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.
30th September:
Lewis: 4 Lapland Buntings and 220 Snow Buntings were at the Butt.
North Uist: The Stock Dove and a couple of Ruff were at Balranald. 3 Common Scoter flew west off Callanish.
Benbecula: The juvenile Marsh Harrier was near Coot Loch again this afternoon and the juvenile pale-bellied Brent Goose was in Stinky Bay.
Barra: The Red-breasted Flycatcher is still at Ardmhor Plantation. A Turtle Dove is at Garrygall and 3 Yellow-browed Warblers are on the island. 2 Tree Sparrows are at Brevig.
Insects: 53 moths of 18 species were caught in South Glendale last including 2 Red-line Quakers, 1 Hedge Rustic, 1 Brindled Ochre, 1 Silver Y, 2 Grey Pine Carpet and 1 Narrow-winged Pug. Micros were single Rush Veneer and Depressaria badiella. At North Loch Eynort 23 moths of 10 species were caught inclduing 5 Grey Pine Carpet, 1 July Highflyer, 2 Barred Chestnut and a Red-line Quaker. Today at least 60 Silver Y moths and 7 Rush Veneers were seen between Griminish Pier and Callanish House, North Uist.
Brindled Ochre and Grey Pine Carpet (John Kemp)
29th September:
Lewis: 230 Snow Buntings were seen at the Butt this morning.
North Uist: A Chiffchaff was in Lochmaddy. A Curlew Sandpiper was in fields near Loch Sandary.
South Uist: Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of 493 Gannets, 13 Sooty Shearwaters (12 in the morning and another early afternoon), 15 Great Northern Divers, 12 Red-throated Divers, 1 Grey Phalarope, 67 Razorbills, 18 Guillemots, 52 Auk sp, 1 Black Guillemot, 11 Kittiwakes, a juvenile Black Tern, 1 Great Skua. A Purple Sandpiper was also present along with a Spotted Flycatcher this afternoon. Another Spotted Flycatcher was at Howmore. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen at Ormiclate along with 7 Ruff and 24 Black-tailed Godwits. 40 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardkenneth and the Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Balgarva this morning.
Barra: A Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Ardmhor Plantation.
Insects: 2 Small Tortoiseshells and a Haworth's Minor were seen in South Glendale. A Rush Veneer was at Stoneybridge and a Silver Y was at Howbeg.
Spotted Flycatcher (Craig Thomas)
28th September:
Lewis: 86 Snow Buntings were at the Butt and 4 Ruff were at Eoropie.
Harris: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in the garden at the Harris Hotel, Tarbet today.
North Uist: A Stock Dove, Sand Martin and 5 Ruff were at Balranald. 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: The juvenile Marsh Harrier was at Borve this afternoon.
South Uist: A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Balgarva. A Yellow Wagtail was at the south end of Grogarry Loch and 2 Ruff were at the north end. 7 Ruff, 57 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel were at Kilaulay. 8 Ruff and 34 Black-tailed Godwits were between Bornish and Ormiclate. 6 Great Northern Divers and 2 Arctic Skuas flew south at Ardvule this morning and a Pintail flew south there this afternoon.
Barra: A Turtle Dove was seen on the island today.
Field Mouse (John Kemp); Pectoral Sandpiper and Wheatear (Steve Duffield)
27th September:
Lewis: 110 Snow Buntings and a Jack Snipe were at the Butt today. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Port of Ness.
North Uist: 4 Ruff were at Clachan Sands.
Benbecula: The juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen around the south-west of the island between Borve and Nunton throughout the day. The juvenile pale-bellied Brent Goose is still in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 15 Ruff and 24 Black-tailed Godwits were in the Bornish / Ormiclate area.
Insects: 75 moths of 15 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a single Lunar Underwing, Red-line Quaker and two Mouse Moths.
Marsh Harrier (Craig Thomas - 1 photo); (John Kemp - 2 photos)
26th September:
Lewis: 205 Snow Buntings came in off the sea at the Butt this morning and flew south. 7 Ruff were at Eoropie machair. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Port of Ness.
North Uist: 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Pintail were at Loch Paible. 2 Ruff were on Baleshare.
