Wildlife Sightings in Glendale, Skye in 2015

December 2015

30th

There were 43 seals on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 2:45pm.

25th

There were 30 seals on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.

There were two late gannets, an adult and a juvenile, south across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.

20th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
December 2015

The strongest aurora of 2015 tonight was photographed over the entire United Kingdom. The aurora was passing directly overhead just after midnight.

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19th

There was an adult white-tailed eagle very low over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig, at 10:15am.

16th

There was a barn owl at Hamara Lodge at 6pm.

14th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
December 2015

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
December 2015

There was one of the strongest auroras of the year tonight.

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6th

Two adult white-tailed eagles were circling very low over the white beach, Beinn Bhuidhe and the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 12:15pm. One of the pair has a distinctive notch in the secondaries on its left wing.

5th

There was a group of 8 goosanders (4 pairs) off the white beach at Lower Milovaig, early afternoon.

2nd

There were three male goosanders off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 9am and there was adult white-tailed eagle over Beinn Bhuidhe at 11am (Alison Stables).

November

29th

There were two adult white-tailed eagles circling low below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 2pm.

28th

There was an adult white-tailed eagle circling low over the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 10am.

9th

A very late male blackcap briefly visited the bird feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig at dusk.

Snow Bunting (©Bob McMillan)
November 2015

There was a snow bunting at Neist Point and a two-hour seawatch produced 70 gannets, 200 kittiwakes and several fulmars heading south (per skye-birds.com). Image courtesy of Bob McMillan.

8th

Two whooper swans landed in Glendale Cemetery car park at 8am before heading off south.

7th

There was a rare brambling in the grounds of Laggan Cottage, Lower Milovaig that flew off towards the hill road, late morning. There was an adult white-tailed eagle eating a fallen sheep on the shoreline at Scorr Farm, late morning. A late gannet flew south down the Minch of Lower Milovaig, late morning. There was a flock of 50+ redwings on the top road in Lower Milovaig.

6th

There were six whooper swans and a drake goldeneye on Loch Mor, Waterstein at dusk. There was a late skylark at 6 Waterstein at dusk.

2nd

A white-tailed eagle flew up Loch Pooltiel, from the pier towards Pollosgan, at 3:30pm.

1st

There was a goldcrest at the boatshed by MacDougall's Spruces, Lower Milovaig, mid-morning.

The first woodcock of the winter was in the gardens at 1 and 2 Lower Milovaig at dusk.

There were too late pipistrelle bats on the wing outside the café at Lephin at dusk.

October

31st

There was a flock of 15 blackbirds at Hamara Lodge, early morning.

30th

There was a flock of 20 blackbirds feeding on windfall apples at 2 Lower Milovaig.

28th

There were two goldcrests in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at dawn.

27th

A white-tailed eagle was flying below roof-top height over the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 7:45am before heading across to Scorr Farm.

26th

There was a single pale-bellied brent goose on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 1:45pm.

22nd

A red grouse flew across the Kinloch Campsite / Glendale-Dunvegan Road near Kinlochfollart at 8am.

18th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
October 2015

There was a nice, low aurora, strongly visible in monochrome to the naked eye, from 1:30am onwards.

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There was a large pod of 12+ harbour porpoises out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig and one came inside the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, late morning.

Two white-tailed eagles, one a juvenile, flew from Dunvegan Head across to Rubha Ban, late morning. There were good numbers of migrant birds at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, including 30+ Song Thrushes, 20+ Blackbirds, 6 redwings and 40 goldfinches. A jack snipe was flushed on the top road in Upper Milovaig. There was a grey wagtail on the top road in Upper Milovaig.

17th

There were two harbour porpoises close to shore at Neist Point, a pod of six common dolphins was far off-shore towards North Uist and a 2nd pod of twenty common dolphins came close to Neist Point at around 2pm.

Lots more redwings arriving now, with 30+ at Lower Milovaig (AS) and 10 at Totaig (Jim Adams).

There was a flock of 18 eiders in Moonen Bay.

At Loch Mor at Waterstein, there were 13 little grebes, two tufted ducks and a dipper.

16th

The first group of 10 redwings of the winter were in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at dawn, having come in overnight.

