31st May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan (NN614943). Wester Ross: Great White Egret still at Poolewe, at Inverewe gardens side of the bay at 11am. First summer Glaucous Gull still present at the ferry terminal at Ullapool. Inverness: Hoopoe images from Culloden Wood added under 26th May. Sutherland: Yellow Wagtail still present this afternoon at Balnakeil, location here. 30th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Male Icterine Warbler still present and singing in the scrub 50m west of the public toilets, at entrance to pond and picnic area at Laggan this morning and late afternoon. Sutherland: Stone Curlew still present, seen in flight this morning behind dunes to north of carpark at Balnakeil, approximately here (Last seen at 11am, a Stone Curlew arrived in North Ronaldsay today at 1611pm, which is 160km away. However, after studying photos, they have different wing and bill patterns, 2 different birds!). Yellow Wagtail still present at 1515pm this afternoon, also seen in the morning, location here. Also summer plumaged Curlew Sandpiper, and Red-necked Phalarope present on Balnakeil marsh. Black-throated Diver and 2 Long-tailed Ducks in the bay. Inverness: Lesser Whitethroat singing at Dalmagarry, at NH818333. Wester Ross: Great White Egret at Poolewe, seen in bay till 1300pm when it flew and landed in trees at Inverewe gardens. First summer Glaucous Gull still present at the ferry terminal at Ullapool. 29th May
Sutherland: Stone Curlew still at Balnakeil all day, in east of flat area 200m north of Balnakeil Marsh. A Yellow Wagtail was also present, ssp. flavissima in the same area as the Stone Curlew. Red-necked Phalarope at Balnakeil also. Badenoch and Strathspey: An Icterine Warbler singing at Laggan by the public toilets at 1149am and 1316pm. Singing male Bluethroat at a site yesterday and again today. 28th May
Sutherland: Stone Curlew (Antoine Gergaud) at Balnakeil, found originally in dunes 500m north of marsh, very flighty, last seen in fields southwest of Balnakeil Farm late afternoon. Red-necked Phalarope at Balnakeil early morning. Inverness: Pair of Corn Bunting on the southern perimeter fence of Inverness Airport, just before the Bristow/HM Coastguard shed this afternoon. 27th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Yellow Wagtail (Mark Warren) seen and heard flying over Cairngorm. Sutherland: Juvenile Iceland Gull in the harbour flew from Handa Island towards the rocks left of the harbour bay. 26th May
Inverness: Hoopoe (RSPB email) at Culloden Wood, Culloden in a private garden, seen and photographed. Easter Ross: Iceland Gull at Helmsdale. Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still at the ferry terminal in Ullapool. 25th May
Inverness: Hoopoe (Birdguides) at Loch Duntelchaig, at the junction of B862 and the minor road to Essich at the southwest end of the loch. Wester Ross: 8 Common Scoter on the sea west of the river mouth at Ullapool. Brent goose at Reiff. Badenoch and Strathspey: Late news - wholly unconfirmed report of a male Red-backed Shrike (H and M forum) in the trees at Cairngorm Carpark last weekend. Sutherland: More late news! - Two Common Cranes reported flying south of the Ardvar/Nedd area on the 23rd May, same day as 2 White Storks were reported flying north over Opinan on Birdguides. 24th May
Easter Ross: Iceland Gull on the sea this morning then flew north. Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still mid-afternoon. 23rd May
