Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2021

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20th September:

Lewis: A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Loch Stiapabhat.

South Uist: A Great Shearwater was seen from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry this morning. 2 Great Shearwaters and a Sooty Shearwater were seen from the same ferry route today. 3 Little Stints were at the south-west end of Loch Bee. A Ruff was on Bornish machair. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at Ormiclate. A sea-watch at Ardvule this morning produced a Sooty Shearwater, a Manx Shearwater, 2 Storm Petrels, 758 Gannets, 27 Red-throated Divers and 5 Great Northern Divers; a Whimbrel also flew north. A Pied Flycatcher was seen at Carnan.

Marine Sightings: Around 20 Common Dolphins and 2 Sperm Whales were seen from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry today.

Black-tailed Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Merlin (Alan Kennedy)

 

19th September:

North Uist: The Baird's Sandpiper is still at Loch Paible. A Long-billed Dowitcher was reported as heard in flight heading east over Grenitote and a Turtle Dove was on the machair there.

South Uist: A juvenile Long-billed Dowitcher and 9 Little Stints were at the south-west end of Loch Bee. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and a Pectoral Sandpiper were on Bornish machair. 32 Brent Geese were at Stoneybridge. 18 Brent Geese were at Hebridean Jewellery. A Baird's Sandpiper was reported by the Howmore bridge before flying towards the beach this afternoon.

Barra: A Common Rosefinch and Pied Flycatcher were at Ardmhor this morning.

Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stints and Long-billed Dowitcher (Steve Duffield)

 

18th September:

Lewis: A Lapland Bunting was seen at Bosta, Great Bernera.

North Uist: The Baird's Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints were at Loch Paible.

South Uist: A Baird's Sandpiper was seen at Stoneybridge by the sea wall. 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 3 Ruff and 4 Barnacle Geese were on Bornish machair. 2 Ruff were at Howmore and 129 Black-tailed Godwits were on the river there. A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen at Kilpheder on the machair. A Little Stint was at Balgarva. A Little Stint was seen at Ardvule. A Common Rosefinch was at Askernish briefly.

Barra: A Barred Warbler was seen at Nask and Pied Flycatchers were at Morghan and Ardmhor.

Lapland Bunting (Emma Stobart); Baird's Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)

 

17th September:

Lewis: 4 Black-tailed Godwits were at Steinish and 12 at Loch Braigh na h-Aodhe.

St. Kilda: A Pectoral Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank and 4 Lapland Buntings were on Hirta.

North Uist: The Baird's Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints were at Loch Paible. A Lesser Yellowlegs was reported from Blathaisbhal, 1.5 miles north-west of Lochmaddy. 5 Storm Petrels, 3 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Bonxies were seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry.

South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Ruff were on Bornish machair this evening. 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Ardvule 11:30 - 12:00 and a Little Stint was in the south bay there. A Pectoral Sandpiper and 300+ Black-tailed Godwits were on Eochar machair. A brief Little Gull was at Hebridean Jewellery before flying north. 102 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore river. A Lesser Whitethroat was at North Loch Eynort.

Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was at Morghan.

 

16th September:

Lewis: 25 Black-tailed Godwits and 18 Knot were at Steinish. 6 Sooty Shearwaters, a Manx Shearwater and 2 Great Northern Divers flew east past the Butt this morning during a brief seawatch. A juvenile Sabine's Gull and 9 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry today.

North Uist: A Baird's Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints were at Loch Paible today.

South Uist: 4 Little Stints were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee this morning.

Barra: A Long-tailed Skua and 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig.

Marine Sightings: 10 Risso's Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head today.

Baird's Sandpiper and Little Stint (Ron Macdonald)

 

15th September:

Lewis: 28 Sooty Shearwaters flew west past the Butt during an hour watch late this afternoon.

North Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 29 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were at Balranald. 2 Little Stints are still at Loch Paible.

South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, a Ruff and 40 Black-tailed Godwits were on Bornish machair. 2 Little Stints were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Stoneybridge and 6 pale-bellied Brents were at Kildonan. 5 Brent Geese were at Ardvule. 150 Black-tailed Godwits were at Howmore. A Ruff and 200 Black-tailed Godwits were on Eochar machair.

