Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2019
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31st August:
Lewis: 44 Black-tailed Godwits were at Steinish today.
St , Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen in Village Bay this evening.
South Uist: A Great Skua, 7 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and the juv Pectoral Sandpiper were on the Range this morning. A Ruff was at Ardivachar. A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 Ruff and 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Bornish. 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale. 2 Sooty Shearwaters , 250 Manx Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua and 8 Storm Petrels were seen from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry.
Pectoral Sandpiper, Ruff and Wheatear (John Kemp)
30th August:
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta today.
North Uist: The ferry crossing between Lochmaddy and Uig around midday produced 33 Storm Petrels, 50+ Manx Shearwaters, 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua.
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule this morning of 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 103 Gannets, 29 Fulmars, 67 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Storm Petrels, 15 Arctic Terns, 4 Common Terns, 119 Kittiwakes, 3 Great Skuas and 3 Arctic Skuas; also present a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper and 22 Knot. 48 Knot and a Great Skua flew south at Smerclate. A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 5 Ruff and 16 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Range at LA2. 2 Pomarine Skuas flew south past the Pollochar this morning.
Common Tern, Pectoral Sandpiper and Snipe (John Kemp)
29th August:
North Uist: 4 Ruff and at least 10 Black-tailed Godwits are at Loch Sandary.
South Uist: A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper is at Kilpheder. 50 Black-tailed Godwits are at Boisdale. 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 50 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Great Skuas and an Arctic Skua flew south past the Pollochar this afternoon; also 80 Black-tailed Godwits flew south followed by another 50 - 60 south through the Sound of Barra later.
Barra: A 3 hour watch off Aird a Chaolais, Vatersay this afternoon produced 48 Sooty Shearwaters, 2,000 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Arctic Terns, 2 Great Skuas and a Whimbrel heading south. The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Craigston.
Wheatear and Whooper Swans (Steve Duffield)
28th August:
North Uist: 5 Ruff and 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Sandary.
South Uist: A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Kilpheder Point today. 50 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale. An Osprey was seen at Loch Bornish this afternoon.
Curlew Sandpiper and Otters (John Kemp)
27th August:
North Uist: 4 Whimbrel were at Balranald and a Lapland Bunting was seen there. 35 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff were by Loch Sandary.
South Uist: 120 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale whilst 28 were at Askernish, 17 were at Daliburgh, 7 were at Frobost and 12 were at Kildonan.
Barra: The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Craigston. A Grey Wagtail was at Brevig and a Spotted Flycatcher was in Northbay.
Merlin (John Kemp)
26th August:
Lewis: 30 Black-tailed Godwits were in fields opposite Plasterfield estate, Stornoway today.
North Uist: The Rosy Starling was seen in Locheport again today. 13 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff were near Loch Sandary.
Barra: The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Craigston.
Insects: Another Convolulus Hawkmoth was seen today; this morning outside the Griminish surgery in Benbecula.
Rose-coloured Starling (Peter deVries)
25th August:
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta today.
Harris: 135 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay.
South Uist: A Wilson's Petrel was reported from the Mallaig - Lochboisdale ferry this afternoon.
Insects: A large catch of moths last night included 3 Convolvulus Hawkmoths in South Glendale; plus a fourth there in the evening feeding in the garden.
Convolvulus Hawkmoths and Peacock Buttefly (John Kemp)
24th August:
Harris: A Whimbrel was at Huisinish today.
North Uist: 54 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Whimbrel and 3 Ruff were on Baleshare this afternoon. The Rose-coloured Starling is still visiting a garden in Locheport.
South Uist: 2 Black-tailed Godwits were on Bornish machair. 10 Whimbrel flew south at Ardivachar this morning.
Barra: A Pomarine Skua was seen heading south-west off Cleat in the morning. 3000 Manx Shearwaters flew south off Brevig in an hour this morning.
Bonxie and Chiffchaff (John Kemp)
23rd August:
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen in Village Bay, Hirta this morning.
Harris: 7 Black-tailed Godwits were at Seilebost.
North Uist: 19 Black-tailed Godwits were at Balemore this morning. A female Blackcap was in Langass Wood.
South Uist: 311 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers, 33 Fulmars, 42 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrels, 1 Great Skua south at Ardvule this whilst a Whimbrel came in off the sea.
