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Recent Sightings Please note that the sightings below do not reflect the variety of species you can see in a normal day out birding or wildlife watching. These reports concentrate on more unusual species or significant counts or movements. For an idea of what you can find on an average day please visit the the appropriate seasonal links on the left side of the home page. To report sightings please contact Steve at: steveduffield@hebrides.net County bird recorder: Brian Rabbitts [rabbitts@hebrides.net]
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30th April: Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull feeding on the rubbish tip at Stornoway today. 2 White-billed Divers off Port of Ness at 17:30. North Uist: A female Siskin was at Clachan na Luib. Benbecula: Pink-footed Goose on Coot Loch. South Uist: Hawfinch still at South Glendale. Dotterel on the Range at West Gerinish. Lesser Whitethroat at Drimsdale. 2 immature Iceland Gulls on the machair at Eochar, plus a Willow Warbler. 1st summer Iceland Gull at Ardvule.
29th April: Lewis: Adult White-billed Diver off Port of Ness at 09:15. 2 x 2nd cal year Iceland Gulls at the Butt of Lewis. North Uist: 2 skiens of Pink-footed Geese heading north of Aird an Runair between 11:00 and 12:00 contained 400 and 220 birds respectively. 9 Pink-footed Geese heading north-west over Claddach Baleshare at 14:50. South Uist: Hawfinch in South Glendale. 2 Pink-footed Geese at Loch Grogarry. 1st yr Iceland Gull at Peninerine. 16 Whimbrel at Ardivachar, Common Sandpiper at Eochar and Corncrake at Kilauley.
28th April: Lewis: 5 Dotterel 1 mile north of Port of Ness plus 3 Iceland Gulls and 1 Glaucous Gull. Grasshopper Warbler singing in the Castle Grounds, by the sawmill this morning. 2 Siskins in the Stornoway area and 3 x 2nd cal yr. Iceland Gulls in Stornoway Harbour. North Uist: Snowy Owl at Aird an Runair . Benbecula: 16 Black-tailed Godwits over Loch Mor this morning. Pink-footed Goose by Coot Loch. Sedge Warbler singing at Loch Bailafinlay. South Uist: A Green Sandpiper was flushed from the south-west end of Loch Druidibeg today. Insects: Peacock butterfly and Small Tortoiseshell in South Glendale today.
27th April: Lewis: Green-winged Teal at Loch Stiapavat today. North Uist: Spotted Redshank (moulting into summer plumage) at Claddach Vallay. 5 Pomarine Skuas north passed Aird an Runair during 1.5 hour sea-watch this morning. South Uist: 4 x 1st summer Glaucous Gulls and a 1st summer Iceland Gull at Ardvule; plus 5 Whimbrel. 2 Whimbrel, 92 Purple Sandpipers and 2 Shoveler at Smerclate. Cuckoo and Siskin in South Glendale. Cetaceans: 4 Killer Whales were seen at the Butt of Lewis this morning (also reported from same location yesterday). 5 Risso's Dolphins heading south off Tiumpan Head at 15:00.
26th April: Lewis: White-billed Diver Port of Ness and Glaucous Gull at the Butt of Lewis. South Uist: 1st yr Iceland Gull on Eochar Machair. Hordes of commoner waders now gathering on the machair and beaches in Uist.
25th April: Lewis: White-billed Diver at Port of Ness. South Uist: Siskin in South Glendale today. Glaucous Gull, 4 Whimbrel and 450 Golden Plover at Ardivachar. Insects: Puss Moth trapped at Askernish last night. 5 Belted Beauties trapped at Ardivachar.
24th April: North Uist: Spotted Redshank reported from Claddach Vallay today. Cuckoo in Ben Risary Plantation. 1st yr Glaucous Gull at Knockline. South Uist: Migrants today include a few terns with 2 Little Tern displaying at Oban-na Buail-uachdraich, 2 Common Terns at Drimsdale and 2 Arctic Terns at Peninerine. Whimbrel have increased with 7 at Drimsdale, 7 at Peninerine, 6 at Ardvule, 10 on Bornish Machair and another over Loch Eynort this afternoon. Immature Iceland Gull at the mouth of the river at Howmore. 2nd yr Iceland Gull at Peninerine. 1st yr Iceland Gull and 2 x 1st yr Glaucous Gulls at Ardvule, plus a Black-tailed Godwit there and a summer plumage Black-throated Diver flew south over the peninsula.
