Long-tailed Skua – 8 past Stoerhead Lighthouse and 5 past Clachtoll, 19th May (D and A Haines). A rare sight in Assynt and at this time of year their tail streamers were really obvious.

Whimbrel – 3 Clashmore, 19th May (Gwen Richards)

Arctic Skua – 1 pale form over Clachtoll, 19th May (D and A Haines)

Redwing – 1 Culkein Stoer, 19th May (Pam MacKenzie)

Red-throated Diver – 1 Loch Drumbeg, 18th May (D and A Haines)

Twite – 7 Culkein Drumbeg, 18th May (D and A Haines)

Stonechat – 2 (a pair) Culkein Drumbeg, 18th May

Blackcap – 1 male in garden Nedd, 17th and 18th May (Ian Evans)

Sedge Warbler – 2 in reed bed Loch na Claise, 17th May (D and A Haines)

House Sparrow – 2 (a pair) feeding two very recently fledged young Balchladich, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Mallard – 1 female and 4 ducklings Loch na Claise, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Puffin – 1 off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Sand Martin – 2 nest excavating by Raffin, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Sanderling – 5 Bay of Culkein, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Dunlin – 40 Bay of Culkein, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Turnstone – 32 Bay of Culkein, 17th May (D and A Haines). A good number of these passage migrant birds were in breeding plumage and looked quite stunning – see photo on Gallery-Birds.

Common Sandpiper – 2 Loch Neil Bhain, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Tufted Duck – 5 (4 male 1 female) Loch Neil Bhain, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Goldfinch – 2 on garden feeders Culkein Drumbeg, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Lesser Redpoll – on garden feeders Lochinver 12th May (Morgana Parsons-Game) and Badnaban, 14th May (L and L Pearce)

Razorbill – c300 Lochinver bay, 11th May (Mark Snowdon)

Arctic Terns – 10 feeding in Lochinver bay, 10th May

Great Northern Diver – 3 in Lochinver bay, 10th May

Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting – singing in reed bed at Loch an Aigeil, Clachtoll, 10th May

8 Whimbrel, 13 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin and single Turnstone – Stoer Green, 10th May

Greenshank – 1 Loch Nedd, 9th May (Ian Evans)

Great Northern Diver – 4 Loch Nedd, 9th May (Ian Evans)

Greylag Goose Goslings – 2 adults and 3 goslings Loch an Aigeil, Stoer, 9th May (Stevan Lockhart)

Hoopoe – Still in same garden at Clashnessie with several Whimbrels, 9th May, 3pm, (Andy summers).

Hoopoe – 1 in garden north of Clashnessie bay, 8th May, 7pm, (Roz Summers, Stevan Lockhart, Andy Summers) presumeably same bird as this morning.

Hoopoe – 1 in garden Nedd, 8th May, 10am (John Ross and two others). These birds make an occasional appearance in Assynt as they are noted for overshooting their normal breeding areas in europe and the stronger southerly winds recently may have caught this one out.

Great-Northern Diver  – 1 showing really well in full summer plumage close in to shore in Lochinver bay, 8th May (Andy Summers). Still there 10th May.

Blackcap – 1 male Achnacarnin, 8th May (Howard Grey)

Osprey – Loch Assynt at Inchnadamph, 8th May (Helen Morrison)

Black-throated Diver – 2 Lochan an Ais, opposite Knockan Visitor Centre, 8th May (S. Beavan and B. Heckford) Just outwith Assynt but too good to not mention.

Snow Bunting – 1 adult summer male around car park Stoerhead Lighthouse, 7th May (Leigh Sedgley)

Bullfinch – 2 feeding on plum tree buds Badnaban, 6th May (L and L Pearce)

Goldfinch – 2 Badnaban, 6th May (L and L Pearce)

Razorbill – 20 Lochinver bay, 6th May (Andy Summers)

2 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers and one suspected White-billed Diver – Lochinver bay, 6th May (Stuart McClelland and Andy Summers)

2 Teal – Loch Neil Bhain, Stoer School 6th May

Cuckoo – calling at Badnaban, 5th May (L and L Pearce)

Siskin – 3 Clachtoll, 4th May

Cuckoo – Calling Drumbeg, 4th May

150 Golden Plover 20 Dunlin – Balchladdich, 6th May (Roz and Andy Summers)

Whimbrel – Stoer Green, 6th May

Iceland Gull – Loch Sgeireach near Stoer, 6th May (Roz Summers)

Grey Wagtail – pair on River Inver, 4th May

Grasshopper Warbler – singing at Ardvar (Becky Garvey)

Golden Eagle – flying Over Quinag, 3rd May

Osprey – 2 flying over Elphin towards Cam Loch, 3rd May

Lesser Black-backed Gull – 2 Lochinver Bay, 2nd May (Andy Summers)

Redwing – 12 Football pitch Lochinver, 2nd May (Andy Summers)

1 pair Wigeon, 4 Tufted ducks, 2 Greenshank – Loch Boralan, 1st May (Andy Summers)

Black-tailed Godwit – 8 Stoer Green, 1st May (Howard Grey) 

Redshank – 26 Culkein Stoer, 1st May (Andy Summers)

Cuckoo – Baddididarach, Lochinver 1st May (Jan Snowden)

6 Whimbrel, 18 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover – Culkein Stoer, 1st May

Pinkfeet Goose – 15 Culkein Stoer, 1st May

Red Kite – Stoer 1st May (Robert Kinaird)

OTHERS

Orange-tip Butterfly - first record at Ardvar 17th May, (Beccy Garvie)

Common Carder Bumblebee – first record for the year at Clachtoll 17th May (Andy Summers).

