Owl between Redcastle and Charlestown, while at Udale Bay were 86 Shelduck, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, single Goldeneye and Little Grebe (Blair Whyte)
Inverness: four Woodcock on the Leys estate (Alan MacAskill)
Sutherland: eleven Little Auk plus one predated by a Great Black-backed Gull past Brora river mouth, plus eight Little Gulls (five adult, one 2CY and two 1st winter), 16 Black Guillemot, three Fulmar and single Great Skua (Dean MacAskill)
Thursday 3rd December
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). Intermediate morph Snow Goose with Pink-footed Geese flock near Nigg (Bob Swann)
Inverness: Slavonian Grebe at Clachnaharry's sea lock (Al McNee - bird was first seen there on 30/11 by Willy Ross)
Lochaber: drake Ring-necked Duck on Loch Shiel near Acharacle (Sandy McNeil)
Skye & Lochalsh: four Slavonian Grebe, seven Red-throated DIvers and five Common Scoter at Loch Ainort, with another three of the latter at Sconser quarry (Neil Bennett), Chiffchaff at Kinloch, Rum (Sean Morris) - all via skye-birds.com
Sutherland: four Grey Plover, ten Snow Bunting and 80 Twite on Dornoch beach (Dean MacAskill)
Wednesday 2nd December
Badenoch & Strathspey: Grey Wagtail at Dell of Killiehuntly farm, Insh (Dave Pierce). C130 Snow Buntings in Coire Cas (Fraser Todd)
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull and two Great Northern Divers at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: eleven Whooper Swan at Loch nan Corr, Inverinate ('DE' via skye-birds.com)
Tuesday 1st December
Easter Ross: juvenile Puffin, single Great Northern Diver and ten Red-throated Divers at Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), while a single Barnacle Goose was seen amongst c50 Pink-footed Geese (David Tattersley). Great Northern Diver off Chanonry Point (Mary Galloway). Eight Whooper Swans at Udale Bay (Tim Stowe)
Inverness: Kingfisher in the Whin Park area of the city along the River Ness (Alan MacAskill). Single Swallow and two Slavonian Grebes at Merkinch (Penny Insole). Ten Grey Plover at Whiteness (Craig Johnstone)
Lochaber: Glaucous Gull at Mallaig harbour (John Chester)
Sutherland: 120 Fulmar on cliffs, 60 Ringed Plover on the beach, 550 Barnacle Geese and 10 Whooper Swans, Faraid Head and Balnakeil ( Gordon Birnie)
