March 2023 Sightings

30th March 2023

  • Greenfinch: Five birds on telephone wires, Clachtoll (Charlie Leeson)
  • Great Northern Diver: Nine birds (mostly juvenile) fishing, Bay of Stoer
  • Whooper Swan: Two groups of 50+ birds flying north over Bay of Stoer (Charlie Leeson)
  • Harbour (Common) Seal: Single animal basking on rocks by Clachtoll broch (Charlie Leeson)
  • Lapwing: Four birds displaying, Clachtoll croft land (Charlie Leeson)
  • Gannet: Single bird, off Clachtoll broch (Charlie Leeson)

29th March 2023

  • Red Sword-grass moth (Xylena vetusta): Single moth seen at night, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Common Toad: Three toads on footpaths, Loch Leitir Easaidh (Charlotte Oram)
  • Grey Wagtail: Single bird, River Inver (DAH)

28th March 2023

  • Great Skua: Single adult off Stoer head (Ben Cluckie)
  • Long-tailed Duck: Single female bird, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Black-throated Diver: Two birds in full summer plumage, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Little Grebe: Single bird on Loch Eileanach, Lagg (DAH)

27th March 2023

  • Wheatear: Single bird, near Clashnessie (DAH)
  • White-tailed Bumblebee: Single insect near gorse, Clashmore (Jane Livingstone)

26th March 2023

  • Otter: Two animals feeding, Lochan na Leobaig, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Eider: Six birds (4 male, 2 female) Lochan na Leobaig, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Greenshank: Single bird calling, Loch Nedd (Ian Evans)

25th March 2023

  • Risso’s Dolphin: Three animals off Achmelvich (Katie Dyke, WDC)
  • Wheatear: Two males displaying by old school, Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Snipe: Single bird seen, and others heard calling & drumming, Clashmore (Jane Livingstone)
  • Heron: Single bird, Loch Neil Bhain (Jane Livingstone)
  • Lapwing: Five birds displaying and calling, Stoer (Jane Livingstone)

24th March 2023

  • Goldeneye: Two male birds flying west along line of River Inver opposite Blàr nam Fear Mòra (DAH)
  • Harbour Porpoise: Two animals off Clachtoll (Katie Dyke, WDC)
  • Jackdaw: 70+ birds, Elphin (DAH)
  • Whooper Swan: Five birds, Loch Awe (DAH)
  • Common Toad: Mating pair on path beside Loch Leitir Easaidh, Little Assynt (Ian Evans & Gwen Richards)
  • Redpoll: Single bird beneath bird feeder,  Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Goldeneye: Six birds (two+ male, the rest female), Loch Ruighean an Aitinn, Drumbeg (Ian Evans)
  • Carrion Crow: Single bird on sheep feed with c10 hooded crows, Oldany (Ian Evans)
  • Little Grebe: Single bird, Loch Ruighean an Aitinn, Drumbeg (Ian Evans)
  • Red Kite: Two birds flying over Loch Borralan (Stevan & Helen Lockhart)

23rd March 2023

  • Reed Bunting: Single male in garden, Torbreck (Gwen Richards)
  • Whooper Swan: Two birds on Loch Awe (Gwen Richards)
  • Snow Bunting: Single bird near summit of Spidean Coinich (John Gilbertson)
  • Little Grebe: A pair of birds on nameless loch, Torbreck (Gwen Richards)

21st March 2023

  • Ringed Plover: Three birds in a group of Oystercatchers and Common Gulls on the beach, Stoer (Charlie Leeson)

20th March 2023

  • Linnet: Several birds at feeder Clachtoll (AS)
  • Swallow: Single male bird feeding, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH). A very early date for Assynt. The earliest previous date we have recorded is 7 April 2021.

19th March 2023

  • Teal: Eight birds, Loch an Aigeil, Clachtoll (DAH)
  • Puffin: Single bird still in winter plumage, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Razorbill: 6+ birds, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Whooper Swan: 11 birds flying over Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Red-throated Diver: Two birds (one in winter plumage, one in breeding plumage) Clashnessie Bay (DAH)
  • Great Northern Diver: Two birds, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)

15th March 2023

  • White-tailed Bumblebee: Single bee in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)

14th March 2023

  • Harbour Porpoise: Two animals, Loch Kirkaig (David Peet)

13th March 2023

  • Redwing: Two birds, Clashnessie (Morag Moir)

12th March 2023

  • Dipper: Single bird singing in middle of River, Brackloch (AS)
  • Skylark: Seven birds on Clachtoll Crofts (AS)
  • Golden Plover: 27 birds on crofts at Clachtoll (AS)
  • Weasel: Single animal hunting in garden, Glendarroch Lochinver (Chris & Fran Barley)

9th March 2023

  • Lapwing: Single bird back on breeding site, Culkein Stoer (David Tyson)
  • Common Lizard: Single lizard, in garden, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)

7th March 2023

  • Pine Marten: A pair seen interacting together, Culag woods (Fiona Carter).  Also seen on 11/3/2023

4th March 2023

  • Woodcock: Single bird on moorland at night, by Loch Culag (Fiona Carter)

3rd March 2023

  • Whooper Swan: Eight birds, Loch Awe (Liz Burns)
  • Treecreeper: Single bird in deciduous trees by Culag Woods car park (Fiona Carter)

2nd March 2023

  • Greenfinch: 14 birds feeding on feeder, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)

1st March 2023

  • Drinker Moth Caterpillar (Euthrix potatoria): Seven or more caterpillars in marram grass, Clachtoll beach (Charlie Leeson, Avril Haines)
  • Curlew: 16 birds flying over Clachtoll (Charlie Leeson)
  • Sparrowhawk: Single bird seen flying low, Raffin (Carol Langford)
  • Eider: 18 birds, both male and female, off Stoer lighthouse (Carol Langford)
  • Sparrowhawk: Single male bird in Inverkirkaig garden (Jake Douglas)
  • Frog Spawn: Many clumps in garden pond, Drumbeg (Nancy Millar)
  • Dunlin: Single bird, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Otter: Single animal feeding off river mouth, Loch Kirkaig (Mike Dawber)

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