7th

There were nine cormorants on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at mid-day, an exceptionally high count. There were two males and a female goosander off the white beach at Lower Milovaig, mid morning.

21st

There was at least one bull orca NW of Pooltiel Fish Farm from 15:00 until at least 15:20 when mist rolled in. Probably JC or Aquarius or both.

24th

There were two black-throated divers close to shore at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, mid afternoon.

February

12th

Tufted Ducks - Loch Mor
February 2023

There was a drake and 2 female tufted ducks on Loch Mor, with 2 lapwings, 10 curlews, 8 goldeneye and 12 little grebes, in the morning.

18th

The first skylarks of the spring returned today, with two at Neist Point car park. There was a razorbill and a few common guillemots on the water around Neist for the first time this year. No fulmars back yet. No cetaceans.

24th

Golden Eagle - Lower Milovaig
February 2023

There was a golden eagle circling over the bottom road at Lower Milovaig in the afternoon. It is very rare to see them in the townships.

25th

White-Tailed Eagle - Lower Milovaig
February 2023

White-Tailed Eagle - Lower Milovaig
February 2023

There were two adults and a juvenile white-tailed eagle circling over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig in the morning. A group of 24 ravens were displaying together at Druim nan Sgarbh on the Upper Milovaig grazings at mid-day.

28th

Ravens were nest-building today at Neist Point and the first common guillemots were back on the nesting ledges, although still no fulmers back yet.

March

1st

A flock of 16 whooper swans flew north over Milovaig at 2:30am.

6th

A flock of 18 whooper swans came into Loch Mor at dusk (Angie Atherton) and still present the following day.

7th

A herd of 17 whooper swans flew below cliff height across Neist Point, between Stallion's Head and the steps, heading north at dusk.

9th

There were 30 skylarks at Sam's sheep feeders between Upper Milovaig and Loch Mor viewpoint, mid afternoon (Alison Stables).

12th

There was an otter fishing between the two skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 3pm that slowly worked its way towards the white beach and still there at 3:30pm.

16th

There were six whooper swans on Loch Pooltiel opposite the white beach at 5:30pm.

18th

Orcas, JC & Aquarius, were photographed in Loch Dunvegan, off Dunvegan Head, at 10am.

19th

There was a small pod of 6-8 common dolphins off Neist Point at mid-day that headed off towards Canna.

The fulmars and kittiwakes were back on the nesting ledges at Neist today for the first time this year. The waters around Neist were teeming with razorbills, guillemots and black guillemots. Three gannets came past heading north.

20th

The first pied wagtails of the spring were back today, with three together on the top road in Lower Milovaig and a group of four on the bottom road in Upper Milovaig.

21st

There was a single pied wagtail newly arrived at Neist Point in the afternoon.

22nd

Golden Plover - Neist
March 2023

There was a single golden plover on Neist Point in the afternoon.

23rd

Lesser Black-Back - Milovaig
March 2023

There were four lesser black-backed gulls, the first returnees of the spring, on the Upper Milovaig grazings, near the Waterstein Viewpoint at 1pm.

24th

Wheatear - Milovaig
March 2023

The first wheatears of the spring, two males and a female, were back on the bottom road in Upper Milovaig in the morning.

Purple Sandpiper - Neist
March 2023

There were eight purple sandpipers at Neist Point, late morning.

27th

There were five wheatears back at Neist Point today (three males and two females).

31 whooper swans went north over Upper Milovaig in the afternoon. There were 55 skylarks on the top road in Upper Milovaig (two groups of 25 and 30) in the afternoom.

28th

There were a pair of Canada Geese on Loch Erghallan at Skinidin in the afternoon.

April

1st

The first redpoll of the spring was back at Lephin in the morning.

2nd

There was an otter on the shore of Loch Pooltiel at Lower Milovaig, late afternoon (Steve Mason).

There was a distant harbour porpoise, south of Neist Point, at mid-day. Our first of the year.

2-hour seawatch at Neist:
5000+ auks (probably closer to 10K), mostly guillemots, heading SOUTH in groups of 50-100.
500+ kittiwakes heading NORTH in groups of around 20.
70 + 30 pink-footed geese north.
100+ common gulls north.
One white iceland gull south and a biscuity one north.

