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
30th Mar 2025
There was a flock of c.40 whooper swans, far out, resting on the sea off Neist Point for at least an hour that took off West towards North Uist.
Several meadow pipit singles flew off Neist Point, heading over the sea towards North Uist.
There were at least 8 wheatears on Neist Point, mostly singing males but a couple of females.
27th Mar 2025
There was a single lesser black-backed gull on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel and three more lesser black-backs at Hamara Parks.
26th Mar 2025
The first lesser black-backed gull of the spring was at Hamara Parks at 8am.
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.