Wednesday 1st May
​Thanks to Steve Broyd, John Carruthers, Simon Eaves, Sandy McNeil, 'Peter N', 'Stuart', skye-birds.com
​
Pink Footed Goose - 9 at Kilmaluag and 2 Whimbrel
Ring-necked Duck - 1 male with Tufted Duck flock at at Acharacle, Loch Shiel 
Common Scoter - 25 in Broadford Bay
Whimbrel - 1 at Fortrose golf course
Ring Ouzel - 2 singing males at Loch Cuithir, Trotternish 
Pied Flycatcher - 1 male at Craigellachie, Aviemore
Sedge Warbler - singing birds at Arisaig and Broadford
Grasshopper Warbler - singing birds at Achiltibuie, Tulloch nr Inchdryne and Nethybridge
​
Wider return of Common Sandpipers and Cuckoos
​
Thursday 2nd May
​Thanks to Simon Eaves, Kim Dawson, Alistair McNee, Tim Leerschool, Ross Macleod, Blair Whyte,  Jonathan Willet, 'Jort', skye-birds.com

Pink Footed Goose - 29 at Dalmore, Inverness with  1 White Wagtail and 7 Shelduck
Shoveler - 1 male at Alturlie with 1 Male Gadwall, 5 Scaup, 7 Whimbrel, 6 Snipe, 1 Whitethroat, 10 Corn Bunting, 10 Eider,
1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 3 Sandwich Tern (& lots of Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff
Whimbrel - 3 at Hilton of Cadbol with 3 White Wagtail, 8 Sandwich Tern, 1 Black-throated Diver 
Black-tailed Godwit - 7 at Bunchrew and 11 Knot
Woodcock - 1 roding bird at Lochan Mor, Rothiemurchus
Whinchat - singles at Scullamus Moss (Broadford), Portree and Kilmory (Rum) also at Carse of Ardersier
Stock Dove - 1  on fields near Deshar pools, Boat of Garten
Grasshopper Warbler - now reported widely but 8 at Lochlonghead-Glen Elchaig and 6 singing Tree Pipit 
Brambling - 1 on a feeder at Davochfin, Dornoch
Corn Bunting - 2 singing along the shoreline at Alturlie 

Friday 3rd May
​Thanks to John Carruthers, Simeon Ewing, Simon Levene, Barrie Marshall, Blair Whyte, Steven Williams, skye-birds.com
​
Barnacle Goose - 1 with Greylags at Pool Roag, Skye
Whimbrel - 1 near 12th tee Fortrose golf course plus 30 over Monkstadt & 2 over Linicro, Skye
Arctic Skua - 1 with  a group of Sandwich Terns near Rosemarkie campsite
Great Skua - 3  at Loch Mealt, Skye
Ring Ouzel - a pair at sea level near Loch Coruisk 
Wheatear - 4 near Nairn East beach
Redstart - Loch Alvie, near Kincraig
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 at Balnacoil, Brora
Corn bunting - 1 singing at  Wester Dalziel
Sedge Warbler - 1 at Alturlie
​
Saturday 4th May
​Thanks to Kim Dawson, Mary Galloway, Judith Levene, John Poyner, Tim Stenton, Bob Swann, skye-birds.com
​
Long-tailed Duck - 100 + approximately 1km south of Eathie, Black Isle​ and 9 at Hilton of Cadboll along with 1 White Wagtail, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Gannet, 1 Wheatear, 8 Guillemot, 1 Reed Bunting and 1 Ringed Plover
Garganey - 1 at Balnakeil
Bar-tailed Godwit- 1 at Kilmory, Rum ​
Great Skua - heading SE past Tarbat Ness into the Inner Moray Firth; first of the year.  Also at Tarbat Ness 1000+ Guillemot, 2 Razorbill, good numbers of Kittiwake, 1 Great Northern Diver, a lone dark morph Arctic Skua,  2 Grey Partridge and a pair of Magpie
Arctic Skua - 2 at Rosemarkie harassing Terns
Iceland Gull  - 1 at Brucefield, Tarbat Ness
Common Crossbill - 15 at Kinloch, Rum 
Whinchat - 1 at Brucefield, Tarbat Ness
Garden Warbler - 1 singing near Dun Telve Broch, Glenelg ​

Sunday 5th May
​Thanks to Dave Tanner, Aliastir McNee, Robert Wilson, Kim Dawson, David Patterson, Blair Whyte, Mary Galloway