Large Red Damselfly – first record at Ardvar 17th May, (Beccy Garvie)

Slow Worm – 1 basking on rocks at bridge over Oldany Estuary, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Harbour Porpoise – 1 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 17th May (D and A Haines)

Green-veined White Butterfly – 2 on dandelions Culkein Drumbeg, 11th May (I and P Evans)

Horse Leech Haemopis sanguisuga – Several in garden pond Badnaban, 10th May (L and L Pearce). See photo on Gallery-Invertebrates non-insect.

Green-veined White Butterfly – Clachtoll campsite, 7th May (Andy Summers).

We have all seen discarded bottles and cans lying on grass verges and in ditches along roadsides in Assynt. Apart from being unsightly, they are also a death trap for insects, and small mammals such as shrews. First the insects crawl in, cannot get out, and die; then the smaller mammals are attracted to the rotting remains and they too crawl in and, if the bottle or can is at the wrong angle, they are trapped.

Ian Evans retrieved a Stella Artois bottle from just off the roadside at Bad an Dioboirich, Glenleraig (NC159317) on 16th March 2013 and sieved the contents, see photograph. These turned out to be mainly beetle ‘armour’, some bits of which he could identify, the larger ones being from:

• 3 Carabus glabratus (ground beetle), the biggest in the photo;

Sieved contents of discarded bottle. Click for larger image

• 18+ Pterostichus niger (ground beetle);

• 2 Thanatophilus rugosus (= the wrinkled death-lover, a carrion beetle);

• 2 Nicrophorus sp. (one of the sexton or burying beetles); and

• a host of so far unidentified smaller ones, mostly ground beetles.

As has been reported in the national news again this year so-called wild fires have caused massive destruction of habitats throughout Scotland, with many being clearly visible in Assynt during the very dry spring.

Most of these fires are started quite deliberately and then get out of hand. However, a few may have been caused by the lazy discard of a still-lit cigarette end or by the focussing of the sun’s rays through a glass bottle.

So to save our stunning flora and fauna from needless damage and death please take your litter home and if you see bottles and cans lying around pick a few up and recycle them.

Red Kite – 1 over Clashnessie, 30th April (Howard Grey). Our first 2013 record after a good number last year.

Merlin – Achnacarnin, 30th April.

Peregrine- Clachtoll, 27th April

Pinkfoot Goose – single in with Greylag Geese at Culkein Stoer, 27th April

Whimbrel – Single at Culkein Stoer, 27th April. See photo on Gallery-Birds

White Wagtail – 6 individuals with 4 Pied Wagtails, 27th April

Wigeon – 2 pairs Loch Borallan, 26th April

Twite – 103 trapped by Tony Mainwood at Clachtoll as part of his ongoing ringing project, 25th April. This included two re-trapped birds from 2009 and 2 birds which had originaly been ringed in Orkney. After leaving Clachtoll Tony went to Reiff to do some trapping and ringing there. At Reiff only six hours later he retrapped one of the birds he had just ringed at Clachtoll 15kms away; just one of the amazing bits of information coming out of Tony’s hard work.

House Martin – 6 flying over seas in Lochinver Harbour, 24th April

Redwing – 10 Achmelvich, 24th April

Slavonian Grebe – 1 off Strathan, 21st April (Andy Summers)

Pomarine Skua – single pale morph bird seen at Elphin chasing Meadow pipits, 20th April (Bill Badger) and then again on 22nd April (Bill Badger and Roy Dennis). An unusual sighting for Assynt not just because of the bird species but also the inland location. See photo on Gallery-Birds by A. Venters.

Willow Warbler – 1 singing Nedd, 20th April (Ian Evans)

Ring Ouzel -  6 at Ben Gharbh, 19th April (Andy Summers).

Teal – 2 pairs at Inchnadamph, 19th April (Andy Summers).

Greenshank – Inchnadamph, 19th April (Andy Summers).

Goosander – 3 (female) flying over Brackloch, 19th April (L and L Pearce)

Cuckoo – 1 seen and heard Inchnadamph, 19th April (Helen Morrison)

Linnet – 27 Clachtoll, 19th April (Tony Mainwood) These, birds together with the Twite below, were caught my Tony as part of his Twite ringing project at Clachtoll. This is a large number of Linnet and compares with a total of just over 30 caught by Tony for the whole of spring 2012 so maybe indicates an increase in their population, let’s hope so.

Twite – 44 Clachtoll, 19th April (Tony Mainwood)

Eider – 7 (4 male, 3 female) Lochinver Bay, 19th April (R and E Kershaw)

Chiffchaff – Culag woods, 18th April (Roz Summers).

40+ Redwing – Inchnadamph, 18th April

Swallow – Lochinver 17th April (Brian Scott).

