2015

Please note that the sightings below do not reflect the variety of species you can see in a normal day out birding or wildlife watching. These reports concentrate on more unusual species or significant counts or movements.

30th June:

South Uist: 15 Common Scoters flew south at Ardvule this morning and the Whimbrel is still present.

Common Scoters (John Kemp)

29th June:

South Uist: A seawatch at Ardvule (0540 –0915 ) included a southerly passage of 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 392 Manx Shearwaters, 28 Storm Petrels, 104 Razorbills, 24 Guillemots, 74 Puffins, 3 Black Guillemots, 1 Great Skua and 2 Arctic Skuas. A single Whimbrel was also still present.

28th June:

Lewis: The Lesser Canada Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat.

Harris: The Rose-coloured Starling was seen in Miabhaig again this morning.

Insects: A Ruby Tiger moth and Common Hawker dragonfly were seen at North Loch Eynort this morning.

Whimbrel (John Kemp)

27th June:

North Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was at Loch Portain today.

Insects: 103 moths of 24 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 3 Green Carpet, 2 Spectacle, Purple Bar and a Heart & Dart. Micros included single Aspilapteryx tringipennella and Ancylis unguicella.

Green-winged Teal and Hen Harrier (Steve Duffield); Elachista albifrontella and Heart and Dart (John Kemp)

26th June:

Lewis: A Hawfinch was feeding in a garden in South Shawbost today (first seen yesterday). The Lesser Canada Goose was still at Loch Stiapabhat today and a Spotted Flycatcher was nearby.

North Uist: A Spotted Flycatcher was in Carinish.

South Uist: 2 Sandwich Terns flew south at Ardvule this morning.

Drinker moth caterpillar and Heath Bumblebee (Steve Duffield)

25th June:

Lewis: The Lesser Canada Goose was still at Loch Stiapabhat with 2 Whooper Swans.

Insects: 53 moths / 20 species were trapped in South Glendale last night including 3 Map-winged Swifts, a Pebble Prominent, Dark Brocade, Double-striped Pug, Narrow-winged Pug and a Grey Pug.

Dark Brocade, Map-winged Swift and Narrow-winged Pug (John Kemp); Curlew, Redshank and Snipe (Steve Duffield)

24th June:

Lewis: The Lesser Canada Goose is still by Loch Stiapabhat.

Harris: A Rose-coloured Starling was in Miabhaig.

Lesser Canada Goose (Tony Marr); Rose-coloured Starling (Dave Killick)

23rd June:

Lewis: The Lesser Canada Goose was still at Loch Stiapabhat today. A Long-tailed Duck was on Loch Branahuie today.

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Stoneybridge.

Glaucous Gull and Great Yellow Bumblebee (Steve Duffield)

22nd June:

Lewis: A small Canada Goose was seen at Loch Stiapabhat today.

White-tailed Eagle (Steve Duffield) - from Lady Anne boat trip around Ronay.

21st June:

Lewis: The Rose-coloured Starling is still at Aird in Point. 2 Storm Petrels were seen from Tiumpan Head and 4 Leach's Petrels were seen on the west side of the Minch from the Stornoway - Ullapool ferry this afternoon. A Short-eared Owl was near Carloway this morning. A pair of Whooper Swans with 2 cygnets are on Loch Achmore.

Harris: A Rose-coloured Starling was in Scaladale.

St. Kilda: The 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull is still by Hirta.

Barra: At least 5 Bee-eaters were at Brevig today.

Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale, 2 Minke Whales and 12 White-beaked Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head today.

Bee-eater (John Kemp); Cuckoo (Steve Duffield)

20th June:

Lewis: The Rose-coloured Starling is still in Aird, 2 miles south off Tiumpan Head (there is no access to this site). A 2nd cal. yr. Iceland Gull was in Stornoway Harbour this evening.

South Uist: A 2nd summer Ring-billed Gull was on the shore at Orosay today. A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was in North Bay.

Barra: At least 5 Bee-eaters were at Nasg and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Brevig. A Sandwich Tern was in the Sound of Barra.

Ring-billed Gull (John Kemp); Bee-eaters (Andrew Stevenson)

19th June:

Lewis: A Rose-coloured Starling was seen at Aird on Point today; around 2 miles south of Tiumpan Head. .

South Uist: A drake American Wigeon was on Loch Bee today.

Barra: 3 Bee-eaters was still in Castlebay mid-morning.

Oystercatcher nest (Jac Volbeda)

18th June:

North Uist: 2 Iceland Gulls were near Rubh' Arnal.

South Uist: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar today.

Barra: 3 Bee-eaters were seen along the Nask road near Castlebay today.

Glaucous Gull (John Kemp)

17th June:

North Uist: 2 Long-tailed Skuas and a Pomarine Skua flew north off Aird an Runair this morning and a Little Stint was on the shore. An Iceland Gull was on the machair at Balranald.

South Uist: At Ardvule this morning (0510 – 0845) a southerly passage included 2 Great Northern Divers, 339 Gannets, 35 Fulmars, 657 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Storm Petrels, 16 Kittiwakes, 2 Great Skuas, 252 Razorbills, 72 Guillemots, 3 Black Guillemots and 17 Puffins.

Barra: A Bee-eater was in Castle Bay this evening (Birdguides).

Great Northern Diver (John Kemp)

15th June:

Lewis: A 1st yr Iceland Gull was at the Butt this morning.