Shelduck - 9 Loch Fleet, 17 The Mound
Scaup - 1 Portmahomack
Long-tailed Duck - c150 Dunrobin, 45 Portmahomack, 890 Golspie
Common Scoter - 1845 Portmahomack, 385 Golspie
Red-breasted Merganser - 16 Loch Fleet, 18 Coul Links, 5The Mound
Great Northern Diver 3 Portmahomack
Red-throated Diver - 1 Loch Fleet, 1 Coul Links, 1 Dunrobin, 30 Portmahomack, 5 Connage Bay
Black-throated Diver - 1 Dunrobin
Whimbrel -  1 Merkinch LNR, 2 Loch Fleet, 2 Dunrobin
Black-tailed Godwit  - 1 Merkinch LNR
Bar-tailed Godwit - c130 Connage Bay
Greenshank - 1 Loch Fleet
Dunlin - 52 Loch Fleet
Ringed Plover - 24 Loch Fleet
Iceland Gull - 1 Tarbat Ness, Wilkaven Farm
Guillemot - 30 Dunrobin
Black Guillemot  - 7 Portmahomack
Fieldfare - 1 Tarbat Ness, Lighthouse Keeper's garden
Garden Warbler - 1 Moy Island 
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 singing approx 1 mile along road opposite Munlochy Church


​Monday 6th May
​Thanks to Ross Macleod, Tim, Dean McAskill, Dave Tanner, Robert Wilson, Al McNee, Steve Broyd, Skye Birds, Kim Dawson

Long-tailed Duck  - 2 Longman
Goosander - 10 Alturlie, 2 Merkinch
Great Crested Grebe -  1 Alturlie
Sanderling  -180 Dornoch Beach
Ringed Plover - 175 Dornoch Beach
Dunlin - 110  Dornoch Beach
Knot - 80  Dornoch Beach
Whimbrel - 1 Merkinch LNR, 9 Dornoch Beach, 2 Alturlie, 6 head of Loch Portree, 15 Portmahomack
Black-tailed Godwit - 1 Merkinch LNR
Arctic Skua - 2  Dornoch Beach
Arctic Tern - 2 Dornoch Beach
Iceland Gull - 1 still at Wilkhaven Farm Tarbat Ness
Garden Warbler - 1 Pityoulish, 1 Uper Achintore, Fort William
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 in fIeld south of Ross County FC
Corn Bunting - 2 Alturlie

Of note
Linnet - a bird ringed at Portland, Dorset on 14.10.23 was caught at Portree 0n 30.4.24  805 km north.
​Tuesday 7th May
​Thanks to Alaster Clunas, John Carruthers, Holly, Sarah, Kim Dawson, John Poyner, Skye Birds, Ian Misselbrook

Black-throated Diver - Hilton of Cadboll
Manx Shearwater - 1 on sea off Chanonry Point
Whimbrel - 5 Hilton of Cadboll, 24 Neist Point
Arctic Skua - 5+ Chanonry Point, 1 Neist Point
Yellow Wagtail - late reports from 3 May of birds at Alness, Balnakeil and Insh Marshes (small influx)
Wednesday 8th May
​Thanks to Dave Tanner, Mike Crutch, Pete Gordon, Simon Eaves, Tim Leerschool, Skye Birds

Rough-legged Buzzard - 1 east of Lochindorb Lodge tracking south at 0930
Whimbrel - 4 Tarbat Ness, 8 Portree
Iceland Gull - 1 still Wilkhaven Farm Tarbat Ness
Common Swift - 1 over Inverness
Grasshopper Warbler 3+ reeling at Rothiemoon, Nethy Bridge (appears to be having a good season in Highland)
Common Whitethroats  - returning to sites across the region
Thursday 9th May
​Thanks to Bird News Services, Brian Minshull, Al Mcnee, Steve Broyd, Alister Clunas, Mary Galloway, Dean McAskill, Holly, Daave Tanner, Skye Birds, Blair Whyte

Pink-footed Goose - 5 still Deshar Pool, Boat of Garten
Tundra Bean Goose - 1 Balnakeil
Common Scoter - 120 Embo, 500+ Portmahomack
Garganey - 1 male Balnakeil
Great Northern Diver - 4 Embo 
Black-throated Diver - 2 Embo
Avocet - 1 Castle Stuart Bay
Whimbrel - 9 Embo
Arctic Skua - 2 Chanonry Point
Arctic Tern - 9 north at Embo
Little Tern - 1 west past Chanonry Point
Black Tern - 2 reported south past Brora
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1 Balnakeil
Spotted Flycatcher -  1 Morvich, Lochalsh
Friday 10th May
​Thanks to John Poyner, Alan McAskill, Phil Clark, Ross Macleod, Kim Dawson, Steve Broyd, Duncan Macdonald, Skye Birds, Neil Bennett

