Sunday 31st May
Easter Ross: four Black Guillemot off Tarbat Ness; 35 Knot plus single Turnstone and Dunlin present also (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: two Corn Buntings (one singing) at Dalcross airport (Colin Leslie)
Sutherland: twelve Manx Shearwaters, two Whimbrel and single Black-throated Diver off/at Embo (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 30th May
Sutherland: 27 Canada Geese and 1 Pink-footed Goose The Mound and 2 Stock Doves Skelbo (Dean MacAskill).
Inverness: Common Crane west over Inverness (Andrew Whitelee). Male Gadwall and male Gadwall Loch Flemington (Blair Whyte), male Shoveler between Croy and Loch Flemington (Colin Leslie).
Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull following creel boat Broadford Bay, also 4 Bonxies and male Gadwall (Neil Bennett), male Yellowhammer Drumbuie (per Skye Birds), pair of Shoveler Lochailort (SC).
Friday 29th May
Sutherland: Hawfinch at feeders Golspie (per Pete Cosgrove).
Easter Ross: 9 Manx Shearwaters N Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: 16 Barnacle Geese Lonnie (per BirdTrack).
Badenoch & Strathspey: 17 Barnacle Geese N near Nethybridge (Steve Broyd), 6 Canada Geese Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan).
Skye & Lochalsh: 3 Sandwich Terns Broadford (Bob McMillan), Magpie Halistra, Waternish (J Hewes). Common Redpoll on feeders at Uig (MC).
Lochaber: 15 Common Swifts Achintee, Fort William (SC).
Thursday 28th May
Sutherland: 2 Black-throated Divers, 75 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels and 28 Manx Shearwaters Coul Links (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe South Kessock (Al McNee).
Badenoch & Strathspey: singing male Pied Flycatcher Loch Alvie and 17 Barnacle Geese Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: Female Corncrake heard calling Trotternish - rarely heard,this suggests a female has arrived in territory lacking a male (Nick Hodgetts), pair of Redwings fledged young in Lochalsh, possibly first proven breeding in Skye and Lochalsh (per Bob McMillan))
Wednesday 27th May
Sutherland: Wood Warbler Migdale Wood (Di Alexander).
Easter Ross: Still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).
Wester Ross: 2CY Iceland Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Inverness: Wood Warbler Glen Urquhart (Carol Miller).
Badenoch & Strathspey: pair of Pied Flycatchers, 3 Wood Warblers and CUckoo Craigellachie, Aviemore (Alan MacAskill).
Skye & Lochalsh: Canada Goose Breakish Obbe (FM), 1 Knot, 30 Dunlins, 25 Ringed Plovers Lusa Mouth (Bob McMillan).
Tuesday 26th May
Sutherland: 4 Stock Doves Coul Farm (Dean MacAskill), 310 Ringed Plovers (tundrae race), Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: Second calendar year Glaucous Gull Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 Sanderlings, 40 Dunlins, 30 Ringed Plovers, and a Turnstone Broadford (Bob McMillan). Magpie Waternish (per SP).
Monday 25th May
Skye & Lochalsh: Female Hawfinch on feeders in Portree garden (per Bob McMillan).
Sunday 24th May
Sutherland: 378 Ringed Plovers, 32 Sanderlings, 76 Dunlins and 2 Little Terns Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and 5 Canada Geese Embo (Dean MacAskill).
Badenoch & Strathspey: a Quail called half a dozen or more times between 22.15 and 22.35 near Insh (Dave Pierce).
