Sightings
This page acts as a news site of more notable reports and may contain errors and omissions. The official record is published as the annual Highland Bird Report (HBR) which details records which have been formally submitted and accepted. All records submitted via Birdtrack or directly to the Local Recorder, do go into compilation of the HBR. Photographs are copyright of the named photographer and may not be used without explicit permission of the named photographer. Photographs of schedule 1 species will not be displayed on this page during the breeding season, unless accompanied by a valid SNH licence. Similarly any photographs showing obviously tape-lured or distressed birds will not be displayed, please refer to the Bird photography - a new code of practice article from Scottish Birds. To send in your photos for the website please email [email protected].
Highland Records Committee (HRC) species are in green, Scottish Birds Rarities Committee (SBRC) species are in blue and British Bird Rarities Committee (BBRC) species are in red.
This page acts as a news site of more notable reports and may contain errors and omissions. The official record is published as the annual Highland Bird Report (HBR) which details records which have been formally submitted and accepted. All records submitted via Birdtrack or directly to the Local Recorder, do go into compilation of the HBR. Photographs are copyright of the named photographer and may not be used without explicit permission of the named photographer. Photographs of schedule 1 species will not be displayed on this page during the breeding season, unless accompanied by a valid SNH licence. Similarly any photographs showing obviously tape-lured or distressed birds will not be displayed, please refer to the Bird photography - a new code of practice article from Scottish Birds. To send in your photos for the website please email [email protected].
Highland Records Committee (HRC) species are in green, Scottish Birds Rarities Committee (SBRC) species are in blue and British Bird Rarities Committee (BBRC) species are in red.
30th November
Sutherland: Shore Lark on tideline at Dornoch Point (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: probable Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Fortrose towards Avoch but not relocated (Bob Wilson).
Skye & Lochalsh: male Blackcap on feeders Dunhallin, Waternish (RA).
29th November.
No news today
28th November
Wester Ross: Siberian Chiffchaff Ardmair (Andy Williams).
Easter Ross: 3 Waxwings Greenside Avenue, Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis).
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose near Castle Stuart (Jon Clarke), 2 Grey Plovers and 30 Snow Buntings Whiteness (Jon Clarke), 2 Shovelers and 2 Barnacle Geese Alturlie Pools (Blair Whyte), Great Skua Ardersier (per BirdTrack).
27th November
Sutherland: "putative" 1st winter Kumlien's Gull feeding by pier, Embo, also adult Little Gull and 4 Great Skuas north there (all Dean MacAskill), immature Pomarine Skua and 3 Snow Buntings (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: Arctic Skua Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis).
Skye & Lochalsh: Tree Sparrow at Lower Minovaig (rare in winter on Skye) (AS).
Lochaber: Nuthatch Port na h'uamha, Loch Sunart (per BirdGuides)
The Hume's Warbler at Tarbat Ness from 5 November has been confirmed by DNA analysis as belonging to the (expected) humei subspecies.
26th November
Wester Ross: 2 Snow Buntings on north side of Bealach na Ba, Applecross (Bob McMillan).
Easter Ross: European White-fronted Goose (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pink-footed Geese near Castle Stuart (Peter Stronach), also 2 Barnacle Geese (Blair Whyte).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing in garden next to Anagach Woods, Grantown on Spey (per BirdGuides).
25th November
Sutherland: 1st winter Iceland Gull west of Eilean Hoan, Durness (per BirdGuides), at least 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs around Durness Kirk (per BirdGuides), Siberian Chiffchaff Craft Village, Balnakeil (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: male American Wigeon still on Loch Eye (Bob Swann), Kingfisher on boating pond at Dingwall (Andy Williams).
Inverness: Red-necked Grebe Fort George, seen from car park at west end (Allan Lawrence).
Skye & Lochalsh: another male Blackcap in garden at Portnalong (AS).
A Cormorant at Loch Insh on 23rd November had been ringed as a pullus in April 2016 at Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Nottingham
24th November
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brant Castle Stuart at approximately NH750503 (per Sam Viles) - presumably last winter's bird. 2 Black Guillemots Fort George (Colin Leslie), 10 Waxwings Murray Terrace, Smithtown (Catherine Clark), Kingfisher between last two lock gates Muirtown (Blair Whyte).
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennet) - different to bird of 23rd, male Blackcap on fallen apples Kyleakin (HS).