Snow Goose -  1 lone individual of unknown origin at Balnakeil
Long-tailed Duck - 4 Connage Bay
Great White Egret - 1 Loch Insh
Egret sp (prob Little) - 1 Loch nan Ceal, Arisaig 
Red-throated Diver -  2 Alturlie, 9 Connage Bay, 2 Hilton of Cadboll
Hobby - 1 Heaste
Knot - c180 Alturlie
Bar-tailed Gowit - 140 Alturlie
Avocet - 1 still Castle Stuart Bay - access from Auld Petty Church. Note: There is very limited parking at the church.
Common Swift - 4 over Inverness Town Centre, 8 Grantown on Spey, 2 Fort William
Corn Bunting - 1 singing at Alturlie
Saturday 11th May
​Thanks to Susan S, Bird News Services, Bryan Burgess, Ross Macleod, Tim Leerschool, Alan McAskill, Skye Birds, Dave Tanner, Kim Dawson

Snow Goose - 1 still at Balnakeil
White-billed Diver - 1 Brora still at river mouth
Great Northern Diver - 6 Tarbat Ness
Red-throated Diver - 4 Chanonry Point
Little Egret - 1 Invercambie, Arisaig
Whimbrel - 4 Coul Links
Arctic Skua - Chanonry Point
Arctic Tern  -2 Chanonry Point

Common Swift, Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat ​now being widely reported. Wood and Garden Warblers are also beginning to arrive.

Sunday 12th May
​Thanks to Chris Jackson, Peter Leigh, Andy Stables, Blair Whyte, skye-birds.com

Albatross sp. - 1 (probably Black-browed) north past Brora at 1725hrs, plus 9 Manx Shearwater
Arctic Skua - 1 at Rosemarkie, 1 at Neist Point, Skye plus 18 Common Tern (surface feeding - terns are locally rare here)
Whimbrel - 1 at Neist Point, Skye
Great White Egret - 1 at Kensaleyre, Skye and 1 at Loch Insh
Common Crane - 2 over Bonar Bridge
Woodchat Shrike - late report from 11th May of 1 at Ardheslaig, Applecross peninsula
​Brambling - 1(f) visiting feeders in Glasnakille, Skye

Monday 13th May
​Thanks to Mike Crutch, Chris Jackson, Dean MacAskill, Duncan Macdonald, Bob McMillan, Dan Pointon, skye-birds.com

Manx Shearwater - 1 at Embo, plus 2 Great Skua, 2 Black Guillemot and c300 Common Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser - 2 (m/f) at Lochindorb (unusual here)
Great White Egret - 1 at Loch Insh, 1 at Broadford Bay
Sedge Warbler - 1 at Ardgeal, Kincraig (not noted here previously)

The 7 feral Snow Geese recently seen on Barra have arrived at Deshar pool, Boat of Garten
Tuesday 14th May
​Thanks to Kim Dawson, Dean MacAskill, Peter Mackay, Bob McMillan, skye-birds.com

Great Northern Diver - 1 between Portmahomack/Tarbat Ness,  plus 1 Red-throated Diver, 5 Black Guillemot, 170+ Common Scoter, 1 Whimbrel, 1 White Wagtail and 1 Gannet
Manx Shearwater - 10 at Embo
Ringed Plover - 80 at Dornoch beach plus 2 Whimbrel
Great White Egret - 1 still at Broadford Bay (at Breakish Obbe today)
Pink-footed Goose - c250 at Pitglassie, Dingwall
​Sanderling - 150 at Dornoch beach, with breeding birds back at Traigh, Morar and Kilmory, Rum
Wednesday 15th May
​Thanks to Alan MacAskill, Dean MacAskill, Bob McMillan, skye-birds.com

White-billed Diver - 1 northbound off Embo, plus c20 Manx Shearwater and c1,000 Kittiwake
Great White Egret - 1 still at Broadford Bay (still at Breakish Obbe)
Wood Warbler - 1 at Ord Hill, North Kessock, 1 at Carr Brae, Lochalsh and 2 at Kinloch, Skye
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 at Carr Brae, Lochalsh plus 2 Whinchat,
Garden Warbler - 1 at Easter Moy, Marybank, 1 behind Torridon community centre, and 2 at Carr Brae, Lochalsh

