LET THE GAMES BEGIN

The season of Highland Games commenced with the Arisaig Games on 29th July - read all about it on page 16. As West Word was going to print the Knoydart Games and Mallaig and Morar Games were taking place, with the Small Isles Games the following weekend, held this year on Eigg and the Glenfinnan Games on 15th August. We'll have a full round up in the next issue and would love to print any reader's photos of these fantastic events which are a highlight of the year for locals and visitors alike.

Highland Dancing at Arisaig Games - photo credit Jane Douglas School of Dance

Caber Tossing at Arisaig Games - photo credit Catherine Moxham

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello and a very warm welcome to the August ~ September issue.
I had enjoyed a lovely sunny day in Morar, Mallaig and Arisaig in July, spending time in the West Word office, visiting stockists and potential stockists in the area and making the most of our stunning scenery, wonderful warm welcome and delicious food and drink (lunch, milkshakes and ice creams always taste better when consumed with a view!)
This issue is packed with the usual mix of news, views and what's on along with a call to action to YOU, our readers, to help us here at West Word. Have a read of the update on page 7 to see where you can get involved.
I'm sure many of our readers will have been at one or more of the shows and games across the area, whether you were tossing a caber, doing a Highland fling or just enjoying the atmosphere this is definitely the time of year for enjoying the strong heritage, history and culture that exists in our area - have a look at the 'Blast from the Past' feature on page 22 to give you a look back even beyond living memory.
As always a huge thank you to our stockists and advertisers, our contributors and our wonderful volunteers, all of whom play their part in getting this issue of West Word into your hands.
So settle down, relax and enjoy reading this issue and please do say hello if you spot me out and about in the area this month.
Nic

ISLE OF CANNA

Oh July, you were glorious! We finally received some of the heatwave that the rest of the UK was enjoying with long, sunny, warm days. This resulted in an explosion of wild flowers including the fragrant Bog Asphodel which sends up wafts of a honey scent as you walk through it. The purple clover has also made an appearance.
The start of July saw the annual sheep shearing take place. Phoebe from Muck joined us again as well as the team from Skye. Three intense days of shearing, rolling and bagging fleeces. There were some days of heavy rain so the fleeces had to be dried out first. A small group of us went for a snorkel around the back of Sanday. We discovered a huge kelp forest, explored a cave, spotted a European Common Eel as well as underwater cliffs covered in Winged Kelp and colourful encrusting algae.
We had a visit from Transport Scotland to discuss the current ferry service as well as Canna's hopes for a new vessel to eventually replace the Lochnevis. It was a very useful meeting with lots of community members coming along. Thanks to Transport Scotland for taking the time to come out and visit us.
Our various projects are moving on steadily. The building warrants for the new community houses have been approved and we are now waiting to hear about the last bits of funding. The Rhu Church feasibility study is complete and we are now waiting for the final costing of renovating the church and bringing it back into use. The Coroghan Barn redevelopment is going through the final design and technical design and it is hoped we will submit the building warrant application in September.
The Marine Group has issued a poster alerting the public to the presence of seagrass meadows off Sanday Beach and in Coroghan Bay. We are trying to protect this precious marine species from damage from anchors by raising awareness and talking to people about the seagrass.
July saw an increase in our visitor numbers. The island suddenly seemed busy again with visitors from various countries. One Dutch family were having a picnic at a beach along Tarbert Road and decided to do an impromptu beach clean. As always, marine litter is a constant problem so we are grateful to visitors who choose to spend an hour or two helping us keep on top of it. There is a DIY Beach Cleaning station at the shop for anyone wanting to help out.
Margaret Willington

