May 2024 Sightings

30th May 2024

  • Grey Heron: Four possibly five nests on the island on Loch Awe with large young (AS)

29th May 2024

  • Shelduck: Two birds (pair), Lochan na Leobaig, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH)
  • Harbour Porpoise: Single animal just off Bay of Clachtoll (DAH)
  • Violet Oil Beetle: Single beetle, Torbreck (Cheryl Smith)
  • Grasshopper Warbler: Male bird singing near Inchnadamph hotel (AS)
  • Grey Wagtail: Pair feeding young at a nest on the Traligill River, Inchnadamph (AS)

28th May 2024

  • Arctic Skua: Single dark morph bird off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)

27th May 2024

  • Small heath butterfly: Single butterfly on bird's-foot trefoil in croft at Clachtoll (AS)
  • Rose-coloured Starling: Single immature bird, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH). A rare record for Assynt. The previous three records were: August 2020 at Culkein Stoer, June 2021 at Clachtoll, and August 2021 at Culkein Stoer. Photo Gallery - Birds

26th May 2024

  • Small Heath butterfly: Single butterfly, Badnaban (Gwen Richards)
  • Slow-worm: Single animal in Badnaban garden (Adrian Stabler)
  • Green Tiger Beetle: Single beetle near Loch Ruighean an Aitinn (Becky Garvey)

25th May 2024

  • Golden-ringed Dragonfly: Single newly emerged dragonfly 'drying' on cut tree stump near Nedd bridge (CAL/DAH). Photo Gallery - Dragonflies
  • Orange-tip butterfly: Single male butterfly, Glenleraig hatchery track (DAH)

24th May 2024

  • Common Heath moth (Ematurga atomaria): Single male moth with large feathery antennae, on heather, near Cathair Dhubh (DAH/Ennis Jones). Photo Gallery - Moths
  • Meadowsweet Rust Fungus (Triphragmium ulmariae): Two leaves of one Meadowsweet plant affected by this rust fungus which causes a bright orange gall on the underside of the leaves, near Cathair Dhubh (Ennis Jones/DAH). This is only the fifth record of this gall in Assynt. Photo Gallery - Fungi and Moulds
  • Common Sandpiper: Single bird, burn by Loch na Creige Leithe (Ian Evans)
  • Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary: Single male, Loch Leitir Easaidh (Chris Puddephatt)

23rd May 2024

  • Black-tailed Godwit: Two birds next to Loch an Aigeil, Stoer (AS)

22nd May 2024

  • Minke Whale: Single animal off Achmelvich (Mal Edwards). Also one seen the previous evening at same location.

21st May 2024

  • Common Dolphin: 30+ very active animals off Achmelvich (Mal Edwards)
  • Orange-tip Butterfly: Male butterfly on roadside next to Maiden Loch, Clachtoll (AS)
  • Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth (Hemaris tityus): Three moths, Ardvreck (Stefan Taylor)
  • Common Sandpiper: Single bird, Loch Neil Bhain (Ennis Jones)
  • Teal: Three male and three female birds, Loch Neil Bhain (Ennis Jones)

20th May 2024

  • Snipe: Single bird drumming over fields south of Loch na Claise (Ennis Jones)
  • Spotted Flycatcher: Single bird calling, Glenleraig (Stefan Taylor)
  • Woodcock: Single bird roding, Glenleraig (Stefan Taylor) 
  • Cuckoo: A pair, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson).  Seen mating and being hounded by meadow pipits
  • Thrift (Armeria maritima): Many plants, Achnacarnin coast (Murray Anderson)
  • Sea Campion (Silene maritima): Single clump, Achnacarnin  coast (Murray Anderson)
  • Peacock: Single butterfly in garden, Nedd (Ian Evans)

19th May 2024

  • Golden Plover: Ten birds, Clachtoll crofts (CADL)
  • Spotted Flycatcher: Single bird, near Kirkaig Falls car park (AS & others)
  • Greenshank: Single bird feeding, Loch Kirkaig, (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Bottlenose Dolphin: Five animals heading north past Bay of Clachtoll (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Cloudberry: 7+ plants near Loch nan Cuaran (Murray Anderson)
  • Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris): 50+ plants, Allt Tarsuinn (Murray Anderson)
  • Meadow Pipit: Three pairs, Allt Tarsuinn (Murray Anderson)

18th May 2024

  • Tree Pipit: Single bird, possibly two, heard, Cnoc nan each (AS & CADL)
  • Minke Whale: Single animal, off Stoerhead lighthouse (Murray Anderson)
  • Lesser Redpoll: Single bird in trees, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Swallow: Two birds in garden, Torbreck (Cheryl Smith).  Last year first seen at this location on 16/5