13th

There were three leucorhoa wheatears around Oisgill Bay (per skye-birds.com).

12th

A group of eight whooper swans flew south along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, mid morning. A white-tailed eagle was circling over the white beach & Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at mid-day. A flock of 30 barnacle geese flew south-west over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon.

11th

There were two mistle thrushes in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 10am. There was a goldcrest in MacDougall's Spruces at Lower Milovaig, late morning. The flock of 150+ twites was at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, late morning.

7th

Aurora Borealis - Neist Point
October 2015

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
October 2015

There was a spectacular aurora from 7:50pm onwards.

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5th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
October 2015

There was a rare clear sky from midnight, which allowed us to capture a nice aurora.

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There were a group of 7 woodpigeons, a mistle thrush and 2 linnets at Ferinquarrie, late morning.

4th

There was a flock of 150+ twites above the top road in Lower Milovaig, late morning. There was a grey wagtail on the allt mor burn, below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig, at mid-day. There was a family group of 7 stonechats at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, late morning.

3rd

Scarce Bordered Straw - Holmisdale
October 2015

This Scarce Bordered Straw moth trapped overnight at Holmisdale is believed to be the first ever record for this species on the Isle of Skye (Andy Harding).

1st

A stunning female merlin put on a great show at Meanish, chasing pipits and wagtails, at around 3:45pm.

September

29th

There was a very late female/juvenile leucorhoa-type wheatear on the steps down to Neist Point at dusk.

28th

An adult white-tailed eagle came across Loch Pooltiel and landed on Beinn Bhuidhe, close to the Clelands' house at 8:30am.

27th

There were still a pair of swallows feeding young in a byre at Upper Milovaig.

26th

The Confused - Moth - Milovaig
August 2015

This confused moth, trapped at Lower Milovaig on August 22nd has been accepted as the first ever record for this species on the Isle of Skye (Alison Stables).

18th

A juvenile white-tailed eagle flew very low along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 11:30am, heading towards the pier.

17th

There was a single minke whale and three porpoises at Neist Point from 11am until 1:30pm (Felicity Rowland).

14th

There was a single minke whale off Neist Point from mid-day until around 2:30pm. At one point it surfaced within 20m off the shore but mostly it was a fair way out.

There were two adult white-tailed eagles circling above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

12th

Two white-tailed eagles flew over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, across Loch Pooltiel and on to Dunvegan Head at 7:45am.

9th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
September 2015

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
September 2015

There was a major aurora from 9:10pm until 1am.

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6th

2016 Calendar - Front

2016 Calendar - Back

2016 GLENDALE CALENDAR - LAST CHANCE

This your last last chance to have a beautiful A4 print of Glendale on your wall for every month of 2016. They make great gifts.

If you would like to put your name down for a copy of my 2016 Glendale Calendar then please send me your email address and contact details. I will be placing the order at the printers next week.

They will be £11.99 each (plus £4.95 P&P for up to four calendars to the same UK address or you can collect from me in Glendale or Portree). Worldwide delivery available.

To try to keep the costs down, I am just going to order a single batch of calendars from the printers for delivery to you in October, so if you definitely want one then let me know ASAP.

There was a very late willow warbler in bracken on the cliff at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop.

5th

Two adult white-tailed eagles, calling loudly, flew over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, across the white beach and on to Ferinquarrie at around 11:30am.

3rd

There was a basking shark in Loch Pooltiel that breached near the big waterfall (per Dive & Sea The Hebrides).

August

30th

Significant influx of meadow pipits today, with 110+ on the top road in Lower Milovaig, two separate flock of 25+ and 30+ in Upper Milovaig and a flock of 30+ at Lephin. There were 5 female/juvenile leucoroa type wheatears around the Milovaig loop. Two curlews and two grey wagtails at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop and another grey wagtail still on the allt mor burn at Upper Milovaig.

28th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
August 2015

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
August 2015

There was a beautiful aurora from 10:30pm until around 1am, with periods when the aurora was in full colour to the naked eye.

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27th

Common Dolphins, Loch Pooltiel
August 2015

There was a small pod of at least three common dolphins in Loch Pooltiel at 6:30pm (Karen Johnson & AS). Photo by Karen Johnson.

