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 highlandsocwebmaster@gmail.com.
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 highlandsocwebmaster@gmail.com.
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.
31st October
Sutherland: late Swallow Inverpolly (Stuart Edwards), Waxwing Midgarty Burn, south of Portgower (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: Waxwing Ardvannie, Edderton (Bob Swann).
Wester Ross: Hoopoe videoed near the Am Fuaran Bar, Altandhu (postcode IV26 2YR, per Stuart Edwards)
Badenoch & Strathspey: 20 Waxwings N end of Aviemore (Bob Turner).
Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Kilvaxter (Bob McMillan) - a rare Skye record.
30th October
Still no news,
29th October
Sutherland: Tengmalm's Owl 2 miles south of Forsinard, flushed from fenceposts by A897 and went into forestry on east side at approx. NC881400 late at night (per BirdGuides), 2 (ad and 1st W) Little Gulls Brora (Jenny & Al McNee). Probable Siberian Chiffchaff by waterworks building NC904034 Brora (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: adult Little Gull Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Waxwing in private garden, Inverness (per Birdguides).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing Mackenzie Crescent, Nethybridge (John Poyner).
Skye & Lochalsh: Little Egret on pool at Ardelve, Lochalsh, flew up Loch Long (BN), late juv Whinchat Gedintaillor, Braes (Neil Bennett), Brent Goose Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett), 6 Long-tailed Tits Lower Milovaig (AS).
These Long-tailed Tits were the first there since 2008 and are part of an unusual westward movement with birds also noted on Rum yesterday and today on Tiree, the first there since 2013.
28th October
Sutherland: 3 1st W Little Gulls Brora rivermouth (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: Kingfisher between Tarradale and Tomich Burn on Beauly Firth (Martin Hind).
Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Great Grey Shrike Mossbank, near Nethybridge NJ04225 (Pete Gordon),
Skye & Lochalsh: Lapland Bunting Oronsay, Ullinish (per Bob McMillan).
27th October
Sutherland: 8 Snow Buntings and 3 Grey Plovers Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: adult Glaucous (or Viking) Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Easter Ross: Little Egret and Greenland White-fronted Goose Udale Bay (Blair Whyte), White-fronted Goose Killen (Blair Whyte), 2 Black-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 (late) Swallows Harrapool (Martin Benson).
26th October
Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (Colin Leslie, Sam Borthwick), Kingfisher Merkinch (Sam Borthwick).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing Nethybridge (by Nethy House Café, then Craigmore Crescent) (Pete Gordon).
Skye & Lochalsh: juv Brent Goose Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)
25th October
Sutherland: 2 Swallows and 1 Arctic Tern (all late) Loch Fleet (Dave Slater).
Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (Kevin Davis), drake American Wigeon by jetty on far side Loch Eye (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (per BirdTrack).
Skye and Lochalsh: Brent Goose Loch Ailort (SC), Brent Goose Glas Eilean, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
24th October
Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (J Poyner).
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull Portree, flew to Big Skerry off Scorrybreac (per Birdguides),33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (>50% juvemiles) Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett), 7 Gadwalls Broadford Bay, then flew south (R McMillan), 5 Brent Geese KIlmory, Rum (Sean Morris), Iceland Gull 1CY Kildonan, Eigg (JS), Jack Snipe Kildonan, Eigg (JS).
Lochaber: 54 Greenland White-fronted Geese Kentra Moss (per BirdTrack).
23rd October
Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent Goose still near Ullapool river mouth (Andy Williams), adult Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring hybrid) back at Ullapool (per R Archer).
Lochaber: male Black Duck Strontian (upstream beyond second bridge then flew to river mouth) (per Birdguides).
