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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS

@stkildawhs.bsky.social
943 followers 305 following 206 posts

News and stories from the NTS team on St Kilda, a dual UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
A super fresh juvenile American Golden Plover was found up the hill today (thanks to Mr Miles!), as well as the Buff-breasted Sand, a Buff-bellied Pipit, Snow and Lapland Buntings. We were very grateful for a brief lull in the gale force wind too! @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Near-annual on #StKilda in recent years, but still rare nationally, we had 2 American Buff-bellied Pipits this morning. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It's been a quiet September for migrant birds so far, but yesterday was an excellent day for #StKilda! Glossy Ibis was a first island record, the Common Swift needed careful scrutiny, plus the Buff-breasted and Baird's Sandpiper still present. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
A couple of North American waders so far this autumn on #StKilda: the Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on 9th Sept, with the Baird's Sandpiper found today by Will. Good to be back on the island with him 🙂 @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
On this day in 1930 the last St Kildans left their island home to start new lives elsewhere in Scotland. They left behind their homes and fields, their school and church. Some would be excited, others anxious as they waved farewell to their island home
A graveyard surrounded by a drystone wall with the sea behind
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
6 nests and 2 territories found this season marks a remarkable increase from the previous peak of 4 Arctic Skua territories recorded on #StKilda. A relatively recent colonist to the archipelago, this must be one of the only increasing populations of this species nationally @smp-seabirds.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Grateful to any visitors this season that are able to photograph any of @jezierskimt.bsky.social 's colour-ringed birds in the Village. If you're able to read a darvic ring, please report the alphanumeric code, time and location to NTS staff for contribution to Michal's research 🙏
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Acrocephalus warbler ID can be tricky, but easier when seen well. Marsh Warbler from 26th-28th May- a 7th St Kilda record, and 4th since 2022. Seabird volunteer Jeremy has been involved in multiple spring acro records in recent years and managed this excellent image. @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Rare to see a Quail out in the open like this. Initially spotted on 30th May and present again yesterday, this is the 11th St Kilda record. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @scottishbirding.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
An impressive total of 41 species recorded for #GlobalBigDay yesterday here on #StKilda. The day list has been submitted to #ebird. The highlight was this very pale Redpoll, thought to be A. f. islandica, a first record of this subspecies here. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Bonxies (Great Skua) were heavily impacted globally by HPAI in 2021/22, with 2/3 of the population on #StKilda succumbing to the virus. We've been conducting a census annually since then, with results suggesting relative stability since the dramatic decline. #NTSSeabirds @smp-seabirds.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
A second flock of 6 Bar-tailed Godwits on 29th Apr included this colour-ringed female, ringed in the Dutch Wadden Sea on 10th May 2011. The @niozsearesearch.bsky.social ringing project has informed us that this is the most NW observation from 9,500 barwits ringed and almost 70,000 observations!
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
The leucistic Common Snipe on #StKilda last autumn is back around the Manse again this year! A lovely pale flash among the richer browns of its counterparts.
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Scanning through this morning's flock of 11 Wigeon and a Red-breasted Merganser, but one of them has a green head! American Wigeon is a second for #StKilda, after the first in 2011. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
This Little Ringed Plover was a nice surprise at the Helipad in Village Bay this afternoon. A third for #StKilda, with the previous two in 1977 and 2022, and possibly only the fifth Outer Hebrides record! @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Yesterday's 6 Bar-tailed Godwits represented the first record of this species on #StKilda since 2009. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Any tern on #StKilda is notable, and following the recent Little visitor, today we were delighted to find this Sandwich Tern feeding in Village Bay. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Here's something that's never been seen on #StKilda before- a Little Tern hunting over Village Bay yesterday! Still present this morning, happily fishing away. Great start to the 2026 season 🙂 @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
White-tailed Eagles are an annual feature these days on #StKilda, but today's Golden Eagle joining the three White-taileds was remarkable! There had previously been single records in only 5 years between 1955 and 1976. @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
These two are blissfully unaware of how busy the Village will be tomorrow!
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
We're hopefully welcoming our first human visitors tomorrow, but the pinniped visitors have been quite comfortable with the jetty the through the winter!