23rd November
Inverness: drake American Wigeon at Merkinch (Colin Leslie)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (per BirdGuides)
22nd November
Inverness: 35 Waxwings in the Bught Park area (Martin Benson). Intermediate phase Snow Goose with five Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock opposite Castle Stuart golf course entrance, best viewed from Easter Dalziel road (Colin Leslie)
Skye & Localsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Shore Lark still present at Dornoch, along the burn running towards the point. Circa 30 Snow Buntings also (Stuart Edwards)
21st November
Inverness: 50+ Waxwings around Inshes roundabout (Susan Seright)
Sutherland: three Little Gulls past Brora. Shore Lark still present - with Snow Buntings - feeding in the tide line at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill)
20th November
Inverness: 35+ Waxwings around Inshes roundabout (per local reports). Great Crested Grebe just off Milton of Culloden, with 14 Pintail nearby, while at Alturlie were 84 Scaup (Dave Pierce)
19th November
Easter Ross: American Wigeon on Loch Eye, nine Pochard and three Barnacle Geese present also (Dean MacAskill)
Skye & Localsh: Yellow-legged Gull at Lower Milovaig, three Slavonian Grebes at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Snow Bunting on Dornoch beach (Simon Levene), plus a Shore Lark foraging towards the point. Greenland White-fronted Goose at Embo plus two Pale-bellied Brent Geese (Dean MacAskill)
18th November
Skye & Localsh: three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort, three in Broadford Bay and two off Lusa (per www.skye-birds.com)
17th November
Easter Ross: Waxwings still present on Shore Road, Tain (Dean MacAskill)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Greenland White-fronted Goose at Dornoch amongst Pink-footed Geese flock (Dean MacAskill)
16th November
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Snow Bunting at roadside, north end of Lochindorb (John Picton). Drake Pochard on Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: four Waxwings at Aldie farm, Tain (per R & G Aitken)
Lochaber: three Long-tailed Ducks on the River Lochy estuary near to Caol spit (Tony Laidler)
15th November
Easter Ross: At Udale Bay, single Kingfisher, Ruddy Shelduck and Shoveler plus eight Black-tailed Godwit. Also circa 335 Scaup off Jemimaville (Kevin Davis)
Inverness: drake Green-winged Teal on Loch Flemington (per Peter Stronach). 30 Waxwings on Muirton Street, Inverness (Al McNee). Kingfisher at Muirton basin (Tim Meredith)
14th November
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Waxwing by the Aviemore police station (Duncan Macdonald via Facebook)
13th November
Easter Ross: 20 Waxwings in Tain (junction of A9/Hartfield Gardens)
Skye & Localsh: Mediterranean Gull (1st winter) on Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). Single Chiffchaff in Uig woods (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Short-eared Owl over Dornoch airfield, seven Snow Buntings on beach near Dornoch point (Bob Wilson)
no reports for 12th November
11th November
Easter Ross: Swallow Hilton of Cadboll (per BirdTrack), Hume's Warbler still at Tarbat Ness (per Birdguides).
Inverness: 30+ Waxwings Muirtown Street (Simeon Ewing), 3 Waxwings Raigmore Hospital Car Park (Alison Fraser).
Badenoch & Strathspey: 1 Waxwing in a private garden north Aviemore (Audrey Turner), Northern Gannet recently Loch an Eilein (per Birdguides), female Long-tailed Duck and female Common Scoter Lochindorb (per Birdguides).
Skye & Lochalsh: Brent Goose Stein, Waternish (CM per Skye Birds), Waxwing Portree (WH, per Skye Birds).
10th November
Sutherland: No sign of Red-breasted Flycatcher at Keoldale but Waxwing present, also Little Egret at Kyle of Durness, plus 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs in willows east of Durness Church (Bob McMillan).
Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler Tarbat Ness (Alastair Matthewson), Ruddy Shelduck & Little Egret Udale Bay (P Clark).
Inverness: American Wigeon and Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (Blair Whyte).
Lochaber: 2 Snow Buntings around lighthouse, Ardnamurchan (per BirdGuides).
9th November
Sutherland: Little Egret Achnahaird (per Stuart Edwards), Hoopoe near Reiff (per Stuart Edwards).
Ross: Hume's Warbler still in nettles and willows at Tarbat Ness (Steve Broyd), Snow Bunting Tarbat Ness (Steve Broyd), Jack Snipe, Blackcap and Swallow South Sutor (Kevin Davis).
