Highland Birds
  • Sightings
    • 2024 >
      • August 2024
      • July 2024
      • June 2024
      • May 2024
      • April 2024
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
  • Recording
    • The Highland List
    • The Highland Recording Area
    • Submitting records >
      • Rarities
      • HRC description species
      • Highland SOC Species Focus 2021
      • Gazetteer
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Evening talks
    • Field trips
  • Where to go
    • Inverness-shire >
      • Fort George and Whiteness
      • In and around Inverness
    • Badenoch and Strathspey >
      • Speyside in general
      • Badenoch and Strathspey
      • Northern Cairngorms
    • Easter Ross >
      • Easter Ross in general
      • Chanonry Point
      • Tarbat Ness
    • Wester Ross >
      • Ullapool and Gruinard Bay
      • Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree
      • Loch Kishorn
    • Lochaber >
      • Fort William
      • Canna
      • Eigg
      • Rum
    • Skye and Lochalsh >
      • Lochalsh
    • Sutherland >
      • Southeast Sutherland
      • Melvich
      • Kyle of Tongue
      • Assynt
      • Loch Eriboll
  • Gallery
    • 2010-present
    • 2000-2009
    • 1990-1999
    • 1980-1989
    • Dark ages - 1979
  • Publications
    • Highland Bird Report
    • Highland Bird News
    • Books
  • Contact
    • Join the SOC
  • Links
  • Website history
  • Blog
  • AGM MinutesApril 2023
ARCHIVE

​2018
January
February
March
April
May
June
30th September

Easter Ross: Drake American Wigeon back on Loch Eye, also 45 Whooper Swan, 2 Slavonian Grebe and 11 Black-tailed Godwits (B Swann). Garganey again on the Tain river just downstream of the footbridge with Teal (D Thorogood).

Sutherland: A Little Egret is on Loch Fleet on the south shore from the road by the old railway hut (D MacAskill).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Lesser Whitethroat in garden in Cromdale today (M Warren). 36 Barnacle Geese at Dell of Killiehuntly, presumably the feral population from Highland Wildlife Park (D Pierce).

A paper has been released by Martin Carty and four other authors detailing factors affecting young Manx Shearwaters from the Rùm population grounding in Mallaig, Lochaber. A pdf of the paper is available here.
Little Egret at Loch Fleet (D MacAskill)
Little Egret at Loch Fleet (D MacAskill).
Little Egret at Loch Fleet (D MacAskill)..
29th September

Easter Ross: Possible female-type Garganey at Tain Links this morning with Teal on the river (D Thorogood).

Late news of a first-winter Red-backed Shrike at Kylesku last week sometime, per this tweet.
​

28th September

No reports...
​
27th September

Lochaber: Black Duck drake still at Strontian at the river mouth at 1740pm (RBA).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Hobby over the A95 just north of the Boat of Garten turn (S Sykes). 

26th September

Inverness-shire: Five Golden Pheasants adjacent to Kyllachy Estate in Strathdearn, two males (adult and 1CY) and three females (two adults and a probable 1CY), for further information and previous recent sightings in Highland see blog post here.

Sutherland: Adult Rosy Starling at Bonar Bridge today in the area of the postcode IV24 3EB (RBA).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Juvenile Hobby flew east over Tulloch at 4pm (Simon Eaves).
Golden Pheasant in Strathdearn (Peter Stronach)
Golden Pheasant in Strathdearn (Peter Stronach).
25th September

No reports...
​
24th September

Inverness-shire: Kingfisher back in the channel of Muirtown Pools (Al McNee).

Lochaber: Singing Chiffchaff in Kinloch, Rùm (per B McMillan).

Skye and Lochalsh: Singing Chiffchaff at Portree (B McMillan)

23rd September

Skye and Lochalsh: Pomarine Skua flew north through the Sound of Raasay.

22nd September

Sutherland: Four first-winter Little Gulls off Brora this morning (M Warren).

Inverness-shire: 2 Gadwall, Pintail, a leucistic Mallard and 2 Black-tailed Godwit at Castle Stuart this morning (C Leslie).

Easter Ross: 11 Pale-bellied Brent on Rosemarkie beach at 11am (B Wilson).

