Recent Wildlife Sightings in Glendale, Skye

July

28th

There was were a cow and calf minke whale about 50m off-shore off the hill road in Lower Milovaig, late afternoon (Martyn Lewis).

26th

The post-breeding flocks of twite are now starting to form, with 30 on croft 13 Upper Milovaig at 7:50am.

25th

A small pod of 4 common dolphins came into Loch Pooltiel, mid afternoon, and spent around 30-40 minutes fishing the area between the big waterfall and the pier before heading back out to sea.

24th

There was a pod of 50-100 common dolphins inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at 9:20pm (Martyn Lewis).

18th

A pair of red-throated divers were fishing at the head of Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon (Kathy Lindsley).

16th

A pair of peregrine falcons have successfully reared at least one young at an eyrie on Glendale Estate.

15th

There are a few fungi around at the moment and we've picked almost 0.5kg of delicious horse mushrooms over the last couple of days. There has also been a flush of larch boletes in Lower Milovaig over the last week.

13th

There was a single minke whale in the Minch off Lower Milovaig, mid-afternoon.
We're (almost) getting bored of watching whales at the moment (can you ever?), so a cracking peregrine falcon soaring above the road between Lephin and Hamara Lodge, mid afternoon, made a nice change. There were two sand martins on overhead wires at Borrodale School, late afternoon. A coal tit also turned up in Lower Milovaig this morning, visiting the feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig, first we've had for a while.

12th

There were 1000+ manx shearwaters, c.3000 auks and a single bonxie in the sea off Orbost (between Loch Bharcasaig and Harlosh Island) this afternoon. There was a single winter-plumaged black-throated diver in Bharcasaig Bay.
There was an otter in Bharcasaig Bay and two harbour porpoises off Harlosh, viewed from the Orbost Forest track.

10th

It was a classic day for cetaceans at Neist Point, with 2 minke whales, 6-8 harbour porpoises and a pod of around 100 common dolphins between 11am and 1:30pm. The minkes and porpoises were surfacing within 20 yards of the rocks and the minkes' 'blow' was ringing around the point.
There were also two puffins (heading south), a single bonxie and around 400 manx shearwaters. The herring gulls all have large young in their nests.
The gannets were trying to steal fish from the lines of the fishermen and this angler caught a little more than he bargained for - The gannet was released unharmed (see photo below, together with a long-range shot of a minke whale taken today).

Minke Whale, Shearwaters, Auks off Neist Point

An angler catches a gannet at Neist Point

9th

There was a single minke whale in the Minch off Lower Milovaig between 7:30pm and 8pm.
The redpolls in MacDougal's Spruces near Meanish Pier have now successfully fledged at least 2 young.

8th

Unusually, there was a family group of two adult and two immature shelducks on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 8pm.

7th

There were three arctic skuas heading South at Neist and a lapwing brooding three small young at Ramasaig (Bob McMillan). These are Bob's excellent photos:

Arctic Skua at Neist Point

Brooding Lapwing at Ramasaig

June

29th

There was a single harbour porpoise surfacing repeatedly within 30 yards of the shore at the seaward end of Lower Milovaig at 9:45pm, giving superb close views.

28th

There was a single minke whale surfacing out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 10pm.
There were several flocks of manx shearwaters, totalling around 100 birds, surface-feeding across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel between 9:30pm and 10:15pm.

25th

There were two minke whales off Neist Point, early evening (Heather & Kevin Tock).

21st

There was an otter off the jetty at Meanish Pier, which came onto the rocks there, at 10:30pm (Abigail Howard).

20th

More minke whales reported today with a pod of three or four at Neist Point (Abigail Howard) and a large adult minke whale with a calf in the Minch off Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon. There was a pod of six harbour porpoises across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, mid afternoon.
There is still a single bonxie at Neist Point (Abigail Howard).
There is still a singing male whitethroat in Ron & Glenda's garden at 14 Lower Milovaig.

19th

There was a single common blue butterfly, several small copper butterflies and several Northern Marsh Orchids at Borreraig Parks.
There was confirmed breeding of a pair of whinchats at Borreraig Parks.
The fragrant orchids, common spotted and heath spotted orchids are now in full bloom at Lower Milovaig.

