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2017

Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings. Please note that the sightings below do not reflect the variety of species you can see in a normal day out birding or wildlife watching. These reports concentrate on more unusual species or significant counts or movements.

31st August:

Lewis: 103 Sooty Shearwaters flew west past the Butt between 09:00 - 12:45 along with 350 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas and 2 Arctic Skuas with 10 Wigeon heading south-east. A Lapland Bunting was 500 yards west of the lighthouse.

North Uist: A Willow Warbler was at Hougharry and a Ruff was at Loch na Reivil. 3 Ruff were at Aird an Runair.

Benbecula: A Pintail was on Loch Mor.

Marine Sightings: 6 Risso's Dolphins swam west past the Butt this morning.

 

30th August:

Lewis: A Cory's Shearwater was seen mid-way across the Minch between Ullapool and Stornoway at 18:10, heading south; also Sooty Shearwater and 30+ Storm Petrels.

North Uist: A Lapland Bunting flew over Claddach Baleshare this morning. 15 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 4 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Aird an Runair late morning.

South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was by Loch Bornish this morning along with a Whimbrel, 8 Ruff and 138 Black-tailed Godwits. Southerly passage at Ardvule this morning included 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Divers, 81 Gannets, 6 Fulmars, 194 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Arctic Terns, a juvenile Little Gull, 9 Kittiwakes and 16 Black-tailed Godwits. A single was also Whimbrel present. 220 Black-tailed Godwits were at Kildonan.

Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale was seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry this evening.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Black-throated Diver Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Black-throated Diver (John Kemp)

 

29th August:

North Uist: 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls, 2 Great Skuas and 1,233 Manx Shearwaters flew south off Balranald during a 3 hour watch this morning.

South Uist: 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls, 2 Grey Phalaropes and 29 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule this morning; also 2 Red-throated Divers, 213 Gannets, 18 Fulmars, 556 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 3 Great Skuas, 14 Kittiwakes, and 2 Arctic Terns. 65 Whimbrel flew south over Loch Ardvule this afternoon. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still at Loch Bornish this morning along with 172 Black-tailed Godwits and 9 Ruff.

Insects: At least 5 Red Admirals were at North Loch Eynort and a Painted Lady was at Kildonan.

Volucella pellucens juvenile Black-tailed Godwit Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Volucella pellucens (Steve Duffield); Black-tailed Godwit and Buff-breasted Sandpiper (John Kemp)

 

28th August:

South Uist: 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers are by Loch Bornish along with 12 Ruff, 36 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel. A juvenile Sabine's Gull and 13 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule this morning along with 926 Gannets, 3 Red-throated Divers, 746 Manx Shearwaters, 39 Fulmars, 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 1 Arctic Tern, 3 Kittiwakes and a Black Guillemot. 38 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Ruff were at Ormiclate. 46 Black-tailed Godwits were at Frobost whilst at Kildonan there were 288 Black-tailed Godwits and 5 Ruff.

Barra: 27 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Cleat this evening.

Knot Grass caterpillar Buff-breasted Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Curlew and Whimbrel
Knot Grass caterpillar (Robin Sutton); Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Curlew and Whimbrel (John Kemp)

 

27th August:

Lewis: A Swift was by Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: A Glaucous Gull and 8 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Sandary in the afternoon.

South Uist: 12 Ruff and 37 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Bornish. A Sooty Shearwater and 2 Storm Petrels flew south at Ardvule. 37 Black-tailed Godwits were at the south end of Loch Bee.

Insects: 778 moths and 34 species were caught in South Glendale last night including 613 Ear Moths agg., 1 Pink-barred Sallow, 1 Mouse Moth, 2 Heath Rustic, 1 Northern Deep-brown Dart, 12 Autumnal Rustic, 2 Anomalous, 4 Hedge Rustic, 1 Scotch Annulet, 14 Chevron as well as micros Eudonia angustea, 2 Eudonia truncicolella, 1 Agonopterix nervosa, 2 Acleris effractana and 2 Acleris aspersana.

Redpoll Anomalous Heath Rustic Mouse Moth
Redpoll (Graham Forsyth); Anomalous, Heath Rustic and Mouse Moth (John Kemp)

 

26th August:

North Uist: 120 Storm Petrels were seen from Uig - Lochmaddy ferry today; also Sandwich Tern, 2 Puffins, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie were seen on the crossing. A Swift was seen at Hougharry.