23rd April: South Uist: 2nd yr Iceland Gull at Peninerine. Immature Glaucous Gull at Ardivachar.
22nd April:
21st April: Lewis: 2 Arctic Skuas W - E passed the Butt of Lewis at 09:20. 52 Black-tailed Godwits and a summer plumage, male Lapland Bunting at Loch Stiapavat. Tufted Duck x Ring-necked Duck hybrid on Loch Tiumpan. 3 Iceland Gulls in Stornoway Harbour. Harris: 46 pale-bellied Brent Geese arrived at Northton Glumag on the evening of 20th and left at 07:30 this morning. North Uist: 2 Pomarine Skuas, 23 Great Skuas and a couple of Arctic Skuas passed Aird an Runair this morning as well as 6 Common Scoter, 2 Gadwall and 2 Tufted Duck between 07:50 - 11:50. 3 pale-bellied Brent Geese at Aird an Runair and 40 Black-tailed Godwits over there heading inland early this morning. 250+ Black-tailed Godwits at Loch Sandary as well as over 1,000 Golden Plover and a 1st yr Glaucous Gull. South Uist: 1st and 2nd yr Glaucous Gulls at Ardivachar. 61 Black-tailed Godwits at Ardvule and 4 on the Range.
Other: Harbour Porpoise off Aird an Runair. 20th April: Lewis: Pectoral Sandpiper at Loch Stiapavat. North Uist: 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Great Skuas and 3 Arctic Tern at Aird an Runair, plus 2 Brent Geese. Another 70 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew north at 12:30 and 13 Pink-footed Geese. 11 White Wagtails on the beach at Aird and Runair. 1st yr Glaucous Gull at Loch Sandary. Benbecula: 20 White-fronted Geese flew towards Eochar, South Uist. South Uist: 3 Great Skuas, 2 Whimbrel, 1st yr Glaucous Gull and 189 pale-bellied Brent Geese along with a single immature dark-bellied Brent. Chiffchaff at Stilligarry. Insects: Both Emperor moths and Common Heath were seen at many locations in the Uists today. Green-veined White at Drimsdale, South Uist and Bayhead, North Uist. Small Tortoiseshell at North Dell, Lewis. 16 moths trapped at Carinish, North Uist were mostly Red Chestnut and a few Clouded Drabs.
19th April: Lewis: 2 White-billed Divers off Port of Ness today plus another 2 seen from Tolsta Head. plus a Common Crane over there this morning. Iceland Gull at the Butt and Pectoral Sandpiper at Loch Stiapavat. 2 male and a female Pochard on Loch Branahuie along with 427 Long-tailed Ducks. 100 Pink-footed Geese and a Swallow at Tolsta Head. 10 Pink-footed Geese around Stornoway and 50 heading W over Tiumpan Head. Velvet Scoter with 75 Common Scoter in Broad Bay. 4 Whimbrel at Tong. In the Castle Grounds, Stornoway: pair of Long-tailed Tits, 38 singing Willow Warblers and 3 singing Blackcaps. 2nd/ 3rd cal yr Iceland Gull in Stornoway Harbour. North Uist: 1st yr Glaucous Gulls at Loch Sandary and Loch Hosta. Female Pintail at Loch Paible. 2 Common Sandpipers at Loch na Geireann and 2 Whimbrel at Claddach Baleshare. Corncrake calling at Paiblesgarry. Benbecula: 5 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch Mor and 30 Whooper Swans heading north over there this morning. South Uist: 3 Common Redpoll at South Glendale. Insects: Green-veined White butterfly at Howmore. Belted Beauty and Emperor Moth trapped at Ardivachar last night.