15th

The first report of the year for a single minke whale off Oisgill Bay (Nick Carter).

14th

The garden birds at 2 Lower Milovaig are all keen to fledge now, including this wee blue tit that couldn't wait to flee the nest. A little too keen in this case! Don't worry, this little one was being well cared for by its parents [15/06/2010 Found dead].

12th

The first dolphins of the year! A pod of 8-12 common dolphins, that were breaching and splashing regularly, came inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at 9pm, giving excellent close views from Lower Milovaig, before heading back out into the Minch.
There was an otter scampering around on the skerries and fishing between the skerries and the bottom road in Lower Milovaig from 9:30pm onwards.

10th

There was a pod of 8 harbour porpoises surfacing across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, between 8pm and 9pm.

6th

Anthony Robson has sent in some simply astounding photos of the basking shark that he encountered breaching at Neist Point on the 2nd. Scroll down to take a look at these amazing shots.

A bonxie was being attacked by gulls in the Minch off Lower Milovaig, late afternoon. The pair of house martins were busy today collecting mud to construct their nest under the eaves on the gable end of the Lewis's house at 5A Upper Milovaig. There was a singing male common whitethroat in the garden at 15 Lower Milovaig.

5th

There was a female merlin in the Fasach area at 6:30am. We are still seeing some unusual bird movements with 2 house martins below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 7:30am, 2 collared doves in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 7:35am and 2 sub-adult black-headed gulls on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at dusk.
There was a larger 15-20 foot basking shark feeding around the Meanish Pier area from 8:30pm until 10pm, although it was diving for long periods. There was a harbour porpoise inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at 10:00pm. The otter was again fishing around moorings and skerries from 10:15pm onwards, giving very close views from the road-side.
(Cracking day, cracking sunset and no midges today. Heaven!)

4th

More baskers arriving! There was a 10-15 foot basking shark swimming close in and around Meanish Pier between 9:30pm and 10pm before making its way back out into the Minch. There was also a single otter fishing around the moorings and skerries on Loch Pooltiel at the same time.
(Andy's Midge Index: 20 bites/hour early evening).

3rd

The midges were biting in Milovaig for the first time this evening (5 bites/hour), a couple of days later than last year.
The first two heath spotted orchids are in bloom at Lower Milovaig. The display of bluebells in Lower Milovaig is looking very good this year,

2nd

Breaching Basking Shark at Neist Point

Breaching Basking Shark at Neist Point

There is still a bonxie at Neist Point and there was a basking shark that actually breached four times off Neist Point in the evening (Anthony Robson). This behaviour is very rare and thought to be connected with courtship. For more details on this amazing phenomenon click here.

1st

There was a bonxie dive-bombing visitors at the end of Neist Point today (Michael Wild).

May

30th

There was a single cormorant on Loch Pooltiel, late evening.

29th

Further reports by Brian Smith & Greg Lane (seen from their boat): The first basking shark of the season was in Moonen Bay, a 20-25 footer with a 3 foot dorsal fin. There was also a harbour porpoise in Moonen Bay and there were 40 puffins between Neist and the Hoe.
The first baby house sparrows of the year  had fledged today at 2 Lower Milovaig. The wrens, blue tits and blackbirds are all frantically relaying food to the young in their nests.

28th

Local fishermen, Brian Smith and Greg Lane, are reporting seeing 2-3 times the usual number of puffins around Neist Point. They usually see around a dozen each visit but at the moment they are seeing 30-40.

24th

There was a whinchat feeding on hen food in the garden at 5 Lower Milovaig (Brian Smith), the first known record for this species in Milovaig and still there up the croft, towards the common grazings mid afternoon.
There was a single harbour porpoise off Neist Point (Brian Smith & Greg Lane).

23rd

Two singing male common whitethroats turned up in Lower Milovaig today: one in MacDougal's Spruces and another above the top road on croft 12 Lower Milovaig. There is still a ringed plover in Lower Milovaig.

22nd

There was a single otter again feeding along the shoreline of Loch Pooltiel between the white beach and Pollosgan, late evening.
The carnivorous round-leaved sundews and butterwort have just emerged in Milovaig. There are still several early purple orchids in bloom in Milovaig.

