Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
Archive Jan Feb March April May
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30th June:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater flew past Port of Ness.
North Uist: 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at the south end of Loch Paible.
Marine Sightings: 9 Risso's Dolphins were off Port of Ness this morning. 12 Risso's Dolphins and a Minke Whale were off Tiumpan Head this morning with a mixed pod of Risso's and Bottle-nosed Dolphins off there in the afternoon.
29th June:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater flew north past Port of Ness this morning.
28th June:
Marine Sightings: 6 Killer Whales were seen off Port of Ness and the Butt this morning. 9 Risso's Dolphins and a Minke Whale were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
26th June:
North Uist: 3 Whimbrel were at Balranald.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales and 6 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head in the morning.
25th June:
Lewis: 4 Leach's Petrels flew past Skigersta in the morning and an adult Little Gull was off Port of Ness harbour there this afternoon.
North Uist: The summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper was again on the pool at the southern end of Loch Paible today.
Marine Sightings: A Risso's Dolphin and a White-beaked Dolphin were off Skigersta in the morning.
Little Tern (Steve Duffield)
24th June:
Lewis: An adult Little Gull was in Port of Ness this evening.
St. Kilda: A Long-eared Owl was seen on Hirta this morning.
North Uist: The Curlew Sandpiper was seen on the pool at the southern end of Loch Paible again today. An Iceland Gull was at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: A 1st summer Iceland Gull was at Ardvule.
Barra: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Borve.
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale was seen distantly off Tiumpan Head today; also 5 Risso's Dolphins and a mixed pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Risso's Dolphins which included a hybrid between the two species.
23rd June:
North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper (summer plumaged) was on the pool at the south end of Loch Paible; also 9 Black-tailed Godwits were present.
22nd June:
Barra: A Glaucous Gull was at Traigh Hamara.
Marine Sightings: 6 Orcas were seen east of Tiumpan Head this morning.
21st June:
South Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was seen at Orasaigh today.
Black-throated Diver (Karen MacAry)
20th June:
Lewis: An Osprey was seen at Loch Orasaigh, near Griomsiader today.
North Uist: The immature Glaucous Gull and immature Iceland Gull were seen in the north bay at Ardvule.
Barra: A White-billed Diver was reported from Caolas, Vatersay this evening.
19th June:
North Uist: An Osprey was seen on the ground by Loch na Moracha, opposite Langass Wood this evening.
18th June:
North Uist: A Treecreeper was seen at Balranald on the old church wall near the visitor centre. An immature Glaucous Gull and immature Iceland Gull were at Rubh' Arnal.
Benbecula: A female Ruff was at Loch Mor.
South Uist: An Osprey was over Loch Eynort this morning. An immature Iceland Gull and immature Glaucous Gull were in the north bay at Ardvule. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore River.
Marine Sightings: 3 lunge feeding Minke Whales were off Aird, Point, Lewis today.
Minke Whale (Andy Williams); Buzzard plus Hooded Crow and Opsrey plus Buzzard (Steve Duffield)
17th June:
North Uist: A Turtle Dove was by Loch Sandary this morning. A Garden Warbler was singing in Carinish very early morning (04:00).
South Uist: An immature Iceland Gull was at Ardvule.
Insects: 380 moths of 61 species were trapped in South Glendale last nigh including 21 Map-winged Swift, 3 Small Dotted Buff, a Single Dotted Wave, 14 Small Rivulet, a Middle-barred Minor and micros Gynnidomorpha permixtana, Bactra furfurana, Lathronympha strigana, 5 Notocelia uddmanniana, Caloptilia, stigmatella, Eudonia murana and 6 Diamond-back Moths
Turtle Dove (Steve Duffield); Aspilapteryx tringipennella, Gynnidomorpha permixtana and Single-dotted Wave (John Kemp)
16th June:
North Uist: A Quail was calling at Balranald near the cemetary early this morning.
South Uist: An Osprey flew north-west over Bornish this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: A Fin Whale was seen off Tiumpa Head.
