Recent Sightings

To report sightings please contact Steve at: steveduffield@hebrides.net

County bird recorder: Brian Rabbitts [rabbitts@hebrides.net]

31st March:

Lewis: pale-bellied Brent Goose and 1st w Glaucous Gull Barvas.

North Uist: 72 Greylags were seen heading north at 11:00 and 210 north at 12:35.

South Uist: adult Iceland Gull Howmore and 1st yr near Ardivachar. At least 138 Whooper Swans at the southern end of Loch Bee. 55 Whooper Swans on Loch Dun na Cille for a short while this afternoon but moving on quickly.

Insects: Small Tortoiseshell at Carnan and Peter's Port this afternoon. White-tailed Bumblebee at North Loch Eynort and Askernish.

                                                                                                                         Great Northern Diver and Black-headed Gull (Terry Fountain); Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)

30th March:

Lewis: 3rd winter Glaucous Gull at Ness.

North Uist: Wheatear Netwon and a pair at Balranald. Goldcrest in the rock armour of Berneray causeway.

South Uist: Wheatear at South Glendale. Garganey Loch an t-Saile. Adult Iceland Gull Loch an Eilein.

A presumed Cuvier's-beaked Whale has been washed up at Ballantrussel, Lewis.

                                       Redwing (Steve Duffield); Red Deer (John Kemp) and Otter (Terry Fountain)

29th March:

Lewis: 40 White-fronted Geese were seen heading north to north-west out to sea off Reef.

South Uist: Kentish Plover off Hebridean Jewellery / Balgarva. Green-winged Teal and male Garganey at Loch an t-Saile. 40 - 50 Whooper Swans heading north-west off Balgarva (14:35). The following Whooper Swans were also seen heading north-west: 32 at Drismdale (08:30) and 70 in three flocks over West Loch Ollay (between 10:10 and 10:20). Wheatear at South Glendale.

            Black-throated Divers (John Kemp); Green-winged Teal; Green-winged Teal with Garganey and Kentish Plover (Terry Fountain)

28th March:

North Uist: 2 Pomarine Skuas heading north off Aird an Runair (during hour sea-watch at lunch time). Wheatear on Grimsay.

Benbecula: male Lesser Scaup and 2 male Scaup on Coot Loch. 1st yr Iceland Gull and 1st yr Glaucous Gull Gramsdale.

South Uist: Kentish Plover off Balgarva. 124 Whooper Swans at the south end of Loch Bee. 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff at Askernish. Adult Iceland Gull Howmore.

White-fronted Goose; Kentish Plover with Sanderling and single Ringed Plover (Steve Duffield)

27th March:

This colour-ringed Corn Bunting is one of 12 recently ringed by the Highland Ringing Group at Balranald in North Uist. The RSPB are hoping to track their movements to see just how far these birds are travelling between their winter feeding areas and their summer breeding grounds. If you manage to see any colour-ringed Corn Buntings please could you email Jamie Boyle at: Jamie.Boyle@rspb.org.uk or email me at: steveduffield@hebrides.net Thanks very much.

North Uist: pair of Goosanders on Loch Sgealtair; to the south of Lochmaddy. Siskin singing in Lochmaddy and 7 Whooper Swans heading west over the town this morning. Adult Iceland Gull on Loch Dusaray.

Benbecula: 1st yr Iceland Gull at Gramsdale.

South Uist: Great White Egret Loch Grogarry / Loch nam Balgan. Adult and 1st yr Iceland Gull on Loch nam Balgan. 2 Snow Buntings on Stilligarry machair.

Hebrew Character trapped at Askernish last night. Small Tortoiseshell butterfly seen at Loch Carnan today.

                                                                   Great White Egret and Snow Buntings (Steve Duffield)

26th March:

Harris: Surf Scoters in Sound of Taransay.

Benbeula: 1st w Iceland Gull Gramsdale. A male Yellowhammer was seen at Church Hill, Griminish at 14.20. 2 Jack Snipe, 29 White-fronted Geese and a Wheatear were around Loch Mor. 33 Whooper Swans flew north-west over Torlum this evening.

South Uist: Kentish Plover off Hebridean Jewellery, South Ford.

Kentish Plover (2 photos, Terry Fountain); immature Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)

25th March:

South Uist: adult Iceland Gull Drimsdale. 80 Whooper Swans resting on the sea at Bornish before heading off north-west.

24th March:

Lewis: 1st yr Kumlien's Gull at Barvas and 1st yr Iceland Gull Arnol.

North Uist: Iceland Gull Loch Portain.

South Uist: Kentish Plover off Balgarva. Green-winged Teal on Loch an t-Saile.

Green-winged Teal with 2 Teal (Terry Fountain)

23rd March:

Benbecula: male Lesser Scaup on Loch Fada. Male Scaup Coot Loch. 29 White-fronted Geese Loc Mor and 115 Whooper Swans Loch Bailfinlay.

South Uist: male Green-winged Teal and male Garganey on Loch an t-Saile. At least 471 in South Uist including 48 on Loch Bee, 135 at Bornish and 150 between Daliburgh and Smerclate. 2 adult Iceland Gulls Howmore / Drimsdale and 1st yr Glaucous Gull Drimsdale. The Great White Egret was at Loch Grogarry. 1st yr Glaucous Gull and 1st yr Iceland Gull Bornish.

