Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024
Archive Jan Feb March April May June July
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31st August:
Lewis: 2 Sabine's Gulls were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.
North Uist: 2 Ruff were at Loch Mor, Baleshare. A Little Egret flew east over Ardheisker this afternoon. 2 Leach's Petrels and 20 Storm Petrels were seen from the ferry between Uig and Lochmaddy this afternoon.
Benbecula: A Marsh Harrier was seen to fly south at Loch Fada this morning. 90 Black-tailed Godwits flew south at Stinky Bay this morning.
South Uist: The Little Egret was still on the Howmore River this morning. An adult American Golden Plover was on The Range at LA2. 65 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Ruff were at LA2 this afternoon. A pale-bellied Brent Goose was off LA1. 8 Black-tailed Godwits were on the beach at Drimsdale this morning.
Marine Sightings: 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and 60 Common Dolphins were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry.
Insects: 55 moths of 15 species trapped at North Loch Eynort last night including 7 Sallow, 3 Pink-barred Sallow, 11 Heath Rustic, 4 Neglected Rustic and 8 Dark Marbled Carpet. 196 moths of 31 species were trapped at South Glendale last night and included 4 Hedge Rustic, 12 Neglected Rustic, 3 Pink-barred Sallow, 14 Chevron, 2 Mouse Moth, micros Epinotia immundana, Eudonia angustea and a Convolvulus Hawk-moth.
Black-tailed Godwit (Alan Kennedy); Convovulus Hawkmoth, Neglected Rustic and Sallow (John Kemp)
30th August:
Lewis: 4 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past Port of Ness this morning. A Tree Pipit was seen in Port of Ness.
North Uist: 12 Black-tailed Godwits were on Vallay Island today.
South Uist: A Little Egret and 24 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore River this morning.
Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale and 20 Harbour Porpoise were off Port of Ness this morning. 4 or 5 Minke Whales, 15 Common Dolphins and a Risso's Dolphin were off Tiumpan Head this morning. 2 Fin Whales were seen east of Stornoway this morning; also multiple Humpback Whales from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
Insects: 32 Red Admrials, 6 Peacock and a Large White were seen at Carnan, South Uist.
Little Egret (Alan Kennedy)
29th August:
Lewis: 2 Leach's Petrels and 30 - 40 Storm Petrels were feeding off Port of Ness.
North Uist: 4 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Grenitote.
Benbecula: A juvenile Sabine's Gull was at Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A Little Egret flew north over the Howmore River this afternoon.
Sabine's Gull (Steve Duffield); Little Egret and Sabine's Gull (Alan Kennedy)
28th August:
South Uist: A Sooty Shearwater flew south at Ardvule this morning. A Curlew Sandpiper, 7 Ruff and 8 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Range at LA2.
27th August:
Benbecula: An adult Sabine's Gull was seen heading south through Stinky Bay (16:27).
South Uist: 5 Ruff were at south-west Loch Bee; whilst 3 Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwits were on LA2 on the Range.
Barra: A Balearic Shearwater was seen at sea off Castlebay (07:25); also 6 Sooty Shearwaters and 13 Storm Petrels from the ferry.
26th August:
North Uist: A juvenile Grey Phalarope was reported from Balemartin this evening.
Marine Sightings: 4 or 5 Humpback Whales and 3 Fin Whales were seen off Tiumpan Head.
25th August:
Lewis: 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 13 Sooty Shearwaters and a Leach's Petrel were seen heading north-west past the Butt today.
South Uist: A Sooty Shearwater and 5 Storm Petrels were seen heading south past Ardvule this morning. A Ruff was on Bornish machair. 16 Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at LA2 on the Range this afternoon.
Barra: A Great Shearwater flew south past Eoligarry.
Knot and Storm Petrel (John Kemp); Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits (Alana Kennedy)
24th August:
Lewis: A Balearic Shearwater flew north-west past the Butt at 16:05 and 13 Sooty Shearwaters between 14:00 - 16:00.
St. Kilda: 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were still on Hirta today.
North Uist: A Wood Sandpiper was at Newton Ferry this morning before flying south.
Benbecula: A juvenile Sabine's Gull was in Stinky Bay this afternoon.
South Uist: An adult Sabine's Gull and 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Ardvule this morning.
Arctic Skua chasing Kittiwake and Sabine's Gull (Alan Kennedy)
23rd August:
Lewis: A Cory's Shearwater flew north-west past the Butt (10:15) as did 10 Sooty Shearwaters (10:30 - 12:00).
