2015

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 July:

South Uist: Sea-watching at Ardvule early this morning produced the following flying south: 1,369 Gannets, 12 Fulmars, 51 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 3 Black Guillemots, 14 Razorbills, 5 Guillemots, flock of 10 Arctic Terns (all local birds now gone) and 7 Golden Plover in off sea. A Whimbrel was also still present.

Nothern Colletes and Eupeodes corollae (Steve Duffield)

 

30th July:

Benbecula: 14 Black-tailed Godwits flew south over Loch Mor this afternoon.

Barra: A Magpie was at South Allasdale.

Insects: 295 moths of 47 species were caught in South Glendale last night which included Grey Mountain Carpet, Oblique Carpet, Treble-bar, Pinion-streaked Snout, 4 Scarce Silver Y, Drinker and micros Eudonia murana, Eudonia mercurella, Eudonia truncicolella and Phycitodes saxicola. On Eriskay 143 moths of 44 species were trapped including 3 Chestnut-coloured Carpets, 1 Barred Rivulet, 1 Grass Rivulet, 1 Thyme Pug, 7 Scotch Annulet, 12 Rustic, 1 Pinion-streaked Snout and micros 3 Eana penziana, Cnephasia conspersana and Eudonia mercurella.

Chestnut-coloured Carpet, Eudonia mercurella, Grey Mountain Carpet, Scotch Annulet and Treble-bar (John Kemp).

 

29th July:

Lewis: The Rose-coloured Starling was still in South Dell today.

 

27th July:

Lewis: The Rose-coloured Starling was seen in South Dell again this morning.

Insects: 451 moths of 52 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 2 Scarce Silver Y, 1 Pinion-streaked Snout and 1 Rustic with micros including 2 Catoptria margaritella, 1 Cochylimorpha straminea and 2 Eudonia mercurella.

Sand Martin and Swallows (Steve Duffield); Catoptria margaritella, Crambus pascuella, Ingrailed Clay and Pinion-streaked Snout (John Kemp)

 

26th July:

Lewis: The Rose-coloured Starling was seen againl in South Dell today as it has, every day this week.

North Uist: A summer plumage Great Northern Diver was on Loch Brusda, Berneray today.

Insects: 267 mothsof 23 species were caught in South Glendale last night which were mostly True Lover’s Knots but also 2 Rustic, 1 Angle Shades,  1 Burnished Brass and 2 Dotted Clays. At North Loch Eynort 214 moths / 31 species were trapped which included 43 Mottled Beauty, 9 Barred Red, 20 Light Emerald, 2 Riband Wave, 2 Small Fan-footed Wave, 6 Drinker, 1 Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Scarce Silver Y, 7 Dotted Clay, 10 Pandemis cerasana and 2 Eudonia truncicolella.

Eudonia truncicnolella, Riband Wave and Small Fan-footed Wave (John Kemp)

 

25th July:

North Uist: A Whimbrel was at Aird an Runair this morning.

Marine Sightings: At least 8 Risso's Dolphins were seen off the east side of Ronay from the Lady Anne this afternoon.

Insects: 580 moths of 59 species were trapped in Carinish last night including a Sallow Kitten.

Sallow Kitten, White-tailed Eagle and Risso's Dolphins (Steve Duffield)

 

24th July:

South Uist: A Whimbrel was on the coast at Stoneybridge today.

Insects: A Painted Lady butterfly was at North Loch Eynort and another was at Stoneybridge.

 

23rd July:

Manx Shearwaters (Steve Duffield)

 

22nd July:

Lochboisdale - Oban: An immature Pomarine Skua was seen from the ferry early this afternoon.

Storm Petrel and Manx Shearwaters (Steve Duffield)

21st July:

South Uist: Ardvule this morning produced a southerly movement of 889 Gannets, 277 Manx Shearwaters, 57 Fulmars, 7 Storm Petrels, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, 18 Puffins, 1 Black Guillemot, 37 Razorbills, 35 Guillemots and 49 Auk sp.

Late news of a drake King Eider off North Rona on 22nd June.

