Sightings – May 2012
BIRDS
Snipe – 1 near Loch Awe, 31st May
Wigeon – 1 (male) Loch Awe, 31st May
Common Whitethroat – 1 singing male Glencanisp road, 30th May A rare record for Assynt, although this species is probably under-recorded.
Redstart – 1 singing male Glencanisp road, 30th May
Stonechat – 2 (a pair) Glencanisp road, 30th May
Yellowhammer – 1 singing male Glencanisp road, 30th May
Bullfinch – 1 (male) Glencanisp road, 30th May
Blackcap – 1 singing male Glencanisp road, 30th May
Spotted Flycatcher – 2 Glencanisp road, 30th May
Black-throated Diver – 2 plus one chick on traditional breeding loch near Lochinver, 30th May
Tufted Duck – 2 (a pair) Lochan Sgeireach Stoer, 30th May
Black-throated Diver – 3 Bay of Clachtoll, 29th May
Red-throated Diver – 3 Achmelvich Bay, 29th May Two of these birds were in full summer plumage but one was still in full winter.
Sand Martin – 3 Achmelvich, 29th May
Lesser Black-backed Gull – 12 Achmelvich, 29th May
Goldfinch – 2 Achmelvich, 29th May
Black-throated Diver – 1 Loch Drumbeg, 28th May
House Martin – 4 nest building Culkein Drumbeg, 28th May (CF)
Knot – 1 Rubh’an Dunain, 27th May This bird showed no sign of breeding plumage so was most likely a 1st summer bird, i.e. hatched last year.
Sanderling – 8 Rubh’an Dunain, 27th May These birds were in spring plumage, nice to see after so many winter birds during the last months.
Puffin – 3 off Rubh’an Dunain, 27th May
Linnet – 1 (female) Stoer Cemetery, 26th May
Whimbrel – 1 Bay of Stoer, 26th May
House Martin – 1 over Stoer Green, 26th May
Red-throated Diver – 2 Bay of Clachtoll, 26th May
Snipe – 2 Loch na Claise, 26th May Both birds showed well before ‘merging’ into the grasses, 26th May
Arctic Skua – 2 pale-morph birds chasing Kittiwake off Stoer Head Lighthouse and later on a pale-morph bird directly over Lighthouse car park, 26th May
Puffin – 2 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 26th May
Black-throated Diver – 1 Clashnessie Bay and later on a single bird in Bay of Stoer, 26th May
Common Scoter – 2 (females) Clashnessie Bay, 26th and 27th May
Great Northern Diver – 1 in full summer plumage Bay of Culkein, 25th May This is a spectacular bird well worth seeing.
Dunlin – 25 Bay of Culkein, 25th May and still 19 there on 27th May
Treecreeper – 2 in trees on River Inver path, 25th May
Long-tailed Tit – 2 in trees on River Inver path, 25th May
Goldcrest – 1 east end of trees on River Inver path, 25th May
Spotted Flycatcher – 1 east end of trees on River Inver path, 25th May
Tree Pipit – 2 singing birds east end of trees on River Inver path, 25th May
Teal – 2 (males) Loch an Ordain Torbreck, 25th May
Yellowhammer – 1 singing male near Loch an Ordain Torbreck, 25th May
Sedge Warbler – 3 in reed bed Loch an Aigeil, 25th May
Whimbrel – 6 Stoer Green, 25th May
Osprey – Feeding Cam Loch, 22nd May
Redstart – 1 singing male Cnocnaneach, 22nd May
Red-throated Diver – 4 Lochinver Bay, 22nd May
‘Comic’ Terns – c40 Arctic and Common Terns Lochinver Harbour, 22nd May These birds were courtship feeding, displaying, mating and making a superb ‘noise’.