Badenoch and Strathspey: A storm blown Manx Shearwater found alive in a Kincraig garden today (D MacAdam/D Pierce).
Storm blown Manx Shearwater in Kincraig (D MacAdam)
21st September

Easter Ross: Hoopoe reported at Loch Fleet by Skelbo Castle at 1015am, no sign at 1145am. Seen on the grass bank by the lay-by with the information boards, just below the castle (per K Langdon).

Badenoch and Strathspey: 19 Whooper Swans at Insh (D Pierce).
​
A Black-headed Gull with the colour-ring "2CP4", photographed below, was seen at Ardersier today. It was caught as a fully fledged juvenile on the Ythan estuary during a night mist-netting session on the 26th August 2016. The following autumn, it's second calendar year, it was seen at Seton Burn in Lothian and then during the winter at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. It's now in it's third calendar year and was joining the rest of the flock of Black-heads "jogging on the spot" for food. Thanks to Calum Cambl for the ringing info.
Black-headed Gull "2CP4" at Ardersier (Peter Stronach)
20th September

Lochaber: Grey Phalarope at sea off the north end of Eigg today (R Dyer).

Easter Ross: 9 Pale-bellied Brent geese at Udale Bay. In 1.5 hrs this morning past Chanonry Point; 2 Pomarine Skuas, 4 Arctic Skuas (K Davis).

Skye and Lochalsh: Adult Sabine's Gull past Duntulm this morning (J Jones).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Single Ruff circling Lochindorb this afternoon (J Poyner). 5 Black-tailed Godwit on the Insh marshes today (D Pierce).

Large influx of Pink-footed Geese across Skye coming in from across north Lewis, arriving 1800pm and continuing into the evening.
Merlin at Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Migrating Pink-footed Geeseflying over Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Migrating Pink-footed Geeseflying over Achnahaird (Andy Williams).
19th September

Sutherland:
24 Sooty Shearwaters north past Embo at midday in a squall and 2 Pomarine Skuas south into the Dornoch Firth (D MacAskill).

Skye and Lochalsh: 2 Sooty Shearwaters going northeast past Bornesketaig, Skye today (B McMillan). No sign of Mediterranean Gull or hybrid at Portree today (Neil Bennett).

Easter Ross: No sign of the Hoopoe at Cromarty today and a Ruff at Udale Bay at 3pm (D Pointon).
​
18th September

Sutherland: Spotted Redshank on the shore between Ardgay and Bonar Bridge this morning (Mike Hoit). Three juvenile Little Gulls bathing at Brora river mouth this evening (Birdguides).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Cattle Egret seen briefly from bus on A938, 50m east of Duthill in fields to south of road at 0824am (Pete Cosgrove), no further sign despite thorough search of location (Pete Gordon/Peter Stronach).

Skye and Lochalsh: First-winter Mediterranean Gull or hybrid at Bayfield, Portree at 0825am then flew out to sea and no further sign (Neil Bennett).

Inverness-shire: Adult Mediterranean Gull came into roost on the sea off Whiteness Head this evening (Jon Clarke).

Wester Ross: Hoopoe still present at Cromarty in trees close to the lighthouse at 1239pm (Simon Eaves) and late afternoon (RBA).
Mediterranean Gull or hybrid at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Mediterranean Gull or hybrid at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Mediterranean Gull or hybrid at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)..
Mediterranean Gull or hybrid at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)...
Spotted Redshank at Bonar Bridge (Mike Hoit)
Spotted Redshank at Bonar Bridge (Mike Hoit).
Mediterranean Gull at Whiteness (Jon Clarke)
17th September

Skye and Lochalsh: 4 Leach's Petrels on the Uig to Stornoway sailing this afternoon (Mark Warren).

Sutherland: Two Pomarine Skuas south into Dornoch Firth, also a juvenile Little Gull and two Great Northern Divers (Dean MacAskill).

Easter Ross: Hoopoe still at Cromarty at 1530pm (Bob McMillan).

