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]

30th January:

South Uist: At least 8 Lapland Buntings, 3 Snow Buntings and 50 White-fronted Geese are on Eochar machair this afternoon.

29th January:

Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was seen over Goat Island, Stornoway this afternoon. A juvenile Iceland Gull was in Brevig harbour, Back this morning. 23 Slavonian Grebes, 315 Great Northern Divers, 9 Red-throated Divers, 220 Long-tailed Duck, 530 Eider and 100 Common Scoter were in Broad Bay. 6 Bramblings are in Leurbost and 11 Goldfinch were near Tong Farm.

South Uist: 23 Scaup are on Loch Bee.

28th January:

Benbecula: A Jack Snipe was flushed at Uisgeabhagh today. A Stonechat was also reported from there - this species appears to have suffered severely over the winter with very low numbers around.

South Uist: 40 - 50 Snow Buntings are at Rubha Ardvule.

Great Northern Diver and Snow Buntings (Steve Duffield)

27th January:

South Uist: The female Pintail is still at Stoneybridge and the Coot is on Grogarry Loch along with 28 Whooper Swans. The Coot is still on the loch behind the co-op in Daliburgh.

25th January:

South Uist: Around 800 Bar-tailed Godwits are at Ardivachar whilst 175 Grey Plover and 35 Knot are on the South Ford off Hebridean Jewellery. 49 White-fronted Geese are near Ardkenneth. 3 Goldfinch and 19 Chaffinch are at Drimsdale.

24th January:

North Uist: 175 Gannets north past Aird an Runair between 10:45 - 11:45 today.

23rd January:

South Uist: 13 Goldfinch are still around Drimsdale and 20 are still roosting in South Glendale.

Insects: A Winter Moth was attracted to a lighted window at Carnan, South Uist last night.

22nd January:

Lewis: A White-billed Diver was seen off Port of Skigertsa.

South Uist: 4 Scaup, a Coot and 30 Whooper Swans are on Loch Grogarry. 21 Snow Buntings are at Drimsdale. A Coot is on Loch nan Clacha-more behind the Co-op in Daliburgh.

Barra: The following were seen from the ferry across the Sound of Barra - 26 Slavonian Grebes (a very big count for this site); 45 Long-tailed Ducks, 248 Eider, 57 Great Northern Divers and at least 10 Black-throated Divers. 12 Barnacle Geese were near the ferry terminal at Ardmhor and a quick look in Ardmhor Plantation produced 6 Woodcock. An adult Glaucous Gull was seen from Rubha na Doirlinne, to the south-west of Tangsudale and a male Blackcap was in a garden at Earsairidh, just north of Brevig.

21st January:

Lewis: A Short-eared Owl was seen on Barvas Moor today. A Waxwing was seen in Stornoway today.

North Uist: A dark-bellied Brent Goose was seen again at Loch Sandary. 9 Snow Buntings were on the beach at Kyles Paible and a Lapland Bunting is on Balemore machair.

South Uist: 21 Scaup are on Loch Bee.

Snow Bunting (Brian Rabbitts)

20th January:

Lewis: A Goldfinch is in North Tolsta. 3 Waxwings were seen near the council offices in Stornoway.

South Uist: A couple of Gannets headed south off Rubha Ardvule this morning. A female Pintail is on Loch Altabrug, Stoneybridge. 13 Goldfinch are at Drimsdale.

19th January:

South Uist: 10+ Goldfinch are at Drimsdale this morning.

17th January:

Lewis: 2, possibly 3 adult Iceland Gulls were seen moving down the west coast of Lewis today along with a good movement of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls.

South Uist: 20+ Snow Buntings are on Eochar machair.

Other: A Lumpsucker Fish was found washed up on Baleshare today by Caj Volbeda.

Lumpsucker (Jac Volbeda)

16th January:

Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew over Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway today.

North Uist: A Water Rail is still coming to a garden in Carinish.

Insects: The micro moth Acleris hyemana was found at South Glendale today.

Acleris hyemana (John Kemp)

15th January:

Lewis: At least one Glaucous Gull was at Loch Barvas today.

South Uist: 35 White-fronted Geese at Kilaulay today. 20 Goldfinch are roosting in South Glendale.

14th Janaury:

South Uist: At least 119 Grey Plover and 630 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the South Ford off Hebridean Jewellery.

