30th January
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck in Udale Bay (Blair Whyte). Greenshank at Munlochy Bay (Kevin Davis). 40 Pale-bellied Brent Geese around the burn mouth in Rosemarkie (John Carruthers)
Skye & Lochalsh: four different Iceland Gulls confirmed in the Portree area. A second winter Herring Gull sp. sighting is also being investigated as features appear akin to American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett via Bob McMillan)
29th January
Easter Ross: two drake Velvet Scoter flew past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). 33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis)
Skye & Lochalsh: two 2CY Iceland Gulls at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
28th January
Lochaber: 20 Purple Sandpipers at Mallaig harbour (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 40 Snow Buntings at Dornoch point (Martin Bennett). Iceland Gull (2CY) in Helmsdale harbour (Alister Clunas). Nine Slavonian Grebes off Golspie (Blair Whyte)
27th January
Badenoch & Strathspey: Jack Snipe at Drumguish, also 177 Pink-footed Geese at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce)
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull again at Lower Milovaig (Andy Stables), first-winter Iceland Gull Loch Portree - a different bird (Neil Bennett).
26th January
Easter Ross: Long-eared Owl on minor road between Redcastle and Charleston (NH5949 locality - Blair Whyte)
Sutherland: 80+ Snow Bunting at Dornoch Point with single Barnacle Goose amongst Pink-footed Goose flock nearby; two White-tailed Eagles over the Dornoch Firth; three Greenshanks at Loch Fleet; two Little Gulls at Brora (Dean MacAskill)
Wester Ross: Single Pink-footed Goose amongst Greylag flock at Strathcarron (Bob McMillan)
25th January
Badenoch & Strathspey: Female Merlin and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese Lochindorb (per Sue Sykes).
24th January
Sutherland: Nuthatch Corriehallie (Andy Williams) - still a rare bird in Highland, all records wanted.
Inverness: Kingfisher Whin Park (per BirdTrack).
23rd January
Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull again at Bayfield, Portree (Bob McMillan).
22nd January
Sutherland: 167 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a ringtail Hen Harrier Udale Bay (Steve Broyd). 9 Brent Geese Rosemarie (Mary Galloway).
Inverness: 2 Grey Plovers and 6 Magpies Whiteness Bay (Jon Clarke).
Skye & Lochalsh: 50 Barnacle Geese Staffin Bay (Neil Bennett), single Magpies at Kilvaxter and Ellishadder (Neil Bennett).
21st January
Inverness: 10 Waxwings Cawdor Drive, Inverness (Phil Clark).
Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull feeding on pheasant at The Lookout, Insh Marshes (per BirdGuides).
Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Bob McMillan).
20th January
Sutherland: 2 adult Little Gulls & adult Iceland Gull flew S off Brora River (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: 2 Iceland Gulls in Harbour, Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Inverness: Kingfisher Muirton Basin (per BirdTrack).
Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull still at Insh Marshes (per BirdGuides), female Blackcap in an Aviemore garden (Audrey Turner).
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull Talisker (J Cook), probable Iceland Gull flew past Kilmory, Rum (Sean Morris).
19th January
Sutherland: 130 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point but no sign of Water Pipit or Shore Lark (Al McNee).
Easter Ross: Chiffchaff (probably abietinus) in garden Portmahomack for third winter (Dave Tanner).
Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull at The Lookout, Insh Marshes, also Waxwing flew over (Steve Broyd).
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull 2nd calendar year Loch Portree (NB), Glaucous Gull 2nd calendar year feeding on dead sheep Luib Score, Duntulm (NH), Glaucous Gull, no age given, Loch Brittle (per BirdGuides).
18th January
Badenoch & Strathspey: Glaucous Gull at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce), Glaucous Gull Loch Garten (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: 45 Whooper Swans North Tarrel, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)
Lochaber: two Little Auks and two Long-tailed Ducks west of An Caol island, Caol (Tony Laidler)
17th January
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull off Lub Score, Duntuilm (Bob McMillan)
16th January
Inverness: single Slavonian Grebe off Alturlie (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: single Iceland Gulls at the head of Loch Portree and Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
15th January
Inverness: Greeland White-fronted Goose and four Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock adjacent to the B9006 at Ardersier (Colin Leslie)
Sutherland: six Little Gulls (mix of ages) at Brora river mouth (Dave Tanner)
14th January
Easter Ross: five Twite in Balintore harbour plus c30 near the hide at Nigg Bay (Simon Levene)
Inverness: c25 Waxwings in the cemetery on Chapel Street (Al McNee), with a singleton sighted on Caulfield Road (Blair Whyte). Brambling sighted amongst mixed finch flock around beech trees in Daviot at A9/B851 junction (Sue Sykes)
13th January
Inverness: 28 Waxwings in the cemetery on Chapel Street (Thomas Plant via Facebook).
