Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
Archive Jan Feb March April May June July
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31st August:
North Uist: 21+ Black-tailed Godwits flew onto the North Ford off Carinish this evening.
South Uist: The Oriental Turtle Dove (subsp. meena) was seen on wires just north of Corncrake Cottage in Boisdale this morning. This evening at 17:30 it was on wires behind 348 Boisdale.
Marine Sightings: 3 Fin Whales, 2 Humpback Whales, several Minke Whales and a good number of Common Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Insects: 112 moths / 24 species trapped in South Glendale last night. These included a Pine Carpet, Mouse Moth and a Parsnip Moth. In North Loch Eynort 125 moths / 15 species trapped included 2 Pink-barred Sallow, 1 Red-line Quaker, 2 Barred Chestnut, Light Emerald and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth.
Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Pine Carpet, Pink-barred Sallow and Red-line Quaker (John Kemp)
30th August:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater flew past Port of Ness around midday. 17 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this evening.
North Uist: An adult American Golden Plover was at the Goular, Balranald this morning. A House Martin was in Hougharry today.
American Golden Plover (Steve Duffield)
29th August:
Lewis: 25 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Port of Ness in 2 hours this evening.
Benbecula: 61 Black-tailed Godwits were at Nunton this morning.
South Uist: The Rufous Turtle Dove (subsp. meena) was again on the machair at Boisdale here today. Best viewed from the seaward side. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen with Golden Plover on the Range again today.
28th August:
North Uist: A Sabine's Gull was seen between Lochmaddy and Uig.
South Uist: The Rufous Turtle Dove (subsp. meena) was still at Boisdale this morning. Originally on the machair it then moved into the township. A 1st summer Glaucous Gull is at Ardvule.
Marine Sightings: 14+ Risso's Dolphins and 2 Minke Whales were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Oriental Turtle Dove (subsp. meena); Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)
27th August:
Lewis: 3 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off Port of Ness this morning. An adult Sabine's Gull and 23 Sooty Shearwaters were seen between Ullapool and Stornoway. 31 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt between 17:00 - 20:00.
North Uist: 2 Leach's Petrels, 2 Sooty Shearwaters (1 heading east), 580 Manx Shearwaters, 636 Gannets, 2 Guillemots, a Puffin, 7 Fulmars, 11 Kittiwakes, an Arctic Skua, Red-throated Diver and a Whimbrel flew west past Griminish Point between 15:25 - 17:40.
South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was with Golden Plover on the Range at LA2. A Rufous Turtle Dove (subsp. meena) was seen 500m north of North Boisdale cemetery this afternoon. It was later relocated in a garden in Boisdale. A Pectoral Sandpiper also flew north over North Boisdale.
Insects: 526 moths / 46 species of moth were trapped in South Glendale last night including a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, a Sallow and Beautiful China-mark.
Beautiful China-mark, Convolvulus Hawk-moth and Sallow (John Kemp)
26th August:
Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew north past South Galson. A Leach's Petrel, 45 Storm Petrels and 12 Sooty Shearwaters flew north past Port of Ness today. A Fea's Petrel flew south-west past Labost at 19:10.
St, Kilda: A Pied Flycatcher was seen on Hirta today.
Marine Sightings: 30 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Port of Ness.
25th August:
Lewis: A Pied Flycatcher was in Carloway today. A Leach's Petrel and 22 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry this afternoon.
Manx Shearwaters (Andy Williams)
24th August:
Lewis: Small numbers of Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
South Uist: A 2nd summer Long-tailed Skua, 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 10 Storm Petrels flew south past Ardvule this morning.
Marine Sightings: 2 Northern Bottle-nosed Whales (near Priest Island), Humpback Whale and 4 Minke Whales were seen from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway.
Long-tailed Skua (John Kemp)
23rd August:
Lewis: An adult Sabine's Gull, a Leach's Petrel and 9 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the ferry between Stornoway and Ullapool.
Benbecula: The White-winged Black Tern was reported from Loch Fada this morning. 23 Black-tailed Godwits were opposite Coot Loch.
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale, 4 Fin Whales and 5 Minke Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.
Insects: 60 Red Admirals were seen at Carnan this morning.
22nd August:
Lewis: 185 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Gallan Head beteen 09:00 - 12:30. 3 Cory Shearwaters flew south past the Butt late this afternoon / early evening. A Leach's Petrel and 5 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry this morning. A single Cory's Shearwater flew south past South Galson this evening.
North Uist: A Long-eared Owl was seen hunting by Loch Paible this morning and a Wood Sandpiper was also reported from there.
Benbecula: The White-winged Black Tern was at Coot Loch this morning.
South Uist: The adult Bonaparte's Gull was roosting with Black-headed Gulls along the north shore of Loch Bee this morning; just west of Clachan. A southerly passage off Ardvule this morning included 1 Pale-bellied Brent, 1 Black-throated Diver, 12 Fulmars, 855 Manx Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 6 Storm Petrels and a juvenile Little Gull. Als 3 Ruff were present.
Barra: A Long-tailed Skua and 224 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Cleat in an hour early evening.
Marine Sightings: 4 Humpback Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.
Insects: 40+ Red Admirals were feeding on Wild Marjoram at Carnan this morning.