Inverness-shire: 4 Slavonian Grebes, 1 Black-throated Diver and 2 dark morph Arctic Skuas from Alturlie Bay and a Whooper Swan at Ardersier (Al McNee/A Williams).
Grey Wagtail at Heaste, Skye (Neil Bennett)
16th September

Easter Ross: Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at northeast end of Innis Mhor (Peter Stronach). Hoopoe still in Cromarty at 7am (Kevin Davis) and at 1245pm, a bit further along than had been previously reported, even getting as far as opposite the end of High Street. On the grassy areas but often on the beach itself (Jack Harrison).
Bar-tailed Godwit at Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Juvenile Knot at Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Juvenile Knot, juvenile Turnstone and juvenile Sanderling at Achnahaird (Andy Williams)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Mark Dawson)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Mark Dawson).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Mark Dawson)..
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Mark Dawson)...
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Mark Dawson)....
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Mark Dawson).....
15th September

Easter Ross: Hoopoe still at Cromarty today (Birdguides). Little Egret west over Udale Bay at approx 1pm (Scott Wotherspoon).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Scott Wotherspoon)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Scott Wotherspoon).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Scott Wotherspoon)..
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Scott Wotherspoon)...
14th September

Easter Ross: Smew still at Loch Eye in the northeast corner, though some distance off the shoreline (Dave Tanner).
Grounded Manx Shearwater in Broadford being returned to the sea (Neil Bennett)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (David Edge)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (David Edge).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (David Edge)..
13th September

Sutherland: First-winter Barred Warbler trapped and ringed at Melvich this afternoon by Graham Crittenden, his 4th in the garden in 42 years!. Hawfinch seen and photographed in a garden in Kinlochbervie recently (per J Cleaver).

Badenoch and Strathspey: Manx Shearwater found dead yesterday in a garden in Kincraig (P Moore).

Easter Ross: Hoopoe still in Cromarty at 1530pm, around the black seats and seaward side of grassy area to east of lighthouse (D Pullan). Redhead Smew again at Loch Eye in the northeast corner (B Swann). Drake Gadwall and 2 Ruff at Udale Bay (A MacAskill).

Wester Ross: Black Redstart at the car park at Rubha Reidh and a first year Iceland Gull at Loch Ewe today (Mark Finn).

Skye and Lochalsh: Leach's Petrel and Sooty Shearwater off Waternish Point from the ferry today (Bguides).

First big arrival of Pink-footed Geese across Highland today, carried on strong westerly winds. Reported from Boat of Garten, 84 over Handa last night, 32 over Errogie, 300 past Tarbat Ness, 70 over Loch Eye.

Three colour-ringed Pale-bellied Brents in Broadford Bay today, two of which are a pair. The male (Yellow 6 left leg and Green 3 right leg) was rung on spring passage in Iceland on the 19th May 2006, and was first recorded wintering in Strangford Lough, his partner (Red 6 left leg and Green 3 right leg) was rung again on spring passage in Iceland on the 19th May 2014 and has been sighted wintering in Waterford and Castlemaine in Ireland.
Juvenile Barred warbler at Melvich (Graham Crittenden)
Juvenile Barred warbler at Melvich (Graham Crittenden).
12th September

Skye and Lochalsh: 11 Pale-bellied Brents in Broadford Bay at 0807am, then 50 Pale-bellied Brents flew over Broadford Bay at 0914am (Martin Benson). after 7 on Mill River then Broadford River, and another 21 on the sand in Broadford Bay (Martin Benson/Neil Bennett).

Easter Ross: 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff at Udale Bay at 1pm (Mary Galloway).

Inverness-shire: Early morning, at Less Castle estate, 15 Pink-footed  Geese landing in fields and 2 Wheatears on farm track. Green Sandpiper at ponds /dubhlochans at Balvonie of Leys (Alan MacAskill).

Start of the Pale-bellied Brent passage on the west coast, with strong westerly airflows across the North Atlantic.
Pale-bellied Brent Geese migrating over Broadford Bay (Martin Benson)
11th September

Sutherland: Good numbers of Terns passing Brora today also 3 Little Gull (2 juv and 1 adult) and 2 Sooty Shearwaters south also .Big meadow pipit movement south today from Brora also (Dean MacAskill). 

Easter Ross: Hoopoe still in Cromarty on the links and around the lighthouse today (John Picton, Sandy Sutherland).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Sandy Sutherland)
10th September

​Easter Ross: Redhead Smew back at Loch Eye and two Gadwall (Bob Swann). Hoopoe still at Cromarty on the links at 1415pm (Dave Tanner).

