What We Saw June 2007
Walks:
7th June Balranald Walk – 4 people. The highlight was 4 Otters along the beach just north of the visitor centre (13:00) just as we were returning. Two ran into the see across the beach, played in the see for a while before running back across the beach and into their holt. A further two were seen feeding just off-shore along the same beach; we actually left them feeding after watching for15 minutes. Some of the birds we saw: Arctic Skua, Corn Bunting, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Corncrake (heard only), Skylark. Some of the plants: Sea Campion, Common Storksbill, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Wild Pansy, Biting Stonecrop.
12th June: Druidibeg Walk – 10 people. The highlight was probably a male Merlin that showed well as it darted past us. Other birds we saw included good views of Golden plover, plus Buzzards, Meadow Pipits, Raven. Some of the plants we saw: Greater and Round-leaved Sundew, Heath Speedwell, Butterwort, Lousewort, Marsh Lousewort, Bell Heather, Crowberry, Heath Spotted Orchid, Bog Myrtle, Bog Pimpernel. Others: Beautiful Golden Underwing.
5th July: Guided walk - 3 people. Birds included a female Merlin carrying prey out at Aird an Runair. Other species: Buzzard, Red-throated Diver, Little Tern, Arctic Tern, Dunlin, lapwing, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Snipe, Curlew, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Eider, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Pied Wagtail, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar; plus a selection of gulls Plants: a fine display on the machair included a cropped patch full of Viper's Bugloss and Long-headed Poppy as well as Sun Spurge, Tufted Vetch etc. On Aird an Runair we saw a number of Frog Orchids as well as Early Marsh Orchid (coccinea) and Northern Marsh Orchid. Other species we saw: Sea Campion, Biting Stonecrop, Wild Carrot, Common Knapweed, Yellow Rattle, Lady's Bedstraw, Wild Pansy, Corn Marigold, Bog Pimpernel, Common Storksbill, Scots Lovage, Wild Thyme, Cornsalad, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Lesser Meadow Rue, Tansy and many more. We also had a look at an Otter holt although the only signs were a fairly old spraint.
19th July: Machair in Bloom - This walks took across Torlum / Borve machair to look at a selection of the wildlife although we concentrated on the flowers which included a Pyramidal Orchid. Other plants we saw: Common Spotted Orchid (hebridensis); Early Marsh Orchid (coccinea); Common Storksbill, Long-headed Poppy, Wild Carrot, Wild Pansy, Saltmarsh Club-rush, Sun Spurge, Red Clover, White Clover, Kidney Vetch, Tufted Vetch, Common Knapweed, Corn Marigold. Birds: Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling, Oystercatcher, Little Tern, Raven, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Swallow, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Corncrake (heard only). We also saw a few Common Seals and the migrant hoverlfy; Scaeva pyrastri
Pyramidal Orchid and Scaeva pyrastri
21st July: Otter walk - We had prolonged views of two Otters as the fed in the sea loch and then played on the rocks whilst they groomed and maintained their pelts. All in all they were in view for at least half an hour. Birds: Adult White-tailed Eagle came overhead and we also saw a male Hen Harrier, Merlin and Buzzard. Raven, Red-throated Divers (around 7), Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Redpoll, Willow Warbler, Common Sandpiper. Plants included Round-leaved Sundew, Butterwort and Pale Butterwort. Other things of interest included Dark Green Fritillary, Common Hawker, Highland Darter and Common Blue Damselfly; plus a few Common Seals.
adult White-tailed Eagle
Tours:
7th June: Half day tour – 2 people. Unfortunately we didn't manage to see Otter despite giving it a good go at various locations. We did see a good selection of birds including: Golden Eagle showing well along Loch Portain road. We also saw male Hen Harriers in a couple of locations; Red-throated Divers at Loch Portain; Red-breasted Mergansers, excellent views of Common Snipe, Redshank, Short-eared Owls, Raven, Common Buzzard. Others: Common Seal. Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly (ovipositing). Heath-spotted Orchids, Butterwort, etc.
9th June: Half day tour - 2 people. The main aim was to see Otters which we managed to do with a mother and two kits feeding and clambering on rocks for around half an hour. Birds we saw included: an immature and adult White-tailed Eagle; an adult Golden Eagle; Osprey (unusual here - not resident in the isles); Short-eared Owl, Red-throated Divers, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Razorbill, Little Terns, Whooper Swans, Mute Swans, Corn Bunting, Sedge Warbler etc. A selection of other wildlife seen included Common Seals, Large Heath butterfly, Painted Lady, Four-spotted Chaser, Large Red Damselfly, Blue-tailed and Common Blue Damselflies. Pale Butterwort plus Common Butterwort.
10th June: Day tour - 2 people. This was a taster trip, the couple wanted to just see a broad selection of things including a variety of flowers. Birds included: Short-eared Owl, Golden Eagle, Hen Harriers, Red-necked Phalarope, Corncrake, Corn Bunting, Raven, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Lapwing, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe. Some of the plants we saw: Hebridean Marsh Orchid, Northern Marsh Ocrhid, Early Marsh Orchid, White and Sea Campion, Shepherd's Purse, Long-headed Poppy, Wild Carrot, Wild Pansy, Common Storksbill, Dove's-foot Cranesbill, Cornsalad etc. Other species included the Nationally rare Great Yellow Bumblebee.
