Wildlife Sightings in Glendale, Skye in 2016

December 2016

27th

There was a single gannet off Meanish Pier, early afternoon. It is very rare to get gannets around Glendale in winter.

25th

There was a stunning Christmas Day aurora at 6:10pm.

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19th

An adult white-tailed eagle flew low along the shore around Beinn Bhuidhe towards Pollosgan at 11:20am.

11th

There was an adult white-tailed eagle circling low over Loch Pooltiel and the skerries at 2pm.

2nd

There were five purple sandpipers at Neist Point (Bob McMillan).

There were 13 little grebes, 10 goldeneye, 3 goosander and 3 tufted ducks at Loch Mor, Waterstein (Bob McMillan).

November

28th

At 10am, an adult white-tailed eagle flew from the skerries in Loch Pooltiel onto the white beach where it perched on a rock for around 20 minutes, being mobbed by hoodies, before flying along the shoreline around to Pollosgan.

27th

An adult white-tailed eagle landed on the white beach at Upper Milovaig and stole a large fish from a group of hoodies at 1:40pm. It took off towards Pollosgan, carrying the fish.

26th

An adult white-tailed eagle attacked gulls that were roosting on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel before heading off into the mist over Scorr Farm at 2:30pm.

24th

A late, single puffin flew south at Neist Point at mid-day. There were two winter-plumage black guillemots in Moonen Bay in the morning.

There were 7 little grebes, 7 goldeneye, 8 lapwings and a redshank at Loch Mor at mid-day.

23rd

There was a pod of 12-15 common dolphins and a pod of 3-5 harbour porpoises close inside Moonen Bay from at least 4pm onwards.

20th

There was an otter fishing around the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.

8th

An otter went across the road at Hamara Parks at dusk.

6th

An adult white-tailed eagle flew across Loch Pooltiel onto Scorr Farm, late morning.

5th

A white-tailed eagle flew from Lower Milovaig over to Feriniquarrie, early morning.

A white-tailed eagle was soaring over croft 2 Lephin, mid afternoon.

2nd

A juvenile white-tailed eagle flew over the Lower Fasach road and on towards Milovaig, mid-morning, and a merlin was tussling with a sparrowhawk there, mid morning (Brian White).

October

29th

A barnacle goose was grazing amongst the sheep below the bottom road on croft 4 Lower Milovaig, late afternoon. It is very rare to get them on the ground in Glendale. They usally migrate overhead.

27th

Another woodcock was beside the B884 in Upper Milovaig at dawn.

26th

First woodcock of the winter in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig tonight.

25th

There was a female blackcap in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, mid morning. There was a grey wagtail beside the road at 2 Lower Milovaig at 9am.

A turtle dove has been reported at Borreraig, possibly the same bird that was at Colbost on the 5th (per skye-birds.com).

24th

There was a late chiffchaff in the garden at 2 Lower Miovaig, mid afternoon.

A flock of 50 fieldfares flew West over the top road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

23rd

There was a nice aurora which peaked between 23:30 pm and midnight.

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A flock of ten waxwings spent around an hour stripping berries from a rowan at the roadside by Meanish Pier in the morning before heading off inland.

A juvenile white-tailed eagle flew from Dunvegan Head, across the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, to Lower Milovaig at 12:30pm.

Two juvenile white-tailed eagles flew south over Loch Pooltiel at 1:15pm.

17th

A skein of 150 grey geese flew south, very high up, over Loch Pooltiel at 10am.

16th

There was a male blackcap in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon.

There were large numbers of gannets out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig, heading North.

15th

Our pair of white-tailed eagles were between the top and bottom roads in Upper Milovaig at 10:30am, then low over croft 2 Lephin at 1:30pm and then over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 3pm.

11th

The first redwings arrived in Glendale overnight, with 12 at Hamara Lodge and 8 at Colbost, early morning.

5th

There was a turtle dove feeding on the ground beside the road at Colbost at 5:45pm. This is only the second known record of this species in Glendale.

2nd

There was a mistle thrush at the plantation at Hamara Parks.

There were four wigeon on Loch Pooltiel, late morning.

1st

There was an unusually early ground frost at Lephin in the morning.