16th May 2024

  • Whooper Swan: Single bird flying west over Culkein Drumbeg (Ennis Jones/DAH)
  • Twite: Two birds, Stoerhead lighthouse (Nigel Beasley)
  • Great Skua: Three birds, off Stoerhead lighthouse (Nigel Beasley)
  • Arctic Skua: Single bird, off Stoerhead lighthouse (Nigel Beasley)
  • Black-headed Gull: Single bird, Stoer cemetery (Ian Evans)
  • Hen Harrier: Single male, near to Cnoc Poll a'Mhuilt (Nigel Beasley)
  • Speckled Wood: Single butterfly, Lochinver (Jane Richmond Young)

15th May 2024

  • Sedge Warbler: Single bird heard, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)

14th May 2024

  • Osprey: Single bird, Ledbeg (Stefan Taylor). Also seen near Elphin (Mike Dawber)
  • Dunlin: Single bird and two ringed plovers on beach, Stoer (CADL)
  • Gannet: Single bird fishing, Bay of Stoer (CADL)

13th May 2024

  • Spotted Flycatcher: Two birds, Nedd (Stefan Taylor)
  • Willow Warbler: Three birds heard, church road, Stoer (Dorell Pirie)
  • Ringed Plover: Two birds, Stoer beach (Dorell Pirie)
  • Reed Bunting: Single adult male in reeds, Loch an Aigeil (CADL)
  • Knotgrass beetle (Chrysolina polita): A pair mating on mint in garden, Torbreck (Gwen Richards)
  • Greenshank: Single bird, Inverkirkaig (Mike Dawber)
  • Little Grebe: Single adult with single chick, loch near Torbreck (Gwen Richards)

12th May 2024

  • Puffin: Two birds off Balchladich (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull: Three adults and a single immature bird, Loch na Claise (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Bottlenose Dolphin: Three animals feeding, Bay of Culkein (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Corncrake: Single bird calling, Culkein Stoer (Ennis Jones/DAH)
  • Whimbrel: Nine birds, Culkein Stoer (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Golden Plover: Nine birds, Culkein Stoer (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • White Wagtail: Three birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Dunlin: 53 birds Bay of Culkein (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Sanderling: Nine birds, Bay of Culkein (DAH/Ennis Jones)
  • Common Sandpiper: Three birds, Loch an Aigeil (CADL)
  • Two-banded Longhorn Beetle (Rhagium bifasciatum): Single beetle, Nedd (Stefan Taylor).  A rare record for Assynt. Photo Gallery - Beetles
  • Sand Martin: 16 birds near Raffin Bothies (Mal Edwards)
  • Pink-footed Goose: Two birds on croftland, Clachtoll (AS)

11th May 2024

  • Collared Dove: Two birds, Clachtoll (Dorell Pirie). Uncommon at this location
  • Speckled Wood Butterfly: Single butterfly in garden, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)
  • Corncrake: Single bird heard, Culkein Stoer (Heather Braunholtz). Also heard by Nigel Beasley, same location
  • Jackdaw: Three birds on crofts at Clachtoll (AS)
  • Great Northern Diver: Single bird Clachtoll bay (AS)

10th May 2024

  • Swallow: Single bird, Clachtoll (CADL)
  • Adder: Single snake,  north shore of Cam Loch (Euan Fowler)
  • Osprey: Single bird, Ledmore (Stefan Taylor)
  • Bog Beacon Fungi: Many fruiting bodies of Bog Beacon Fungi, Mitrula paludosa, near the Dark Pool in the Culag woods (AS)

9th May 2024

  • Great Northern Diver: Two birds, Bay of Culkein (Heather Braunholtz). Courtship displaying - head bobbing and diving together
  • Merlin: Single bird, by Rubh an Dunain (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Black Guillemot: Four birds, Bay of Culkein (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Black-throated Diver: Two birds, Loch Dhrombaig (Carol Langford)

8th May 2024

  • Bullfinch: Two birds (a pair) feeding in Culkein Drumbeg garden (Jim and Corinne France)
  • Otter: Single animal feeding in Loch Inver, off Church of Scotland (Nita Groves/Keith Salmon/DAH) also single animal off Rubh'an Dùnain (Heather Braunholtz & David Geraghty)
  • Stoat: Single animal crossing road, Achnacarnin (Murray Anderson)
  • Great Northern Diver: Single bird, mouth of Culag river (Jane Richmond Young)
  • Dunlin: 48+ birds on beach, Culkein Stoer (Heather Braunholtz & David Geraghty)
  • Great Skua: Single bird being mobbed by Common Gulls, Bay of Culkein (Heather Braunholtz & David Geraghty)

7th May 2024

  • Bottlenose Dolphin: Three animals in and two out from Loch Dhrombaig, Culkein Drumbeg (DAH). Also seven spotted later on between Rubh'an Dùnain and Point of Stoer (Heather Braunholtz & David Geraghty). Bottlenose Dolphin are not a common sighting around Assynt. The last known record was 30 May 2023 also in Loch Dhrombaig. Photo Gallery - Whales & Dolphins
  • Pink-footed Goose: Two skeins, one with approx. 50 birds, the other approx. 100 birds, heading north, Clachtoll (CADL & Sam Stibbs)
  • Ringed Plover: Three birds, Stoer beach (CADL)
  • Swallow: Two birds, Lochinver harbour (Carol Langford).  Collecting mud for nest