 

20th July:

Insects: 774 moths of 41 species were trapped on Daliburgh machair last night including 2 Mottled Rustic, 7 Archer’s Dart, 1 Silver Y, 471 Pretty Pinion, 8 Barred Rivulet, 133 Lime-speck Pugs, 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Diamond-back Moth, 5 Celypha striana, 1 Scoparia pyralella and 1 Pleurota bicostella. In South Glendale 629 moths of 50 species were trapped which included 324 True Lover’s Knot, 2 Scarce Silver Y, 2 Dotted Clay, 2 Snout, 10 Narrow-winged Pugs, 1 Grey Pug, 3 Foxglove Pugs, 1 Rush Veneer, 1 Aphelia paleana and 3 Eudonia murana. A Beautiful Carpet was found on at Ardivachar this morning.

Beautiful Carpet (Chris Johnson); Aphelia paleana, Scoparia pyralella and Barred Rivulet (John Kemp)

Celypha striana, Mottled Rustic and Scarce Silver Y (John Kemp); White-tailed Eagle (Steve Duffield)

 

19th July:

North Uist: A single Black-tailed Godwit was on Loch Paible today.

Insects: 296 moths of 42 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a worn Small Dotted Buff, as well as a Dark Sword-grass and Diamond-back Moth plus an odd form of White Ermine known as ab. godarti. 355 moths of 50 species were caught in Carinish including a Diamond-back and a Dark Sword-grass. A Hummingbird Hawkmoth was seen at Ardivachar today; and it or another was also there on 17th.

Small Dotted Buff and White Ermine (John Kemp)

 

18th July:

Lewis: A Rose-coloured Starling was in South Dell today.

North Uist: The immature Iceland Gull was still at Aird an Runair.

South Uist: Seawatching at Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of 3 Great Northern Divers, 1423 Gannets, 21 Storm Petrels, 724 Manx Shearwaters, 67 Fulmars, 65 Razorbills, 18 Guillemots, 41 Auks sp., 2 Black Guillemots, 12 Puffins. Also 2 Great Skuas flew north and one south. A Red-necked Phalarope was at Balgarva this afternoon. 57 Black-tailed Godwits were at Eochar and 6 were at Loch an't-Saile along with a male Ruff.

Manx Shearwater, Great Northern Diver and Merlin (John Kemp)

 

16th July:

Insects: 2 Scotch Annulets were caught on Eriskay last night. Spectacular sight of around 4,500 Magpie Moths fluttering about over the heather in South Glendale at 0630 hrs this morning; also 4 Six-spot Burnets, 6 Yellow Shell, Large Heath, 4 Small Heath, 6 Meadow Brown, 2 Dark Green Fritillaries and 8 Common Blue in the afternoon.

Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale and a handful of Harbour Porpoise were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this afternoon.

Merlin and Six-spot Burnet (John Kemp)

 

15th July:

Insects: 228 moths of 37 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a Phiaris schulziana. On Daliburgh machair 70 moths of 14 species were caught including a single Map-winged Swift, Common Rustic, 2 Archer’s Darts, 10 Lime-speck Pugs, 2 Wormwood Pugs and 37 Pretty Pinions.

Common Rustic and Phiaris schulziana (John Kemp)

 

14th July:

Insects: Moths trapped last at North Loch Eynort include 215 moths / 32 species including 6 Barred Red, 7 Light Emerald, 9 Brimstone Moths, 1 Poplar Lutestring, 1 Buff-tip, 21 Drinkers, 2 Coxcomb Prominent, 2 Iron Prominent, 7 Poplar Hawk-moths single Common and Grey Pug. Micros included 2 Notocelia uddmanniana and 29 Pandemis cerasana. At South Glendale 175 moths / 37 species were caught including a very late Puss Moth, 21 Drinkers, 2 Small Square-spots, 1 Straw Dot, 1 Light Arches and micros Notocelia cynosbatella, 2 Notocelia uddmanniana, Pyla fusca and Evergestis pallidata.

Buff Tip, Coxcomb Prominent, Iron Prominent, Fox Moth and Notocelia uddmanniana (John Kemp)

 

13th July:

North Uist: The Little Stint was at Aird an Runair again this morning.

Insects: Moths and butterflies seen in South Glendale today include 3 Micropterix aruncella, 3 Glyphipterix thrasonella, 1 Bryotropha terrella, 4 Aphelia viburnana, 1 Evergestis pallidata, 3 Silver Y as well as a Dark Green Fritillary and a Ringlet.