Wester Ross: Two White Storks (Birdguides) flew north past Opinan this evening at 2034pm. Two Common Cranes (Don O'Driscoll) reported flying south over the Ardvar/Nedd area Badenoch and Strathspey: Black-tailed Godwit still on Deishar Road pool at Boat of Garten. Skye and Lochalsh: Sooty Shearwater off the Uig-Lochmaddy Ferry near Waternish Point. 22nd May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Presumed Barnacle x Greylag hybrid goose on Dava Moor this morning again, seen and photographed last Wednesday also. Black-tailed Godwit still on Deishar Road flood in Boat of Garten. 21st May
Lochaber: Nuthatch (Flora MacDonald) still present at Roy Bridge, at the campsite on feeders. Wester Ross: The Glaucous Gull still present at West shore Street in Ullapool today. Easter Ross: Two Black Guillemots on red buoy between North and South Sutor. Skye and Lochalsh: A White Wagtail near the Coral Beaches at Claigan. Badenoch and Strathspey: Colour-ringed adult Common Sandpiper present on Lochindorb last weekend had been ringed at Weir Wood Reservoir, East Sussex on the 27th April 2016. Whooper Swan still present on Deishar Road flood, Boat of Garten. Two Magpies at lay-by on A95 west of Broomhill junction. Pied Flycatcher singing at Rothiemurchus. Inverness: Pink-footed Goose present at Alturlie Pools, also Water Rail sharming on the upper pool. 20th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Three Black-tailed Godwits at the Deishar Road flood in Boat of Garten this evening, also a Whooper Swan. Three Whooper Swans at Insh Marshes and a Swift over the south end. Skye and Lochalsh: Whooper Swan still on the lochan at Inverarinate. Single Bar-tailed Godwit at Waterloo. Wester Ross: The Glaucous Gull still present in the harbour this morning. Lochaber: Garden Warbler in Glen Etive this morning. 19th May
Wester Ross: Drake King Eider still at Badenscaillie off the cemetery this morning and this afternoon. Also the Glaucous Gull still present in the harbour this morning. 18th May
Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool harbour this morning. Badenoch and Strathspey: Presumed hybrid Barnacle x Greylag Goose at Dava Moor today. 17th May
Skye and Lochalsh: Juvenile Iceland Gull at Loch Beag, Skye. 16th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Late news of Hoopoe (Duncan Grant) still present at Balgowan, Laggan Bridge on the 9th and 10th May. Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still in Ullapool harbour this afternoon. 15th May
Wester Ross: King Eider still present in Badentarbert Bay. Glaucous Gull at Ullapool again at the harbour. Lochaber: Mandarin Duck at Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig. Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Wood Warbler seen and calling yesterday afternoon at Craigellachie NNR, and three plus Spotted Flycatcher there too, but no sign of Pied Flycatcher that were seen last weekend. Single Tree Pipit calling too. 14th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: There were at least three singing male Pied Flycatchers at Craigellachie, one of which was paired up and along the main access track above the first waterbody from the tunnel, and the others were near the T-junction beyond the reservoir. There were also two singing Redstart males (one above first lochan, one near the same junction), three singing Wood Warblers (all between the tunnel and the rocks up to the reservoir), two displaying Tree Pipits (below the reservoir), and at least five Spotted Flycatchers (between the tunnel and the junction, plus two more in the birches adjacent to the wooden lodges in the resort). 13th May
Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull at the harbour in Ullapool still. Skye and Lochalsh: 21 Whimbrel in fields at Trumpan, Waternish. Three singing Wood Warblers in Duisdale Woods, Sleat. 12th May