Sutherland: notable seabird movement in the stormy conditions off Embo, with single Great Skua amongst Kittiwakes and Fulmars (Dean MacAskill). At least 13 Little Gulls (9 adults/4 immature) around Brora river mouth (Al McNee)
12th January
Easter Ross: 135 Whooper Swans, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and 65 Knot at Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)
Inverness: 25 Waxwings on Muirtown Street (Thomas Plant via Facebook). Male and female Blackcaps in a Cradlehall garden (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull still at Bayfield, Portree (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: report of Ring-necked Duck on Loch Loyal (via Andrea Goddard)
11th January
Sutherland: Water Pipit, male Hen Harrier and 60 Snow Buntings (Thomas Plant) also Shore Lark (per BirdGuides), adult + 1st winter Little Gull Brora (Dean MacAskill). Possible Ross's Gull sighting at Balnakeil Bay (Chris Spray via John Poyner) - more information required.
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Portree (Bob McMillan).
10th January
Sutherland: 2 adult Little Gulls off river mouth, Brora (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Greenland White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese just north of Gordon's Mill/Kirkmichael (Kevin Davis).
Lochaber: 76 Greenland White-fronted Geese Kentra Moss (per BirdTrack) - one of the very few regular flocks in our area.
9th January
Sutherland: Shore Lark east side beach, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), Ring-necked Duck Loch Ospidale, Skibo Castle (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull near rivermouth, Ardmair (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: 11 pale-bellied Brent Geese Nigg Hide (Dave Tanner), 4 Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese Poyntzfield, west of Udale Bay (Kevin Davis), Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Waxwing by B9006 at national speed limit Westhill, Inverness (Kate)
Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull (no age given) Duntulm, Skye (per Birdguides).
See late report of Green-winged Teal Udale Bay 3rd January.
8th January
Inverness: Lesser Snow Goose (blue morph) and 2CY Greenland White-fronted Goose by A96 near Blackcastle at NH825539 - just in Highland Recording area (Craig Johnstone and Pete Gordon).
7th January
Inverness: Snow Goose (blue morph) and Greenland White-fronted Goose by A96 near Blackcastle at NH825542 (George Gay), Great Crested Grebe off Alturlie Sewage Works (Colin Leslie).
A moribund 25-tonne Sperm Whale was beached at Ardersier and died.
Badenoch and Strathspey: drake American Wigeon Insh Marshes, viewed from The Lookout (per BirdGuides).
6th January
Sutherland: Shore Lark, Water Pipit, 30 Twite, 70 Snow Buntings on beach at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill).
5th January
Sutherland: Shore Lark on west side weed bank at Dornoch Point (Bob Swann).
Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pinkfeet by A96 opposite Highland Camper Vans (Mel Greenhalgh).
This bird in this sighting has subsequently been re-identified by Killian Mullarney, from photographs, as a Light-bellied Brent Goose.
Skye & Lochalsh: first-winter Iceland Gull briefly Portree Harbour (Neil Bennett), adult Yellow-legged Gull Lower Milovaig (AS).
4th January
Easter Ross: American Wigeon still present on Loch Eye (Bob Swann). At Tain Links, around 70 Pintail and 45 Black-tailed Godwit (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: male Blackcap in a Cradlehall garden (Blair Whyte). Three Whooper Swans on the lochan next to A96 at Culblair, opposite Dalcross Airport (Mike Crutch)
Skye & Lochalsh: 19 Bar-tailed Godwits at Broadford Bay, with 16 at Loch Portree. Three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort, with in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Water Pipit still on west side of Dornoch point, with around 120 Snow Bunting also (Dean MacAskill)
3rd January
Sutherland: 3 Little Gulls Brora (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal Udale Bay (per Mary Galloway).
Skye & Lochalsh: adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS).
2nd January
Lochaber: American Black Duck Strontian (per Birdguides), also Canada Goose there.