St. Kilda: A juvenile Spotted Sandpiper and 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were on Hirta today.
North Uist: An adult Pomarine Skua and 11 Sooty Shearwaters passed Griminish Point this morning.
South Uist: 31 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were on the Range at LA2. 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Stoneybridge.
Barra: Around 200 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Cleat (16:00 - 17:30).
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale and 2 Minke Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry just off Chicken Head, Lewis.
Common Dolphin and Minke Whale (Andy Williams); Peacock butterfly and Sparrowhawk (Alan Kennedy)
22nd August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan. 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew south-west past the Butt (17:00 - 19:00).
St. Kilda: A juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was on Hirta today.
North Uist: A Balearic Shearwater flew south past Griminish Point at 07:24.
South Uist: A juvenile Sabine's Gull flew south past Ardvule around midday.
Marine Sightings: 12 Common Dolphins were in the Minch just outside Lochmaddy this afternoon.
Great Skua (Alan Kennedy)
21st August:
Lewis: A Balearic Shearwater and 27 Sooty Shearwaters flew south-west past the Butt this morning (07:00 - 08:30).
20th August:
Lewis: A Leach's Petrel and 40 Storm Petrels were seen off Port of Ness early afternoon.
Benbecula: 26 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrel were in fields at Liniclate.
South Uist: A juvenile Grey Phalarope was at Ardivachar.
Grey Phalarope and Red-throated Divers (Steve Duffield)
19th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan this afternoon.
North Uist: 5 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Whimbrel were at Loch Sandary.
Benbecula: A Lesser Yellowlegs was briefly in Stinky Bay this morning.
18th August:
Lewis: 12 Sooty Shearwaters flew south-west past the Butt (07:00 - 08:45). The Alpine Swift and a Common Swift are still at Loch Tiumpan.
Benbecula: 13 Black-tailed Godwits were at Liniclate.
South Uist: 16 Sooty Shearwaters past Ardvule (06:30 - 07:30).
Barra: A Cory's Shearwater flew past Aird a Chaolais, Vatersay.
Marine Sightings: 2 Common Dolphins were in Loch Euphort today.
Alpine Swift (Steve Dodd)
17th August:
Lewis: A Cory's Shearwater and 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew north past Port of Ness this morning. A Leach's Petrel was off Port of Ness at 17:40. A Balearic Shearwater, 18 Sooty Shearwaters and 8 Common Scoters flew north-west past the Butt (14:45 - 17:00); also a Common Swift there. The Alpine Swift is still at Loch Tiumpan. A Cory's Shearwater, a Balearic Shearwater and 7 Sooty Shearwaters all west past Labost (18:20 - 20:05).
Barra: 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Borve.
16th August:
South Uist: A Storm Petrel, 1217 Manx Shearwaters, 9 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Arctic Terns and 61 Whimbrel flew south past Ardvule this morning; whilst this afternoon 2 Sooty Shearwaters, a Storm Petrel and 10 Whimbrel flew south at Ardvule (13:15 - 15:15)
15th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift is still at Loch Tiumpan. 4 Great Shearwaters, 2 Cory's Shearwaters and 8 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past the Butt between 18:00 - 20:00. 2 Great Shearwaters, 8 Cory's Shearwaters and 12 Sooty Shearwaters flew west past Labost between 16:15 - 18:15.
North Uist: A Carrion Crow was seen on Grimsay near Kallin harbour.
South Uist: 4 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Ardvule (07:50 - 10:12); also 3 Storm Petrels.
Sooty Shearwater (Steve Duffield)
14th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift along with a Common Swift are still at Loch Tiumpan today. 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past the Butt early morning. 15 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Tiumpan Head in the morning.
13th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan this morning. 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this evening.
Benbecula: A juvenile Black Tern was off Balivanich around midday before heading south early afternoon; also 5 Whimbrel south off-shore here.
South Uist: A 1st summer Sabine's Gull flew south past Ardvule this evening.
Barra: 134 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig this evening.
Marine Sightings: 5 Fin Whales and 5 Humpback Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.
Black Tern (with Arctic Tern in first image) and Curlew (Steve Duffield)
12th August:
Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past the Butt this evening; also 2 Common Swifts there.
St. Kilda: The Cliff Swallow is still on Hirta and showing well at the Manse.
11th August:
Lewis: 6 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Port of Ness this moring; also a Crossbill over. 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this afternoon.