23rd May
Badenoch & Strathspey: male Pied Flycatcher at Loch Insh, with female Marsh Harrier and single Whooper Swan seen again on/over the nearby marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: twelve Whimbrel in Lower Breakish, Broadford (via skye-birds.com)
22nd May
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Whooper Swan still at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: three Bar-tailed Godwith and single Knot at Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 14 Manx Shearwaters southbound past Embo this afternoon (Dean MacAskill)
21st May
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose and Marsh Harrier at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook). Lesser Whitethroat in Nethybridge (Steve Broyd via Pete Gordon), Magpie present also (PG)
Inverness: c30 Swift over the River Ness in the city centre today (Alan MacAskill)
Skye & Lochalsh: five Sanderling at Lusa, Broadford (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Three Whimbrel and a Great Northern Diver at Embo (Dean MacAskill)
20th May
Skye & Lochalsh: four Great Northern Divers in the Sound of Raasay. Seven Whimbrel attempting a birdie on the golf course at Sconser (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Firecrest in a garden near Lochinver (R Cliff)
19th May
Badenoch & Strathspey: the Rare Bird Alert service is carrying a report of a Spotted Crake that was 'singing recently' at Insh marshes. Although the site has historically held the species in spring/summer, your SOC Highland team would very much appreciate any reports like this to come to us directly, and with appropriate detail. Such rarities can be reported just to the Highland Recorder (e-mail above or via BirdTrack) if you wish, especially as such data can later be used for conservation and similar efforts.
Easter Ross: two female Scaup still showing off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner). Spotted Flycatcher in Munlochy (Bob Wilson)
Inverness: waders around and about Alturlie included c30 Ringed Plover, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit plus small numbers of Knot and Dunlin (Alan MacAskill). Single Whimbrel at Merkinch (Penny Insole). Late report from 11th May of a Turtle Dove in Kilmartin, Glenurquhart (via BirdTrack)
Skye & Lochalsh: three Canada Geese on Loch Portree, 2cy Iceland Gull at Bayfield plus Whimbrel still present in and around the area (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Seen at Dornoch point was the regular 2cy Iceland Gull, while on passage were 120 Pink-footed Geese, more than 360 Ringed Plover, and 210 Sanderling. At Embo, a single Whimbrel, two White Wagtails, 'Nordic' Jackdaw and - near Grannie's Heilan Hame - Tree Sparrow gathering food (Dean MacAskill)
18th May
Easter Ross: two female Scaup off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: male Cuckoo calling early morning approximately one mile south of the city centre (Sue Tracey via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: 2cy and 3cy Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree during the day. Three Arctic Skuas over Rum (all via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 184 Sanderling and three Pink-footed Geese at Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill)
17th May
Easter Ross: drake Gadwall at Tain links (Bob Swann)
Inverness: Dotterel present again at Alturlie (Stuart Benn via Facebook). 14 Black-tailed Godwits at Muirtown pools (Al McNee)
Skye & Lochalsh: 2cy Iceland Gull and five Whimbrel at Loch Portree, seven Whimbrel at Broadford also (Neil Bennett and Bob McMillan via skye-birds.com)
16th May
Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker near Insh (Duncan Macdonald)
Easter Ross: Still 2000 Common Scoters and 2000 Long-tailed Ducks Portmahomack (Dave Tanner). Two Gadwall on Loch Eye )Bob Swann)
Skye & Lochalsh: 2CY Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS). Whooper Swan Sheabost (GF), 225 Dunlins and 75 Ringed Plovers Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan), 150 Dunlins and 150 Ringed Plovers Traigh, Morar (S MacD).
15th May
Sutherland: 500 Ringed Plovers and 700 Dunlins Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: 500+ Sand Martins Loch Eye - showing how cold it is (Bob Swan).
Inverness: Dotterel at Alturlie again in evening (Blair Whyte), Osprey fishing off South Kessock (Tommy Youd and Julie Vivers).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Nuthatch Abernethy, near Loch Garten RSPB (Neil Stonehouse).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2CY Iceland Gull Scorrybreck, Portree )Neil Bennett).
14th May
Inverness: Dotterel still at Alturlie early morning (Stuart Benn).
Badenoch & Strathspey: migrant Honey Buzzard over moorland Glen Tromie (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: Long-eared Owls with 1+ young Canna (Ranger Service).
