Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2020
31st March:
Lewis: The juvenile Glaucous Gull is still at Marybank and 5 Bramblings were seen in Willowglen, Stornoway. 4 Pintail and 6 Pink-footed Geese were between Sand Street, Stornoway and Steinish.
North Uist: 2 Wheatears were in Carinish. 2 Glaucous Gulls (2nd cal yr and 3rd cal yr) were on Baleshare. Approximately 30 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west at Griminish this afternoon.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee displaying amongst it's European cousins. A Chiffchaff and 2 Wheatears were in South Glendale. Single Wheatears were seen at Carnan and East Gerinish.
Wheatear (John Kemp)
30th March:
Lewis: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was by Stornoway landfill site this afternoon.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning. A Siskin was in South Glendale today. A Siskin and a Pink-footed Goose were seen in Askernish.
Siskin (John Kemp)
29th March:
North Uist: A juveinile Glaucous Gull was on the North Ford off Carinish early morning. A Fieldfare was at Ahmore and a Wheatear nearby at Trumisgarry.
Benbecula: 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch this afternoon.
South Uist: 2 Wheatears were in South Glendale today.
28th March:
Lewis: A Chiffchaff was briefly heard singing in Garrabost.
North Uist: 50+ Snow Buntings and a 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull were on Baleshare this afternoon.
South Uist: A Siskin was seen at a feeder in Carnan. 55 White-fronted Geese flew north over Ardivachar this afternoon.
Snow Buntings (Steve Duffield)
27th March:
North Uist: 7 Whooper Swans were resting on the North Ford, off Carinish this morning. A Chiffchaff was singing in Lochmaddy. The Snow Goose and 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Loch Sandary. An immature Glaucous Gull was on the North Ford off Carinish this evening.
Benbecula: A Little Egret was on the North Ford near Gramsdale this evening.
South Uist: 6 Pink-footed Geese and 25 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardnamonie.
Barra: 25 White-fronted Geese flew over Bolnabodach this afternoon.
Twite (Steve Duffield)
26th March:
North Uist: 2 or 3 Wheatears were in Carinish today.
South Uist: A Chiffchaff was in South Glendale.
Insects: 11 Hebrew Characters and 2 Early Grey moths were trapped in Loch Eynort last night. A Red Sword-grass was caught in Carinish.
Chiffchaff (John Kemp); Red Sword-grass (Steve Duffield)
25th March:
Lewis: 36 Whooper Swans dropped in at Fivepenny overnight.
North Uist: 40 Whooper Swans flew north at Balranald this morning. A Goldcrest was in Sollas. A Jack Snipe was in Carinish and 13 Whooper Swans dropped in on the North Ford late afternoon.
Benbecula: 145 Whooper Swans were on Loch Mor. 3 Black-tailed Godwits were by Coot Loch. A Wheatear was at Carnan-ard-Wiay.
South Uist: A Lapland Bunting was at Ardvule first thing this morning. A flock of White-fronted Geese were heard over Bornish in the afternoon. 64 White-fonted Geese flew north at Ardvule this morning along with 607 Whooper Swans; 400 of which landed on the flooded machair. 2 Goldcrests, 30 Redwings and a Woodcock were in South Glendale.
Barra: A Chiffchaff, Tree Sparrow and a Great Tit were seen at Brevig. 100 Brent Geese also flew north past Brevig in the afternoon.
Insects: 2 female Belted Beauties were seen at Ardvule.
23rd March:
Lewis: A Common Crane was seen from Simons Road off Stenish this evening.
Harris: 6 Whooper Swans were on Loch Miavaig today. 2 Wheatears were seen at Borrisdale.
Barra: A Wheatear was seen on the island today.
Common Crane (Billy Dykes)
22nd March:
Lewis: 2 Snow Buntings were seen in Point.
Harris: 32 Whooper Swans were seen heading west over Miavaig this evening.
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 8 Snow Buntings were on Baleshare this afternoon.
South Uist: Around 40 Whooper Swans flew north over South Glendale at 1 pm.
Barra: 43 Whooper Swans flew north ver Brevin this morning.
Marine Sightings: 2 Bottle-nosed Dolphins headed north off Ardvule this morning.
Bottle-nosed Dolphin (John Kemp)
21st March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen in Lower Sandwich, Stornoway today.
Harris: 3 Surf Scoters (2 males and a female) were amongst 260+ Common Scoters in the Sound of Taransay.
North Uist: 3 Glaucous Gulls were seen at Cnoc a Lin / Rubh' Arnal.
Merlin (Steve Duffield)
20th March:
North Uist: The pair of Cackling Geese were at Balranald again today. The Snow Goose, 2 Pink-footed Geese and the Coot were at Loch Sandary.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning. A female Blackcap is in Bornish.