6th May 2024

  • Black-throated Diver: A pair, Loch na Garbhe Uidhe and a single bird by Rubha an Doire Chuilinn (Richard Venables)
  • Lessor Redpoll: Single bird on feeder, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)
  • Willow Warbler: Single bird, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)

5th May 2024

  • Common Sandpiper: Single bird, Clachtoll peat road (Sam Stibbs & CADL)
  • Stonechat: A pair, Clachtoll peat road (Sam Stibbs & CADL)
  • Osprey: Single bird over Loch Culag (Heather Braunholtz/David Geraghty)
  • Red-breasted Merganser: Red-breasted Merganser,  pair of birds on Loch na h-Innse Fraoich, Little Assynt (Heather Braunholtz & David Geraghty)

4th May 2024

  • House Martin: Four birds seen Lochinver Village (AS)
  • Green Tiger Beetle: Beetle on the path, south side of Loch Assynt (AS)
  • Peacock Butterfly: Single butterfly in garden, Culkein Drumbeg (Steve Langford)
  • Orange-tip Butterfly: Single butterfly, Lochinver (Jane Richmond Young)
  • Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia): Single insect in garden, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)
  • Shelduck: Two birds, Nedd (Stefan Taylor)
  • Raven: Two birds, Gleann Dubh (Heather Manceau)
  • Red Admiral butterfly: Single butterfly near Salmon Bothy, Clachtoll (DAH)
  • Harbour Porpoise: Single animal off Split Rock, Clachtoll and two off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH/CADL)
  • Black Guillemot: Five birds off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Shag: 74 birds on water off Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Kittiwake: Numerous groups of birds flying past Stoer Head Lighthouse, largest was 25 (DAH)
  • Whimbrel: 12 birds, Bay of Stoer and eight birds, Stoer Head Lighthouse (DAH)
  • Common Tern: 16 birds, Bay of Stoer (DAH). Photo Gallery -Birds
  • Red-throated Diver: Three birds, Bay of Clachtoll and four birds, Bay of Stoer (DAH)
  • St Mark’s Fly (Bibio marci): Numerous flies around the Clachtoll Ranger's Hut car park (DAH). Photo Gallery - Other Insects

3rd May 2024

  • Osprey: Bird fishing on the River Inver (AS)
  • Whooper Swan: Two birds, Loch na Claise (Stefan Taylor)
  • Twite: Five birds, Stoer burial ground (Stefan Taylor)
  • Shelduck: Single male, Lochan na Leobaig (Steve Langford)
  • Common Sandpiper: A pair foraging on tideline, Lochan na Leobaig (Steve Langford)
  • Great Skua: Single bird harassing a pair of greylag geese, Lochan na Leobaig (Steve Langford)

2nd May 2024

  • Adder: Single snake dead on road, Glenleraig bridge (Beccy Garvey & Calum Millar)
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull: Two birds by Loch an Aigeil (DAH)
  • Cuckoo: Single bird on pylon, Culkein Drumbeg (Steve Langford)
  • Lapwing: Single bird by broch, Clachtoll (Dorell Pirie)
  • Dunlin: 12 birds, Stoer beach (Dorell Pirie)
  • Red Admiral: Single butterfly, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford). Also single butterfly, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Peacock Butterfly: Single butterfly, Lochinver (Jane Richmond Young)
  • Arctic Tern: Four birds, Achmelvich Bay (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Dunlin: Five birds on beach, Culkein Stoer (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Ringed Plover: 20 birds on beach, Culkein Stoer (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Black-throated Diver: Two birds, Bay of Culkein (Heather Braunholtz)

1st May 2024

  • Common Sandpiper: Three birds, Loch an Aigeil (CADL)
  • Common Frog: Single animal in burn, Bealach a Chornaidh, Quinag (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Ptarmigan: Single bird heard, Sail Ghorm (Heather Braunholtz)
  • Swallow: Single bird at Elphin (AS)
  • Grasshopper Warbler: Male bird singing at Little Assynt (All Abilities) car park) AS
  • Guillemot: Single bird, by Clachtoll broch (CADL)
  • Golden Plover: Single bird, just south of Clachtoll broch (CADL)
  • Dunlin: Seven birds amongst rocks, Stoer beach (CADL)
  • Whimbrel: Fifteen birds, Stoer green (CADL)
  • Ringed Plover: Two birds foraging, Stoer beach (CADL)
  • Cuckoo: Single bird heard, Clachtoll (CADL)
  • Greenfinch: Three birds on feeder, Clachtoll (CADL)
  • Slow Worm: Single animal in garden, Glendarroch, Lochinver (Chris & Fran Barley). Also a single animal in garden, Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)

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