25th

There was a flock of 100 meadow pipits beside the B884 at Colbost at 8am.

24th

There were four redshanks on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 9am. These are becoming increasingly scarce visitors to Loch Pooltiel in recent years.

23rd

An adult white-tailed eagle flew North far out over the Minch off Lower Milovaig, late morning, before turning in and landing on Dunvegan Head. The wheatears have now departed. There were no wheatears around the Milovaig loop this morning.

Scotch Annulet, Milovaig
August 2015

This Scotch Annulet moth trapped last night at Lower Milovaig is only the third ever record on the Isle of Skye of this nationally scarce category B species, the previous two records being in 2009 and 2013 (Alison Stables).

22nd

There is a report of a female black redstart back at Lonmore in Dunvegan (per skye-birds.com), which is possibly the same bird that was there in May.

There was a late juvenile wheatear at Upper Milovaig, late afternoon.

Convolvulus Hawkmoth
August 2015

This extremely rare and beautiful Convolvulus Hawkmoth was caught overnight at Holmisdale by Andy Harding, who traps moths regularly in Glendale. It is believed to be the first ever record of this species on the Isle of Skye.

19th

Airglow, Aurora & Meteor
August 2015

There was an amazing display of airglow, with an aurora and a meteor shower in the early hours of the morning.

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16th

Aurora Borealis - Loch Pooltiel
August 2015

We had the first decent aurora of the season in the early hours of the morning.

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There was a flock of 30 twites at Meanish, late morning, and a grey wagtail that flew along the shore towards the white beach. A bonxie flew south down the Minch off Lower Milovaig, late morning. There was a grey wagtail at Carters' Rest just before 1am, possibly the same bird that was at Meanish earlier.

14th

There were two minke whales at Neist Point (Verena & Bernhard Osanna).

12th

There was a male merlin hunting swallows over the garden at Lephin Cottage at 5:45pm.

10th

There were four ringed plovers at Meanish at sunset. It is extremely rare to get waders in Milovaig and these are the first ringed plovers here since 2010.

A juvenile white-tailed eagle flew low along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig towards the pier at 8pm.

9th

A group of 7 redshanks came in off the sea at Lower Milovaig and headed overland towards Waterstein, late morning.

There were still 8 wheatears around the Milovaig loop, mostly juveniles. The bulk of the birds have departed but we will continue to see stragglers through into the autumn. There was a significant increase in numbers of meadow pipits, with 60+ at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, indicating that birds are on the move.

2nd

Four arctic terns were feeding off the white beach at Lower Milovaig and around the skerries, late morning, before heading out into the Minch. There were two bonxies along the cliff between Rubha Bhan and Lower Milovaig at mid-day. There are now two grey wagtails on the allt mor burn, above the bottom road in Upper Milovaig.

1st

At 10:40am, a bonxie came in off the sea at Loch Pooltiel and flew inland, over Bob & Anna Cleland's house before heading over Carters' Rest and onwards to Waterstein.

July

28th

There was a merlin hunting across the B884 near the Uiginish junction at 8am.

White-Tailed Eagle, Milovaig
July 2015

White-Tailed Eagle, Milovaig
July 2015

Two adult white-tailed eagles were circling over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 6pm, gradually drifting towards the top road.

There was a bonxie at Neist Point (Harry Campbell).

27th

There were two white-tailed eagles soaring high over the grazings between Upper Milovaig and Waterstein at 3:30pm.

26th

Two bonxies came along the hill road and across the big hill at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at around 11am, with one bonxie attacking the other. There was a female grey wagtail on the alt mor burn above the bottom road in Upper Milovaig, late morning.

A pair of whinchats were carrying food and showing agitated behaviour on croft 2 Lephin, early evening.

25th

There were two minke whales off Neist Point in the evening (Kristof).

22nd

A mistle thrush above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig briefly in the morning was very unusual. We normally only get occasional birds with winter thrush flocks.

20th

There were seven common dolphins and a minke whale at Oisgill Bay between 9:30pm until 10:30pm.

19th

Two sub-adult white-tailed eagles were circling low over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at around 9:45am before heading off towards Waterstein/Ramasaig.

17th

There was a stunning male merlin perched on a fence post beside the road at Hamara Lodge at 7:45am.