16th

There was a single otter on the shore of the white beach at Lower Milovaig, mid-afternoon.
A pair of linnets were visiting the peanut feeder at 2 Lower Milovaig all weekend.

15th

There was a report of a corncrake calling in the Glendale area this afternoon. The RSPB are keen to hear of corncrakes being heard anywhere on Skye, so if you do hear one please either let me know or contact Shelagh Parlane at the RSPB directly.

12th

There are a record six early purple orchids in bloom in Lower Milovaig.
Again, no snow in Glendale but there were fresh falls of snow again on the Trotternish Ridge overnight.

11th

Unusually, there was a lone ringed plover beside the bottom road on croft 6 Lower Milovaig at 6:45pm. There were a pair of red-throated divers performing their courtship display on Loch Pooltiel at 8pm.
There were wintery showers throughout the day in Glendale, with the odd bit of sleet and hail between the sunshine. Temperatures fell to 2.5°C overnight, which is extraordinary at this time of year.

10th

There was no snow in Glendale or on MacLeod's Tables overnight but the Cuillins and the Trotternish Ridge were white this morning with quite a substantial amount of snow.

9th

There was a chiffchaff singing in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig all morning.

8th

There was a singing male sedge warbler at Glendale Community Hall at 7:30am. The dippers were visiting their nest on the Hamara today.
The first butterfly of the year was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig: a red admiral.

3rd

A BTO Breeding Bird Survey at Husabost turned up some interesting records: a late redwing, a pair of bullfinches, two white wagtails, a singing male linnet and a grey wagtail. We are currently doing well for finches in Lower Milovaig with at least one pair each of: siskin, twite, linnet, redpoll, greenfinch and chaffinch recorded at 2 Lower Milovaig today. There are still 3 linnets feeding in the gardens at 1 & 2 Lower Milovaig.

2nd

There were four linnets feeding on grass seed in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig all day and a male was in full song there at mid-day. There are still a lingering pair of redwings in the Glendale area.

1st

We are into May now and there is still a pair of redwings in the Glendale area, with the male in full song this morning.

April

30th

There was a snipe drumming at the foot of Beinn Bhuidhe, early morning and there were around 12 golden plovers behind Borrodale School in the morning (Clare Gray). There was a cuckoo in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, early evening.

29th

Scarce visitors to Loch Pooltiel were a flock of ten ringed plovers that were on the white beach at Upper Milovaig all evening.
The were two pipistrelle bats on the wing at dusk at 2 Lower Milovaig for the first time this year,
There was beautiful female emperor moth attracted to the outside light at the Community Hall after dark (Kathy Lindsley).

28th

A flock of 17-20 golden plovers landed on the field opposite Borrodale School, early evening (Kathy Lindsley).

26th

The common sandpipers returned to Lower Milovaig today, with three birds between the white beach and Meanish Pier. The first cuckoo in Milovaig was calling this evening. Swallows and wheatears are everywhere now. Amazingly, we still have a pair of redwings in the gardens at 1 & 2 Lower Milovaig. The pair of red-breasted mergansers were giving some very close views from Meanish Pier, late evening. There is still a flock of 40 meadow pipits on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig.

25th

There was still a golden plover around the bottom road in Lower Milovaig all day. There was a group of four swallows in Lower Milovaig all day. These are the first we have seen in Milovaig this year. There were two red-breasted mergansers off the white beach at Lower Milovaig, late evening.

24th

There were two golden plovers around the bottom road in Lower Milovaig all morning.

22nd

There are still a pair of late redwings lingering on at Lower Milovaig. The first swallow in Glendale was seen at Hamara Lodge, early evening (Alison Stables). A great northern diver was giving excellent close views near Meanish Pier, late evening.

21st

There were two late great northern divers and two pairs of red-throated divers on Loch Pooltiel, late evening. The red-throated divers were calling loudly and performing their courtship display.

20th

There were sleet and snow showers throughout the day but none settled in Glendale.

19th

There was a single swallow flying along the main street at Dunvegan at 8am.