13th May
Sutherland: Little Tern and 2 Great Northern Divers Embo and female King Eider still at Coul Links (Dean MacAskill). Wader passage held up at Dornoch Point with 482 Ringed Plovers, 70 Sanderlings, 6 Whimbrels and 1 Grey Plover, also 3 White Wagtails and an Osprey (Dean MacAskill).
Inverness: Dotterel still at Alturlie early morning (Stuart Benn), 23 Black-tailed Godwits Muiton Pools (Tommy Youd and Julie Vivers).
Easter Ross: adult Iceland Gull near Cromarty (Kevin Davis), 2 Sedge Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie (Mary Galloway).
Skye & Lochalsh: Jack Snipe Broadford (Martin Benson), 2 Whooper Swans (one with injured foot) still at Black Lochs, Broadford (Martin Benson). 15 Great Northern Divers Sound of Sleat off Aird (KMcA).
12th May
Inverness: Dotterel Alturlie (Blair Whyte).
Easter Ross: 2000 Long-tailed Ducks and 2000 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull 2CY and 2 Whimbrels Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), 7 Whimbrels Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan).
11th May
Sutherland: Hawfinch in garden Littleferry, present a couple of days (per Stan Holryd).
Inverness: Dotterel in field at Alturlie (Simon Ewing).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Common Crane over Mains of Garten flew towards Loch Garten/Nethybridge (Dave Pullan).
Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie back at Ellishadder (per SG), 11 Whimbrels Broadford Bay & 4 Ashaig (Bob McMillan), Jack Snipe crossed the road (why?) at Head of Loch Slapin (RW), Wood Warbler Skye Shrubs, Portree (TH).
10th May
Sutherland: juvenile Iceland Gull and Bonxie Embo (Dean MacAskill).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Lesser Whitethroat Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan), male Pied Flycatcher Tromiebridge (Dave Pierce), probable Glaucous Gull over Tulloch (Simon Eaves), arrival of Spotted Flycatchers eg 9 Nethybridge (Pete Gordon). Still 16 Pink-footed Geese at Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: 7 Brent Geese Glendale (A Atherton).
9th May
Easter Ross: Sedge Warbler at Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)
Lochaber: Curlew Sandpiper at Traigh, Morar along with c300 Dunlin (per skye-birds.com)
Skye & Lochalsh: c300 Dunlin, two Sanderling and various wader movement due poor weather in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)
Small arrivals of Swifts in Strathspey and Inverness today
8th May
Badenoch & Strathspey: Black-tailed Godwit Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce)
Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing near Sleat - our friend Bob McMillan of the excellent skye-birds.com website notes this 5th record for Skye brings an unusually high annual count thus far for the species (per skye-birds.com)
7th May
Easter Ross: Still several thousand Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: seven Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Whimbrel and single sumplum Knot at Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: drake Garganey near Embo (Dean MacAskill)
6th May
Easter Ross: White Wagtail at Portmahomack, while offshore were c2000 Common Scoter with similar number of Long-tailed Duck; a single Velvet Scoter was also recorded (Dave Tanner via Facebook), juvenile Glaucous Gull Munlochy (Robert Wilson), 2 Grasshopper Warblers Quarryfield (Robert Wilson).
Inverness: pair of Shovelers and 2 Stock Doves near Croy (Colin Leslie).
Skye & Lochalsh: 13 Whimbrel at Broadford Bay, skein of c75 Pink-footed Geese over also (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)
5th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Wood Warbler in Craigellachie NNR (Craig Johnstone)
Inverness: Wood Warbler in Strathglass (Carol Miller via Facebook)
Lochaber: Wood Warbler singing at Lochailort (per skye-birds.com)
Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing in Uig wood, Spotted Flycatcher at Blar Bubh on Eigg, Arctic Tern in Staffin Bay (per skye-birds.com)
4th May
Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing in the Armadale woods, Garden Warbler also (Bob McMillan). Single Black-tailed Godwit at Balmeanach Bay (per skye-birds.com)
3rd May
Easter Ross: Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail (m.f. thunbergi ssp.) at Portmahomack, two Pomarine Skuas and c1,000 Long-tailed Duck also (Dave Tanner via Facebook) BIRDERS ARE REMINDED OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES REGARDING NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull (2cy) at Bayfield, Portree plus Garden Warbler near the town also plus Arctic Terns in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennet/per skye-birds.com)
2nd May
Easter Ross: Arctic Skua Shandwick Bay (Simon Levene). 1000 Long-tailed Ducks still at Portmahomack, also Whitethroat (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Swifts back at Muirton (Thomas Plant).
Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Eigg (1st record, presemably yesterday's Canna bird?) (John Chester), Wood Warbler Lisergary river walk, Portree (TH), Whimbrels at Rum (1), Broadford (4), Waterloo (14), Teangue, Sleat (8) and Back of Keppoch (21) (per Skye Birds).
1st May
Easter Ross: Whimbrel Portmahomack (Dave Tanner), Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie beach (John Carruthers).
Inverness: 12 Waxwings Westhill (Lynda Graham).
Badenoch and Strathspey: 9 Barnacle Geese Cromdale (feral birds from Highland Wildlife Park?) (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: Whimbrel, Cuckoo and Whinchat on Canna (Ranger Service). Magpie (yesterday's Canna bird?), Yellowhammer, Sedge Warbler and 3 Common Terns Rum (Sean Morris). 14 Whimbrels Back of Keppoch (S MacD), 5 Whimbrels Milovaig (AS).
Lochaber: Mandarin Dalelia, Acharacle (per BirdTrack).
Easter Ross: four Black Guillemot off Tarbat Ness; 35 Knot plus single Turnstone and Dunlin present also (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: two Corn Buntings (one singing) at Dalcross airport (Colin Leslie)
Sutherland: twelve Manx Shearwaters, two Whimbrel and single Black-throated Diver off/at Embo (Dean MacAskill)
Saturday 30th May
Sutherland: 27 Canada Geese and 1 Pink-footed Goose The Mound and 2 Stock Doves Skelbo (Dean MacAskill).
Inverness: Common Crane west over Inverness (Andrew Whitelee). Male Gadwall and male Gadwall Loch Flemington (Blair Whyte), male Shoveler between Croy and Loch Flemington (Colin Leslie).
Skye & Lochalsh: Glaucous Gull following creel boat Broadford Bay, also 4 Bonxies and male Gadwall (Neil Bennett), male Yellowhammer Drumbuie (per Skye Birds), pair of Shoveler Lochailort (SC).
Friday 29th May
Sutherland: Hawfinch at feeders Golspie (per Pete Cosgrove).
Easter Ross: 9 Manx Shearwaters N Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: 16 Barnacle Geese Lonnie (per BirdTrack).
Badenoch & Strathspey: 17 Barnacle Geese N near Nethybridge (Steve Broyd), 6 Canada Geese Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan).
Skye & Lochalsh: 3 Sandwich Terns Broadford (Bob McMillan), Magpie Halistra, Waternish (J Hewes). Common Redpoll on feeders at Uig (MC).
Lochaber: 15 Common Swifts Achintee, Fort William (SC).
Thursday 28th May
Sutherland: 2 Black-throated Divers, 75 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels and 28 Manx Shearwaters Coul Links (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Great Crested Grebe South Kessock (Al McNee).
Badenoch & Strathspey: singing male Pied Flycatcher Loch Alvie and 17 Barnacle Geese Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: Female Corncrake heard calling Trotternish - rarely heard,this suggests a female has arrived in territory lacking a male (Nick Hodgetts), pair of Redwings fledged young in Lochalsh, possibly first proven breeding in Skye and Lochalsh (per Bob McMillan))
Wednesday 27th May
Sutherland: Wood Warbler Migdale Wood (Di Alexander).
Easter Ross: Still 500 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).
Wester Ross: 2CY Iceland Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Inverness: Wood Warbler Glen Urquhart (Carol Miller).
