(24/3 to 20/4/20 - SIGHTINGS PAGE SUSPENSION PERIOD IN RESPONSE TO THE INITIAL PUBLIC HEALTH LOCKDOWN)
23rd March
Badenoch & Strathspey: Wheatear near Newtonmore (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Inverness: two Chiffchaffs on Ardersier common (Paul Sharman via Facebook)
22nd March
Badenoch & Strathspey: three Pintail on Loch Insh (Audrey Turner via Facebook)
Easter Ross: Greenland White-fronted Goose and Pale-belled Brent Goose amongst Pink-feet flock between Balblair and Gordon's Mill (Kevin Davis)
Skye & Lochalsh: Two first-winter Iceland Gulls at the head of Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: two Jays near sub-station at Loch Buidhe, Lairg (Scott Wotherspoon). Lapland Bunting at Culkein (David Haines). Four adult Surf Scoters , two Snow Bunting (Dean Macaskill) plus Red-necked Grebe and three Great Northern Divers off Embo (Tim Meredith). Female Hen Harrier plus 82 Whooper Swans and 47 Velvet Scoters around Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill) - Dean identified three female Surf Scoters later in the day.
21st March
Sutherland: 5 Surf Scoters (2 ad males, 1 second CY male and 2 females) Embo (Scott Wotherspoon).
Easter Ross: Chiffchaff just E of Hillockhead, near Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis).
Skye & Lochalsh: Adult and First-winter Iceland Gulls and 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls Portree (Neil Bennett), Chiffchaff Lower Milovaig (A Stables), first Wheatear Staffin (Kate Halliday). A Rook at Kildonan, Eigg was first on the island since 2014 (John Chester).
There are 2 male and 4 female Golden Pheasants in grounds of Greshornish Hotel, apparently.
20th March
Sutherland: 3 Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) off Embo Caravan Site (Dean Macaskill).
Inverness: "plenty" Chiffchaffs" singing Craig Dunain (Phil Clark).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Osprey between Broomhill Bridge and Dulnain Bridge (Neil Stonehouse).
Skye & Lochalsh: possible 2nd winter American Herring Gull, 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls and first-winter Glaucous Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), 2 Blackcaps at feeders Isleornsay (RC), male Yellowhammer Miller's Cottage, Eigg (J Chester), first Great Skua outer Loch Carron (M Bliss).
19th March
Sutherland: A White-billed Diver flew south at Brorar at 16.00 (Gavin Woodbridge), 3 Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) off Embo Caravan Site (Lynda Graham, Peter Stronach) - an aberrant Common Scoter with extensive yellow on its bill is also present there, Snow Bunting Dornoch (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: 32 Waxwings in larches Milton of Leys Primary School (David Bain).
Badenoch & Strathspey: first reported Osprey near Boat of Garten (Neil Stonehouse).
Skye & Lochalsh: probable second winter American Herring Gull, 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls, 4 Iceland Gulls (3 first-winter, 1 second-winter) Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
18th March
Sutherland: now a pair of Surf Scoters off Embo Caravan Site (Dean Macaskill).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 first-winter and a second-winter Iceland Gulls Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). Also a female Silver Pheasant.
Also males of Golden Pheasant and Lady Amherst's Pheasant at Strathdearn today (if you're into that kind of thing)
17th March
Sutherland: Drake Surf Scoter showing well by Embo Pier (Dean Macaskill), adult and 2 first-winter Little Gulls flew South past river mouth Brora (per BirdGuides).
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull at harbour, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Chiffchaff Merkinch LNR (Alan Macaskill), Kingfisher Whin Pond, Inverness (per BirdTrack), Blackcap Cradlehall (per BirdTrack).
Lochaber: Nuthatch Inchree (per BirdTrack).
A Pink-footed Goose ringed in Iceland as an adult in 2017 was seen at Dornoch on 6th March. It spent its first winter in Norfolk but then spent summer 2018 in Lincolnshire. This is the first report since then.
16th March
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull and adult Glaucous Gull Ullapool Harbour (per BirdGuides).
15th March
Easter Ross: American Wigeon drake Loch Eye, from jetty by Loch Eye House (Simon Levene).
Inverness: Kingfisher and 2 Nuthatches Loch Killin (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Iceland Gull Chracaig River, Portree (Neil Bennett).