Jackdaw – c20 Elphin, 17th April

Grey Heron – 3 Loch Awe, 17th April

Red-throated Diver – 3 Loch Unapool at east end of B869, 17th April

Goldenye – 2 (females) Loch Ruighean an Aitinn near Drumbeg, 17th April

Redwing – 11 Culkein Drumbeg, 17th April

Great Northern Diver – Lochinver bay, 16th April.

Twite – 6 Culkein Drumbeg, 16th April

Golden Eagle – Soaring over Cul Beg, 16th April.

Redwing – small parties along Lochinver to Stoer road, presumeably heading north, 15th April

Curlew – 5 at Stoer beach 15th April

Merlin – 1 (female) Culkein Drumbeg, 15th April

Tufted Duck – 1 adult male Loch an Aigeil, 14th April

Lapwing – 8 Clashmore, 14th April

Lapwing – 8 Clachtoll 15th April

Great Skua – 3 off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 14th April

Black-headed Gull – singles at Bay of Culkein (1st winter) and on Loch na Claise (adult), 14th April

Fulmar – c95 on cliffs east of Point of Stoer, 14th April

Black Guillemot – 3 off Bay of Culkein, 14th April

Turnstone – 24 Bay of Culkein, 14th April

Golden Plover – 2 Culkein Stoer, 14th April

Common Gull – c80 feeding on croft land Culkein Stoer, 14th April. We had the first decent rain overnight for many weeks so the gulls were taking advantage of the increased invertebrate activity.

Red-throated Diver – 2 Loch Dhrombaig and 2 in Bay of Culkein, 14th April

8 Siskins – Elphin 13th April (Bill Badger).

Pink-footed Goose – c100 flying NW over Stoer Primary School; 2 skeins over Nedd (Ian Evans); 2 skeins over Raffin (David Hall) all 13th April. Looks like the change in wind direction has got the geese on the move

Great Spotted Woodpecker – 1 drumming at Glencanisp Lodge, 13th April

Black-throated Diver – singles on Lochan Fearna and Loch Druim Suardalain, 13th April

Wheatear – 3 (2 male 1 female) Culkein Drumbeg, 12th April

Red-breasted Merganser – 6 (3 pair) off Culkein Drumbeg, 12th April

Shelduck – 2 (a pair) Oldany Estuary, 12th and 15th April

Redwing – 5 Culkein Drumbeg, 12th April

Yellowhammer – 1 female near Achmelvich Bridge, 11th April

Wigeon – 4 (2 pair) Loch Ruighean an Aitinn near Drumbeg, 11th April

Bullfinch – 3 (1 male 2 female) Nedd, 11th April

Mistle Thrush – 2 near fank Glenleraig, 11th April

Wheatear – more records from Clashnessie (R and E Kershaw) and near Raffin (Leigh Sedgley), all on 10th April

Wheatear – singles at Stoerhead and Balchladich, 9th April (Claire Belshaw). At last they have made it to Assynt; the cold weather and easterly winds have really held them back this year. We usually have these sub-saharan migrants back on territory by 22nd-24th March.

Swallow – Inver bride, Lochinver  8th April (Stuart Belshaw).

Eider – 10 Bay of Culkein, 7th April (G Richards/P MacKenzie)

Magpie – 2 in garden trees Raffin, 5th April (John Trinby). These two birds were last seen the following day by John and also David Hall. Magpies are a very rare Assynt bird with the last record being 16th April 2010 again at Raffin; prior to that one was at Loch Assynt Lodge on 20th March 1992 and the first record for Assynt was one in Lochinver on 15th April 1986.

Great Skua – 1 past Stoerhead Lighthouse, 5th April (Leigh Sedgley). The first 2013 Assynt record.

6 Wheatears – Clachtoll, 5th April (Alison Boothman).

Red-throated Diver – 2 in Clashnessie Bay, 2nd April (L and L Pearce)

Goldeneye – 2 males Loch Fasg an t-Seanna Chlaidh (near Achmelvich Bridge), 2nd April (Andy Summers)

Whooper Swan – 2 Loch Fasg an t-Seanna Chlaidh (near Achmelvich Bridge), 2nd April (Andy Summers)

Black-throated Diver – 2 Loch Drumbeg, 2nd April. This pair continue to show really well.

Red-breasted Merganser – 5 (2 male 3 female) Oldany Estuary, 1st April

Curlew – 16 Oldany Estuary, 1st April

Reed Bunting – 3 (1 male 2 female) Culkein Drumbeg, 1st April

Eider – 18 (8 male 10 female) off Culkein Drumbeg, 1st April

OTHERS

Pipistrelle Bats – flying at Torbreck 25th April.

Pine Marten – 1 feeding in garden near Torbreck, 28th April (MR). See infra-red photo on Gallery-Mammals.

White-tailed Bumblebees – two in garden at Clachtoll feeding on Flowering currents, 27th April.

Slow Worms – 6 adults under tin at the back of Visitor Centre, Lochinver, 26th April.

Otter – 1 Lochinver bay 16th April

Pipistrelle bats – flying at Nedd 15th April (Ian Evans).

Toads – 12+ at Loch Awe (after the first rain for so long there are lots of toads moving). Herons feedings on toads at Loch an Ordain 15th April.

