The records that appear below are unchecked reports. In the case of rare species, their inclusion here does not imply acceptance by a rarities committee. An archive of previous months can be found here
Please submit any notable records to the Moray & Nairn Bird Recorder via e-mail (martin.cook99@btinternet.com) or use the Contact page on this website.
3/8/2026 Quail 3 singing Dipple Farm (NJ328583) Alastair Young
Quail trapped for ringing, Dipple 3 August 2026 (Alastair Young)
3/8/2026 Greenshank 1, Kingfisher 1 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
3/8/2026 (09:30-10:30) Little Gull 1 (adult), Turnstone 24, Canada Goose 11, Greylag Goose 49, Pink-footed Goose 1, Goldeneye 3, Goosander 117 Spey estuary (east side and river mouth) Martin Cook
3/8/2026 (09:15-09:45) Greenshank 7, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Curlew 105, Lapwing 80, Dunlin 14, Common Sandpiper 1, Common Tern 19, Little Grebe 1 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
2/8/2026 Quail 1 singing Broom of Moy Ian Bailey
2/8/2026 Manx Shearwater 14, Arctic Skua 1, Black Guillemot 1 Nairn (off west golf course) Dave Pullan
2/8/2026 Little Tern 5 (including 2 juveniles) off Delnies Dave Pullan
2/8/2026 Quail 1 singing Findhorn Bay (still in field just west of Mosset Burn) Matt Broadbent
2/8/2026 Kingfisher 1 Pitchroy (River Spey) Neil Sutherland & Carol Armour
2/8/2026 (06:00-08:00) Arctic Skua 3, Little Tern 1, Sandwich Tern 251, Common Tern 12, Kittiwake 78, Gannet 265, Fulmar 6, Guillemot 2, Razorbill 1, Common Scoter 10, Eider 1 past Lossiemouth Bob Proctor
1/8/2026 Quail 2 singing Burnside of Dipple (NJ329669) Alastair Young
1/8/2024 Quail 1 singing Westerton Farm (NJ318568) Alastair Young
1/8/2026 (16:10) Cory’s Shearwater 1 Nairn (flew west) Dave Pullan
1/8/2026 (am) Reed Warbler 1 (possibly 2) Loch Spynie Bob Proctor
1/8/2026 (15:00) Black Guillemot 15+ off Findochty (in one flock on the sea c.500m out) Martin & Jenny Cook
1/8/2026 (13:05-15:05) Gannet 315, Fulmar 7, Sandwich Tern 115, Kittiwake 33, Black Guillemot 3, Guillemot 3 past Lossiemouth Bob Proctor
1/8/2026 (10:00-10:30) Canada Goose 11, Greylag Goose 46, Pink-footed Goose 1, Curlew 239, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Turnstone 11 Spey estuary (east side) Martin Cook
1/8/2026 (09:00) Black-tailed Godwit 4, Greenshank 2, Dunlin 12, Curlew 18, Lapwing 76, Rook 150+ (on shingle spit towards river mouth) Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
31/7/2026 REPORT ADDED TO ‘RINGING IN MORAY & NAIRN’ (Sandwich Tern)
31/7/2026 (15:30-16:30) Wigeon 46, Tufted Duck 10, Mallard 200+, Greylag Goose 23 Loch Spynie Martin Cook
31/7/2026 (14:00-15:00) Gadwall 19 (including well-grown juveniles) Cloddach quarry Martin Cook
31/7/2026 (15:00) Bearded Tit 3 juveniles Loch Spynie (at the hide) Rob Debenham
Bearded Tit, Loch Spynie 31 July 2026 (Rob Debenham)
31/7/2026 Canada Goose 77, Greylag Goose 364, Pink-footed Goose 16, Goosander 32, Oystercatcher 756, Curlew 341, Redshank 276 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