7th

Canada Geese - Neist
April 2023

Five Canada geese were on the water at the mouth of the Hamara at 9:30am (Lynden Schofield). Probably the same birds came south past Neist Point lighthouse at 10:30am (Andy Stables).

There was another mass migration SOUTH off Neist Point in the morning: 5000+ auks (mix of razorbills and guillemots), 30+ gannets, 2 manx shearwaters.

A red kite was reported from Glasphein, heading towards Milovaig, at 5:15pm (Donald Shields).

9th

The first singing male willow warbler of the spring was back at Feriniquarrie (Lynden Schofield).

10th

The first singing male chiffchaff of the year was at the Boatshed/MacDougall's Spruces in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

13th

There was a common sandpiper at the mouth of the Hamara at 6:30am (Lynden Schofield).

14th

An otter brought a large fish onto the white beach at 4pm and started eating it at the shoreline.

There were four harbour porpoises far out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

There are still a pair of red-breasted mergansers at Lower Milovaig, tonight west of Meanish. They have been on the patch for a few weeks. Two summer plumage great northern divers are still on outer Loch Pooltiel. These usually remain until early May.

15th

Still slow to arrive, there was a singing male willow warbler at Glendale Hall in the afternoon and another at the Boatshed, Lower Milovaig in the evening.

17th

A minke whale surfaced once within 50m of Meanish Pier at 6:15pm.

White-Tailed Eagles - Upper Milovaig
April 2023

The first swallow of the spring was at Neist Point in the morning. There was a single bonxie back in territory at Neist Point. There was a peregrine hunting seabirds at Neist Point. A 3-hour seawatch produced: 1 sand martin north, 8 puffins north, 4 puffins on the water, 40+ manx shearwaters feeding around the point. Hundreds of mixed auks still migrating south but fewer than previous weeks. Two adult male white-tailed eagles were interacting at Upper Milovaig.

18th

The first cuckoo was calling at Upper Fasach in the morning (Audrey Laing).

There was a magpie below the top road in Lower Milovaig, on croft 10, mid morning (Michael Ryding).

19th

There were 6+ common dolphins and a harbour porpoise behind Pooltiel Fish Farm at 6:30pm.

There was a house martin at Husabost in the morning and two swallows (Kevin & Alison Ashmore).

21st

There was a corncrake calling on the Husabost Estate (per Shelagh Parlane). If you hear or see one please contact Shelagh Parlane on 07771545409 (shelagh.parlane@rspb.org.uk).

22nd

There were five linnets in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 7:15pm, the first returnees of the year.

23rd

Five whimbrels flew north past Neist Point at mid-day.

The first two twite of the year were at Upper Milovaig, mid afternoon.

24th

Basking Shark - Neist Point
April 2023

There was an early, large basking shark in Moonen Bay at mid-day.

Puffin - Neist Point
April 2023

There were 30+ puffins on the water off the tip of Neist Point in the morning, plus 16 purple sandpipers and a leucorhoa wheatear.

25th

There is still a single corncrake at an undisclosed location on the Husabost Estate (Shelagh Parlane, Andy Stables).

26th

There was a late report of another corncrake on the Glendale Estate on the 21st (Corrie Robertson).

29th

Whimbrel - Meanish
April 2023

At Meanish Pier, early evening, there was a single whimbrel, a white wagtail, a common sandpiper and a leucorhoa wheatear.

A peregrine stooped at something on the ground at Hamara Parks several times, mid afternoon.

30th

Otter - Loch Pooltiel
April 2023

There was an otter fishing off the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, early evening. She was then seen again at 8pm playing with two cubs out on the water.

May

1st

The otter with her two cubs were playing on the hillside at Milovaig at 1:30pm (Alison Stables).

White-Tailed Eagle - Neist
May 2023

There were three whimbrels on Neist Point in the morning and an adult white-tailed eagle flew low over the point at 1pm. A single manx shearwater went south.

White-Tailed Eagles - Lower Milovaig
May 2023

Two male white-tailed eagles were interacting by the boatshed, early evening.