Ring Ouzel – 1 singing male and a female near Bone Caves, 22nd May
Blackcap – 1 singing male walkers car park Inchnadamph, 22nd May
Sand Martin – 5 feeding over river at Inchnadamph, 22nd May
Eider – 1 (female and 4 ducklings) Oldany Estuary, 21st May
Shelduck – 3 (1 male 2 females) Oldany Estuary, 21st May
Cuckoo – 2 (a male following a ‘rufous’ morph female) Culkein Drumbeg, 21st May
Shag – 4 occupied nests on cliffs and off shore island Culkein Drumbeg, 21st May One of these nests was two weeks ago still being used by Ravens which fledged young.
Eider – 1 (female on nest) off shore island Culkein Drumbeg, 21st May
‘Comic’ Terns – 6 Arctic and 3 Common Terns, Culkein Drumbeg, 21st May These birds were on an off shore island which was used for breeding in 2011 so lets hope they are successful this year again.
Common Scoter – 3 flying past Stoer Head Lighthouse, 20th May
Carrion Crow – 1 near Achnacarnin, 20th May (GR/CC) A very rare sighting for Assynt and the north-west where the Hooded Crow is by far the most common ‘crow’.
Swallow – 7 Stoer Head Lighthouse, 19th May
Merlin – 1 (female) near Culkein, 19th May
Shag – 11 occupied nests on cliffs to east of Point of Stoer, 19th May
Fulmar – 106 on cliffs from Point of Stoer to Rubh’an Dunain, 19th May
Puffin – 4 off Rubh’an Dunain, 19th May
White Wagtail – 2 (1 male 1 female) Bay of Culkein, 19th May
Dunlin – 10 Bay of Culkein, 19th May
Whimbrel – 4 Bay of Culkein, 5 Balchladich, 19th May
Arctic Skua – 1 light-morph off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 18th May (GT) Photo Gallery – Birds.
Dunlin – 2 Bay of Stoer, 18th May
Mallard – 5 (2 adults and 3 ducklings) Loch an Aigeil, 18th May
Golden Plover – 3 Clachtoll, 18th May
Lapwing – 6 Clachtoll, 18th May
Redshank – 2 Clachtoll, 18th May
‘Comic’ Terns – 2 Arctic and 2 Common Terns, Bay of Clachtoll, 18th May
Eider – 6 (males) Bay of Clachtoll, 18th May
Tufted Duck – 2 (a pair) Loch an Aigeil, 17th May
Red-throated Diver – 2 Lochinver Bay, 17th May
Greenshank – 1 Loch Bad na Muirichinn near Inverkirkaig, 17th May
Buzzard – Chicks hatch in Buzzard nest camera. Great views into the nest from Assynt Visitor Centre.
Great Northern Diver – 2 Loch Dhrombaig, 16th May One bird in full summer plumage.
Cuckoo – 2 birds calling near Oldany, 16th May
Lesser Redpoll – 4 Nedd Bridge, 15th May
Long-tailed Tit – 1 Nedd Bridge, 15th May This bird was seen several times with its beak full of insects indicating it was feeding young.
Common Tern – 2 feeding Bay of Culkein, 14th May
Lesser Black-backed Gull – 1 Bay of Culkein, 14th May
Whimbrel – 10 Bay of Culkein, 14th May
Sanderling – 2 Bay of Culkein, 14th May
Raven – 4 fledged young near Loch Culag, Lochinver 14th May.
Dunlin – 30 Bay of Culkein, 14th May Our spring passge birds are moving through in good numbers now.
Turnstone – 12 Bay of Culkein, 14th May Ten of these passage birds were in full breeding plumage.