22nd October
Skye & Localsh: 35 Redshank in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/Neil Bennett)
Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent Goose near Ullapool river mouth (Andy Williams). Adult Viking Gull in Ullapool also (R Archer)
21st October
Easter Ross: Little Egret at Udale Bay (Gary Deplacido)
Inverness: single European White-fronted Goose seen near Norbord plant floods (with Pink-footed Geese) before flying towards Castle Stuart (Jon Clarke). Swallow seen over Seafield Road earlier in the day (Sam Borthwick)
Skye & Localsh: 500 plus Fieldfare at Falls of Glomach, Morvich (Mary Galloway). Brambling at Kinloch and Kilmory, Rum. Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (both per www.skye-birds.com)
Wester Ross: Grey Plover at Achnahaird, NW of the dunes (Andy Williams)
20th October
Sutherland: single Waxwings near Durness health centre and in Kinlochbervie (Andy WIlliams). Jack Snipe and Black Redstart in field near old radio station, Brora - latter near the big dune, adult plus 1st winter Little Gulls near the river mouth at Brora, single Snow Bunting on Dornoch beach (Dean MacAskill). Great Egret at Kinbrace around grid ref NC841314 (C L Mitchell via Facebook)
19th October
Inverness: 25 Whooper Swans over the city (Sam Borthwick)
Skye & Localsh: Little Gull juvenile in Broadford Bay (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: two Chiffchaff (one possibly Siberian ssp) along the Midgarty Burn, Portgower grid area NC9912, first winter Iceland Gull off Embo pier (Dean MacAskill),
Wester Ross: five Slavonian Grebes on upper Loch Torridon (Bob McMillan)
18th October
Easter Ross: Iceland Gull (1st winter) and Little Gull at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye & Localsh: Yellow-browed Warbler in vicinity of Miller's Cottage, Eigg (J Chester)
17th October
Easter Ross: 14 Whooper Swan at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner). Little Egret at Udale Bay (Pru Ward)
Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler in vicinity of Balnakiel craft village, Durness (Andy Williams)
16th October
Easter Ross: Jack Snipe at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Localsh: Yellow-browed Warbler in Kilmory Glen, Rum (per www.skye-birds.com)
15th October
Easter Ross: 65+ Slavonian Grebes on the Cromarty Firth, plus circa 250 Scaup (John Poyner)
Inverness: two Kingfishers at Muirtown Pools (Alan MacAskill)
Skye & Localsh: wing tagged Red Kite over Loch Bay, Waternish (per www.skye-birds.com)
14th October
Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler ringed at Lentran (Alex Penn via Facebook)
Skye & Localsh: some 3,000 estimated Redwings through the Broadford area this morning (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: one, possibly two Yellow-browed Warblers plus three Blackcaps along the Midgarty Burn, Portgower grid NC996125 (Dean MacAskill)
13th October
Caithness: unconfirmed report of Siberian Lesser Whitethroat at Noss Head (per Birdguides)
Easter Ross: drake American Wigeon on Loch Eye, plus 2 Gadwall and 8 Pochard. Six hundred plus Whooper Swans on nearby fields (Bob Swann). Kingfisher seen from the bridge in Avoch (John Carruthers)
Skye & Localsh: 25 Black-throated Divers in Kilmarie Bay, Loch Slapin, Skye (Bob McMillan). Yellow-browed Warbler still behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Martin Benson). Glaucous Gull at Aird Bernisdale (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Great Egret eastern end of Loch Borralan, Altnacealgach (David Haines; late report of this bird from 10th October also received today from Mark Keighley). Adult Little Gull plus 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls near the river mouth at Brora (Dean MacAskill)
12th October
Easter Ross: three Whooper Swans over Tarbart Ness. Significant Gannet and auk sp. movement/feeding over the water and into the Dornich Firth (Dave Tanner). Hobby at Lentran, plus Yellow-browed Warbler ringed nearby (Alex Penn via Facebook)
Inverness: three Grey Plovers, Fort George (Colin Leslie). Yellow-browed Warbler near cow field on west side of Loch Flemington (per Birdguides)
Skye & Localsh: 6 Slavonian Grebes in outer Loch Ainort plus two in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett). Continued movement of Whooper Swans in and around Skye
Sutherland: juvenile Little Gull in wader roost at Dornoch Point (Dave Tanner)
11th October
Badenoch and Strathspey: Sixteen Swallows feeding over Insh this evening (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: five Whooper Swans over Portmahomack plus single Arctic Skua at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Localsh: Barnacle Goose 14 south over Kilmory, Rum (Sean Morris). Whooper Swan - birds migrating late last night over Lower Milovaig (Andy Stables); 9 east over Kildonan, Eigg (JC); 10 resting Duisdale Bay, Sleat (NH) & 9 on Loch Harport (Bob McMillan). Bar-tailed Godwit 20 in Broadford Bay plus two Knot and three Golden Plover (Bob McMillan). Wheatear singleton in Kinloch Glen, Rum (Sean Morris).