31/7/2026 Oystercatcher 63, Ringed Plover 15, Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Redshank 45, Turnstone 33, Sandwich Tern 5 Burghead Richard Somers Cocks
31/7/2026 (pm) Arctic Skua 2 Cullen Bay (chasing terns) Lenny Simpson
31/7/2026 (pm) Whimbrel 3, Greenshank 2 Portknockie (flew past) Lenny Simpson
31/7/2026 (12:20-12:40) Quail 4 singing south side of Findhorn Bay (1 at Netherton Farm, 3 between Netherton Farm and Seafield) Graham & Sue Larrington
31/7/2026 (08:15-08:50) Kingfisher 1 (mouth of Mosset Burn), Greylag Goose c.277, Canada Goose 9 Findhorn Bay Graham & Sue Larrington
30/7/2026 Ptarmigan 11 Ben Avon Malcolm Garden
30/7/2026 (09:00) Greenshank 6, Little Ringed Plover 2, Dunlin 30 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
29/7/2026 Sandwich Tern 62 Findhorn beach Richard Somers Cocks
29/7/2026 Knot 14, Curlew 301, Redshank 271, Turnstone 2 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
29/7/2026 (04:00) Quail 2 singing, Greenshank 2 (at the river) Bogmoor David Main
29/7/2026 (18:30-19:30) Little Gull 1 (adult – not the Lossiemouth bird), Common Tern 17, Turnstone 6, Ringed Plover 11, Oystercatcher 17, Goosander 100, Eider 16 Spey estuary (east side and river mouth) Martin Cook
29/7/2026 (12:50-13:50) Sandwich Tern 18, Gannet 114, Black Guillemot 2, Guillemot 4, Kittiwake 19, Curlew 5 past Lossiemouth Graham & Sue Larrington
29/7/2026 Grey Partridge 2 Longmorn Jimmy MacDonald
29/7/2026 (10:30-11:30) Sandwich Tern 33 (including 13 juveniles), Bar-tailed Godwit 16, Turnstone 19, Redshank 32, Knot 1, Oystercatcher 50 Burghead (c.1 km east) Graham & Sue Larrington
29/7/2026 (09:00) Greenshank 1, Redshank 1, Dunlin 40, Common Sandpiper 1, Snipe 7, Lapwing 63, Curlew 2 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
29/7/2026 (08:00-09:00) Dunlin 41, Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Greylag Goose 4, Canada Goose 20 (flew over), Osprey 4 (perched), Raven 1, Quail 1 (singing nearby) Findhorn Bay (mouth of Mosset Burn) Graham & Sue Larrington
28/7/2026 (15:00) Greenshank 1 Findhorn Bay (mouth of Mosset Burn) Allan Lawrence
28/7/2026 (12:40) Little Gull 1 (adult) Lossie estuary Roddy Mavor
28/7/2026 (09:50) Golden Plover 2 Lossiemouth airfield Allan Lawrence
27/7/2026 (late am) Sanderling c.50 beach below Covesea village Neil Sutherland & Carol Armour
27/7/2026 (14:00-15:15) Common Tern 42, Arctic Tern 4, Sandwich Tern 4, Oystercatcher 36, Dunlin 6, Ringed Plover 27, Sanderling 5, Grey Wagtail 1 Lossie estuary Graham & Sue Larrington
27/7/2026 Brent Goose (pale-bellied) 1, Canada Goose 75, Greylag Goose 62, Pink-footed Goose 23, Shelduck 65, Goosander 36, Curlew 335 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
27/7/2026 (15:00) Crested Tit 1 Rochuln (NJ073473, in a small isolated stand of Scots Pine) Martin Cook
27/7/2026 Quail 2 singing Mundole (NJ0156) Roddy Mavor
27/7/2026 Quail 1 singing Seafield (south of Findhorn Bay) Roddy Mavor
27/7/2026(09:00-09:30) Bar-tailed Godwit 23, Turnstone 13, Redshank 3, Guillemot 13 Burghead maltings Graham & Sue Larrington
27/7/2026 (am) Black-tailed Godwit 3, Redshank 27 Lossie estuary Allan Lawrence