September

30th

Single chiffchaffs were reported at Lower Milovaig and Waterstein (per skye-birds.com).

27th

A great white egret has been seen and photographed on the Hamara River between the Community Hall and the former Toy Museum (per skye-birds.com).

A female/juvenile red-backed shrike was seen and photographed in a garden at Waterstein (per skye-birds.com).

25th

A small fall of migrant passerines at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop included: 100+ Meadow Pipits, 20 Twite, 12 Stonechats, 12 Pied Wagtails, a Skylark and a late leucorhoa Wheatear.

There was a grey wagtail on the allt mor burn, below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig.

19th

An adult white-tailed eagle flew over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig across Loch Pooltiel and on towards Dunvegan Head, mid afternoon.

18th

There was a flock of 32 twites at Sgarbh Lodge, late morning.

14th

There were two adult white-tailed eagles yelping over Clach Ghlas, Lower Milovaig at 7:30am.

13th

There were two minke whales putting on a good show off Neist Point from mid-day until at least 3pm.

There were two knot at Neist Point early afternoon and there were still two late wheatears at Neist Point.

11th

There were 40+ goldfinches on croft 2 Lephin, early morning.

Two leucorhoa wheatears on the top road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day and a third at Upper Milovaig all day.

10th

There was a flock of 12 linnets on croft 2 Lephin today and yesterday.

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

6th

There were three late wheatears by Borrodale School at 8am and another late bird at Upper Milovaig. There were another three leucorhoa wheatears below the top road in Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon.

An adult white-tailed eagle flew very low across Loch Pooltiel, over Beinn Bhuidhe and on towards Borrodale at mid-day.

2nd

There were two harbour porpoises, 'porpoising' off Neist Point at 3:10pm.

There was a late wheatear at the foot of the steps at Neist Point and a late winter-plumage/juvenile black guillemot in Moonen Bay during the afternoon.

1st

2017 GLENDALE CALENDAR

If you would like to put your name down for a copy of my 2017 Glendale Calendar then please email me with your contact details.

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). I can post anywhere in the world, message me for rates.

To try to keep the costs down, I will order a single batch of calendars from the printers in mid-September for delivery to you end of October, so if you definitely want me to get one printed for you then let me know ASAP.

August

31st

There was a goldcrest with two newly fledged young in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning.

30th

There was a report of an adult/2nd year Sabine's Gull going north at Neist Point at 2:10pm (per skye-birds.com).

29th

Two separate groups, each of 60 meadow pipits, flew south along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at around 8am.

24th

There was another nice aurora from 10:45pm on the 23rd through the night into the morning of the 24th.

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There were three late wheatears at Upper Milovaig at dusk.

23rd

There was a flock of 40 goldfinches at Hamaraverin at 7:45am.

22nd

There were still two lingering wheatears at Upper Milovaig today.

18th

A flock of around 100-150 redshank, flying south, came in off the sea over Loch Pooltiel and headed inland at 7:30pm.

14th

There were still nine wheatears around the Milovaig loop in the morning, including a few leucorhoa types. There was a late, singing male willow warbler at 2 Lower Milovaig in the afternoon. The black guillemots have all gone now from Loch Pooltiel.

10th

There was a nice aurora from 1am until 2am. This is the fourth aurora of the new season and 49th for the year so far.

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There were three white-tailed eagles circling over Ramasaig Bay and Moonen Bay at 5pm (Jo Hicks).

9th

There was a pod of 30+ common dolphins off Neist Point at 12:15pm.

There are still good numbers of wheatears around Milovaig and Waterstein, which is getting quite late.

There was a flock of at least 42 pied wagtails on the black beach at Ferinquarrie at sunset.

6th

The earth is currently experiencing some massive meteors from the Perseid Shower. This was one taken at 2:30am with a gold aurora.

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2nd

There was an exceptionally late display of noctilucent clouds in the early hours of the morning, peaking at 2:30am. Just when we thought the season was over.

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There were two adult and two sub-adult white-tailed eagles at Ramasaig Bay early afternoon putting on a fantastic display of rolling and tumbling. The two adults went off towards Lorgill but the sub-adults hung around the bay and Ramasaig Cliff most of the afternoon.

