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 August:
North Uist: At least 42 Black-tailed Godwits are still on Baleshare. A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was along the fence at Knockintorran Church of Scotland manse near Loch Sandary this afternoon.
South Uist: 34 Ruff and 7 Black-tailed Godwits were at Boisdale today.
Barra: The Glossy Ibis was seen again at North Allasdale today.
Insects: On Eriskay 169 moths of 48 species were trapped including 1 Barred Straw, 3 Scotch Annulets, 1 Northern Spinach, 1 Treble-bar, 2 Rustic, 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 2 Yellow Shells and micros Lobesia littoralis, 2 Agriphila geniculea, 5 Acleris aspersana, Acleris effractana, 5 Cnephasia conspersana, Eana penziana, Pyrausta despicata, Depressaria badiella. A Lunar Underwing was trapped in South Glendale.
Red-backed Shrike (Steve Duffield); Lunar Underwing and Lobesia littoralis (John Kemp)
30th August:
North Uist: At least 64 Black-tailed Godwits and 14 Ruff were on Baleshare this afternoon. A juvenile Little Stint was on the shore at Hougharry around mid-day.
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule this morning of 4 Red-throated Divers, 551 Gannets, 92 Fulmars, 338 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Leach's Petrel, 3 Storm Petrels, 5 Pomarine Skuas, 8 Arctic Skuas, 7 Kittiwakes, 5 Arctic Terns, 1 Common Tern, 7 Common Scoter and 1 Whimbrel. Also at Ardvule were 26 Ruff, 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrel. A juvenile Spotted Redshank, juvenile Little Stint, a Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and 16 Ruff were on the shore at Ardivachar; 4 Common Scoters also flew south there. A Green Sandpiper was along the Howmore River whilst a Little Stint, 7 Ruff and 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at the river mouth along with 45 Sand Martins and 2 House Martins.
Barra: A Glossy Ibis was reported from the small river at Allasdale, south of the golf course and close to the shore.
Marine Sightings: 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Ardvule this morning.
Arctic Skua (John Kemp); Spotted Redshank and Little Stint (Steve Duffield)
29th August:
Lewis: The adult Little Stint, a Pied Flycatcher and a Swift were at the Butt whilst 16 juvenile Ruff and 11 Black-tailed Godwits were at Eoropie. A Pied Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were in Port of Ness.
Benbecula: 2 Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit were in Stinky Bay. At least 12 Ruff were at Torlum
South Uist: Seawatching at Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage including 5 Red-throated Divers, 2 Black-throated Divers, 4 Great Northern Divers, 837 Gannets, 99 Fulmars, 336 Manx Shearwaters, 4 Storm Petrels, 5 Common Scoter, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Common Tern, 1 Whimbrel, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 37 Knot. Around 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 13 Ruff in the south bay there too.
Black-throated Diver (John Kemp); Ruff with Redshank (Steve Duffield)
28th August:
Lewis: An adult Little Stint was at the Butt and 12 Swifts were at Port Stoth. 5 Swifts were over Garrabost this afternoon.
North Uist: At least 24 Ruff were at Loch Sandary today.
South Uist: Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of 2 Great Northern Divers, 3 Red-throated Divers, 616 Gannets, 39 Fulmars, 225 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Great Skua and 4 Arctic Skuas. Around 30 Black-tailed Godwits and 7 Ruff were in the south bay there too.
27th August:
Lewis: A Rose-coloured Starling was at the top of Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway this morning.
South Uist: At Ardvule this morning there was a southerly passage of 9 Red-throated Divers, 713 Gannets, 47 Fulmar, 102 Manx Shearwaters, 5 Storm Petrels, 1 Great Skua and 1 Whimbrel. The south bay held 54 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Ruff.
Insects: 27 species of moths were trapped in Carinish last night including a Barred Straw, Gold Spangle and Lesser Broad-brodered Yellow Underwing.
Barred Straw and Endothenia qaudrimaculana (Steve Duffield); Agonopterix nervosa (John Kemp)
26th August:
Lewis: A Garden Warbler was caught in Point last night. A Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and 6 Swifts were seen at Port of Ness whilst a Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and 3 Willow Warblers were in Eoropie. 36 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Stiapabhat.
Benbecula: 15 Swifts were feeding over Borve machair this afternoon and at least 18 Ruff and 7 Black-tailed Godwits were at Torlum. A Swift was also picked up in a puddle and released at Liniclate after being dried out.
