29th February
Easter Ross: 28 Red-throated Divers, 76 Common Scoters, 22 Long-tailed Duck plus single Purple Sandpiper at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner). Single Little Auk and Great Northern Diver off Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith)
Sutherland: Velvet Scoter at Embo - no sign of Surf Scoter but the large scoter raft has moved north, off Coul Links (Dean MacAskill)
28th February
Inverness: four Slavonian Grebes and 65 Black-tailed Godwits at Bunchrew (Al McNee)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Kildonan Bay, Eigg (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter off Embo, amongst Common Scoter (Dean Macskill)
27th February
Easter Ross: 30 Whooper Swans just south of Moy Bridge, Marybank (Thomas Plant)
Skye & Lochalsh: two Iceland Gulls, single Glaucous Gull and 4cy Viking Gull at Portree (Bob McMillan)
Sutherland: three Little Gulls (two adult and one 1st winter) at Brora; two Brent Geese and 26 Purple Sandpipers at Embo (Al McNee), while Dornoch Bay held some 3,500 Common Scoters, two Velvet Scoters and some 800 Eiders (Al McNee/John Carruthers)
26th February
Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck still present on Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck and Slavonian Grebe at Udale Bay (Tim Meredith)
Inverness: Kingfisher at Muirtown Pools, Grey Wagtail on territory in Merkinch LNR (Al McNee)
Skye & Lochalsh: the 2nd winter American Herring Gull again showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: 23 Purple Sandpipers and 30 Sanderling at Brora river mouth (Allan Lawrence via Facebook)
25th February
Sutherland: Slavonian Grebe on Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)
24th February
Sutherland: Little Gull off river mouth, Brora (per BirdGuides), juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: juvenile Glaucous Gull Marybank (per BirdGuides), 2 Barnacle Geese with 500 Pink-footed Geese opposite Wilkhaven Farm House, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Lochaber: early Puffin Castle Tioram (per BirdTrack).
23rd February
Inverness: Little Egret at Borlum Farm, Fort Augustus (per Kenny Hay)
Skye & Lochalsh: the 2nd winter American Herring Gull showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (moving to Bayfield by afternoon) along with a 1st winter Iceland Gull and 4th winter Viking Gull, with a confirmed second 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield (Neil Bennett). Tree Sparrow at Lower Milovaig (per skye-birds.com)
Lochaber: male American Black Duck (per BirdGuides).
22nd February
Sutherland: 3 Little Gulls off rivermouth, Brora (per BirdGuides).
Wester Ross: adult Glaucous Gull and second-winter Iceland Gull, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck (Lynette Clark) and Green-winged Teal (John Poyner) Udale Bay.
Inverness: Snow Goose Arabella (George Gay).
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), first-winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (N Bennett).
Lochaber: Black Duck by stream Kilcamb Lodge (per BirdGuides).
21st February
Sutherland: 5 Little Gulls off rivermouth, Brora (also Minke Whale swam northwards) (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck off hide, Udale Bay (per BirdGuides), 13 Twite at Nigg (Blair Whyte).
20th February
Easter Ross: Blue morph Snow Goose with 2000 Pink-footed Geese Arabella (NH804753) (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pink-footed Geese Balloch (NH741480) (per BirdGuides).
Badenoch & Strathspey: 2 Waxwings near Tulloch (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Lower Milovaig (per BirdTrack), Water Rail Elgol (per BirdTrack).
Lochaber: Black Duck at rivermouth Strontian (per Birdguides).
19th February
Sutherland: juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale Harbour (Simon Levene). 120 Snow Buntings at Dornoch, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Embo, single Barnacle and Greenland White-fronted Geese amongst the Pink-footed Goose flock at Golspie, three Greenshank and a Peregrine at Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)
Easter Ross: juvenile Glaucous Gull at Marybank (per BirdGuides), an adult White-tailed Eagle flew south over Tain Bay (Bob Swann).
18th February
Lochaber: a Leach's Petrel flying around a fish farm at Lochailort (Stu Crutchfield).
