5th

The two otters were feeding off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at mid-day.

15th

There was an otter at the shore beside the top of Meanish slipway at 1am that ran down the beach and disappeared into the sea.

19th

There were three great northern divers together in inner Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.

20th

There two otters were at the far end of the white beach, just around the corner towards Pollosgan, at mid-day.

21st

There was a single otter fishing close to the cobble beach at Meanish at mid-day.

22nd

Between 1pm and 2pm, there were two otters fishing around the skerries that brought a lobster onto the skerries to eat. They later swam across to the Pollosgan end of the white beach. At the same time a third otter swam along the shore below the bottom road, came ashore at the private slipway and then explored around roadside drainage ditches on inner Meanish before heading over to the cobbled beach.

There were two great northern, three black-throated and three red-throated divers on Loch Pooltiel. The black guillemots have returned to Loch Pooltiel over the last week, with around 7 now in different plumages.

25th

Otters - Milovaig
January 2025

The lone male otter was fishing the shore between Meanish and the skerries at mid-day.

26th

The dog otter was fishing off the white beach in the afternoon and brought a large fish ashore.

A minke whale did a couple of surfaces in Moonen Bay at mid-day.

Hen Harrier - Milovaig
January 2025

There was a male hen harrier below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig in the afternoon that flew across to the white beach and around to Pollosgan.

White-Tailed Eagle - Neist
January 2025

There were two juvenile white-tailed eagles at Neist Point at mid-day.

27th

There were 55 golden plovers at the head of Loch Dunvegan at 1:30pm.

Crossbills - Orbost Forest
January 2025

There were 7+ crossbills in Orbost Forest and a female hen harrier on the Dunvegan road out of Orbost, early afternoon.

30th

There was an otter with two cubs on the shore of Scorr Farm, 500m NE of the Black Beach at 3pm (Gilmour Dickson).

31st

Again, there was an otter with two cubs on the shore of Scorr Farm, 500m NE of the Black Beach at 3pm (Gilmour Dickson).

February

8th

Skylark - Neist Car Park
February 2025

The first two returning skylarks of the spring were at Neist Point car park at mid-day. There was a great northern diver in Moonen Bay and 12 purple sandpipers at the tip of the Point.

10th

More skylarks arriving with three on the top road in Lower Milovaig at 2pm (Kathy Lindsay).

12th

There were four otters together at the far end of the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 10:30pm, heading around the corner towards Pollosgan.

14th

There was an otter fishing off the far end of the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 4pm that went around the corner towards Pollosgan.

16th

Two otters were at Meanish Pier at 5:30pm (Paul Walton).

A juvenile iceland gull flew north past Neist Point, late morning. The common guillemots were back on the nesting ledges for the first time this season. The waters around Neist were teeming with seabirds today, compared to being empty a week ago, including many common guillemots, kittiwakes, common gulls and four gannets.

17th

A lapwing flew south along the bottom road in Milovaig at 10am. It had previously been photographed in the garden of Seal Skerry Lodge (Paul Walton).

25th

There were 8 skylarks at Neist Point car park and 2 more at the lighthouse.

There were 50+ redwings and a few fieldfares feeding on the top park of 9 Lower Milovaig at 11:15am (Kathy Lindsley).

There was a woodcock beside the Hamara river south-west of the Fasach bottom road-end at mid-day (Kathy Lindsley).

27th

The first meadow pipits of the spring were back today with two at the seaward end of the Milovaig loop and a single at Upper Milovaig. The was a flock of 14 skylarks below the bottom road on 4 Lower Milovaig.

March

7th

A pod of c.20 common dolphins went south down the Minch off Lower Milovaig, late afternoon.

9th

The first two returning redpolls of the spring were at Lephin at 8am.

12th

There were two whooper swans on Loch Mor, late evening (Angie Atherton).

13th

Orca - Milovaig
March 2025

A pod of at least five orcas, including two bulls, at least one female and a calf, were spotted heading north off Neist Point at 2:30pm (Nick Owen & Charlotte Rutherford). The orcas were then seen passing Lower Milovaig at around 3:25pm (Claire Anderson, Andy Stables). They continued around the foot of Dunvegan Head at 3:40pm.

There were c.14 whooper swans on Loch Mor in the morning (Angie Atherton).