14th June: Half day tour - 2 people. Undoubtedly the highlight of this trip for the two participants were the two Otters showing very well for at least half an hour as they clambered up and down rocks playing as they followed each other in and out of the loch. One eventually fell asleep on its back with its legs in the air. Some of the birds we saw included a Corncrake (photo below) walking about in the open at Balranald; Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle, Short-eared Owl, Skylark, Grey Heron, Raven, Curlew, Common Buzzard plus many more.
Corncrake showing well at Balranald - 14th June.
23rd June: Day tour - 2 people. Birds included a 1st yr Bonaparte's Gull on the river at Howmore. Some of the other bird we saw: 1st yr Glaucous Gull, Kittiwake, Red-throated Divers, Shoveler with ducklings; Tufted Duck with ducklings; Eiders with ducklings, Greylag Gesse, Dunlin, Lapwing, Snipe, Redshank, Whimbrel (7+); Curlew, Ringed Plover, at least 3 Golden Eagles including one feeding a chick; Common Redpoll (male showing very well); 4 Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owls; Raven etc. Other: Red Deer and Common Seals. A selection of the plants: Common Spotted Orchid (hebridensis); Heath Spotted Orchid, Lesser Butterlfy Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid, Early Marsh Orchid (coccinea), Fumitory, Long-headed poppy, Wild Pansy, Wild Carrot, Hogweed, Yellow Rattle, Eyebright sp. Corn Marigold, Round-leaved and Greater Sundew; Butterwort, Fool's Watercress, Water Speedwell, Lousewort, Thyme, Kidney Vetch, Tufted Vetch, Ragwort, Changing Forget-me-not, Charlock, Catsear, Bog Asphodel, Common Storksbill, Sun Spurge, Marsh Cinquefoil, Bog Pimpernell, Slender St. John's wort.
27th June: Day tour - 2 people. Birds included: a large female Peregrine showing well; Red-throated Divers, Corn Buntings, Skylarks, Arctic Skuas, Common and Arctic Terns; Eiders, Wheatears, Twite, Linnet, Common Buzzard, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Great Northern Divers, Common Sandpipers, Redshanks, Black Guillemot, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake. Mammals: Common Seal, Grey Seal and an Otter feeding in harbour mouth before the Barra ferry almost mowed it down! Plants: Pyramidal Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Heath Spotted Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid, Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Bog Asphodel, Common Centaury, Wild Carrot, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Bog Pimpernell, Thyme, Butterwort, Hogweed, Long-headed Poppy, White Campion, Tufted Vetch, White Clover, Sun Spurge, Lousewort, Yellow Rattle, Ribwort Plantain, Sea Plantain, Common Knapweed, Lady's Bedstraw, Honeysuckle, Ox-eye Daisy, Pineapple Weed, Scentless Mayweed, Yarrow, Lesser Burdock, Eyebright sps. Common Blue butterly, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady.
Common Blue butterfly and Pyramidal Orchid - Barra, 27th June.
26th July: Day tour - 2 people. Birds include 2 adult White-tailed Eagles, a female Merlin, Buzzard, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Lapwing, Eider, Shelduck, Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Shag, Cormorant, Red-throated Diver, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Raven, 5 species of gull, Rock Dove, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Robin, Swallow, Wheatear, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Hebridean Wren, Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Corn Bunting. Mammals: good views of 3 Otters as they played on rocks and fished just off-shore for around 20 minutes. Other: we also saw at least 2 Basking Sharks off the east side of Eriskay. Insects: included Dark Green Fritillary, Grayling, Common Blue butterflies as well as Highland Darter and Common Hawker.
29th July: Day tour - single person. Birds included an adult White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, male and female Merlin, male and female Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Buzzard, Red-throated Divers, Raven, Hooded Crow, Short-eared Owl, Dunlin, Lapwing, Turnstone, Sanderling, Greenshank, Redshank, Curlew, Black Guillemot, Gannet, Cormorant, Coot, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Wigeon, Mallard, Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Corncrake (heard only), Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Goldcrest, Hebridean Wren, Corn Bunting, Linnet, Twite, Rock Dove, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Swallow etc. Mammals: Red Deer at various locations and both adult and young Common Seals. Other: Large Heath and Common Blue butterflies, Great Yellow Bunblebee, Moss Carder Bumblebee, White-tailed Bumblebee, Highland Darter, Common Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Dasmselfly. Plants: Frog Orchid, Sun Spurge, Long-headed Poppy, Corn Marigold, Wild Pansy, Common Storksbill, Tansy, Red Clover, Kidney Vetch, Tufted Vetch, Greater Sundew, Butterwort, Viper's Bugloss and Ragged Robin amongst others.
Great Yellow Bumblebee on Tufted Vetch.