17th February
Easter Ross: Kingfisher at Arabella (around grid NH808753 - Simon Levene)
Sutherland: Little Gull off Brora River mouth (per BirdGuides), juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Short-eared Owl Inverness Airport (Duncan Macdonald).
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow -legged Gull and second-winter Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: Kingfisher Cliff and River Shiel (per BirdGuides).
16th February
Skye & Lochalsh: a juvenile Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree in morning, later a 2nd winter there (per Skye Birds).
15th February
Easter Ross: single Waxwings - one along school path at Hilton of Cadboll (Judith Levene), the other in Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith). Unconfirmed report of 2 Great White Egrets in ditch at Shadwick Mains, near RSPB NIgg Bay hide, at NH797751 but no subsequent reports.
Sutherland: 60 Twite and 120 Snow Buntings still around Dornoch Point. Five Little Gulls seen southbound past Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
14th February
Easter Ross: unconfirmed reports of two Great Egrets at Nigg Bay, seen from road between RSPB hide and Arabella, with single bird also seen to the north near Shandwick Mains (via John Poyner)
Inverness: Seven Waxwings around Barn Church Road/Moray Park Avenue, Culloden (Howard Loates), others seen at Barn Church Road/Tower Road junction (Mary Galloway)
13th February
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay (Lynda Graham). Two Pintail off Redcastle (Mary Galloway)
Inverness: c30 Waxwings around Barn Church Road/Moray Park Avenue, Culloden (Howard Loates)
12th February
Skye & Lochalsh: blue phase Fulmar seen from Uig-Lochmaddy ferry (Steve Duffield via Bob McMillan)
Sutherland: four Little Gulls present around the Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
11th February
Badenoch & Strathspey: single male Brambling and at least one Lesser Redpoll visiting feeders in an Aviemore garden (Audrey Turner)
Easter Ross: Black-throated Diver off Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: the putative 2nd winter American Herring Gull showed again at Bayfield, Portree in the afternoon (Bob McMillan et al). Five Barnacle Geese at Kilmaluag plus 43 others on Staffin Island (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: two Little Gulls still present around the Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
10th February
Easter Ross: 155 Dunlin, 15 Twite, 12 Turnstone plus singletons of Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot at Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis)
Inverness: Waxwing flock still present Tower Road/Culloden Road junction (John Poyner).
Skye & Lochalsh: white goose of unknown sp. reported with Greylags on Loch Treaslane (via Bob McMillan)
9th February
Badenoch & Strathspey: 190 Lapwings at Duthil (Roy Dennis)
Easter Ross: 125 Whooper Swans and two Shelduck in Drumancroy Bay (Dave Tanner). Six Pochard at Loch Eye (Simon Levene)
Inverness: 90 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Twite and Skylarks displaying at Lentran (Thomas Plant). Waxwings now number 53 on Tower Road (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: first winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree along with the putative American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett).
Sutherland: two Little Gulls at the Brora river mouth, with a White-tailed Eagle in off the sea (Dean MacAskill)
8th February
Inverness: circa 35 Waxwings still present around Tower Road/Culloden Road junction through the day (Lynda Graham)
Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett) plus another on Loch Scresort, Rum (per skye-birds.com)
7th February
Inverness: 38 Waxwings Tower Road, Inverness (Steve Broyd).
Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Lochaber: an extremely early report of a Swallow over hills in Lochaber (per Paul Rowan).
6th February
Sutherland: Nuthatch 100m N of large walkers' car park at Corriehallie (Al McNee). Meadow Pipits back on breeding territory in the upper levels of the Alladale estate (Roy Dennis)
Inverness: 23 Waxwings top of Tower Road, Inverness (Colin Leslie), later 50 there (Simeon Ewing). 3 Brent Geese, 20 Snow Buntings and Grey Plover Whiteness Point (Craig Johnstone).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 (1st W and 2nd W) Iceland Gulls, Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Lochaber: American Black Duck Strontian (Bob McMillan).
5th February
Sutherland: 106 Snow Buntings on beach at Dornoch (per BirdGuides).
Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull Chracaig River, Portree but no sign of putative American Herring Gull (Bob McMillan).