16th

Noctilucent Cloud, Loch Pooltiel
July 2015

The sixth night with Noctilucent Clouds proved to be the best yet this season between 00:00 BST and 02:00 BST.

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There was an otter feeding off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 1:30am.

14th

There were two minke whales and two dolphins in Oisgill Bay between 11am and mid-day (Astrid Van Eybergen). This is the first report of the minkes in Glendale this summer.

12th

There were two common terns feeding off the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late morning, and roosting on a buoy.

There was a grey wagtail on the top road in Upper Milovaig at mid-day.

There were two sand martins feeding below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

8th

There were two white-tailed eagles flying low over Crofts 1, 2 and 3 Lephin at 07:45 am before heading off towards Holmisdale.

5th

There was a group of 12 siskins at MacDougall's Spruces, Lower Milovaig, late morning.

The heath spotted, common spotted and fragrant orchids are all now in bloom at Lower Milovaig.

Shoulder-Striped Wainscot, Milovaig
July 2015

This shoulder-striped wainscot, trapped last night at Lower Milovaig, is the first ever record for this species on the Isle of Skye and the most north-westerly record ever for the UK (Alison Stables).

3rd

There was a late cuckoo calling at Lephin, mid afternoon.

June

30th

There was a late cuckoo calling at Lephin at 11pm.

26th

There was a female whinchat on croft 2 Lephin all day, with a singing male still on the Estate land beside 1 Lephin.

The grasshopper warbler is still reeling on croft 3 Lephin.

25th

There were a single bonxie and two cormorants off Rubha Bhan at mid-day.

19th

There was a singing male whinchat back in territory on the Estate land beside 1 Lephin in the afternoon.

16th

After summering at Neist Point for the last few years, a pair of bonxies attempted to breed this year for the first time. Unfortunately, due to the excessive disturbance, the nest has now failed.

There were ten red deer stags at the roadside on croft 1 Lephin at dusk.

12th

There was a chiffchaff singing at 2 Lower Milovaig, mid morning.

11th

There was a grasshopper warbler reeling at Lephin at 10:30pm and there was a singing male chiffchaff at Lephin early evening.

There was a dark phase arctic skua off Neist that attacked a kittiwake before heading off South past the Hoe (Dave Mallett).

8th

Sandy Carpet Moth, Milovaig
June 2015

This sandy carpet moth, trapped overnight at Lower Milovaig is the first ever record for this species on the Isle of Skye (Alison Stables).

7th

The first midges were out and biting in Glendale today, which is two weeks later than last year.

There were two cormorants standing on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late morning. These are very scarce birds around Glendale and it is very rare to see them in Loch Pooltiel.

5th

A group of four house martins were briefly feeding around the house/garden at 2 Lower Milovaig before heading off inland. The first record here since 2013.

May

31st

The first early purple orchid at Lower Milovaig has just come into bloom, although they have been flowering in other sheltered parts of Glendale already. This is 20 days later than last year due to a month of exceptionally cold weather.

There was a pair of collared doves in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

28th

Noctilucent Cloud, Loch Pooltiel
May 2015

The first noctilucent clouds of 2015 were showing from 00:45 BST onwards.

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There was a collared dove at Waterstein (Brian Smith). These are unusual visitors to Glendale.

There were four woodpigeons at Lephin at 6:15pm, which is extremely unusual.

22nd

Female Black Redstart, Dunvegan
May 2015

Female Black Redstart, Dunvegan
May 2015

There has been a beautiful female black redstart on the Lonmore Industrial Estate at Dunvegan since yesterday. This is a very rare visitor to the Isle of Skye. The bird was discovered on the 21st by Mairi Fawkes from Glendale.

21st

There was a report of a probable black redstart at Dunvegan (per skye-birds.com).

20th

Lesser Redpoll, Milovaig
May 2015

A lesser redpoll was visiting the bird feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig in the afternoon. These are common breeding birds around Glendale but it is rare for them to come to bird tables.

Great Skua, Neist
May 2015

Two bonxies are back at Neist Point.

19th

The two tree sparrows were still visiting the feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig today and yesterday.

