Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
Archive Jan Feb March April May June July August
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30th September:
Lewis: The Lesser Yellowlegs was at Loch Stiapabhat, near the hide today. A Curlew Sandpiper and 6 Ruff were on the machair at Eoropie.
South Uist: The Baird's Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper were both in North Bay / Mol Mor this morning. The juvenile American Golden Plover, 10 Curlew Sandpipers and 14 Ruff were on the Range at LA2 / 3. A drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch a Chnoic Bhuide, just south of Howmore.
Barra: A Red-eyed Vireo was in Castlebay. A Ring Ouzel was at Glenn and a Redwing at Nask. A Barred Warbler was seen at Cuithir.
Baird's Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy); Lesser Yellowlegs (Andrew Gouldstone); Semipalmated Sandpiper and Baird's Sandpiper (Steve Duffield)
29th September:
North Uist: A seawatch from Griminish Point (10:45 - 16:45) produced 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls, 7 Leach's Petrels, a Storm Petrel, 105 Sooty Shearwaters, a Pomarine Skua and a Grey Phalarope heading WSW. Also seen during the watch were 88 Red-throated Divers, 5 drake Scaup, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Teal, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, a drake Common Scoter, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Golden Plover, 2 Turnstone, 4 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Skuas, 14 Arctic Terns, 107 Kittiwakes and 260 Manx Shearwaters; amongst others. A Common Rosefinch was on the roadside at Scolpaig. 7 Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over Griminish Point and 70 flew east over Scolpaig this afternoon.
South Uist: The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Baird's Sandpiper were at Mol Mor / North Bay this morning. A 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull was at LA2 in the morning before flying out to sea; the juvenile American Golden Plover was also there. 10 Curlew Sandpipers and 8 Ruff were on the Range at LA3. A Common Rosefinch was at Howmore (for 2nd day). 3 Leach's Petrels, 7 Sooty Shearwaters and a Black Tern were seen off Ardvule this morning. A Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Stoneybridge.
Barra: A Red-eyed Vireo was in Castlebay this evening.
Common Rosefinch (Alan Kennedy); Leach's Petrel (Steve Duffield)
28th September:
South Uist: The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Mol Mor / North Bay again this morning. The juvenile American Golden Plover was on the Range at LA2. 208 Black-tailed Godwits were at Drimsdale.
27th September:
South Uist: The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Mol Mor / North Bay again this morning; also a Curlew Sandpiper there. The juvenile American Golden Plover was on the Range at LA2. A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Howmore. The Great Crested Grebe was off Balgarva again this morning. 250 Black-tailed Godwits were at Drimsdale.
Barra: The Tennessee Warbler was seen briefly at Creachan and 2 Red-eyed Vireos were in Castlebay.
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Steve Duffield); Glaucous Gull and Wheatear (Alan Kennedy)
26th September:
Lewis: A Lesser Yellowlegs is at Loch Staipabhat. The American Golden Plover was also nearby on the machair at Eoropie.
St. Kilda: 2 Buff-bellied Pipits are still on Hirta.
South Uist: A Semipalamted Sandpiper was in North Bay (Mol Mor), near Ardivachar.9 Curtlew Sandpipers were on the Range at LA2. A juvenile American Golden Plover was also on the Range.
Barra: 5 Red-eyed Vireos are on the island with 3 in Csatlebay, 1 at Nask and 1 at Eoligarry. The Tennessee Warbler was seen briefly at Creachan.
American Golden Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
25th September:
South Uist: The Red-eyed Vireo is still at North Loch Eynort. A Red-eyed Vireo was also seen on Eriskay. A juvenile Sabine's Gull and a Sooty Shearwater flew south at Ardvule this morning. 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were on the Range at LA2. A 2nd w Glaucous Gull was at Peninerine.
Barra: The Tennessee Warbler was seen briefly at Creachan this morning. 5 Red-eyed Vireos are on the island with 2 in Csatlebay, 1 at Nask and 2 at Eoligarry church.
24th September:
St. Kilda: At least 1 Buff-bellied Pipit is still on Hirta.
South Uist: 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 11 Ruff and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits were at LA2.
Barra: At least 1 Red-eyed Vireo was in Castlebay this morning. 2 Red-eyed Vireos are still at Eoligarry church. A Tennessee Warbler was in Creachan woodland this afternoon.
Red-eyed Vireos (Steve Duffield)
23rd September:
LewisL A Leach's Petrel and 14 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry this morning.
S. Kilda: 2 Buff-bellied Pipits were on Hirta.
North Uist: A Wood Warbler was at Callernish House.
South Uist: A Red-eyed Vireo was at North Loch Eynort. 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 8 Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at LA2.
