Wildlife Sightings in Glendale, Skye in 2017

December 2017

31st

A white-tailed eagle was over the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 10:30am.

29th

At 12:40pm, the sub-adult white-tailed eagle flew across the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, over the white beach and on towards Pollosgan.

28th

At mid-day, there was a sub-adult white-tailed eagle (white-tail, brown terminal band) over Meanish that headed onto the Lower Milovaig grazings, a second juvenile white-tailed eagle flew from Dunvegan Head to join it and there were two adult white-tailed eagles at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop.

There was a lapwing at Loch Mor, Waterstein and 14 curlews below the Neist Car Park, late afternoon.

27th

There was a white-tailed eagle over the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 8:45am and again above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 12:45pm.

A juvenile white-tailed eagle was circling over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig from 3pm until 3:15pm.

25th

There was an otter at Meanish at mid-day.

24th

There was a small pod of at least two harbour porpoises in the Minch off Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

There were two red-throated divers in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at mid-day and three returning winter-plumage black guillemots were back on the loch today.

17th

There was a woodcock and a flock of 25 goldfinches in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig, early afternoon.

16th

There were six eagles soaring over Dunvegan Head (two golden eagles, two adult white-tailed eagles, two juvenile white-tailed eagles) and another juvenile white-tailed eagle over the Lower Milovaig common grazings at mid-day. There was a late gannet heading down the Minch at mid-day.

15th

Two very vocal peregrine falcons were being mobbed by a buzzard over croft 2 Lephin at 2pm.

11th

White-Tailed Eagle, Milovaig
December 2017

An adult white-tailed eagle was plunging very low over the white-beach at Upper Milovaig and almost landed a couple of times before heading around towards Pollosgan at around 9am.

An adult golden eagle was being mobbed by a peregrine over croft 2 Lephin at around 2pm.

Two adult white-tailed eagles were over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 2:20pm

Two adult white-tailed eagles flew along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig towards Meanish at sunset.

10th

There were six eagles over Dunvegan Head, late morning: two adult golden eagles, two juvenile golden eagles and two adult white-tailed eagles.

4th

There was an adult white-tailed eagle off Dunvegan Head, late morning.

3rd

A juvenile golden eagle flew from Dunvegan Head, across Milovaig and onwards towards Ramasaig, late morning. There was an adult white-tailed eagle on Dunvegan Head, late morning.

November

26th

There was a drake goosander on the white beach at Milovaig, late morning. There were two adult white-tailed eagles on Dunvegan Head, late morning.

19th

There were two chiffchaffs and a flock of 20 siskins in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig. There was a late twite in MacDougal's Spruces at Lower Milovaig. There were a red-throated diver and a winter-plumage black guillemot off Meanish, late morning.

14th

There was a late chiffchaff in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 10:30am. There was a late juvenile gannet off Pooltiel Fish Farm, late morning.

12th

A white-tailed eagle was circling over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 7:50am.

Two juvenile white-tailed eagles flew North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 1:45pm.

Two adult white-tailed eagles were circling over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at 3:20pm and again at 4:40pm.

5th

There was a flock of 8 siskins in the spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig at 8am. An adult white-tailed eagle was circling over the white beach and skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 9:45am before heading off northwards. There a white-tailed eagle off Dunvegan Head, late morning, and a red-throated diver off Meanish.

October

30th

There was a late male blackcap feeding on apples in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, late morning.

29th

Redwing - Lower Milovaig
October 2017

There was a flock of 25 redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig at 8:30am.

There was single eider off the skerries in Loch Pootiel, late morning. Our local pair of white-tailed eagles flew north along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day. A juvenile white-tailed eagle was over the Lower Milovaig common grazings at mid-day. There were six redwings on the top road in Upper Milovaig at mid-day.

There were two whooper swans on Loch Mor, Waterstein at dusk.

24th

There was a brambling on the top road in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

There were two adult white-tailed eagles putting on an aerobatic display off Dunvegan Head, late morning.

23rd

A dog otter was fishing along the shoreline west of Meanish, late morning, that came ashore briefly.

There were a pair of juvenile white-tailed eagles on Scorr Farm that circled over Loch Pooltiel, near the pier, before headng off towards Feriniquarrie, late morning.

18th

First redwings back this morning, with 15 at the Three Chimneys, Colbost that headed off towards Skinidin.

17th

Our local female white-tailed eagle made two terrific full-tilt dives at something on the shore below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig between 12:20pm and 12:45pm and kept returning several times to the same place.

16th

A herd of around 15-20 whooper swans went south over Lower Milovaig at 10am.

Our male white-tailed eagle was circling low over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

Pearly Underwing - Milovaig
October 2017

This pearly underwing moth trapped last night at Lower Milovaig is only the second ever record of this species on the Isle of Skye (Alison Stables).