Inverness: Drake Garganey (Bob Wilson - Highland SOC email) still at southeast end of pools viewable from track to north. Wester Ross: King Eider (Susan Seright - Highland SOC email) still at Badentarbert bay at 1500pm this afternoon. Grey Phalarope (Birdguides) off the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry. Easter Ross: 13 Manx Shearwaters north past Brora, also 600 Kittiwakes and 230 Razorbills feeding offshore. Badenoch and Strathspey: Pied Flycatcher singing in Kincraig this morning, in garden immediately south of primary school next to A9 works. 11th May
Wester Ross: Hoopoe (Stuart Edwards - SOC email) seen near Inverpolly Lodge this morning at 10am, people are not encouraged to go up the private road to the lodge but the bird was in the area around the public road NC074134. King Eider still at Badenscaillie in Badentarbert Bay. Inverness: Two Hobbies (Tom Wells - H and M Facebook) were seen hunting hirundines around Alturlie pools before flying towards Chanonry Point. Corn Bunting singing at Connage Cheese Pantry entrance, Ardersier NH780540. Easter Ross: Pair of Spotted Flycatchers at Loch Kinellan. Badenoch and Strathspey: Nuthatch (C.Holter - Birdtrack) at RSPB Loch Garten. Skye and Lochalsh: Single Spotted Flycatcher in Armadale woods. 10th May
Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still in the harbour at Ullapool this morning. Skye and Lochalsh: 22 Whimbrel still at Traigh, Morar. Drake Mandarin on Loch nan Eala, Arisaig (NM667859) early yesterday morning. The leucistic Great Northern Diver was still at the mouth of Loch nan Ceall along with another 18 Great Northern Divers. Badenoch and Strathspey: Hoopoe (Birdguides on 16/05/16) reported again from Balgowan area at Laggan Bridge. 9th May
Sutherland: Hoopoe in a Lochinver garden (Tony and Gill Frost - AFC). Wester Ross: King Eider again today at Badentarbert bay, just north of Badenscaillie, flushed south by dog walkers. Adult male Black Redstart at Fearnmore, north of Applecross, NG724606. Skye and Lochalsh: No sign of Ring-necked Duck at Loch Meodal. Two reports of singing Whitethroats in Broadford, at the medical centre and the old Pier. Singing Whinchat at Scullamus and female at Harrapool. Badenoch and Strathspey: Pied Flycatcher at Craigellachie NNR. 8th May
Skye and Lochalsh: Drake Ring-necked Duck on Loch Meodal, Sleat, this morning and still there this afternoon (NG657111). Juvenile Glaucous Gull also at Luib this morning. Grasshopper Warblers reeling at reeling birds at Harrapool, Leiter Fura, and Dunhallin, Waternish. Easter Ross: Grasshopper Warbler reeling again at Loch Kinellan, Strathpeffer this morning.. Also 3+ Swifts. Iceland Gull at Loch Fleet this morning. Wester Ross: At Kylescu, 2nd year Glaucous Gull and 2nd year Iceland gull at Tor a' ghamhna, NC208328. 7th May
Wester Ross: King Eider again at Badentarbert Bay today. Juvenile Iceland Gull amongst crofts at Achiltibuie. Wood Warbler singing at woods at Rhegreanoch, Sedge Warbler in Achiltibuie, also 360+Dunlin,160+Ringed Plover 12 Whimbrel and 85+ Golden Plover at Achnahaird machair/saltings. Inverness: A single Dotterel, flying overhead, just north-west of the summit of Sgurr na Ruaidhe, Glenstrathfarrar, grid reference NH286428. Great-crested Grebe at Ardersier. Single Swift over the River Ness, Inverness. Whitethroat at Alturlie pools. 6th May
Dotterel back on the breeding grounds. Lochaber: Common Whitethroat singing at Kildonan, Eigg. Sedge Warbler singing at Kildonan, Rum and 4 singing on Eigg. 9 Arctic Tern at Eigg Pier. Singing Whinchat at Cuagach, Eigg. Skye and Lochalsh: Two reeling Grasshopper Warblers at Choisleadar, Edinbane and at Traigh, Morar. Sutherland: 5 Sedge Warblers singing at Balnakiel, and 21 Whimbrel, 60 Pink-footed Geese. Corncrake calling at Durness, and 7 Arctic and 1 Common Tern at Loch Borralie. Sedge Warbler at Strathy Point. Wester Ross: King Eider reported again this afternoon at Badenscallie. Easter Ross: At Kinellan, Strathpeffer this morning a reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Sedge Warblers, Cuckoo, and a Tree Pipit. Wood Warblers singing at Craigdarroch Drive, Contin, next to Achilty Woods forestry sign. Spotted Flycatcher this afternoon at Portmahomack Community Wood - NH 914 833 in blossom trees behind pond. Badenoch and Strathspey: Photo of Hoopoe seen on 27th April added under that date. Also late news of a photographed Black Redstart at Coire na Ciste carpark on Cairngorm on the 14th April, added under that date. Inverness: Swift over this morning. 