Hen Harrier - Milovaig
March 2025

Hen Harrier - Milovaig
March 2025

Pied Wagtail - Milovaig
March 2025

The first pied wagtail of the spring was back in territory at Upper Milovaig in the morning. A female hen harrier flew north along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

15th

There were two otters fishing together off the white beach that came ashore onto the beach at 3:40pm.

There were two distant humpback whales at the northern tip of North Uist, as viewed from Neist Point, at mid-day: blows, fluking and fully body breaches for a few minutes before we lost sight of them behind the curvature of the Earth.

A flock of 30 fieldfares flew NW over Lephin at 8am.

16th

Humpback - Neist
March 2025

Humpback - Neist
March 2025

Two distant humpback whales were off Neist Point again today. Initially fluking and breaching off the southern end of North Uist before travelling down to South Uist. There were two harbour porpoises north-west of the lighthouse and two more in Moonen Bay. A pod of around 20 common dolphins were towards South Uist and Benbecula, as viewed from Neist, all day.

Still scarce at the moment but more pied wagtails arrived today with singles at Hamara Parks, Neist Point and Lower Milovaig.

17th

An otter was fishing off the cobble beach at Meanish at 4:30pm.

A flock of 30 whooper swans flew north over Lower Milovaig at 11am. A flock of 40 meadow pipits flew south along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 4pm.

19th

Wheatear - Upper Milovaig
March 2025

The first two wheatears of the spring were below the bottom road on croft 1 Upper Milovaig, an adult male and a juvenile male.

20th

There were two adult male wheatears above the bottom road on 2 Upper Milovaig at mid-day. No sign of the juvenile male today.

21st

Linnet - Milovaig
March 2025

A female linnet was at the bird feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig at 3pm. The first of the spring.

23rd

A single bonxie (great skua) went north past Neist Point in the morning. There were hundreds of kittiwakes heading north at Neist in the morning.

24th

There was an otter off the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 7:45am that brought a fish ashore to eat.

There was a single flock of 100+ meadow pipits moving south along the top road in Lower Milovaig. Many smaller groups of meadow pipits around Milovaig all moving south. Meadow pipits coming in off the sea, west of Meanish, and moving inland (south).

26th

The first lesser black-backed gull of the spring was at Hamara Parks at 8am.

27th

There was a single lesser black-backed gull on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel and three more lesser black-backs at Hamara Parks.

30th

There was a flock of c.40 whooper swans, far out, resting on the sea off Neist Point for at least an hour that took off West towards North Uist.

Five greenland white-fronted geese flew north past Neist Point at mid-day.

Several meadow pipit singles flew off Neist Point, heading over the sea towards North Uist.

There were at least 8 wheatears on Neist Point, mostly singing males but a couple of females.

April

1st

Glendale Craft market starts again today. Open every Tuesday from 10am until 4pm at the Community Hall.

There was a singing male chiffchaff at the Community Hall at 10am. The first of the spring. c.100 pink-footed geese when north over Lephin at 10am.

2nd

There was an otter fishing off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 7:30pm.

There were four sand martins on the river on the Fasach common grazings at 2pm (Kathy Lindlsey). The first of the spring.

3rd

White-Tailed Eagle - Milovaig
April 2025

There was a pair of willow warblers, with the male singing, in MacDougall's Spruces, mid morning. The first returnees of the spring. A juvenile white-tailed eagle came exceptionally low over the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig, early afternoon.

There were three white wagtails at Meanish at 6:30pm.

4th

There was a singing male chiffchaff in MacDougall's Spruces, late morning, but no sign of the willow warblers today.

5th

There were three harbour porpoises in outer Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon.

6th

A skein of 200+ pink-footed geese flew low, north over Neist Point, late morning.

7th

Two separate, out of context, sand martins flew south / inland at speed from the seaward end of the Milovaig loop, late morning.

8th

There were a pair of wigeon in the mouth of the allt mor burn at the white beach at 6:30pm.

There was a magpie at Neist Point, early morning (per skye-birds.com).

9th

The first twite of the spring was on the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early evening.

11th

There were two swallows flying around the house & garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 10am. The first of the spring.

12th

A swallow went inland at speed past Meanish, late afternoon.

Whimbrel - Neist
April 2025

Manx Shearwater - Neist
April 2025

A whimbrel went south, 10 manx shearwaters went south, many hundreds of razorbills and guillemots went south and c. 100 puffins went north at Neist Point in the morning. Those were the first whimbrel, shearwaters and puffins of the year.