Green-winged Teal and Iceland Gulls

22nd March:

Lewis: Iceland Gulls were seen at Port Skigersta and the Butt of Lewis. 1st yr Glaucous Gull was at Barvas.

North Uist: A belated report of a Wheatear just south of Grimsay on Thursday 20th.

Benbecula: male Lesser Scaup and male Scaup on Loch Fada. 52 Whooper Swans on Loch Mor. Male Scaup on Coot Loch.

South Uist: The male Green-winged Teal, male Garganey and a 1st yr Glaucous Gull were seen at Loch an t-Saile. 1st yr Iceland Gull and 1st w Glaucous Gull were at Ardivachar. 40 Scaup are at the north end of Loch Bee. Whooper Swans included 65 north over Drimsdale at 9:50; 85 at Bornish; 70+ at Frobost and 19 on Loch Bee. A wintering Chiffchaff is still at Kinloch B&B.

Lesser Scaup (Terry Fountain) and Whooper Swans (Steve Duffield)

21st March:

North Uist: 1st yr Glaucous Gull Balranald and 20 Whooper Swans on Loch Scaraidh.

Benbecula: male Lesser Scaup Loch Fada; male Scaup on Coot Loch and 9 Pink-footed Geese on Borve machair. 43 Whooper Swans on Loch Mor. 1st w Iceland Gull Gramsdale.

South Uist: adult Iceland Gull Drimsdale and 1st w Glaucous Gull Loch an t-Saile. At least 139 Whooper Swans Bornish. Chiffchaff and Wood Pigeon Askernish. 150+ Kittiwake west through the South Ford at 08:15.

20th March:

North Uist: 1,788 Kittiwakes, 349 Gannets and 322 Fulmars were noted travelling north passed Aird an Runair between 10:05 and 11:05 this morning. Also 2 male Common Scoters heading south and a 1st w Iceland Gull.

Benbecula: 1st w Iceland Gull at Gramsdale.

South Uist: 1st w Iceland Gull Drimsdale and 2 x 1st w Iceland Gulls Howmore. 109 Whooper Swans on Bornish machair.

Otter at Gramsdale (Steve Duffield) and Teal (Terry Fountain)

19th March:

Benbecula: 2 male Scaup on Coot Loch.

South Uist: male Green-winged Teal Loch an t-Saile. 1st w and 2nd yr Glaucous Gull North Bay. 1st w Glaucous Gull and 1st w Iceland Gull Ardivachar. 110 White-fronted Geese Aird Kenneth. 42 Whooper Swans flew in to South Ford and went to sleep on the sands this morning. Male American Wigeon at the northern end of Loch Bee near the Ardnamonie turning; also at least 36 Scaup from here.

                                                                                                                          Redshank and Green-winged Teal (John Kemp); Green-winged Teal (second shot, Terry Fountain)

18th March:

Benbecula: male Lesser Scaup on Loch Fada, plus 25 White-fronted Geese Loch Fada / Loch Mor. 5 Gadwall and 2 male Scaup Coot Loch. Chiffchaff Torlum. 6 Goldfinch behind Nunton Steadings.

South Uist: 1st w Glaucous Gull at Drimsdale and an adult Iceland Gull at Howmore. Pair of Garganey and 1st w Glaucous Gull Loch an t-Saile. 3 x 1st w Glaucous Gulls Ardivachar.

Lesser Scaup with Tufted Duck (Steve Duffield)

17th March:

Lewis: Iceland Gull in Stornoway harbour. 1st w Glaucous Gull Stornoway rubbish dump and Jack Snipe at Arnish.

16th March:

Lewis: 2 x 1st w Glaucous Gulls and an Iceland Gull feeding on a Pilot Whale at Siadar. 1st w Glaucous Gull and 1st w Iceland Gull at Barvas.

South Uist: Kentish Plover off Hebridean Jewellery, South Ford.

14th March:

South Uist: Garganey Aird Kenneth, Loch Bee.

This balloon was picked up by Terry Fountain at Stinky Bay today having made it across from the north-west of Ireland. http://www.thebrunswicksuperbowl.com/

13th March:

South Uist: 4 x 1st w and adult Glaucous Gull Ardivachar, plus 2 x 1st w Iceland Gulls.

adult and 1st w Glaucous Gulls (Terry Fountain)

10th March:

Lewis: 200 Snow Buntings scattered around Barvas. 3 Pintail Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: Cuvier's-beaked Whale washed up at Balranald

Cuvier's-beaked Whale (Rosie Henshilwood)

9th March:

Golden Eagle and Raven at Stinky Bay; immature Whooper Swan (Terry Fountain)

5th March:

Benbecula: adult Iceland Gull Loch Mor.

4th March:

Lewis: Grey Wagtail near the golf club house, Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

Benbecula: male Garganey Loch Fada.

3rd March:

Lewis: male Pintail and 1st w Glaucous Gull Barvas. 2 x 1st w and an adult Iceland Gull Stornoway harbour.

2nd March:

Lewis: White-billed Diver off Skigersta.

1st March:

Benbecula: 2 x 1st w Iceland Gulls Gramsdale.

South Uist: adult Iceland Gull Howmore. 2 x 1s w Glaucous Gull and 1st w Iceland Gull Ardivachar. Kentish Plover off Hebridean Jewellery.