14th June:

Insects: 4 Argent & Sable, 2 Satyr Pugs, Ancylis unguicella, Falseuncaria ruficilianaas as well as 3 Glyphipterix schoenicolellaand 3 Micropterix aureatella were seen around Ruabhal, Benbecula today. The latter species of micro moth is new for the Outer Hebrides.

Glyphipterix schoenicolella and Micropterix aureatella (John Kemp)

13th June:

North Uist: A Redwing was seen at Langass Lodge today.

South Uist: The male Siskin is still in South Glendale.

Insects: Moths trapped last night include 2 Grey Pugs, Flame Shoulder and Grey Scalloped Bar at South Glendale; whilst at North Loch Eynort there was a Golden-rod Pug, 2 Foxglove Pugs, 5 Brimstone Moths, a Scalloped Hazel, 3 Ruddy Highflyers and a May Highflyer. A Great Yellow Bumblebee was also seen in South Glendale.

May Highflyer and Great Yellow Bumblebee (John Kemp)

12th June:

St. Kilda: A 1st summer Bonaparte's Gull was seen today; also a 1st summer American Herring Gull although apparently killed and eaten by a Bonxie.

South Uist: Sea-watching at Ardvule this morning (0700 – 0915) produced a northerly movement in slight misty, drizzly conditions of 184 Manx Shearwaters, 104 Puffins, 43 Razorbills, 83 Auks sp and a Black Guillemot. A Siskin is still in South Glendale.

Marine Sightings: 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Ardvule this morning.

Teal (Steve Duffield); Epiblema constipunctana (John Kemp)

11th June:

Lewis: A Little Egret was feeding on the river at Garrynahine this afternoon. A Tree Sparrow and 2 Common Redpolls were in Port of Ness. 2 1st summer Iceland Gulls, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 House Martins were at Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: 2 1st yr Iceland Gulls were near Rubh' Arnal today.

Mingulay: A 2nd summer Iceland Gull was in Village Bay for the past week and a Whitethroat was on the island.

Insects: Moths trapped last night include a Grey Pug, White Ermine, 5 Buff Ermine and Spectacle on Eriskay. Iin South Glendale the following were trapped: Acleris hastiana, Crambus lathoniellus, 4 Neofaculta ericetella, 2 Grey Pugs, a Foxglove Pug, 3 Garden Carpets, Silver-ground Carpet, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 29 Brown Silver-lines, Grey Scalloped Bar, Broom Moth and 4 Shears.

Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield); Acleris hastiana, Ancylis subarcuana, Broom and Foxglove Pug (John Kemp)

10th June:

Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark was in Village Bay, Mingulay today.

Drinker moth larva and Pyramidal Bugle (Steve Duffield)

9th June:

Benbecula: The male Ruff and at least 8 Black-tailed Godwits are still on Loch Mor.

South Uist: The pair of Whooper Swans stillhave 2 cygnets on Mid Loch Ollay. A Chiffchaff was singing at North Loch Eynort.

Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark was in Village Bay, Mingulay today.

Insects: The micro moth, Glyphiterix haworthana was netted on Eriskay today.

Glyphipterix haworthana (John Kemp)

8th June:

North Uist: A female Golden Oriole was at Langass Lodge this morning.

South Uist: A Tree Sparrow and Spotted Flycatcher were in South Glendale.

Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale was seen just south of Barra today.

Insects: A Grey Scalloped Bar, Scalloped Hazel, Knot Grass, Clouded Drab, 2 Shears, Ruddy Highflyer, 11 Brown Silver-line, 2 Grey Pugs, Diamond-back Moth, and a new species for the Outer Hebrides, Carpatolechia proximella were trapped in South Glendale last night.

Carpatolechia proximella, Grey Scalloped Bar and Scalloped Hazel (John Kemp)

7th June:

Lewis: A Pectoral Sandpiper and a Little Gull were at Loch Stiapabhat. A 1st yr Iceland Gull was at the Butt. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Port of Ness and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Eorpie.

Sanderling and Turnstones (Steve Duffield)

6th June:

Lewis: A Red-necked Phalarope was near the Butt on a pool by the road around midday along with 2 x 1st summer Iceland Gulls. 2 Sandwich Terns and a 1st summer Little Gull were at Loch Stiapabhat. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Eoropie.

North Uist: A Pomarine Skua was seen heading north-east over Grenitote late this morning. 2 male Ruff were on Baleshare.

Benbecula: 9 Black-tailed Godwits and a male Ruff were on Loch Mor with the Ruff occasionally displaying to the godwits. A female Golden Oriole was seen near Griminish surgery this morning.

Ruff (2 photos - Jac Volbeda); Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits (Steve Duffield)

5th June:

Lewis: A Wood Sandpiper was seen at Mangersta today.

Benbecula: A drake Garganey was on Loch Mor this afternoon.

4th June:

North Uist: A male Moltoni's Warblerwas discovered around Balranald visitor centre this evening.

Benbecula: 3 Black-tailed Godwits are still at Loch Mor and a House Martin was at Stinky Bay.

South Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Peninerine today.

Insects: 2 Argent and Sable were on the east side of Rueval, Benbecula this afternoon. Gracillaria syringella, Blastobasis lacticolella, Ruddy Highflyer, Scalloped Hazel and 3 Brimstone Moths were caught at North Loch Eynort last night. A Knot Grass, 2 Puss Moths and 2 Red Chestnut were caught at Carnan.

Gracillaria syrnigella (John Kemp); Moltoni's Warbler (Steve Duffield)