Small Tortoiseshell – single at Clachtoll 15th April

Harbour Porpoise – 1 off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 14th April (Leigh Sedgley)

Grey Seal – 1 off Rubh’an Dunain, 14th April

Orca – pod of around 5 females heading north past Stoerhead Lighthouse, 8th April (Leigh Sedgley) The first sighting of 2013.

White-tailed Bumblebee – 1 feeding in garden Ardvar, 2nd April (Beccy Garvey)

Common Lizard – 1 basking on path at Little Assynt, 1st April (H and J Grey)

Red Admiral Butterfly – 1 in Clachtoll garden, 1st April (Andy Summers)

Harbour Seal – 24 hauled out Oldany Estuary, 1st April

Linnet – 1 Clachtoll, 31st March (Andy Summers)

Twite – 5 feeding in garden Culkein Drumbeg, 31st March (Corinne France)

Pink-footed Goose – unseen but heard flying over Culkein Drumbeg, 31st March (D and A Haines) Looks like spring is well on its way with these geese making their spring migration to the north-west.

Gannet – 6 off Raffin, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Red-throated Diver – 1 off Raffin 31st March (D and A Haines)

Great Northern Diver – 4 off Raffin, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Shag – c50 off Raffin, 31st Mrach (D and A Haines)

Eider – 35 off Raffin, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Fulmar – c75 on cliffs near Stoerhead Lighthouse, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Skylark – 4 singing near Stoerhead Lighthouse, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Turnstone – 4 Bay of Culkein, 30th March (D and A Haines)

Redshank – 3 Bay of Culkein, 30th March (D and A Haines)

Goldeneye – 6 (2 male, 4 female) River Inver near Little Assynt, 29th March (L and L Pearce)

Reed Bunting – 1 male in reed bed at Loch an Aigeil, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Sparrowhawk – 1 female with a full crop Clachtoll, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Redwing – 1 Clachtoll, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Twite – c95 Clachtoll, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Black-throated Diver – 6 Bay of Clachtoll, 29th March (D and A Haines) These birds were all in summer plumage so it’s possible they were on the sea to escape from the frozen inland lochs after the low temperatures the last few nights.

Golden Plover – 85 Clachtoll, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Black-headed Gull – 2 (1 adult 1 first winter) Bay of Stoer, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Wigeon – 2 (a pair) Bay of Stoer, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Stonechat – 1 male in reed bed at Loch na Claise, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Little Grebe – 4 Loch na Claise, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Teal – 6 (3 pairs) Loch na Claise, 29th March (D and A Haines)

Black Guillemot – 21+ Balchladich Bay, 29th March (D and A Haines) A large number of these auks with a mixture of summer and 1st winter plumage birds present.

Rook – 1 immature bird Clashmore, 29th March (D and A Haines) This is a very rare record for Assynt with only one other record in recent years at Elphin.

Stonechat – 2 (a pair) with the male displaying and singing Glencanisp, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Goosander – 2 (a pair) Loch Druim Suardalain, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Goldcrest – 2 in trees at Glencanisp Lodge, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Whooper Swan – 2 feeding on a partly frozen Loch Culag, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Red-breasted Merganser – 6 (2male 4 female) Loch Inver, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Eider – 8 (4 pair) Loch Inver, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Bullfinch – 2 (a pair) in trees Glencanisp road, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Goldfinch – 2 on feeder Glencanisp road, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Siskin – 2 (a pair) on feeder Glencanisp road, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Yellowhammer – 1 a superb male feeding on ground below seed feeder Glencanisp road, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Black-throated Diver – 2 still on Loch Drumbeg, 27th March (D and A Haines)

Goldeneye – 2 (a pair) Loch Drumbeg, 27th March (D and A Haines)

Long-tailed Tit – 2 Culkein Drumbeg, 27th March (D and A Haines)

Great Northern Diver – 2 Loch Dhrombaig, 27th March (D and A Haines)

Song Thrush – 1 at Clachtoll and 2 at Clashnessie, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Moorhen – 1 Loch an Aigeil, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Kittiwake – 1 adult off Clachtoll, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Snipe – 2 Clachtoll, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Teal – a pair Clachtoll, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Great Northern Diver – 5 off Clachtoll, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Starling – c110 Clachtoll, 26th March (Andy Summers)

Meadow Pipit – c20 near Cruachan, 26th March (D and A Haines) Looks like the abating east wind has allowed a few migrants to make it back to Assynt.

Goldfinch – 6 on feeders at Ardvar for past few weeks (Beccy Garvie)

Stonechat – 1 (female) near Lagg, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Gannet – 2 adults off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Curlew – 15 Balchladich, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Little Grebe – 2 Loch an Claise. 25th March (D and A Haines)

Tufted Duck – 3 (1 male, 2 female) Loch na Claise, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Goldeneye – 2 (a pair) Loch na Claise, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Greylag Goose – 29 Loch na Claise, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Eider – 3 (1 male, 1 female and 1 first winter male) off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Razorbill – 29 flying north past Stoerhead Lighthouse, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Black Guillemot – singles in summer plumage Clashnessie Bay and off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Fulmar – 31 off Stoehead Lighthouse, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Red-throated Diver – 1 flying over Bay of Culkein, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Merlin – single past Cathair Dubh, 25th March (Roger Glover)