2nd

Otter - Lower Milovaig
May 2023

The female otter was eating a lobster on the shore at Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

There was a cuckoo at Colbost, bear Skye Silver at 7:45am (my first of the spring).

Peregrine - Lower Milovaig
May 2023

There was a swallow feeding around the spruces on the bottom road on croft 2 Lower Milovaig at 8am, only my second of the spring.

A peregrine was hunting along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

3rd

Linnet - Milovaig
May 2023

Leucorhoa Wheatear - Milovaig
May 2023

In the evening: There were a pair linnets, 3 swallows and a sand martin at MacDougall's spruces, a pair of leucorhoa wheatears at Meanish. Six swallows flew West over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig

5th

There was a single whimbrel at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at 5:45pm.

6th

Dunlin - Milovaig
May 2023

There were two dunlins and a white wagtail at Meanish in the evening.

7th

White-Tailed Eagle - Waterstein
May 2023

First of the spring, two dark-phase arctic skuas went south past Neist Point. There was a single whimbrel on the point. Twenty manx shearwaters went north. There were two juvenile white-tailed eagles at Loch Mor, late morning.

8th

Otter - Lower Milovaig
May 2023

The otter was feeding on the shore at Lower Milovaig for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

9th

There was a singing male grasshopper warbler in the forestry near Hamara Lodge, mid morning (Alison Stables).

10th

The otter was on the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 1:45pm.

12th

The otter came onto the white beach at 8pm.

Great Northern Diver - Meanish
May 2023

There was a late, summer-plumaged great northern diver off Meanish, early evening.

13th

There was a singing male sedge warbler by the Community Hall, mid morning. The first house sparrows fledged en masse today at Milovaig and Lephin.

14th

An otter was in the road outside 2 Lower Milovaig at 11pm. It came through the garden gate. Sat on the front doormat for a while, then ran underneath the sitting room window and disappeared into the back garden.

Three distant arctic skuas went south past Neist Point at mid-day.

15th

There were two whimbrels at Neist Point and a single arctic skua went north there. There were big rafts of seabirds surface-feeding around Neist Point including 200+ manx shearwaters, 200+ kittiwakes and hundreds of auks.

16th

There was a small pod of at least 3 common dolphins off Neist Point at 5:20pm (Stef Driessen).

The otter was fishing off the skerries at 5:45pm and slowly worked its way across to the Eastern end of the white beach before coming ashore.

Great Northern Diver - Loch Pooltiel
May 2023

There are still two summer-plumage great northern divers on Loch Pooltiel.

17th

There was an otter fishing and coming ashore to feed at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at 10am and then again at 9pm (Emma & Robert Rookwood).

20th

There was a magpie in a garden at Galtrigill (per skye-birds.com).

21st

The otter was fishing off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 10:15am.

Risso's Dolphin - Neist
May 2023

There were three distant Risso's dolphins off Neist Point, towards Barra, all day.

Iceland Gull - Neist Point
May 2023

Bonxie - Neist Point
May 2023

There was a single Iceland Gull on the water at the end of Neist Point and a single bonxie flew south past the point.

Sanderling - Meanish
May 2023

Sanderling - Meanish
May 2023

There were two stunning sanderlings at Meanish in the evening, one of which was colour-ringed.

22nd

The otter was fishing along the shore from the pier to the white beach for an hour around 8:45pm (Kathrin & Narek Saribekyan).

26th

There was a greenshank calling from the white beach at 11pm.

28th

There were at least 3 harbour porpoises close in at Neist Point at mid-day.

A pod of c.20 common dolphins went south past Pooltiel Fish Farm, late afternoon. There were two harbour porpoises in outer Loch Pooltiel at the same time.

A bonxie flew south across Neist Point at mid-day.

The pair of stonechats at Meanish have successfully fledged 4 young on exactly the same date as they did last year.

29th

Dipper with Fledgling - Ramasaig
May 2023

A dipper was feeding fledged young at Ramasaig. There were three pairs of grey wagtails at Ramasaig and a juvenile white-tailed eagle.

30th

There was a singing male blackcap in the gardens at the Three Chimneys at 7:30am.

June

4th

Porpoise - Neist
June 2023

There was a single harbour porpoise off Neist all day.