Badenoch & Strathspey: pair of Pied Flycatchers, 3 Wood Warblers and CUckoo Craigellachie, Aviemore (Alan MacAskill).
Skye & Lochalsh: Canada Goose Breakish Obbe (FM), 1 Knot, 30 Dunlins, 25 Ringed Plovers Lusa Mouth (Bob McMillan).
Tuesday 26th May
Sutherland: 4 Stock Doves Coul Farm (Dean MacAskill), 310 Ringed Plovers (tundrae race), Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: Second calendar year Glaucous Gull Rosemarkie (Tim Meredith).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 Sanderlings, 40 Dunlins, 30 Ringed Plovers, and a Turnstone Broadford (Bob McMillan). Magpie Waternish (per SP).
Monday 25th May
Skye & Lochalsh: Female Hawfinch on feeders in Portree garden (per Bob McMillan).
Sunday 24th May
Sutherland: 378 Ringed Plovers, 32 Sanderlings, 76 Dunlins and 2 Little Terns Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill), Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver and 5 Canada Geese Embo (Dean MacAskill).
Badenoch & Strathspey: a Quail called half a dozen or more times between 22.15 and 22.35 near Insh (Dave Pierce).
23rd May
Badenoch & Strathspey: male Pied Flycatcher at Loch Insh, with female Marsh Harrier and single Whooper Swan seen again on/over the nearby marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: twelve Whimbrel in Lower Breakish, Broadford (via skye-birds.com)
22nd May
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Whooper Swan still at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: three Bar-tailed Godwith and single Knot at Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 14 Manx Shearwaters southbound past Embo this afternoon (Dean MacAskill)
21st May
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose and Marsh Harrier at Insh marshes (Dave Pierce via Facebook). Lesser Whitethroat in Nethybridge (Steve Broyd via Pete Gordon), Magpie present also (PG)
Inverness: c30 Swift over the River Ness in the city centre today (Alan MacAskill)
Skye & Lochalsh: five Sanderling at Lusa, Broadford (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Three Whimbrel and a Great Northern Diver at Embo (Dean MacAskill)
20th May
Skye & Lochalsh: four Great Northern Divers in the Sound of Raasay. Seven Whimbrel attempting a birdie on the golf course at Sconser (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Firecrest in a garden near Lochinver (R Cliff)
19th May
Badenoch & Strathspey: the Rare Bird Alert service is carrying a report of a Spotted Crake that was 'singing recently' at Insh marshes. Although the site has historically held the species in spring/summer, your SOC Highland team would very much appreciate any reports like this to come to us directly, and with appropriate detail. Such rarities can be reported just to the Highland Recorder (e-mail above or via BirdTrack) if you wish, especially as such data can later be used for conservation and similar efforts.
Easter Ross: two female Scaup still showing off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner). Spotted Flycatcher in Munlochy (Bob Wilson)
Inverness: waders around and about Alturlie included c30 Ringed Plover, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit plus small numbers of Knot and Dunlin (Alan MacAskill). Single Whimbrel at Merkinch (Penny Insole). Late report from 11th May of a Turtle Dove in Kilmartin, Glenurquhart (via BirdTrack)
Skye & Lochalsh: three Canada Geese on Loch Portree, 2cy Iceland Gull at Bayfield plus Whimbrel still present in and around the area (via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Seen at Dornoch point was the regular 2cy Iceland Gull, while on passage were 120 Pink-footed Geese, more than 360 Ringed Plover, and 210 Sanderling. At Embo, a single Whimbrel, two White Wagtails, 'Nordic' Jackdaw and - near Grannie's Heilan Hame - Tree Sparrow gathering food (Dean MacAskill)
18th May
Easter Ross: two female Scaup off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner)
Inverness: male Cuckoo calling early morning approximately one mile south of the city centre (Sue Tracey via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: 2cy and 3cy Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree during the day. Three Arctic Skuas over Rum (all via skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 184 Sanderling and three Pink-footed Geese at Dornoch point (Dean MacAskill)
17th May
Easter Ross: drake Gadwall at Tain links (Bob Swann)
Inverness: Dotterel present again at Alturlie (Stuart Benn via Facebook). 14 Black-tailed Godwits at Muirtown pools (Al McNee)
Skye & Lochalsh: 2cy Iceland Gull and five Whimbrel at Loch Portree, seven Whimbrel at Broadford also (Neil Bennett and Bob McMillan via skye-birds.com)
16th May
Badenoch & Strathspey: Green Woodpecker near Insh (Duncan Macdonald)
Easter Ross: Still 2000 Common Scoters and 2000 Long-tailed Ducks Portmahomack (Dave Tanner). Two Gadwall on Loch Eye )Bob Swann)
Skye & Lochalsh: 2CY Iceland Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS). Whooper Swan Sheabost (GF), 225 Dunlins and 75 Ringed Plovers Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan), 150 Dunlins and 150 Ringed Plovers Traigh, Morar (S MacD).