9th

Our local pair of white-tailed eagles were circling around Dunvegan Head and Scorr Farm, late morning.

8th

Five barnacle geese flew south, low over Loch Pooltiel at 9:30am.

7th

There was a late wheatear below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig, mid afternoon.

5th

There were 16 whooper swans on Loch Mor, Waterstein at dusk.

A skein of 120+ (probably pink-footed) geese went south over Lower Milovaig at 6:15pm.

60 pink-footed geese went south past Waterstein Head around mid-day (Jason Whetton).

2nd

There was a flock of 12 whooper swans at Loch Pooltiel that headed north-west, early evening. Also a group of four brent geese on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 6:30pm.

1st

Slender-Striped Rufous
October 2017

This slender-striped rufous moth trapped last night at Lower Milovaig is only the third record for Skye in the last 40 years (Alison Stables).

September

30th

An adult white-tailed eagle flew over Loch Pooltiel at sea-level from Beinn Bhuidhe to Dunvegan Head at 10am.

26th

Our female white-tailed eagle was over Lower Milovaig, Beinn Bhuidhe and landed on Scorr Farm, late morning (Steve Lockett).

25th

There were three minke whales off Neist Point all afternoon, with a few occasions where the approached within 30 feet of the rocks.

Dunlin, Neist Point
September 2017

This very tame dunlin was wandering around on the grass at the tip of Neist Point, late afternoon, allowing approach within 8 feet.

22nd

There was a ringtail hen harrier quartering the fields beside the loch, near Kinlochfollart, on the camp-site road at Dunvegan, early morning.

19th

A late whinchat turned up at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, mid afternoon.

18th

Neist Point was surrounded by dolphins for an hour before sunset, with at least 20 counted. There was also a single minke whale.

Our juvenile white-tailed eagle was over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig, late afternoon.

17th

A pod of six harbour porpoises were in Loch Pooltiel at the foot of the big waterfall, late morning.

Our resident pair of white-tailed eagles put on a good showing below the top road in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

There were four white wagtails on the bottom road in Upper Milovaig.

15th

A juvenile white-tailed eagle was circling very low over the white beach and Beinn Bhuidhe at Milovaig for 15 minutes at around 7:30am.

12th

There were a white wagtail on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig and two late skylarks above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

11th

Two juvenile white-tailed eagles went north over Loch Pooltiel at 8am.

9th

There were two white wagtails in the garden at Lephin Cottage at 7:45am.

5th

There was a single female/juvenile leucorhoa wheatear on the Neist road at Upper Milovaig and a flock of 7 white wagtails in the curtilage at 1 Upper Milovaig, late morning.

4th

There were three female/juvenile leucorhoa wheatears and two white wagtails at Meanish, late afternoon.

There were two adult white-tailed eagles on Dunvegan Head, late afternoon.

3rd

There were three white wagtails above the top road in Upper Milovaig at mid-day and a flock of thirty twites at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, late morning.

2nd

There was a flock of 30 linnets on croft 2 Lephin, late afternoon.

August

28th

There were two immature white-tailed eagles circling over the white beach at Upper Milovaig, late afternoon.

27th

There were two juvenile grey wagtails on the road at Hamara Lodge at 7:30am.

Two adult grey wagtails flew south along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 9am.

Small passage of bonxies late morning, with one south through Loch Pooltiel and two separate birds west off Lower Milovaig.

There was a juvenile white-tailed eagle in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel that landed at the foot of the cliffs below Dunvegan Head, late morning.

Dun-Bar Moth, Lower Milovaig
August 2017

This dun-bar moth trapped at Lower Milovaig is only the second record for species on Skye in almost 40 years. Another specimen was trapped in Sleat a few weeks ago but, prior to that, the were no records since 1981 (Alison Stables).

20th

Our local adult male white-tailed eagle was circling below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 3pm, gradually drifting towards Borrodale.

There are now only three wheatears remaining around the Milovaig loop.

7th

A small pod of around 12 common dolphins came into Loch Pooltiel between 10am and 10:30am.

Two spotted flycatchers turned up in MacDougal's Spruces but were also feeding on the shoreline. There was also a juvenile grey wagtail at MacDougal's spruces that, unusually, was perching in the trees.

6th

A ringed plover flew south over Loch Pooltiel, skimming the water, then onward over the white beach and inland towards Borrodale.

3rd

A juvenile white-tailed eagle flew West over the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 8:30pm and an adult bird flew North over the white beach a few minutes later.

July

29th

A pod of at least 20 common dolphins came into Loch Pooltiel just after 4pm and went as far as the Black Beach before heading back out again around 4:20pm.

25th

There was a large pod of common dolphins off Orbost (Calum Waverley).