Inverness: dead Little Auk Whiteness (Colin Leslie).
Skye and Lochalsh: Tree Sparrow at feeders Milovaig (AS) - autumn records on Skye are rare.
8th November
Skye & Localsh: two Waxwings at Drynoch, 40 Golden Plover at Feorlig (Bob McMillan)
Sutherland: Red-breasted Flycatcher (female or 1st winter bird) in plantation at Keoldale, grid NC386652. Five Siberian Chiffchaffs in willows just east of Durness kirk (Andy Williams)
7th November
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed Geese on stubble south of entrance track to Brucefield Farm, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: 20 Waxwings Garbole, Strathdearn (John Poyner). American Wigeon near the Clachnaharry sea lock, Kingfisher at Muirtown Pool (Al McNee)
Wester Ross: 8 Waxwings at Inverbroom farm, Ullapool (Tessa Rhodes)
6th November
Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Pullan, Peter Norgate), "Several" Waxwings Godsman Tyres, Tain (Dean McAskill), 12 Waxwings Recycling Centre, Shore Road, Tain (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: 12 Waxwings near courtyard Muirtown Street, Inverness (Simeon Ewing).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck Loch Insh, present for a week (Dave Pierce) - a rare inland record.
5th November
Sutherland: Siberian Chiffchaff Midgarty, south of Portgordon (Dean McAskill), 3 Waxwings Dornoch (per SOC Member).
Wester Ross: 5 Waxwings by bridge, Moss Road, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler by pool in willows and nearby nettle bed Tarbat Ness NH940875 (Peter Stronach, Bob Swann), Olive-backed Pipit in plantation Tarbat Ness (Peter Stronach, Bob Swann), Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (C Johnstone), Little Egret Udale Bay (John Poyner), 3 Little Auks & 2 Arctic Skuas Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis).
The Hume's Warbler (a first for Highland) was trapped and ringed today and had been heard three days ago. The Pipit (probably a first for Highland) was not seen in the afternoon.
Inverness: 9 Waxwings by Barn Church Road, south Of Culloden Academy, Culloden (SOC Member), 2 Waxwings Harrowden Road, Inverness (Sam Borthwick).
Skye & Lochalsh: Adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), 2 Waxwings Tianavaig Place, Portree (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male Black Duck downstream of second bridge on Strontian River (per Birdguides).
4th November
Sutherland: Hoopoe near Summer Isles Hotel, Aciltibuie (Stuart Edwards), six Little Auks past Embo this morning, with afternoon skua passage southbound into the Dornoch Firth noted including twelve Pomarine Skuas (9 adult/3 juveniles) and single Arctic Skua (Dean MacAskill). Swallow again at Inverpolly (Stuart Edwards).
Inverness: 7 Waxwings by Barn Church Road, south Of Culloden Academy, Culloden mid afternoon (per Birdguides).
Skye & Lochalsh: 6 Waxwings Ardvasar (per RBA), 2 Orbost (LS).
Lochaber: Swallow Acharacle (per BirdTrack).
3rd November
Easter Ross: Little Auk at Chanonry Point (Alister Clunas) plus Sooty Shearwater (Mary Galloway). Off/at Tarbart Ness 1st winter Iceland Gull, 3 Great Skua, 3 Purple Sandpiper plus significant Kittiwake and Gannet movement (Dave Tanner)
Wester Ross: two Iceland Gulls still present at Applecross (Pete Gordon). Two Waxwings in Ullapool (Andy Williams)
2nd November
Skye & Localsh: Chiffchaff at Kilmory Glen, Rum. Four Slavonian Grebes still present on Loch Ainort (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: two Sooty Shearwater, three Manx Shearwater, single Little Auk, twelve Great Skua, two Arctic Skua and eleven Little Gulls past Brora, with significant Gannet passage (1600/hour) offshore. Also 1st winter Glaucous Gull and single Little Gull at the river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
Wester Ross: two Iceland Gulls at Applecross (Pete Gordon). Six Waxwings in Ullapool (Andy Williams)
1st November
Easter Ross: Kingfisher along the River Peffery in Dingwall (Doreen Manson). Drake American Wigeon still on Loch Eye, along with 17 Pochard and 700 Whooper Swans (Bob Swann). Single Swallow at Nigg (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Localsh: Iceland Gull at Kilmory, Rum. Two Swallows at Arisaig. Four Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort (all per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 60 Twite at Brora (by the radio station). At Embo, twelve Twite, adult Little Gull and nine Slavonian Grebes. At Dornoch point, a single Merlin along with two Snow Bunting, four Grey Plover and 17 Rock Pipits (Dean MacAskill)
Wester Ross: see late report of Hoopoe on 31st October below
Sutherland: Shore Lark on tideline at Dornoch Point (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: probable Rough-legged Buzzard flew over Fortrose towards Avoch but not relocated (Bob Wilson).