Sutherland: Juvenile Little Stint at Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill).
Little Stint at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill)
Little Stint at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill).
Little Stint at Dornoch (Dean MacAskill)..
Sanderlings at Dornoch Point (Dean MacAskill)
​9th September

Easter Ross: Hoopoe still in Cromarty on grass behind lighthouse at 0710am (RBA), then seen again at 1332am same area (Ian Ford), again at 1430pm (John Poyner) and seen further east on the links shore at 1848pm (Peter Stronach). 2 Little Gulls off Tarbat Ness with kittiwakes at 0656am (Dave Tanner).
8th September

Easter Ross: Hoopoe still in Cromarty around the Beech and Sycamore trees east of the lighthouse at 1124am (L Graham) and 1630pm (Simon Levene). Spotted Redshank still off Tain Links with Redshank flock at high tide (Bob Swann).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Simon Eaves)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Simon Eaves).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Simon Eaves)..
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Colin Leslie)
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Colin Leslie).
Hoopoe at Cromarty (Colin Leslie)..
7th September

Easter Ross: Hoopoe in Cromarty on grass east of the lighthouse at 3pm (S Patterson). 3 Sooty Shearwater past Tarbat Ness this morning into the Dornoch Firth (Dave Tanner). Today at midday a Short-eared Owl on Fortrose golf course, at the lighthouse end​ (Mary Galloway).
​
6th September

Easter Ross: At least 2 Short-eared Owls around Udale Bay and in the scrub near Cygnus House a Lesser Whitethroat and a Garden Warbler (Mark Finn).
​
5th September

Wester Ross: 3 Leach's Petrel reported at sea off Ullapool-Stornoway ferry at 1140am and 3 Sooty Shearwaters (RBA).

Skye and Lochalsh: Second-winter Glaucous Gull at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Glaucous Gull in Portree (Neil Bennett)
Glaucous Gull in Portree (Neil Bennett).
Glaucous Gull in Portree (Neil Bennett)..
Ravens at Muir of Ord (David Edge)
4th September

Easter Ross: Adult male Hobby seen circling over fields just before Kinkell Hotel off A9 around 3pm today (Susan Seright).

Skye and Lochalsh: Female Pintail at Bayfield, Portree (Jonathan Jones).
Pintail at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)
Pintail at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett).
Pintail at Bayfield, Portree (Neil Bennett)..
3rd September

​Easter Ross: Hobby circling over the fields near the Easter Kinkell/Culbokie junction on the A9 (NH589569) at 1315pm today (Bob Wilson).

Inverness-shire: 4 Slavonian Grebe still on Loch Ruthven, with an adult feeding juvenile (A MacAskill).

2nd September
​
Easter Ross: Single Ruff with Redshank at Udale today at 1600pm, and 4 Black-tailed Godwits (Mary Galloway).

1st September

Wester Ross: Single Sooty Shearwater, 100+ Storm Petrels and a Bull Orca on the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry today (Peter Stronach/Kate and Jon Clarke). Viking Gull still in Ullapool harbour.

Easter Ross: Single Sooty Shearwater past Tarbat Ness this morning (Dave Tanner).
Orca fin in the Minch (Peter Stronach)

Picture



​Looking after Highland's birds


  • Sightings
    • 2024 >
      • August 2024
      • July 2024
      • June 2024
      • May 2024
      • April 2024
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
  • Recording
    • The Highland List
    • The Highland Recording Area
    • Submitting records >
      • Rarities
      • HRC description species
      • Highland SOC Species Focus 2021
      • Gazetteer
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Evening talks
    • Field trips
  • Where to go
    • Inverness-shire >
      • Fort George and Whiteness
      • In and around Inverness
    • Badenoch and Strathspey >
      • Speyside in general
      • Badenoch and Strathspey
      • Northern Cairngorms
    • Easter Ross >
      • Easter Ross in general
      • Chanonry Point
      • Tarbat Ness
    • Wester Ross >
      • Ullapool and Gruinard Bay
      • Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree
      • Loch Kishorn
    • Lochaber >
      • Fort William
      • Canna
      • Eigg
      • Rum
    • Skye and Lochalsh >
      • Lochalsh
    • Sutherland >
      • Southeast Sutherland
      • Melvich
      • Kyle of Tongue
      • Assynt
      • Loch Eriboll
  • Gallery
    • 2010-present
    • 2000-2009
    • 1990-1999
    • 1980-1989
    • Dark ages - 1979
  • Publications
    • Highland Bird Report
    • Highland Bird News
    • Books
  • Contact
    • Join the SOC
  • Links
  • Website history
  • Blog
  • AGM MinutesApril 2023