A single arctic skua went south, at a distance, off Neist in the afternoon.

5th

There was a grey wagtail on the burn on the top road in Upper Milovaig, mid afternoon. There are three pairs of stonechats with successfully fledged young in Lower Milovaig.

7th

There was a small pod of bottlenose? dolphins in outer Loch Pooltiel at 9am (Linda ?).

There was a tawny owl with a fledgling on the fence at Hamara Lodge at 11:30pm.

There was a barn owl screeching outside 2 Lower Milovaig at 12:30am.

9th

The otter was fishing off the white beach at 7:30am (Alison Stables).

There was a barn owl hunting in the garden at An Acarsaid, Upper Milovaig at 11:30pm and the tawny owl fledgling was again at Hamara Lodge.

11th

The otter was fishing off the white beach at 10:50pm.

16th

There was an otter, hissing and snarling, at Meanish Pier at 2am.

There was a singing male whitethroat on croft 3 Lephin at 7:15am. The first I have found this year.

Porpoise - Neist
June 2023

There were c.20 harbour porpoise around Neist Point at mid-day, with at least two females with calves.

Puffin - Neist Point
June 2023

There were c. 10 puffins off the tip of Neist Point at mid-day.

17th

There was a large, dog otter fishing off Meanish, on the outer loch side, from 7:45pm onwards.

18th

Bottlenose Dolphin - Neist
June 2023

A pod of c.10 bottlenose dolphins were bow-riding a yacht south past Neist Point at 2:20pm.

20th

An otter crossed the top road in Lower Milovaig beside 'the Croft House' and continued up the track towards Hill Cottage at around 10:30pm (Graham Drummond).

There was at least one minke whale at Neist Point from 5:45pm until dusk (Simon Haworth).

21st

Arctic Skua - Neist
June 2023

An arctic skua put on an amazing show for about an hour in the afternoon at Neist Point. They've been very scarce and distant this year up until now.

26th

There was an otter with a cub fishing on Loch Dunvegan opposite the Three Chimneys at 7am (Fiona Gillespie).

There was a minke whale, making some close approaches, at the tip of Neist Point at 1pm. There was a pod of 3 harbour porpoises off Neist Point in the afternoon.

28th

A pair of whinchats were giving alarm calls at Feriniquarrie (Andy & Dorn Share).

30th

There were three distant minke whales off Dunvegan Head and another distant one behind the fish farm at 6:45pm. One of the Dunvegan Head minkes did eight full-body breaches, making huge splashes. There was also a distant pod of c. 10 common dolphins off Lower Milovaig and several harbour porpoises by the fish farm at the same time.

July

5th

There were four lesser black-backed gulls on the white beach at Lower Milovaig, the first since the spring.

7th

There were 107 great black-backed gulls on the white beach in Milovaig at 11am, an unusally large count, with four lesser black-backed gulls and a few herring and common gulls.

Magpie - Lower Milovaig
July 2023

There was a magpie in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 6:15pm.

9th

Minke Whale - Neist
July 2023

A distant pod of 20 common dolphins went north past Neist at mid-day. There were four harbour porpoises at the point. There was a minke whale in Moonen Bay at 4pm.

A single puffin went south past Neist in the afternoon.

10th

Common Dolphin - Neist
July 2023

There were around 20 common dolphins in small groups around Neist Point in the afternoon.

Puffin - Neist Point
July 2023

Three puffins went south at Neist Point in the afternoon, two arctic skuas went north and 40 manx shearwaters went south.

12th

Common Dolphins - Loch Pooltiel
July 2023

A pod of c.20 common dolphins spent from 6:50pm until 8:15pm around Meanish, coming into the inner loch twice and even made a close approach to the pier.

13th

There was a singing male grasshopper warbler between the Holmisdale Road and Community Hall at 11pm.

14th

The grasshopper warbler at Lephin is still singing during the afternoon (Alison Stables) and going strong at 11pm.

15th

Common Dolphin - Neist
July 2023

There was a pod of six common dolphins close-in around Neist Point, wandering as far as Ramasaig, in the afternoon. A second pod of 12 was further out towards North Uist, heading north.

A single bonxie went south at Neist, a distant arctic skua south and three puffins north in the afternoon.