Benbecula: The juvenile Marsh Harrier was still present in west Benbecula today with sightings from Coot Loch, Loch Mor and this evening from Loch na Liana Moire. The juvenile pale-bellied Brent Goose was still in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Ormiclate before flying towards Bornish this morning; also 10 Ruff and 28 Black-tailed Godwits were in the area. 3 Ruff and 30 Black-tailed Godwits were at Kilaulay. A Yellow-browed Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were at Snishival.
25th September:
Lewis: 6 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt at 9 am today and 60 Snow Buntings were also present.
Benbecula: a A juvenile pale-bellied Brent Goose was in Stinky Bay this afternoon. Marsh Harrier was over the fields immediately behind Stinky Bay and a Chiffchaff was at Liniclate.
South Uist: 263 Pale-bellied Brent, 7 Common Scoter and 5 Great Northern Divers south at Ardvule this morning; plus a Grey Phalarope that landed briefly before continuing south.
Brent Geese (John Kemp)
24th September:
Lewis: A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Loch Stiapabhat in the evening.
North Uist: An adult Sabine's Gull was seen from the Berneray - Leverburgh ferry (around half way across Sound of Haris).
South Uist: A Leach's Petrel and Grey Phalarope were seen off Ardvule this morning; a Lapland Bunting was also present. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Ormiclate along with 18 Ruff and 15 Black-tailed Godwits.
23rd September:
Lewis: 177 Snow Buntings were seen at the Butt this morning.
South Uist: Seawatching at Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of 415 Gannets, 8 Great Northern Divers, 27 Red-throated Divers and a Great Skua. 29 Black-tailed Godwits and a Buff-breasted Sandpiper were on Bornish machair.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (John Kemp)
22nd September:
Lewis: 28 Snow Buntings were at the Butt and 120 Sooty Shearwaters flew past in 2 hours.
South Uist: A male Blackcap was in South Glendale today.
Insects: 81 moths of 17 species were caught last night in South Glendale including an Angle Shades and Lunar Underwing.
21st September:
Lewis: A House Martin was over the Braighe and a ringtail Hen Harrier was at Aline.
South Uist: 35 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff were at Ardivachar today.
Pied Wagtail (John Kemp)
20th September:
South Uist: 5 Pale-bellied Brent flew south at Ardvule and 16 Black-tailed Godwits were on the machair. 12 Whooper Swans flew south at Boisdale.
Snipe (John Kemp)
19th September:
Lewis: 80 Snow Buntings were at the Butt whilst and Kestrel flew south there and a ringtail Hen Harrier was nearby.
South Uist: The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in South Glendale today. 12 Ruff and 40 Blck-tailed Godwits were in the Kildonan / Bornish area. 5 Ruff were on Ormiclate machair; 8 Ruff Howmore / Drimsdale area; 2 Ruff at Kilpheder and 4 Ruff were at Ardivachar / Kilaulay. A Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler were in North Loch Eynort.
Barra: The adult Ring-billed Gull is still on Vatersay.
18th September:
Lewis: A Pied Flycatcher was in Port of Ness. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Loch Stiapabhat and 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were nearby.
North Uist: 10 Snow Buntings were on the shore at Balranald today.
South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Glendale this evening.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen near Castle Bay.
Insects: 252 moths of 36 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a Black Rustic, 2 Lunar Underwing, 11 Neglected Rustic, Narrow-winged Pug, Crinan Ear and Bee Moth.
Yellow-browed Warbler and Bee Moth (John Kemp)
17th September:
Lewis: Laland Bunting and 22 Snow Buntings were seen at the Butt today.
Insects: 316 moths of 46 species were caught in South Glendale last night which included a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Gem, Lunar Underwing, Red-line Quaker and Chestnut-coloured Carpet.
Convolvulus Hawkmoth and Gem (John Kemp)
16th September:
Lewis: 41 Snow Buntings were at the Butt today.
South Uist: A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was in the south bay at Ardvule around mid-day whilst 3 Ruff and 20 Black-tailed Godwits were on Bornish machair. A Snow Bunting was at Ardvule. A Chiffchaff was in Bornish.
