Steve Duffield
@wiwildlife
Usually found outside either birding, in the hills or running around. Owner and guide for Western Isles Wildlife
Delighted to find a superb Convolvulus Hawkmoth in the garden moth trap this morning. Only the 3rd one I've seen in Carinish, N Uist in over 13 years. Also nice that it's stopped raining for a couple of hours!
A wander around various gullies and rock crevices on Ben Mor, S Uist today with the botanical recorder (Paul Smith) produced some alpine / mountain plants. Some of these were new for me whilst Paul got very excited about the Parsley Fern. The first record here since 1941!
Some of the rare plants we picked up during the last couple of days on our Machair in Bloom tour; with an honorary rare bee (Northern Colletes) making a guest appearance.
A few Common Dolphins from the Lady Anne boat trip around Ronay, N. Uist this afternoon.
Small Marbled trapped in my dad’s garden in Lytham St Annes last night.
The last day of our Mingulay / Midsummer Tour and the biggest surprise came at the end of the day when we had a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Loch Paible along with 4 Curlew Sandpipers! (excuse the images!) In other news a Painted Lady caterpillar was the first I've seen in North Uist. #BirdingScotland
I was wondering that too; although can a 2nd cal yr bird show this much white in the wing?
Woodchat Shrike at Langass Wood, N Uist today. Nice find by Andy Shand 👍
"There's not much chance of seeing Corncrake now the vegetation has grown." That is, unless it decides to call from the top of a wall! #ScottishBirds #BirdingOuterHebrides
Was taking a group on an Oriole Birding tour around N Uist this afternoon when we stopped to look at an Iceland Gull. A Hen Harrier flushed the flock and when they settled Ashley Saunders spotted this brute of a (2nd summer) Ring-billed Gull amongst them. #ScottishBirding #BirdingOuterHebrides
Well that was a decent day out in North Uist on our Corncrake and Phalarope tour! Great view of Pomarine Skua, Corncrake and Peregrine (amongst many others); as well as this extraordinary looking Common Gull. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebs #rarebirdalert
We were treated to a rather bizarre sighting whilst watching a superb, male Ruff on Berneray today. Another wader creeping around in the grass behind the Ruff turned out to be a Pectoral Sandpiper. The sandpiper was somewhat surprised to find it became the attention of the amorous Ruff!
The subtleties of a female American Wigeon fron Loch Paible, N Uist today. Those pits were very revealing!
Last full day in Lesvos before travelling back to the Outer Hebs. Hopefully back before too long to this cracking island. #LesvosBirding #BirdsSeenIn2026
At Skala Kallonis this morning the critically endangered Monk Seal caused a major twitch! Then I headed to Makara where the birdlife performed mostly very well. Being a Lord of the Rings fan I couldn't resist visiting a site called Two Towers next, where this Cinereous Bunting upstaged Galadriel!
A 10 or 11 degree C drop in temperature today and a brisk north-easterly made me wish I had my gloves with me in Lesvos! Mind, wasnae all bad with cracking views of Collared Pratincole and some stunning views of Red-footed Falcon. A flock of 10 Golden Orioles was also quite nice.
You can see why Olive-tree Warblers hang about in those olive trees, as they blend in so well. Actually this is a poor photo as it's not as yellow as it looks. Also a 1st summer Collared Flycatcher in Lesvos today without a full collar. Oh yeh, and a couple of buntings.
When the day starts with a lifer (Levant Sparrowhawk) at the first stop; it's looking like another good day in Lesvos - and it was. Sombre Tit was also a new bird whilst my final stop produced the much hoped for Olive-tree Warbler. What a monster and amazing (if somewhat brief) views.
First full day in Lesvos and it's been quite a day. It started with 8 Dalmation Pelicans followed by decent views of Kruper's Nuthatch. Next came a Greek mega in the form of a Lesser Flamingo. Masses of waders and a flurry of raptors finished it in fine style #BirdsSeen2026
Black-tailed Godwit numbers are building in the Outer Hebs now with at least 125 around Coot Loch, Benbecula alone. Amongst them was this colour-ringed bird. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides
Anybody know why the wind gusts issued by the MET office vary after the first posting when looking back after an event? Also this doesn’t warrant a wind warning!
Hi JB, lots of Redwings here too as well as plenty of migrant barnies. Just a shame it's so windy most of the time! I did manage to get this bird today. Is this similar to the Svalbard bird that you had early this year?
A Merlin, showing very well on Benbecula today. #BirdingScotland #BirdingOuterHebrides
Our final full day in Cyprus and not particularly looking forward to heading back to the Outer Hebs' weather and Calmac chaos! Just a few from today including a Trumpeter Finch at Timi beach spotted by "sharp-eyed Sue". #BirdingCyprus #BirdsSeenIn2026
That was a pretty decent day in southern Cyprus on our current tour. Paphos headland produced a subtle beauty of a Desert Wheatear; as well as a stunning Ruppell's Warbler. Anarita Park held a European Roller whilst Aspro Dam at last gave us good views of the male Semi-collared Flycatcher.
Is this the most expensive diesel in the UK? Taken today in Benbecula. WTF!!