Stonechat – 2 (a pair) Cathair Dubh, 25th March (Roger Glover)

Golden Eagle – 2 over Stoer peat road, 25th March (Robert Kinnaird)

Carrion Crow – 1 Culkein Stoer, 25th March (D and A Haines) Looks like the single bird that was first recorded last May has survived the winter

Golden Plover – 35 Culkein Stoer, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Skylark – 1 on ground Culkein Stoer, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Great Northern Diver – 2 Clashnessie Bay; 3 off Bay of Culkein and 2 off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Pied Wagtail – 1 Culkein Drumbeg and 1 at Stoerhead Lighthouse, both males, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Peregrine – 1 over Culkein Drumbeg, 25th March (D and A Haines)

Great Spotted Woodpecker – 1 at Ardvar, 25th March (Beccy Garvie)

Great Tit – 5 on garden feeder Culkein Drumbeg, 24th March (D and A Haines)

Goldeneye – 1 pair Loch Drumbeg, 24th March (D and A Haines)

Little Grebe – 1 Oldany Estuary, 24th March (D and A Haines)

Shelduck – 1 pair Oldany Estuary, 24th March (D and A Haines)

Cormorant – 1 with breeding patch over Loch Dhrombaig, 23rd March (D and A Haines)

Black-throated Diver - 2 on Loch Drumbeg, 23rd March (D and A Haines)

Lapwing – 15 over Clachtoll, 23rd March (D and A Haines)

Whooper Swan – still 2 on Loch Awe, 23rd March (D and A Haines)

Twite – 93 at Clachtoll, 22nd March. Trapped by Tony Mainwood while ringing birds as part on ongoing survey of Assynt’s Twite and those that visit from other parts of Scotland.

Slavonian grebe – 1 in winter plumage Lochinver bay, 20th March (Stuart McClelland)

2 Pairs of Eider Ducks – Lochinver bay, 18th March (andy summers)

Pair of Oystercatchers – back at Loch Assynt side beside the road, 17th March (andy summers)

4 pairs Lapwings – displaying at Clachtoll 17th March (andy summers)

44 Twite and 60 Starlings  - at Clachtoll 17th March (andy summers)

Golden Eagle – 1 flying over Ardvar, 15th March (Beccy Garvie)

50 Golden Plover - at Skiag Bridge near Achmore Farm, 14th March (andy summers)

Tawny Owl – 1 feeding in Badnaban garden on food scraps, 14th March at 05:30 (Les and Liz Pearce). See this owl and a Pine Marten and a Badger feeding at http://www.flickr.com/photos/assyntnature/8557092942/in/photostream

Pair of Black-throated Divers and 2 Whooper Swans – Loch Awe, 12th March (andy summers)

Pair of Black-throated Divers – back at Glencanisp loch 12th March (andy summers)

Whooper Swan – 4 flying over Ardvar, 12th March (Beccy Garvie)

Sparrowhawk – 1 possible immature near Loch Leitir Easaidh, 10th March (Helen Morrison)

15 Ringer Plover, and 24 Greylag Geese  – Culkein Stoer 9th March (andy summers).

6 Golden Plover - Stoer Green, 9th March (andy summers).

Male Goosander – Loch Ghlinne Sgoilte near Inverkirkaig 7th March (andy summers).

Ringed Plover – very early returners to traditional inland breeding site near Inchnadamph, 5th March (Helen Morrison)

Flock of 26 Meadow Pipits – Tumore beside Loch Assynt 3rd March, (andy summers).

OTHERS

Lesser Celandine – 1 plant in flower Oldany Dornie, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Harbour Porpoise – 1 off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 31st March (D and A Haines)

Frog Spawn – numerous ‘frosted’ clumps in water under cattle grid Glencanisp Road, 28th March (D and A Haines)

Roe Deer – 2 in trees near Loch Poll track, 26th March (D and A Haines)

Peacock butterfly – 1 near Assynt Leisure Centre, 26th March (Andy Summers) The little bit of ‘warm’ sunshine must have encouraged this butterfly out of its winter hibernation.

Harbour Porpoise – 1 off Stoerhead Lighthouse, 25th March (Leigh Sedgley)

Primrose – 4 plants in flower on roadside bank near Loch Poll Hydro entrance, 24th March (D and A Haines)

Stoat – Clashnessie 18th March, in ermine for last three weeks (Roger Kershaw)

Many Palmate Newts – in pond beside Glencanisp road, 17th march (andy summers)

Contents of discarded beer bottle – 1 Glenleraig, 16th March (Ian Evans). Not a sighting in itself but the contents make an interesting record and highlight the risks to Assynt’s wildlife posed by litter. Read more information and see a photograph of the contents on ‘News’

Lesser Celandine – single plant flowering in Nedd Garden, 13th March (Pat Evans)

Dead Stoat in partial ermine – caught and killed by a cat in Clachtoll 12th March (andy summers)

Frog Spawn – Garden pool Babnaban, 9th March (Les and Liz Pearce)

Otter – Lochinver bay 5th March (andy summers).

Stoat  in partial ermine - eaping with jopys of spring in garden at Clachtoll 3rd March (Roz Summers).