Thursday 16th May
​Thanks to skye-birds.com
​
Whimbrel - 1 at Kilmory, Rum
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 at Mill Pond, Portree

Hoopoe reported in a blog "somewhere" in the Cairngorms National Park area this week - more info needed

Friday 17th May
​Thanks to David Bell, Neil Bennett, Andrew Chard, Simeon Ewing, Dean MacAskill, skye-birds.com
​
Great Northern Diver - 1 at Bay of Stoer, plus 2 Black-throated Diver, 1 Black-tailed Godwit
Canada Geese - 8 at the head of Loch Portree
Common Crane - 2 over Oykel bridge
Whimbrel - 1 still at Kilmory, Rum, 14 at Dornoch beach, plus 60 Sanderling
Corn Bunting - 1 (m) at Alturlie

Late report of a single Waxwing at Invermoriston Lodge on 13/14th May, plus a Hoopoe at Brora on 12th May

Saturday 18th May
​Thanks to Alister Clunas, Kim Dawson, Mary Galloway, skye-birds.com
​
Red-throated Diver - 1 at Hilton of Cadboll, plus 3 Gannet
Great Skua - 1 at Broadford pier, Skye
Common Scoter - 10 at Chanonry Point
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 at Golspie
Magpie - Dunhallin, Waternish 

Sunday 19th May
​Thanks to Peter Gordon, Dave Tanner, skye-birds.com
​
Whooper Swan - 1 on River Shiel Pools
​Pink-footed Goose - 1 (looked healthy) flew south along Portmahomack beach towards Roy’s Bay, Balnabruach also 2 at Deshar flood, Boat of Garten
Common Scoter c500 at Portmahomack beach with 7 Long-tailed Duck ⚥ summer plumage, 250+ Guillemot and 7 Common Swift over the harbour
​
Monday 20th May
​Thanks to Andrew Chard, Alan MacAskill, Bob McMillan, John Poyner, Ian Simpson, 'Nigel', skye-birds.com​
​
Red Breasted Merganser - c30 at Connage and 9 Red-throated Diver
Arctic Skua - 2 at Alturlie Point, one light one dark, with Common Tern, 10 Red-throated Diver, 4 Black-throated Diver (one immature) Guillemot - c300  in Inverness Firth
Ringed Plover (Tundra type) - c60 at Alturlie
Stone Curlew - 1 at Tomcrasky NH 24347 13256. Walk in only from main road DO NOT drive private farm track. Beware of cattle with calves.
Spotted Flycatcher - 5 at Flowerdale, Gairloch
Wood Warbler - 1 at Leitir Fura path, Kinloch 
Short Eared Owl - 1 at Drynoch, Skye
Magpie  - 1 at West Daviot 
​
Tuesday 21st May
​Thanks to Milo Mole, John Poyner, Graham Thompson, 'Nigel', skye-birds.com​

Whimbrel - 1 at Ardelve, Lochalsh with 2 Canada Geese
Red-backed Shrike - 1 male at 1945 at NC88634095. On roadside gorse. Approximately a mile south of Forsinard on the A897.
Rosy Starling - 1 at Scourie
Redstart - calling bird at Achachork, Portree last night- though heard only,  this is the first Skye record in a few years
​Spotted Flycatcher - 2 at Carrbridge and a singing Tree Pipit
​​
Wednesday 22ndMay
​Thanks to Alister Clunas, Jonathan Mercer, Chris Rodger, Tim Stenton, Dave Tanner, Steven Williams

Common Scoter - c500 at Portmahomack
Gannet - c50 (more than usual) around The Sutors, Cromarty/Moray Firth, also 2 light and 1 dark morph Arctic Skua
Common Crane - 1 flying SW over where B9161 meets A9
Citrine Wagtail - 1 at Balnakiel     
Wood Warbler - 4 along road from Lochaline to Drimnin and 1 Spotted Flycatcher
Grasshopper Warbler 1 at Beinn Eighe Campsite with Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting 
Whitethroat - 1 and a Spotted Flycatcher on the river walk to Slioch with 3 Cuckoos
​

​Thursday 23rd May
Thanks to Tim Leerschool, Dean MacAskill, Bob McMillan, Jonathan Mercer, Thomas Plant, John Poyner, Blair Whyte, skye-birds.com