14th March
Easter Ross: single Sandwich Tern off Cromarty and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Kevin Davis). American Wigeon present again on Loch Eye (Bob Swann)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe (in summer plumage) off Alturlie, Gadwall on Loch Flemington (Dean MacAskill)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree along with the 'probable' 2nd winter American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter again off the pier at Embo (George Gay)
13th March
Easter Ross: American Wigeon present again on Loch Eye. Two Barnacle Geese amongst the Pink-footed Goose flock near LIDL supermarket, Tain (Dean MacAskill)
Lochaber: male American Black Duck reported again at Strontian (per BirdTrack)
12th March
Easter Ross: Pintail noted off Redcastle (Pru Ward via Facebook)
Sutherland: five Snow Buntings and a single Magpie at Dornoch Point. Drake Surf Scoter off the pier at Embo amongst c300 Common Scoter (Dean MacAskill), Velvet Scoter also reported by BirdTrack
11th March
Badenoch & Strathspey: six Kittiwakes on Loch Insh, 58 Golden Plover also (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Sutherland: six Little Gulls noted past Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
10th March
Inverness: Kingfisher in Whin Park (via BirdTrack)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree again (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 100 Barnacle Geese at Keoldale, 16 Whooper Swans at Balnakeil (Gordon Birnie via Facebook)
9th March
Easter Ross: two Waxwings near Moor Farm, Tain (per BirdTrack)
Lochaber: male American Black Duck reported again at Strontian (per BirdTrack)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), joined by a third bird by late morning (Bob McMillan). Four Greenland White-fronted Geese at Kilmuir (per skye-birds.com)
First Osprey of the season sighted in Caithness airspace on the 6th and again today
8th March
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay, plus pair of Canada Geese at Jemimaville (Jack Harrison)
Lochaber: Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Caol spit (Tony Laidler)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree in the morning with a different example - with a 2nd winter bird - in the afternoon. Probable 2nd winter American Herring Gull was again showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Glaucous Gull at Polin beach, Kinlochbervie (Gordon Birnie via Facebook)
7th March
Easter Ross: five Waxwings in Edderton (Russell Wood via Facebook)
Inverness: 'possible' Grey-bellied Brant near Castle Stuart amongst Pink-footed Geese (per BirdTrack)
Sutherland: Iceland Gull Helmsdale (George Gay).
6th March
Sutherland: Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese in field below school, Dornoch (Dean MacAskill), 43 Slavonian Grebes Embo (per BirdTrack).
Inverness: Richardson's Cackling Goose 1.5 miles NE of Culloden, also Grey-bellied Brent Goose (per BirdGuides), Kingfisher Muirton Locks (Tim Meredith).
Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Chracaigh and second winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
5th March
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter off Caravan Park, Embo (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: Whimbrel Udale Bay - very early (per BirdTrack).
Inverness: possible adult Grey-bellied Brent near Culloden at NH752501 (per RBA), Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls Portree (N Hinchliffe). juvenile Glaucous Gull Arisaid (R Dyer), juvenile Loch Eil, Duisky (Bob McMillan), pair of Nuthatches nr Arisaig (Bob McMillan), male Mandarin Morar River (per Bob McMillan).
4th March
Easter Ross: White-tailed Eagle, probably 2CY, W over Avoch (Alister Clunas).
3rd March
Sutherland: Snow Bunting on beach just past stream, Coul Links (per BirdGuides).
Badenoch & Strathspey: ca 10 Waxwings Boat of Garten, at first house on left entering village over R Spey (John Poyner).
Inverness: single Kingfishers at Merkinch LNR and Whin Park, Inverness (David and Judith Edge).
2nd March
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter with Common Scoters and 1000 Long-tailed Ducks Coul Links (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck "from garage" early afternoon then flew off, Udale Bay (per BirdGuides), 51 pale-bellied Brent Geese plus male Blackcap nearby, Rosemarkie (Kevin Davies).
Lochaber: Water Pipit at Caol VP, Fort William (per BirdTrack).
1st March
Sutherland: male Surf Scoter at mouth of L Fleet, Coul Links though distant (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (Grant Kay).