Barra: 2 Barred Warblers were seen (1 at Glen and the other at Creachan) as well as 2 Pied Flycatchers. A Hobby was seen in Northbay.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Little Stints (Alan Kennedy)

 

14th September:

Lewis: 4 Goosanders were at Timsgarry. 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Steinish.

St. Kilda: The Snowy Owl and a Pectoral Sandpiper were on Hirta today. A juvenile Spotted Redshank was also on the island.

North Uist: A Firecrest was at Langass Lodge this afternoon. 2 Ruff were on Baleshare, 2 Ruff and 70+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Balranald; also a Lapland Bunting there. 2 Ruff were by Loch Sandary. 2 juvenile Little Stints were on Loch Paible.

South Uist: A Pectoral Sandpiper was on Eochar machair. 5 Brent Geese were at Hornish Point. 3 Pectoral Sandpipers and 2 Ruff were on Bornish machair. The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Ormiclate. The Whinchat was still by the track to Grogarry Lodge. A female Goldeneye was on Loch Roag.

Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was at Ardmhor.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Richard Somers Cocks); Merlin, Short-eared Owl and Pectoral Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)

 

13th September:

Lewis: A Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were at Aird Uig.

Benbecula: A Little Stint was in Stinky Bay.

South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 2 Ruff and a handful of Black-tailed Godwits were amongst the Golden Plover on Bornish machair this afternoon. A Little Stint, 4 Pintail and 2 Scaup were seen on Loch Bee. 200+ Black-tailed Godwits and at least 5 Ruff were on Eochar machair. A Whinchat was along the track to Grogarry Lodge. 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Storm Petrels and 27 Bonxies were seen on the crossing between Mallaig and Lochboisdale today.

Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was in Ardmhor plantation.

Insects: A Canary-shouldered Thorn was seen at Carnan.

Marine Sightings: 14 Common Dolphins and 2 Harbour Porpoise were seen from the ferry between Mallaig and Lochboisdale. At least 2 Minke Whales were off Tiumpan Head this afternoon.

Pectoral Sandpipers (Steve Duffield); Whinchat (Alan Kennedy)

 

12th September:

Lewis: A Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were at Aird Uig.

North Uist: A Lesser Whitethroat was in Carinish this morning; also a Sedge Warbler in the same garden. 3 Whimbrel were at Aird an Runair and 70 Brent Geese flew south at 14:30.

South Uist: The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on Bornish machair this morning; also a Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Ruff there. 155 Black-tailed Godwits were on Drimsdale machair.

Barra: The male Red-backed Shrike was still along the road to the golf course, near Cleat today and a Pied Flycatcher was at Cuithir. A Booted Warbler was at Earsary this evening.

Red Admiral and Poplar Hawkmoth caterpillar (Steve Duffield); Buf-breasted Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)

 

11th September:

North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint are still on Loch Paible.

South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Ruff were on Bornish machair. A Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Little Stints were at Ardvule. 5 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry this morning.

Barra: A Red-backed Shrike was seen at Cleat.

Marine Sightings: A Sunfish was seen just off Tiumpan Head late this afternoon and a breaching Minke Whale was off there this morning.

Little Stint (Alan Kennedy); Wheatear (Bob McMillan)

 

10th September:

Lewis: The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Loch Barvas.

St. Kilda: The Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta and a Long-eared Owl was also in Village Bay.

North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, a Pintail, Whimbel and 117 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Paible.

South Uist: The Pectoral Sandpiper was still at Ardvule.

Barra: A Common Rosefinch was seen at Garrygall.

Pectoral Sandpiper (John Kemp); Pectoral Sandpiper (Andrew Gouldstone)

 

9th September:

Lewis: A Pectoral Sandpiper was seen along the north ahore of Loch Barvas.

St. Kilda: A 1st winter Citrine Wagtail was on Hirta this morning.

North Uist: A Swift was at Balranald this morning; also 3 Brent Geese were there.