15th

There was a merlin beside the road at Orbost at 11am (Calum McGregor).

16th

First of the spring cuckoo calling today Feriniquarrie, early morning (Steph Perry).

17th

A cuckoo was calling at Lephin at 8am.

Puffin - Neist Point
April 2025

Common Scoters - Neist
April 2025

At Neist Point in the morning: 5 common scoter north, 200+ puffins heading north (plus one stopped for a photo shoot and a handful on surface dotted around), again many hundreds of guillemots and razorbills heading south.

20th

An otter was fishing off the white beach at Upper Milovaig and came ashore with a fish at 7:45pm.

There was a magpie at Fasach (Mairi Fawkes).

22nd

There were two otters fishing together off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 6pm. A single otter was still there fishing, closer to the skerries, from 6:30pm until 7pm.

24th

Two otters were fishing together close to shore between the white beach and skerries from 7:45pm onwards.

A pod of 10 bottlenose dolphins went north past Neist Point at 3:45pm (Charlotte Rutherford).

The same pod of 10 bottlenose dolphins came into inner Loch Pooltiel, close to Meanish, at 5:15pm (Claire Anderson).

A corncrake was calling at a site in Glendale in the afternoon (S&L Beary).

28th

Bottlenose Dolphin - Milovaig
April 2025

A small pod of at least four bottlenose dolphins were in outer Loch Pooltiel at 5:40pm. They passed very close to the shore on the Milovaig side, close to Meanish, before heading back out around Dunvegan Head.

30th

Harbour Porpoise - Neist Point
April 2025

A harbour porpoise went south at Neist Point, very close to shore, late morning.

There was a whimbrel calling at Neist Point at mid-day.

May

1st

Whimbrels - Neist
May 2025

Manx Shearwater - Neist
May 2025

Neist in the morning: 200+ manx shearwaters north and another 100+ on the water, 4 whimbrels north, 1 arctic skua south (first this year), 2 red-breasted mergansers north (never seen that species at Neist before), thousands of guillemots and razorbills on the water around Neist.

2nd

The two otters were fishing off the white beach at Lower Milovaig, mid afternoon, and came ashore at 3:40pm.

5th

The two otters were fishing off the Pollosgan end of the white beach at Upper Milovaig at 6:45pm.

Minke Whales - Neist
May 2025

There were two minke whales south of Neist that made a close pass of the point at 2:25pm. They surfaced side-by-side which is something we have never seen before. A third minke whale was over towards South Uist. There were also three or four harbour porpoises around Neist that also made close passes.

A total of 13 whimbrels went north at Neist in groups of 5, 2 and 6. A single arctic skua went south at Neist.

The first two house sparrow fledglings of the spring were in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig.

There was a barn owl screeching at Lower Milovaig at 11:30pm.

6th

Common Tern - Meanish
May 2025

There were two common terns around the slipways and nine white wagtails on the cobbles at Meanish at 7pm.

7th

Turnstones - Neist
May 2025

There were 12 summer-plumage turnstones and 8 purple sandpipers at Neist plus a single great skua (bonxie) and two arctic skuas.

Minke Whale - Neist
May 2025

Minke Whale - Neist
May 2025

A minke whale surfaced three times beside the shore at Neist Point at 12:30pm. A harbour porpoise also made two passes close to shore at Neist in the morning.

8th

There were four minke whales around Neist Point at mid-day. Three were initially south towards Canna and two of those came north past Neist, each with a close, single surface beside the point. The fourth minke was west of Neist towards Benbecula. There were also at least two harbour porpoises at Neist.

There was a singing male sedge warbler in the willow scrub by the community hall at 8am.

9th

Tree Sparrow - Milovaig
May 2025

There was a tree sparrow at the bird table at 2 Lower Milovaig at 8:40am and repeatedly visited throughout the day. There was a singing male chiffchaff at 2 Lower Milovaig at mid-day. There was a single whimbrel at Meanish at 7:15pm.

There was a singing male blackcap above the Holmisdale road on croft 2 Lephin at 8am.

A long-eared owl was calling in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 11:45pm.

10th

The tree sparrow is still visiting the feeders at 2 Lower Milovaig. [This was the last day it was seen].

There was a single whimbrel at Meanish at 6:45pm.