ISLE OF RUM

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the start of the highland clearances from Rum, Will Boyd Wallis and his extended family came over to visit. Will's own great, great grandfather John Mòr Maclean was one of those sent away with his family when he was just a baby and Will composed a song to tell this story. It's called 'Fistful of Sand' and tells the story of John Mòr from his birth at Kilmory to his leaving on the tall ships to nova Scotia.
After a walk to Kilmory beach and back Will performed this song and others in the village hall in an emotionally charged evening. Will's songs are performed under the name Greenshanks, and the EP is called 'Stormbird' . You can find it on most streaming services.
The most delightful event was on one of those sunnier warm days, when we woke to find the entire Rum pony herd had arrived in the village and were taking refuge from the blistering sun in the woodland. They're usually to be found at Harris, or sometimes at Kilmory. They were a delight and looked so happy to be out of the sun. There is little shade out on the hill. I took this as a sign that there was more sunny weather to come - animals generally have the mystical heads up over us humans, and they were right. The NatureScot staff came and escorted them to a field with water and shade where they stayed for a couple of weeks - a fine holiday. When time came to try and put them back 'on the hill', the ponies had other ideas - their preference is now lush green village grass and shady groves. I feel sure another comedy pony herding will be on its way when the next attempt is made - this is not to say the staff are not competent, more that those ponies are wily! We have seen enough evasive manoeuvres over the years from ponies and cows to be sure they'll only go when they're good and ready.
School is out, and lots of islanders have been away on holiday in July so, on the hunt for content, I did a quick scroll through the community WhatsApp chat from this month and it elicited the following results: We have been mostly interested in what kind of cakes Aisling has made for the café (since she makes good cake, this is to be expected); translating CalMac freight terminology of a split van produced an interesting thread - had it broken? also confusion between manifesting and a manifest caused some degree of hilarity. Will the cut in domestic electricity vat actually reach us here, will it though? Letter's being written to Andy Burnham. And the perennial… does anyone know when the rubbish skip will be changed? We always have a backlog and it's not helpful in summer - thank goodness we didn't get a heatwave - with the cosmic soup which exists within the general waste skip - the addition of 30-degree heat could have created new life. Abiogenesis, with one hell of a smell.
July birthdays I forgot to mention last month are Zak who is now 7, Jenni and Sean. In August we have two 18th birthday celebrations for Aisling and Eve!!
Fliss Fraser

ISLE OF EIGG

It is the time of year when everything speeds up on Eigg! Blink and the bracken is above your hips, tree blossoms gone and a sea of white, pink or yellow coats the fields as meadowsweet, rosebay willowherb or ragwort suddenly burst into flower. Visitors, events and whole weeks fly past as if you only manage to store a glimpse of them as a memory. July has been filled with gorgeous weather, a brilliant Feis Eige, birthdays, beach fires and brewery events coming out of our ears.
Thank you so much to all of the tutors, organisers, volunteers, and visitors to the Feis this year; the kids' performance was genuinely amazing, and the Ceilidh was brilliant as usual, with an annual strip the willow Gin and Juice rap marathon from Angus Binnie - truly cannot be matched.
The brewery has had a packed schedule of events, with Gabe's Taqueria Guevara Tacos, Douglas pizza for ladies' night and Jaqueline and Ewen's new Cidsin a' chuain. So much amazing food and only a minor midge swarm.
The quickening continues into August with the Small Isles Games on Eigg on the 8th August. Join us for games, a healthy dose of competition and a Ceilidh with Ape House in the evening. Hopefully see you there!
Eilidh MacGilp

ISLE OF MUCK

Hello Muck Calling.... well we have finally caught up with the rest of Europe and managed to get a glimpse of the Sun, that fiery bright thing in the sky that brings out the best in our visitors if they're able to get here that is... what an absolute debacle of a so called lifeline service. Once again Muck has been lead down the yellow brick pile at the beginning of the summer timetable with the promise of a better service as the Loch Nevis struggled last year with staff and ballasting hours blahdy blah... So we now have lost the two time sailing of the Bhrusda with a maybe one visit from chartered vessels which means no day trippers and a real headache for holiday makers trying to actually figure out when they are sailing.
Anyhoo we have finally managed to hold our Biannual Raft race which saw 5 wacky hopefuls enter the water all convinced this was their year, well except one...Godag's entry was which can only be described as a two story with a slide and Tiki Bar probably weighing more than a drill platform party boat.... built for fun rather than speed.

Farm raft 1 was Ruth's entry which had a mind of its own and took them way off course, Farm raft 2 was Hugh and Tara's speed machine with the help of Magnus who was chief bailer then came our unusual semi submerged entry... We didn't sink and came 2nd against all odds, but Victor's were the Croft team who made short work of the course. Well done.
In amongst all the chaos Farm and Croft managed to finish their silage gathering and separate the Lambs in preparation for sales. Well that's it for this instalment, if anyone sees Ruth can you direct back towards Muck.
Bruce

WEST WORD NEEDS YOU

We are now over halfway through our first year of outsourced printing of West Word in full colour, with our new Editor Nic is settled in and we have a couple of new committee members. Our AGM is coming up and it feels like the perfect time to remind you, our readers and West Word community of what you can do to help us remain here, in print (and digital!) and the award winning community newspaper that we all know and love.