18th

The first, very early, cuckoo has been reported calling in Glendale (Audrey Laing, Clare Gray). There are still a pair of redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig, with the male singing in the garden, late afternoon. An immature golden eagle flew over Lower Milovaig to Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig just after 7pm before heading over to Pollosgan.

17th

There were a single linnet  and a single redwing at Borreraig Parks, late morning.
The violets have just come into bloom at both Borreraig and Milovaig. The primroses are now in full bloom.

16th

A flock of 40 whooper swans flew NE over the Minch from Ramasaig at 10am (Clare Gray).

15th

The meadow pipits are starting to flood back in now, with a flock of c.100 on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early evening. There was a single white wagtail above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early evening, our first of the spring passage. There are still pair of redwings in Lower Milovaig, which is the latest we've ever had them stay.

14th

There are now a pair of redwings in the gardens at 1 & 2 Lower Milovaig.

13th

There was a single redwing in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

12th

A flock of 60 whooper swans flew low, North-East over Loch Dunvegan near the water pumping station on the B884 Dunvegan-Skinidin road at 8am. There were both willow warbler and chiffchaff in full song in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at dawn.
There was a red deer hind grazing beside the B884 at Skinidin just before 8am.

11th

The first singing male willow warbler of the year was at 2 Lower Milovaig at dawn. A 2nd singing male willow warbler was in MacDougal's spruces, near Meanish Pier, late afternoon. There was a single puffin inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon. The first two returning redpolls of the year were at 2 Lower Milovaig, together with 3 siskins.
There was a pod of four harbour porpoises in the Minch off Lower Milovaig for the first time this year.
Two primroses are now in bloom at Lower Milovaig, as are the lesser celandines.
There was a very faint display of the Aurora Borealis between 10:45pm and 11pm, with shifting columns of white light visible from Lower Milovaig.
This was probably the hottest April day we've known. Absolutely perfect. Like a July day but without the midges! See weather.

10th

There was a singing male chiffchaff at 2 Lower Milovaig this morning for the first time this year. The redwings seem to have departed overnight. There was no sign of them today.

9th

An unusual visitor was a single greenshank on the shore at the seaward-side of Meanish Pier at 7:30pm, which flew off towards Ferinquarrie. Three redshank, the first returnees of the spring, were on the white beach at Lower Milovaig all evening. There was a singing male redwing in Sheriff's spruces near Meanish Pier, late evening, another was feeding beside the bottom road on croft 5 Lower Milovaig and several more were at 2 Lower Milovaig. I saw a swallow today at Skeabost, so keep an eye open for them arriving in Glendale soon.

8th

The family of three otters was feeding off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 8:30pm.
There are still 12 redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig.

4th

The family group of three otters was again feeding off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 9:15am. There were a total of five red-throated divers inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon.

3rd

There was a lot of buzzard activity in Milovaig throughout the day and, mid-afternoon, there were six soaring together over Beinn Bhuide, Upper Milovaig. A starling at 2 Lower Milovaig has been wow-ing us this weekend with his amazing repertoire of imitations including: Chrissie Matheson's King Charles Spaniel, Ann MacKenzie's black labrador, Greg Lane's outboard motor, redwing, 'surprised' blackbird, lapwing, oystercatcher, raven, herring gull, great black-back and buzzard.
Glendale was white with frost at dawn but it went on to be another cracking, warm day.

2nd

The group of three red-throated divers (two summer, one winter) was off Meanish Pier, late afternoon. There are now small numbers of meadow pipits returning.
Our lovely family group of three otters were fishing off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 7:15pm.
It was (surprisingly) a stunning, sunny day, after the snows of the last few days, with the temperature reaching 16.8°C in Milovaig.

March

31st

There was a very thin covering of snow on higher ground in Glendale. Other parts of Skye experienced heavier falls, with 1-2cm at Fairy Bridge and 2-3cm in Portree before 8:30am.

29th

Three golden eagles were displaying over the Three Chimneys at Colbost at 5:45pm. The birds were very low, diving-bombing and locking talons. There was a flock of 12 redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig, of which 8 had become trapped in the fruit cage and were singing beautifully before they were freed.
It was a frosty morning, with temperatures having dipped below zero overnight, and a very cold day. It was snowing in Portree and Broadford during the morning but not settling. There was no snow in Glendale.

