January 2023 Sightings

31st January 2023

  • Sparrowhawk: Single bird, Strathan (Clarinda Chant)

28th January 2023

  • Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo): Single specimen washed up dead, Clachtoll beach (Charlie Leeson)

22nd January 2023

  • Stonechat: Single bird on beach, Bay of Stoer (Charlie Leeson, Helen & Stevan Lockhart)
  • Kestrel: Two birds flying along beach at Balchladich (DAH)
  • Teal: 10 birds, Loch na Claise (DAH)
  • Redwing: Eight birds, Balchladich (DAH)
  • Great Northern Diver: Two birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Turnstone: 11 birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Dunlin: Single winter plumage bird, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Curlew: Seven birds, Culkein Stoer and 16 birds, Clashmore (DAH)

21st January 2023

  • Mixed Flock of Blue, Great and Coal Tits: c20 birds in birch trees, Oldany (Jane Livingstone)
  • Great Northern Diver: Four birds, Clashnessie Bay (Jane Livingstone)
  • Otter: Single animal, Clashnessie bay rock pool (Jane Livingstone)
  • Goldeneye: Single bird, Loch an Aigeil (Charlie Leeson)
  • Barn Owl: Single bird in flight, Loch Assynt (Carol Langford)

20th January 2023

  • Stonechat: Two males displaying territorial behaviour to each other, Clashmore (Jane Livingstone)
  • Snipe: Single bird in grassland, Clachtoll (Helen & Stevan Lockhart)
  • Sparrowhawk: Single female bird over telephone exchange, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Dipper: Single bird foraging, Lochan an lasgaich, opposite Little Assynt Tree Nursery (DAH)
  • Cormorant: Two birds fishing, Bay of Clachtoll and single bird by Loch an Aigeil (Charlie Leeson)
  • Barnacle Goose: 35+ birds grazing, Clashmore (DAH)
  • Whooper Swan: Two adult birds, Loch na Claise (DAH)
  • Goldeneye: 11 birds (7 male, 4 female), Loch na Claise (DAH)
  • Little Grebe: Two birds, Loch na Claise (DAH)

19th January 2023

  • Barn Owl: Single bird, Strone (Clarinda Chant & Gwen Richards)

16th January 2023

  • Great Spotted Woodpecker: Single bird in garden, Torbreck (Cheryl Smith)
  • Barn Owl: Single birds reported hunting near The Green Cruachan at 6.30pm (Carol Langford) and over grazings at Clachtoll, 9.45pm and 11pm (Kenny John Matheson)

15th January 2023

  • Robin: Single bird on fence post, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Goldfinch: 12 to 16 birds in a flock and on electricity wires, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Hen Harrier: Single "Ring-tail" roosting in the reeds and coming out to mob a passing Peregrine, Loch na Claise (AS)

14th January 2023

  • Wren: Single bird very active in trees and amongst leaves and grass, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Redwing: 50 birds along with a smaller number of Fieldfare, Blackbirds and Song Thrush, Clachtoll (AS)

13th January 2023

  • Goldeneye: Single male, Loch Neil Bhain (Murray Anderson).  With a possible female nearby
  • Stoat: Single animal caught a rabbit at Clachtoll (AS)
  • Kestrel: Single bird near Cnoc a'Bhainne, Little Assynt (Claire Belshaw)

12th January 2023

  • Moorhen: Two birds, Loch an Aigeil (DAH)
  • Snake Pipefish: 53cm long dead fish washed up or dropped by a bird on Stoer Green (Stevan and Helen Lockhart) and identified by Andy Summers. Photos Gallery - Marine

11th January 2023

  • Barn Owl: Single bird flying low along the road, Ledmore junction (Murray Anderson)

9th January 2023

  • Greylag Goose: Two birds on croft grassland, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)

8th January 2023

  • Greylag Geese: Fifteen birds on crofts at Clachtoll (AS)

7th January 2023

  • Barrel Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo): Single jellyfish found dead on beach at Clashnessie (Carol Langford). Photo Gallery - Marine. This is the largest jellyfish to be found in UK waters. It can reach up to 90cm across and weigh up to 35kg!
  • Ringed Plover: Eight birds on beach, Clashnessie (Charlie Leeson)
  • Curlew: 20+ birds around Stoer green area (DAH)
  • Dipper: Two birds, Lochan an lasgaich, opposite Little Assynt Tree Nursery (DAH)
  • Common Seal: Three animals, Bay of Culkein (Jane Livingstone)
  • Oystercatcher: Ten birds feeding on beach, Culkein Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Eider: Seven birds offshore, Bay of Culkein (Jane Livingstone)
  • Turnstone: Seven birds feeding on beach, Culkein Stoer (Jane Livingstone)

6th January 2023

  • Snipe: Six birds, Loch Assynt (Murray Anderson). First one walked on to road 19:23, then for next 3 miles saw another 5. 4 startled as driving past and one other to slow down for on road.
  • Grey Heron: Eighteen birds feeding around the shore in Lochinver bay (AS)

5th January 2023

  • Redwing: Three birds, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Little Grebe: Single bird, Loch Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Goldeneye: Two birds (a pair) Loch Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Otter: Single animal, Loch Ardbhair (Beccy Garvey)
  • Treecreeper: Single bird in Ardvar garden (Beccy Garvey)

4th January 2023

  • Greylag Goose: Seven birds flying low past Loch Neil Bhain (Jane Livingstone)

3rd January 2023

  • Raven and Buzzard: Two birds of each species feeding on a dead Greylag Goose, Clashmore (DAH)
  • Goldeneye: 11 birds (8 male, 3 female), Loch na Claise (DAH) 
  • Long-tailed Duck: Single winter plumage female, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Black Guillemot: Single winter plumage bird, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Great Northern Diver: Three birds, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Barnacle Goose: 30+ birds on Eilean Chrona off Clashnessie (DAH)
  • Common Gull: 34 birds of varying ages, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Moorhen: Two adult birds Loch an Aigeil, Clachtoll (AS)

2nd January 2023

  • Curlew: 15 birds on Clachtoll crofts (AS)
  • Skylark: Nine birds on Clachtoll crofts (AS)

1st January 2023

  • Eider: Seven ducks feeding, Bay of Stoer (Charlie Leeson)

Report a Sighting - Assynt only

Sightings outwith Assynt cannot be used