So, what can YOU do to help?
Could you be a committee member? Could you help steer the West Word ship into the future? We have a strong and stable core of committee members but we definitely have room for a couple more, particularly younger people to help us stay resilient.

Could you help with distribution? West Word is delivered around the local area by volunteers and we always have room for a few more willing pairs of hands. We are particularly looking for people who can help deliver from Mallaig to Morar, Arisaig, Corpach and Fort William.

Could you be a stockist? Do you have a small business, cafe, gift shop or honesty shed where you could sell a few copies of West Word each month? You get a percentage of the cover price and we will mention you as a stockist in each issue and on our social media.

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Send us your contributions; from Letters to the Editor, poems and photos, recipes and reviews, announcements and classified ads. If you've got a particular passion or interest and would like to pen a regular column then we'd love to hear from you. Or if you have a story to tell or event you think we need to know about get in touch and Editor Nic will come along and cover it.

Finally please do read us - we love to hear about copies being passed around but it is also super important to BUY a copy too - our sales are what keep West Word afloat, so please do consider gifting a subscription as a present, encouraging family and friends to buy their own if they always nick your copy and tell everyone what a great read we are.

West Word is YOUR community newspaper, help us to be here for many years to come.

Mallaig Lifeboat Log

The pagers sounded at 4.45pm on 6th July when HM Coastguard tasked Mallaig RNLI with assisting the Scottish Ambulance Service in a medical evacuation from the Isle of Canna. On arrival, however, HM Coastguard helicopter was already on scene and transferred the patient to hospital.
At 2.08pm on 7th July, the Mallaig lifeboat crew responded to a mayday call from a passenger vessel, when it lost engine power near the shore and its anchor wouldn't hold. Thankfully, the vessel's crew managed to restart its engine and so the lifeboat crew escorted them to a safe haven at Mallaig Harbour. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again by 4:23pm.
On 14th July, at 6.45am, Mallaig RNLI was tasked to investigate a report of a SUP drifting outside Mallaig harbour with an unidentifiable object floating nearby, possibly a person. The crew launched at 6.52am to investigate and found the SUP to be covered in heavy condensation and partly deflated, indicating it had been unattended overnight. Upon informing Stornoway Coastguard, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to Mallaig, where the crew handed over the SUP to local HM Coastguard crew.
At 3.12pm on 17th July, Mallaig lifeboat was tasked by HM Coastguard with assisting a casualty who had suffered a possible broken ankle aboard a nearby yacht. Two crew went aboard the casualty's boat to assess and provide some immediate care, as well as assisting the yacht's crew with berthing the boat in Mallaig. The lifeboat arrived back in Mallaig at 4.15pm and the remaining crew proceeded to the marina pontoons to assist with the arrival of the yacht and await an ambulance. Crew then helped to transfer the casualty from the yacht into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Mallaig lifeboat was ready for service again by 5.30pm.
Just after midnight, at 12.12am on 18th July, HM Coastguard tasked Mallaig lifeboat with responding to reports of a casualty in the water. As the crew were about to leave the berth, Stornoway Coastguard provided an update; that the individual had been secured by the Police and HM Coastguard and so the lifeboat was no longer needed. The lifeboat was ready for service again by 12.30am.
On July 27th at 12.55pm, the Mallaig RNLI crew were paged to attend a fishing vessel in trouble in the waters off Glenuig. Upon arrival, the crew discovered tha tthe vessel was without engine power, and so decided it would be best to escort it back to safety in Glenuig Bay.

News from Mallaig Harbour

July started off with much poorer weather than the rest of the country was enjoying, then perked up for a bit in the middle, and as we are coming to the end of the month, the forecast is for rain again. We did have strong northerly winds mid-month, particularly on Friday 17th July, which resulted in the yachting marina being full, and us having to advise yachts to anchor in Loch Nevis, rather than raft up in the swell that we suffer from at the marina when winds are northerly! We don't have all the July figures yet, but the number of nights occupied at the Marina in June was up 40 on June 2025. 247 yachts stayed a total of 479 nights - our busiest ever June at the Marina! Our licence to sell Marine Diesel from a tank at the Marina has just been approved, which will mean that yachts are not having to wheel fuel containers through the village. Unfortunately, we will not be able to sell petrol - Marina users will still have to get that directly from Johnstons.

