This Swallow at Balranald, N Uist this afternoon appears to be the American subspecies: erythrogaster due to the lack of a dark band across the lower throat.

2 colour ringed Barnies (AZT and AXL - bottom left) at Knockintorran, N Uist today. 2 of 30 read 😀

Ptarmigan on Meal na Teanga; Loch Lochy today.

Fisherfield 6 on 8th November. Started in some fine weather with our first river crossing around 7am. Fine views until around midday with the final 2 summits with rain and somewhat limited visibility! Finally arrived back at Shenaval bothy after a further 2 river crossings and 19+ miles - brilliant!

Berneray - mobbed again!

A fine Taiga Bean Goose at Claddach Kirkibost, N Uist this afternoon. Found by @martgilli.bsky.social #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

Always a delight - this couple of Waxwings were at Langass Lodge, N Uist this afternoon. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

A female Ring-necked Duck currently residing on Loch an Fhaing, Grimsay, North Uist. #BirdingScotland #BirdsOuterHebrides

After a seawatch at Griminish Point, N Uist @martgilli.bsky.social and I were wandering back along the track when a stunning Pallas's Warbler appeared along a fence; sadly it flew into a reedbed before I could get the camera out. This Brambling was along the same very open track on the way out.

It's been an excellent autumn for Baird's Sandpipers in the UK and especially the Outer Hebs. This bird is the 2nd one for Loch Paible, North Uist this year. Also lots of Barnacle Geese resting on the sands with a Cackling Goose amongst them. #BIrdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

It can be challenging birding in the Outer Hebs with the persistent wet and windy weather but 2 White-rumped Sandpipers at Ardivachar were nice. A Grey Phalarope and a most unexpected Little Auk in Stinky Bay this morning; the latter flew inland after a short break! #BirdingScotland

Some otter action on Benbecula today. #OttersOuterHebrides

The only problem with Grey Phalaropes is I find it difficult to stop taking photos of them! These two confiding beauties were in Stinky Bay, Benbecula today. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

It's been rough weather wise for the last week but today produced some great birding in the Outer Hebs. Numerous Sabine's Gulls, Grey Phals, Leach's Petrel, Black Terns, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and of course masses of Curlew Sandpipers still. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

A minimum of 81 Curlew Sandpipers in Uist and Benbecula today. Also a fine juvenile Black Tern in Benbecula with another seen in Lewis. #birdingscotland #birdingouterhebrides

Most years we see a few Curlew Sandpipers in the Outer Hebs but 33 in North Bay / Mol Mor, South Uist this morning was a record count for me here. Also a Little Stint that got the heart pumping for a while! #birdingscotland #birdingouterhebrides

Nice to see rather than just hear (as it rocketed off on Wednesday) the Baird's Sandpiper at Loch Paible this morning. #birdingscotland #outerhebridesbirding

The Curlew Sandpiper influx continues with at least 20 at Loch Paible, N Uist today. Didn't catch up with @aberladybirder.bsky.social Baird's Sandpiper - just heard it flying off! Did get a fine American Golden Plover also at Loch Paible so was happy enough (for a miserable bastard) 🙂

Wood Sandpiper showing nicely in South Uist today. #birdingscotland #outerhebridesbirds

Nice surprise whilst out guiding in South Uist today when we bumped into this Citrine Wagtail. Don't think I've ever seen one in August before; which is perhaps why it looks so young! #birdingscotland #outerhebridesbirds

OK, not the best images but nice to get some sea-watching in at Griminish Point, N Uist this morning. Some close Sooty Shearwaters as well as an adult Pom Skua and Sabine's Gull. Also had several species of wader a Tufted Duck and 6 Common Scoters. #birdingScotland #outerhebridesbirding

Finlay just found this cracking Violet Sea Snail on Baleshare today. A long way from home!