South Uist: A Great Skua and 5 Storm Petrels flew south at Ardvule during an hour watch this afternoon whilst 2 Little Stints, 6 Ruff and 21 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south bay.
Insects: 43 species of moths were trapped in Carinish last night including a Gold Spangle, Lempke's Gold Spot, 2 Silver Y and a Scotch Annulet.
Garden Warbler (Grahame Thompson); Swifts, Gold Spangle and Lempke's Gold Spot (Steve Duffield)
Little Stint and Peregrine Falcon (John Kemp)
25th August:
Lewis: A Short-eared Owl and Ruff were at the Butt this morning. A Pied Flycatcher and 7 Swifts were at Port of Ness; with 10 Black-tailed Godwits heading south-east there. 12 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Stiapabhat.
Benbecula: A Swift was over Coot Loch this morning.
South Uist: A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Stoneybridge. At least 10 Ruff and 28 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south bay at Ardvule. 8 Swifts flew south past Ardivachar this evening. A juvenile Cuckoo was seen at North Loch Eynort today.
Insects: Moth trapping at North Loch Eynort produced 140 moths / 38 species which included a Treble-bar, 2 Chestnut-coloured Carpets, 1 Small Rivulet, 4 Dark Marbled Carpets, 8 Barred Red, 2 Common White Waves, 6 Small Fan-footed Waves, 3 Riband Waves, 1 Light Emerald, 5 Barred Chestnuts and 8 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings. Micros included 1 Epinotia ramella, 5 Epinotia tenerana, 1 Acleris rhombana, 14 Eudonia truncicolella and 1 Eudonia mercurella.
Acleris rhombana, Barred Chestnut and Epinotia ramella (John Kemp)
24th August:
Lewis: The Red Kite was over Loch Stiapabhat this afternoon; also 15 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff there.
Benbecula: 19 Black-tailed Godwits and 9 Ruff were on the machair at Torlum.
South Uist: 30 Ruff and 15 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ormiclate this afternoon and 10 Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south bay at Ardvule. 3 Swifts were at Ardivachar this morning and 2 were over Hebridean Jewellery this afternoon.
Insects: A Dark Green Fritillary was seen at Stinky Bay this afternoon.
23rd August:
Insects: 137 moths of 31 species were caught at Druidibeg last night including 13 Small Fan-footed Waves, 1 Northern Spinach, 2 Chevrons, 6 Heath Rustic,1 Hedge Rustic, 2 Neglected Rustic, 4 Pink-barred Sallows, 6 Minor Shoulder-knots, 2 Chestnut-coloured Carpets. In South Glendale 573 moths of 66 species were caught including 2 Bordered Greys, 3 Scotch Annulets, 2 Northern Spinach, 8 Chevrons, 2 Dark Marbled Carpets, 1 Brimstone Moth, 2 Chestnut-coloured Carpets, 6 Autumnal Rustic, 3 Heath Rustic, 5 Neglected Rustic and 2 Rustic.
Bordered Grey, Dark Marbled Carpet, Neglected Rustic and Pink-barred Sallow (John Kemp)
22nd August:
Lewis: A Red Kite was seen at Port Stoth before moving south over Loch Stiapabaht this afternoon.
Benbecula: 47 Black tailed Godwit, 16 Ruff and 44 Whimbrel were on the machair at Torlum today; also Little Gull in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers, 253 Gannets, 24 Fulmars, 140 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 2 Great Skuas, 3 Black Guillemots and 3 Whimbrel flew south at Ardvule this morning; also 6 Ruff and 22 Black-tailed Godwits in the south bay there.
Black-tailed Godwit (John Kemp); Red Kite with Raven (John Wilson)
21st August:
Lewis: At least 18 Swifts were seen at the Butt, plus various waders in off the sea including 2 Whimbrel, Turnstone, Sanderling and Ringed Plover this morning. 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Stiapabhat. A Black Tern was off the Braighe this afternoon. 9 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were at Loch Branahuie.
South Uist: A seawatch from Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of 1,039 Gannets, 112 Fulmars, 754 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Great Skua, 4 Black Guillemots, 17 Knot and 3 Whimbrel; also 3 Ruff and 16 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south bay.
Marine Sightings: 3 Harbour Porpoise were off the Butt this morning.