Sutherland: Grey Phalarope showed all day through 1630hrs alongside the River Borgie by footbridge in area of Dalness, grid ref NC653546 (Peter Cosgrove et al). Adult Little Gull plus 1st winter Iceland Gull near the river mouth at Brora (Mark Keighley)
10th October
Easter Ross: single Arctic Skua off Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Sutherland: Grey Phalarope both on and alongside the River Borgie by footbridge in area of Dalness, grid ref NC652545 (Peter Cosgrove). At Strathy Point, 11 Barnacle Geese, 26 Sooty Shearwater and single Storm Petrel (Dean McAskill). At Brora, two Purple Sandpipers, two House Martins and four Little Gulls (Mary Galloway)
9th October
Inverness: Curlew Sandpiper Whiteness Bay (Colin Leslie).
Easter Ross: Whimbrel at Dalmore pier, Cromarty (Jimmy Fraser)
Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Little Terns still at Broadford Bay, also adult Little Gull (Neil Bennett, Martin Benson, Bob McMillan). A Dark-bellied Brent Goose with Light-bellied Brent Geese Glas Eilean, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
8th October
Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Little Terns Broadford Bay were very late (Neil Bennett, Martin Benson, Bob McMillan).
Sutherland: adult Sabine's Gull at Brora (Mark Keighley)
7th October
Easter Ross: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats Tarbat Ness. Also 3 Ring Ousels, 30 Song Thrushes and a Blackcap (All Bob Swann). An orange-legged Pink-footed Goose Udale Bay (per C Round).
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
6th October
Sutherland: Little Auk & 2 Little Gulls north Lothbeg Point (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann), Short-eared Owl Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Martin Benson). Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS).
5th October
Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler Brucefield Plantation, Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann), Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann).
4th October
Sutherland: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers near Laxford Bridge and 1 Sheigra (per Birdguides).
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: 1 (or 2) Taiga Bean Geese Udale Bay (Al McNee), White-fronted Goose (unraced) Udale Bay (Blair Whyte), Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann).
Lochaber: Black Duck still at Strontian (per BirdTrack)
3rd October
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Keith Barns).
Easter Ross: Sooty Shearwater, 8 Pomarine Skuas, 2 adult Little Gulls Embo (Dean MacAskill), 2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Little Gull Golspie (Dean MacAskill), Male American Wigeon Loch Eye (Bob Swann).
Inverness: male Lady Amherst's Pheasant at large Strathdearn (John Poyner)
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Heaste, near Broadford (Neil Bennett).
2nd October
Sutherland: Juv Sabine's Gull N Sheigra (per BirdTrack), Yellow-browed Warbler Scourie Lodge (per Birdguides), Yellow-browed Warbler Loch Duart Beg (per Birdguides).
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Bob McMillan, Peter Stronach).
Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua SW Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Great White Egret Moy Bridge, River Conon (Doreen Manson).
Inverness: 2 Mandarin Ducks Kilravock (per BirdTrack).
1st October
Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler Sheigra (per Birdguides)
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Easter Ross: Black Redstart Conon Bridge, single Kingfishers at Conon Bridge and Dingwall (Simeon Ewing)
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Broadford (Martin Benson)
Sutherland: late Swallow Inverpolly (Stuart Edwards), Waxwing Midgarty Burn, south of Portgower (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: Waxwing Ardvannie, Edderton (Bob Swann).
Wester Ross: Hoopoe videoed near the Am Fuaran Bar, Altandhu (postcode IV26 2YR, per Stuart Edwards)
Badenoch & Strathspey: 20 Waxwings N end of Aviemore (Bob Turner).
Skye & Lochalsh: Magpie Kilvaxter (Bob McMillan) - a rare Skye record.