Barra: A Philadelphia Vireo was seen by the football picth in Castlebay in the morning along with 2 Red-eyed Vireos. 2 Red-eyed Vireos were still at Eoligarry church and the Tennessee Warbler was seen at Nask.
Insects: A Bulrush Wainscot (1st for Outer Hebrides) was caught in South Glendale last night along with 9 Angle Shades, 3 Dark Sword-grass, 2 Silver Y, 4 Brindled Ochre, 2 Lunar Underwing, 1 Pink-barred Sallow and 2 Large Wainscot.
Red-eyed Vireo and Bulrush Wainscot (John Kemp); Leach's Petrel (Andy Williams)
22nd September:
Lewis: The American Golden Plover was at Fivepenny. A juvenile Sabine's Gull, 5 Sooty Shearwaters and 48 Pink-footed Geese were seen from the Butt this morning.
St. Kilda: The Buff-belllied Pipit was still on Hirta today; also 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still there.
Benbecula: The Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper were in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 4 Curlew Sandpipers and 10 Ruff were on the Range at LA2. 60 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. A Barred Warbler was seen in the roadside plantation at Smerclate. A Curlew Sandpiper was in the bay at Ardmichael.
Barra: The 2 Red-eyed Vireos were at Eoligarry church again today. A Barred Warbler was seen briefly at Nask.
American Golden Plover (Andy Williams); Red-eyed Vireo (Steve Duffield)
21st September:
Lewis: 64 Sooty Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua flew past Tiumpan Head late morning.
St. Kilda: A Buff-belllied Pipit was on Hirta today.
North Uist: 246 Pink-footed Geese were resting on the North Ford off Carinish this evening.
Benbecula: The Semipalmated Sandpiper was reported from Stinky Bay again today; also Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper there. A Redstart was at Griminish.
South Uist: A Grey Phalarope was at Stoneybridge.
Barra: 2 Red-eyed Vireos were at Eoligarry church and a Tennessee Warbler was at Nask. A Kingfisher was also on the island.
20th September:
Lewis: 86 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Tiumpan Head in an hour this morning. A Spotted Flycatcher was in Bragar.
North Uist: The juvenile American Golden Plover was on Baleshare; also 6 Ruff and 3 Black-tailed Godwits were on the island.
Benbecula: The Semipalmated Sandpiper was reported from Stinky Bay again this afternoon along with a Curlew Sandpiper although only a juvenile Little Stint was present late afternoon.
South Uist: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at Peninerine this morning. A Glaucous Gull and Curlew Sandpiper were at Ardmichael. An adult Sabine's Gull was seen flying north between Kilpheder and Daliburgh. A juvenile Sabine's Gull was on the sea off Daliburgh, opposite the cemetery Loch Hallan.
Barra: 2 Leach's Petrels flew past Cleat.
Marine Sightings: A Fin Whale and a Humpback Whale were off Tiumpan Head late morning.
Curlew Sandpiper and Glaucous Gull (Alan Kennedy)
19th September:
Lewis: The adult American Golden Plover was on the machair at Fivepenny this afternoon.
St. Kilda: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers are still on Hirta.
North Uist: The juvenile American Golden Plover was seen on Baleshare again today.
Benbecula: The Semipalmated Sandpiper was reported from Stinky Bay this morning along with a juvenile Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper and Great Crested Grebe were at Balgarva. A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was on the Range at LA2 this morning. 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Grey Phalarope were at Stoneybridge. 3 Sooty Shearwaters, a Storm Petrel and 4 Arctic Terns flew south at Ardvule.
Barra: The Baird's Sandpiper was at Allasdale this morning.
Curlew Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy); Storm Petrel (John Kemp); Grey Phalarope (Steve Duffield)
18th September:
St. Kilda: The Tennessee Warbler is still in the village on Hirta. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 3 Lapland Buntings and 12 Common Redpolls were also seen on the island today.
North Uist: A juvenile American Golden Plover was on Baleshare.
Benbecula: A Semipalmated Sandpiper and a Little Stint were in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A juvenile Little Stint was along the shore at Sroneybridge. 139 Black-tailed Godwits were on Drimsdale machair this morning.
Barra: The Baird's Sandpiper was seen again ar Allasdale today; also a 2nd winter Iceland Gull there.
American Golden Plover (Steve Duffield); American Golden Plover and Little Stint(Alan Kennedy); Semiplamated Sandpiper (Martin Bernson)
17th September:
St. Kilda: The Tennessee Warbler is still in the village on Hirta. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 6 Common Redpolls were also on Hirta.
South Uist: The Little Stint was in the bay just north of the cemetery at Aird Mhicael.