Black Tern (Steve Duffield)
20th August:
Lewis: 40 Swifts were seen at the Butt of Lewis in the evening and 13 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: A southerly movement off Ardvule this morning included 22 Fulmars, 75 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrels and 2 Whimbrel; also 27 Black-tailed Godwits in the south bay.
Oban - Barra: 2 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the ferry today
19th August:
Harris: 98 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay this morning.
Insects: Moth trapping at Langass Woods last night produced 242 moths of 28 species which included 1 Northern Spinach, 1 Scotch Annulet, 1 Satin Beauty, 15 Barred Red, 1 Drinker, 1 Small Fan-footed Wave, 1 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 1 Pinion-streaked Snout while micros included 9 Blastobasis adustella, 98 Eudonia truncicolella, 6 Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana and 22 Zeiraphera griseana.
Satin Beauty and Zeiraphera griseana (John Kemp)
18th August:
Benbecula: Around 20 Ruff are still present in fields at Torlum.
Insects: 231 moths of 42 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 2 Autumnal Rustic, Scotch Annulet, 2 Scarce Silver Y, Red Carpet and a Minor Shoulder-knot. On Daliburgh machair 253 moths of 25 species were caught including 81 Flounced Rustic, 6 Archer’s Dart, 2 Northern deep-brown Darts and 7 White-line Darts. In Carinish at least 1,330 moths were trapped last night including 667 Dark Arches. 2 Grayling butterflies were seen on Eriskay today.
Golden Eagles (Steve Duffield); Epinotia cruciana and Minor Shoulder-knot (John Kemp)
17th August:
North Uist: At least 16 Ruff were by Loch Sandary this morning and another was on the shore at Balranald.
Benbecula: At least 20 Ruff, around 50 Black-tailed Godwits and a Whimbrel were on the machair at Torlum.
South Uist: A Ruff and 5 Greenshank flew south at Ardvule with a Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit present. 2 Siskins were in South Glendale. 11 Ruff were on Bornish machair.
Marine Sightings: 2 Basking Sharks were off Ardvule this morning. A male Orca was seen mid-way across the Minch from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this morning.
16th August:
Benbecula: 10 Ruff, 14 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Whimbrel were on the machair at Torlum.
Insects: 212 moths of 34 species were trapped at North Loch Eynort last night including 5 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwings, 3 Drinkers, 2 Brimstone Moths, 5 Light Emeralds, 1 Scotch Annulet, 2 Riband Waves, 10 Small Fan-footed Waves, 1 Chestnut-coloured Carpet and micros 20 Blastobasis adustella, 5 Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana, 1 Zeiraphera griseana and Eudonia truncicolella. In South Glendale 265 moths of 52 species were caught including 1 Drinker, 1 Scarce Silver Y, 1 Rosy Rustic, 1 Pinion-streaked Snout, 1 Crinan Ear, 1 Pretty Pinion and micro moths 2 Cnephasia conspersana, 1 Aethes rubigana, Epinotia caprana, Eudonia angustea, Eudonia truncicolella and 3 Notocelia uddmanniana.
Blastobasis adustella and Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana (John Kemp)
15th August:
North Uist: The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was still on Baleshare today.
Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark was in the Sound of Barra (from the ferry) this morning.
Insects: Moth trapping on Eriskay last night produced 227 moths of 45 species. This included a Northern Spinach, 2 Chevrons, 1 Treble-bar, 18 Rustic, 1 Anomalous, 16 Scotch Annulets, 1 Crinan Ear and a Small Fan-footed Wave. Micros included 2 Cnephasia conspersana, 4 Eana penziana, 1 Evergestis pallidata, 1 Pyrausta despicata, 6 Agonopterix kaekeritziana, 1 Scrobipalpa samadensis and a Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana.
Sparrowhawk (Alastair Lockett); Acleris effractana, Anomalous and Northern Spinach (John Kemp)
14th August:
North Uist: An adult White-rumped Sandpiper was on Baleshare this morning along with a juvenile Ruff, 3 Whimbrel and at least 50 Grey Plover.
South Uist: 8 Ruff were on Bornish machair. The Magpie was seen at Askernish again today.
Insects: 18 Dichrorampha petiverella were seen on the machair edge between Orosay and Kilpheder, South Uist.
White-rumped Sandpiper (Steve Duffield); Dichrorampha petiverella (John Kemp)
13th August:
Benbecula: 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 7 Whimbrel and 3 Ruff were on the machair at Torlum.