24th

There was a juvenile golden eagle at Lorgill at 2pm (Calum Waverley).

There was an adult white-tailed eagle at Ramasaig at around 3pm (Calum Waverley).

22nd

An otter was feeding on the Scorr Farm side of the Black Beach at Feriniquarrie, eating a lobster on the rocks then catching and feeding on fish in the water, late evening (Calum Waverley).

There was a white-tailed eagle at Borrodale mid afternoon and a second bird at Upper Milovaig at the same time.

19th

There was a swift wheeling around over Café Lephin and the houses in Lephin township at 6:30pm. These are extremely rare visitors to Skye but the island is currently experiencing an unusual influx.

11th

There were small groups of dolphins and porpoises seen from the boat off Lower Milovaig, Neist and Moonen Bay at 6am (Brian Smith).

There were an adult and juvenile peregrine falcon over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 8am. The juvenile was calling loudly.

White-Tailed Eagle, Milovaig
July 2017

Our local pair of white-tailed eagles were circling together over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 3:40pm.

10th

A peregrine falcon flew over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig carrying a small bird at 8am.

9th

There was a minke whale in Oisgill Bay at 10:15pm.

3rd

There were two minke whales feeding in Loch Pooltiel at around 8pm, within 10 metres of the shore around 200 yards north of Meanish. Their blows were echoing around the loch.

There was an arctic skua at Oisgill following the creel boat heading back to Pooltiel at 3pm (Brian Smith).

June

30th

An immature white-tailed eagle flew North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at around 7:15am.

25th

There was a pod of at least 6 common dolphins putting on an amazing display of breaching and splashing in the Minch off Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

24th

There is still a single late cuckoo calling at Lephin.

20th

There was a juvenile white-tailed eagle tumbling, as it was mobbed by gulls, over the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 7pm before heading over to Feriniquarrie.

7th

There was a single harbour porpoise in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at 8pm.

5th

Wheatears around the Milovaig loop have all fledged their first brood this week.

May

29th

A pod of 30-40 common dolphins were in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at 8:45am and headed round towards Oisgill (Colin Heath).

23rd

Belated report of a pair of Great White Egrets on the Hamara River "a few weeks ago" [early May] (Paddy Wilding).

20th

There was a house martin feeding over the white beach at Lower Milovaig, early morning.

14th

There were two migrant house martins feeding around the sea-cliffs on the Lower Milovaig grazings, early afternoon.

The first baby blackbirds and house sparrows have fledged this weekend.

11th

The first midges were biting tonight at Milovaig and Lephin.

8th

The first singing male sedge warbler was back in territory at Lephin, early morning.

7th

There was a group of 5 summer-plumage dunlins at Meanish, late morning. A peregrine falcon was hunting at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at mid-day. A female kestrel took a wheatear on the top road at mid-day. An adult white-tailed eagle flew North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 12:40pm.

The first early purple orchid was in bloom at Lower Milovaig. The bluebells are now widely in bloom around Lower Milovaig.

6th

Two white-tailed eagles, one adult yelping, flew North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

4th

A white-tailed eagle was fishing in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel off Meanish Pier at 9pm.

April

30th

A white-tailed eagle flew from Waterstein over Oisgill Bay towards Milovaig at sunset.

29th

The first cuckoo was calling at Lephin, early evening.

27th

The first common sandpiper was calling on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at dusk..

23rd

White Wagtail - Meanish
April 2017

White Wagtail - Meanish
April 2017

There were four white wagtails at Meanish Pier amongst a small fall of pied wagtails, meadow pipits and two leucorhoa male wheatears.

There was a singing male linnet in a rowan near Meanish Pier.

22nd

A white-tailed eagle flew south over Borrodale at 5:30pm.

A skein of 80 geese went North over Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon.

19th

A flock of 25 golden plovers flew north over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late afternoon.

17th

Golden Eagle - Lephin
April 2017

Golden Eagle - Lephin
April 2017

These two juvenile golden eagles were stopping traffic in Lephin as they soared very low over the Café, Church and Post Office at around 2pm.

There was a blackcap briefly in her garden at Feriniquarrie (Sue Mansell).

16th

There are now two swallows at Upper Milovaig. Single leucorhoa male wheatear below the top road in Lower Milovaig, mid-day..

15th

First swallow was back at Upper Milovaig, early morning.

13th

The first linnet was back in Glendale today, with a single bird briefly on the feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig.

12th

Twite, Lower Milovaig
April 2017

The first twites were back in Glendale this morning, with three on the bird feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig.

11th

A flock of 40 golden plovers flew west over Borrodale at 10am.

10th

A sub-adult and a juvenile white-tailed eagle were soaring over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at mid-day, they locked talons briefly during a skirmish, before heading over the hills towards Galtrigill.