27/7/2026 (06:30) Black-tailed Godwit 7, Greenshank 2, Dunlin 4, Ringed Plover 4, Curlew 1, Lapwing 68, Snipe 2, Greylag Goose 36, Pink-footed Goose 1, Goldeneye 3 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
27/7/2026 Sanderling 20 Covesea David Gabb
26/7/2026 Merlin 1 juvenile Westerton Farm per Alastair Young
26/7/2026 Manx Shearwater 10 Burghead Bay (from Findhorn dunes) Richard Somers Cocks
26/7/2026 (15:00-16:30) Greenshank 3, Common Sandpiper 2 Lossie estuary (up river) Henry Farquhar
26/7/2026 (15:00-16:00) Greenshank 1, Redshank 45, Curlew 125, Lapwing 63, Oystercatcher 26, Ringed Plover 9, Greylag Goose 32 (including a pure white bird), Goosander 93, Common Tern 11, Arctic Tern 3, Sandwich Tern 2 Spey estuary and river mouth Martin Cook
26/7/2026 (am) Little Gull 1 (adult), Redshank 26, Dunlin 6, Sanderling 1, Turnstone 1 Lossie estuary Bob Proctor
Little Gull, Lossie estuary 26 July 2026 (Bob Proctor)
26/7/2026 (09:00-10:00) Manx Shearwater 10, Arctic Skua 1, Gannet 352 past Lossiemouth Graham & Sue Larrington
26/7/2026 (06:25-08:25) Great Skua 2, Manx Shearwater 5, Fulmar 12, Gannet 294, Kittiwake 319, Sandwich Tern 25, Common Tern 22, Arctic Tern 2, Puffin 4, Guillemot 496, Razorbill 14, Common Scoter 2, Eider 4, Oystercatcher 4 past Lossiemouth Bob Proctor
25/7/2026 Hobby 1 Mosstodloch (at Sand Martin colony down river) Alastair Young
25/7/2026 (late evening) Quail 3 singing Clochan David Law
25/7/2026 (17:15-17:45) Manx Shearwater 4 past Strathlene Martin Cook
25/7/2026 (16:15-16:35) Manx Shearwater 18 past Lossiemouth Duncan Gibson
25/7/2026 (am) Manx Shearwater 3, Arctic Skua 2, Little Tern 1, Black-throated Diver 2, Red-throated Diver 5, Whimbrel 1, Greenshank 2 Delnies Dave Pullan
25/7/26 (pm) Turnstone 6 Burghead Richard Somers Cocks
Turnstone, Burghead 25 July 2026 (Richard Somers Cocks)
25/7/2026 Quail 1 singing, Corn Bunting 1 singing near Wester Coltfield (NJ107642) Roddy Mavor
25/7/2026 Quail 1 singing Findhorn Bay (barley field west of Mosset Burn) Graham & Sue Larrington
25/7/2026 (13:34-14:20) Greylag Goose 41, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Knot 4, Kingfisher 1 Findhorn Bay (mouth of Mosset Burn) Graham & Sue Larrington
25/7/2026 (10:00-11:00) Manx Shearwater 6 past Burghead Graham & Sue Larrington
25/7/2026 (07:10-09:00) Turnstone 24, Dunlin 19, Ringed Plover 10, Sanderling 15, Redshank 17, Oystercatcher 20, Sandwich Tern 15, Goosander 1 Lossie estuary Graham & Sue Larrington
25/7/2026 (12:20) Hen Harrier 1 (female/immature) near Hilton of Delnies Paulo Bessa
25/7/2026 (am) Arctic Skua 2 off Nairn Andy Chapman
25/7/2026 (08:00) Cory’s Shearwater 1 Burghead (flew west) Kevin Cuthbert
Cory’s Shearwater, Burghead 25 July 2026 (Kevin Cuthbert)
24/7/2026 Whimbrel 1 between Findochty-Portessie Donna Taylor
24/7/2026 Whimbrel 9 Nairn (flew past) Colin Leslie
24/7/2026 (14:00) Black-tailed Godwit 11, Greenshank 2, Dunlin 24, Common Sandpiper 2, Redshank 11, Curlew 6, Lapwing 46 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
24/7/2026 (08:10-08:40) Kittiwake 264, Gannet 157, Razorbill 190, Guillemot 47 past Lossiemouth Graham & Sue Larrington