Skye & Lochalsh: second winter Glaucous Gull Portree (Neil Bennett), juvenile Glaucous Gull Loch nan Ceal, Arisaig (R Dyer), first winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
23rd March
Badenoch & Strathspey: Wheatear near Newtonmore (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Inverness: two Chiffchaffs on Ardersier common (Paul Sharman via Facebook)
22nd March
Badenoch & Strathspey: three Pintail on Loch Insh (Audrey Turner via Facebook)
Easter Ross: Greenland White-fronted Goose and Pale-belled Brent Goose amongst Pink-feet flock between Balblair and Gordon's Mill (Kevin Davis)
Skye & Lochalsh: Two first-winter Iceland Gulls at the head of Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: two Jays near sub-station at Loch Buidhe, Lairg (Scott Wotherspoon). Lapland Bunting at Culkein (David Haines). Four adult Surf Scoters , two Snow Bunting (Dean Macaskill) plus Red-necked Grebe and three Great Northern Divers off Embo (Tim Meredith). Female Hen Harrier plus 82 Whooper Swans and 47 Velvet Scoters around Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill) - Dean identified three female Surf Scoters later in the day.
21st March
Sutherland: 5 Surf Scoters (2 ad males, 1 second CY male and 2 females) Embo (Scott Wotherspoon).
Easter Ross: Chiffchaff just E of Hillockhead, near Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis).
Skye & Lochalsh: Adult and First-winter Iceland Gulls and 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls Portree (Neil Bennett), Chiffchaff Lower Milovaig (A Stables), first Wheatear Staffin (Kate Halliday). A Rook at Kildonan, Eigg was first on the island since 2014 (John Chester).
There are 2 male and 4 female Golden Pheasants in grounds of Greshornish Hotel, apparently.
20th March
Sutherland: 3 Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) off Embo Caravan Site (Dean Macaskill).
Inverness: "plenty" Chiffchaffs" singing Craig Dunain (Phil Clark).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Osprey between Broomhill Bridge and Dulnain Bridge (Neil Stonehouse).
Skye & Lochalsh: possible 2nd winter American Herring Gull, 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls and first-winter Glaucous Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), 2 Blackcaps at feeders Isleornsay (RC), male Yellowhammer Miller's Cottage, Eigg (J Chester), first Great Skua outer Loch Carron (M Bliss).
19th March
Sutherland: A White-billed Diver flew south at Brorar at 16.00 (Gavin Woodbridge), 3 Surf Scoters (2 males, 1 female) off Embo Caravan Site (Lynda Graham, Peter Stronach) - an aberrant Common Scoter with extensive yellow on its bill is also present there, Snow Bunting Dornoch (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: 32 Waxwings in larches Milton of Leys Primary School (David Bain).
Badenoch & Strathspey: first reported Osprey near Boat of Garten (Neil Stonehouse).
Skye & Lochalsh: probable second winter American Herring Gull, 2 first-winter Glaucous Gulls, 4 Iceland Gulls (3 first-winter, 1 second-winter) Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
18th March
Sutherland: now a pair of Surf Scoters off Embo Caravan Site (Dean Macaskill).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 first-winter and a second-winter Iceland Gulls Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett). Also a female Silver Pheasant.
Also males of Golden Pheasant and Lady Amherst's Pheasant at Strathdearn today (if you're into that kind of thing)
17th March
Sutherland: Drake Surf Scoter showing well by Embo Pier (Dean Macaskill), adult and 2 first-winter Little Gulls flew South past river mouth Brora (per BirdGuides).
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull at harbour, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Chiffchaff Merkinch LNR (Alan Macaskill), Kingfisher Whin Pond, Inverness (per BirdTrack), Blackcap Cradlehall (per BirdTrack).
Lochaber: Nuthatch Inchree (per BirdTrack).
A Pink-footed Goose ringed in Iceland as an adult in 2017 was seen at Dornoch on 6th March. It spent its first winter in Norfolk but then spent summer 2018 in Lincolnshire. This is the first report since then.
16th March
Wester Ross: juvenile Iceland Gull and adult Glaucous Gull Ullapool Harbour (per BirdGuides).
15th March
Easter Ross: American Wigeon drake Loch Eye, from jetty by Loch Eye House (Simon Levene).
Inverness: Kingfisher and 2 Nuthatches Loch Killin (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Iceland Gull Chracaig River, Portree (Neil Bennett).