11th

There was a whimbrel calling from the white beach at Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

14th

There was an otter fishing off the white beach at Lower Milovaig that came ashore at 10pm.

Minke Whale - Neist
May 2025

Common Dolphin - Neist
May 2025

There was a minke whale and a single common dolphin were surfacing close to shore at Neist amongst a big flock of feeding seabirds. A second minke whale was south of Neist towards Canna. There were also 2-3 harbour porpoises making close passes at Neist.

Dunlin - Meanish
May 2025

There was a whimbrel calling from the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 5pm. There was a dunlin on the cobble beach at Meanish at 7pm.

15th

A pod of around 12 common dolphins were miling around the fish farm in outer Loch Pooltiel from 10:30am until at least 11:30am.

16th

A minke whale came into loch Pooltiel at 11:55am, really close to the shore and pontoon. Lunge feeding on its way back out of the loch. (Claire Anderson).

There was a singing male blackcap in the spruces at 2 Lower Milovaig and siskin adults with fledglings were visiting the feeders.

There were four ringed plovers on the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 7:30pm.

Whimbrel - Neist
May 2025

There was a single whimbrel feeding on Neist Point at mid-day. Two arctic skuas were harassing gulls in outer Moonen Bay, late morning.

There has been a corncrake calling on a croft in the Glendale Area since Tuesday 13th (Steph Perry).

18th

There was a pod of c.12 common dolphins in outer Loch Pooltiel at 8am (Dave Littleton).

There were 8 whimbrels on Neist Point and 2 more flew north past the point in the morning. Two arctic skuas were harassing gulls off shore.

19th

There were 3 ringed plovers on the white beach at Lower Milovaig, early evening.

20th

The corncrake is still present at a site in the Glendale area (Steph Perry).

There were two house martins flying around the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 5pm. The first of the year.

22nd

Neist in the morning: 1 distant, pale-phase arctic skua, 2 purple sandpipers, 2 turnstones. Very quiet, no movement, comparatively few birds on the water.

23rd

Arctic Skua - Neist
May 2025

There were five arctic skuas and three distant 'commic' terns around Neist Point in the morning. Plus four turnstones.

June

8th

A single puffin went south at Neist Point at mid-day.

11th

There was an otter fishing off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 10pm (Alison Stables).

12th

A two-hour seawatch at Neist Point produced: 2 out-of-season whimbrels heading NW towards North Uist, 1 puffin south, 1 bonxie north, 20 manx shearwaters south.

14th

A common swift flew north along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at 4pm.

19th

Big flocks of seabirds at Neist today working south but stopping to surface-feed: 500+ manx shearwaters (250+150+50+ other small groups), 3000+ kittiwakes (one single flock 2000 birds, look to be mostly immature, non-breeding birds). A 'commic' tern went south at Neist at mid-day.

24th

There was a pod of 8+ common dolphins heading south down the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 7pm.

July

1st

A pod of common dolphins were in outer Loch Pooltiel, mid morning (Claire Anderson). Another pod of around 12 common dolphins were heading south down the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 7:30pm.

2nd

There was a single harbour porpoise NW of Neist Point at mid-day.

Two puffins went south at Neist, late morning.

5th

There were three minke whales in Loch Dunvegan, near Husabost, and a fourth minke whale off Leinish in the afternoon (Paul ?).

11th

Common Dolphin - Loch Pooltiel
July 2025

A pod of around 20 common dolphins came into inner Loch Pooltiel at 8:30pm and left around 9pm (Angela Dickinson, A&A Stables, et al).

There was a common tern feeding around the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 7pm.

12th

There were two common terns feeding around the skerries and pier in Loch Pooltiel at mid-day.

14th

A single arctic skua went south at Neist in the morning.

Pretty catastrophic breeding season for fulmars. Most nests now abandoned and can only see c.6 of the remaining occupied nests that have a chick. Auk ledges deserted and only seen one common guillemot chick on the water this season so far.

15th

An arctic skua and a whimbrel went south past Neist Point at mid-day (Sean Morris).

16th

There were two harbour porpoises off Neist in the morning.

Minke Whale - Milovaig
July 2025

A minke whale came into inner Loch Pooltiel amongst the moorings at 7pm. It surfaced several times around both sides of Meanish before heading out to the fish farm. It was still at the fish farm at 8pm.

