2019-another good year

31st December 2019

Despite being a birder for more year's than I can remember, prompted by a few friends, I only started seriously listing a few years ago and my Scottish list kept ticking along during 2019. Apart from chasing the finds of others, I managed to make my own contribution with a self found Blue-winged Teal at Mellon Charles in March, and a Long-billed Dowitcher in South Uist in September. The biggest rarity was probably a Blue Rock Thrush in Orkney, potentially only the 2nd record for Scotland, seen on a crazy day safari from Skye. As always there were a few dips on the way including a frustrating Myrtle Warbler on North Uist, but this was topped by a Cliff Swallow at Loch Poolteil, a 1st for Scotland which only remained for a few hours. A Yellow-legged Gull was another addition to the Skye list along with a historical record of a Richardson's Cackling Goose. My annual Scottish list reached 227 species with several trips to the Western Isles and a great holiday on North Ronaldsay helping this along. As always this total was greatly helped by birding friends to whom I'm grateful. Many thanks also, to all who have contributed records to this website and I wish you the best of birding in 2020.

THE BOOK

"A glorious little gem"

AMAZON

"A book such as this has to look backwards and the author does so succinctly, looking at the work of several of the pioneering naturalists before picking out the publications of JA Harvie-Brown and the Rev. Hugh Macpherson. I know this book fills a real gap in the information available for the Isle of Skye and it will surely sell well at local bookshops."

Andrew Currie Miscellany West Highland Free Press

"A total of 238 species have been recorded, with 14 of those 'red listed' as of high conservation concern ... another innovation has been the inclusion of Gaelic names for some birds. While this is not uncommon in a few other books, the addition of some regional Gaelic names is very unusual and very welcome."

Ray Collier Country Diary 'Up in the Skye' The Guardian

"Illustrated with beautiful photographs of current birdlife on the island, the publication also features sketches by Jean Thomas of The Little Gallery, Portnalong, stimulating the reader's interest further and allowing them to identify species they encounter on Skye."

The Hebridean