Benbecula: Around 140 Black-tailed Godwits were on Loch Mor.

South Uist: A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 12 Ruff and 56 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Bornish. 3 Ruff and 8 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.

Insects: 11 Red Admirals were in a garden in Bornish today.

Marine Sightings: 5 Risso's Dolphins, around 70 Common Dolphins, 3 Minke Whales and 20 Harbour Porpoise were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry.

 

25th August:

Lewis: A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was reported from a garden in Achmore this morning. 8 Arctic Skuas and 10 Storm Petrels were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.

Benbecula: A Sandwich Tern was off Balivanich this afternoon.

Insects: Good numbers of Red Admirals around with 3 on a croft at Claddach Baleshare and 4 in the garden at 7 Carinish as well as others in Balivanich.

Marine Sightings: 4 Minke Whales (3 together), 30 Harbour Porpoise and 100+ Common Dolphins were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.

Arctic Skua and Kittiwake Common Dolphin Minke Whale
Arctic Skua and Kittiwake, Common Dolphin and Minke Whale (Andy Williams)

 

24th August:

South Uist: 33 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale and 46 were at Loch Hallan. 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Bornish and 2 Whimbrel were at Ardvule.

Insects: 602 Ear Moth agg., 9 Rosy Rustic, 1 Anomalous, 2 Northern Deep-brown Darts, 2 White-line Darts, 2 Dark Marbled Carpet, 6 Arran Carpet, 1 Notocelia cynosbatella, 1 Acleris variegana, 2 Acleris effractana and 1 Epinotia caprana were caught in South Glendale last night.

 

23rd August:

North Uist: 2 Sandwich Terns were off Baleshare today.

Benbecula: The 2nd winter Iceland Gull is still in Stinky Bay.

South Uist: 23 Black-tailed Gowits were on the Range. 46 Black-tailed Godwits were at Askernish. 34 Black-taield Godwits and 3 Ruff were at Boisdale.

Barra: 2 Crossbills were in North Bay. A Whitethroat was at Garrygall. A Blackcap was at Creachan.

Insects: Red Admirals were seen in Carinish and at Claddach Baleshare.

 

22nd August:

North Uist: 120 Black-tailed Godwits and a juvenile Ruff were on Baleshare this afternoon. A Ruff was at Loch na Reivil.

Benbecula: A 2nd yr Iceland Gull was in Stinky Bay.

Insects: 2 Red Admirals were seen on Baleshare.

Corn Bunting, North Uist male Hen Harrier male Hen Harrier Corn Bunting and Hen Harrier (Steve Duffield)

 

21st August:

North Uist: Around 120 Black-tailed Godwits and a Glaucous Gull are on Baleshare.

Benbecula: 28 Black-tailed Godwits were just south of Balivanich this morning.

Insects: A Red Admiral was on the shore at Baleshare today. 545 moths and 34 species were caught in Carinish last night including an Archer's Dart and a Mouse Moth. 1079 moths and 43 species were trapped in South Glendale overnight including 898 Ear Moths agg., 3 Hedge Rustic, 4 Northern Deep-brown Darts, 1 Mouse Moth, 4 Autumnal Rustic, 8 Neglected Rustic, 18 Square-spot Rustic, 1 Silver Y, 1 Chestnut-coloured Carpet, 2 Scotch Annulet, 2 Striped Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Epinotia caprana, 8 Acleris aspersana and 1 Eana penziana.

Acleris rhombana Scotch Annulet Acleris rhombana (Steve Duffield); Scotch Annulet (John Kemp)

 

20th August:

Lewis: 7 Sooty Shearwaters, 15 Manx Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua a Puffin and 5 Wigeon were seen off the Butt between 09:00 - 10:00. 10 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Ruff were near Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: A 2nd summer Iceland Gull and juvenile Ruff were at Loch Sandary today. 3 Black-tailed Godwits were flying around Carinish this afternoon. 119 Black-tailed Godwits and a juvenile Ruff were seen on Baleshare.

South Uist: A juvenile Ruff and 53 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ormiclate. 12 Siskins were at Loch Eynort. 43 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Hallan.

Barra: A pair of House Martins are feeding young at Eoligarry. 70 Storm Petrels were off Leinis.

Insects: A Painted Lady was at Hougharry. 5 Red Admirals were in a Bornish garden.

Marine Sightings: A school of Common Dolphins were seen off Leinis, Barra.