4th February
Inverness: probable pale 1st winter Glaucous Gull between Fort George and Ardersier this evening (Colin Leslie).
Skye & Lochalsh: the third calendar year gull at Portree was present again. It is thought to be an American Herring Gull but RBA reports it as a Viking Gull (hybrid Herring x Glaucous). For photographs see http://www.skye-birds.com/gallery/skye-birds
3rd February
Sutherland: 7 (5 ads, 2 first-winters) Little Gulls flew south Brora (per BirdGuides).
Skye & Lochalsh: possible third calendar year American Herring Gull again at Chracaig River, Portree in afternoon (Neil Bennett).
31st January
Inverness: 157 Scaup off Seafield (Dave Pierce)
Skye & Lochalsh: Viking Gull (Glaucous/Herring hybrid sp.) at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
2nd February
Sutherland: First winter Iceland Gull on broken sea wall Helmsdale Harbour (Dave Tanner), 4000 Common Scoters, 1000 Long-tailed Ducks, 800 Eiders, 100 Scaups, 14 Velvet Scoters distantly from Dornoch Beach car park (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: 11 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 26 Shovelers Loch Eye (Dean MacAskill), Greenshank Munlochy (Kevin Davis), 33 pale-bellied Brent Geese Rosemarkie Burn (Kenny,Jenny).
Inverness: 38 Snow Buntings, Pintail and Peregrine Whiteness Bay (Colin Leslie), female Blackcap Westhill garden (Simeon Ewing). 37 pale-bellied Brent Geese Fort George (David Shaw).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker Lochan Mor area (Kate Mennie).
Skye & Lochalsh: possible third calendar year American Herring Gull Chracaig River, Portree, flew to outer loch (Bob McMillan), 3 Iceland Gulls there (Neil Bennett).
1st February
Easter Ross: single drake Velvet Scoter past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: three Iceland Gulls in Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). Yellow-legged Gull still present at Loch Pooteil (Andy Stables)
Easter Ross: 28 Red-throated Divers, 76 Common Scoters, 22 Long-tailed Duck plus single Purple Sandpiper at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner). Single Little Auk and Great Northern Diver off Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith)
Sutherland: Velvet Scoter at Embo - no sign of Surf Scoter but the large scoter raft has moved north, off Coul Links (Dean MacAskill)
28th February
Inverness: four Slavonian Grebes and 65 Black-tailed Godwits at Bunchrew (Al McNee)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Kildonan Bay, Eigg (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter off Embo, amongst Common Scoter (Dean Macskill)
27th February
Easter Ross: 30 Whooper Swans just south of Moy Bridge, Marybank (Thomas Plant)
Skye & Lochalsh: two Iceland Gulls, single Glaucous Gull and 4cy Viking Gull at Portree (Bob McMillan)
Sutherland: three Little Gulls (two adult and one 1st winter) at Brora; two Brent Geese and 26 Purple Sandpipers at Embo (Al McNee), while Dornoch Bay held some 3,500 Common Scoters, two Velvet Scoters and some 800 Eiders (Al McNee/John Carruthers)
26th February
Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck still present on Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck and Slavonian Grebe at Udale Bay (Tim Meredith)
Inverness: Kingfisher at Muirtown Pools, Grey Wagtail on territory in Merkinch LNR (Al McNee)
Skye & Lochalsh: the 2nd winter American Herring Gull again showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: 23 Purple Sandpipers and 30 Sanderling at Brora river mouth (Allan Lawrence via Facebook)
25th February
Sutherland: Slavonian Grebe on Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)
24th February
Sutherland: Little Gull off river mouth, Brora (per BirdGuides), juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: juvenile Glaucous Gull Marybank (per BirdGuides), 2 Barnacle Geese with 500 Pink-footed Geese opposite Wilkhaven Farm House, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Lochaber: early Puffin Castle Tioram (per BirdTrack).