28th

There were a pair of wheatears on the top road in Upper Milovaig. This is the first female to arrive in Glendale. The daffodils eventually opened in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, around four weeks later than last year.

27th

At 9:30am, an immature golden eagle was soaring fairly low over Beinn Bhuidhe (Upper Milovaig) and put on an amazing display, accompanied by a pair of our resident buzzards. This bird has been in the Milovaig area since New Year and giving the rare opportunity to enjoy some good, close views from the Milovaig Loop.
There were two male wheatears at Neist Point and two more on the white beach at Lower Milovaig. A pair of bridled guillemots is nesting at Neist Point this year and there is a 2nd nesting pair of which one bird is also bridled. The occupied seabird nest counts at Neist Point today were: 86 Kittiwake, 81 Fulmar, 9 Shag, 18 Common Guillemot (birds seen copulating), 1 Bridled Guillemot, 1 Razorbill, 4 Herring Gull.
There were still 5 goldeneye on Loch Mor, Waterstein and two redwings on Croft 3 Waterstein. Still around 12 redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig and two lesser black-backed gulls on the white beach at Lower Milovaig all day.

25th

More wheatears now arriving with a male at Skinidin at 7:50am. Also, more lesser black-backed gulls arriving with four at Lephin at 6pm.

24th

Our first returning lesser black-backed gull was at Fasach at 7:45am. There were six redwings singing in the spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig at dawn. There are now three wheatears in Lower Milovaig, one at the pier and two just above the bottom road on Gandhi's croft.

23rd

Another unusual visitor was a single collared dove in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, mid-day. We only get one record per year for this species, every spring, with the previous sightings being on 18/4/2009 and 20/4/2008, so this bird was a month earlier than usual. There were four redwings in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig this evening.

22nd

There was an adult summer black-headed gull on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at dawn. These are quite scarce visitors to Glendale, with just a few sightings each year, mainly while birds are on passage.

21st

The wheatears are back! There were two males feeding together at the seaward end of Lower Milovaig, just past MacDougal's spruces, mid-afternoon. The first two returning twite of the year were at 14 Lower Milovaig. Out of context, there was a golden eagle just above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, mid-afternoon. This is extremely unusual at this time of year. There was a single red-throated diver on Loch Pooltiel. We still have redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig too.
An otter near Meanish Pier, mid-afternoon, was observed to come ashore, leave the beach (out of our view) and then return a few minutes later dragging the huge carcass of a filleted pollock. The fish was almost 1.5 times the length of the otter. It heaved the fish down onto the beach, across the cobbles, where it proceeded to remove the head from the back-bone and then eat the remains of its body. The head of the fish was 3 times the length of the otter's head.

20th

The first white-tailed bumble-bees emerged today.
The first returning meadow pipit was on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig.
It was a stunning warm day today, with temperatures reaching 15.8°C and sunbathing in the garden at lunch-time!

19th

The gannets were back inside Loch Pooltiel this evening, with 8 birds diving around the pier and in as far as Pollosgan and the white beach.

18th

There was a group of 20 wigeon on Loch Dunvegan, close to the water treatment works on the Dunvegan-Skinidin road.

15th

The first, very early, lamb of the spring was born to one of Sam Thorburn's ewes beside the Borrodale-Upper Milovaig road.

14th

There was a group of six red-throated divers on Loch Pooltiel that were calling loudly throughout the day.
The flowering currants are now almost in full bloom, the daffodils are in bud but a way off opening. There are no primroses in bloom yet in Milovaig, although another one was reported from Ferinquarrie (Sue Mansell). It seems that the harshest winter in 15 years has delayed the flora by around 4 weeks but the birds seem to be returning pretty much on cue, or early, in the case of gannets. We will be expecting the first wheatears to return within the next week or so.

13th

The first returning pied wagtail of the year was on the bottom road at Lower Milovaig, mid morning.

12th

There was an unusually high count of 10 lapwings at Borrodale, early morning (Clare Gray).

