July 2025 Sightings

29th July 2025

  • Scotch Argus: Thirteen butterflies near Assynt Hydro, Drumbeg (John Hebron)

27th July 2025

  • Water Vole colony: Six-10 holes, runs, fresh scat, eaten grass leaves, about 50 yards from Unapool Burn, Quinag (Chris Puddephatt & Stefan Taylor)
  • Kestrel: One individual, Quinag (Stefan Taylor)

25th July 2025

  • Swift: Two birds at Nedd (Steve and Erica)

24th July 2025

  • Scotch Argus Butterfly: Ten butterflies at Croft 85, Torbreck (Gwen Richards)

23rd July 2025

  • Brown Rat: One individual crossing road, bank of exit burn from Loch an Aigeil, Clachtoll (infrequently recorded?) (Ian Evans)

22nd July 2025

  • Shag: Eleven recent fledglings and 20+ adults on ledges above at Clashnessie Bay (Trevor Jones)

21st July 2025

  • Golden Plover: 22 birds on Clachtoll crofts (AS)
  • Grey Wagtail: Adult bird at Altanabradhan (AS)
  • Moorhen: Pair of birds with at least two tiny chicks at Loch an Aigeil (AS)
  • Kingfisher: Single bird at Lochinver harbour (Corwin Yates)

20th July 2025

  • Short-eared Owl: One bird near Calda House (Stefan Taylor)
  • Redshank: One bird at Balchladich (John Hebron)

19th July 2025

  • Curlew: Young juvenile bird seen near Raffin (AS) There are very few breeding pairs left in Assynt 
  • Northern Spinach Moth: Two individuals in garden at Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)

18th July 2025

  • Dark Green Fritillary: One butterfly on road to Stoer Lighthouse (John Hebron)
  • Scotch Argus: About 20 butterflies at Little Assynt, along path from tree nursery to Ken's path junction (Chris Puddephatt)
  • Ringlet: One butterfly on northern slope of Conival (John Hebron)

17th July 2025

  • Scotch Argus: One butterfly near garden at Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Common Dolphin: About 30 dolphins east of A' Chleit island; also feeding  gannets and two porpoises in same area (Mike Dawber)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Two butterflies, Traligill valley (John Hebron)
  • Minke Whale: Two whales north-west of A' Chleit island - also lots of gannets and dolphins feeding in same area (Mike Dawber)
  • Small Heath Butterfly: Eight butterflies on path through Traligill Valley (John Hebron)
  • Large White Butterfly: Approximately 12, active in wildflowers and grasses in garden at Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Emerald Damselfly: Approximately eight, active in amongst reeds beside Loch Neil Bhàin (Jane Livingstone)
  • Barrel Jellyfish: Two, one very large and one much smaller, both actively feeding close to the shoreline at the White Shore, Culag Woods (Jane Livingstone)
  • Minke Whale: Two whales spotted from Clachtoll salmon bothy (Alan Blakemore)
  • Swift: One bird, Culkein Drumbeg (Carol Langford)

16th July 2025

  • Golden-ringed Dragonfly: One dragonfly on common grazings, Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Three butterflies in garden at Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)

15th July 2025

  • Oystercatcher: A family of two adults and three juveniles onshore at Loch Ardbhair (Beccy Garvey)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Two butterflies near garden at Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)

14th July 2025

  • Speckled Wood: Approximately 12 butterflies, Culag Woods (Jane Livingstone)

13th July 2025

  • Common Lizard: Running across the road near Clashnessie (Beccy Garvey)
  • Common Dolphins: Pod of 12-20 animals seen from Clachtoll (Roz Summers)

12th July 2025

  • Harbour Porpoise: One cetacean seen close to Clachtoll rocks (AS)
  • Minke Whale: Single animal seen from Stoer bay (AS)

11th July 2025

  • Meadow Brown Butterfly: Six butterflies active amongst grass and heather, Clashmore/Achnacarnin common grazings (Jane Livingstone)
  • Scotch Argus Butterfly: Four butterflies active in sunshine amongst grasses, garden at Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Dark Green Fritillary Butterfly: Five butterflies active in sunshine amongst heather and grasses, garden at Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Common Blue Butterfly: Four butterflies flying in pairs in a garden at Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Small White Butterfly: One male, summer brood, Calltuinn, Nedd (Ian Evans)

7th July 2025

  • Golden-ringed Dragonfly: One dragonfly on path to Falls of Kirkaig (Stephen Lowe)
  • Gannet: Seven birds at Stoer lighthouse (John Hebron)

6th July 2025

  • Red-throated Diver: Brooding bird at loch east of path to Stoer Point (Stephen Lowe)
  • Black-throated Diver: Fifteen birds at mouth of Port Alltan na Bradhan bay (Assynt Field Club)
  • Speckled Wood Butterfly: Two butterflies in garden, Calltuinn, Nedd (Ian M. Evans)
  • Otter: Two otters running on A837 about 2 miles west of Kylesku turnoff (John Hebron)
  • Meadow Brown Butterfly: Two butterflies feeding on heather plants on heather moor, Clashmore/Stoer area (Jane Livingstone)
  • Common Blue Butterfly: One butterfly feeding on clover flowers in garden, Clashmore/Stoer (Jane Livingstone)
  • Mink: One animal on the road to Achmelvich (Stephen Lowe)

4th July 2025

  • Sand Martin: At least six birds at nesting colony, Achmelvich beach (AS)
  • Little Grebe: Adult with at least two young chicks at Loch an t-Seanna Chlaidh, Achmelvich (AS)

3rd July 2025

  • Slow Worm: One individual, crossing road at Inverkirkaig (Stuart Crofts)

2nd July 2025

  • Small Heath Butterfly: Two butterflies below Traligill Cave (Derek Whiteley)
  • Common Blue Butterfly: One male butterfly in flight below Traligill Cave (Derek Whiteley)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Three butterflies at Inchnadamph (Derek Whiteley)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: One male butterfly, Blar na Fear Mora, Little Assynt (Ian Evans)

1st July 2025

  • Grasshopper Warbler: Two birds at Little Assynt, calling at 23.30hrs - sound recorded (Stuart Crofts)
  • Chimney Sweeper Moth: Two individuals, Glen Canisp (Derek Whiteley)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Two butterflies, Glen Canisp (Derek Whiteley)
  • Downlooker Fly: Several individuals sunning on rocks near top of Suilven (Derek Whiteley)
  • Large Heath Butterfly: One butterfly near top of Suilven (Derek Whiteley)
  • Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary: One butterfly, Glen Canisp (Derek Whiteley)
  • Golden-ringed Dragonfly: One dragonfly over peaty pool, Glen Canisp (Derek Whiteley)
  • Grayling Butterfly: One butterfly sunning on rocks, Lochinver Harbour (Derek Whiteley)
  • Azure Hawker Dragonfly: One dragonfly in upland pool/stream, Glen Canisp (Derek Whiteley)
  • Common Blue Butterfly: One butterfly near the garden at Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Two butterflies near garden at Ardvar (Beccy Garvey)
  • Common Slow worm: Single sighting of this legless lizard at Glencanisp (Catherine Brown)
  • Schummel’s Hairy-eyed Cranefly: One individual, Glen Canisp. Previously recorded in Assynt by Col. Yerbury in 1911 (Derek Whiteley)
  • Dark Green Fritillary: Two butterflies, Port Alltan na Bradhan (Ian Evans and Gwen Richards)

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