23rd February
Inverness: Little Egret at Borlum Farm, Fort Augustus (per Kenny Hay)
Skye & Lochalsh: the 2nd winter American Herring Gull showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (moving to Bayfield by afternoon) along with a 1st winter Iceland Gull and 4th winter Viking Gull, with a confirmed second 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield (Neil Bennett). Tree Sparrow at Lower Milovaig (per skye-birds.com)
Lochaber: male American Black Duck (per BirdGuides).
22nd February
Sutherland: 3 Little Gulls off rivermouth, Brora (per BirdGuides).
Wester Ross: adult Glaucous Gull and second-winter Iceland Gull, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck (Lynette Clark) and Green-winged Teal (John Poyner) Udale Bay.
Inverness: Snow Goose Arabella (George Gay).
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), first-winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (N Bennett).
Lochaber: Black Duck by stream Kilcamb Lodge (per BirdGuides).
21st February
Sutherland: 5 Little Gulls off rivermouth, Brora (also Minke Whale swam northwards) (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck off hide, Udale Bay (per BirdGuides), 13 Twite at Nigg (Blair Whyte).
20th February
Easter Ross: Blue morph Snow Goose with 2000 Pink-footed Geese Arabella (NH804753) (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pink-footed Geese Balloch (NH741480) (per BirdGuides).
Badenoch & Strathspey: 2 Waxwings near Tulloch (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull Lower Milovaig (per BirdTrack), Water Rail Elgol (per BirdTrack).
Lochaber: Black Duck at rivermouth Strontian (per Birdguides).
19th February
Sutherland: juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale Harbour (Simon Levene). 120 Snow Buntings at Dornoch, two Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Embo, single Barnacle and Greenland White-fronted Geese amongst the Pink-footed Goose flock at Golspie, three Greenshank and a Peregrine at Loch Fleet (Dean MacAskill)
Easter Ross: juvenile Glaucous Gull at Marybank (per BirdGuides), an adult White-tailed Eagle flew south over Tain Bay (Bob Swann).
18th February
Lochaber: a Leach's Petrel flying around a fish farm at Lochailort (Stu Crutchfield).
17th February
Easter Ross: Kingfisher at Arabella (around grid NH808753 - Simon Levene)
Sutherland: Little Gull off Brora River mouth (per BirdGuides), juvenile Iceland Gull Helmsdale (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Short-eared Owl Inverness Airport (Duncan Macdonald).
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow -legged Gull and second-winter Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: Kingfisher Cliff and River Shiel (per BirdGuides).
16th February
Skye & Lochalsh: a juvenile Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree in morning, later a 2nd winter there (per Skye Birds).
15th February
Easter Ross: single Waxwings - one along school path at Hilton of Cadboll (Judith Levene), the other in Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith). Unconfirmed report of 2 Great White Egrets in ditch at Shadwick Mains, near RSPB NIgg Bay hide, at NH797751 but no subsequent reports.
Sutherland: 60 Twite and 120 Snow Buntings still around Dornoch Point. Five Little Gulls seen southbound past Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
14th February
Easter Ross: unconfirmed reports of two Great Egrets at Nigg Bay, seen from road between RSPB hide and Arabella, with single bird also seen to the north near Shandwick Mains (via John Poyner)
Inverness: Seven Waxwings around Barn Church Road/Moray Park Avenue, Culloden (Howard Loates), others seen at Barn Church Road/Tower Road junction (Mary Galloway)
13th February
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay (Lynda Graham). Two Pintail off Redcastle (Mary Galloway)
Inverness: c30 Waxwings around Barn Church Road/Moray Park Avenue, Culloden (Howard Loates)
12th February
Skye & Lochalsh: blue phase Fulmar seen from Uig-Lochmaddy ferry (Steve Duffield via Bob McMillan)
Sutherland: four Little Gulls present around the Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
11th February
Badenoch & Strathspey: single male Brambling and at least one Lesser Redpoll visiting feeders in an Aviemore garden (Audrey Turner)
Easter Ross: Black-throated Diver off Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: the putative 2nd winter American Herring Gull showed again at Bayfield, Portree in the afternoon (Bob McMillan et al). Five Barnacle Geese at Kilmaluag plus 43 others on Staffin Island (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: two Little Gulls still present around the Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
10th February
Easter Ross: 155 Dunlin, 15 Twite, 12 Turnstone plus singletons of Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot at Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis)
Inverness: Waxwing flock still present Tower Road/Culloden Road junction (John Poyner).