Manx Shearwater - Neist
July 2025

Bonxie - Neist Point
July 2025

A 3-hour seawatch at Neist produced two bonxies south and two puffins north. There were around 300 manx shearwaters off-shore. There was a late wheatear on the point and another a Upper Milovaig.

20th

A two-hour seawatch in the morning produced 1 bonxie south and 2 puffins south.

21st

There were three minke whales feeding together in the Minch off Lower Milovaig between 2pm and 2:30pm. Looked like a family group.

24th

There were two harbour porpoise in Moonen Bay from 11am until 1:45pm. There was a distant pod of 6-8 unidentified dolphins west of Neist at mid-day.

A ~3 hour seawatch at Neist produced 6 puffins and a juvenile white-tailed eagle that came in off the sea from South Uist. Lots of manx shearwaters off-shore.

25th

There were two arctic terns and a common tern feeding around the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 7:30pm.

27th

There were eight common terns on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel, late afternoon.

28th

Bottlenose Dolphin - Milovaig
July 2025

There were c.8 bottlenose dolphins in outer Loch Pooltiel, near the waterfall, at 4:15pm. They went across to the fish farm and then continued around towards Oisgill/Neist.

Common Terns - Milovaig
July 2025

There are still 8 common terns feeding and roosting around the skerries in Loch Pooltiel.

30th

There were 10 lesser black-backed gulls with 300+ kittiwakes at the tip of Neist Point at mid-day.

31st

Otter - Milovaig
July 2025

There was an otter fishing west off Meanish from 7pm onwards that brought a lobster ashore to eat.

August

3rd

The number of common terns roosting on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel has now grown to 12.

Arctic Skua - Neist
August 2025

A juvenile arctic skua went north at Neist Point at mid-day.

6th

Fin Whale - Neist
August 2025

Fin Whale - Neist
August 2025

Fin Whale - Neist
August 2025

Two fin whales were off Neist Point from 12pm until 12:30pm before heading north. This is the first known record of this species at Neist, the second largest animal on the planet. A single humpback whale surfaced within 10m of the shore at Neist at mid-day.

A bonxie went south past Neist at mid-day. There was a single sand martin at the tip of Neist Point at mid-day.

7th

There was a pod of at least 3 unidentified dolphins off Colbost jetty at 8pm (James Yardley).

Two storm petrels and hundreds of manx shearwaters went south during a two-hour seawatch in the morning.

14th

There was a distant pod of 4-6 common dolphins breaching out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 7:30pm.

Dead White-Tailed Eagle - Dunvegan Head
August 2025

Two adult white-tailed eagles killed another adult white-tailed eagle that was carrying a fish by Dunvegan Head (Ken MacPherson). The dead eagle was not ringed.

15th

There were four harbour porpoises around Neist at mid-day. A small, distant pod of 4-6 common dolphins were off Neist towards Benbecula at 1pm.

A two-hour seawatch at Neist Point produced: 1 arctic skua north, 1 bonxie north, 200+ manx shearwaters mostly north.

18th

There was a distant minke whale south of Neist Point and a harbour porpoise in Moonen Bay in the morning.

There were four turnstones at Neist Point. The first returning birds.

20th

There was a pod of 15-20 common dolphins off Neist, towards South Uist, late morning, that were breaching and splashing. There were three harbour porpoises in Moonen Bay in the morning.

There was a single arctic skua harassing gulls off Neist Point, late morning.

22nd

There were six distant minke whales off Neist Point in the morning (5 minkes towards North Uist, with a small pod of common dolphins, and 1 minke towards Barra). There was a harbour porpoise in outer Moonen Bay in the morning.

There were six arctic skuas off Neist Point in the morning harassing 1000+ manx shearwaters.

23rd

A pod of c.20 common dolphins went west past Pooltiel fish farm at 7:15pm.

24th

There was a barn owl hunting at Hamara Lodge at 9:15pm.

27th

Cetacean soup behind Pooltiel Fish Farm at 7:30pm with a distant humpack whale blow, six bottlenose dolphins and 20+ common dolphins.

There was a single ringed plover at Neist Point in the morning.

29th

There was a pod of at least 4-6 common dolphins behind Pooltiel Fish Farm at 3:45pm.

There was a single common tern on the skerries in Loch Pooltiel at 3:30pm.

September

3rd

There was a distant minke whale off Neist Point, towards North Uist, mid morning. There were two harbour porpoises in Moonen Bay all morning. A pod of around 8-12 common dolphins went south past Neist at 1am, breaching and splashing close to shore.