Robin – 2 juvenile birds Drumbeg, 12th May
Common Sandpiper – 2 Loch Nedd, 12th May
Great Northern Diver – 1 Loch Nedd, 12th May
Shelduck – 2 (a pair) Duart salt marsh, 12th May
Wigeon – 2 (a pair) Duart salt marsh, 12th May
Blackcap – Singing males at Duart and Nedd Bridge, 12th May
Mallard – 2 adults and 7 ducklings Loch Ruighean an Aitinn near Drumbeg, 12th May
Siskin – 2 (a pair) on feeder Culkein Drumbeg, 11th May
Sparrowhawk – 1 (female) flashing through garden Culkein Drumbeg, 11th May
Greylag Goose – 8 adults and 6 goslings Loch Drumbeg, 11th May
Song Thrush – 3 (2 adults and 1 fledged juvenile, still with some down) wooded area opposite Little Assynt, 10th May
Stonechat – 2 females near Little Assynt car park, 10th May
Greenshank – 2 River Inver near Little Assynt, 10th May
Dipper – 2 River Inver near Little Assynt, 10th May
Lesser Redpoll – 2 (a pair) Little Assynt car park, 10th May
House Martin – 5 Inchnadamph, 10th May
Red-throated Diver – 2 Loch Unapool at east end of B869, 10th May
Ring Ouzel – 2 Quinag, 9th May (FL/LA)
Ptarmigan – 1 Quinag, 9th May (FL/LA)
Moorhen – 1 Loch na Claise, 9th May
Sedge Warbler – 1 reed bed Loch an Aigeil, 9th May
Reed Bunting – 2 (a Pair) reed bed Loch an Aigeil, 9th May
Grasshopper Warbler – 1 ‘reeling’ behind Tourist Information Centre Lochinver, 9th May
Blackcap – singing male behind Tourist Information Centre Lochinver, 9th May
Common Sandpiper – 2 Loch Kirkaig, 9th May
Black-throated Diver – 2 Loch Drumbeg and a single in Loch Kirkaig, 9th May
Tawny Owl – calling Culkein Drumbeg, 9th May – 4.20am
Greylag Goose – 2 adults with 4 goslings Culkein Drumbeg, 8th May (MMac)
Shelduck – 1 (male) Oldany Estuary, 8th May
Gannet – 12 feeding off Rubh’an Dunain, 8th May
Golden Plover – 5 on grazing Culkein Stoer, 8th May
Sanderling – 1 Bay of Culkein, 8th May
Turnstone – 1 Bay of Culkein, 8th May This bird was in full breeding plumage – quite stunning.
Dunlin – 16 Bay of Culkein, 8th May These birds were in partial breeding plumage.
Black-headed Gull – 2 Balchladich Bay, 8th May
Swallow – 5 Balchladich Bay, 8th May
White Wagtail – 1 Balchladich Bay and 2 Bay of Culkein, 8th May
Whimbrel – 9 Balchladich Bay and 6 Bay of Culkein, 8th May
Common Tern – 2 Balchladich Bay, 8th May
Red-throated Diver – 3 Balchladich Bay, 8th May
Little Grebe – 2 Loch na Claise, 8th May
Cuckoo – 1 flying over reeds Loch na Claise, 8th May This bird was chased by a female Peregrine but it seemed to be able to climb more quickly than the peregrine so escaped, also pooing on the peregrine helped.
Sedge Warbler – 1 Loch na Claise, 8th may
Marsh Harrier – 1 sub adult female Loch na Claise, 8th May A very rare sighting of this species in Assynt and a very poor photograph is on Gallery – Birds!
Common Sandpiper – 1 Loch Neil Bhain, 8th May
Common Tern – 3 out from Culkein Drumbeg harbour, 7th May
Greenshank – 1 Oldany Estuary, 7th May
Common Sandpiper – 2 Oldany Estuary, 7th May First Assynt record for 2012?
Goldfinch – 3 Culkein Drumbeg, 7th May
Eider – 5 (males) Culkein Drumbeg harbour, 7th May
Twite – 5 Culkein Drumbeg, 7th May
Great Northern Diver – 3 Loch Dhrombaig, 6th may
Greenshank – 1 Loch Nedd, 6th May (CF)
Dipper – 1 on stream near Calda House Loch Assynt, 6th May
Peregrine – female took red grouse near the path from Glencanisp, 3rd May.
Arctic Tern – Stoer Bay, 3rd May
Great Northern Diver – one at Clachtoll bay and another Stoer Bay, 3rd May
Golden Plover – 3 Clachtoll, 3rd May
Whimbrel – 9 Clachtoll, 3rd May on passage north.
