Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024
Archive Jan Feb March April May June July August
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30th September:
Lewis: A Tree Sparrow was in South Galson.
South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Glendale; also Chiffchaff and Blackcap present in the same garden.
Barra: 14 Yellow-browed Warblers reported from Barra today. The American Golden Plover was at Allasdale again today.
Marine Sightings: Around 50 Common Dolphins were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this morning. 6 Orca's were reported heading north-west past Port of Ness at 13:40.
Yellow-browed Warbler (John Kemp)
29th September:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Glendale.
Barra: The juvenile American Golden Plover was on the machair at Allasdale.
28th September:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater flew past Port of Ness. The Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat. A Turtle Dove was at Lionel.
Barra: 4 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen around the island today. The juvenile American Golden Plover was on the machair at Allasdale.
Marine Sightings: 2 Fin Whales were seen distantly east of Tiumpan Head.
27th September:
Lewis: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Lionel, close to the junction with Skigersta. The Yellow-browed Warbler was still at South Galson. A Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: A Lapland Bunting was at Teanamachair, Baleshare.
South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was between West Loch Ollay and Airdmicheal. A Little Stint was at Ardmicheal.
Barra: The American Golden Plover was at Allasdale. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Nask.
26th September:
Lewis: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Galson today.
South Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on the machair near Aird Mhicheil again this morning; also 150 Pink-footed Geese (in 3 flocks) heading south-east over there this morning. Another Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on Ormiclate machair; also 67 Black-tailed Godwits there. The American Golden Plover was at LA2 this morning. 4 Brent Geese and 9 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Carnan in the afternoon.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Steve Duffield); Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
25th September:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat and the American Golden Plover was on the machair opposite the Decca.
North Uist: The Barred Warbler was still in Carinish. A Ruff and 10 Black-tailed Godwits were on the shore at Aird an Runair.
South Uist: The Barred Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler were still in Bornish today whilst a Yellow-browed Warbler was also heard calling there. 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the machair south-east of Aird Mhicheal this afternoon. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at North Loch Eynort.
Barra: A Wood Warbler was east of Castlebay. An American Golden Plover was at Allasdale this afternoon.
Golden Eagle and Otter (Steve Duffield)
24th September:
Lewis: A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 120 Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over Carinish this morning.
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was at LA2. A Blyth's Reed Warbler and a Barred Warbler are in Bornish. 3 Brent Geese and 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardvule whilst 250 Pink-footed Geese came in off the sea and headed east.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Ardmhor and a Pomarine Skua was seen off Brevig.
23rd September:
Lewis: A Turtle Dove was by the footbridge on the beach at Loch Ordais this afternoon. 100+ Pink-footed Geese flew south-eastwards over Port of Ness; also 2 Garden Warblers and 2 Chiffchaff in the gardens there.
St. Kilda: A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen today.
North Uist: The Barred Warbler is still in Carinish. 210+ Pink-footed Geese flew south-eastwards over Baleshare this morning and a further 180 flew south-east over Lochmaddy early afternoon.
South Uist: A Barred Warbler was in Bornish; also a reed warbler sp. was present.
Insects: 466 moths / 26 species were caught in South Glendale last night including 2 Large Wainscot, 151 Small Wainscot, 1 Black Rustic, 1 Brindled Ochre, 6 Angle Shades, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Silver Y and 238 Ear moth agg. At North Loch Eynort 32 moths /13 species which included 14 Grey Pine Carpet, 1 Brimstone Moth, 1 Sallow, 1 Eudonia angustea and 1 Epinotia ramella.
Black Rustic, Large Wainscots and Epinotia ramella (John Kemp)
22nd September:
Lewis: The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Loch Ordais, Bragar.
St. Kilda: The Siberian Stonechat was on Hirta today along with 2 Buff-bellied Pipits; an Arctic Warbler and a Marsh Warbler.