Skye & Lochalsh: male Blackcap on feeders Dunhallin, Waternish (RA).
29th November.
No news today
28th November
Wester Ross: Siberian Chiffchaff Ardmair (Andy Williams).
Easter Ross: 3 Waxwings Greenside Avenue, Rosemarkie (Kevin Davis).
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose near Castle Stuart (Jon Clarke), 2 Grey Plovers and 30 Snow Buntings Whiteness (Jon Clarke), 2 Shovelers and 2 Barnacle Geese Alturlie Pools (Blair Whyte), Great Skua Ardersier (per BirdTrack).
27th November
Sutherland: "putative" 1st winter Kumlien's Gull feeding by pier, Embo, also adult Little Gull and 4 Great Skuas north there (all Dean MacAskill), immature Pomarine Skua and 3 Snow Buntings (Dean MacAskill).
Easter Ross: Arctic Skua Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis).
Skye & Lochalsh: Tree Sparrow at Lower Minovaig (rare in winter on Skye) (AS).
Lochaber: Nuthatch Port na h'uamha, Loch Sunart (per BirdGuides)
The Hume's Warbler at Tarbat Ness from 5 November has been confirmed by DNA analysis as belonging to the (expected) humei subspecies.
26th November
Wester Ross: 2 Snow Buntings on north side of Bealach na Ba, Applecross (Bob McMillan).
Easter Ross: European White-fronted Goose (per BirdGuides).
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brent Goose with Pink-footed Geese near Castle Stuart (Peter Stronach), also 2 Barnacle Geese (Blair Whyte).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing in garden next to Anagach Woods, Grantown on Spey (per BirdGuides).
25th November
Sutherland: 1st winter Iceland Gull west of Eilean Hoan, Durness (per BirdGuides), at least 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs around Durness Kirk (per BirdGuides), Siberian Chiffchaff Craft Village, Balnakeil (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: male American Wigeon still on Loch Eye (Bob Swann), Kingfisher on boating pond at Dingwall (Andy Williams).
Inverness: Red-necked Grebe Fort George, seen from car park at west end (Allan Lawrence).
Skye & Lochalsh: another male Blackcap in garden at Portnalong (AS).
A Cormorant at Loch Insh on 23rd November had been ringed as a pullus in April 2016 at Attenborough Nature Reserve, near Nottingham
24th November
Inverness: Grey-bellied Brant Castle Stuart at approximately NH750503 (per Sam Viles) - presumably last winter's bird. 2 Black Guillemots Fort George (Colin Leslie), 10 Waxwings Murray Terrace, Smithtown (Catherine Clark), Kingfisher between last two lock gates Muirtown (Blair Whyte).
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennet) - different to bird of 23rd, male Blackcap on fallen apples Kyleakin (HS).