Skye & Lochalsh: white goose of unknown sp. reported with Greylags on Loch Treaslane (via Bob McMillan)
9th February
Badenoch & Strathspey: 190 Lapwings at Duthil (Roy Dennis)
Easter Ross: 125 Whooper Swans and two Shelduck in Drumancroy Bay (Dave Tanner). Six Pochard at Loch Eye (Simon Levene)
Inverness: 90 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Twite and Skylarks displaying at Lentran (Thomas Plant). Waxwings now number 53 on Tower Road (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: first winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree along with the putative American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett).
Sutherland: two Little Gulls at the Brora river mouth, with a White-tailed Eagle in off the sea (Dean MacAskill)
8th February
Inverness: circa 35 Waxwings still present around Tower Road/Culloden Road junction through the day (Lynda Graham)
Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett) plus another on Loch Scresort, Rum (per skye-birds.com)
7th February
Inverness: 38 Waxwings Tower Road, Inverness (Steve Broyd).
Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Lochaber: an extremely early report of a Swallow over hills in Lochaber (per Paul Rowan).
6th February
Sutherland: Nuthatch 100m N of large walkers' car park at Corriehallie (Al McNee). Meadow Pipits back on breeding territory in the upper levels of the Alladale estate (Roy Dennis)
Inverness: 23 Waxwings top of Tower Road, Inverness (Colin Leslie), later 50 there (Simeon Ewing). 3 Brent Geese, 20 Snow Buntings and Grey Plover Whiteness Point (Craig Johnstone).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 (1st W and 2nd W) Iceland Gulls, Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Lochaber: American Black Duck Strontian (Bob McMillan).
5th February
Sutherland: 106 Snow Buntings on beach at Dornoch (per BirdGuides).
Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull Chracaig River, Portree but no sign of putative American Herring Gull (Bob McMillan).
4th February
Inverness: probable pale 1st winter Glaucous Gull between Fort George and Ardersier this evening (Colin Leslie).
Skye & Lochalsh: the third calendar year gull at Portree was present again. It is thought to be an American Herring Gull but RBA reports it as a Viking Gull (hybrid Herring x Glaucous). For photographs see http://www.skye-birds.com/gallery/skye-birds
3rd February
Sutherland: 7 (5 ads, 2 first-winters) Little Gulls flew south Brora (per BirdGuides).
Skye & Lochalsh: possible third calendar year American Herring Gull again at Chracaig River, Portree in afternoon (Neil Bennett).
31st January
Inverness: 157 Scaup off Seafield (Dave Pierce)
Skye & Lochalsh: Viking Gull (Glaucous/Herring hybrid sp.) at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
2nd February
Sutherland: First winter Iceland Gull on broken sea wall Helmsdale Harbour (Dave Tanner), 4000 Common Scoters, 1000 Long-tailed Ducks, 800 Eiders, 100 Scaups, 14 Velvet Scoters distantly from Dornoch Beach car park (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: 11 Greenland White-fronted Geese, 26 Shovelers Loch Eye (Dean MacAskill), Greenshank Munlochy (Kevin Davis), 33 pale-bellied Brent Geese Rosemarkie Burn (Kenny,Jenny).
Inverness: 38 Snow Buntings, Pintail and Peregrine Whiteness Bay (Colin Leslie), female Blackcap Westhill garden (Simeon Ewing). 37 pale-bellied Brent Geese Fort George (David Shaw).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker Lochan Mor area (Kate Mennie).
Skye & Lochalsh: possible third calendar year American Herring Gull Chracaig River, Portree, flew to outer loch (Bob McMillan), 3 Iceland Gulls there (Neil Bennett).
1st February
Easter Ross: single drake Velvet Scoter past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Lochalsh: three Iceland Gulls in Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). Yellow-legged Gull still present at Loch Pooteil (Andy Stables)