2nd August: Day tour - 4 people. The highlight has to go to the Otter that showed very well as it fed close to us for around 20 minutes. We also had good views of lots of Common Seals and a couple of Grey Seals. Birds: Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Eider, Tufted Duck, Buzzard, Merlin, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Knot (flock of around 30 knot in summer plumage), Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Greenshank, Redshank, Curlew, Whimbrel, various gulls inclduing Kittiwake; Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Razorbill, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Robin, Blackbird, Redpoll, Raven, Starling, Twite. Plants: Common Butterwort, Pale Butterwort, Round-leaved Sundew, Figwort, Common Spotted Orchid, Ragged Robin etc.
Otter
14th August: Day tour - 3 people. Excellent, prolonged views of a dog Otter at the end of the day was probably the highlight although other mammals featured during the tour with many sightings of Red Deer in North Uist and both Grey and Common Seals. Birds included 2 Golden Eagles, both a juvenile and male Hen Harrier, lots of Buzzards and Kestrel. We also saw Red-throated Diver, Dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Curlew, Slavonian Grebe (unusual at this time of year), Little Grebe, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Wren, Robin, Redpoll, Skylark, Gannet etc. Other: Common Hawker, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock (rare in the Outer Hebs). Plants: Common Butterwort, Pale Butterwort, Round-leaved Sundew, Corn Marigold etc.
22nd August: Half day tour - 15 people. A very productive afternoon after a morning of thick fog. Birds of prey included an adult White-tailed Eagle, a female Peregrine Falcon plus Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk. Other birds we saw: Greylag Geese, Mute Swan, Mallard, Eider, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Raven, Hooded Crow, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Great Skua (overhead), Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Red-throated Diver, Rock Dover, Wheatear, Wren, Twite, etc. Mammals included good views of an Otter (for around 10 minutes) and both Grey and Common Seals. Plants: Common Butterwort, Pale Butterwort, Round-leaved Sundew, Red Bartsia etc.
31st August: Full day tour - 2 people. Excellent views of three Otters as they rested on the bank of a tidal loch in South Uist got the trip off to a good start. Other mammals we saw during the day included lots of Common Seals of varying ages. Birds included: immature White-tailed Eagle, juvenile Hen Harrier, male Merlin, Buzzards and Kestrels. Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Shag, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Eider, Knot, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew, Greenshank and Redshank. Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Gannet, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Corn Bunting, Rock Dove, Willow Warbler, Redpoll, Wren, Stonechat, Swallow and brief views of a Common Rosefinch. Plants: Round-leaved Sundew, Pale Butterwort, Common Butterwort, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Common Storksbill, Wild Pansy, Red Bartsia. Other: Moss Carder Bumblebee.
Otters seen during the tour.
4th September: Full day tour for 2 people. Although the weather was against us with mist and rain in the morning followed by mist in the afternoon we managed a pretty good day out with decent views of 2 Otters for around half an hour towards the end of the day. We also had excellent views of Common Seals and a single Grey Seal. Birds of prey included a juvenile White-tailed Eagle, 2 Merlin, a juvenile Peregrine Falcon and Buzzards. Other birds we saw: Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Grey Plover, Curlew and Tursntone. We also saw Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Eider, Teal, Sheladuck, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese and Cormorant.
6th September: Full day tour for 3 people. The day started well with an Otter showing well whilst feeding in the open for around 15 minutes. Mammal wise we also saw numerous Common Seals and quite a few Red Deer. Birds of prey featured well with all 8 resident species picked up during the day: White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, juvenile Hen Harrier, 2 Peregrine, 2 Merlin, 2 Kestrel, a male Sparrowhawk and numerous Buzzards. Other birds: Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew, Snipe, Redshank, Greenshank, Dunlin, Sanderling, Knot, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Red-breasted Merganser, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Hooded Crow, Raven, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Swallow. Other: dragonflies we saw included Black Darter, Highland Darter and Common Hawker. Round-leaved Sundew.
11th September: Half day tour for 2 people. A nice start to the day with good views of an Otter for around 15 minutes sat out on the seaweed before heading off into the water to feed. We also had views of Common Seal and a number of Red Deer. Birds included: Red-throated Diver, Cormorant, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Redshank, Greenshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, Greylag Goose, Chaffinch, Raven, Hooded Crow, amongst others. We also saw two dead cetaceans: a Pilot Whale and dolphin species. Other: We saw the springtail Annurida maritima which appears as a coating of fine dark particles on the sand but see the photo below for a close up shot. Plants: Wild Pansy, Viper's Bugloss etc.
The springtail: Annurida maritima
12th September: A half day tour to learn some of the local birdlife: A full morning with lots of waders including: Pectoral Sandpiper, Black-tailed Godwits, Bar-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Redshank, Curlew, Hen Harrier (2), Peregrine Falcon (2), Buzzards, Grey Heron, Raven, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Red-breasted Merganser, Cormorant, Teal, Mallard, Shelduck, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Arctic Tern, House Sparrow, Starling, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Corn Bunting. We also saw a lone Grey Seal