July also started with the great news (which we managed to just get into West Word in time for the front page) that we had taken ownership of the boatyard from the administrators acting for Harland and Wolff. As a Board, we are really keen that this area provides an economic benefit for the wider community. We have some ideas, which include demolishing the existing buildings, getting the small slip operational again, and removing the rails and concreting the large slip so that it can be used to load and unload cargo or launch vessels from a mobile boatlift. We can also see an opportunity to extend the services we are able to offer around the Marina using the additional land we will have. However, we would welcome ideas that the community might have, and that would complement some of the ideas we have. An example of this is the suggestion we have had that we make some space available for a 'pop up' market throughout the summer months. If we had hard standing for boats over the winter, which was empty in the summer, then this could be an option! Once the buildings have been demolished and we have a better idea of the space available, we will hold an open meeting for the community to come along; have a look at the plans, and make suggestions - although please do get in touch in the meantime if you have ideas.

The other big news is that the overnight ferry berth is finished! We are delighted with the end result, including what feels like acres of concrete space on the breakwater. The berth was in use as soon as it was ready, and a variety of boats have been in since, including the MV Coruisk for her maintenance day on 6th July. Caroline Connelly and Lyndsey Whiteside visited the Harbour on Tuesday 30th July to attend the final progress meeting for the works, and to see for themselves the difference that the berth will have to our capacity, and the flexibility we will have for berthing ferries in the Outer Harbour. We are very grateful to Transport Scotland for both their financial support towards the project, and the ongoing support they are providing as we look at the options for new ferry infrastructure going forward. Steven Gourlay was on site on 23rd July to take some final photos, while the berth and the new deck surface were empty! We don't have drone photos from the first weekend it was operational, but this screenshot from MarineTraffic gives an idea of how many boats were in!

Unfortunately, we don't have a ferry to use the new berth at the moment, as the MV Loch Bhrusda is currently covering the Sound of Harris route for the MV Loch Portain, which means that the Coruisk is operating a single vessel service on the Mallaig-Armadale route, and Western Isles Cruises and Milligan Transport are providing additional capacity to the Small Isles on a Saturday. I attended an online meeting about the potential for a second phase of the 'Islands Resilience Fund', which was set up to provide support to island businesses affected by ferry disruption. It was eye opening to appreciate the sheer scale of disruption throughout the network, and the wider implications that this has on various routes. As an example, because freight for the Small Isles is dropped off in Mallaig for onward transportation, the issue of driver hours when ferries are disrupted had not really occurred to me.
Although we are just finished the overnight ferry berth project, we are already looking ahead to the next one, which will be the work on Jary's Wharf. This is due to start at the beginning of September, and will be phase 2 of the works. As we did for phase 1, we will need to clear the area including the box compound, and the area in front of the prawn market to get the works done. Aberdeen Marine will be undertaking the works, and will be setting up their compound in the space between the feed shed and ice plant that has just been cleared by RJ McLeod! Because the works to the supporting pillars are partly tidal, they will take around 4 months to complete, and we are hoping that they will be clear by Christmas.

We were all saddened to hear of the death of an Inverlussa crew member in Orkney earlier in the month. We have so many Inverlussa boats operating from the harbour, and as a result have come to know so many of the 'family' of crew on these boats. Our sympathies are with everyone affected by this tragedy. We were also saddened by the death locally of Ian (Cookie) Fairns this month, and extend our condolences to his family. There is a network of defibrillators around the harbour, and where they are is listed each month in West Word. We've put together a plan showing where these are located, and if anyone would like a copy, then please just let us know.
Jacqueline McDonell

On and Off the Rails

I ended my July column with the news that AmcoGiffen and Network Rail, along with other subcontractors, were awarded the accolade of receiving the 'Translink Structures Award' at the 2025 National Railway Heritage Awards early in December. This was for the lengthy process of painstakingly restoring and preserving Glenfinnan Viaduct. This will ensure that future generations of visitors - on foot and on trains - can marvel at the quality of the work that ensures that we can all travel safely as we remember the dedicated navvies that built it, as well as ensuring that it remains safe, reliable and resilient. The route is vital for the communities it serves, allowing us to earn a living, and for many visitors who travel to experience one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.
So, it came to pass, on Wednesday 15th July 2026, on one of our wonderful sunny days this year, that I attended a plaque unveiling ceremony with Alan Cargill (photographer for the occasion) at the base of the viaduct. I am including a few of the photos for you to enjoy. The Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, Tim Hedley-Jones, spoke with pride and passion to the assembled gathering as the afternoon Jacobite train crossed the viaduct, with a long low whistle, on its way to Mallaig as the ceremony took place.