30th October
Still no news,
29th October
Sutherland: Tengmalm's Owl 2 miles south of Forsinard, flushed from fenceposts by A897 and went into forestry on east side at approx. NC881400 late at night (per BirdGuides), 2 (ad and 1st W) Little Gulls Brora (Jenny & Al McNee). Probable Siberian Chiffchaff by waterworks building NC904034 Brora (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: adult Little Gull Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: Waxwing in private garden, Inverness (per Birdguides).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing Mackenzie Crescent, Nethybridge (John Poyner).
Skye & Lochalsh: Little Egret on pool at Ardelve, Lochalsh, flew up Loch Long (BN), late juv Whinchat Gedintaillor, Braes (Neil Bennett), Brent Goose Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett), 6 Long-tailed Tits Lower Milovaig (AS).
These Long-tailed Tits were the first there since 2008 and are part of an unusual westward movement with birds also noted on Rum yesterday and today on Tiree, the first there since 2013.
28th October
Sutherland: 3 1st W Little Gulls Brora rivermouth (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: Kingfisher between Tarradale and Tomich Burn on Beauly Firth (Martin Hind).
Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (per Birdguides).
Badenoch and Strathspey: Great Grey Shrike Mossbank, near Nethybridge NJ04225 (Pete Gordon),
Skye & Lochalsh: Lapland Bunting Oronsay, Ullinish (per Bob McMillan).
27th October
Sutherland: 8 Snow Buntings and 3 Grey Plovers Dornoch Beach (Dean MacAskill).
Wester Ross: adult Glaucous (or Viking) Gull Ullapool (Andy Williams).
Easter Ross: Little Egret and Greenland White-fronted Goose Udale Bay (Blair Whyte), White-fronted Goose Killen (Blair Whyte), 2 Black-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye & Lochalsh: 2 (late) Swallows Harrapool (Martin Benson).
26th October
Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (Colin Leslie, Sam Borthwick), Kingfisher Merkinch (Sam Borthwick).
Badenoch & Strathspey: Waxwing Nethybridge (by Nethy House Café, then Craigmore Crescent) (Pete Gordon).
Skye & Lochalsh: juv Brent Goose Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett)
25th October
Sutherland: 2 Swallows and 1 Arctic Tern (all late) Loch Fleet (Dave Slater).
Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (Kevin Davis), drake American Wigeon by jetty on far side Loch Eye (Dave Tanner).
Inverness: male American Wigeon Merkinch (per BirdTrack).
Skye and Lochalsh: Brent Goose Loch Ailort (SC), Brent Goose Glas Eilean, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
24th October
Easter Ross: Little Egret Udale Bay (J Poyner).
Skye & Lochalsh: juvenile Glaucous Gull Portree, flew to Big Skerry off Scorrybreac (per Birdguides),33 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (>50% juvemiles) Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett), 7 Gadwalls Broadford Bay, then flew south (R McMillan), 5 Brent Geese KIlmory, Rum (Sean Morris), Iceland Gull 1CY Kildonan, Eigg (JS), Jack Snipe Kildonan, Eigg (JS).
Lochaber: 54 Greenland White-fronted Geese Kentra Moss (per BirdTrack).
23rd October
Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent Goose still near Ullapool river mouth (Andy Williams), adult Viking Gull (Glaucous x Herring hybrid) back at Ullapool (per R Archer).
Lochaber: male Black Duck Strontian (upstream beyond second bridge then flew to river mouth) (per Birdguides).