1st January
Sutherland: Water Pipit Dornoch Point (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: two Waxwings near Hilton of Cadboll school (Judith Levene)
Skye & Localsh: Shoveler pair at Glas Eilean, Broadford (Bob McMillan)
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck in Udale Bay (Blair Whyte). Greenshank at Munlochy Bay (Kevin Davis). 40 Pale-bellied Brent Geese around the burn mouth in Rosemarkie (John Carruthers)
Skye & Lochalsh: four different Iceland Gulls confirmed in the Portree area. A second winter Herring Gull sp. sighting is also being investigated as features appear akin to American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett via Bob McMillan)
29th January
Easter Ross: two drake Velvet Scoter flew past Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner). 33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis)
Skye & Lochalsh: two 2CY Iceland Gulls at Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
28th January
Lochaber: 20 Purple Sandpipers at Mallaig harbour (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 40 Snow Buntings at Dornoch point (Martin Bennett). Iceland Gull (2CY) in Helmsdale harbour (Alister Clunas). Nine Slavonian Grebes off Golspie (Blair Whyte)
27th January
Badenoch & Strathspey: Jack Snipe at Drumguish, also 177 Pink-footed Geese at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce)
Skye & Lochalsh: Yellow-legged Gull again at Lower Milovaig (Andy Stables), first-winter Iceland Gull Loch Portree - a different bird (Neil Bennett).
26th January
Easter Ross: Long-eared Owl on minor road between Redcastle and Charleston (NH5949 locality - Blair Whyte)
Sutherland: 80+ Snow Bunting at Dornoch Point with single Barnacle Goose amongst Pink-footed Goose flock nearby; two White-tailed Eagles over the Dornoch Firth; three Greenshanks at Loch Fleet; two Little Gulls at Brora (Dean MacAskill)
Wester Ross: Single Pink-footed Goose amongst Greylag flock at Strathcarron (Bob McMillan)
25th January
Badenoch & Strathspey: Female Merlin and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese Lochindorb (per Sue Sykes).
24th January
Sutherland: Nuthatch Corriehallie (Andy Williams) - still a rare bird in Highland, all records wanted.
Inverness: Kingfisher Whin Park (per BirdTrack).
23rd January
Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull again at Bayfield, Portree (Bob McMillan).
22nd January
Sutherland: 167 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a ringtail Hen Harrier Udale Bay (Steve Broyd). 9 Brent Geese Rosemarie (Mary Galloway).
Inverness: 2 Grey Plovers and 6 Magpies Whiteness Bay (Jon Clarke).
Skye & Lochalsh: 50 Barnacle Geese Staffin Bay (Neil Bennett), single Magpies at Kilvaxter and Ellishadder (Neil Bennett).
21st January
Inverness: 10 Waxwings Cawdor Drive, Inverness (Phil Clark).
Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull feeding on pheasant at The Lookout, Insh Marshes (per BirdGuides).
Skye & Lochalsh: second calendar year Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Bob McMillan).
20th January
Sutherland: 2 adult Little Gulls & adult Iceland Gull flew S off Brora River (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: 2 Iceland Gulls in Harbour, Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Inverness: Kingfisher Muirton Basin (per BirdTrack).
Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull still at Insh Marshes (per BirdGuides), female Blackcap in an Aviemore garden (Audrey Turner).
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull Talisker (J Cook), probable Iceland Gull flew past Kilmory, Rum (Sean Morris).
19th January
Sutherland: 130 Snow Buntings Dornoch Point but no sign of Water Pipit or Shore Lark (Al McNee).
Easter Ross: Chiffchaff (probably abietinus) in garden Portmahomack for third winter (Dave Tanner).
Badenoch & Strathspey: juvenile Glaucous Gull at The Lookout, Insh Marshes, also Waxwing flew over (Steve Broyd).
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull 2nd calendar year Loch Portree (NB), Glaucous Gull 2nd calendar year feeding on dead sheep Luib Score, Duntulm (NH), Glaucous Gull, no age given, Loch Brittle (per BirdGuides).
18th January
Badenoch & Strathspey: Glaucous Gull at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce), Glaucous Gull Loch Garten (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: 45 Whooper Swans North Tarrel, Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)
Lochaber: two Little Auks and two Long-tailed Ducks west of An Caol island, Caol (Tony Laidler)
17th January
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull off Lub Score, Duntuilm (Bob McMillan)
16th January
Inverness: single Slavonian Grebe off Alturlie (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: single Iceland Gulls at the head of Loch Portree and Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
15th January
Inverness: Greeland White-fronted Goose and four Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock adjacent to the B9006 at Ardersier (Colin Leslie)
Sutherland: six Little Gulls (mix of ages) at Brora river mouth (Dave Tanner)
14th January
Easter Ross: five Twite in Balintore harbour plus c30 near the hide at Nigg Bay (Simon Levene)
Inverness: c25 Waxwings in the cemetery on Chapel Street (Al McNee), with a singleton sighted on Caulfield Road (Blair Whyte). Brambling sighted amongst mixed finch flock around beech trees in Daviot at A9/B851 junction (Sue Sykes)
13th January
Inverness: 28 Waxwings in the cemetery on Chapel Street (Thomas Plant via Facebook).