23rd November
Inverness: drake American Wigeon at Merkinch (Colin Leslie)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull Bayfield, Portree (per BirdGuides)
22nd November
Inverness: 35 Waxwings in the Bught Park area (Martin Benson). Intermediate phase Snow Goose with five Barnacle Geese amongst Pink-footed Goose flock opposite Castle Stuart golf course entrance, best viewed from Easter Dalziel road (Colin Leslie)
Skye & Localsh: 1st winter Iceland Gull at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Shore Lark still present at Dornoch, along the burn running towards the point. Circa 30 Snow Buntings also (Stuart Edwards)
21st November
Inverness: 50+ Waxwings around Inshes roundabout (Susan Seright)
Sutherland: three Little Gulls past Brora. Shore Lark still present - with Snow Buntings - feeding in the tide line at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill)
20th November
Inverness: 35+ Waxwings around Inshes roundabout (per local reports). Great Crested Grebe just off Milton of Culloden, with 14 Pintail nearby, while at Alturlie were 84 Scaup (Dave Pierce)
19th November
Easter Ross: American Wigeon on Loch Eye, nine Pochard and three Barnacle Geese present also (Dean MacAskill)
Skye & Localsh: Yellow-legged Gull at Lower Milovaig, three Slavonian Grebes at Camas na Sgianadin, Broadford (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Snow Bunting on Dornoch beach (Simon Levene), plus a Shore Lark foraging towards the point. Greenland White-fronted Goose at Embo plus two Pale-bellied Brent Geese (Dean MacAskill)
18th November
Skye & Localsh: three Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort, three in Broadford Bay and two off Lusa (per www.skye-birds.com)
17th November
Easter Ross: Waxwings still present on Shore Road, Tain (Dean MacAskill)
Skye & Lochalsh: 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on Loch Portree (Neil Bennett)
Sutherland: Greenland White-fronted Goose at Dornoch amongst Pink-footed Geese flock (Dean MacAskill)
16th November
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Snow Bunting at roadside, north end of Lochindorb (John Picton). Drake Pochard on Loch Insh (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: four Waxwings at Aldie farm, Tain (per R & G Aitken)
Lochaber: three Long-tailed Ducks on the River Lochy estuary near to Caol spit (Tony Laidler)
15th November
Easter Ross: At Udale Bay, single Kingfisher, Ruddy Shelduck and Shoveler plus eight Black-tailed Godwit. Also circa 335 Scaup off Jemimaville (Kevin Davis)
Inverness: drake Green-winged Teal on Loch Flemington (per Peter Stronach). 30 Waxwings on Muirton Street, Inverness (Al McNee). Kingfisher at Muirton basin (Tim Meredith)
14th November
Badenoch & Strathspey: single Waxwing by the Aviemore police station (Duncan Macdonald via Facebook)
13th November
Easter Ross: 20 Waxwings in Tain (junction of A9/Hartfield Gardens)
Skye & Localsh: Mediterranean Gull (1st winter) on Loch Portree (Neil Bennett). Single Chiffchaff in Uig woods (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Short-eared Owl over Dornoch airfield, seven Snow Buntings on beach near Dornoch point (Bob Wilson)
no reports for 12th November
11th November
Easter Ross: Swallow Hilton of Cadboll (per BirdTrack), Hume's Warbler still at Tarbat Ness (per Birdguides).
Inverness: 30+ Waxwings Muirtown Street (Simeon Ewing), 3 Waxwings Raigmore Hospital Car Park (Alison Fraser).
Badenoch & Strathspey: 1 Waxwing in a private garden north Aviemore (Audrey Turner), Northern Gannet recently Loch an Eilein (per Birdguides), female Long-tailed Duck and female Common Scoter Lochindorb (per Birdguides).
Skye & Lochalsh: Brent Goose Stein, Waternish (CM per Skye Birds), Waxwing Portree (WH, per Skye Birds).
10th November
Sutherland: No sign of Red-breasted Flycatcher at Keoldale but Waxwing present, also Little Egret at Kyle of Durness, plus 3 Siberian Chiffchaffs in willows east of Durness Church (Bob McMillan).
Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler Tarbat Ness (Alastair Matthewson), Ruddy Shelduck & Little Egret Udale Bay (P Clark).
Inverness: American Wigeon and Kingfisher Merkinch LNR (Blair Whyte).
Lochaber: 2 Snow Buntings around lighthouse, Ardnamurchan (per BirdGuides).
9th November
Sutherland: Little Egret Achnahaird (per Stuart Edwards), Hoopoe near Reiff (per Stuart Edwards).
Ross: Hume's Warbler still in nettles and willows at Tarbat Ness (Steve Broyd), Snow Bunting Tarbat Ness (Steve Broyd), Jack Snipe, Blackcap and Swallow South Sutor (Kevin Davis).
Inverness: dead Little Auk Whiteness (Colin Leslie).
Skye and Lochalsh: Tree Sparrow at feeders Milovaig (AS) - autumn records on Skye are rare.