Representatives from AmcoGiffen, Translink (Northern Ireland's main public transport operator), Network Rail, the Friends of the West Highland Line, Glenfinnan Station Museum, the Railway Heritage Trust, the Glenfinnan Estate, the West Highland Community Rail Partnership, ScotRail, the National Trust for Scotland, plus bemused visitors, all applauded as the velvet curtains were thrown back to reveal the plaque. The beautiful River Finnan sparkled like diamonds and I even "scrubbed up well"! Great memories of a job well done were created. There is now a tarmac walkway from the main road to the base of the viaduct and the River Finnan.
For a detailed read on the construction of the railway a "must have" is the superb book "Building the Mallaig Railway - a photographer's story" by Hege Hernaes. Published in 2020 by Glenfinnan Station Museum, this large format hardback book is available from the Museum at £30 including P&P. Please quote code MLG125 www.glenfinnanstationmuseum.co.uk, telephone 01397 722295.

Ness Islands Railway - Inverness Ness Park
Over the past seven years I have continued to support the Highland Hospice (www.highlandhospice.org) in Inverness. Andrew Lever, who is my go-to pal and continues to keep in touch with me, fund raises through the summer each year and has just recently sent me details of the Ness Islands Railway for the 2026 season, which opened this year at weekends, and is now operating daily during the school holidays whether permitting until mid-August, then reverts back to weekends until the end of October. The grounds have been significantly improved over the past few years. What was once an overgrown jungle is now a delightful ride-on journey through the open sunny grounds with surprises around every corner. It's a great journey - wee train, big smiles!
All the money raised on the ride-on railway supports the Hospice. If you are going to Inverness try and visit the Ness Islands Railway. Take the ride and support the Hospice. I dare you not to smile! Try it!

The wilderness starts at Britain's most remote railway station - Corrour
It is nearly midnight and although I could spend the next four hours going through notes taken down over the past three weeks of daily happenings on our branch line I have just stopped and decided to slow the pace right down. I have just read an article sent to me by ScotRail's only ambassador ( it's an official position) by Andrew Dunbar. I will share some of it with you to remind us that we can slow down for a wee while if we choose to.
I have stayed at Corrour many times by train for one or two nights and can verify that every word he has written is true. The last two times I have done it I've stayed in the reclaimed Signal Box which now has privacy rooms, is wonderfully furnished, etc, etc, but this comes at a price. The top floor of the Signal Box is a lounge with beautifully appointed furnishings and you can see and feel the silence (https://www.corrour.co.uk/station-house/) and all facilities to hand £195.
The other choice is to book in advance at the Loch Ossian Hostel (hostelingscotland.org.uk/hostels/loch-ossian) with dorm beds for £25. In both cases advance booking is essential. Eating: the welcoming Corrour Station House which offers shelter, coffee and food from 8.30 AM - with dinner until 7.00 PM. Open April to October. Servings are very generous. Dinner reservations advised, the Venison Stew is superb and the Eggs Benedict the next morning is food from heaven. I have arranged birthday parties where presents and cards can be sent by post in advance - and had a head-banging migraine the next day. Really! You can just hang around the premises, or you can go fishing, Munro bagging, walking, etc. It is so good for the soul; writing about it now evokes so many stays there and I loved it.
No roads, no traffic, no distractions: Andrew Dunbar discovers why Corrour, Britain's most remote railway station, draws walkers and campers back year after year:
"The train door slides shut, the engines grumble and the train starts to move away, its dark-blue livery and bright yellow cab snaking between the green and black-hued hills until it disappears. It's only then that I notice the silence. No cars; there are no roads here. Only the sigh of a light breeze. I am alone, surrounded by moorlands and hills, and exposed to the grey, clouded sky. A smirr of fine rain begins to settle on my jacket. I am suddenly aware of how far I am from anywhere.
I've arrived at Corrour, the most remote railway station in the UK, accessible only by the West Highland Line, built in 1894. The estate owner, Sir John Stirling Maxwell, insisted on the station as a condition for allowing the railway to cross his land. It was a mile from the station by pony and trap to the boathouse on Loch Ossian, from which a steam yacht took guests to the house, three miles east.
"You can get a real hit of rest and recuperation here", says Jan, the warden, a neat velvet cap crowning her long grey hair. "You can be in a simple environment and survive and thrive without tech". After 16 years, she carries a quiet matriarchal authority. She has stood at the station in winter, "watching the train's lights disappear into the distance, when the station lights turn off", leaving her in pitch darkness; enduring blizzards so fierce she "woke in the morning to find the vestibule filled with snow." She's also noticed the quieter changes - "I saw a red squirrel on the South Loch yesterday, so they are coming back."

