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]

28th February:

South Uist: 7 Goldfinch were at Carnan this morning. A Mistle Thrush and Brambling are at Loch Carnan.

Insects: 2 Dotted Border moths were attracted to house lights at Ardivachar, South Uist last night.

Dotted Border (Chris Johnson)

27th February:

Lewis: A Glaucous Gull was at Loch Barvas.

South Uist: 23 Scaup are on Loch Bee.

Marine sightings: A dead White-sided Dolphin has been washed up at West Gerinish.

White-sided Dolphin (Stuart Taylor)

26th February:

North Uist: A male and 2 female Pintail are on Loch nam Feithean, Balranald.

Benbecula: The male Scaup is on Coot Loch.

Insects: A male Belted Beauty moth was seen at Balranald today.

25th February:

Lewis: A Snowy Owl was seen at Mangurstadh today. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was in West Loch Roag and 14 Slavonian Grebes were off Reef.

Benbecula: A male Scaup is on Coot Loch.

Otter (Steve Duffield)

24th February:

South Uist: The Mistle Thrush is at South Glendale.

23rd February:

Lewis: The Northern Harrier was reported again today from Loch Barvas.

Benbecula: A late report today of an adult Mediterranean Gull along the beach west of Borve.

South Uist: The Mistle Thrush is still at South Glendale.

22nd February:

Lewis: 2 Long-tailed Tits were in Leverhulme Drive, Stornoway and the Bullfinch is still in Bragar. A male Scaup is on Loch Branahuie. Late news that the Snowy Owl was seen near Uig during the weekend.

South Uist: A sub-adult Glaucous Gull flew past Ardivachar this morning. The Mistle Thrush is still in South Glendale and the Coot is behind Daliburgh Co-op. 23 Scaup are on Loch Bee.

Mistle Thrush (John Kemp)

21st February:

South Uist: A Mistle Thrush is in South Glendale. The Coot is still on the loch behind the Co-op at Daliburgh.

20th February:

Lewis: The Northern Harrier was seen at Loch Barvas today. A 1st winter Glaucous Gull is at Siadar.

South Uist: 25 Scaup are still feeding by the causeway across Loch Bee. A pale-bellied Brent Goose is with Greylags on Bornish machair. A Brambling was at Loch Carnan.

19th February:

South Uist: 25 Scaup are on Loch Bee, still feeding close to the west side of the causeway.

18th February:

South Uist: 25 Scaup are on Loch Bee.

Insects: A Dotted Border was seen at a lighted window at Carnan, South Uist last night.

17th February:

South Uist: A female Pintail is on the coast at Stoneybridge. 18 Scaup are on Loch Bee. A Canada Goose flew over Askernish this morning.

Insects: Dotted Border moths were trapped at Gramsdale, Benbecula and South Glendale, South Uist last night.

Other: A series of solar flares may allow those in the north of the UK to witness The Northern Lights tonight: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12493980

Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)

15th February:

Lewis: A White-billed Diver was reported off Skigersta today and a Scaup is on Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: The dark-bellied Brent Goose is still at Loch Sandary.

Insects: 2 Dotted Borders were caught at South Glendale, South Uist last night.

14th February:

North Uist: 2 female and a male Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean, Balranald today.

Insects: A Dotted Border was attracted to house lights at Askernish, South Uist last night.

Dotted Border (Yvonne Benting)

13th February:

South Uist: 68 Long-tailed Ducks and 137 Purple Sandpipers were seen at Rubha Ardvule today.

9th February:

Lewis: No sign of the Nothern Harrier or Snowy Owl from Bru today although a Hen Harrier was seen in the area.

North Uist: An adult Glaucous Gull was at Loch nam Feithean, Balranald this morning.

8th February:

Lewis: A Snowy Owl is in Brue, behind Ocean Crest this morning. A Northern Harrier was also reported from Brue this morning and later photographed around mid-day at Barvas.

North Uist: 2 female Goosanders were on Loch Fada, near Lochmaddy today.

7th February:

Buzzard and Herring Gull (Frank Stark)

6th February:

South Uist: A female Pintail is along the shore at Stoneybridge.

5th February:

Lewis: A Puffin was seen at the Butt of Lewis today. 7 Goldfinch and a Snow Bunting were at Barvas. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Shawbost.

4th February:

Lewis: 60 Dunlin were seen on a croft in Fivepenny today after the storms yesterday / last night. A Spotted Redshank was also reported from Fivepenny where it was observed feeding in a boggy pool before flying off towards the Butt of Lewis. A Northern Bullfinch was in Bragar today and a Glaucous Gull was at Barvas.

North Uist: The dark-bellied Brent Goose is still at Loch Sandary.

South Uist: 114 Shelduck are at Balgarva.

2nd February:

South Uist: 23 Scaup are on Loch Bee.

1st February:

North Uist: A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was at Aird an Runair today.

Benbecula: A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was also seen on Coot Loch today.

Marine sightings: A long dead whale, approximately 10 feet long has been washed up in the bay north of Aird-mhicheil, South Uist.

Dead whale