16th September:
Lewis: A Grey Phalarope, a Leach's Petrel and 21 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt. A Spotted Flyctacher was in Port of Ness. A Curlew Sandpiper was on the machair and a Tree Pipit flew over Eoropie. .
St. Kilda: The Tennessee Warbler is still in the village on Hirta. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers and 2 Lapland Buntings were also on Hirta.
South Uist: A Little Stint was in the bay just north of Aird Mhichael. The Great Crested Grebe was off Balgarva. 93 Black-tailed Godwits were at Drimsdale in the morning.
Barra: 2 Treecreepers were at Creachan whilst a Lesser Whitethroat and a couple of Garden Warblers were on the island.
Black-tailed Godwit, Knot and Little Stint (Alan Kennedy)
15th September:
Lewis: The American Golden Plover was at Eoropie behind the Decca.
St. Kilda: A Tennessee Warbler was found on Hirta this morning and was still present in the village this evening. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was also there this afternoon on Mullach Sgar. 2 Lapland Buntings were also on Hirta.
Benbecula: The female / juvenile Garganey was seen on Coot Loch again today.
South Uist: 6 Brent Geese were at Stoneybridge.
Barra: A Pectoral Sandpiper was on Vatersay.
Marine Sightings: 7 Minke Whales were seen to the east of Tiumpan Head this morning; also Common and Risso's Dolphins.
14th September:
North Uist: A juvenile Sabine's Gull, 2 leach's Petrels and 32 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Griminish Point this morning (07:30 - 10:30); also 6 Great Northern Divers, 7 Red-throated Divers and a Puffin amongst other birds heading south-west there. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on the machair at Paiblesgarry today.
Benbecula: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A seawatch off Ardvule produced 1281 Gannets, 182 Manx Shearwaters, 6 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Leach's Petrels, 1 Storm Petrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 3 Great Northern Divers, 10 Red-throated Divers and 49 Kittiwakes. 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were at Aird Mhichael. 159 Black-tailed Godwits were on Howmore / Drimsdale machair; a pale-bellied Brent Goose was also on the shore there.
Barra: The European Roller is still by the cafe on Vatersay (for its 3rd day).
Roller (Steve Duffield); Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Martin Benson); Curlew Sandpiper and Brent Goose (Alan Kennedy); Roller (John Kemp)
13th September:
North Uist: 110+ Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over Knockquien early morning.
South Uist: 108 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore River this morning. A Pied Flycatcher was seen in Bornish. 78 Pink-footed Geese flew south-west over Loch Eynort in the morning.
Barra: A European Roller was reported as hunting insects along the lines on Vatersay, close to the cafe this morning.
12th September:
Lewis: 150 Sooty Shearwaters and a Grey Phalarope were seen between Ullapool and Stornoway this morning. A Swift was over Loch Stiapabhat. 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt in the evening and 3 - 4,000 Pink-footed Geese arrived from the north-west.
North Uist: 238 Pink-footed Geese flew south over Claddach Kirkibost this morning. A further 66 flew south-east, dropping in on the North Ford off Baleshare late this afternoon.
South Uist: A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was at Ardivachar early afternoon. 150+ Pink-footed Geese were seen to come down somewhere around the South Ford early afternoon.
Barra: A Barred Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat were at Nask.
Marine Sightings: 2 Fin Whales and 4 Minke Whales were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
11th September:
Lewis: 11 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Port of Ness early morning. The American Golden Plover is still on the machair near Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 110 Pink-footed Geese flew south over Claddach Kirkibost this evening.
South Uist: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at LA2 / LA3. 230 Black-tailed Godwits were on the machair at Drimsdale and 11 pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the beach there.
Marine Sightings: At least 2 Fin Whales, 4+ Minke Whales and 50 Common Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
10th September:
South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on the Range at LA3. A Great Crested Grebe was off Balgarva.
Barra: The Baird's Sandpiper was on the shore at Allasdale again today.
Marine Sightings: A Fin Whale was seen off Tiumpan Head this morning; also a couple of Minke Whales and several Harbour Poroise.
Insects: Migrant moths trapped in Carinish last night included a Vestal, 2 Silver Y's and a Rush Veneer.
Large Wainscot, Rush Veneer and The Vestal (Steve Duffield)
9th September:
Lewis: 182 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Stornoway - Ullapool ferry this morning. The adult American Golden Plover was seen by Loch Stiapabhat.
Benbecula: A Garganey was on Coot Loch today.
South Uist: A Great Skua, 3 Arctic Terns, 11 Sooty Shearwaters and 9 Storm Petrels flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Barra: A Pomarine Skua flew south past Brevig.
Insects: 2 Comvolvulus Hawkmoths were caught in South Glendale last night.
