August 2023 Sightings

31st August 2023

  • Ring Ouzel: Single bird near Bealach á Chornaidh, Quinag (Lynda Gairns)
  • Ringed Plover: Two adult, five juvenile birds on beach, Bay of Stoer (Cheryl Smith).
  • Black Rustic moth (Aporophyla nigra): Single moth in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)

28th August 2023

  • Pied Wagtail: Eleven birds (adults and juveniles) feeding on house driveway, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • White-tailed Eagle: Single bird (Stefan Taylor)

26th August 2023

  • Otter: Mother and cub in sea off Raffin (Holy Cordwell)

25th August 2023

  • Otter: Single animal, possibly male, on rocks then in the sea at Raffin (Holly Cordwell)

24th August 2023

  • Common Dolphin: Large pod c100 seen from sea tour boat off Achmelvich (Holly Cordwell/Carol Champion)

23rd August 2023

  • Kestrel: Single bird hovering near Lochan Sgeireach, Stoer (DAH)
  • Wigeon: Single bird, Loch na Claise (DAH)
  • Harbour Porpoise: Three animals (2 adults and a calf) off Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Knot: Single juvenile bird, Bay of Culkein (DAH). This young bird's plumage still looked very fresh despite it having just migrated from the high Arctic. Photo Gallery - Birds
  • Ringed Plover: Eight birds foraging in seaweed, Bay of Stoer (CADL)
  • Turnstone: Two juvenile birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH)
  • Curlew: Eleven birds, Bay of Stoer (CADL)
  • Ringed Plover: 45 birds, adults and juveniles, Bay of Culkein (DAH). One of these birds had colour marked rings on its left leg and we await information about where and when it was ringed.
  • Dunlin: Six birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH) and two, Bay of Stoer (CADL)
  • Lesser Redpoll: A flock of 50+ birds, Nedd (Stefan Taylor)
  • Treecreeper: Single bird, Nedd (Stefan Taylor)

21st August 2023

  • Black-throated Diver: Eight birds, Clashnessie Bay (DAH)

20th August 2023

  • Sanderling: Five birds feeding at low tide, Bay of Stoer (CADL)
  • Curlew: Single bird on beach at low tide, Bay of Stoer (CADL)
  • Tawny Owl: Single bird low overhead, Raffin (Holly Cordwell)

19th August 2023

  • Merlin: Single bird, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Grey Seal: Raffin

17th August 2023

  • Conger Eel (Conger conger): Single eel encountered while snorkelling off Achmelvich Bay (Milo Lloyd)
  • Common Rustic Moth: Single moth, Clachtoll (Dorell Pirie)

16th August 2023

  • Vapourer moth (Orgyia antiqua): Numerous caterpillars, adult females, eggs and cocoons of this moth on the breakwater at Lochinver harbour (DAH). This is a repeat of last year's activity at this same location. More details are in the post 'Beautiful caterpillars' on our website under the Species - Moths tab.
  • Otter: Single animal on rocks, Raffin shoreline (Holly Cordwell)

14th August 2023

  • Fin Whale: Three animals a long way off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Risso’s Dolphin: Seven animals, including a calf off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Common Dolphin: Several small pods off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH
  • Twite: c.10 birds around Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Arctic Skua: Single pale morph bird harassing a Kittiwake off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Sparrowhawk: Single birds at Stoer Head Lighthouse and near Oldany Farmhouse (DAH)
  • Snipe: Single bird, Clashmore (Jane Livingstone)

13th August 2023

  • Thistle Tortoise Beetle (Cassida rubiginosa): At least 6 larvae on Creeping Thistle in disused quarry on old road Little Assynt (DAH/Stephen Moran). This is the first record of this beetle in Assynt. It has a fascinating life history and we shall follow up with a short article in due course. Photo Gallery - Beetles
  • Red-breasted Merganser: 10 birds (adult female and 9 juveniles) River Inver west of Little Assynt (DAH)
  • Butterflies: Single Peacock, three Scotch Argus and two Meadow Brown butterflies, Achnacarnin (Jane Livingstone)
  • Ring Ouzel: Single adult male and two juveniles, Quinag (Stefan Taylor & Kari Knight)

11th August 2023

  • White-Tailed Eagle: Single bird (Stefan Taylor)
  • Curlew: Two birds on beach, Stoer (Charlie & Mhairi Leeson)
  • Magpie: Single bird, Clachtoll (Dorell Pirie)

10th August 2023

  • Risso’s Dolphin: Three animals off Stoer Head lighthouse (Charlie, Mhairi & Duncan Leeson, Konstanze Seidler, Sam Stibbs). Also single harbour porpoise
  • Spotted Flycatcher: Single bird, Clashnessie croft land (Mike Pearson)
  • Buoy Barnacle (Dosima fascicularis): Approx. 20 attached to egg wrack on Stoer beach (Charlie & Mhairi Leeson).  This is a rare sighting from mainland Scotland. Photo Gallery - Marine.
  • Scotch Argus: Single butterfly in garden, Nedd (Ian Evans).  This is the first record at this site

9th August 2023

  • Grey Wagtail: Single bird, Stoer Green (Carol Langford)
  • Common Dolphin: At least three animals off Clachtoll, and later on eight off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH et al.)
  • Arctic Skua: Single pale form bird harassing a passing Buzzard, Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Grey Dagger Moth (Acronicta psi): Single caterpillar, Clachtoll (AS). Found in a garden with elm and blackthorn.  Only the third record from Assynt. Photo Gallery - Moths
  • Common Dolphin: Six active animals, Bay of Stoer (Sam Stibbs) 

8th August 2023

  • Magpie: Single bird by Loch an Aigeil (CADL)
  • By-the-wind-sailor: Single hydroid on beach, Stoer (Mhairi Leeson)

7th August 2023

  • Great Spotted Woodpecker: Single bird, Nedd (Stefan Taylor)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Single butterfly, Stoer peat road (Duncan Leeson & Konstanze Seidler)
  • Damselfly: 20+ common blue and 15+ large red damselflies, Clachtoll/Stoer peat road (Charlie, Duncan & Mhairi Leeson, Konstanze Seidler)
  • Fox Moth: Single caterpillar on track, Clachtoll peat road (Charlie, Duncan & Mhairi Leeson, Konstanze Seidler)
  • Greenfinch: Two birds, new graveyard, Stoer (Charlie, Mhairi & Duncan Leeson, Konstanze Seidler)

6th August 2023

  • Tawny Owl: Single bird heard calling, Nedd (Stefan Taylor)
  • Common Dolphin: 20+ active animals travelling from Bay of Stoer towards Clachtoll (Charlie, Duncan & Mhairi Leeson, Konstanze Seidler)
  • Whimbrel: Single bird on rocks at low tide, Bay of Stoer (Charlie, Duncan & Mhairi Leeson, Konstanze Seidler)

5th August 2023

  • Blackcap: Single female in garden, Torbreck (Gwen Richards). Killed by flying into conservatory window.

4th August 2023

  • Scotch Argus: Single butterfly in garden, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)
  • Peacock Butterfly: Single butterfly on garden wall, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)

2nd August 2023

  • Otter: Single animal on beach, Stoer (Emily Higham)
  • Slow Worm: Single animal, by River Inver (Emily Higham)

1st August 2023

  • Slow Worm: Single lizard, Badnaban (Alan Blakemore)

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