17th

Tree Sparrow, Milovaig
May 2015

Female Linnet, Milovaig
May 2015

There are still two tree sparrows visiting the garden and feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig. There was another small influx of wheatears around the Milovaig loop this morning, with an additional 20-30 birds on top of the usual territorial birds, including six leucorhoa males. The first baby house sparrows had fledged this afternoon in Lower Milovaig. A pair of linnets have now been visiting the bird feeders and garden at 2 Lower Milovaig for just over a week.

At 6pm, there was a sudden hirundine influx, with 20 swallows feeding around 2 Lower Milovaig and in amongst them was a sand martin.

16th

There were two tree sparrows feeding together in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 1:45pm.

11th

A male yellowhammer has been taking spilled seed from feeders in a garden at Lonmore in Dunvegan (per skye-birds.com). This is the first record for many years in North Skye.

8th

There were two whimbrels, a white wagtail and several leucorhoa wheatears at Ramasaig Bay, late evening.

4th

Male Leucorhoa Wheatear
May 2015

Males of nominate race and
Leucorhoa race Wheatear
May 2015

There was a small influx of Greenland-race (leucorhoa) Wheatears this morning, with at least 12 along the bottom road in Milovaig.

2nd

The first returning sedge warbler of the summer was in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig, early morning.

April

26th

A two-hour visit to Neist Point in the morning produced: 7 great skuas, 3 whimbrels and 10+ wheatears, including leuchoroa-types (Bob McMillan).

Two colour-ringed twite have been visiting the garden of Will & Bev Mann at Waterstein (per RMcM).

20th

Tree Sparrow, Milovaig
April 2015

This rare tree sparrow was visiting the bird feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning. The first time we have recorded this species in the garden since May 3rd/4th, 2008.

A singing male blackcap and a singing male chiffchaff were back on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig this morning. There is now a common sandpiper on the White Beach at Milovaig.

Shoulder Stripe Moth
April 2015

This shoulder stripe moth found at Lower Milovaig on the 17th was submitted to the Vice County Moth Recorder and accepted as the first record on the Isle of Skye for 34 years, the last record being in 1981 (Alison Stables).

19th

Cuckoo back and calling at Lower Milovaig this morning. Willow warblers now in all territories at Milovaig. Two swallows at Upper Milovaig. One pair each of twite and redpoll back in territories.

The first returning common sandpiper was at the Black Beach, late evening.

17th

There were two harbour porpoises a way off-shore at Neist Point at mid-day.

There was a steady stream of auks, predominently razorbills, heading south down the Minch off Neist Point at a rate of 200-300 per hour including a single puffin in the morning.

The first singing male willow warblers were back at Lephin and Lower Milovaig today. The 2nd swallow of the spring was at Hamara Lodge, early morning.

There was a cuckoo at Lephin (Sandra Powell).

16th

The first returning linnet of the spring was at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, mid-morning. A skein of 120 barnacle geese went North over the top road in Lower Milovaig at 11am. There were five redwings on the top road in Lower Milovaig. The first female wheatear was below the top road in Upper Milovaig.

14th

The first hedgehog was out of hibernation and snuffling along the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 9:15pm.

12th

Continuing the big influx from yesterday, there were 300+ meadow pipits around the Milovaig loop today in small groups including the large flock of 100+ which is still present on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig.

There was a redwing below the top road in Upper Milovaig.

11th

There was still a single redwing in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

There were large movements of meadow pipits today, with a flock of 100 below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early morning. This attracted the inevitable merlin and one was terrorising a meadow pipit at Borrodale, early afternoon.

9th

The first swallow was whizzing around the spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

There a male merlin flew West below the hill road at Lower Milovaig in the morning (Gordon McCracken).

7th

There was a flock of 30+ redwings on the top road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day (Gordon McCracken).

There was a single peregrine below the hill road in Lower Milovaig, late morning (Gordon McCracken).

6th

There was a flock of 25 redwings on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late afternoon.

5th

There are now 7 male wheatears around the Milovaig loop but no females have returned as yet. There were six redwings on the top road in Lower Milovaig, late morning. Meadow pipits are trickling back in and there are several occupied territories with singing males today.

The first primrose was in bloom at Lower Milovaig, which is about a week later than normal.