22nd August:
Lewis: 11 Black-tailed Godwits were in Ness. A Sooty Shearwater, 200+ Manx Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua, 3 Great Skuas, 15 Storm Petrels and 3 Black-throated Divers were seen heading south from the Butt (09:00 - 12:00).
North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper and Glaucous Gull were at Loch Paible today.
South Uist: Birds south at Ardvule included 5 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 345 Gannets, 58 Fulmars, 93 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrels, 3 Great Skuas, 3 Kittiwakes and 1 Arctic Tern. A Ruff and 12 Black-tailed Godwits were on Bornish machair.
Barra: A Sooty Shearwater was seen from Vatersay along with 570 Manx Shearwaters; also a Grey Wagtail here. 20 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff flew south over Northbay this morning.
Black-throated Diver (John Kemp)
21st August:
Lewis: 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ness.
North Uist: A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and 42 Knot were on Loch Paible.
Benbecula: 64 Black-tailed Godwits were in fields at Liniclate.
South Uist: 11 Black-tailed Godwits were at Askernish.
Hen Harrier and waders - including Curlew Sandpiper (Martin Benson)
20th August:
A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Scarasta Mhor today and 140 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay.
Insects: 73 moths/ 27 species were trapped at North Loch Eynort last night which included 2 Pink-barred Sallow, 6 Barred Chestnut, 1 Dun-bar, 1 Neglected Rustic, 2 Golden-rod Pugs, 4 Dark Marbled Carpet, 14 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 1 Epinotia ramella, 2 Eudonia angustea, 1 Agonopterix nervosa and a Gracillaria syringella. 208 moths / 23 species were trapped at South Glendale last night which included 2 Heath Rustic, 1 Neglected Rustic, 11 Autumnal Rustic, 1 Striped Twin-spot Carpet, 4 Hedge Rustic, 2 Northern Deep-brown Darts, 1 Eudonia angustea and 3 Udea lutealis.
Agonopterix nervosa, Barred Chestnut, Dun-bar and Epinotia ramella (John Kemp)
19th August:
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta.
North Uist: 36 Black-tailed Godwits were at Balemore today.
South Uist: At Ardvule this morning 110 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers (+ 2 on the sea), 2 Black-throated Divers, (1 Great Northern Diver on the sea), 110 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Storm Petrels, also 2 Whimbrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Golden Plover flew south over the sea. A single Great Skua flew north. 84 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale.
Barra: A Pomarine Skua flew south off Brevig this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins swam north off Ardvule this morning.
Black-throated Divers and Red-throated Diver (John Kemp)
18th August:
Harris: 110 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay. 4 Black-tailed Godwits were at Scarasta Mhor.
North Uist: A Rose-coloured Starling is still at feeders in Loch Euphort. 63 Black-tailed Godwits were by Loch Sandary.
South Uist: Birds flying south at Ardvule this morning included 1 Red-throated Diver, 111 Gannets, 96 Fulmars, 94 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 24 Storm Petrels, 1 Black Guillemot, 1 Puffin, 42 Kittiwakes, 1 Arctic Tern and an Arctic Skua while a Great Skua flew north. 2 Ruff were on Bornish machair. 34 Black-tailed Godwits were at the north end of Loch Bee.
Barra: A juvenile Little Stint was at Traigh Mhor. 20 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Vatersay.
Ruff (John Kemp)
17th August:
Harris: 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Sgarasta Mhor.
South Uist: Birds flying south at Ardvule this morning included 2 Great Northern Divers, 199 Gannets, 94 Fulmars, 375 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Storm Petrels, 3 Common Terns, 6 Kittiwakes and 3 Great Skuas; also 8 Black-tailed Godwits were present. 2 Ruff were on Bornish machair.
Barra: A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull was at Craigston.
Marine Sightings: 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins swam south off Ardvule this morning.
juvenile Shelducks and Sea Holly (Steve Duffield); Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Storm Petrel (John Kemp)
16th August:
Harris: Around 50 Common Scoters and 2 Velvet Scoters were reported from the Sound of Taransay today.
South Uist: 83 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers, 11 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater, 5 Storm Petrels, 1 Great Skua, 1 Kittiwake and 16 Whimbrel flew south at Ardvule this morning. A Ruff was on Bornish machair.