Red-throated Diver - pair in Breakish Obbe ​​
Whimbrel - single still at Kilmory, Rum 
Ruff - 3 on pool adjacent to Dornoch airstrip and 1 Little Stint
Woodcock - 1 roding bird at Lochlonghead 
Turtle Dove - 1 in garden at Stein near Waternish, Skye
​Red-backed Shrike  - 1 at North Dalchork Forest, Sutherland
Black Redstart - 1 male at Woodlands Drive, Westhill, Inverness​
Magpie - 1 at  Killiehuntly, Glentromie​
Wood Warblers - 2 along the west shore of Loch Aline, also Greenshank at the head of the loch.
Friday 24th May
Thanks to Kim Dawson, Mary Galloway, Ross Macleod, Alan Tilmouth, M Thomas, skye-birds.com
​
​Whooper Swan - 1  at River Sheil pools, Lochalsh 
Gannet - 36 at Hilton of Cadboll with 2 Turnstone and 6 Ringed Plover 
Great Egret - 1 at Loch Osgaig, near Achiltibuie
Short-eared Owl - 1 near Portree
Black Redstart - 1 still at Woodlands Drive, Westhill, Inverness​
Wood Warbler - 2  at Achilty Oakwood, and a Spotted Flycatcher
Pied Flycatcher  - 1 near Tokavaig, Sleat 
Magpie - 1 in a garden at Waterstein, Skye
Saturday 25th May
Thanks to Alan MacAskill, David Patterson, Dave Tanner, 'Fiona', 'Sarah', Kim Dawson
​
Common Scoter - c500 at Portmahomack, just offshore from first car-park, mostly adult ⚥
Shelduck - 34 + at Docherty Burn, Dingwall with a fishing Osprey, 2 Dunlin, 8 Knot and a Blackcap
Arctic Skua - 1 (dark phase) NW off Fortrose campsite beach, 1 Coul Links
Hobby - 1  at south side of Lochindorb

Sunday 26th May
Thanks to Dean MacAskill, Fiona, Sarah, Ross Macleod, Bird News Services

Pink-footed Goose - 1 still Loch Kinellan
Little Stint - 1  Dornoch with 45 Ringed Plover and 32 Sanderling
Little Tern - 1 Chanonry Point
Bee-eater - 1 reported at Tulloch Moor Abernethy
Black Redstart - 1 still Westhill around Woodlands Drive, Inverness
Monday 27th May
Thanks to Dave Tanner, John Poyner, Dean MacAskill, Simeon Ewing

Pink-footed Goose - 6 Deshar Pool Boat of Garten
Common Scoter - 1000+ Portmahomack 
Garganey - 1 male Balnakiel
​Hobby - 1  over A95 Drumuille near Boat of Garten, 1 -heading south at Dornoch
Lesser Whitethroat -   1 Dalraddy Holiday Park near Aviemore, 1 yesterday reported Balchrick, Droman Pier, North of Kinlochbervi
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 imm Culkein, Dumbeg
Corn Bunting - 1 Easter Dalziel

​Tuesday 28th May
Thanks to Dave Tanner, John Poyner, Alan MacAskill, Ross Macleod

Red-breasted Goose - 1 Laggan Lochs
Red-throated Diver - 2 Connage
Bar-tailed Godwit - 50+ Connage
Arctic Skua - 2 Tarbat Ness
​Black Redstart - 1 still Westhill around Woodlands Drive
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 adult Arievage nr Acharacle, 1 Clachtoll
Common Rosefinch - 1 reported singing in a private garden Muir of Ord

​Wednesday 29th May
Thanks to Dave Tanner​, Dean MacAskill

Common Scoter - c750 Portmahomack
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Dornoch
Thursday 30th May
Thanks to Robert Wilson, Bird news services, John Poyner, Bob McMillan, Steve Nicklin, Pete Gordon, Blair Whyte

Pink-footed Goose - 6 still at Deshar flood Baot of Garten
Red-breasted Goose - 1 with Canadas at Isleornsay saltings
King Eider - 1 adult drake reported at Kyle of Lochalsh flying towards Skye Bridge
Little Egret - 1 600m west. of Coulmore, Beauly Firth
Quail - 1 calling Duror at Cull Bay
Whimbrel - Alturlie
Short-eared Owl - flew west along shoreline at Alturlie
​Corn Bunting - 1 singing Alturlie
​
Friday 31st May
Thanks to Gus Routledge, skye-birds.com

Common Crane - 6 eastbound over the Kessock Bridge, Inverness late afternoon
Wood Warbler - 1 at Leitir Fura path, Kinloch



​Looking after Highland's birds