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 movementsA. 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]

6th September:

North Uist: 5 Lapland Buntings were at Aird an Runair this morning and 3 Curlew Sandpipers there flew south at 10:40. An Osprey was seen from the Committee Road at 17:15.

Benbecula: A late Swift was seen at Stinky Bay this afternoon.

South Uist: An adult American Golden Plover is the Range at West Gerinish. 2 Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit and 14 Curlew Sandpipers; including an adult were off Hebridean Jewellery. The adult Little Stint is still at Ardivachar. 3 Curlew Sandpipers and 2 Arctic Terns were at Ardvule.

            American Golden Plover, Little Stint and juv. Curlew Sandpiper (Steve Duffield); Curlew Sandpiper - adult and juvenile (John Kemp)

5th September:

North Uist: The adult American Golden Plover and a Ruff are still at Clachan Sands. A Barred Warbler and Garden Warbler were seen at Langass. An Osprey flew west over Grenitote this afternoon.

South Uist: An adult Little Stint is at Ardivachar.

Little Stint (Steve Duffield)

4th September:

Lewis: 17 Lapland Buntings were reported from the Butt of Lewis and 7 Sooty Shearwaters were off-shore. A Swift was over Borve in the morning. Whitethroats were seen at Eoropie and Port of Ness. The near adult Glaucous Gull was still at Port of Ness.

North Uist: An adult American Golden Plover is at Clachan Sands.

South Uist: 8 Lapland Buntings and 50 Black-tailed Godwits are on Bornish machair. Another 20 Lapland Buntings were at Ardvule. 3 juv. Curlew Sandpipers were on the South Ford off Hebridean Jewellery. 2 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Ruff are by Loch Thallan. 2 Sand Martins were at Kidonan. 2 female Pintail and a Gadwall were seen at Loch Smerclate.

Marine Sightings: A Sunfish was off the Butt of Lewis in the morning.

Curlew Sandpiper, Gadwall, Pintail and 2 Pintails (John Kemp)

2nd September:

Lewis: 11 Lapland Buntings and 3 Hen Harriers on the west side of Lewis today.

North Uist: Somewhere between 150 - 200 Lapland Buntings were at the southern end of Aird an Runair today.

South Uist: A Cuckoo and Goldcrest were at Drimsdale this morning whilst 8 Lapland Buntings flew over this afternoon. A Garden Warbler was trapped in Askernish today.

                                   Lapland Buntings - 4 photos and Rock Pipit (Steve Duffield); Garden Warbler (Yvonne Benting)

1st September:

Lewis: 74 Lapland Buntings were at the Butt of Lewis this morning.

North Uist: 40 Lapland Buntings were at Balranald and 5 were at Paiblesgarry. A Barred Warbler was at Grenitote today.

South Uist: A Lapland Bunting flew over Drimsdale early this morning and a Goldcrest is also there. 15+ Lapland Buntings were on Eochar machair. A Lapland Bunting was on Bornish machair along with 35 - 40 Black-tailed Godwits. At least 2 more Lapland Buntings were at Rubha Ardvule.

Marine Sightings: Several Basking Sharks are still of the Butt of Lewis.

Insects: A Tissue and 25 Pine Carpets were trapped at Claddach Vallay last night. The Tissue is a first for the Outer Hebrides.

Lapland Bunting (Steve Duffield); Pine Carpet and Tissue (Chris Johnson)