North Uist: A Barred Warbler was in Carinish. A Lapland Bunting was at Claddach Baleshare. A Grey Wagtail flew over the Lochmaddy Road, to the south of Langass this morning.
South Uist: A Whinchat was at Grogarry Lodge.
Barra: A Barred Warbler was at Garrygall whilst the Wood Warbler was still at Gleann. 3 Pied Flycatchers, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler were also on the island.
Insects: A Setaceous Hebrew Charater and 8 Red-line Quakers were trapped in Carinish last night.
Barred Warbler and Lapland Bunting (Steve Duffield)
21st September:
Lewis: A Turtle Dove was seen in Lower Barvas this morning. A Turtle Dove was at Port of Ness this evening.
St. Kilda: An Eastern Stonechat (probably Siberian) was on Hirta today for its second day; also Marsh Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher and Lapland Bunting present.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Wood Warbler were at Gleann.
Marine Sightings: 2 Minke Whales, 20 Harbour Porpoise and a handful of Common Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head. Also 2 Orcas were reported from Point this evening.
20th September:
Lewis: A Turtle Dove was in Lionel and later seen at Adabrock. A Lapland Bunting was seen along the coastal path south-east of the Butt. A Lesser Whitethroat was in Port of Ness. An adult Glaucous Gull flew north-east along the beach at Eoropie. The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Loch Ordais, Bragar.
St. Kilda: An American Buff-bellied Pipit was on Hirta today.
North Uist: 4 Greenland-type Redpolls were at Balranald.
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was at LA2. A Whinchat was by Bornish Church and a Grey Wagtail was at Howmore.
Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was at Nask and another was at Gleann.
Insects: 161 moths of 19 species were in South Glendale including another Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 2 Lunar Underwing, 1 Red-line Quaker,1 Spruce Carpet, 1 Angle Shades and 35 Small Wainscot.
Spruce Carpet (John Kemp); Whinchat (Alan Kennedy)
19th September:
Lewis: A Turtle Dove was seen at Lional, just north of the Decca this morning. A Hoopoe was in Ranish. A Balearic Shearwater, a Great Shearwater, 20 Sooty Shearwaters and a Leach's Petrel were seen off the Butt this morning; whilst 8 Great Shearwaters and 18 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from there this evening (17:00 - 18:40).
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was on The Range near LA2 this morning. A Barred Warbler and Blackcap were at Druidibeg plantation.
Barra: The Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still at Eoligarry, just north of the airport. A Barred Warbler was in Castlebay.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Bob McMillan); Turtle Dove (Andy Williams)
18th September:
Lewis: A Balearic Shearwater and 28 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this morning (07:30 - 08:30). The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Loch Ordais, Bragar. 2 Ruff were at Loch Stiapabhat. A Turtle Dove was in North Dell this morning.
North Uist: 85 Common Scoters were off the west side of Berneray.
South Uist: A Great White Egret flew south along the beach at Ardivachar this morning. Grey Wagtails were at Howmore and Drimsdale.
Barra: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Eoligarry, just north of the airport.
Insects: 170 moths of 28 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including; a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Frosted Orange, 4 Lunar Underwing, 2 Red-line Quaker and one Platyptilia gonodactyla. A Speckled Wood butterfly was seen near the Butt of Lewis.
Grey Wagtail (Alan Kennedy); Frosted Orange and Platyptilia gonodactyla (John Kemp)
17th September:
Lewis: The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Loch Ordais, Bragar. The adult American Golden Plover was by Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: 30 Black-tailed Godwits dropped in by Loch Grogarry in the afternoon; also 60+ flew south at Orosay this morning and others were scattered along the west coast. 2 Ruff were at West Gerinish. 4 Brent Geese were at Ardvule. A Little Egret was seen in flight to the west of the South Ford causeway.
16th September:
Lewis: 49 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrels and 3 Snow Buntings were seen from the Butt this morning. A further 470 Sooty Shearwaters passed the Butt (17:30 - 19:00). The juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was still at Loch Ordais, Bragar.