Arctic Skua and Black-throated Diver (John Kemp)
21st August:
Lewis: A Green Sandpiper was at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 7 Whimbrel, 3 Ruff and 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: The White-winged Black Tern was at Loch Fada this morning.
South Uist: 15 Black-tailed Godwits were at Howmore.
20th August:
Lewis: A Great Shearwater flew north-west past Skigersta at 14:20.
North Uist: An adult summer plumage Bonaparte's Gull was at Balranald before flying around the headland and eastwards. An adult White-rumped Sandpiper was on Loch Paible; also 7 Ruff there. 20 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Ruff were in recently cut fields by Loch Sandary. A sea-watch from Griminish Point 08:25 - 10:25 this morning produced 196 Manx Shearwaters, 118 Gannets, a Bonxie, 3 Fulmars, a Great Northern Diver, 13 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstones, 3 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits and a Curlew heading south-west; also a Whimbrel in off the sea. A Swift was at Scolpaig. A Pomarine Skua was flew north out of Hougharry bay this afternoon.
Benbecula: The White-winged Black Tern was reported from Loch Fada today; a Wood Sandpiper was also seen here.
South Uist: A Wood Sandpiper flew over the hostel at Howmore this morning. A Pink-footed Goose was at Howmore. 22 Ruff were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.
White-rumped Sandpiper, Ruff, Whimbrel and Bonaparte's Gull (Steve Duffield)
19th August:
Lewis: A Hobby was seen over South Dell.
Benbecula: A White-winged Black Tern was at Coot Loch today; also several Black-tailed Godwits and a couple of Ruff were in the area.
South Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull and a Ruff were at Ardvule whilst a Sooty Shearwater and a Storm Petrel were seen in a half hour this evening. A Swift flew south at Boisdale this morning; also 5 Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwits there.
White-winged Black Tern (Steve Duffield)
18th August:
North Uist: 18 Black-tailed Godwits were at Teannamachair.
South Uist: The Glaucous Gull was seen at Askernish again today; also a Ruff and 9 Black-tailed Godwits. 2 Ruff and 7 Black-tailed Godwits were at North Boisdale. A Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Howmore.
17th August:
Lewis: 5 Sooty Shearwaters were seen between Ullapool and Stornoway from the ferry this morning.
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale was seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry this morning. 2 Humpback Whales, severl Minke Whales and Fin Whale were seen to the east of Tiumpan Head this morning; also lots of Common Dolphins and 4 Risso's Dolphins.
Insects: 42 Red Admirals were in the garden at 7 Carinish; also a female Emerald Damslefly here today.
16th August:
South Uist: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was on the beach at Askernish late morning.
15th August:
Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry.
South Uist: 10 Ruff were seen just by Ormiclate castle.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales and 2 MInke Whales were seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry.
14th August:
Lewis: A 2nd summer Glaucous Gull was off Labost. 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 15 Storm Petrels past Port of Ness.
Marine Sightings: 15 Risso's Dolphins and 6 White-beaked Dolphins were seen off Port of Ness.
Arctic Skua and Peacock (Andy Williams)
13th August:
Lewis: A Cory's Shearwater and a Balearic Shearwater were seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry. 2 Grey Phalaropes and a Sooty Shearwater was seen passing POrt of Ness.
Vatersay: 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew south during a 2 hour watch.
12th August:
Lewis: A Red-necked Phalarope, 12 Sooty Shearwaters and 50 Storm Petrels were seen at sea between Stornoway and Ullapool today. A Sooty Shearwater past Port of Ness.
St. Kilda: A Garganey was seen on Hirta today.
North Uist: A Quail was near the campsite and Balranald.
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale, a Fin Whale and a Minke Whale were seen between Stornoway and Ullapool from the ferry.
11th August:
Lewis: 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew west past the Butt.
South Uist: A Turtle Dove was seen in Askernish early morning.
Barra: A Cory's Shearwater flew south past Eoligarry late afternoon. 20 Cory's Shearwaters flew south past Brevig from 15:45 until late eveing; also 4 Sooty Shearwaters.
10th August:
Barra: 2 Pomarine Skuas flew south past Brevig in the afternoon.
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale was seen east of Tiumpan Head early afternoon. A Sei Whale was seen 2 miles south-east of Bayble off Chicken Rock.
Hen Harrier and Linnet (Andy Williams)
9th August:
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale and a Minke Whale were seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry.
7th August:
North Uist: 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 12 Storm Petrels were seen off Aird an Runair in the morning.
South Uist: A Long-eared Owl was seen in Askernish.
6th August:
North Uist: A Leach's Petrel was seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry this evening.
Barra: The Iceland Gull was at Allasdale at midday.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales, a Fin Whale, 3 Minke Whales and 3 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head. A Minke Whale was seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry in the evening.
5th August:
Barra: The 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Allasdale.
Marine Sightings: 5 Basking Sharks were off the Butt of Lewis.
4th August:
Barra: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull and an Iceland Gull were at Allasdale.
3rd August:
North Uist: 2 Ruff were at the south end of Loch Paible.
South Uist: A Sooty Shearwater was seen from the Mallaig to Lochboisdale ferry.
1st August:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater was seen between Ullapool and Stornoway from the ferry.
Marine Sightings: A Fin Whale was seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry today.