11th

There was a group of 12 redwings in the spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning. There was a merlin hunting along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

9th

There were at least two pairs of redwings singing in the spruces on the bottom road at 2 Lower Milovaig at sunrise.
The first singing skylarks of the year were on Beinn Bhuidhe (Clare Gray) and the Milovaig common grazings (Kathy Lindsley). A group of 7 lapwings were back, and displaying, on the breeding ground behind Borrodale School, early morning (Clare Gray).
The group of three red-throated divers (two summer, one winter) were off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at mid-day.
The family group of three otters were again fishing the shoreline of the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 12:55pm.
The first frog spawn of the spring was spotted in a pool by the Hamara on the Fasach common grazings and a pair of golden eagles were circling over Beinn an Fhraoich (Kathy Lindsley).

8th

There were a pair of red-breasted mergansers and a pair of goosanders feeding together off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 6pm.
After a frosty start, it was another very warm day, reaching a balmy 14.6°C. See weather page.

7th

There was another influx of skylarks to Milovaig today, with a flock of 12 on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig and lots of skylarks flying around overhead throughout the day. There were two gannets across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, mid afternoon, and the first returning grey wagtail on the top road in Upper Milovaig.

6th

There was a pair of redwings in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, with the male in full song just before dusk. The winter plumage red-throated diver was still remaining very close to Meanish, giving some good views again.
The flowers are just beginning to open on the flowering currants and the daffodils are in bud.
A really nice, warm spring day today, with temperatures reaching 12.4°C, the highest of the year so far.

5th

There were three red-throated divers close inshore at Meanish, late afternoon, giving very good views. Two were in full breeding plumage and one was still in winter plumage. The seabirds are beginning to trickle back now with two gannets across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel and two common guillemots inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon. Black guillemots are very numerous now on Loch Pooltiel.

4th

A group of 6 whooper swans flew North-East over Milovaig early morning (Clare Gray), the first birds of the year heading back to their breeding grounds. There were a pair of goosanders of the white beach at Milovaig, early morning (Alison Stables).

2nd

There was a lone otter fishing the shoreline of the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 5:10pm.
The first primrose of the year was in bloom at Feriniquire (Kathy Lindsley).

February

28th

Our entertaining family group of three otters were playing on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel and fishing in the water around them between 4:30pm and 5pm.
There were four red-throated divers and two goosanders on Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon.

27th

There were two red-throated divers on Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon. One was almost completely moulted into its summer plumage, except that its throat was only just beginning to show red.

23rd

A pair of siskins were using bird feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning. There was a woodcock in MacDougal's Spruces, near Meanish Pier, just before dusk.
Still bitterly cold with temperatures down to -3.6°C in Milovaig and -7.5°C in Dunvegan last night. Frozen snow still lying around Glendale down to sea-level  (see Milovaig Temperature Graph).

22nd

A very cold start with temperatures having fallen to -3.7°C overnight. Yesterday's snow-fall remained on the ground all day.

21st

There were two mistle thrushes below the bottom road on croft 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning.
Glendale awoke to 2-3cm of snow, which lay on the ground all day.

20th

A superb day for otters today, as Loch Pooltiel remained like glass throughout. Our family group of three otters were again feeding together off the White Beach at Lower Milovaig at 8am. Another otter was diving over the submerged skerries at 12:20pm and another otter was fishing way out in the sea off Meanish Pier, several hundred yards from land, at 3pm.
There was a single great northern diver on Loch Pooltiel. There was a group of 5 skylarks above the hill road on croft 14 Lower Milovaig. A single gannet was in the Minch just outside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel. There is still a group of 13 greylag geese grazing around Milovaig, which has been in the area for a few weeks now.
Glendale awoke again to a thin covering of snow. Snow showers continued throughout the day, with a particularly heavy fall between 2pm and 3pm, when 2cm fell on Lower Milovaig.

19th

The skylarks are back and two days earlier than last year! There was a group of 4 flying around crofts 2 & 4 Lower Milovaig (on the bottom road) all morning. A nice female hen harrier flew past Carters' Rest, Upper Milovaig, late afternoon, heading in the direction of Borrodale. There were two red-throated divers on Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon.