9th

A stunning male merlin was hunting the meadow pipits below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 11am before heading off towards Pollosgan.

8th

There has been a singing male reed bunting in the willow scrub at Lephin since yesterday.

7th

There were three sand martins near Kinloch Campsite at Dunvegan at 5:30pm.

2nd

There was a singing male chiffchaff in the gardens at 1 & 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning.

March

28th

The first singing male willow warbler was back, in the gardens at 1 and 2 Lower Milovaig. This is two days earlier than our previous earliest arrival for this species which was in 2012. There were still a couple of redwings in the gardens too.

There were two juveniles and an adult white-tailed eagle soaring over Loch Pooltiel, mid afternoon. One of the juveniles came over the loch to Lower Milovaig and on towards Oisgill Bay.

27th

This morning at Neist Point: Two shelduck flew south, a skein of 10 and a skein of 50 grey geese flew north up the Minch, there were five wheatears, many gannets heading north, huge numbers of auks on the sea, two red-throated divers in Moonen Bay, 1 bridled guillemot on the ledges.

Shags, fulmars, kittiwakes, common & black guillemots and razorbills all with nests on the ledges.

Early afternoon at Loch Mor: three goosanders, 6 goldeneye, 1 little grebe, a redwing.

26th

A male hen harrier came in off the sea out of fog at Meanish, tried catching some small stuff before heading off inland, late morning.

Wheatears flooding in now with 13 at Milovaig (including 3 females and 2 leucorhoa males).

Three redwings arrived at Lower Milovaig overnight. There was a goldcrest in MacDougal's Spruces, Lower Milovaig and a red-throated diver was calling on Loch Pooltiel.

25th

First wheatear, a male, was back in Glendale today below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig.

22nd

An adult white-tailed eagle flew North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 7:50am

An adult white-tailed eagle flew North along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

20th

The meadow pipits are starting to return with a group of 5 below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig , mid afternoon

19th

There were four gannets back in Loch Pooltiel for the first time this year.

18th

Lesser black-backed gulls are flooding back now with ten this morning at Hamara Parks.

An adult white-tailed eagle flew low below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig and onwards to Pollosgan at 6pm.

17th

There was a white-tailed eagle soaring high over Scorr Farm drifting towards Feriniquarrie, early morning.

10th

There are now three lesser black-backs at Fasach.

9th

The first returning lesser black-back was at Fasach at 8am.

5th

There was a flock of 12 skylarks below the top road in Lower Milovaig with a few others dotted around the loop.

3rd

There was a flock of five skylarks below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

February

26th

The first daffodils have opened in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig.

25th

There was a report of 9 purple sandpipers at the tip of Neist Point (per skye-birds.com).

20th

There was a juvenile iceland gull on the white beach at Lower Milovaig, late morning.

13th

White-Tailed Eagle, Milovaig
February 2017

There was an adult white-tailed eagle circling low over the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at mid-day. A single lapwing flew south over Loch Pooltiel at 12:45pm.

12th

There was a black-throated diver off Meanish Pier, late morning. A female merlin flew across Loch Pooltiel from Scorr Farm to Meanish and then on along the shore towards Upper Milovaig, late morning.

9th

There was a tawny owl hooting on croft 4 Lephin, by the Holmisdale Road, at 6pm.

January 2017

29th

Orcas, Neist Point
January 2017

There were two orcas (killer whales) in the first bay, at foot of steps, at Neist Point at 4:50pm, heading towards Oisgill.

Iceland Gull, Lower Milovaig
January 2017

There was a juvenile Iceland Gull on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 1am.

28th

There was a great northern diver in Loch Pooltiel off Dunvegan Head, early afternoon. There were sixty two seals basking on the skerries, mid afternoon.

26th

A white-tailed eagle flew low over the Hamara at Lephin and then across to Glasphein at 8:20am.

23rd

The first returning meadow pipits were back today with three at Feriniquarrie.

22nd

The first skylark was back on the top road in Upper Milovaig and the first oystercatcher was back on the white beach at Lower Milovaig.

21st

Two gannets flew north past Neist Point at mid-day. There were 5 knots at Neist Point, late morning.

There were 8 goldeneye, 8 little grebes, 4 goosanders and 10 over-wintering lapwings at Loch Mor.

17th

There was a great northern diver off the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, late morning.

10th

The first snowdrops have come into bloom today in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig.

9th

There was a single gannet out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig and a winter-plumage black guillemot off Meanish at mid-day.

5th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
January 2017

There was a nice aurora all night but peaking around 1am.

View more photos

2nd

There was an immature white-tailed eagle circling over the Scorr Farm side of Loch Pooltiel at 1:25pm, gradually drifting towards Feriniquarrie.

A very happy New Year to all the regular readers of this blog and a warm welcome to new visitors!