Frog Spawn – 20+ clumps in roadside ditches near Pollachapuill, Culkein Drumbeg. Some were ‘frosted’ so may have been present from 26th/27th February when it was frosty over night. Also 5 clumps near Springfield, Culkein Drumbeg. Both records 2nd March (Ian Evans)

Frog Spawn – one clump in garden pond, Drumbeg, 1st March (Teresa Weinburg) The first report for 2013; unless you know different!

Stoat – 1 in garden at Stoer with black and white tail but greyish over back, perhaps changing from winter to spring, 1st March (Julie Grey)

Lapwing - 7 on the crofts at Clachtoll 28th February (Andy Summers).

White-tailed Sea Eagle – with no tags over Torbreck 26th February (Andy Summers).

Whooper Swan – 5 adults Loch Ailsh, 26th February, (Andy Summers).

Lapwing – 6 Balchladich, 26th February (Claire Belshaw)

Barn Owl – 1 near Achnacarnin, 25th February (Claire Belshaw)

Black-throated Diver – The first birds are back on Loch Assynt 24th February (Helen Morrison).

Lapwing – 8 beside Loch Borralan, 24th February, (Andy Summers).

Ptarmigan – 2 pairs on Quinag, 24th February, (Beccy).

Goosander – single Male on River Inver, 23rd February, (Andy Summers).

Possible Great Grey Shrike – Stoer peat road, 22nd February (Robert Kinaird).

Goosander – 2 females on Loch Awe, 20th February, (Andy Summers).

Barn Owl – Elphin 20th February, (Bill Badger).

Treecreeper – Inverkirkaig, 20th February (Howard Grey).

Lapwing – 11 flying over Stoer, 19th February (Joanne Murray) The first ‘spring’ returners?

Lesser Redpoll – 20+ feeding on the ground, Ardroe, 17th February (Claire Belshaw)

Twite – 53 at Clachtoll, 17th February.

Moorhen – single back at Loch an Aigel, Clachtoll 17th February (Andy Summers)

Little Grebe – single at Loch Fasg an Seana Chlaidh near Achmelvich 5th February (Romany Garnet)

Curlew – 15 on Stoer Green, 7th February.

Little Grebe – Single back at Loch an Aigel, Clachtoll, 7th February.

White-tailed Sea Eagle – with red wing tags at Inverkirkaig, 6th February (David & Gita).

28 Barnacle Geese, 8 Greylag Geese – at Culkein Stoer, 6th February.

Pied Wagtail – Single at Clachtoll, 3rd February (Andy Summers).

Rock Pigeons – 35 at Clachtoll, 3rd February (Andy Summers).

Twite – 72 at Clachtoll, 3rd February (Andy Summers).

Fieldfare – 12 at Ledbeg, 1st February (Andy Summers).

OTHERS

Lizard -  Domestic cat brings in dead lizard (first for spring), Achmelvich 24th February (Romany Garnet)

Skate (Dipturus batis) – 1 long dead on shore near Raffin, 20th February (S Collie/W Glover and later identified by Howard Grey). The common skate Dipturus batis is the largest skate in the world and was once one of the most abundant skates in the north-eastern Atlantic. Over-fished, it is now absent from much of its former range and classified as Critically Endangered worldwide. Some still occur in the waters off north-west Scotland and this specimen measured 1.67 metres in length. See photo on Gallery – Marine.

Fox – Adult male at Drumrunie, 19th February (Andy Summers)

Toads – First sign of toads crossing the roads at Loch an Ordain 16th February (Andy Summers)

Otter – Lochinver Bay, 6th February (Andy Summers)

Small Tortoiseshell – 1 in house, Nedd 5th February (Ian Evans)

Sightings 2012

1^st June                               1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Stoer Lighthouse

7^th June                              1 Basking Shark (no length given)         North of Stoer Lighthouse

14^th June                            1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Old Man of Stoer

17^th June                            1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Stoer Lighthouse

18^th June                            2 Basking Shark (no length given)         Stoer Lighthouse

19^th June                            1 Basking Shark (6m)                              Clachtoll Bay

20^th June                            1 Basking Shark (4m)                              Stoer Lighthouse

13^th July                             1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Culkein Stoer Bay

17^th July                             1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Achmelvich

18^th July                             1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Achmelvich

31^st July                             1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Achmelvich

31^st July                             1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Stoer Lighthouse

3^rd August                          1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Stoer Lighthouse

7^th August    4pm              1 Basking Shark (5m)                              Faraid Head, Durness

7^th August    4pm             1 Basking Shark (5-6m)                          Culkein Stoer Bay

10^th August                       1 Basking Shark (5-6m)                          Culkein Stoer Bay

10^th August                        1 Basking Shark                                        Oldshoremore

12^th August  3pm             1 Basking Shark (4-5m)                          Stoer Lighthouse

12^th August                       1 Basking Shark                                        Stoer Lighthouse

14^th August                       1 Basking Shark                                        Stoer Lighthouse

15^th August                        1 Basking Shark                                        Stoer Lighthouse

17^th August                        1 Basking Shark                                        Stoer Lighthouse

19^th August                        1 Basking Shark                                        Achmelvich

26^th August                        1 Basking Shark                                        Stoer Lighthouse

9^th September 11.25am  1 Basking Shark (5-6m)                          Stoer Point