North Uist: A Little Stint was at Loch Paible.
South Uist: A Lapland Bunting was at Ardvule this afternoon; also 7 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 16 Black-tailed Godwits. The American Golden Plover was on The Range at LA3. A juvenile Little Stint was at Ardivachar this evening.
Barra: The juvenile Iceland Gull was reported from Cuithir again today. A Garden Warbler was in Castlebay.
Insects: 150 moths of 18 species were caught in South Glendale last night ncluding 1 Oblique Carpet, 2 Angle Shades, 5 Lunar Underwing, 1 Epinotia immundana, Depressaria radiella, 3 Eudonia angustea and a Twenty-plume Moth.
Twenty-plume Moth (John Kemp), Lapland Bunting (Alan Kennedy), American Golden Plover and White-tailed Eagles (Bob McMillan)
15th September:
Lewis: A juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Loch Ordais, Bragar. An adult American Golden Plover was on the machair by Loch Stiapabhat; also 2 Green Sandpipers in the area. A Leach's Petrel and 17 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt (16:30 - 18:00). 6 Leach's Petrels and 50 Sooty Shearwaters flew past Gallan Head (17:30 - 19:30).
St. Kilda: A Corncrake was on Hirta.
North Uist: 25+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Aird an Runair. 3 Redwings were at Claddach Kirkibost.
South Uist: 18 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Ardivachar. 88 Black-tailed Godwits and 6 Brent Geese were at Ardvule; also a Common Scoter heading south there. The Little Egret was on the Howmore River.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Cuithir this morning. A Pied Flycatcher was at Northbay.
Marine Sightings: 3 Fin Whales and 3 Humpback Whales were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Semipalmated Sandpiper with Dunlin (Andy Williams)
14th September:
Barra: 20 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Brevig during an hour watch early afternoon.
13th September:
Lewis: The Barred Warbler was seen again this morning at South Galson.
St. Kilda: A Common Rosefinch was seen today.
South Uist: A Jack Snipe was at Howmore.
Barra: The Barred Warbler was at Nask and a Grey Phalarope flew south past Brevig.
Marine Sightings: 5 Humpback Whales and a Fin Whale were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Otters (Alan Kennedy)
12th September:
Lewis: A Barred Warbler is in South Galson.
North Uist: 300+ Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over Carinish at 16:15. 70 Pink-footed Geese flew south-east over Baleshare at 16:25.
Benbecula: A drake Scaup was on Coot Loch.
11th September:
North Uist: A seawatch from Griminish Point this morning (07:40 - 10:40) produced a Leach's Petrel, Storm Petrel, 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 300+ Fulmars, a Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 5 Arctic Terns and 3 Common Scoters flying west. 30 Black-tailed Godwits were on the shore at Aird an Runair. 180 Pink-footed Geese landed on the sands off Claddach Kirkibost this afternoon.
Barra: The Barred Warbler was at Nask again today.
Sooty Shearwater (Steve Duffield)
10th September:
Lewis: 78 Sooty Shearwater passed Port of Ness in half an hour this morning. 100 Pink-footed Geese passed over Lionel at 11:30.
St. Kilda: A Swainson's Thrush was found on Hirta today.
North Uist: A juvenile Sabine's Gull, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 220 Pink-footed Geese and 6 Brent Geese flew past Griminish Point this afternoon. 2 Ring-necked Parakeets were reported flying north over Baleshare this afternoon!
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was on The Range at LA2. A Grey Phalarope was on the south side of Ardvle this afternoon; also 14 Black-tailed Godwits there.
Barra: The Barred Warbler was at Nask again today. A Pomarine Skua and 2 Sooty Shearwater flew past Borve.
9th September:
Harris: 30 Black-tailed Godwits were at Seilebost.
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was still on the Range at LA2. 20 Black-tailed Godwits flew south over Loch Bee. The Little Egret was on the Howmore River.
Barra: A Barred Warbler was at Nask this morning.