There was a ringed plover at the tip of Neist Point in the morning.

4th

There were two late wheatears and a dunlin on Neist Point in the morning.

6th

There was a late wheatear on the bottom road in Upper Milovaig at 10am.

8th

Four ringed plovers flew south from Meanish to the head of Loch Pooltiel, early afternoon.

11th

There was a late wheatear at Upper Milovaig, mid afternoon.

There were nine pale-bellied brent geese at the shore of the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 7:45pm.

12th

There were still six brent geese on the white beach at Lower Milovaig all day. There were four ringed plovers on the white beach at dusk.

13th

The six brent geese were still on the white beach, all day. There was a wheatear and a white wagtail on the cobbles at Meanish, early evening.

14th

There were four brent geese on the white beach at Lower Milovaig all day.

15th

No sign of the brent geese today.

17th

There was a long-eared owl hunting on croft 2 Lephin at dusk.

18th

Huge movement of pink-footed geese south over Glendale today: 40 through Fasach and 32 through Upper Milovaig at 8am, 460+ through Lower Milovaig between 8:30am and 10am, 110 past Neist Point, late morning, 70+ over Lephin, mid afternoon.

There was a single ringed plover, running around on the grass beside the path, in the morning. 200+ gannets went south past Neist in a 1-hour seawatch in the morning.

A lapwing flew south along the bottom road in Lower Milovaig, early morning (Alison Stables).

20th

A skein of 120 pink-footed geese flew south over Lower Milovaig at 6pm.

23rd

There was a late willow warbler in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 9:30am. There was a merlin hunting at Meanish at 5:30pm.

25th

Neist in a two-hour seawatch in the morning: 600+ gannets south, 100+ common guillemots south. There is still a ringed plover running around on the grass beside the path, near the water tank.

26th

There were three late skylarks at Neist Point car park. The ringed plover is still running around beside the path at Neist. There were a few hundred gannets went south during a two hour seawatch at Neist in the morning.

There was a single lapwing flying around the bottom road in Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

28th

There was a small group of common dolphins breaching and splashing west of Pooltiel Fish Farm at 5pm.

October

1st

A long-eared owl was hunting again on croft 2 Lephin at dusk.

3rd

The first two returning purple sandpipers of the autumn were at Neist Point. 200+ auks (guillemots and razorbills) went south in a 1 hour seawatch at Neist in the morning.

12th

The first redwing of the autumn was in the garden at 1 Lower Milovaig at mid-day.

A barn owl screeched in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 9:10pm.

14th

There were two distant pods of common dolphins, totalling around 20 animals, out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig at 4pm.

15th

There were two distant pods of common dolphins out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig, early afternoon.

17th

There was a male blackcap, six redwings, a fieldfare, four male blackbirds feeding on apples in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig in the morning.

22nd

There was an otter swimming in the rough sea at the very tip of Neist Point, late morning.

Whimbrel - Neist
October 2025

A very late whimbrel flew north at Neist Point at 11:30am. Two red-breasted mergansers flew north past Neist Point in the morning. Lots of common guillemots and gannets still moving south past Neist, with kittiwakes and common gulls moving north..

23rd

There was a flock of 24+ long-tailed tits at Lephin at mid-day.

27th

A minke whale surfaced twice, close to shore, at Neist Point in the morning. There was a small pod of at least 3 common dolphins off Neist Point towards South Uist.

Whimbrel - Neist
October 2025

Whimbrel - Neist
October 2025

The late whimbrel is still at Neist Point.

There was a flock of 8+ long-tailed tits in the garden at 2 Lower Milovaig at 1pm.

29th

The late whimbrel is still at Neist Point. There were four purple sandpipers and two turnstones at Neist Point in the morning.

31st

Greenland White-Fronts - Lower Milovaig
October 2025

A flock of 40 greenland white-fronted geese flew, very low, south over Lower Milovaig, mid morning.

November

1st

There was a late chiffchaff and a male bullfinch in the garden at Lephin Cottage at mid-day.

5th

Greenland White-Front - Lower Milovaig
November 2025

There was a single greenland white-fronted goose with greylags below the bottom road in Lower Milovaig that flew to the white beach, late afternoon.

7th

The late-staying whimbrel is still at Neist Point, today calling near the water storage tank.