Ruff and Whimbrel (John Kemp)
15th August
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta this afternoon.
14th August:
Insects: 248 moths / 33 species were caught in South Glendale last which included 2 Treble-bar, 1 Scotch Annulet, 2 Striped Twin-spot Carpet, 3 Autumnal Rustic, 3 Crescent, 3 Northern Deep-brown Dart, 5 Burnished Brass, 1 Silver Y, Eudonia angustea, Udea lutealis, 3 Acleris aspersana and 4 Eana osseana.
Sparrowhawk (Sandy at Rushlee House); Treble-bar and Northern Deep-brown Dart (John Kemp)
13th August:
North Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was near Rubh' Arnal. A juvenile Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwits were at Balranald.
Insects: 2 Graylings and 2 Dark Green Fritillaries were seen on the Easabhal this afternoon.
Knot and Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield); Red Admiral (John Kemp)
12th August:
South Uist: At Ardvule this morning a southerly movement of 37 Gannets (also 27 N), 1 Storm Petrel, 7 Manx Shearwaters and 1 Arctic Tern while birds flying north were 13 Kittiwakes, 156 Fulmars and an Arctic Skua.
Marine Sightings: A male Orca (John Coe) was seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Common Blue and Dark Green Fritillary (John Kemp)
11th August:
North Uist: 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull and 14 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Sandary. A Rose-coloured Starling was seen in Locheport today.
10th August:
Lewis: An Osprey was seen in flight over Uig Lodge heading towards Ardroil this morning.
North Uist: 3 Black-tailed Godwits were on Baleshare today.
South Uist: 2 Great Skuas and 8 juvenile Knot were seen at Ardvule this morning.
Insects: 137 moths/32 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 34 Antler Moth, 3 Hedge Rustic, 1 Minor Shoulder-knot, 1 Scotch Annulet, 11 Chevron, 1 Small Rivulet and micro moths 2 Eudonia angustea, Epinotia immundana and Mompha propinquella.
Peregrine with juvenile Common Gull, Hedge Rustic, Mompha propinquella and Eudonia angustea (John Kemp)
8th August:
North Uist: 7 Black-tailed Godwits were in recently cut fields at Hougharry this morning. A Green Sandpiper flew south at Bagh Hogha Glan this evening.
6th August:
North Uist: A female Two-barred Crossbill was at Langass Wood before flying south towards Langass Lodge although wasn't relocated here. A Two-barred Crossbill was heard calling along the track on the west side of Ben Risary plantation.
South Uist: A juvenile Crossbill was briefly in Bornish.
Barra: A male Two-barred Crossbill was at Bruernish this morning.
5th August:
North Uist: A Quail was heard calling along the Udal north of Sollas.
3rd August:
South Uist: The Osprey was still at Druidibeg this morning. 3 Common Sandpipers were on the coast at Stoneybridge.
Insects: 71 Ear agg., 343 Flounced Rustic, 102 White-line Dart, 8 Archer’s Dart, 25 Crambus perlella, 5 Plutella xylostella, 1 Pyrausta despicata, 1 Acleris aspersana, 5 Eana osseana and 1 Cochylis atricapitana were caught on Daliburgh machair last night. 103 moths of 24 species were caught at Carnan including 6 Double Lobed, 4 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, a Light Emerald and Evergestis pallidata amongst others.
2nd August:
Lewis: An Osprey was seen at Ardroil.
North Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was on the beach at Baleshare this afternoon.
South Uist: The Osprey was seen at Druidibeg again today.
Insects: A couple of hundred Painted Ladies were seen on the machair at Baleshare this afternoon. 2 Northern Rustic, Chestnut-coloured Carpet, Scotch Annulet, Cnephasia conspersana, Scrobipalpa samadensis, Udea lutealis and Agriphila geniculea were caught on Eriskay last night.
Short-eared Owl (Steve Duffield)
1st August:
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen near the radar station on Hirta.
North Uist: 12 Storm Petrel were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this afternoon. 2 or 3 Two-barred Crossbills were seen in Langass Wood this afternoon.
Insects: Painted Lady butterflies are around in huge numbers at the moment with 100's seen on Barra today.
Agonopterix kaekeritziana and Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana (John Kemp); Cuckoo being fed by Meadow Pipit (Steve Duffield)