1st

There was a minke whale at Neist Point that came within 60-70 feet of the shore at 7:35pm (Jo Hicks).

July

31st

Two adult white-tailed eagles were seen with a juvenile bird at a site in the Glendale area.

There were still several juvenile wheatears around the Milovaig loop but most of the adults have departed now.

There were two white-tailed eagles circling over the brae at Skye Silver at 10am (Jo Hicks).

29th

This scarce, category B listed, chestnut-coloured carpet moth caught by Alison Stables last night in her trap at Lower Milovaig is only the fourth ever record for the Isle of Skye and the third record was also by Alison when she caught one last week.

27th

Our male white-tailed eagle was circling low over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at around 6pm before heading over to Lower Milovaig (Alison Stables).

24th

A bonxie flew south down the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 1:30pm.

There was a minke whale off Neist Point (Darren Sawyers).

There were at least two pearl-bordered fritillaries on the wing at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop early afternoon.

21st

We had the best display of noctilucent clouds so far this summer at 1am. They have been very elusive this year.

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20th

Report of three adult minke whales and a calf at Neist Point between 6:15pm and 8:15pm. Also two puffins (Astrid Van Eybergen).

19th

There was a single minke whale and two harbour porpoises off Neist in the afternoon.

18th

One of the pair of spotted flycatchers was feeding in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 7:30pm with a newly fledged juvenile.

12th

White-tailed eagle yelping over Loch Pooltiel by the white beach at mid-day, headed over to Ferinquarrie.

11th

Our pair of white-tailed eagles have re-appeared today. The male was at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, heading towards Oisgill, at mid-day. The female was at Hamaraverin, heading towards Pollosgan at 2pm. They had gone to ground after their nest failed for the second year running, so it is nice to see them back on the patch.

10th

The spotted flycatchers at 1 Lower Milovaig have now successfully fledged at least one young.

3rd

A pair of spotted flycatchers have nested in a garden at Lower Milovaig, with adults busily feeding young today. This is the first known breeding record of this species in Milovaig.

June

13th

The black-headed bunting has gone. Time to keep an eye on your bird feeders in case it pays you a visit.

You can view a short video clip of the bird here.

12th

There were two harbour porpoises in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, late morning.

The black-headed bunting is still present in a private garden in the Glendale area.

11th

The black-headed bunting was still visiting a garden in the Glendale area.

10th

A superb male black-headed bunting turned up in a garden in the Glendale area at 3pm and was still present late evening. This is the first ever record for this species on the Isle of Skye.

May

29th

A spotted flycatcher was in the spruces at 1 & 2 Lower Milovaig, late morning. This is only the 2nd known record for this species in Milovaig.

A second singing male whitethroat was back in territory, at 14 Lower Milovaig, this morning. Obviously, we are seeing a late flush of migrants arriving this weekend.

28th

Again, extremely late, the first singing male whitethroat of the year was at 2 Lower Milovaig, late afternoon.

26th

Again very late, the first singing male sedge warbler was back in territory at Lephin at 11:30pm.

23rd

Very late but the first sand martins were back at Borrodale School this morning with a group of 4 along the burn.

21st

A small pod of around 6 to 10 common dolphins did a quick whizz around Loch Pooltiel just after 7pm.

16th

The first fledged baby house sparrows of the season were out of the nest at 2 Lower Milovaig, early evening.

The first midges were biting today in Glendale. It was inevitable that it would happen eventually!

15th

Our male white-tailed eagle flew along the bottom road in Upper Milovaig towards Borrodale at mid-day.

8th

Our male white-tailed eagle flew along the top road in Upper Milovaig on on towards Borrodale at 11:45am.

There were six leucorhoa male wheatears around the Milovaig loop, late morning.

6th

There was a white-tailed eagle over Upper Milovaig that headed out towards Scorr Farm at 7:30am.

Swallows arrived en masse today at Lephin, Borrdale, Milovaig and Waterstein, with most territories holding birds for the first time this spring.

4th

The first sand martins, a small group of six, was by the bridge between the camp-site and village at Dunvegan at 5:30pm.

3rd

A cuckoo was calling on croft 2 Lephin, late morning for the first time this year.