Twite – 79 Clachtoll, 3rd May
Raven – Bone Caves, 3rd May With young in nest
Black-throated Diver – 2 Loch Assynt, 3rd May
Greenshank – (Pair) Loch Druim Suardalain, Glencanisp, 2nd May
Red-breasted Merganser – (Pair) River Inver, 2nd May
Jackdaw – 39 Elphin, 1st May
Buzzard – Tumore, near Little Assynt, 1st May Eating nest of slow worms
Ring Ouzel – Beinn Gharbh, 1st May
Goosander – (male) Little Assynt, 1st May
Stonechat – Pollan on road to Clachtoll, 1st May
Cuckoo – Achmelvich, 1st May
Yellowhammer – singing Glencanisp road, 1st May
Grasshopper Warbler – 1 reeling Culkein Drumbeg, 1st May (CF)
OTHERS
Harbour Porpoise – 1 Clashnessie Bay, 30th May
Golden Ringed Dragonfly – 3 Glencanisp road, 30th May
Small Heath – One of these butterflies was seen at Achmelvich and two at Clachtoll, 29th May
Large Red Damselfly – 3 on Glenleraig road, 28th May Photo on Gallery-Insects
Bell Heather – a small flowering patch seen on Glenleraig road, 28th May
Northern Eggar – 2 pairs of this moth seen mating on Glenleraig road, 28th May. Photo Gallery – Moths
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – at least three of these butterflies seen on Glenleraig road, 28th May
Harbour Porpoise – several sightings between Rubh’an Dunain and Eilean Chrona, 27th May
Minke Whale – several sightings off Rubh’an Dunain, 27th May
Harbour Porpoise – 2 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 26th May
Common Dolphin – c30 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 26th May
Four-spotted Chaser Dragonfly – several at east end of trees on River Inver path, 25th May
Common Blue and Large Red Damselflies – several of each along River Inver Path, 25th May
Otter – on rocks below Stoer Head Lighthouse car park, 24th May (LS)
Water Shrew – 1 found dead at Culkein Drumbeg, 23rd May (MM) Water Shrew are quite a rare sight in Assynt and this one may have been killed and not eaten as they are distasteful to mammalian predators.
Harbour Porpoise – 3 feeding off Meall Dearg Culkein Drumbeg, 23rd May
Moonwort – Several plants, not yet in flower near Bone Caves, 22nd May (RS)
Orange Tip Butterfly – 1 male Inchnadamph, 22nd May Not yet a common sighting in Assynt.
Otter – Single in Lochinver Bay, 21st May, 17th May, 14th and 13th May. Seen from Assynt Visitor Centre
Minke Whale – 4 sightings during the day off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 21st May (LS)
Minke Whale – 1 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 20th May This whale was very close in and gave many visitors excellent views.
Unidentified Dolphins – c30 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 20th May
Stoat – 1 near Stoer Primary School, 20th May
Harbour Porpoise – 1 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 19th May
Otter – 1 feeding Bay of Culkein, 14th May
Otter – 4 seen in Loch Roe at Achmelvich. At least two were youngsters.
Speckled Wood butterfly – 1 Duart, 12th May
Minke Whale – 1 off Stoer Head Lighthouse, 10th May (LS) Seen at 4.00p.m. heading south, this is first Assynt 2012 record.
Harbour Seals – 54 Oldany Estuary/Culkein Drumbeg harbour, 7th May
Early Long-horn micro moth Adela cuprella – 1 Nedd, 4th May (IME) A striking male micro moth with antennae which are around three times the length of its body and for which there are only three recent Scottish records. Photo Gallery – Moths
Otter – Lochinver Bay, 4th May
Streamer moth Anticlea derivata – 1 Nedd, 3rd May (IE) This moth, which is scarce in the north, has only been recorded six times previously in Assynt since 2000. Photo Gallery – Moths
Stoat Clachtoll, 3rd May