15th May
Sutherland: 500 Ringed Plovers and 700 Dunlins Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: 500+ Sand Martins Loch Eye - showing how cold it is (Bob Swan).
Inverness: Dotterel at Alturlie again in evening (Blair Whyte), Osprey fishing off South Kessock (Tommy Youd and Julie Vivers).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Nuthatch Abernethy, near Loch Garten RSPB (Neil Stonehouse).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2CY Iceland Gull Scorrybreck, Portree )Neil Bennett).
14th May
Inverness: Dotterel still at Alturlie early morning (Stuart Benn).
Badenoch & Strathspey: migrant Honey Buzzard over moorland Glen Tromie (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: Long-eared Owls with 1+ young Canna (Ranger Service).
13th May
Sutherland: Little Tern and 2 Great Northern Divers Embo and female King Eider still at Coul Links (Dean MacAskill). Wader passage held up at Dornoch Point with 482 Ringed Plovers, 70 Sanderlings, 6 Whimbrels and 1 Grey Plover, also 3 White Wagtails and an Osprey (Dean MacAskill).
Inverness: Dotterel still at Alturlie early morning (Stuart Benn), 23 Black-tailed Godwits Muiton Pools (Tommy Youd and Julie Vivers).
Easter Ross: adult Iceland Gull near Cromarty (Kevin Davis), 2 Sedge Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie (Mary Galloway).
Skye & Lochalsh: Jack Snipe Broadford (Martin Benson), 2 Whooper Swans (one with injured foot) still at Black Lochs, Broadford (Martin Benson). 15 Great Northern Divers Sound of Sleat off Aird (KMcA).
12th May
Inverness: Dotterel Alturlie (Blair Whyte).
Easter Ross: 2000 Long-tailed Ducks and 2000 Common Scoters Portmahomack (Dave Tanner).
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull 2CY and 2 Whimbrels Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett), 7 Whimbrels Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan).
11th May
Sutherland: Hawfinch in garden Littleferry, present a couple of days (per Stan Holryd).
Inverness: Dotterel in field at Alturlie (Simon Ewing).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Common Crane over Mains of Garten flew towards Loch Garten/Nethybridge (Dave Pullan).
Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie back at Ellishadder (per SG), 11 Whimbrels Broadford Bay & 4 Ashaig (Bob McMillan), Jack Snipe crossed the road (why?) at Head of Loch Slapin (RW), Wood Warbler Skye Shrubs, Portree (TH).
10th May
Sutherland: juvenile Iceland Gull and Bonxie Embo (Dean MacAskill).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Lesser Whitethroat Boat of Garten (Dave Pullan), male Pied Flycatcher Tromiebridge (Dave Pierce), probable Glaucous Gull over Tulloch (Simon Eaves), arrival of Spotted Flycatchers eg 9 Nethybridge (Pete Gordon). Still 16 Pink-footed Geese at Loch Insh (Dave Pierce).
Skye & Lochalsh: 7 Brent Geese Glendale (A Atherton).