I could include more of Andrew's writing but that would be selfish indulgence. I hope you have enjoyed reading this. Next month, I will be back with my usual - how to make the railway branch line between Fort William and Mallaig better including longer platform lengths, so that more carriages can be accommodated, a turntable back at Mallaig, more passing loops (Lochailort for example), catering on service trains, etc, etc.
See you on the train, or the platform!
Sonia Cameron

Heartbreak for Mallaig, but Pride in a Remarkable Cup Run

Golspie Stafford 3-1 Mallaig FC (after extra time)
Mallaig FC's dream of reaching their first Highland Amateur Cup Final ended in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday as Golspie Stafford fought back to claim a 3-1 victory after extra time in Evanton.
Mallaig looked destined for victory after taking the lead inside just two minutes of the start whistle. A mistake by the Golspie goalkeeper gifted Sam MacKenzie the chance to fire Mallaig into an early 1-0 lead, and for much of the afternoon they defended superbly against relentless pressure.
Goalkeeper Andrew Baker produced a magnificent save in the opening half to preserve Mallaig's advantage, while Andrew Sneddon and Aarron McLean both went close to extending the lead as Mallaig looked to put the tie beyond reach. The team remained disciplined and organised, frustrating one of the strongest amateur sides in the Highlands.
However, just when it seemed Mallaig had done enough, Golspie struck deep into injury time to make it 1-1 and force extra time. The momentum shifted as the home side added two further goals in extra time to seal their place in the final against Whalsay, despite a red card sending a player off during a fiery spell that saw tempers boil over.
While the result was a bitter disappointment, it should not overshadow what has been a fantastic Highland Amateur Cup campaign. Mallaig defeated Slackbuie Rovers, North West Skye, Culloden United, Fortrose & Rosemarkie Union and Wick Groats to reach the semi-finals.
From a field of clubs representing every corner of the Highlands and Islands, Mallaig reached the last four - a remarkable achievement and further proof of the club's rise as one of the region's leading amateur sides.
Although they fell one game short of the final, the players, management, volunteers and supporters can all be immensely proud of an outstanding cup run. They came within seconds of a historic victory before Golspie Stafford's late equaliser changed the course of the tie.
The scoreline will show a 3-1 defeat after extra time, but it does not reflect the commitment, quality and determination shown by Mallaig throughout the competition. Their performances have earned respect across the Highlands and Islands and suggest there will be many more memorable cup runs in the years ahead.
FB

Birdwatch July 2026 by Stephen MacDonald

Overall a fairly dull and damp month, apart from a week long spell mid-month that was sunny and warmer.
Although the breeding season is in full swing, for many species, July is already the start of Autumn passage with failed or non-breeding birds already heading to their wintering grounds. A single Turnstone and several Dunlin were at Traigh on the 3rd. By mid month Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Oystercatcher and Ringed Plover sightings increased, with reports from Traigh, Loch nan Geall, Loch Ailort and the Morar Estuary. Whimbrel were also reported on several occasions flying down the Sound of Sleat.
Seabirds breeding locally seem to have had mixed fortunes this season. On the Sound of Sleat low numbers of Common Guillemot and Razorbill chicks reported. Herring Gulls locally have had more success with good numbers of juvenile Gulls around Mallaig and Traigh.

Common Terns also had good numbers of fledged chicks by mid-month. Only small numbers of Arctic Terns breeding locally this year, but by the month end newly fledged chicks were seen at Traigh and in Loch Nevis.
Great Skuas were seen regularly in the Sound of Sleat and Arctic Skuas were seen on several occasions. The lone Whooper Swan was present on Loch nan Eala throughout the month.
Numerous reports of Jays from Morar and Arisaig, with family groups seen in both locations, including a group of six near Arisaig on the 12th.
A pair of Spotted Flycatchers with three newly fledged chicks were seen in the Arisaig area on the 24th and there were several reports from the Camusdarroch area.