Goldfinch and Greenfinch (John Kemp)
19th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen at Marybank, Stornoway.
Harris: An adult Iceland Gull was at the whaling station Bunovenaeder this morning.
North Uist: 30 Whooper Swans were resting on the sands at Borve, Berneray and another 32 were resting at Grenitote.
South Uist: The Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee. 173 Whooper Swans were on Bornish machair this morning with 60 moving on early morning.
Barra: The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Tangasdale.
Insects: 13 female Belted Beauty moths were found on posts at Ardvule today.
Belted Beauty (John Kemp)
18th March:
Harris: 17 Whooper Swans were on Loch Leosaid, Ulladale this morning. 11 Whooper Swans were on Loch Direcleit.
Benbecula: A Black-tailed Godwit was at Loch Mor today. 44 Whooper Swans were on Loch Balfinlay and 12 on Loch nam Faoleann.
South Uist: Birds south at Ardvule this morning included 2 Common Scoter, 6 Kittiwakes, 5 Razorbills, a Guillemot and a Black Guillemot.
Black Guillemot (John Kemp)
17th March:
North Uist: 3 Glaucous Gulls, a 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull and 60 Snow Buntings were on Baleshare this afternoon. A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull and 5 Snow Buntings were at Balranald.
South Uist: 30 Whooper Swans flew north at the Pollochar around 10 am.
Barra: The Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tangasdale. The Great Tit was at Bruernish. 56 Whooper Swans were on the west side of the island.
Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
16th March:
Harris: A Snow Bunting was seen near Miavaig this morning.
14th March:
Lewis: The Cackling Goose was still present at Loch Stiapabhat this morning; also a juvenile Iceland Gull and male Hen Harrier there.
Harris: 4 Whooper Swans were near Abhainnsuide this morning.
South Uist: A pair of Scaup were at the south end of Loch Bee.
13th March:
North Uist: At least 4 Iceland Gulls, 6 Glaucous Gulls and 60 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal this morning. The Snow Goose and Coot were at Loch Sandary.
South Uist: 2 Snow Buntings were at Ardvule this morning.
Snow Bunting (John Kemp); Skylark, Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)
12th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen at Marybank, Stornoway and another was seen at the Braighe.
North Uist: 7 Glaucous Gulls (an adult, 4 x 2nd winter and 2 juveniles) were on Baleshare this afternoon; 5 Snow Buntings were also seen.
11th March:
Lewis: The Cackling Goose is still at Loch Stiapabhat with Barnacle Geese. A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was at Marybank, Stornoway.
South Uist: The Little Egret was seen at the north-west corner of Loch Bee from Loch Kenneth. An adult Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule this morning.
!0th March:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull and juvenile Glaucous Gull were at Tiumpan Head this morning.
North Uist: The juvenile Iceland Gull and a juvenile Glaucous Gull are at Aird an Runair, Balranald again this morning whilst 30 Snow Buntings were nearby.
Barra: The Ring-necked Duck is on Loch Tangasdale and a juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Borve.
9th March:
North Uist: The pair of Cackling Geese were at Balranald today; also a dark juvenile Iceland Gull showing some Kumlien's features was present. An immature Glaucous Gull, a drake Pintail and 60+ Snow Buntings were also seen at Aird an Runair, Balranald. The Snow Goose was by Loch Sandary and the Coot was still present.
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
8th March:
North Uist: 50 Snow Buntings were on Baleshare. The Snow Goose was seen by Loch Paible today.
Barra: The 1st winter Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Tangasdale. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls are at Allasdale and 11 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry.
7th March:
Lewis: A sub-adult Kumlien's Gull was reported from Stornoway harbour.
6th March:
North Uist: 5 Glaucous Gulls, an Iceland Gull and 60 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal today. 6 Glaucous Gulls (3 x 2nd winter, 2 juveniles and an adult) and 4 Snow Buntings were on Baleshare. The Snow Goose was by Loch Sandary this morning. 3 Fieldfares were at Langass Wood.
South Uist: The Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee again this afternoon.
Sparrowhawk (Janet Dix)
5th March:
North Uist: A Bonxie flew east over the North Ford this afternoon. 170 Snow Buntings with around 280 Twite were at Balranald by Loch a' Roe.
Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Allasdale today.
4th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen at Barvas.
3rd March:
North Uist: The Snow Goose was seen by Loch Sandary this morning; also a Coot is still present. A Glaucous Gull, 3 Iceland Gulls and 45 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning.
Barra: The Ring-necked Duck is still at Tangasdale. An adult Glauocous Gull was at Traigh Mhor and a juvenile was at Borve.
1st March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Loch Ordais.
North Uist: 3 Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare.
Barra: The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Tangasdale and Glaucous Gulls were seen at Craigston and Allasdale.