5th May
Large counts of Whimbrel and White Wagtails being made over last couple of days due to continued westerly gales blowing them off course. Badenoch and Strathspey: Late news of a Hoopoe (Sandra Holmes - email) on the 27th April at Balgowan, east of Laggan. Inverness: 38 Whimbrel in field between the airport and Connage Dairy this morning. Reeling Grasshopper Warbler near River Nairn near Farr this morning. Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Redpolls at Uig on feeders that show characteristics of ssp islandica race. 130 Dunlin in Broadford bay, numbers building up!. Lochaber: Nuthatch (Tom Finch - Birdtrack) at Glenborrodale RSPB, Loch Sunart. Single Pale-bellied Brent at Kildonan Bay, Eigg. 4th May
Easter Ross: A probable third-winter Iceland Gull is present in a recently sown field between Newton farm and Rose farm, approx. a mile or so west out of Cromarty (approx NH773658). At Udale, one male Whinchat left hand side of hide, on fence wires at 12.30am this afternoon, with 11 Black tailed Godwit on mud, at least 18 White Wagtail on saltmarsh grass. Badenoch and Strathspey: 7 White Wagtail on the flood on Deishar Road, Boat of Garten this evening. Lochaber: 18 Pink-footed Geese grounded because of gales at Kilmory, Isle of Rum. Skye and Lochalsh: Single House Martin at at Ostaig, Sleat. 37 Whimbrel at Traigh, Morar and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. 3rd May
Easter Ross: Single Whimbrel past Chanonry Point this morning heading out of Firth and at least 7 White Wagtails. 3 Common Terns on Avoch rafts this morning and 2 at Rosemarkie beach. 2 Whimbrel and an Arctic Tern past Tarbat Ness early morning into the Dornoch Firth. Wester Ross: First-winter Glaucous Gull still in the harbour at Ullapool this afternoon, for it's 111th day!!!. Skye and Lochalsh: 10 Whimbrel at Sconser Golf Course and 3 near Loch Greshornish; 11 also at Balmeanach Bay, Braes. Single House Martin at Staffin. Inverness: Singing Blackcap at North Kessock (under the bridge), with fishing Osprey by Inverness CT stadium. Badenoch and Strathspey: 3 Scottish Crossbill at Abernethy Forest. 2nd May
Wester Ross: King Eider reported again this afternoon at Badenscallie which is further along the coast towards Ullapool, no sign there this evening. Easter Ross: 3 Common Terns on the tern raft at the rear of Storehouse Restaurant just north of the Cromarty Bridge at 13:30hrs today. 16 Whimbrel at Tarbat Ness, 12 going north, 4 south. 2 Wood Warblers singing at Craigdarroch Drive, Contin. Skye and Lochalsh: Calling Corncrake at Trotternish today. 12 Whimbrel at Kilmaluag, three at Camus Mor, Bornesketaig and singles at Camas Malag and Waterloo. Redpoll showing characteristics of islandica race at Uig on feeders. Common Terns at Traigh, Morar and three Black-tailed Godwits at Back of Keppoch, Arisaig. Inverness: 3 Mandarin Ducks on the River Nairn at Leanach at NH754445. 1st May
Easter Ross: 2 Arctic Terns south west past Tarbat Ness into the Dornoch Firth. Single House Martin back at the lighthouse. Single Whimbrel north, adult Little Gull east. Sutherland: Wood Sandpipers back on territory. Inverness: A single Corn Bunting at Gollanfield, at T-junction at NH814542. |