Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
Archive Jan Feb March April May June July August September October November
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31st December:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: The Snow Goose was amongst Barnacle Geese at Malaclate / Sollas today. An adult Glaucous Gull and 3 Snow Buntings were at Balranald.
Barra: A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Earsary and an adult was off the west side of Vatersay.
Snow Goose (Steve Duffield)
30th December:
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was along the shoreline in Carinish today.
South Uist: A female Lesser Scaup was on Loch Ardvule today.
Lesser Scaup (John Kemp)
29th December:
Lewis: An adult Glaucous Gull was at Loch Stiapbahat. An adult Glaucous Gull was also at Eoropie and a juvenile was at Port Stoth.
South Uist: A Rook was at Carnan this afternoon.
28th December:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan; an adult Iceland Gull was also breifly there. An adult Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: A single Snow Bunting was on the west beach on Berneray.
South Uist: The Velvet Scoter was at Loch Ardvule and a juvenile Black-throated Diver flew south.
Barra: A drake Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor.
Insects: A Winter Moth was seen in Carinish last night.
27th December:
South Uist: The Velvet Scoter was still at Loch Ardvule.
26th December:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull and an adult Glaucous Gull were off Port of Ness today. 2 adult Glaucous Gulls were seen at the But and an adult Glaucous Gull was also at Loch Stiapabhat. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Bragar.
South Uist: The Velvet Scoter was at Loch Ardvule and 6 Black-tailed Godwits were also present.
Barra: A Snow Bunting flew over Traigh Eais.
Black-talied Godwits and Long-tailed Duck (John Kemp)
25th December:
Merry Christmas to all.
24th December:
Barra: A Kingfisher was seen at Traigh Mhor.
22nd December:
North Uist: 5 Long-tailed Tits were at Claddach Kirkibost and at least 7 were in Carininsh.
South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north at Ardvule and 5 Black-tailed Godwits were also present. A Velvet Scoter was on Loch Ardvule.
21st December:
Barra: An Iceland Gull was off Borve this morning.
20th December:
Lewis: An immature Iceland Gull flew south at South Galson.
South Uist: A Velvet Scoter was on Loch Ardvule. A Black-tailed Godwit was in the south bay of Ardvule and an adult Iceland Gull flew south along the dunes. The female Lesser Scaup was on Loch Bornish.
Velvet Scoter (John Kemp)
19th December:
Barra: A drake Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor and the Little Gull was at Eoligarry.
17th December:
Lewis: A drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. A Great White Egret was seen along a small burn between Scaliscro and Kinloch Roag, Uig today.
Great White Egret (Gordon Macrae)
14th December:
Barra: A Green-winged Teal was at Ardhmor. 8 Long-tailed Tits were in Northbay.
13th December:
North Uist: 8 Long-tailed Tits were in Carinish and a Jack Snipe was also there.
South Uist: 6 White-fronted Geese were in Askernish.
11th December:
North Uist: 9 Long-tailed Tits were in Carinish today. 5 Long-tailed Tits are also at Claddach Kirkibost.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup was on Loch Bornish. The juvenile Velvet Scoter was on Loch Ardvule. A Blackcap was in South Glendale.
Long-tailed Tits (Steve Duffield)
10th December:
North Uist: 2 Iceland Gulls (2nd and 3rd w) were on Loch Sandary. 12 Snow Buntings and 103 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal, 14 Snow Buntings were amongst a Twite flock at Balranald. 5 Long-tailed Tits were at Claddach Kirkibost and 9 were in Carinish.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup and juvenile female Velvet Scoter were on Loch Ardvule. 6 Black-tailed Godwits were also at Ardvule. A juvenile female Velvet Scoter was on Loch Bornish. A drake Ring-necked Duck, 2 female Scaup and 4 Coots were on Loch Stilligarry.
Barra: A Little Gull was off the jetty at Eoligarry.
Snow Bunting (Steve Duffield); Velvet Scoter (John Kemp)
9th December:
Insects: A December Moth was trapped in South Glendale last night (first modern day record for the islands)
December Moth (John Kemp)
8th December:
Lewis: 6 Waxwings were in the co-op car park in Stornoway. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: 5 Long-tailed Tits are still at Claddach Kirkibost.
7th December:
South Uist: A male Blackcap was in South Glendale.
6th December:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck is on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: 5 Long-tailed Tits are still at Claddach Kirkibost.
5th December:
North Uist: A minimum of 113 Common Scoters were off the west side of Berneray.
Marine Sightings: 4+ Harbour Porpoise were off the west side of Berneray. A Humpback Whale was to the south of Tiumpan Head; also 5 Risso's Dolphins heading north there.
4th December:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tiumpan; also a Jack Snipe and 8 Pink-footed Geese there.
North Uist: 13 Pintail were on the sea off Loch Paible today.
3rd December:
Lewis: A Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat and 25 Snow Buntings were at Eoropie. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Loch Branhuie. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Rubh' Arnal. 5 Long-tailed Tits are still at Claddach Kirkibost. 63 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal and 2 Pintail were at Balranald.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup and a f / juvenile Velvet Scoter are on Loch Ardvule this morning. A Waxwing was briefly in South Glendale this morning; also a male Blackcap there.
Marine Sightings: 9 Risso's Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
2nd December:
Lewis: A drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat. 15 Snow Buntings were at Barvas.
South Uist: A drake Ring-necked Duck and 1st yr Scaup were on Loch Bee. The female Lesser Scaup and 2 f / juvneile Velvet Scoters were on Loch Bornish.79 Red-throated Divers, 9 Black-tailed Godwits and 3 Jack Snipe were at Ardvule, A Black-tailed Godwit was at Peninerine. 2 Blackcaps were in South Glendale. A Rook and 3 Snow Buntings were at Askernish.
Otters (Steve Duffield)
1st December:
North Uist: 5 Long-tailed Tits were at Claddach Kirkibost again this morning.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup was on Loch Bornish. The drake Green-winged Teal and a female / juvenile Velvet Scoter were on West Loch Ollay. The drake Ring-necked Duck, 2 Scaup and 6 Coots were on Loch Stilligarry. The juvenile Velvet Scoter and 6 Scaup were at the southern end of Loch Bee. A Waxwing was briefly in South Glendale; also 2 Blackcaps (male and female) and a male Brambling there.
Marine Sightings: Common, White-beaked and Risso's Dolphins were seen off Port of Ness this afternoon. At least 32 Common Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head this morning.