 

19th August:

Lewis: 2 Storm Petrel and 351 Manx Shearwaters flew west off the Butt in a 2 hour watch in the afternoon. 55 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were at Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: 4 Black-tailed Gowits were by Loch Sandary.

South Uist: 17 Black-tailed Gowits were at Askernish; 65 were at Daliburgh and 36 were at Boisdale.

Barra: A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was seen on the east beach of Vatersay.

Marine Sightings: A breaching Minke Whale and 2 White-beaked Dolphins were seen on 16th August from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry within 5 nm of Stornoway.

Insects: 2 Painted Lady butterflies were seen at Balranald this afternoon.

Minke Whale breaching White-beaked Dolphin Minke Whale and White-beacked Dolphin (Andy Williams)

 

18th August:

Lewis: 8 Common Scoter flew south off Tiumpan head this morning.

North Uist: A male Ruff and Glaucous Gull were at Loch Sandary.

South Uist: Birds flying south at Ardvule this morning included 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers, 172 Gannets, 28 Storm Petrels and 3 Great Skuas

Marine Sightings: At least 8 Risso's Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head this morning.

Insects: 505 moths / 42 species were caught in South Glendale last night including Anomalous, Neglected Rustic, 2 Hedge Rustic, 361 Ear Moths agg., 11 Chevron, 1 Dark Marbled Carpet, 7 Crescent, 2 Epinotia caprana, 3 Acleris aspersana 1 Acleris variegana, Notocelia cynosbatella and Pyrausta despicata.

Risso's Dolphin, Lewis Risso's Dolphin, Tiumpan Head Black-throated Diver, Ardvule Storm Petrel Hedge Rustic Neglected Rustic Risso's Dolphins (Steve Duffield); Black-throated Diver, Storm Petrel, Hedge Rustic and Neglected Rustic (John Kemp)

17th August:

North Uist: A male Ruff was at Loch Sandary.

South Uist: 326 Gannets, 32 Fulmars (one blue phase), 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 771 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 15 Kittiwakes, 2 Arctic Terns, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Black Guillemot and 9 Whimbrel flew south at Ardvule this morning.

Insects: A Painted Lady was at Ardvule.

Painted Lady Sooty Shearwater Painted Lady and Sooty Shearwater (John Kemp)

 

16th August:

North Uist: An adult Sabine's Gull was seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry early afternoon.

South Uist: 3 Storm Petrels flew south at Ardvule this morning. 173 Black-tailed Godwits were at Askerish and 27 were at Boisdale.

Barra: 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 1,200 Manx Shearwaters, 5 Storm Petrels and 12 Great Skuas were seen heading south from the headland just south of Brevig this afternoon.

Marine Sightings: A Bottle-nosed Dolphin was off Ardvule this morning.

 

15th August:

Lewis: 50 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Stiapabhat today. A Sooty Shearwater was seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.

North Uist: 2 Glaucous Gulls were reported from Loch Sandary.

Benbecula: A Glaucous Gull was seen in Stinky Bay and an Iceland Gull in fields nearby.

South Uist: 28 Black-tailed Godwits were at Askernish and 24 were at Frobost.

Marine Sightings: A school of around 15 - 20 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off the Butt this morning and around 10 - 12 Risso's Dolphins were off Port of Ness before heading south.

 

14th August:

Marine Sightings: At least 15 Common Dolphins (probably many more) were off Tiumpan Head around midday.

Peregrine, Barvas Peregrine (Garham Forsyth)

 

13th August:

Harris: 150 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay. 5 Black-tailed Godwits were at Seilebost this morning and 2 were at Nothton.

South Uist: 78 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ormiclate and 43 were at Loch Bornish.

 

12th August:

Lewis: A Sabine's Gull was seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry today.

South Uist: 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Hallan today.

Marine Sightings: At least 9 Risso's Dolphins were seen close in at Tiumpan Head around midday today.

Risso's Dolphin, Outer Hebrides Risso's Dolphin, Western Isles Risso's Dolpins (Steve Duffield)

 

11th August:

Benbecula: A 2nd summer Iceland Gull was in Stinky Bay late this morning. 95 Black-tailed Godwits were in a cut field at the Dunganachy turning. 6 Whimbrel flew south off Balivanich. Around 40 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel were in fields at Torlum.