9^th September 12noon    1 Basking Shark                                        Rubh’an Dunain

Summary

0 records 2003

5 records 2004

26 records 2005 (most in August)

19 records 2006 (most in July and Sept)

11 records 2007 (most in July and none in August)

22 records 2008 (good spread through the year)

5 records 2009

7 records 2010 (mostly in June)

2 records 2011

22 records 2012

Please send any records to Andy Summers, Highland Council Ranger

Sightings 2011

 4^th July         18.30hrs      1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Culkein Stoer (DH)

7^th August    11.00hrs      1 Basking Shark (no length given)         Raffin (MB)                     

Marianne Burbridge, David Haines

Summary

0 records 2003

5 records 2004

26 records 2005 (most in August)

19 records 2006 (most in July and Sept)

11 records 2007 (most in July and none in August)

22 records 2008 (good spread through the summer)

5 records 2009  (spread through the summer)

7 records 2010 (mostly June and September)

Please send any records to Andy Summers, Highland Council Ranger

14^th February 1pm          1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer Lighthouse

9^th April                              2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Clachtoll

10^th April                            1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer Lighthouse

11^th April                            1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer Lighthouse

19^th April                            2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer Lighthouse

28^th April                            100+ Common Dolphins                         Achiltibuie

3^rd May                              3+ Harbour Porpoises                              Talmine bay

10^th May         4pm          1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer Lighthouse

19^th May         3.30pm     1 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer Lighthouse             

20^th May         1pm          c30 Dolphins                                              Stoer lighthouse

20^th May         2pm          1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

20^th May         3pm          4 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer lighthouse

21^st May                            4 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

21^st May                            20+ Harbour Porpoises                            Stoer lighthouse

21^st May                            c10Dolphins                                               Stoer lighthouse

21^st May                            c20Dolphins                                               Stoer lighthouse

22^nd May                           20+ Harbour Porpoises                            Stoer lighthouse

22^nd May        11am        3 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

22^nd May        4pm          2 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

23^rd May         3pm          3 Harbour Porpoises                                 Culkein Drumbeg

23^rd May                           1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

23^rd May                           5 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer lighthouse

23^rd May                           3 Harbour Porpoises                                 Achmelvich Bay

23^rd May                           3 Harbour Porpoises                                 Culkein Stoer

22^nd May        8pm          2 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

24^th May                                          1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

25^th May                            1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

24^th May                            9-10 Killer Whales                                    Around Handa Island

26^th May         11am        2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer lighthouse

26^th May         11am        c30 Common Dolphins                           Stoer lighthouse

27^th May         12noon     2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

27^th May         1pm          1 Minke Whale                                          Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

27^th May         1.15pm     1 Minke Whale                                          Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

27^th May         1.45pm     2 Harbour Porpoise                                  Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

27^th May         3pm          1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

28^th May                            18 Dolphins                                                Eddrachillis Bay

30^th May         5pm          1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Clashnessie Bay

31^st May                            2 Harbour Porpoises                                ClachtollBay

31^st May                            3 Harbour Porpoises                                 Scourie

31^st May                            1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

1^st June                               1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

1^st June            2.15pm     15 Common Dolphins                             Stoer lighthouse

1^st June            2.15pm     3 Killer Whales                                          Stoer lighthouse

2^nd June                              5 Killer Whales                                          Around Handa Island

6^th June                              1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

6^th June                              c30 Common Dolphins                           Stoer lighthouse

7^th June                              1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

14^th June                            2 Minke Whales                                        Old Man of Stoer

14^th June                            5 Killer Whales                                          Stoer lighthouse

15^th June                            5-6 Killer Whales                                       Stoer lighthouse

15^th June                            2 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

16^th June                            1 Minke Whale                                          Clachtoll

17^th June                            1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

18^th June         11.40am  2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

18^th June         1pm          3 Harbour Porpoises                                 Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

18^th June         4pm          2 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

18^th June                            5 Killer Whales                                          Stoer lighthouse

18^th June         2pm          2 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

18^th June         4pm          1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

19^th June                            1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

19^th June                            1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer lighthouse

19^th June                            1 Killer Whales                                          Clachtoll

20^th June                            7 Killer Whales                                          Stoer lighthouse

21^st June                            5 Killer Whales                                          AroundHandaIsland

25^th June         11am        c60 Common Dolphins                           Clachtoll

26^th June                            50-60 Common Dolphins                       Clachtoll

26^th June                            1 Minke Whale                                          Clachtoll

27^th June                            2 Minke Whales                                        AroundHandaIsland

27^th June                            2Risso Dolphins                                        AroundHandaIsland

28^th June                            c70 Common Dolphins                           Minch beyondSoyeaIsland

29^th June                            1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

30^th June         10am        1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

1^st July                                c150 Common Dolphins                         Stoer lighthouse

1^st July                                1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer lighthouse

3^rd July            11pm        1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer Bay

4^th July                               2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Achmelvich

10^th July          3pm          2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Balchladich bay

10^th July          4.30pm     1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Balchladich bay

14^th July                             1 Minke Whale                                          Clachtoll

31^st July                             2 Minke Whales                                        Stoer lighthouse

31^st July                             2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer lighthouse