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
A Black-tailed Godwit in spring on route to its breeding grounds in Iceland with a wee stop over in Village Bay. There aren't many smarter waders in their summer finery! @hebridesbirds.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Many Fulmars are now back on territory, including FP96412, ringed in 2011 and still happily residing along Head Dyke. Fulmars are among our longest lived seabirds, with some reaching over 50 years, so this one may be in the prime of its life. #NTSseabirds @scottishbirding.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
This 1st winter Iceland Gull has been present on #StKilda since at least 3rd April. There was also a reported Glaucous Gull from @soaysheep.bsky.social researchers on 22nd March. Eyes are back on the island 👀 @hebridesbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
We're back!!! Trying to clean the pier and get ready for our first visitors of the year. Not today though
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
A little bit of good news for the ocean www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #WorldHeritage #NTS #StKilda
bbc.co.uk
Scottish government bans wet wipes containing plastic
This type of wipe is a common source of marine litter and can break down into microplastics over time, harming the environment.
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Crisp winter days often give the best view of St Kilda. This one from Benbecula
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Bliadhna Mhath Ur! A guid new year to ane an' a! Happy New Year! The National Trust for Scotland doesn't have any staff on island at the moment, so we'll post some archive pictures until April when we are back 📷lmacleod
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Nollaig Chridheil a h-uile duine! Happy Christmas everyone and we'll see you in the new year. 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse...' This St Kilda mouse didn't get the Christmas memo and is enjoying a midnight snack 📷MC2
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
Two more sleeps, better make sure your chimney is swept for an important visitor #Stkilda, #NTS, #advent
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
Advent window 22, a picture from the Trust's archives. The summer months were busy harvesting seabirds and storing them for the winter months #StKilda, #NTS, #advent
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
Its winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. Today St Kilda will see about six and a half hours of daylight, but tomorrow the days start to get longer. Still plenty winter evenings to coorie in next to the fire. #StKilda #NTS #advent 📷MC2
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 20/12/2025
Cleits are a unique style of building to St Kilda, small stone built turf capped 'sheds'. Great for hiding those Christmas presents in #advent, #NTS, #StKilda
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
All is calm, all is bright . This lovely image of Village Bay was taken on a calm summers day #NTS, #StKilda, #advent
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Well hello there, welcome to advent window 18. Soay lambs are born in late April and are curious to explore their surroundings #StKilda,#advent, #NTS
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Advent window 17. The St Kilda wren -Troglodytes troglodytes hirtensis - a unique sub species on the St Kilda archipelago . In the spring and summer the males can be heard singing all over the islands, defending their territories and making their presence felt.
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Keeping an eye out for Santa, he won't come if you're awake! St Kilda has the largest puffin colony in the UK, they love to eat sand eels and other small fish #StKilda, #NTS, #advent
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Make sure you post your cards in time for them to arrive before Christmas. The St Kilda post office was busy in the summer months with tourists sending postcards
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
St kilda offers a welcome rest spot for many migrating birds, including these geese. #NTS, #StKilda, #advent
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
A fulmar takes flight. St Kilda has the oldest and one of hte largest fulmar colonies in the UK #StKilda#advent#NTS
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Todays advent - a mini lesson on Gaelic and Scots! Rain swells the Abhainn Mhor (Big River) on a dreich (gloomy) day . #StKilda#NTS#advent
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
What's behind advent door 11? This moody shot was taken from Boreray , looking back to Hirta and Soay #advent #NTS #StKilda 📷Rowan Aitchison
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
In the summer thousands of puffins arrive on St Kilda to raise their young, digging burrows or finding handy hidey-holes for their nests. They are all now out in the Atlantic till the Spring #advent, #NTS
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Low winter sunshine strikes Village Bay #advent #NTS #StKilda
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
On the eighth day of Christmas.... 8 maids a milking. Both sheep and cows were kept for their milk and 19th century travellers commented on the fine cheeses
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
In summer the slopes of St Kilda turn pink with campion and thrift
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
St Kilda is home to the largest colony of northern gannets in the world.
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
This eider duck made her nest inside one of the many cleits
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Soay sheep enjoy the rich grass of a St Kilda summer
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St Kilda World Heritage Site NTS @stkildawhs.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Low cloud makes the landscape magical but can also obscure the cliff edges
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