17th

There was a bonxie at Neist Point in the afternoon.

There was a good count of 7 lesser back-backed gulls on the white beach at Lower Milovaig, early evening.

18th

Common Dolphin - Loch Pooltiel
July 2023

A pod of between 12 and 20 common dolphins spent from 8pm until at least 9:30pm in inner Loch Pooltiel and around the pier.

A pair of buzzards nesting at Upper Milovaig successfully fledged two young today.

20th

Common Dolphin - Loch Pooltiel
July 2023

There was a pod of around 8 common dolphins in Loch Pooltiel from 6:30pm until 7pm, giving close views from Meanish.

21st

The magpie was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig again at 9:15am.

22nd

Orcas, JC and Aquarius, were seen at Oisgill Bay at 2:30pm heading north (Ineke & Chris van Zanten).

Common Tern - Loch Pooltiel
July 2023

White-Tailed Eagle - Meanish
July 2023

A common tern flew south over Meanish Pier, did a few feeding dives on the loch and then continued south. Our local male white-tailed eagle flew low past Meanish at 5pm.

23rd

Two humpback whales were photographed and videoed breaching and lunge feeding off Ollisdale, Glendale from the vessel, Elizabeth G (per Hebrides & NW Skye Facebook group).

A single arctic skua went south at Neist Point in the afternoon. The auks have all jumped the ledges and there were several football-whistling juvenile razorbills at the tip of Neist. Only the fulmars and a few shags are still on the ledges. The fulmars have large chicks in the nest.

24th

Small groups of auks were moving north during the morning including c.100 puffins in groups of up to 30.

28th

There was a report of 2 orcas, 3-4 Risso's dolphins and 2 minke whales close in at Neist Point during a single hour in the morning (per Bob McMillan).

29th

Magpie - Lower Milovaig
July 2023

The magpie was in the garden again at 2 Lower Milovaig.

30th

Minke Whale - Neist
July 2023

A minke whale did four close-in surfaces at Neist in the afternoon. Plus 3 harbour porpoises.

Two distant bonxies went north at Neist in the afternoon. A distant unidentified tern went north. There were 40 manx shearwaters far out at Neist. Very few seabirds.

August

1st

Common Dolphins - Loch Pooltiel
August 2023

There were c.20 common dolphins in inner Loch Pooltiel and around the pier from 5:30pm until at least 7pm.

A greenshank flew south at Meanish Pier at 6:20pm.

6th

Humpback Whale - Neist
August 2023

Humpback Whale - Neist
August 2023

Outstanding day for cetaceans at Neist today with: 1 humpack whale, 2 orcas (JC & Aquarius), 2 basking sharks, 1 minke whale, 30+ common dolphins and four porpoise.

7th

Otter - Lower Milovaig
August 2023

There was an otter on the shore at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at mid-day that went out a few hundred metres into the middle of the loch to fish.

12th

There was a family group of 14+ long-tailed tits in the garden at Lephin Cottage at 2pm.

13th

The long-staying magpie was calling from the trees on the bottom road on croft 2 Lower Milovaig at 9am and was feeding on open ground behind Seal Skerry cottage in the evening.

14th

Minke Whale - Neist
August 2023

There were two distant minke whales off Neist Point in the afternoon, plus 20+ distant common dolphins and six porpoises.

Leucorhoa Wheatear - Neist
August 2023

A 4.5 hour seawatch at Neist Point in the afternoon produced: 1 storm petrel south (1st time we ever had one there), 2 bonxies, 2 arctic skuas north, 2 puffins, 100+ manx shearwaters south, 1 common tern north. There were 3 leucorhoa wheatears on the point and 1 normal type.

15th

There was a pod of 20+ common dolphins breaching and splashing in inner Loch Pooltiel at 8:45am.

16th

Common Dolphins - Loch Pooltiel
August 2023

A pod of 12+ common dolphins came in close at Meanish between 7:30pm and 8pm.

17th

There were an adult and a juvenile arctic tern roosting on a buoy in Loch Pooltiel, near the skerries, in the evening.

19th

There was a long-eared owl at Hamara Parks at 10pm.