8th September:
Lewis: An adult Lesser Grey Shrike was at South Galson this evening.
South Uist: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at LA3 on the Range. 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were at Balgarva.
Insects: A Canary-shouldered Thorn was trapped at Carnan last night. 45 Red Admirals are also still present.
Curlew Sandpiper (Bob McMillan); Lesser Grey Shrike (Andrew Gouldstone)
7th September:
Lewis: The adult American Golden Plover and a Curlew Sandpiper were on the machair by Loch Stiapabhat. 20 Sooty Shearwaters were seen between Ullapool and Stornoway. A Cory's Shearwater (15:45), 200 Sooty Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua was seen from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway this afternoon.
South Uist: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the Range at LA3. The adult American Golden Plover was at Kilaulay this afternoon.
Barra: A Baird's Sandpiper was on the shore at Allasdale and later at Traigh Mhor.
6th September:
Lewis: The adult American Golden Plover is still at Eoropie. A Pomarine Skua and 33 Sooty Shearwaters were seen between Ullapool and Stornoway. 5 juvenile Black-tailed Godwits were by Loch Branhuie.
South Uist: An adult Great Crested Grebe was off Balgarva. An adult American Golden Plover was on the machair south of Ardivachar today. 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the Range at LA2.
Barra: The Pectoral Sandpiper and a 2nd winter Iceland Gull were seen at Allasdale.
Insects: 404 moths / 23 species were trapped in Carinish last night including a Convovulus Hawkmoth, an Angle Shades, a Black Rustic and Red-line Quakers amongst others.
Convolvulus Hawkmoth, Black Rustic and Red-line Quaker (Steve Duffield)
5th September:
Lewis: A Balearic Shearwater flew south past the Butt this moring; also 480 Sooty Shearwaters passed there in an hour late morning.
S. Kilda: A Corncrake was on Hirta.
South Uist: 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were at LA2 on the Range with Golden Plovers this evening. A Curlew Sandpiper was in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.
Barra: A Pectoral Sandpiper was on the beach at Allasdale early evening.
Insects: 3 Convolvulus Hawk-moths, 17 Heath Rustic, 1 Silver Y, 3 Angle Shades, 5 Northern Deep Brown Darts, 1 Lobesia littoralis, 1 Cochylimorpha straminea, 1 Platyptilia isodactylus and an Acleris variegana were trapped in South Glendale last night.
Cochylimorpha straminea and Lobesia littoralis (John Kemp)
4th September:
Lewis: An adult American Golden Plover was seen at Eoropie this morning, opposite Ness FC. A Balearic Shearwater flew south past the Butt in the evening.
North Uist: An adult American Golden Plover was at the south end of Loch Paible.
South Uist: The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at LA2 on the Range. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was off Hebridean Jewellery. The Oriental Turtle Dove (subsp. meena) was seen on the wires in Boisdale around midday.
Barra: A Great Shearwater, 11 Sooty Shearwaters and a Leach's Petrel were seen from the ferry between Barra and Oban this morning.
Marine Sightings: 3 Risso's Dolphins and 33 Common Dolphins were seen from the Barra to Oban ferry this morning.
3rd September:
South Uist: 3 Leach's Petrels and 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Ardvule this morning whilst a juvenile Sabine's Gull flew over Loch Ardvule. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on the Range at LA2. The Oriental Turtle Dove (subsp. meena) was seen on the machair to the north of Boisdale cemetery again today.
Sooty Shearwater (Steve Duffield)
2nd September:
North Uist: The adult American Golden Plover was again in fields near Aird an Runair, Balranald this morning. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was seen at Borve, Berneray.
South Uist: A juvenile Little Stint was seen 500m north of Orosay this morning.
American Golden Plover and Otter (Steve Duffield)
1st September
Lewis: 84 Sooty Shearwaters and a Leach's Petrel were seen from the Stornoway - Ullapool ferry this morning. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Loch Ordais. A Cory's Shearwater was seen from Ullapool on the approach to Stornoway.
South Uist: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was seen on Askernish golf course this morning.
Marine Sightings: A Fin Whale and 2 Humpback Whales were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry. 2 Orcas were seen heading north from the Stornoway - Ullapool ferry this afternoon (near Lewis).
Insects: 272 moths and 44 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including another Convolvulus Hawk-moth, Platyptilia isodactylus, 2 Small Autumnal Moths, 2 Pinion-streaked Snouts, 3 Acleris effractana, 7 Acleris aspersana and a Common Marbled Carpet of the one of the mainland form which is rare on the Outer Hebrides.
Common Marbled Carpet, Pinion-streaked Snout and Small Autumnal Moth (John Kemp)