22nd October
Skye & Localsh: 35 Redshank in Broadford Bay (Bob McMillan/Neil Bennett)
Wester Ross: Pale-bellied Brent Goose near Ullapool river mouth (Andy Williams). Adult Viking Gull in Ullapool also (R Archer)
21st October
Easter Ross: Little Egret at Udale Bay (Gary Deplacido)
Inverness: single European White-fronted Goose seen near Norbord plant floods (with Pink-footed Geese) before flying towards Castle Stuart (Jon Clarke). Swallow seen over Seafield Road earlier in the day (Sam Borthwick)
Skye & Localsh: 500 plus Fieldfare at Falls of Glomach, Morvich (Mary Galloway). Brambling at Kinloch and Kilmory, Rum. Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (both per www.skye-birds.com)
Wester Ross: Grey Plover at Achnahaird, NW of the dunes (Andy Williams)
20th October
Sutherland: single Waxwings near Durness health centre and in Kinlochbervie (Andy WIlliams). Jack Snipe and Black Redstart in field near old radio station, Brora - latter near the big dune, adult plus 1st winter Little Gulls near the river mouth at Brora, single Snow Bunting on Dornoch beach (Dean MacAskill). Great Egret at Kinbrace around grid ref NC841314 (C L Mitchell via Facebook)
19th October
Inverness: 25 Whooper Swans over the city (Sam Borthwick)
Skye & Localsh: Little Gull juvenile in Broadford Bay (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: two Chiffchaff (one possibly Siberian ssp) along the Midgarty Burn, Portgower grid area NC9912, first winter Iceland Gull off Embo pier (Dean MacAskill),
Wester Ross: five Slavonian Grebes on upper Loch Torridon (Bob McMillan)
18th October
Easter Ross: Iceland Gull (1st winter) and Little Gull at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye & Localsh: Yellow-browed Warbler in vicinity of Miller's Cottage, Eigg (J Chester)
17th October
Easter Ross: 14 Whooper Swan at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner). Little Egret at Udale Bay (Pru Ward)
Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler in vicinity of Balnakiel craft village, Durness (Andy Williams)
16th October
Easter Ross: Jack Snipe at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Localsh: Yellow-browed Warbler in Kilmory Glen, Rum (per www.skye-birds.com)
15th October
Easter Ross: 65+ Slavonian Grebes on the Cromarty Firth, plus circa 250 Scaup (John Poyner)
Inverness: two Kingfishers at Muirtown Pools (Alan MacAskill)
Skye & Localsh: wing tagged Red Kite over Loch Bay, Waternish (per www.skye-birds.com)
14th October
Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler ringed at Lentran (Alex Penn via Facebook)
Skye & Localsh: some 3,000 estimated Redwings through the Broadford area this morning (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: one, possibly two Yellow-browed Warblers plus three Blackcaps along the Midgarty Burn, Portgower grid NC996125 (Dean MacAskill)
13th October
Caithness: unconfirmed report of Siberian Lesser Whitethroat at Noss Head (per Birdguides)
Easter Ross: drake American Wigeon on Loch Eye, plus 2 Gadwall and 8 Pochard. Six hundred plus Whooper Swans on nearby fields (Bob Swann). Kingfisher seen from the bridge in Avoch (John Carruthers)
Skye & Localsh: 25 Black-throated Divers in Kilmarie Bay, Loch Slapin, Skye (Bob McMillan). Yellow-browed Warbler still behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Martin Benson). Glaucous Gull at Aird Bernisdale (per www.skye-birds.com)
Sutherland: Great Egret eastern end of Loch Borralan, Altnacealgach (David Haines; late report of this bird from 10th October also received today from Mark Keighley). Adult Little Gull plus 1st and 2nd winter Iceland Gulls near the river mouth at Brora (Dean MacAskill)
12th October
Easter Ross: three Whooper Swans over Tarbart Ness. Significant Gannet and auk sp. movement/feeding over the water and into the Dornich Firth (Dave Tanner). Hobby at Lentran, plus Yellow-browed Warbler ringed nearby (Alex Penn via Facebook)
Inverness: three Grey Plovers, Fort George (Colin Leslie). Yellow-browed Warbler near cow field on west side of Loch Flemington (per Birdguides)
Skye & Localsh: 6 Slavonian Grebes in outer Loch Ainort plus two in Broadford Bay (Neil Bennett). Continued movement of Whooper Swans in and around Skye
Sutherland: juvenile Little Gull in wader roost at Dornoch Point (Dave Tanner)
11th October
Badenoch and Strathspey: Sixteen Swallows feeding over Insh this evening (Dave Pierce)
Easter Ross: five Whooper Swans over Portmahomack plus single Arctic Skua at Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Skye & Localsh: Barnacle Goose 14 south over Kilmory, Rum (Sean Morris). Whooper Swan - birds migrating late last night over Lower Milovaig (Andy Stables); 9 east over Kildonan, Eigg (JC); 10 resting Duisdale Bay, Sleat (NH) & 9 on Loch Harport (Bob McMillan). Bar-tailed Godwit 20 in Broadford Bay plus two Knot and three Golden Plover (Bob McMillan). Wheatear singleton in Kinloch Glen, Rum (Sean Morris).