20th

Four-hour seawatch at Neist Point: 2 arctic terns south, 1 arctic skua hanging around, 2 whimbrel south, 12+ manxies south, 6 leucorhoa wheatears on the point. No auks except for 1 black guillemot. 100+ gannets passing through.

21st

A flock of 13 ringed plovers were standing in the road outside Carter's Rest at 11:30am. When disturbed, they took off south, heading inland.

The magpie was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 18:45pm.

The long-eared owl was at Hamara Parks again at 9:45pm.

There were four ringed plovers in the cobble bay at Meanish, late evening (Colleen Turner).

26th

A mink ran across the B884 around 200 yards west of Café Lephin at 9:30pm.

28th

There were two distant harbour porpoises off Neist Point, towards Canna, in the afternoon.

3-hour seawatch at Neist: 12 manx shearwaters north, 5 turnstones north. There were four greenland race wheatears on the point. Lots of gannets diving close-in around the point.

29th

There was an otter with two cubs fishing and playing in Loch Pooltiel off Lower Milovaig from 7pm until 7:30pm.

A minke whale surfaced once within 30m of the tip of Neist Point at 2:40pm.

A pale phase arctic skua went north past Neist Point in the afternoon.

31st

There were three eclipse male eiders off the skerries in Loch Pooltiel in the evening.

September

1st

There are now 4 eclipse male eiders around the skerries in the evening.

2nd

There was a flock of 50+ goldfinches on croft 2 Lephin all afternoon.

Juvenile Merlin - Meanish
September 2023

Juvenile Merlin - Meanish
September 2023

The magpie was in trees by the boatshed at Lower Milovaig and flew onto the roof of Ard Meanish from 5pm and 5:30pm. There was a red-throated diver with a fledged chick on Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon. A female merlin flew a few passes around Meanish at 5pm.

4th

There was a little grebe off the skerries in Loch Pooltiel and a white wagtail in cobble bay at Meanish, late afternoon.

5th

The little grebe is still off the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late evening.

6th

The otter and two cubs were on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 6:45pm (Matt Scott).

8th

There were 30+ mixed pied/white wagtails at Meanish and 100+ meadow pipits below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early evening.

11th

There were four bullfinches and a flock of 30+ linnets on croft 2 Lephin at 8:15am.

14th

The magpie flew into the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig at 5pm.

17th

A minke whale went south past Neist Point, late morning.

Two distant bonxies went north past Neist Point at mid-day. There were no wheatears on Neist Point for the first time since spring.

21st

The otter and her two cubs were fishing and playing off the white beach at 3:45pm.

The magpie was calling from the roof of Sgarbh Lodge, Lower Milovaig at 7:15am.

October

2nd

The little grebe was off the skerries again, late afternoon.

7th

Brent Geese - Lower Milovaig
October 2023

There were four brent geese at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at 4pm.

8th

There was a single redwing at Lephinat 8am, the first arrival of the winter.

A flock of 25 redwings flew south along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 8:34am.

9th

The long-staying magpie was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 8am. There was a flock of 18 long-tailed tits in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 5:15pm.

There was a leucorhoa wheatear at Neist Point at mid-day. A barnacle goose with a yellow, right leg ring flew north over Neist Point, late morning.

There was a flock of 40 redwings at Alt Mor cottage, Upper Milovaig, mid morning.

16th

There were 20 common dolphins in outer Loch Pooltiel at 4pm that headed off towards Harris. Immediately following them another 20 came north past the fish farm at 4:10pm and also headed across towards Harris.

A juvenile Iceland gull went north and a late puffin went south during a two-hour seawatch at Neist in the morning.

There were 10 long-tailed tits on croft 2 Lephin at 3pm.

A group of 7 barnacle geese flew north at Neist Point in the morning.

18th

There was a flock of 200 redwings at Feriniquarrie in the morning and a flock of 200 fieldfares at Feriniquarrie in the afternoon (Lynden Schofield).

19th

There was a flock of 40 fieldfares at Upper Milovaig at 8:30am.

There were c.20 long-tailed tits in MacDougall's Spruces at 11am (Emily Gilby).

20th

There was a male blackcap in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 5pm.