April

30th

Still very scarce, only the 2nd swallow of the spring was at Holmisdale at 4pm.

29th

Our male white-tailed eagle was very low over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 8:30am.

28th

The first singing male redpoll of the spring was back at Lephin this morning.

27th

The first cuckoo of the spring was heard at Fasach (Iona Craft).

24th

The first greenland-race leucorhoa wheatears were passing through today, with ten males and at least three females around the Milovaig loop in the morning. There were also two intermediate males at Milovaig and two further leucorhoa males on croft 2 Lephin.

The first common sandpiper was back on the white beach at Lower Milovaig, late morning.

The willow warblers are now fully returned to Milovaig, with all territories occupied.

The violets and primroses are now in full bloom around Milovaig.

23rd

There was a white wagtail below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig, late afternoon.

22nd

A group of 5 siskins turned up overnight at 2 Lower Milovaig and were visiting bird feeders.

There was a decent fall of meadow pipits overnight with 200+ along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig.

21st

There was a first-winter Iceland Gull on the skerries off Lower Milovaig at 7:30am.

There are still around a dozen redwings around the gardens at 1 and 2 Lower Milovaig. Willow warblers made it to Lower Milovaig today, with a singing male at 2 Lower Milovaig.

A shot of the stunning male hawfinch that was still in a private garden at Dunvegan today. Photo courtesy of Bob McMillan (skye-birds.com).

20th

There was a report of two hawfinches visiting feeders in a garden at Dunvegan (per skye-birds.com).

19th

The first swallow was back at Lower Milovaig at 7am.

17th

The first singing male twite was back at Lower Milovaig this morning. There was a merlin hunting meadow pipits below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 8am.

There was a greenshank on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late morning.

16th

The first singing male linnet was back on croft 2 Lephin this morning.

13th

Singing male willow warbler back at Lephin.

12th

There was a nice aurora as soon as it got dark.

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The first singing male willow warbler was back in the garden of the Three Chimneys at 8am.

10th

Two skeins of sixty pink-footed geese flew North over Lower Milovaig mid morning.

There was a flock of 40 redwings at 2 Lower Milovaig, with a few smaller groups around the Milovaig loop.

There is still a black-throated diver in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel.

7th

An adult white-tailed eagle flew very low across Loch Pooltiel from Upper Milovaig to Scorr Farm at 6:30am.

4th

There were two pairs of red-throated divers and a black-throated diver in Moonen Bay, mid afternoon. Two gannets off Neist Point. All of the razorbills and guillemots are back on the nesting ledges now.

There were ten lesser black-backs and two pairs of goosanders on Loch Mor, mid afternoon.

There were several small groups of redwings dotted along the Glasphein-Ferinquarrie road, late morning, totalling around 30 birds.

Most wheatear territories throughout Glendale are now occupied with singing males.

Our male white-tailed eagle was over croft 2 Lephin at 6pm and headed off towards Ramasaig.

Our male white-tailed eagle was over Loch Pooltiel at 8pm and headed over the hill to Galtrigill.

March

30th

Wheatears flooding in overnight, with ten males and two females around the Milovaig loop this morning.

There was a single black-throated diver in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, mid morning.

Our male white-tailed eagle was circling over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at 3:45pm before heading off towards Borrodale.

29th

Two male wheatears came in overnight at Upper Milovaig. The first returnees of the spring.

28th

The first returning flock of icelandic redwings came in overnight, with a wall of song from spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig and probably 30-50 birds, with several dotted around the gardens in full song.

The first siskins also arrived overnight, with a male visiting feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig, early morning.

There have now been five lesser black-backs at Hamara Parks since last Thursday.

A sub-adult white-tailed eagle, with a white tail but wide brown terminal band, flew along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig towards the pier at mid-day.

26th

The first meadow pipits returned today with a flock of 30 at Upper Milovaig, with six male pied wagtails having come in overnight.

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

25th

There was a white-tailed eagle circling high over Meanish at 9:30am.

Nine puffins and four gannets flew North past Neist Point in the morning. There were two twites at Waterstein.

19th

There was a male reed bunting coming to the bird table at Lephin Cottage at mid-day.

The first white-tailed bumble bee of the spring was in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig.