18th April: Lewis: Lapland Bunting at Loch Stiapavat. 4 female and a male Scaup at Loch Tiumpain and a pair of Scaup at Loch Barvas. 57 Common Scoter in Broad Bay. 340 Long-tailed Duck on Loch Branahuie. 17 Bar-tailed Godwit and 9 Knot at Aignish. Corncrake at Garrabost and Loch Stiapavat today. North Uist: Ruff on Loch Sandary. 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese at Aird an Runair. Arctic Tern, Little Tern and 5 Pink-footed Geese at Griminish. 6 Whimbrel at Claddach Baleshare. White Wagtails widespread today with at least 8 at Aird an Runair and birds at many other sites. Glaucous Gull at Clachan. Corncrake heard at Balranald today. South Uist: 2 Whimbrel at Smerclate and 2 White Wagtails. 69 Pink-footed Geese north over South Glendale at 09:35. Insects: Small Tortoiseshell on Grimsay and at Aird an Runair, North Uist plus 2 at Ardivachar, South Uist. Plenty of Belted Beauties out today. Brindled Ochre trapped at Drimsdale, South Uist last night. Common Heath moth at Carnan.
17th April: South Uist: Glaucous Gull at Ardivachar plus 240 Barnacle Geese north at 08:00, followed by 22 at 08:15 and 61 at 12:00. 1,700 Golded Plover on the Range (in 4 flocks). Insects: Peacock butterfly and Small Tortoiseshell at South Glendale, South Uist today. 2 Emperor Moths at Loch Skipport.
16th April: Lewis: Pectoral Sandpiper at Loch Stiapavat this morning. South Uist: 15 Black-tailed Godwits and an immature Glaucous Gull on Loch an-t'Saile. 70 Barnacle Geese heading north off Ardivachar at 14:10 and another 82 Barnacle Geese heading north-west over Ardivachar Point at 14:30. Insects: Powdered Quaker and Dark Sword Grass trapped at Drimsdale, South Uist last night. Belted Beauty at Ardivachar today.
15th April: South Uist: Male Blackcap and Willow Warbler at Druidibeg Plantation, plus a Cuckoo nearby. Adult Iceland Gull at Ardivachar Insects: A Belted Beauty, 1 Clouded Drab, 7 Red Chestnut and 9 Hebrew Characters trapped at Drimsdale, South Uist last night. 2 Red Chestnut and 2 Dor beetles trapped at Ardivachar. Small Tortoiseshell butterly seen at Carinish, North Uist today.
14th April: Benbecula: 550+ Golden Plover on Liniclate machair. 2 pair of Gadwall on Coot Loch and a pair on Loch Fada. North Uist: Male Snowy Owl at Aird an Runair again today. Insects: 6 Belted Beauties and 2 Red Chestnut trapped at Ardivachar last night.
13th April: Lewis: No fewer than 7 White-billed Divers were reported off Skigersta today in calm conditions. North Uist: Male Snowy Owl on the west side of Aird an Runair viewable from the way-marked path today. Adult Glaucous Gull at Loch Sandary. South Uist: 3 Swallows at Loch Druidibeg and another at Drimsdale. Insects: Male Belted Beauty at Stoneybridge, South Uist.
12th April: Lewis: Willow Warblers well distributed in the Castle Grounds, Stornoway. Harris: 2 male and a female Surf Scoter in the Sound of Taransay off Luskentyre. North Uist: Large passage of Barnacle Geese noted this morning with 410 in three skeins over Carinish; 150 north at Balranald plus another 434 flying around there. Three other skeins heading north, totalling 475 geese were also thought to be Barnacles. 900 Golden Plover at Balranald and 1,000 around Loch Sandary. 4 Iceland Gull and 3 Glaucous Gulls at Kyles Paible today. South Uist: 1st yr Iceland Gull at Ardvule, plus 26 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew north there. 2 Swallows hawking along the dunes nearby and 26 Black-tailed Godwits on Bornish Machair. 3 Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff at North Loch Eynort. 14 Black-tailed Godwits at Loch an-t'Saile. Adult Iceland Gull flew passed Ardivachar this morning (heading towards St. Kilda) and a Little Tern feeding inshore there. Also at Ardivachar: 50 White-fronted Geese with 5 Barnacles Geese heading north between 07:30 - 08:30; 140 Barnacle Geese north 12:15; 50 Barnacle Geese north 15:00 and 1st yr Glaucous Gull this evening. Insects: Silver Y, 6 Red Chestnut and 5 Hebrew Characters trapped at Drimsdale last night. Male Belted Beauty at Ardvule and Emperor Moth at Carnan - all South Uist.