South Uist: A Pectoral Sandpiper a Little Stint and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were in the south bay at Ardvule. 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were on Bornish machair. 19 Brent Geees were at Howmore and 79 Black-tailed Godwits were on the river there.

Little Stint and Pectoral Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)

 

8th September:

North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was on Baleshare beach near the carpark.

South Uist: 103 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Range. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Ardvule.

Insects: 272 moths and 28 species were trapped in Carinish last night including Small Autumnal Moth, Scotch Annulet, Hedge Rustic, a Garden Carpet, Purple Clay and Epinotia trigonella. A Canary-shouldered Thorn was seen at Carnan last night.

Small Autumnal Moth and Epinotia trigonella (Steve Duffield); Curlew Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)

 

7th September:

North Uist: 10 Black-tailed Godwits and a Ruff were on Baleshare this afternoon.

South Uist: 57 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore River. 14 Black-tailed Godwits are in the south-west corner of Loch Bee and 50 are on the Range. A Great Shearwater, 11 Sooty Shearwaters, 11 Storm Petrels, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Bonxie, 298 Gannets, 126 Manx Shearwaters, 17 Fulmars, 14 Red-throated Divers and a Great Northern Diver flew south off Ardvule this morning. A Ruff was at Ardvule - in the north bay.

Great Shearwater and Sooty Shearwater (John Kemp)

 

6th September:

Lewis: A Fea's / Desertas Petrel flew past Gallan Head this morning; also 9 Sooty Shearwaters and 8 Storm Petrels past there.

South Uist: 22 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Range at Eochar and 54 were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. 60+ Black-tailed Godwits dropped in on the Howmore River this evening.

Marine Sightings: 5 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.

 

5th September:

S. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was around the village on Hirta.

North Uist: A pale-bellied Brent Goose was on Loch Paible this morning.

South Uist: 54 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore River this morning.

 

4th September:

Lochmaddy - Uig: A Long-tailed Skua was seen from the ferry today.

South Uist: 4 Great Northern Divers, 8 Red-throated Divers and 1 Great Skua flew south at Ardvule this morning; also a Whimbrel and single Black-tailed Godwit were present.

Barra: 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig this afternoon.

Insects: 714 moths / 30 species were trapped in Carinish last night including 287 Rosy Rustics, a Chestnut-coloured Carpet, A Red-line Quaker and a Silver Y amongst others.

Marine Sightings: 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Ardvule this morning. An Ocean Sunfish, Minke Whale and 5 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head today.

Rock Pipit and Bottle-nosed Dolphin (John Kemp); Chestnut-coloured Carpet and Red-line Quaker (Steve Duffield)

 

3rd September:

Lewis: 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Gallan Head between 11:00 - 14:00.

St. Kilda: A Redstart was seen on Hirta.

North Uist: A Leach's Petrel and 10 Storm Petrels were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this morning. 4 Common Scoter flew north at Balranald; also 70 Black-tailed Godwits there. 50 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch na Reivil, Hougharry. A Pink-footed Goose was on Loch Mor, Baleshare.

Corn Bunting, Short-eared Owl and Golden Eagle with Raven (Steve Duffield)

 

2nd September:

Lewis: A Common Rosefinch was at Bragar at 17:30 by the picnic tables at Loch Ordais.

North Uist: 90+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Balranald. 5 Pintail flew south at Kyles Paible this afternoon.

Barra: The Barred Warbler was at Nask again today and a Reed Warbler was at Glen.

Insects: 510 moths of 31 species were trapped in South Glendale last night and included 1 Sallow, 1 Angle Shades, 61 Chevron, 1 Treble-bar, 1 Small Autumnal Moth, 1 Lunar Underwing, 4 Anomalous, 1 Red-green Carpet and a few micros 1 Epinotia immundana, 1 Epinotia caprana, 5 Acleris effractana and a Eudonia angustea.

Marine Sightings: A pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Borve, Benbecula this evening.

Lunar Underwing, Sallow and Small Autumnal Moth (John Kemp); Common Rosefinch (Mark Warren)

 

1st September:

St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl is still on Hirta.

Marine Sightings: 7 Risso's Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head this morning.

Corn Bunting and Otter (Steve Duffield)