8th

There was a male blackcap in the garden at Lephin Cottage at mid-day.

9th

There was a small pod of c. 4 to 6 common dolphins in outer Loch Pooltiel, late morning.

10th

There was an otter fishing off the white beach, early afternoon, that brought a fish ashore to eat.

There was a distant pod of 4-6 common dolphins off Lower Milovaig, towards Harris, at mid-day.

There was a flock of c.12 long-tailed tits at the Boatshed and in MacDougall's Spruces, early afternoon.

14th

Six bramblings flew over croft 2 Lephin heading towards Hamara Lodge at 8am. There was a reed bunting calling on croft 2 Lephin at 8am.

The late-staying whimbrel is still at Neist Point, today at the south-eastern tip.

15th

The first woodcock of the winter was flushed by the Hamara on the Fasach grazings (Kathy Lindsley). The remains of a predated woodcock were on croft 2 Lephin.

17th

At Neist Point in the morning: Flock of 150+ common gulls, surface-feeding, 1 late skylark, 2 great northern divers (our first of the winter).

20th

There were three long-tailed tits in the garden at Carter's Rest at mid-day.

There were 16 golden plovers at the head of Loch Dunvegan, near the water-pumping station.

Christmas Fair 2025
November 2025

Glendale Christmas Craft Fair : In the Community Hall on Saturday November 22nd, 2025  from 10am to 4pm.

23rd

Common Dolphin - Neist
November 2025

A pod of at least 8 common dolphins did a close pass at Neist Point, late morning, heading north. The pod included very small calves.

The late-staying whimbrel is still at Neist Point, today near the crane.

25th

There was an otter fishing off the white beach at Lower Milovaig at 4pm.

There were two pods totalling around 20 common dolphins distant off Neist Point towards South Uist in the morning.

The whimbrel is still at Neist Point in the crane area, with two curlews today. There were 12 turnstones and 2 purple sandpipers at Neist Point.

30th

A small pod of at least 6 common dolphins went close in past Neist Point, heading west in the morning. There were two harbour porpoises off Neist at mid-day.

December 2025

2nd

There was an otter fishing in the mouth of the allt mor burn at the white beach at 2:15pm.

6th

A pod of 8+ common dolphins went south past Pooltiel Fish Farm, late morning.

15th

Whimbrel - Neist
December 2025

The whimbrel is still over-wintering at Neist Point, now loosely associating with a pair of curlews. There were 50+ fulmars back on the nesting ledges, with another 150+ milling around the cliffs.

21st

There was a small pod of c.3-4 common dolphins feeding close-in at Neist Point, late morning.

The over-wintering whimbrel is still at Neist Point with two curlews.

23rd

There was an otter fishing the shore in front of Seal Skerry Lodge at 4pm (Martyn Lacey).

8+ common dolphins went north past Pooltiel fish farm, late morning.

24th

There was a pod of 8+ common dolphins feeding close-in around Neist from 10:30am until 12:30pm.

There was a single lapwing at the tip of Neist Point at mid-day.

25th

There was a small pod of common dolphins in outer Loch Pooltiel, near Meanish, early morning (Sam Bilner).

There were at least 20 common dolphins from Pooltiel Fish Farm strung out across outer Loch Pooltiel to Harris, early afternoon.

There were 6 to 8 bottlenose dolphins breaching and splashing in outer Moonen Bay at mid-day. There were at least 12 common dolphins around Neist Point all morning.

26th

There was a pod of at least 12 common dolphins far out in the Minch off Lower Milovaig, late morning.

27th

There was a small pod of 8+ common dolphins out in the Minch off Dunvegan Head, as viewed from Lower Milovaig.

29th

There were three harbour porpoises off Lampay island, Claigan at mid-day.

There were three harbour porpoises inside outer Loch Pooltiel, mid afternoon.

There was a pod of 12+ common dolphins in a line from Pooltiel Fish Farm, across outer Loch Pooltiel, mid afternoon.

There were four adult and a juvenile whooper swans plus 7 wigeon on Loch Suardal, late morning.

There were five turnstones on the walk out to the Coral Beach, late morning. There were 12+ great northern divers far out off the Coral Beach at mid-day.

There was a greenshank at the head of Loch Dunvegan, late morning.

30th

Two harbour porpoises made a close pass at Neist and a pod of at least 12 common dolphins were dotted around Neist in the morning, with some close passes and breaching.