11th April: North Uist: 1st yr Iceland Gull over Clachan. Grey Wagtail flew north over Carinish. South Uist: Iceland Gull in North Bay, Glaucous Gulls at Ardivachar and Ardvule. Insects: A Ruby Tiger moth was at Drimsdale, South Uist this evening. 10th April: Lewis: Lapland Bunting at Ness. Canada Goose (one of the large races) at Brue along with 100 Greylag Geese and 3 Pink-footed Geese. 26 Whooper Swans on Loch Barvas. Female Scaup on Loch Earsay. Female Pintail at Steinish. There has been a report of a pair of Long-tailed Tits nesting in the Castle Grounds. Swallow seen in Stornoway. North Uist: Pair of Pintail and an adult Iceland Gull on Loch Sandary. 4 Great Skuas passed Aird au Runair this morning. South Uist: Adult Bonaparte's Gull reported from Peninerine at 09:00. 9th April: Lewis: 3 x 1st winter Iceland Gulls in Stornoway Harbour. Glaucous Gull at Arnol. Benbecula: 100+ White-fronted Geese heading north over Creagorry at 11:23 am. South Uist: 50+ Barnacle Geese heading north, low over the sea at Peninerine at 15:50. Also 1st yr Glaucous Gull there and 240 Eider. 4 White-fronted Geese and a 1st yr Glaucous Gull on Eochar Machair. 8th April: North Uist: A male Snowy Owl at Aird an Runair today. 280 - 300 Barnacle Geese at Cnoc a Lin. South Uist: 1st year Glaucous Gulls at Ardivachar and Kilauley. 2 Glaucous Gulls and 37 Long-tailed Duck at Ardvule, plus 3 Black-tailed Godwits on the machair there.
7th April: Benbecula: 9 pale-bellied Brent Geese were in Stinky Bay this morning. South Uist: 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Ardivachar. 1st yr Iceland Gull at Howmore.
6th April: Lewis: A Killdeer at Loch Stiapabhat this morning (7th record for the Outer Hebrides). Benbecula: 70 Barnacle Geese were seen heading north, to the west of Balivanich at 11:10. 4 Black-tailed Godwits were on Loch na Meallaird and 3 Gadwall on Coot Loch. 75 Long-tailed Ducks were in Culla Bay and 134 Eiders were in Stinky Bay. South Uist: 20 Barnacle Geese heading north passed Ardivachar this afternoon. 1st winter Glaucous Gull and 2 Wheatears on Eochar Machair. 32 White-fronted Geese at West Loch Bee. 1st winter Iceland Gull on the machair at Drimsdale. 5th April: North Uist: Male American Wigeon and adult Glaucous Gull at Loch Sandary. A light-phase Arctic Skua was seen heading west though the North Ford at 18:55 tonight. South Uist: A single Pink-footed Goose amongst Greylags at Balgarva.
4th April: North Uist: Male Pintail at Aird an Runair today. 3rd April: North Uist: Male American Wigeon on Loch Sandary. South Uist: Adult Bonaparte's Gull at Peninerine. 1st winter Iceland Gull and 2 immature Glaucous Gulls at North Bay. Insects: Peacock butterfly at North Loch Eynort this morning.
2nd April: Lewis: A Snowy Owl was reported from Galson today (Bird Guides). North Uist: Male and female Pintail on Loch Brusda, Berneray plus 5 Snow Buntings on the machair here. Great Skuas were seen off the west side of Berneray and Aird an Runair. 4 White-fronted Geese were at Loch Grogarry. Good numbers of grey geese heading north-west this morning included two flocks containing over 300 birds (altogether) plus a flock of around 100 Greylag Geese heading north-west off Berneray. South Uist: 2 x 1st winter Glaucous Gulls at Ardivachar and 125 Barnacle Geese (80, 25 and 20) heading north off there between 11:00 and 11:30. Insects: 2 male Belted Beauties were seen near Clachan Sands. 1st April: North Uist: Fieldfare at Claddach Vallay. Benbecula: A male Pintail was on Coot Loch. 2 Fieldfare at Torlum and 45 Barnacle Geese heading north-west over Creagorry at 08:15. South Uist: Immature Glaucous Gulls were at Ardivachar; LA 3, on the Range; North Bay and four were in the South Ford near Hebridean Jewellery. A male Gadwall was on Oban na Buail-uachdraich, also by Hebridean Jewellery. Insects: 2 male Emperor Moths were seen near Lochboisdale this afternoon. |
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