Insects: 283 moths and 40 species were trapped in Carinish last night including a Pale Mottled Willow and a Pinion-streaked Snout amongst many others.
Common Darter (Andy Williams)
15th June:
Marine Sightings: 3 Minke Whales and 6 Risso's Dolphins were off the Braighe, near Stornoway this evening.
Minke Whale and Risso's Dolphin (Andy Williams)
14th June:
North Uist: A Sandwich Tern was off Baleshare this morning.
Marine Sightings: 4 Killer Whales were seen heading south past Tiumpan Head late morning.
13th June:
North Uist: An adult Yellow-legged Gull was reported from Berneray ferry terminal.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Ardvule today.
Mingulay: A Common Rosefinch was seen flying over.
12th June:
Lewis: A 2nd cal. yr. Iceland Gull was seen at Loch Branahuie this morning. The Taiga Bean Goose is still by Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: A House Martin was at Claddach Kirkibost this afternoon.
South Uist: A Dotterel was reported from the machair at Snishival today.
Barra: A Common Rosefinch was at Nask this morning.
Marine Sightings: 5 Orcas were seen moving slowly north from Tiumpan Head this morning.
Insects: 225 moths of 35 species were caught in Carinish last night including Cinnibar moth, 6 Daimondback moths, a Ruby Tiger and a Sallow Kitten, amongst others.
Sallow Kitten and Drinker (Steve Duffield)
11th June:
Lewis: A Black-headed Wagtail or Grey-headed Wagtail was seen in the plouged field opposite Port of Ness Pot Office. A Hobby was in Stornoway castle grounds before flying off to the north. A Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints were at Loch Ordais.
North Uist: A Blyth's Reed Warbler was at Claddach Kiribost.
Barra: A Golden Oriole was seen at Nask.
Marine Sightings: 16+ Risso's Dolphins were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this evening; half an hour outside Lochmaddy. 6 Minke Whales, 4 Risso's Dolphins and 10 Common Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Risso's Dolphins (Steve Duffield)
10th June:
Lewis: A male and female Crossbill were seen at South Galson in the afternoon and a Spotted Flycatcher also there in the evening.
Marine Sightings: 2 Killer Whales were seen passing Bolnabodach this evening.
Insects: 210 moths / 46 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including a Peach Blossom.
Peach Blossom (John Kemp)
9th June:
South Uist: A Spotted Flycatcher was in Askernish.
Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was at Glen. A Marsh Warbler was in Castlebay yesterday evening.
8th June:
Lewis: A Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints were at Loch Ordais.
North UIst: A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull was at Loch Sandary this morning. An Osprey was seen flying south at Scolpaig this afternoon.
7th June:
Lewis: The Taiga Bean Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat. An adult Rose-coloured Starling was seen to the south of Balallan.
North Uist: 2 Spotted Flycatchers were along the northern edge of Ben Risary plantation today.
Barra: A Common Rosefinch was at Cuithir briefly this morning.
6th June:
Benbecula: A male Ruff was at Loch Mor.
South Uist: A Temminck's Stint was at Carnan (along the road east of the main road, on a small pool to the south near the tunring point).
Barra: A Golden Oriole was singing at Creachan this morning. The Glaucous Gull was at Cleat.
5th June:
Lewis: The Taiga Bean Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: An Iceland Gull was at Ardivachar in the morning. An Iceland Gull was seen at Ardvule early afternoon.
4th June:
Lewis: A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull was at Loch Branahuie. The Taiga Bean Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at the south end of Loch Paible.
Marine Sightings: 2 Minke Whales, 5 White-beaked Dolphins (plus calves) and 8 Risso's Dolphins (plus calves) were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
3rd June:
St. Kilda: A Common Rosefinch was on Hirta today.
Barra: A Glaucous Gull was at Cleat.
2nd June:
Lewis: The Taiga Bean Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat.
Benbecula: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were in Stinky Bay. A male Ruff and a House Martin were seen at Loch Mor.
1st June:
Lewis: The Taiga Bean Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat. The American Wigeon was on Loch Tiumpan.
Benbecula: A Turtle Dove was reported as flying north past Hacklet junction today.