Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024
Archive Jan Feb March April May June
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31st July:
A Franklin's Gull was at Loch Ordais, Bragar this morning before flying off to the north. A Balearic Shearwater, 12 Sooty Shearwaters , 40 Storm Petrels and a Pomarine Skua were seen off the Butt of Lewis this morning (in 2 hours).
Insects: 647 moths / 60 species were trapped in South Glendale including a Bee Moth, Brown China-mark, Mother-of-Pearl, 1 Dark Spectacle, 2 Triple-spotted Clay, 2 Bordered Grey and Agriphila geniculea. On Eriskay 457 moths / 54 species were trapped which included a Gothic, 28 Scotch Annulet, 5 Northern Rustic, 1 Minor Shoulder-knot and 9 Barred Rivulet.
Agriphila geniculea, Mother-of-pearl and Minor Shoulder-knot (John Kemp)
29th July:
Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the Butt this morning.
28th July:
Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the Butt this morning.
Marine Sightings: 3 Common Lutestring, Scallop Shell, 2 Barred Chestnut, V-Pug, Riband Wave, Double Dart and a Small Magpie were trapped at North Loch Eynort last night; amongst others.
Barred Chestnut, Double Dart and V-Pug (John Kemp)
27th July:
Lewis: A Great Shearwater, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 20 Storm Petrels and a Grey Phalarope flew past the Butt in the morning. A Grey Phalarope was also seen off Skigersta.
Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark and a Minke Whale were off Skigersta.
26th July:
Lewis: A Great Shearwater flew past the Butt at 8 pm.
25th July:
South Uist: 2 Sandwich Terns flew south past Ardvule and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were present.
24th July:
Marine Sightings: 20 White-beaked Dolphins and 2 Minke Whales were off Port of Ness.
Insects: 396 moths / 57 species were trapped in South Glendale last night and included Pyla fusca, 2 Eudonia murana, Eudonia truncicolella, Eudonia pallida, Udea lutealis, Gillmeria pallidactyla, 4Scarce SilverY, 2Pinion-streaked Snout, 5 Triple-spotted Clay, 2 Double Square-spot and 5 Bordered Grey.
Bordered Grey and 5 Triple-spotted Clays and a Double Square-spot (John Kemp)
23rd July:
North Uist: A Honey Buzzard was seen heading north over Malaclate at 14:30.
22nd July:
Lewis: 11 Sooty Shearwaters and 14 Storm Petrels were off the Butt this morning.
Marine Sightings: 12 Minke Whales, 20 Common Dolphins and a couple of Harbour Porpoise were seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry today. 26 White-beaked Dolphins were off Port of Ness.
A Ghost Moth and 3 Shark were trapped in Carinish this morning. A Triple-spotted Clay was caught in South Glendale and a 2 Double Square-spots were caught in North Loch Eynort.
Triple-spotted Clay (John Kemp)
21st July:
North Uist: The Quail was still calling at Balranald.
South Uist: 6 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel were at Ardivachar.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
20th July:
Lewis: The 2nd summer Glaucous Gull was at Port of Ness today. 100+ Storm Petrels were feeding off Skigersta this afternoon.
North Uist: The Quail was calling from the fields clsoe to the coastal car park at Balranald this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: 10 Risso's Dolphins, 20 White-beaked Dolphins and 2 Minke Whales were off Skigersta.
18th July:
Lewis: The 2nd summer Glaucous Gull was at Port of Ness. 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past the Butt late evening.
Marine Sightings: 15 White-beaked Dolphins and 3 Minke Whales were off Port of Ness today.
17th July:
South Uist: A Pectoral Sandpiper was on the beach at Peninerine this morning.
Insects: 74 moths / 40 species were caught on Eriskay last night including a Gothic, Common Footman, 13 Scotch Annulet, 5 Northern Rustic, 1 Barred Rivulet,1 Bee Moth, 7 Eucosma hohenwartiana and 3 Delplanqueia dilutella. 309 moths /44 species were trapped in South Glendale which included a Small Magpie, Pinion-streaked Snout, 2 Eucosma hohenwartiana and 3 Agapeta hamana.
Barred Rivulet, Common Footmand and Northern Eggar (John Kemp)
16th July:
Lewis: A 2nd summer Glaucous Gull flew north-west past Port of Ness in the morning.
Benbecula: A Sandwich Tern was in Stinky Bay this afternoon.
South Uist: The Green Sandpiper was on the Howmore River again today.
Marine Sightings: 10 White-beaked Dolphins and 2 Risso's Dolphins were off Port of Ness in the morning.
Insects: 210 moths /17 species were caught on Daliburgh machair last night including 117 Archer's Dart, 4 Lime-speck Pugs, 25 Pretty Pinion, and 3 Anerastia lotella. A Grayling and Dark Green Fritillary were on Eriskay today.
Green Sandpiper and Linnet (Alan Kennedy); Anerastia lotella and Archer's Dart (John Kemp)
15th July:
Marine Sightings: 5 Orcas, a Fin Whale, Minke Whale, 50 Common Dolphins and 15 White-beaked Dolphins were seen bewteen the Butt and Skigersta today.
Lewis: 2 Whimbrel were near Eoropie.
North Uist: A Quail was calling near the coast car park at Balranald this morning. Another Quail was calling from behind the coastguards at Balemartin this evening. A Whimbrel was at Clachan.
Great Skua with Oystercatcher (Steve Duffield)
14th July:
North Uist: A Quail was heard calling near the coast car park at Aird an Runair, Balranald this afternoon.
South Uist: A Green Sandpiper was on the Howmore River this afternoon.
13th July:
Marine Sightings: 2 Risso's Dolphins were in Loch Euphort, North Uist throughout much of today.
Risso's Dolphins (Steve Duffield)
11th July:
South Uist: An adult Baird's Sandpiper was at Ardivachar today.
Baird's Sandpiper (Steve Duffield)
10th July:
Insects: 376 moths of 40 species were trapped in South Glendale including 258 True Lovers Knots; another Dark Spectacle as well as 5 Spectacle, a Dark Brocade, Scotch Annulet and 2 Triple-spotted Clay.
Triple-spotted Clay (John Kemp)
9th July:
Benbecula: 9 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Mor.
Insects: A Gothic was trapped on Eriskay last night.
Aethes piercei and Gothic (John Kemp)
8th July:
Insects: 62 moths of 17 species were trapped at North Loch Eynort last night and included 6 Brimstone Moths, 1 Northern Spinach, 14 Poplar Hawk-moths, 2 Common Lutestring, 1 Small Fan-footed Wave, 1 Purple Clay, 1 Coxcomb Prominent.
Coxcomb Prominet and Northern Spinach (John Kemp)
7th July:
North Uist: 7 Storm Petrels were seen from the ferry between Skye and North Uist.
Marine Sightings: 3 Risso's Dolphins, 400 Common Dolphins and a Minke Whale were seen from the ferry between Lochmaddy and Uig today.
Insects: 124 moths / 28 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a Double Dart and 2 Dark Spectacles.
Dark Spectacle and Double Dart (John Kemp)
5th July:
Arctic Tern (John Kemp)
Marine Sightings: 5 Minke Whales were off Tiumpan Head this morning. 3 Humpback Whales were seen from the Ullapool to Stronoway ferry today.
4th July:
Lewis: 5 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in on Fivepenny machair today.
2nd July:
South Uist: An Avocet was at the south-west corner of Loch Bee this morning.