South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule this morning included 1 Great Northern Diver, 513 Gannets, 21 Fulmars, 515 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Storm Petrels, 4 Black Guillemots, 18 Kittiwakes, 2 Arctic Terns and 5 Whimbrel.

2nd summer Iceland Gull, Stinky Bay Black Guillemot juvenile Siskin Hebridean Wren Caloptilia populetorum
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield); Black Guillemot, juvenile Siskin, Wren and Caloptilia populetorum (John Kemp)

 

10th August:

North Uist: 170 Whimbrel flew south at Aird an Runair this morning in an hour watch. The 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull is still by Loch Sandary. 7 Black-tailed Godwits flew south over Carinish this morning.

Benbecula: 30 Black-tailed Godwits were at Borve and 16 at Aird.

South Uist: 17 Whimbrel flew south at Ardvule this afternoon. 37 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ormiclate. 2 Siskins were in South Glendale this morning.

Insects: 62 moths /25 species were caught at Loch Eynort last night including 11 Light Emerald, 2 Riband Wave, 1 Dark Marbled Carpet, 1 Pinion-streaked Snout, 2 Golden-rod Pugs and 1 Barred Chestnut.

Barred Chestnut Dark Marbled Carpet Large Yellow Underwing
Barred Chestnut, Dark Marbled Carpet and Lesser Yellow Underwing (John Kemp)

 

9th August:

Lewis: 3 Whimbrel were seen in Cunndal Bay, near Eoropie today.

North Uist: A Quail was calling at Balranald late this morning. The 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was in fields by Loch Sandary (where it was eating a Lapwing).

South Uist: A Crossbill was briefly in South Glendale today.

Insects: 142 Moths and 37 species were trapped in South Glendale last night which including a Crinan Ear, Small Fan-footed Wave, Striped Twin-spot Carpet, Scarce Silver Y and Acleris effractana

Corn Bunting Wheatear Crinan Ear Acleris effractana
Corn Bunting and Wheatear (Steve Duffield); Crinan Ear and Acleris effractana (John Kemp)

 

7th August:

North Uist: A Sooty Shearwater was seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this evening (about an hour out of Uig).

South Uist: A Great Skua passed Ardvule this morning and a juvenile Ruff was in the south bay there. 21 Black-tailed Godwits were in Askernish today.

Bonxie Great Skua (John Kemp)

 

6th August:

South Uist: A 1st summer Iceland Gull and a 1st summer Glaucous Gull were at Ardivachar today. At Ardvule this morning there was a southerly passage of 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 83 Gannets, 14 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Black Guillemot, 3 Great Skuas and a Whimbrel while 177 Fulmars flew north. 32 Black-tailed Godwits were at Askernish.

 

5th August:

South Uist: 7 Black-tailed Gowits were at Askernish.

Insects: 382 moths of 29 species were caught at Eochar last night inlcuding a Great Brocade.

Great Brocade Great Brocade (Robin Sutton)

 

4th August:

Lewis: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at the Butt this morning, south-west of the lighthouse before it flew south around 09:45.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tony Marr)

 

3rd August:

North Uist: The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was still at Aird an Runair today.

 

2nd August:

North Uist: An adult White-rumped Sandpiper was at Aird an Runair.

South Uist: A Redwing is in Carnan.

Insects: 164 moths and 29 species were trapped at Carnan including a Double Lobed, 3 Northern Spinach and a Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. 380 moths and 20 species were caught on Daliburgh machair including 71 Flounced Rustic, 55 Antler Moths, 36 White-line Darts, 17 Archer's Darts, 2 Lime-speck Pugs, 3 Pretty Pinions, 39 Agriphila tristella, 8 Crambus perlella and an Agonopterix kaekeritziana.

Agonopterix kaekeritziana Flounced Rustic White-line Dart
Agonopterix kaekeritziana, Flounced Rustic and White-line Dart (John Kemp)

 

1st August:

Insects: 255 moths and 53 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a Rosy Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, Six-striped Rustic, Rustic, 5 Burnished Brass, 6 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 6 Arran Carpet, 2 Agapeta hamana, 2 Pyrausta despicata, 1 Agonopterix nervosa, 3 Udea lutealis, 3 Eudonia truncicolella, Eudonia mercurella, 2 Eudonia pallida, 3 Eana osseana, 4 Crambus perlella and Acleris aspersana.

Eudonia truncicolella Eucosma cana  Pyrausta despicata
Eudonia truncicolella, Eucosma cana and Pyrausta despicata (John Kemp)