24/7/2026 (06:30) Whimbrel 4, Greenshank 1 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
23/7/2026 (21:15) Greylag Goose 88, Oystercatcher 67, Curlew 16, Ringed Plover 7, Redshank 1, Dunlin 1 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
23/7/2026 Raven 25 (in one flock) near Nether Ardwell (Cabrach) David Law
23/7/2026 Whinchat 1 Nether Ardwell (Cabrach, below the road bridge over the river NJ378308) David Law
Whinchat, near Nether Ardwell 23 July 2026 (David Law)
23/7/2026 Common Tern 42 Loch Spynie Richard Somers Cocks, Tom Dewick
23/7/2026 (15:30) Whimbrel 4 Spey estuary James Officer
Whimbrel, Spey estuary 23 July 2026 (James Officer)
23/7/2026 (07:30) Quail 1 singing Dallachy airfield Keith Paterson
22/7/2026 (after sunset) Quail 5 singing Penick near Auldearn (2 between A96 and Penick and 3 just NW of Penick. All in Barley fields) Dave Pullan
22/7/2026 (21:00) Oystercatcher 293, Ringed Plover 17, Redshank 18, Knot 1, Dunlin 1 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
22/7/2026 (15:30) Ringed Plover 51, Lapwing 29, Oystercatcher 13, Turnstone 2 Spey estuary (east side) Martin Cook
22/7/2026 (13:00) Black-tailed Godwit 11, Greenshank 2, Redshank 5, Sanderling 1, Dunlin 11, Ringed Plover 7, Common Sandpiper 2, Snipe 4 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
22/7/2026 (08:30-11:15) Common Tern 23, Greenshank 1, Redshank 46, Oystercatcher 52, Ringed Plover 15, Dunlin 1, Curlew 6, Common Sandpiper 1, Greylag Goose 4 Lossie estuary and up river Graham & Sue Larrington
21/7/2026 Quail 2 singing Wester Hardmuir (along road to Penick NH941562 and NH935561) George and Rob Polson
21/7/2026 (20:00) Little Gull 1, Sanderling 8, Ringed Plover 13, Oystercatcher 40, Redshank 10, Dunlin 1 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
21/7/2026 (11:30) Little Ringed Plover 1, Ringed Plover 25, Greenshank 1, Redshank 1, Dunlin 13, Common Sandpiper 2, Snipe 4, Lapwing 37 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
21/7/2026 Whinchat 1 Auchnahyle (Glen Avon) Malcolm Garden
Whinchat, Auchnahyle 21 July 2026 (Malcolm Garden)
21/7/2026 (pm) Greenshank 3 Findhorn Bay (south-west corner) Richard Somers Cocks
21/7/2026 (pm) Quail 1 singing Findhorn Bay (beside Netherton bank access track NJ036616) Richard Somers Cocks
21/7/2026 (10:25) Quail 2 singing Auldearn (along road from here to Penick NH9256/9356) per Birdguides
21/7/2026 (early am) Quail 1 singing Blackcastle (NH8354) per Birdguides
20/7/2026 (20:20) Quail 1 singing Newton (near Garmouth NJ336620) Martin Cook
20/7/2026 (15:30-17:30) Great Skua 1, Whimbrel 1 (flew west) off Findochty Martin & Jenny Cook
Great Skua, off Findochty 20 July 2026 (Martin Cook)
20/7/2026 Pink-footed Goose 27, Oystercatcher 558, Curlew 242, Redshank 148, Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
20/7/2026 (15:15) Quail 1 singing Wester Hardmuir (field near fruit farm NH944561) per Birdguides
19/7/2026 (am) Whinchat 1 Nether Ardwell (Cabrach, below the road bridge over the river NJ378308) Mark Keighley & Helen Jackson
19/7/2026 (11:00) Greenshank 1, Redshank 9, Lapwing 60, Dunlin 1, Ringed Plover 1, Snipe 2, Common Sandpiper 5, Gadwall 1 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