Arran Carpet, Evergestis pallidata and Glyphipterix thrasonella (John Kemp)

 

12th July:

South Uist: 428 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Storm Petrels, 366 Gannets, 2 Common Scoter, 2 Pomarine Skuas and a Great Skua flew south at Ardvule early this morning; the Whimbrel was also still present. A Siskin is in South Glendale.

Pomarine Skuas (John Kemp)

 

11th July:

South Uist: 28 Storm Petrels and 219 Manx Shearwaters flew south past Ardvule early this morning.

 

10th July:

North Uist: A 1st summer Iceland Gull and a Little Stint were at Aird an Runair today.

South Uist: A Whimbrel is hanging around the Balgarva / Loch Bee area.

 

9th July:

Insects: Moths and butterflies on Daliburgh machair today included 6 Silver Y, 1 Cinnabar, 3 Middle-barred Minor and 24 Grass Rivulets while micros included 13 Micropterix aruncella and 10 Epiblema costipunctana. Also seen were Meadow Brown and 3 Common Blues.

 

8th July:

Marine Sightings: Around 6 Common Dolphins were seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry this afternoon.

 

7th July:

Lewis: A pair of Whinchats are feeding young in Carloway. Late news of an immature Great Spotted Woodpecker in Gress on 4th July. Also late news of a Rose-coloured Starling briefly in New Garrabost on 5th July.

South Uist: 16 Storm Petrels flew south past Ardvule this morning.

Great Spotted Woodpecker (James MacDonald); Red-necked Phalarope (Steve Duffield)

 

6th July:

Insects: A Bordered Straw was seen at Cheese Bay, North Uist today. Also a Painted Lady and Red Admiral were in Lochmaddy. 305 moths of 47 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 81 Buff Ermines and the migrant micro moths; Rush Veneer and Daimondback.

Bordered Straw (Steve Duffield); Rush Veneer and Shark (John Kemp)

 

5th July:

North Uist: A male Blackcap was in Carinish today. a Crossbill was at Langass Wood.

South Uist: 5 Storm Petrels were picked up flying south at Ardvule early this morning; also 155 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua heading south. A Whitethroat was in South Glendale

Insects: At least 4 Bordered White moths, a female Drinker and a Common Wave were seen at Langass Wood today. Painted Ladies were seen at Ardivachar, Frobost and Ormiclate. Red Admirals were at Carinish and Ardivachar. 4 Micropterix aruncella were seen in South Glendale and 2 Silver Y's were also there.

Hen Harrier and Micropterix aruncella (John Kemp)

 

3rd July:

North Uist: a Whimbrel was in Carinish today.

Insects: A Red Admiral was in Carinish this evening. Moth trapping at Carnan last night produced 81 moths / 18 species. A Thyme Pug was trapped in South Glendale last night.

Thyme Pug (John Kemp)

 

2nd July:

South Uist: 4 Whimbrel were at Ardvule this afternoon.

 

1st July:

South Uist: An immature male Golden Oriole was in South Glendale this morning.

Insects: Moth trapping in South Glendale produced 216 moths / 44 species including Sweet Gale, 2 Dark Brocade, 3 Heart & Dart, 6 Drinker, 7 Map-winged Swifts, 59 Buff Ermine, 1 Elephant Hawk-moth, 12 Narrow-winged Pugs, 1 Grey Pug, 13 Green Carpet, 1 Pretty Pinion, Cinnabar and a wide selection of micros: Gynnidomorpha permixtana, Hedya atropunctana, Phiaris schulziana, 4 Falseuncaria ruficiliana, Rhopobota stagnana, 2 Ancylis geminana, Ancylis unguicella, Pleurota bicostella. On Eriskay 188 moths / 32 species including 3 Poplar Lutestring, 2 Northern Rustic, 3 Dark Brocade, 88 Buff Ermine, 30 White Ermine, Cinnabar, Grass Rivulet, micro moths included Agapeta hamana, 6 Ancylis subarcuana, Eana penziana, Bactra furfurana, Eudonia mercurella. The first Large Heath was at Muir of Aird, Benbecula today.

Red-necked Phalarope (Steve Duffield); Cinnibar and Sweet Gale (John Kemp)