8th November
Skye & Localsh: two Waxwings at Drynoch, 40 Golden Plover at Feorlig (Bob McMillan)
Sutherland: Red-breasted Flycatcher (female or 1st winter bird) in plantation at Keoldale, grid NC386652. Five Siberian Chiffchaffs in willows just east of Durness kirk (Andy Williams)
7th November
Easter Ross: 1st winter Iceland Gull Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed Geese on stubble south of entrance track to Brucefield Farm, Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: 20 Waxwings Garbole, Strathdearn (John Poyner). American Wigeon near the Clachnaharry sea lock, Kingfisher at Muirtown Pool (Al McNee)
Wester Ross: 8 Waxwings at Inverbroom farm, Ullapool (Tessa Rhodes)
6th November
Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler still at Tarbat Ness (Dave Pullan, Peter Norgate), "Several" Waxwings Godsman Tyres, Tain (Dean McAskill), 12 Waxwings Recycling Centre, Shore Road, Tain (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: 12 Waxwings near courtyard Muirtown Street, Inverness (Simeon Ewing).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Long-tailed Duck Loch Insh, present for a week (Dave Pierce) - a rare inland record.
5th November
Sutherland: Siberian Chiffchaff Midgarty, south of Portgordon (Dean McAskill), 3 Waxwings Dornoch (per SOC Member).
Wester Ross: 5 Waxwings by bridge, Moss Road, Ullapool (per BirdGuides).
Easter Ross: Hume's Warbler by pool in willows and nearby nettle bed Tarbat Ness NH940875 (Peter Stronach, Bob Swann), Olive-backed Pipit in plantation Tarbat Ness (Peter Stronach, Bob Swann), Ruddy Shelduck Udale Bay (C Johnstone), Little Egret Udale Bay (John Poyner), 3 Little Auks & 2 Arctic Skuas Chanonry Point (Kevin Davis).
The Hume's Warbler (a first for Highland) was trapped and ringed today and had been heard three days ago. The Pipit (probably a first for Highland) was not seen in the afternoon.
Inverness: 9 Waxwings by Barn Church Road, south Of Culloden Academy, Culloden (SOC Member), 2 Waxwings Harrowden Road, Inverness (Sam Borthwick).
Skye & Lochalsh: Adult Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS), 2 Waxwings Tianavaig Place, Portree (per BirdGuides).
Lochaber: male Black Duck downstream of second bridge on Strontian River (per Birdguides).
4th November
Sutherland: Hoopoe near Summer Isles Hotel, Aciltibuie (Stuart Edwards), six Little Auks past Embo this morning, with afternoon skua passage southbound into the Dornoch Firth noted including twelve Pomarine Skuas (9 adult/3 juveniles) and single Arctic Skua (Dean MacAskill). Swallow again at Inverpolly (Stuart Edwards).
Inverness: 7 Waxwings by Barn Church Road, south Of Culloden Academy, Culloden mid afternoon (per Birdguides).
Skye & Lochalsh: 6 Waxwings Ardvasar (per RBA), 2 Orbost (LS).
Lochaber: Swallow Acharacle (per BirdTrack).
3rd November
Easter Ross: Little Auk at Chanonry Point (Alister Clunas) plus Sooty Shearwater (Mary Galloway). Off/at Tarbart Ness 1st winter Iceland Gull, 3 Great Skua, 3 Purple Sandpiper plus significant Kittiwake and Gannet movement (Dave Tanner)
Wester Ross: two Iceland Gulls still present at Applecross (Pete Gordon). Two Waxwings in Ullapool (Andy Williams)
2nd November
Skye & Localsh: Chiffchaff at Kilmory Glen, Rum. Four Slavonian Grebes still present on Loch Ainort (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: two Sooty Shearwater, three Manx Shearwater, single Little Auk, twelve Great Skua, two Arctic Skua and eleven Little Gulls past Brora, with significant Gannet passage (1600/hour) offshore. Also 1st winter Glaucous Gull and single Little Gull at the river mouth (Dean MacAskill)
Wester Ross: two Iceland Gulls at Applecross (Pete Gordon). Six Waxwings in Ullapool (Andy Williams)
1st November
Easter Ross: Kingfisher along the River Peffery in Dingwall (Doreen Manson). Drake American Wigeon still on Loch Eye, along with 17 Pochard and 700 Whooper Swans (Bob Swann). Single Swallow at Nigg (Blair Whyte)
Skye & Localsh: Iceland Gull at Kilmory, Rum. Two Swallows at Arisaig. Four Slavonian Grebes on Loch Ainort (all per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: 60 Twite at Brora (by the radio station). At Embo, twelve Twite, adult Little Gull and nine Slavonian Grebes. At Dornoch point, a single Merlin along with two Snow Bunting, four Grey Plover and 17 Rock Pipits (Dean MacAskill)
Wester Ross: see late report of Hoopoe on 31st October below