13th January:

Lewis: An adult and 2 x 1st yr Glaucous Gulls are at Loch Barvas. 10 Goldfinch are in Bragar.

Benbecula: A Fieldfare is in Liniclate.

12th Janaury:

North Uist: A Coot is on Loch na Reivil.

11th January:

North Uist: 2 female Goosanders are on Loch nan Geireann, near Lochmaddy.

10th January:

Harris: A drake Surf Scoter is in the Sound of Taransay.

North Uist: A Brambling is at Ahmore.

9th Janaury:

Lewis: A 1st yr Glaucous Gull is at Barvas.

South Uist: 2 Lapland Buntings and 12 Snow Buntings are in a mixed flock of around 300 Skylarks and Twite on Eochar machair. Just 21 White-fronted Geese were seen along the west side of Loch Bee. 18 Scaup were on Loch Bee. 10 Lapland Buntings, 50+ Reed Buntings and a Fieldfare were at the feed site at Kilpheder today.

8th January:

North Uist: A female Pintail and 2 Shovelers are on the sea at Aird an Runair. A dark-bellied Brent Goose is at Loch Sandary (first reported by David Henshilwood in early Jan).

South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was off the north side of Ardvule again today.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose (Steve Duffield)

7th January:

Lewis: 5 Lapland Buntings feeding on crushed peanuts in a garden in Point.

South Uist: A Carrion Crow flew past Balgarva towards the Gualan this afternoon. A Snipe was in North Bay today (the first that's been reported this year!)

6th January:

North Uist: Just 1 Goldfinch and Common Redpoll were at Langass this afternoon plus a single Fieldfare.

South Uist: A Brambling (originally ringed at Askernish 31st Oct 2010) is in Askernish. Another Water Rail has been observed attempting to spear a sparrow this time in a garden in Carnan where there were also 2 Woodcock.

Goldfinch (Steve Duffield)

5th January:

North Uist: Finches at Langass today included 51 Chaffinch, 9 Goldfinch, a Siskin and a Common Redpoll.

South Uist: 4 Waxwings in a garden at Bornish briefly this morning before flying north. The drake Green-winged Teal was on the north side of Ardvule and 70+ Snow Buntings were there. A Brambling was seen at Askernish today.

Snow Buntings (Steve Duffield)

4th January:

Harris: There was a report of a Grey Phalarope in the bay at Ardasaig around 2 pm today. A female Scaup was on Loch Derecleit.

North Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was seen on Loch Mor, Baleshare again today. 7 Goldfinch were at Balranald by the visitor centre today.

Sparrowhawk and Brambling (Frank Stark)

3rd January:

North Uist: 6 Goldfinch are in Carinish.

South Uist: A Coot, 3 Scaup and 24 Whooper Swans are on Loch Grogarry. A drake Shoveler is on Loch Stilliharry. A Brambling and Fieldfare were at Bornish today.

2nd January:

Lewis: 5 Waxwings were in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway around mid-day today before presumably relocating to Percival Road.

North Uist: A juvenile Greenland White-fronted Goose was at Loch nam Feithean today. The Pintail is still at Aird an Runair. Water Rails were seen at Loch a Roe and Carinish. A female Common Scoter is in Bays Loch, Berneray.

Benbecula: 18 White-fronted Geese are on Loch Mor.

South Uist: 12 Goldfinch and 2 Fieldfare are at Drimsdale this morning. 20 Goldfinch were at South Glendale this morning. The drake Green-winged Teal was still on the north side of Ardvule today and 3 Lapland Buntings are on Bornish machair.

1st January: Happy New Year to all

Lewis: 2 Waxwings were in Willowglen, Stornoway.

North Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal is on Loch Mor, Baleshare.

Benbecula: A Little Auk flew south past Stinky Bay this morning and a Snow Bunting also flew over there. 5 Snow Buntings were at the beach in Balivanich and 8 Brent Geese flew north. 14 White-fronted Geese are on Loch Mor.

South Uist: A female Common Scoter was off Ardivachar. 3 Barnacle Geese are on the Range and 3 are at West Loch Ollay. 2 Fieldfare were at the Range compound at West Gerinish. 9 Goldfinch were at Drimsdale. 4 Lapland Buntings were on Bornish machair. The drake Green-winged Teal was in the north bay at Ardvule today. A Fieldfare was at Askernish and a Brambling at Bornish.