18/7/2026 (18:20-18:40) Oystercatcher 138, Common Tern 11, Kittiwake 1 Lossie estuary Bob Proctor
18/7/2026 (16:15-18:15) Storm Petrel 1, Manx Shearwater 18, Great Skua 2, Fulmar 17, Gannet 408, Guillemot 74, Razorbill 2, Black Guillemot 1, Kittiwake 365, Sandwich Tern 9, Dunlin 8 past Lossiemouth Bob Proctor
18/7/2926 (07:35-08:00) Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Oystercatcher 5, Dunlin 1, Herring Gull 582, Great Black-backed Gull 239 Lossie estuary Bob Proctor
18/7/2026 (06:30-07:30) Manx Shearwater 4, Fulmar 6, Gannet 149, Guillemot 103, Kittiwake 41, Common Tern 4 past Lossiemouth Bob Proctor
18/7/2026 (11:00) Sanderling 2, Dunlin 4, Ringed Plover 26, Snipe 3, Common Sandpiper 2, Lapwing 51 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
17/7/2026 Ring Ouzel 6 (family party) Ben Avon (at 1050m) Malcolm Garden
Ring Ouzel (juvenile), Ben Avon 17 July 2026 (Malcolm Garden)
17/7/2026 Canada Goose 96, Pink-footed Goose 16, Greylag Goose 2 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
17/7/2026 (12:00) Greenshank 1, Redshank 33, Sanderling 8, Ringed Plover 14, Lapwing 65, Goldeneye 3, Goosander c.190 Spey estuary (east side) and river mouth Martin Cook
16/7/2026 (20:50) Knot 1, Dunlin 5, Oystercatcher 54, Redshank 25 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
16/7/2026 (11:00) Little Ringed Plover 3, Dunlin 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Lapwing 59, Redshank 17, Little Grebe 1 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
14/7/2026 (10:30) Black-tailed Godwit 1, Redshank 34, Goosander 48, Eider 18, Shelduck 17 (including broods of 4 and 5 large young), Goldeneye 2 Spey estuary (east side) and river mouth Martin Cook
14/7/2026 (07:30) Little Ringed Plover 3, Ringed Plover 12, Dunlin 22, Lapwing 61, Curlew 1 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
13/7/2026 Canada Goose 108, Greylag Goose 3, Pink-footed Goose 14, Shelduck 294, Oystercatcher 332, Curlew 246, Redshank 132, Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Findhorn Bay Richard Somers Cocks
13/7/2026 Short-eared Owl 1 Cairngorms plateau Dave Pullan
13/7/2026 (12:00) Quail 1 singing Inchrory (Glen Avon NJ178082 – in grass field at 400m surrounded by Heather moorland) Martin & Jenny Cook
13/7/2026 Quail 1 still singing Parkhill (Drybridge) Fiona McHugh
12/7/2026 (06:30-07:15) Whimbrel 1, Black-tailed Godwit 8, Redshank 30, Dunlin 47, Sanderling 1, Little Ringed Plover 2, Ringed Plover 12, Curlew 1, Lapwing 32, Common Sandpiper 2, Whooper Swan 1, Goldeneye 6 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
11/7/2026 (14:15-14:45) Black-tailed Godwit 16, Redshank 131, Dunlin 87, Sanderling 3, Little Ringed Plover 2, Ringed Plover 27, Curlew 37, Lapwing 33, Common Sandpiper 10 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
11/7/2026 (07:25-07:30) Bar-tailed Godwit 2, Redshank 10, Dunlin 3 Lossie estuary Bob Proctor
11/7/2026 (06:20-07:20) Manx Shearwater 5, Fulmar 2, Gannet 48, Guillemot 23, Kittiwake 41, Sandwich Tern 16, Common Tern 7 past Lossiemouth Bob Proctor