Snow Bunting and Wheatear (John Kemp)
15th September:
Lewis: 12 Sooty Shearwaters past the Butt this morning. 5 Whooper Swans were at Holm today.
Harris: The drake Surf Scoter is still with 150 Common Scoters in the Sound of Taransay.
Barra: An adult Ring-billed Gull was on Vatersay today.
14th September:
Lewis: The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen on the roadside pool at the Butt early this morning. A ringtail Hen Harrier and 8 Ruff were at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 35 Black-tailed Godwits and at least 7 Ruff were on Baleshare today.
Benbecula: An Osprey flew south at Borve - heading towards Hebridean Jewellery, South Uist this morning.
Insects: 319 moths of 38 species were trapped on Eriskay last night including Black Rustic, Least Yellow Underwing (only the second record for Outer Hebrides), Scotch Annulet, Anomalous and Striped Twin-spot Carpet. In south Glendale 185 moths of 43 species were trapped including Silver Y, Red-line Quaker, 2 Anomalous, 12 Heath Rustic, 9 Neglected Rustic, 3 Lunar Underwing, Small Autumnal Moth, 4 Striped Twin-spot Carpet and 2 Rush Veneer.
Black Rustic, Least Yellow Underwing and Red-line Quaker (John Kemp)
13th September:
Lewis: 3 Sooty Shearwaters past Skigersta this morning. A Black-tailed Godwit and Swift were at the Butt.
North Uist: 7 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were at Grenitote. Around 12 Black-tailed Godwits and 12 Ruff were on Baleshare. A Siskin was in Lochmaddy.
Benbecula: A Grey Phalarope flew past Balivanich this morning.
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule of 20 Red-throated Divers, 9 Great Northern Divers, 2065 Gannets, 305 Fulmars, 106 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 adult Sabine's Gull, 27 Kittiwakes, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 Great Skuas, 113 Razorbills and 11 Guillemots. 38 Brent Geese were on the sands at Balgarva this evening. A Pied Flycatcher was in South Glendale. 95 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar. 7 Ruff were at Stilligarry. 11 Ruff and 8 Black-tailed Godwits were at Drimsdale.
Barra: A Barred Warbler was at Earsary today.
Insects: A Red Admiral was in South Glendale today.
Sabine's Gull (John Kemp)
12th September:
Lewis: A Barred Warbler was seen near the Butt today.
South Uist: 36 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar. 10 pale-bellied Brent Geese were in North Bay. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at the south-west end of Loch Bee. A Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Milton. 3 Ruff, 40 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Swifts were at Bornish. 2 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ormiclate. 3 Ruff and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were at Howmore.
11th September:
Lewis: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on the roadside pools at the Butt this afternoon. 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 8 Swifts were at Loch Stiapabhat whilst 3 Ruff were nearby.
South Uist: A Great Skua flew south at Ardvule this morning and a Ruff was in the north bay. A Great Skua flew south at Kilpheder and 10 Ruff were on the machair there. A Pied Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were in South Glendale.
Insects: 187 moths of 37 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 4 Lunar Underwings and Cnephasia conspersana
Otter (Steve Duffield); Pied Flycatcher and Sanderling (John Kemp); Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tony Marr)
10th September:
Harris: Late news of a Kingfisher at Leverburgh Pier at 7 am on 8th September.
9th September:
Insects: 204 moths of 32 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 1 Lunar Underwing, 48 Lesser Yellow Underwings, 1 Light Arches, 4 Burnished Brass and a Narrow-winged Pug.
Common Carpet, Lesser Yellow Underwing and Lunar Underwing (John Kemp)
8th September:
Insects: 875 moths of 34 species were caught on Daliburgh machair last night. This included 426 Ear Moths agg., 226 Flounced Rustic, 28 White-line Darts, 1 Archer's Dart, 1 Large Wainscot, 3 Mouse Moths, 1 Double Lobed, 5 Lime-speck Pugs, 16 Crambus perlella.
