Glendale, Skye - Tourist Guide
Seabirds of Glendale, Isle of Skye
Gannets
Gannets are very common in Glendale and they can be seen daily, diving close to the shore and Pier in Loch Pooltiel, between April and October.
It is a spectacular sight to watch them plunging head-first into the water from great heights on the long Summer evenings.
Gannet in Loch Pooltiel.
Skuas
Great Skuas, commonly known as 'bonxies', and the daintier Arctic Skuas are now being seen regularly at Neist Point between May and September. Bonxies also regularly come into Loch Pooltiel to harass the gulls.
Shearwaters
Manx Shearwaters feed in huge numbers off Neist Point in late Summer.
Recent Bird Sightings
17th Jan 2026
Puffin - Neist Point
January 2026
The over-wintering whimbrel was calling from Moonen Bay side of Neist Point in the morning and there was a puffin in Moonen Bay at mid-day.
15th Jan 2026
Six fulmars were back on the nesting ledges at Neist Point again today. There were a few groups of 4-5 common guillemots out on the water.
13th Jan 2026
At Loch Mor, Waterstein, in the morning: 18 little grebes, 8 goldeneye, 1 dipper, 1 redshank, 8 curlews.
More recent wildlife sightings
Black Guillemot at Neist Point.
Auks
In Summer, the stunning coastal waters and cliffs around Glendale are home to many hundreds of guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, kittiwakes and shags.
Puffins are also regularly seen off Neist Point in small numbers, although they do not nest on Skye.
The beautiful black guillemot, with its white wing-patches and red legs, is resident all year round.
Fulmar at Neist Point.