The sun came out briefly today on our Botanical Tour and like magic out came Dark Green Fritillary butterflies and a Great Yellow Bumblebee. We also found some scarce plants for the Outer Hebrides with Lesser Water-parsnip and Sea Bindweed both performing well on Eriskay. #OuterHebridesWildlife

A day in the southern Outer Hebrides on our Botanical Tour produced the diminutive Field Madder and locally rare Lesser Water-parsnip. The sun even made a brief appearance when we found a colony of Dark Green Fritillary butterflies and a Great Yellow Bumblebee. #OuterHebridesWildlife

Some cracking plants from our current botanical tour during the last couple of days: Irish Lady's Tresses, Thyme Broomrape, Moonwort and a Beautiful Yellow Underwing catterpillar (well it's on a plant). #OuterHebridesBotany #RarePlantsUk

Pottering around at Balranald, N Uist this morning I was pleased to have a singing Corn Bunting there. Things picked up a wee bit more when this Black-winged Pratincole flew past me at nearby Hougharry! #birdingscotland #rarebirdsuk

In praise of micros. Nice varied catch in Carinish, North Uist last night included 2 easy to i.d. micros: Bramble-shoot Moth and Mother of Pearl. The last micro was trapped in Lytham St. Annes last week. @mothiduk.bsky.social Any idea of the latter's i.d. please? #outerhebridesmoths

Some nice moths at my dad's in Lytham St Annes recently with Lyme Grass and Scarce Footman new for me. Also had this micro which hopefully ‪@mothiduk.bsky.social‬ can help with? #UKmoths #Lancsmoths #UKmothidentification

Nice run up Hazelhurst Fell - Snape Fell and Partick this morning. Elevation gain was a bit outrageously out although it was certainly hilly 😄

Some splendid Lindisfarne Helloborines on; well Lindisfarne 😄

Chrysotoxum bicinctum in Carinish, N Uist today. Sorry about quality of images as taken with phone. What a Beauty though!

Nice, fresh Dark Green Fritillary in Carinish, N Uist today.

There are hills and then there are big hills 😅 #skyehalfmarathon

Small White and Fragrant Orchids today on Skye

Some of my highlights from recent spring trips to Cyprus. If you're interested we'll be running one next March / April with more details here: www.western-isles-wildlife.co.uk/cyprus_sprin... #birdtours #cyprusbirds

Sallow Kitten - you wee beauty.

Even this Short-eared Owl looked disturbed by the number of midges around Benbecula this morning!

As part of our tour, Corncrake and Phalaropes we have a couple of hours on the Lady Anne - which never fails to wow. After a delayed start due to wet weather we had a brilliant trip with stunning views of some classic Outer Hebridean birds. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides

Loch Sandary, N Uist produced a nice surprise today in the form of a Lesser Yellowlegs. Good scope views but not really close enough for the camera. Also a juvenile Iceland Gull and plenty of Whimbrel in the area. #birdingscotland #birdingouterhebrides

Who could resist a mullet like that? #birdingscotland #outerhebridesbirds

Nice encounter with an otter in Carinish, North Uist today. Was heading straight for me before it spotted the dog. #OuterHebridesOtters

What in theory looked like was going to be a wash-out due to the wet forecast turned out to be an excellent day for us in Extremadura. Probably our highest day total for species but some real memorable moments including a Scops Owl being mobbed by Azure-winged Magpies during the day near Arrocampa.

Thought it would be more exciting to run (well some of it!) Carn na Caim and A”Bhuidheanach Bheag than walk all the way. It was too - only got lost 6 times in the low cloud! 😂 #munros

Continuing the grass theme - here’s some Holy Grass from Benbecula.

Lucky day today. Not only did I see some Early Sand-grass on Baleshare but I found a pound coin next to one clump!

Influx of Wheatears and White Wagtails onto the Outer Hebs in last couple of days. Also Black-tailed Godwits fuelling up on the Uist beaches. Not sure where this godwit was ringed, maybe #wadertales can help?

From the summit of Eaval, N Uist just now 👍 #hebrideanviews #outerhebrides

Some of the transient Barnacle Geese are still hanging on in North Uist. Spotted this albino / leucistic bird in the distance on Vallay today whilst on the 10th had radio-collared DAF and NUK at nearby Griminish #birds #birdingscotland

Nice to find some old Juniper plants whilst hiking in the Loch Portain area this morning. #outerhebrides

Cheese Bay today #northuist #hebrideanvirws