Double Lobed and Large Wainscot (John Kemp)
7th September:
Lewis: Around 20 Black-tailed Godwits were at Melbost Farm, near Stornoway. 30 Black-throated Divers were south of the Braighe today. 25 Sooty Shearwaters flew west past the Butt this morning and a rintail Hen Harrier was at Loch Stiapabhat. The Rose-coloured Starling was in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway yesterday.
Harris: 4 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Tarbet - Uig ferry this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: A breaching Humpback Whale was seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today along with 60+ Common Dolphins. 30+ Common Dolphins and 20+ Harbour Porpoise were seen from the Stornoway - Ullapool ferry this afternoon around 40 minutes out from Stornoway.
Insects: At North Loch Eynort 82 moths of 24 species were caught last night including 2 Dun-bar, 7 Barred Chestnut, 4 Heath Rustic, 2 Neglected Rustic, 1 Pink-barred Sallow, 3 Barred Red, 12 Chevrons, 1 Brimstone Moth, 1 Small Fan-footed Wave plus micros Acleris rhombana, Acleris aspersana and Eudonia truncicolella. In South Glendale 132 moths of 32 species were trapped including 3 Striped Twin-spot Carpets, 11 Chevrons, 4 Northern Deep-brown Darts, 5 Neglected Rustic, 1 Heath Rustic, 1 Hedge Rustic and micros Eudonia truncicolella, Eudonia murana, Eudonia mercurella, Epinotia caprana, 2 Acleris effractana and Agonopterix kaekeritziana.
Brimstone, Dun-bar and Striped Twin-spot Carpet (John Kemp); Common Dolphins and Harbour Porpoise (Andy Williams)
6th September:
Harris: A drake Surf Scoter, 110+ Common Scoters and 2 Slavonian Grebes were in the Sound of Taransay this afternoon.
South Uist: A Whitethroat was in South Glendale today.
Marine Sightings: Two schools of Common Dolphins containg around 20 and 30 - 40 individuals were seen off the Butt of Lewis this morning along with several Harbour Porpoise.
5th September:
Lewis: The Ruppell's Warbler is now thought to be a Subalpine Warbler and was still present until mid-afternoon at least at Eoropie. 4 Sooty Sheatwaters were seen off the Butt this morning.
Benbecula: A Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank were in Stinky Bay this morning.
South Uist: A Great Skua and 228 Fulmars flew north at Ardvule this morning. A Black-tailed Godwit was in the south bay at Ardvule.
Subalpine Warbler (Andy Williams); Meadow Pipit and Skylark (John Kemp)
Subalpine Warbler (Tony Marr)
4th September:
Lewis: 40 Black-tailed Godwits were seen coming in off the sea at the Butt where there were also 17 Ruff present.
North Uist: 50 Ruff were on Vallay and at least 16 were on Baleshare. 15 Brent Geese were seen along the shore at Callernish.
South Uist: A Pectoral Sandpiper was in the south bay at Ardvule.
Pectoral Sandpiper (John Kemp); Black-tailed Godwits and Ruff (Andy Williams); Brent Geese (Mary Lewis)
3rd September:
Lewis: 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew into the Minch past the Butt this morning. A House Martin was over Loch Branahuie this afternoon.
South Uist: 27 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar. 13 Ruff and 11 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale. A Dotterel was reported on the South Ford off Hebridean Jewellery this afternoon.
Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff (John Kemp); Black-throated Divers (Andy Williams)
2nd September:
North Uist: 11 Ruff were by Loch Grogarry and around 10 were on Baleshare today.
South Uist: 6 Great Northern Divers flew high to south at Ardvule this morning; also a single Great Skua. 2 Ruff on the machair with the Golden Plover flock at Bornish. 25 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff were at Ardivachar. A Pied Flycatcher was in Askernish today.
Insects: 109 moths of 28 species were caught in South Glendale last night; this included 4 Northern Deep-brown Darts, 1 Hedge Rustic, 2 Heath Rustic as well as late dates for Yellow Shell, Light Arches, Burnished Brass (3) and Dotted Clay.
Knot (John Kemp)
1st September:
North Uist: At least 27 Black-tailed Godwits and 8 Ruff were on Baleshare this morning.