31^st July                             c20 Dolphins                                              Stoer lighthouse

2^nd August       11am        1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

2^nd August       1.30pm     1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

2^nd August       9pm          c30 Dolphins                                              near Soyea island

2^nd August       3pm          c20 Common Dolphins                           Clachtoll

2^nd August       3.15pm     1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Clachtoll

3^rd August                          6 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer Lighthouse

3^rd August                          1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer Lighthouse

5^th August       2.45pm     1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer Lighthouse

5^th August       3.10pm     1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer Lighthouse

8^th August       5pm          1 Minke Whale                                          Balchladdich

10^th August                        2 Killer Whale (+2 calves)                       Stoer Lighthouse

10^th August                        20 Common Dolphins                             Stoer Lighthouse

12^th August                        2 Dolphins                                                  Badnaban

12^th August     2.30pm     2 Harbour Porpoises                                 Stoer Lighthouse

12^th August     3.45pm     1 Minke Whale                                          Stoer Lighthouse

12^th August     4pm          1 Dolphin sp                                               Stoer Lighthouse

14^th August     3pm          2 Common Dolphins                                Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

16^th August     3pm          20+ Common Dolphins                           Badnaban

19^th August     7pm          3 Bottlenose Dolphins                              Badnaban

19^th August                        1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Stoer beach

20^th August     8pm          20 Common Dolphins                             Clachtoll

20^th August     4pm           20 Harbour Porpoises                             Reiff (Wester Ross)

21^st August                        4 Harbour Porpoises                                 Clachtoll

24^th August                        10 Dolphins                                                Clachtoll

24^th August                        1 Harbour Porpoise                                  Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer

25^th August                        20+Common Dolphins                            Stoer Lighthouse             

26^th August                        20+Common Dolphins                            Stoer Lighthouse

26^th August                        5+ Harbour Porpoises                              Stoer Lighthouse

26^th August                        Killer Whale and calf                               Stoer Lighthouse

9^th September                   5 Harbour Porpoises                                 Rubha Dunain, Culkein Stoer   

23^rd September                 8+ Harbour Porpoises (+young)             Stoer Lighthouse

24^th September                 5+ Harbour Porpoises                              Stoer Lighthouse

3^rd October                        20 Common Dolphins                             Achmelvich

Thanks to all those who have contributed observations, Stuart Belshaw, Anella Bulch, David and Avril Haines, Donald Mitchell, Leigh Sedgley, Andy and Roz Summers and many others.

Compiled by Andy Summers, Highland Council Ranger Service. 

2012 Summary compared to previous years

In 2012 115 sightings reported of 1049 animals of six species

In 2011 41 sightings reported of 628 animals of four species

In 2010 33 sightings reported of 648 animals of four species

In 2009 42 sightings reported of 719 animals of four species

In 2008 60 sightings reported of 648 animals of seven species

In 2007 44 sightings reported of 256 animals of eight species

In 2006 58 sightings reported of 496 animals of seven species

Great Northern Diver – Culkein Stoer, 30th January (Andy Summers)

54 Turnstone, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 22 Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 4 Redshank, 4 Curlew, 32 Oystercatycher – Culkein Stoer, 30th January (Andy Summers)

Greylag Geese – 7 Clachtoll, 29th January (Andy Summers)

Great Northern Diver – Lochinver bay 28th January (Andy Summers) 

Long-tailed Duck – 1 male Lochinver bay, 26th January (Gwen Richards)

Great Northern Diver – 1 Lochinver bay, 20th -25th January (Andy Summers)

Slavonian Grebe – 1 adult in winter plumage Lochinver bay, 25th January (Andy Summers)

Goldeneye – 3 males and 3 females Loch na Claise, 24th January (Andy Summers)

Curlew – 13 Stoer beach, 24th January (Andy Summers)

Red Kite – Scron view point on road to Stoer, 22nd January (Stuart Belshaw)

Wigeon – 5 including 2 males Cam Loch, 20th January (Andy Summers)

Golden Eagle – Adult pair and first winter at Little Assynt, 20th January (Andy Summers)

Brambling – single at Torbreck, 17th January (Gwen Richards)

Red Kite – single at Loch an Ordain Lochinver, 17th January (John Gorman)

House Sparrow – 31 Clachtoll, 14th January (Andy Summers)

Red-breasted Merganser – 5 Lochinver Bay, 12th January (Andy Summers)

White-tailed Sea Eagle – 1 Lochinver, 8th January (Romany Garnet)

White-tailed Sea Eagle -  2 birds seen at Kylesku since New Year, 7th January. 

Black-throated Diver – 1 Lochinver, 7th January (Andy Summers)

Goldfinch – 3 Clachtoll,  7th January (Andy Summers)

OTHERS

Otter – Oldany River, 22nd January (Derek Spenser)

large Otter – River Inver, 15th January (Derek Spenser)

Pipistrelle Bat – flying in day time at Achmelvich, 7th January (Romany Garnet)

Otter – Lochinver Bay, 7th January (Andy Summers)

Pipistrelle Bat – flying in day time Elphin, 6th Januray (Rosie Christmas)

Pipistrelle Bat – flying in day time Lochinver, 3rd January (Andy Summers). It has been incredibly mild recently at over 10degrees