South Uist: 3 Ruff were on Bornish machair.
Insects: 209 moths of 36 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 6 Beautiful Golden Y and a Chevron.
Beautiful Golden Y and Chevron (John Kemp); Irish Lady's Tresses (Steve Duffield)
12th August:
North Uist: 4 juvenile Ruff were by Loch Sandary. 4 Ruff were also on the Balranald side of Loch Paible. 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrel were at Aird an Runair.
South Uist: A couple of hours seawatching at Ardvule early morning produced the following heading south: 709 Gannets, 21 Fulmars, 51 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 8 Black Guillemots, 1 Puffin, 1 Greenshank and 19 Whimbrel. Also 3 Great Northern Divers on the sea. 7 Ruff were near Bornish church this evening.
Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark swam south at Ardvule this morning.
Silver-Y (Steve Duffield)
11th August:
Insects: 141 moths / 35 species were caught in South Glendale last night which included a Rustic, a Pretty Pinion and the micro moths Brown China-mark, 2 Notocelia uddmanniana, 2 Eudonia murana and 2 Eudonia mercurella. 633 moths / 47 species were caught at Carinish including 272 Dark Arches and a Lesser Yellow Underwing amongst many others.
Brown China Mark (John Kemp)
10th August:
South Uist: 11 Black-tailed Godwits flew south at Howmore this afternoon. A Common Sandpiper was at Stoneybridge and 4 Whimbrel flew south there. An early morning seawatch at Ardvule produced a southerly passage of 337 Gannets, 36 Fulmars, 374 Manx Shearwaters, 5 Storm Petrels, 7 Black Guillemots, 2 Puffins, 22 Kittiwakes, 4 Common Terns, 2 Great Skuas, 1 Black-throated Diver and 17 Whimbrel.
9th August:
Benbecula: 63+ Whimbrel and 5 Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in fields at Torlum whilst 15 flew south over Loch Mor later.
South Uist: Seawatching for a couple of hours at Ardvule early morning produced the following birds flying south: 1305 Gannets, 1 Black-throated Diver (same bird), 1 Red-throated Diver, 52 Fulmars, 486 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Storm Petrel, 8 Black Guillemots, 5 Puffins, 4 Arctic Terns, 18 Whimbrel. A Black-tailed Godwit was by Hebridean Jewellery with 42 Grey Plover on the South Ford and 21 Whimbrel; 12 of which flew over heading south. 16 Whimbrel flew south at Balgarva.
Knot (Steve Duffield)
8th August:
South Uist: An early morning seawatch from Ardvule produced a southerly passage which included 302 Gannets, 10 Fulmars, 95 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Divers, 9 Kittiwakes, 1 Great Skua (and one north), 3 Whimbrel. Also 3 Common Sandpipers present.
Marine Sightings: 2 Harbour Porpoise were off Ardvule this morning.
5th August:
Lewis: A House Martin and Sand Martin were at Loch Branaguie this morning.
Harris: At least 45 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay.
North Uist: 5 Ruff were on Baleshare.
South Uist: Sea-watching off Ardvule this morning produced a southerly passage of: 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver (flew in from north and landed), 405 Gannets, 62 Fulmar, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 194 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Storm Petrel, 4 Great Skuas, 21 Kittiwakes, 2 Common Terns, 82 Arctic Terns, 13 Auks sp., 38 Guillemots, 5 Razorbills, 6 Black Guillemots, 8 Puffins. A juv Ruff on SW Loch Bee.
Marine Sightings: A Harbour Porpoise was in the Sound of Harris this morning.
Speckled Wood, Sericomyia silentis and Volucella pellucens (Steve Duffield)
4th August:
Benbecula: 9 Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in recently cut fields at Torlum this afternoon and around 50 Sand Martins were over Coot Loch.
South Uist: A Magpie was at Askernish today.
3rd August:
Marine Sightings: A 16.5 ft Pilot Whale was found dead on the shore near South Glendale today.
2nd August:
North Uist: 15 summer plumage Knot were on Vallay Strand this afternoon.
Insects: 166 moths of 34 species were trapped last night in South Glendale including the mircos: Aphelia paleana, Gillmeria pallidactyla, Eudonia mercurella and13 Eucosma cana.
Arran Carpet, Eucosma cana and Gillmeria pallidactyla (John Kemp)