10/7/2026 (12:30) Little Ringed Plover 2, Ringed Plover 24, Dunlin 12, Common Sandpiper 22, Goldeneye 5 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
9/7/2026 (17:00) Greylag Goose 760 Lochindorb (on Tirriemore grass fields in north-west corner) Martin Cook
9/7/2026 Quail 1 singing Parkhill (Drybridge) Fiona McHugh
9/7/2026 Quail 1 singing Dava moor (NH919374) Stuart Benn
9/7/2026 (pm) Whooper Swan 1 Spey estuary James Officer
Whooper Swan, Spey estuary 9 July 2026 (James Officer)
8/7/2026 (13:30) Quail 1 singing Nether Dallachy (field behind Spey Bay Hall) Keith Paterson
7/7/2026 Pink-footed Goose 33, Shelduck 260+ Findhorn Bay Allan Lawrence
7/7/2026 (17:25) Whimbrel 1 Culbin gut (NH9662) Roy Dennis
7/7/2026 (pm) Quail 1 singing Burnside of Enzie (NJ3960) David Law
7/7/2026 (15:00) Raven 3 Findhorn Bay (south-west corner) Mark Jackson
6/7/2026 (10:00) Little Ringed Plover 4, Ringed Plover 20, Dunlin 17, Common Sandpiper 13, Snipe 3, Lapwing 36, Redshank 10 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
5/7/2026 (12:30-13:00) Black-tailed Godwit 5, Curlew 75, Lapwing 21, Goldeneye 6, Moorhen 2 Spey estuary (east side) Martin Cook
5/7/2026 (09:20-10:20) Little Ringed Plover 6, Ringed Plover 16, Dunlin 10, Common Sandpiper 7, Snipe 2, Black-tailed Godwit 5, Lapwing 5, Teal 1 Spey estuary (west side) Graham & Sue Larrington
Black-tailed Godwit, Spey estuary 5 July 2026 (Graham Larrington)
4/7/2026 (20:30) Redshank 34 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
4/7/2026 Grey Plover 1 still on Lossie estuary Graham & Sue Larrington
Grey Plover, Lossie estuary 4 July 2026 (Graham Larrington)
4/7/2026 Manx Shearwater 14 off Nairn (in feeding frenzy with a Minke Whale and gulls) Dave Pullan
4/7/2026 (10:00-10:30) Black-tailed Godwit 87, Greenshank 1, Little Ringed Plover 5, Ringed Plover 20, Dunlin 8, Lapwing 32, Curlew 2, Common Sandpiper 6, Redshank 6, Snipe 2 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
3/7/2026 (09:30) Grey Plover 1 still on Lossie estuary Graham & Sue Larrington, Martin Cook
2/7/2026 (19:30) Whimbrel 1 Lossie estuary Alasdair Murphy
2/7/2026 (19:00-19:30) Roseate Tern 2 (adults) Lossie estuary Alasdair Murphy
Roseate Terns, Lossie estuary 2 July 2026 (Alasdair Murphy)
2/7/2026 (pm) Raven 2 Findhorn Bay (south-west corner) Mark Jackson
2/7/2026 (22:00) Quail 1 singing Clochan (NJ4060) Martin Cook
2/7/2026 (18:00) Roseate Tern 1 (adult) Lossie estuary Alasdair Murphy
Roseate Tern [front right], Lossie estuary 2 July 2026 (Alasdair Murphy)
2/7/2026 (09:30) Black-tailed Godwit 3, Little Ringed Plover 5, Ringed Plover 15, Dunlin 17, Common Sandpiper 5, Redshank 9, Lapwing 19, Curlew 1, Goldeneye 5 Spey estuary (west side) Raymond Shewan
2/7/2026 (09:20) Grey Plover 1, Common Tern 50, Arctic Tern 1 Lossie estuary Graham & Sue Larrington
2/7/2026 Grey Plover 1 Lossie estuary Henry Farquhar
1/7/2026 Quail 1 singing Enzie (near Buckie NJ408627) James Dick
1/7/2026 (evening) Mediterranean Gull 1 (3CY), Grey Plover 1, Greenshank 1 Lossie estuary Alasdair Murphy
1/7/2026 (14:00) Canada Goose 167 Findhorn Bay (from Netherton bank) Roy Dennis