Sutherland: notable seabird movement in the stormy conditions off Embo, with single Great Skua amongst Kittiwakes and Fulmars (Dean MacAskill). At least 13 Little Gulls (9 adults/4 immature) around Brora river mouth (Al McNee)
12th January
Easter Ross: 135 Whooper Swans, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and 65 Knot at Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)
Inverness: 25 Waxwings on Muirtown Street (Thomas Plant via Facebook). Male and female Blackcaps in a Cradlehall garden (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull still at Bayfield, Portree (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: report of Ring-necked Duck on Loch Loyal (via Andrea Goddard)
11th January
Sutherland: Water Pipit, male Hen Harrier and 60 Snow Buntings (Thomas Plant) also Shore Lark (per BirdGuides), adult + 1st winter Little Gull Brora (Dean MacAskill). Possible Ross's Gull sighting at Balnakeil Bay (Chris Spray via John Poyner) - more information required.
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Portree (Bob McMillan).
10th January
Sutherland: 2 adult Little Gulls off river mouth, Brora (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Greenland White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese just north of Gordon's Mill/Kirkmichael (Kevin Davis).
Lochaber: 76 Greenland White-fronted Geese Kentra Moss (per BirdTrack) - one of the very few regular flocks in our area.
9th January
Sutherland: Shore Lark east side beach, Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), Ring-necked Duck Loch Ospidale, Skibo Castle (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull near rivermouth, Ardmair (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: 11 pale-bellied Brent Geese Nigg Hide (Dave Tanner), 4 Barnacle Geese with Pink-footed Geese Poyntzfield, west of Udale Bay (Kevin Davis), Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Waxwing by B9006 at national speed limit Westhill, Inverness (Kate)
Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull (no age given) Duntulm, Skye (per Birdguides).
See late report of Green-winged Teal Udale Bay 3rd January.
8th January
Inverness: Lesser Snow Goose (blue morph) and 2CY Greenland White-fronted Goose by A96 near Blackcastle at NH825539 - just in Highland Recording area (Craig Johnstone and Pete Gordon).
7th January
Inverness: Snow Goose (blue morph) and Greenland White-fronted Goose by A96 near Blackcastle at NH825542 (George Gay), Great Crested Grebe off Alturlie Sewage Works (Colin Leslie).
A moribund 25-tonne Sperm Whale was beached at Ardersier and died.
Badenoch and Strathspey: drake American Wigeon Insh Marshes, viewed from The Lookout (per BirdGuides).
6th January
Sutherland: Shore Lark, Water Pipit, 30 Twite, 70 Snow Buntings on beach at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill).
5th January
Sutherland: Shore Lark on west side weed bank at Dornoch Point (Bob Swann).
Inverness: adult Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pinkfeet by A96 opposite Highland Camper Vans (Mel Greenhalgh).
This bird in this sighting has subsequently been re-identified by Killian Mullarney, from photographs, as a Light-bellied Brent Goose.
Skye & Lochalsh: first-winter Iceland Gull briefly Portree Harbour (Neil Bennett), adult Yellow-legged Gull Lower Milovaig (AS).
4th January
Easter Ross: American Wigeon still present on Loch Eye (Bob Swann). At Tain Links, around 70 Pintail and 45 Black-tailed Godwit (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: male Blackcap in a Cradlehall garden (Blair Whyte). Three Whooper Swans on the lochan next to A96 at Culblair, opposite Dalcross Airport (Mike Crutch)
Skye & Lochalsh: 19 Bar-tailed Godwits at Broadford Bay, with 16 at Loch Portree. Three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort, with in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Water Pipit still on west side of Dornoch point, with around 120 Snow Bunting also (Dean MacAskill)
3rd January
Sutherland: 3 Little Gulls Brora (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Green-winged Teal Udale Bay (per Mary Galloway).
Skye & Lochalsh: adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS).
2nd January
Lochaber: American Black Duck Strontian (per Birdguides), also Canada Goose there.
1st January
Sutherland: Water Pipit Dornoch Point (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: two Waxwings near Hilton of Cadboll school (Judith Levene)
Skye & Localsh: Shoveler pair at Glas Eilean, Broadford (Bob McMillan)