Sutherland: Grey Phalarope showed all day through 1630hrs alongside the River Borgie by footbridge in area of Dalness, grid ref NC653546 (Peter Cosgrove et al). Adult Little Gull plus 1st winter Iceland Gull near the river mouth at Brora (Mark Keighley)
10th October
Easter Ross: single Arctic Skua off Tarbart Ness (Dave Tanner)
Sutherland: Grey Phalarope both on and alongside the River Borgie by footbridge in area of Dalness, grid ref NC652545 (Peter Cosgrove). At Strathy Point, 11 Barnacle Geese, 26 Sooty Shearwater and single Storm Petrel (Dean McAskill). At Brora, two Purple Sandpipers, two House Martins and four Little Gulls (Mary Galloway)
9th October
Inverness: Curlew Sandpiper Whiteness Bay (Colin Leslie).
Easter Ross: Whimbrel at Dalmore pier, Cromarty (Jimmy Fraser)
Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Little Terns still at Broadford Bay, also adult Little Gull (Neil Bennett, Martin Benson, Bob McMillan). A Dark-bellied Brent Goose with Light-bellied Brent Geese Glas Eilean, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
8th October
Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Little Terns Broadford Bay were very late (Neil Bennett, Martin Benson, Bob McMillan).
Sutherland: adult Sabine's Gull at Brora (Mark Keighley)
7th October
Easter Ross: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats Tarbat Ness. Also 3 Ring Ousels, 30 Song Thrushes and a Blackcap (All Bob Swann). An orange-legged Pink-footed Goose Udale Bay (per C Round).
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Neil Bennett).
6th October
Sutherland: Little Auk & 2 Little Gulls north Lothbeg Point (Dean McAskill).
Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann), Short-eared Owl Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner).
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler behind Skye Candles, Broadford (Martin Benson). Yellow-legged Gull Loch Pooltiel (AS).
5th October
Easter Ross: Yellow-browed Warbler Brucefield Plantation, Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann), Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann).
4th October
Sutherland: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers near Laxford Bridge and 1 Sheigra (per Birdguides).
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (per Birdguides).
Easter Ross: 1 (or 2) Taiga Bean Geese Udale Bay (Al McNee), White-fronted Goose (unraced) Udale Bay (Blair Whyte), Lesser Whitethroat Tarbat Ness (Bob Swann).
Lochaber: Black Duck still at Strontian (per BirdTrack)
3rd October
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Keith Barns).
Easter Ross: Sooty Shearwater, 8 Pomarine Skuas, 2 adult Little Gulls Embo (Dean MacAskill), 2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Little Gull Golspie (Dean MacAskill), Male American Wigeon Loch Eye (Bob Swann).
Inverness: male Lady Amherst's Pheasant at large Strathdearn (John Poyner)
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Heaste, near Broadford (Neil Bennett).
2nd October
Sutherland: Juv Sabine's Gull N Sheigra (per BirdTrack), Yellow-browed Warbler Scourie Lodge (per Birdguides), Yellow-browed Warbler Loch Duart Beg (per Birdguides).
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Bob McMillan, Peter Stronach).
Easter Ross: Pomarine Skua SW Tarbat Ness (Dave Tanner), Great White Egret Moy Bridge, River Conon (Doreen Manson).
Inverness: 2 Mandarin Ducks Kilravock (per BirdTrack).
1st October
Sutherland: Yellow-browed Warbler Sheigra (per Birdguides)
Wester Ross: Buff-breasted Sandpiper Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Easter Ross: Black Redstart Conon Bridge, single Kingfishers at Conon Bridge and Dingwall (Simeon Ewing)
Skye and Lochalsh: Yellow-browed Warbler Broadford (Martin Benson)