9th May
Easter Ross: Sedge Warbler at Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)
Lochaber: Curlew Sandpiper at Traigh, Morar along with c300 Dunlin (per skye-birds.com)
Skye & Lochalsh: c300 Dunlin, two Sanderling and various wader movement due poor weather in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)
Small arrivals of Swifts in Strathspey and Inverness today
8th May
Badenoch & Strathspey: Black-tailed Godwit Insh Marshes (Dave Pierce)
Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing near Sleat - our friend Bob McMillan of the excellent skye-birds.com website notes this 5th record for Skye brings an unusually high annual count thus far for the species (per skye-birds.com)
7th May
Easter Ross: Still several thousand Common Scoter and Long-tailed Duck off Portmahomack (Dave Tanner via Facebook)
Skye & Lochalsh: seven Bar-tailed Godwit, seven Whimbrel and single sumplum Knot at Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: drake Garganey near Embo (Dean MacAskill)
6th May
Easter Ross: White Wagtail at Portmahomack, while offshore were c2000 Common Scoter with similar number of Long-tailed Duck; a single Velvet Scoter was also recorded (Dave Tanner via Facebook), juvenile Glaucous Gull Munlochy (Robert Wilson), 2 Grasshopper Warblers Quarryfield (Robert Wilson).
Inverness: pair of Shovelers and 2 Stock Doves near Croy (Colin Leslie).
Skye & Lochalsh: 13 Whimbrel at Broadford Bay, skein of c75 Pink-footed Geese over also (Bob McMillan/skye-birds.com)
5th May
Badenoch and Strathspey: Wood Warbler in Craigellachie NNR (Craig Johnstone)
Inverness: Wood Warbler in Strathglass (Carol Miller via Facebook)
Lochaber: Wood Warbler singing at Lochailort (per skye-birds.com)
Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing in Uig wood, Spotted Flycatcher at Blar Bubh on Eigg, Arctic Tern in Staffin Bay (per skye-birds.com)
4th May
Skye & Lochalsh: Wood Warbler singing in the Armadale woods, Garden Warbler also (Bob McMillan). Single Black-tailed Godwit at Balmeanach Bay (per skye-birds.com)
3rd May
Easter Ross: Grey-headed Yellow Wagtail (m.f. thunbergi ssp.) at Portmahomack, two Pomarine Skuas and c1,000 Long-tailed Duck also (Dave Tanner via Facebook) BIRDERS ARE REMINDED OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDELINES REGARDING NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
Skye & Lochalsh: Iceland Gull (2cy) at Bayfield, Portree plus Garden Warbler near the town also plus Arctic Terns in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennet/per skye-birds.com)
2nd May
Easter Ross: Arctic Skua Shandwick Bay (Simon Levene). 1000 Long-tailed Ducks still at Portmahomack, also Whitethroat (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Swifts back at Muirton (Thomas Plant).
Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Eigg (1st record, presemably yesterday's Canna bird?) (John Chester), Wood Warbler Lisergary river walk, Portree (TH), Whimbrels at Rum (1), Broadford (4), Waterloo (14), Teangue, Sleat (8) and Back of Keppoch (21) (per Skye Birds).
1st May
Easter Ross: Whimbrel Portmahomack (Dave Tanner), Grasshopper Warbler Rosemarkie beach (John Carruthers).
Inverness: 12 Waxwings Westhill (Lynda Graham).
Badenoch and Strathspey: 9 Barnacle Geese Cromdale (feral birds from Highland Wildlife Park?) (per BirdTrack).
Skye & Lochalsh: Whimbrel, Cuckoo and Whinchat on Canna (Ranger Service). Magpie (yesterday's Canna bird?), Yellowhammer, Sedge Warbler and 3 Common Terns Rum (Sean Morris). 14 Whimbrels Back of Keppoch (S MacD), 5 Whimbrels Milovaig (AS).
Lochaber: Mandarin Dalelia, Acharacle (per BirdTrack).