St. Kilda: A Cliff Swallow was found on Hirta this evening.
North Uist: 3 Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwits were in fields near Loch Sandary.
Marine Sightings: 3 Humpback Whales were seen from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway.
Hen Harrier and Kestrel (John Kemp)
10th August:
Lewis: 3 Cory's Shearwaters, a Balearic Shearwater and 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west (also 4 Sooty Shearwaters heading south) between 05:45 - 09:30. Another 7 Sooty Shearwater flew past between midday and 15:00. A Swift was at Loch Stiapabhat. The Alpine Swift and 2 Common Swifts were at Loch Tiumpan again.
South Uist: 4 Sooty Shearwaters were off Ardvule this morning.
Barra: A Balearic Shearwater flew south off Brevig at 09:10. 19 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off the west side of Vatersay this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark was seen off the Butt in the afternoon.
Alpine Swift and Merlin (Steve Duffield)
9th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift and 2 Common Swifts were at Loch Tiumpan. A Sooty Shearwater flew past the Butt mid afternoon; also 2 Swifts there and 10 Whimbrel.
North Uist: An immature Little Gull was in the Sound of Harris.
South Uist: 3 Sooty Shearwater flew past Ardvule in the morning whilst a Grey Phalarope and 14 Sooty Shearwaters were off there (between 14:00 - 16:30).
Alpine Swift and Common Swift (Steve Duffield)
8th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan today. A Cory's Shearwater and 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past the Butt at 14:50.
Marine Sightings: 10 White-beaked Dolphins and a Minke Whale were off Port of Ness this afternoon. 6 Humpback Whales were seen to the south-east of the Shiants from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry this afternoon.
7th August:
Lewis: 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt late morning. The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan today.
South Uist: 10 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Ardvule 07:30 - 10:30. A Cory's Shearwater flew south past Ardvule late afternoon; also 15 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Storm Petrels and 117 Whimbrel (15:30 - 18:30).
Barra: A Cory's Shearwater flew south past Brevig at 07:30.
6th August:
Lewis: 14 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt (12:30 - 2.00 pm). A Balearic Shearwater was seen from boat between Stronway and Ullapool this afternoon.
South Uist: 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew north off Ardvule this morning and 4 flew south there this evening.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stronoway ferry this afternoon and 4 on the return journey.
5th August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan throughout the day; as well as feeding over cliffs at Aird. A Sooty Shearwater flew past the Butt.
Benbecula: A Little Stint was on the beach at Liniclate this evening.
South Uist: A southerly movement off Ardvule 0900 - 1130 am included 72 Gannets, 913 Manx Shearwater, 26 Sooty Shearwaters, 76 Fulmars, 2 Storm Petrels, 51 Kittiwakes, 7 Common Terns, 12 Arctic Terns, 4 Whimbrel and 1 Red-throated Diver. A further 8 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Ardvule this evening.
Barra: A Pomarine Skua and a Sooty Shearwater flew south past Brevig in the morning.
Sooty and Manx Shearwaters (John Kemp)
4th August:
Lewis: 34 Sooty Shearwaters and 5 Storm Petrels flew west past the Butt between 11:00 - 12:00 today.
Barra: 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig.
3rd August:
Lewis: The Alpine Swift was still at Loch Tiumpan again this afternoon and into the evening. 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew north-west past Port of Ness this morning. 3 Cory's Shearwater flew west past the Butt between 18:10 - 18:45; also 24 Sooty Shearwaters past there.
South Uist: 3 Black-throated Divers flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Black-throated Diver (John Kemp)
2nd August:
Lewis: 4 Sooty Shearwaters were off Port of Ness this morning and another 3 flew past the Butt in the evening. The Alpine Swift was seen reported over Loch Tiumpan again this afternoon and was still present this evening. A female Marsh Harrier was at Loch Stiapabhat this evening.
South Uist: 4 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Ardvule in an hour this afternoon.
Barra: A Sooty Shearwater flew south past Brevig this afternoon.
1st August:
Lewis: An Alpine Swift was seen over Loch Tiumpan (around 12:30) before it flew east and was lost from view. 3 Great Shearwaters flew north-west past the Butt at 18:50; also 140 Sooty Shearwaters in 2 hours this evening.
Marine Sightings: 2 Orcas (John Coe and Aquarius) were seen around half a mile east of Flodday Beag, North Uist at 15:30.
Alpine Swift (Steve Dodd)