The first white tailed bumblebees were on the wing at Lephin.

1st

There is a jack snipe in a roadside ditch on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig that has been there since Sunday.

March

29th

There were two redwings and a flock of 14 skylarks on the top road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

28th

There are now five lesser black-backs at Hamara Parks.

24th

Another record herd of 92 whooper swans came in to 'over night' at Loch Mor just before dark (Brian Smith).

There were 12 whooper swans at the head of Loch Dunvegan all day and there were two pairs of teal off the Kinloch/Glendale Road at 7:50am.

23rd

Whooper Swans, Loch Mor
March 2015

A record herd of 65 whooper swans was on Loch Mor at today, together with 8 goosanders and 6 goldeneyes.

There are now three male wheatears at Upper Milovaig and there are now two lesser black-backed gulls at Lower Milovaig.

21st

The first wheatears are back today, with single males at Neist and Upper Milovaig (Bob McMillan). Single lesser black-backed gull now at the head of Loch Pooltiel (Bob McMillan).

There was also a singing male redwing in spruces at Lower Milovaig.

The first lesser celandines have come into bloom this week at Lower Milovaig.

20th

There was a herd of 10 whooper swans on Loch Mor at dusk.

15th

A few 'firsts' today after three days of glorious Spring weather: first lesser black-back at Lower Milovaig, first gannet off the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, first redpoll back at Lower Milovaig, first four meadow pipits at Lower Milovaig and a flock of 8 whooper swans heading North over Lower Milovaig.

13th

There was a pair of adult white-tailed eagles riding thermals at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at mid-day that gradually drifted over to Dunvegan Head. More pied wagtails are returning, with a male at Upper Milovaig this morning.

12th

There was a single black-headed gull below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early morning.

11th

The first two returning pied wagtails of the spring were at Hamara Parks, early evening.

8th

An adult white-tailed eagle flew past Meanish Pier and over to Dunvegan Head, mid-afternoon.

2nd

A pair of adult white-tailed eagles put on a great show over the white beach at Lower Milovaig between 1pm and 1:45pm. They landed for a while on Beinn Bhuidhe before eventually heading over the Scorr Farm. At one stage they were mobbed by a plucky merlin.

1st

The skylarks were singing for the first time this year at Waterstein (Brian Smith).

February

21st

An adult white-tailed eagle flew over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, heading towards Ferinquarrie at dusk. More skylarks arriving with three on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at dusk. The first two returning redwings were in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig early morning.

There were 24 lapwings at Loch Mor (Bob McMillan).

15th

The first two skylarks of the spring were back at Meanish this morning. There were two cormorants on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late morning. Cormorants are very scarce visitors to Loch Pooltiel. There was a pair of goosanders off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

Our first winter glaucous gull is still here, roosting with the gulls on the white beach at Lower Milovaig.

14th

A woodcock was flushed from open grassland below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late morning.

8th

There was a first winter glaucous gull on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 11am.

1st

A sub-adult white-tailed eagle put on a fantastic aerial display at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop at 11:30am as it spent around 10-15 minutes pursuing a raven, trying to force it to drop a piece of meat that it was carrying. Eventually it tired and took a rest on the cliff top before heading off towards Oisgill.

There was a single black guillemot in summer plumage off Meanish Pier, late morning.

January 2015

31st

The juvenile white-tailed eagle was back again at 8:35am, low over the white beach at Milovaig before heading off toward Ferinquarrie.

30th

A juvenile white-tailed eagle almost landed on the white beach at Milovaig before heading around to Pollosgan at 1:15pm.

26th

A flock of 8 lapwings flew SSW over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, heading towards Waterstein, early morning.

There was a white-tailed eagle circling low over Moonen Bay and Neist just before sunset.

18th

There was a white-tailed eagle soaring over the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 3pm.

17th

There was a male reed bunting in Sam's sheep fank at 1 Waterstein at 4:15pm.

9th

Despite the storms, the first snowdrops have come into bloom in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig.

3rd

On Loch Mor today: 5 dippers (including one singing male), 2 lapwings, 9 little grebes, 12 goldeneye, 3 goosanders, 1 redshank.

At Waterstein: 2 twite, 1 mistle thrush and 12 redwings.

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