18th

There was a singing male goldcrest in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig all day.

There was a white-tailed eagle flying along the Ramasaig road and then circling over the Borrodale crofts at 4:40pm.

16th

There was a fantastic aurora tonight.

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15th

There was a woodcock circling around croft 2 Lephin at dusk.

14th

There was a fantastic aurora tonight.

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The first returning lapwing of the spring was on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 9am.

13th

Skylarks today returned to Milovaig and Lephin for the first time this spring, although they have been at Waterstein for a while.

There are now a pair of pied wagtails back in territory in Upper Milovaig.

12th

The first lesser black-backed gull of the spring was back at Hamara Parks, early morning.

10th

The first returning pied wagtail of the spring was on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, late afternoon (Alison Stables).

6th

There was a snipe at the roadside on the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 11:30am.

5th

A white-tailed eagle flew over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig and on towards Pollosgan at 10:30am.

Our resident male white-tailed eagle flew along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 6:15pm, heading towards the pier.

February

28th

The first returning skylarks, a flock of 12, were back at Waterstein today and briefly harrassed by a pair of peregrine falcons (Brian Smith).

27th

A pair of peregrine falcons were doing a display flight and calling very loudly over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, mid morning.

22nd

There was an adult white-tailed eagle circling over croft 2 Lephin at 3:15pm that gradually drifted towards Holmisdale.

19th

Our pair of white-tailed eagles were circling below the bottom road in Upper Milovaig, mid afternoon.

17th

There was an aurora most of the night but with a period of strong colour to the naked eye just after 10pm.

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14th

Our female white-tailed eagle flew across Beinn Bhuidhe and along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig towards the pier at 3:15pm.

13th

A pair of white-tailed eagles flew over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 5:30pm and across to Dunvegan Head.

12th

There was a very bright but fairly static aurora on the night of 11th/12th.

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First report of a flock of 8 twites back at Waterstein today (Brian Smith).

8th

There was a decent aurora all night but cloud made getting a glimpse very difficult until after 1am. If you want alerts of auroras check out my new app at https://www.glendaleskye.com/aurora-alerts/

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7th

There were two black-throated divers off the white beach at Lower Milovaig, a single red-throated diver in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel and a great northern diver in outer Loch Pooltiel. There was a winter plumage common guillemot off Meanish, the first returnee of the spring. All of the black guillemots are fully returned now, with just a single bird still in winter plumage. There was an adult white-tailed eagle off Dunvegan Head at mid-day. Just 19 grey seals on the skerries today.

Our male white-tailed eagle was circling over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at 2:15pm.

3rd

There was a barn owl hunting around the gardens at 2 Lephin at 8am that headed off towards the community hall.

January 2016

31st

The snowdrops have just started to bloom in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig.

26th

Our pair of white-tailed eagles were over Beinn Bhuidhe, Upper Milovaig at 3:45pm (Alison Stables).

18th

Our female white-tailed eagle flew South above the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 1:30pm.

17th

There was a dog otter fishing around 50 yards off Meanish Pier between 11am and 11:45am. It caught and ate several large fish before coming ashore and spending 30 minutes rolling in the seaweed and grooming.

16th

A white-tailed eagle flew South above the bottom road through Lower and Upper Milovaig at around 3pm.

15th

Two white-tailed eagles flew North below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 8:45am.

Our male white-tailed eagle flew North past Borrodale School at 11:30am, heading towards Pollosgan.

10th

Our male white-tailed eagle was soaring low over the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 1pm. (Alison Stables)

9th

There were 18 eiders, 2 black guillemots and a single common guillemot at Neist Point.

There were six goldeneye and a pair of goosanders on Loch Mor.

There were 50 seals on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.

8th

The first two returning black guillemots were off Meanish, late morning. Both birds were in full winter plumage.

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

4th

Unusually this winter we are still regularly seeing gannets and one came into Loch Pooltiel around the skerries mid morning.

3rd

Two adult white-tailed eagles spent well over an hour perching on and fishing beside the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, mid morning.

1st

There was an exceptional aurora to see in the New Year, which started around 7pm on Hogmanay and peaked from 11:45 until 1:30am.

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There were six gannets feeding in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.