There was a very tame long-tailed duck at the mouth of the Hamara at 5:30pm (Lynden Schofield).

21st

The magpie was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 1pm.

22nd

Brambling - Lower Milovaig
October 2023

There were a male and female brambling in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig plus a female blackcap, 40 fieldfares, 40 redwings and the magpie in the morning.

23rd

There was a single harbour porpoise close in at Neist Point at mid-day.

24th

The first woodcock of the winter was on croft 2 Lephin at 6:30pm.

25th

Minke Whale - Neist
October 2023

A minke whale surfaced six times, close to shore, at Neist Point at mid-day.

18 whooper swans flew south down the Minch off Neist, mid morning.

There were 18 long-tailed tits on croft 2 Lephin at 3pm.

26th

Common Dolphin - Neist
October 2023

A pod of c. 12 common dolphins made a very close pass at Neist Point at mid-day. Four harbour porpoises went north past Neist in the morning.

There was a merlin at Neist Point in the morning carrying prey. There was a late skylark on the point.

There were both male and female blackcaps in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig today.

27th

White-Tailed Eagle - Milovaig
October 2023

White-Tailed Eagle - Milovaig
October 2023

A juvenile white-tailed eagle wandered into our local pair's territory and was chased off by the male in the afternoon.

28th

A red kite flew over Feriniquarrie at 9:30am. It was then relocated over Borrodale School shortly afterwards before heading east over Hamara Lodge and Lephin (Lynden Schofield).

There were 50 golden plovers at the head of Loch Dunvegan (per skye-birds).

30th

Golden Plovers - Dunvegan
October 2023

There was a flock of 62 golden plovers with 1 knot at the head of Loch Dunvegan.

Waxwing - Orbost
October 2023

Waxwing - Orbost
October 2023

There were five waxwings briefly at Bharcasaig Bay, Orbost at mid-day.

31st

Waxwing - Milovaig
October 2023

There was a single waxwing in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at dawn. It later returned with a 2nd waxwing at 10am.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Feriquarrie
October 2023

There was a great spotted woodpecker at bird feeders in the garden at Feriniquarrie (Sue Mansell). That's the first record of this species in Glendale since Nov 2012.

November

4th

A distant pod of c. 12 common dolphins went north up the Minch off Neist in the morning.

There were six purple sandpipers and a turnstone at Neist Point. Hundreds of kittiwakes and auks were moving north past the point during a 1.5 hour seawatch in the morning with two gannets north.

5th

There was a swallow on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 11am.

8th

An otter brought a large lobster onto the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 2pm and ate it at the shoreline.

12th

At Loch Mor in the morning: 2 teal, 20 lapwings, 19 little grebes, 8 goldeneye, 1 redshank, 3 dippers.

19th

There was an otter fishing off the western side of Meanish at mid-day.

Blackcap - Lower Milovaig
November 2023

There was a female blackcap using the fatball feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig, early afternoon.

21st

There were four adult white-tailed eagles interacting and being very vocal over Neist Point car park at mid-day. A great northern diver went south past Neist Point in the morning and there was a late gannet off-shore.

23rd

A male merlin flew through the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, mid-morning.

25th

There was an otter fishing at the shoreline between Meanish and the White Beach at mid-day.

26th

The long-staying magpie was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon. The female blackcap is still coming to the fatball feeders there.

There was a puffin feeding close-in at Neist Point at mid-day and 2 whooper swans on Loch Mor.

30th

The magpie was on the roof at 2 Lower Milovaig at 9:30am.

December 2023

1st

This was the last day that the female blackcap came to the feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig.

5th

There was a distant pod of 10 common dolphins off Neist Point at mid-day.

17th

The magpie was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 11:45am.

25th

There was a mistle thrush at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at mid-day.

26th

There were 3 or 4 distant common dolphins breaching and splashing off Neist, towards South Uist, and two distant harbour porpoises, towards Benbecula, early afternoon.

There were 12 turnstones at Neist Point and a single gannet.

31st

Otter - Neist Point
December 2023

There was a dog otter on the rocks at the tip of Neist Point at 1pm. Some 4K video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfO-aCdTj8A

There was an otter fishing just north of Meanish at 2:15pm.