Marine Sightings: 3 Fin Whales, 2 Humpback Whales and a Minke Whale were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
8th September:
Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters and 7 Common Scoter flew past Port of Ness.
North Uist: 45+ Black-tailed Godwits were on the shore at Aird an Runair.
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was at LA2. A Curlew Sandpiper was around 500m south of Ardivachar. A Little Egret was on the Howmore River. 107 Black-tailed Godwits were on the beach at Stoneybridge this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: 50 Common Dolphins were off Port of Ness.
Short-eared Owl (Glyn Evans); American Golden Plover (Alan Kennedy)
7th September:
North Uist: 40 Black-tailed Godwits were at Balranald.
South Uist: A Little Stint was on the beach at Orosay.
Little Stint (Alan Kennedy)
6th September:
South Uist: A Little Egret was on the Howmore River today. The American Golden Plover was seen on The Range at LA2.
Insects: 409 moths of 34 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 32 Chevron, 3 Small Autumnal Moths, 23 Heath Rustic, 3 Lunar Underwings, 1 Chestnut-coloured Carpet, 1 Anomalous, 2 Northern Deep-brown Dart and a Setaceous Hebrew Character.
Little Egret (Alan Kennedy); Lunar Underwing and Setaceous Hebrew Character (John Kemp)
5th September:
North Uist: A juvenile Sabine's Gull was feeding along the shore to the south of the mouth of Loch Paible this afternoon.
South Uist: The adult American Golden Plover was on The Range, just south of LA2.
Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was at Gleann.
American Golden Plover (Alan Kennedy)
4th September:
Lewis: 7 Sooty Shearwaters flew north past Port of Ness this morning. A Great Shearwater was seen from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway this evening.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Aird Mhicheil; also a Carrion Crown flew south there today. A female Marsh Harrier flew south over Kilpheder machair today.
Barra: A Pied Flycatcher was at Creachan today.
Curlew Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy); Wheatear (Glyn Evans)
3rd September:
St. Kilda: A Lapland Bunting was on Hirta today.
North Uist: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: A Curlew Sandpiper was in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: The Semipalmated Sandpiper was around a km north of Orosay today. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Stoneybridge. Another Curlew Sandpiper was at Aird Mhicheil. The Little Egret was at the south-west end of Loch Bee. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was by the Howmore River. A Garden Warbler was in Bornish and a Tree Pipit was at Snishival.
Curlew Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
2nd September:
North Uist: 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible today.
Benbecula: A juvenile Little Gull was reported from Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A Semipalmated Sandpiper was at Orosay.
Insects: 537 moths of 36 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 390 Ear moth agg, Black Rustic, 2 Northern Deep-brown Dart, Narrow-winged Pug, Lobesia littoralis and Epinotia immundana. A Sallow and Hedge Rustic were caught in Carininsh.
Curlew Sandpiper (Steve Duffield); Black Rustic and Lobesia littoralis (John Kemp); Semipalmated Sandpiper (Roger Safford)
1st September:
Lewis: A Balearic Shearwater, 6 Sooty Shearwaters, a Leach's Petrel and 50 Storm Petrels past the Butt (14:00 - 19:30)
North Uist: A Wood Sandpiper were as the southern end of Loch Sandary this morning. A juvenile Sabine's Gull was on the beach at Aird an Runair. A Sooty Shearwater and 8 Storm Petrels were seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry.
Benbecula: 14 Black-taled Godwits were at Loch Fada.
South Uist: The American Golden Plover was on The Range at LA2 again today. 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Lochboisdale. A Little Egret was seen in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. 16 Black-tailed Godwits were at Orasay.
Insects: 473 moths / 32 species were caught in Carinish last night including a Dark Sword-grass and 82 Pink-barred Sallow.
A Minke Whale, 8 Risso's Dolphins and 50 Common Dolphins were seen off the Butt.
Lesser Yellow Undwerings (Steve Duffield); Short-eared Owl (Alan Kennedy)