14th March
Easter Ross: single Sandwich Tern off Cromarty and Lesser Black-backed Gull (Kevin Davis). American Wigeon present again on Loch Eye (Bob Swann)
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe (in summer plumage) off Alturlie, Gadwall on Loch Flemington (Dean MacAskill)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree along with the 'probable' 2nd winter American Herring Gull (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter again off the pier at Embo (George Gay)
13th March
Easter Ross: American Wigeon present again on Loch Eye. Two Barnacle Geese amongst the Pink-footed Goose flock near LIDL supermarket, Tain (Dean MacAskill)
Lochaber: male American Black Duck reported again at Strontian (per BirdTrack)
12th March
Easter Ross: Pintail noted off Redcastle (Pru Ward via Facebook)
Sutherland: five Snow Buntings and a single Magpie at Dornoch Point. Drake Surf Scoter off the pier at Embo amongst c300 Common Scoter (Dean MacAskill), Velvet Scoter also reported by BirdTrack
11th March
Badenoch & Strathspey: six Kittiwakes on Loch Insh, 58 Golden Plover also (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Sutherland: six Little Gulls noted past Brora river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
10th March
Inverness: Kingfisher in Whin Park (via BirdTrack)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree again (per skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 100 Barnacle Geese at Keoldale, 16 Whooper Swans at Balnakeil (Gordon Birnie via Facebook)
9th March
Easter Ross: two Waxwings near Moor Farm, Tain (per BirdTrack)
Lochaber: male American Black Duck reported again at Strontian (per BirdTrack)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), joined by a third bird by late morning (Bob McMillan). Four Greenland White-fronted Geese at Kilmuir (per skye-birds.com)
First Osprey of the season sighted in Caithness airspace on the 6th and again today
8th March
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck at Udale Bay, plus pair of Canada Geese at Jemimaville (Jack Harrison)
Lochaber: Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Caol spit (Tony Laidler)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree in the morning with a different example - with a 2nd winter bird - in the afternoon. Probable 2nd winter American Herring Gull was again showing on the River Chracaig, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Glaucous Gull at Polin beach, Kinlochbervie (Gordon Birnie via Facebook)
7th March
Easter Ross: five Waxwings in Edderton (Russell Wood via Facebook)
Inverness: 'possible' Grey-bellied Brant near Castle Stuart amongst Pink-footed Geese (per BirdTrack)
Sutherland: Iceland Gull Helmsdale (George Gay).
6th March
Sutherland: Tundra Bean Goose with Pink-footed Geese in field below school, Dornoch (Dean MacAskill), 43 Slavonian Grebes Embo (per BirdTrack).
Inverness: Richardson's Cackling Goose 1.5 miles NE of Culloden, also Grey-bellied Brent Goose (per BirdGuides), Kingfisher Muirton Locks (Tim Meredith).
Skye & Lochalsh: First winter Iceland Gull Chracaigh and second winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
5th March
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter off Caravan Park, Embo (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: Whimbrel Udale Bay - very early (per BirdTrack).
Inverness: possible adult Grey-bellied Brent near Culloden at NH752501 (per RBA), Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls Portree (N Hinchliffe). juvenile Glaucous Gull Arisaid (R Dyer), juvenile Loch Eil, Duisky (Bob McMillan), pair of Nuthatches nr Arisaig (Bob McMillan), male Mandarin Morar River (per Bob McMillan).
4th March
Easter Ross: White-tailed Eagle, probably 2CY, W over Avoch (Alister Clunas).
3rd March
Sutherland: Snow Bunting on beach just past stream, Coul Links (per BirdGuides).
Badenoch & Strathspey: ca 10 Waxwings Boat of Garten, at first house on left entering village over R Spey (John Poyner).
Inverness: single Kingfishers at Merkinch LNR and Whin Park, Inverness (David and Judith Edge).
2nd March
Sutherland: drake Surf Scoter with Common Scoters and 1000 Long-tailed Ducks Coul Links (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck "from garage" early afternoon then flew off, Udale Bay (per BirdGuides), 51 pale-bellied Brent Geese plus male Blackcap nearby, Rosemarkie (Kevin Davies).
Lochaber: Water Pipit at Caol VP, Fort William (per BirdTrack).
1st March
Sutherland: male Surf Scoter at mouth of L Fleet, Coul Links though distant (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (Grant Kay).
Skye & Lochalsh: second winter Glaucous Gull Portree (Neil Bennett), juvenile Glaucous Gull Loch nan Ceal, Arisaig (R Dyer), first winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