18th

Glendale awoke to a thin covering of snow down to sea-level, with about 1cm in the brae. Snowing heavily at Fairy Bridge and Portree before 9am, with some stretches of road there white over.

15th

A flock of around 20 redwings arrived in the spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig overnight and were singing in unison at dawn. This is an annual phenomenon in Milovaig, during the reverse migration, with birds present and singing until mid-April.
There were 119 occupied fulmar nests and 9 occupied shag nests at Neist Point today. No auks or kittiwakes on the cliffs yet. There were just six common guillemots on the water around Neist and a few more heading north past the point. There were a steady trickle of gannets heading North past Neist Point with nine counted in total. A juvenile white-tailed eagle was picked up way out at sea off Benbecula (mid-afternoon) and flew directly across the water to Neist, where it did a number of spectacular low passes around the point, horse's head and car park area before heading across Moonen Bay and landing on the cliff face. There were a great northern diver, a red-throated diver and four eider in Moonen Bay. There were 3 goldeneye on Loch Mor, Waterstein.
Two pairs of red-breasted mergansers were courting on Loch Dunvegan, in front of the Raven Press Gallery at 10am (Kathy Lindsley).

14th

There is still a single great northern diver on Loch Pooltiel, giving good views today off the pier. The hooded crows that nest near Meanish Pier have been patching their nest today. Robins (Clare Gray) and song thrushes have also been seen carrying nesting materials over the weekend. The robins and song thrushes have been singing lustily for a week or so now. Spring is in the air!

13th

A group of 8 siskins flew into Glendale over the brae on the Borreraig-Glasphein road mid-day. There were 12 fieldfares at Glasphein at mid-day and there is just a single redwing at 2 Lower Milovaig. There were woodcock at Scoval, Borreraig and two in the grounds of Husabost House. There is still a single great northern diver on Loch Pooltiel. Two golden eagles were soaring on the Martin Estate in the lovely spring sunshine.

12th

There was a lovely family group of three otters feeding together off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 5pm.
There was a group of 8 red-breasted mergansers on Loch Dunvegan in front of the Raven Press Gallery (Kathy Lindsley).

7th

There was a female hen harrier quartering below the top road in Lower Milovaig, early morning (Nick Carter). The black guillemots have returned in full force today, with nine on Loch Pooltiel mid-afternoon.

6th

A white-tailed eagle flew West over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 9am (Alison Stables). There were two great northern divers in Loch Dunvegan, off Borreraig, at mid-day.
There were 12 grey seals basking on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel most of the day, which is the highest count  of the year so far.

3rd

Snowing heavily in Glendale at 6pm with already 1 cm of powder snow settled down to sea-level. 2cm by 8pm. All gone by the next morning.

January

31st

There were two red deer on the Milovaig common grazings at Rubha Ban, mid afternoon.
Another very cold day with the occasional sleet and snow shower but not settling.

30th

One of our resident pairs of buzzards in Milovaig has begun to build their nest today, another sign that Spring is on the way. There was a summer plumage black guillemot off the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon.
It turned very cold again yesterday, with flurries of sleet and snow throughout yesterday and today, although not settling in Glendale.

25th

The first snowdrops have come into bloom in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig. Only a day later than last year, despite the harsh winter.

17th

There was a dead male red fox on the bottom road in Upper Milovaig, close to Carters' Rest, today. It had apparently been run over and someone had taken its tail as a trophy.

16th

There was a single summer-plumaged common guillemot off Meanish Pier, mid afternoon. This is the first returning bird of the new season. There were two great northern divers off Meanish Pier at the same time.
The big freeze, that started on December 21st, finally ended yesterday, with temperatures reaching 9.3°C yesterday. Graph.

10th

There were unprecedented numbers of woodcock in Milovaig today, with at least 10 birds feeding and flying openly around the loop, early afternoon, including one group of four feeding openly together on an unfrozen patch of ground behind 2 Lower Milovaig. There were also 6 common snipe flushed around the loop and still one jack snipe, today seen on the burn through 6 Upper Milovaig.
This was the coldest day so far of the 'big freeze' with the temperature falling to -4.1°C at 8:30am in Lower Milovaig.

9th

Our problem red fox in Milovaig took a hen at Carters' Rest, mid morning and then returned again, just before dusk, to try again (Steve & Julie Carter).
There was an otter feeding off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 4pm, which gradually worked its way out into the middle of Loch Pooltiel.
There was a group of four lapwings on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early morning. The peregrine falcon is still around Milovaig, seen this afternoon below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig in front of Gandhi's caravan. A total of 6 woodcock, 2 common snipe and a curlew were counted along the bottom road between 2 Lower Milovaig and MacDougal's spruces just before dusk.

8th

There was a jack snipe in the middle of the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 7:50am, brilliantly lit by the car headlights.
A very cold day on Skye with temperatures falling to -2.9°C in Milovaig, -8.0°C in Dunvegan and -12.0°C in Portree.

6th

The diurnal red fox at Milovaig took another three hens from the garden at 12 Upper Milovaig at mid-day (Andrea Cross).
A belated report of killer whales at Milovaig on the 1st has just come in. See below for more details.

5th

At 11am, there was an immature white-tailed eagle carrying pink tags soaring around Leinish Bay, off Totaig (Jim Adams). At 2pm, the peregrine falcon was seen again, coming in off Loch Pooltiel at the allt mor burn, flying behind the Clelands' house and then landing on Beinn Bhuidhe between 15 & 16 Upper Milovaig, giving superb close views (Clare Grey).

4th

Another jack snipe was caught in the car headlights beside the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 5pm.

3rd

There was a stunning jack snipe in a road-side drain on the seaward end of the Milovaig Loop, early afternoon. This is the first time that we have recorded this species in Glendale. There was a single golden plover below the bottom road on Croft 1 Lower Milovaig, mid-morning. There was a lone male goosander off the white beach at Lower Milovaig all day. There were no divers on Loch Pooltiel today and most of the meadow pipits and continental thrushes seem to have moved on.
We recorded a minimum temperature of -3.8°C in Lower Milovaig last night. This was the coldest night, so far, of the big freeze that we are having. For anyone interested, a graph of the temperatures can be viewed here.

2nd

At around 1:30pm, a peregrine falcon flew low, North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig. These are very scarce visitors to Milovaig, although they do breed on Glendale Estate. The over-wintering chiffchaff at Lower Milovaig was again seen this afternoon in MacDougal's spruces, near Meanish Pier. The bird was calling repeatedly, which may indicate that there is a 2nd bird present.
Two white-tailed eagles put on a good flying display over Loch Dunvegan, off Totaig, today and spent over an hour sunning themselves on one of the islets. A third bird carrying yellow/orange tags was also seen in the same area (June & Jim Adams).

1st

A pod of three killer whales was seen heading North off Rubha Ban. This was probably a family group, as the individuals were each of different sizes. The large dorsal fin and black/white colouration were clearly visible (Ewan Halley).
There were 3 golden plovers on the white beach at Lower Milovaig all day. A stunning female merlin was hunting along the shoreline at Meanish Pier, early afternoon, before flying across Loch Pooltiel to Ferinquarrie. There were two red-throated divers feeding very close to Meanish Pier, early afternoon. There was a New Year eagle-fest in Milovaig between 3pm and 3:30pm. An immature white-tailed eagle was soaring low over the white beach at Lower Milovaig, gradually drifting towards the pier, where it was joined by an immature golden eagle. The golden eagle stayed with it for around 10 minutes, both swirling around together above the pier, before the goldie flew over to Beinn Bhuidhe for 10 minutes, then headed on towards Lephin. The white-tailed eagle then flew back to Beinn Bhuidhe where it remained soaring low over the houses between Bob & Anna's and Carter's Rest, before it too made off in the direction of Lephin.
Just for interest, these are grainy photos of the eagles, taken at the time, that illustrate the distinct differences between the two species:

Immature Golden Eagle at Lower Milovaig

Immature White-Tailed Eagle at Lower Milovaig

A very happy New Year to all the regular readers of this blog!
2-4cm of snow fell overnight and freezing temperatures made the roads very icy for the whole of, what was, a beautiful, clear sunny day.

 

 

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