Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2019
31st January:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was in Stornoway Harbour.
South Uist: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Barra: A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was at Traigh Mhor this afternoon and around 30 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry.
Buzzard (John Kemp)
30th January:
North Uist: 3 Glaucous Gull (2nd winter and 2 x juveniles), an adult Iceland Gull and the adult Kumlien's Gull were at Rubh' Arnal this morning; also 36 Brent Geese there.
South Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning.
Barra: The 1st winter drake Velvet Scoter was in Castlebay this morning. The White-billed Diver was off Ardmhor ferry terminal.
2nd winter Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
29th January:
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north-west along the shore in Baleshare around midday.
Barra: The Canada Goose was at Borve. A Fieldfare was at Brevig.
28th January:
North Uist: An adult Iceland Gull, 3 Glaucous Gulls, 26 Snow Buntings and 38 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal today.
Barra: The White-billed Diver was seen off Eoligarry; also 33 Snow Buntings on the beach there. 43 Brent Geese were at Traigh Mhor.
Purple Sandpiper (John Kemp)
27th January:
Lewis: An Iceland Gull was seen at the Butt. At least 1 juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Bragar Bay today; also a Black-throated Diver there.
North Uist: 3 Glaucous Gulls (an adult, 2nd winter and juvenile), 2 Iceland Gulls (an adult and a 2nd winter) and an adult Kumlien's Gull were at Rubh' Arnal; also 18 Brent Geese there.
Juvenile and 2nd winter Glaucous Gulls (Steve Duffield)
26th January:
North Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was seen on Loch Sandary. 3 Fieldfares were at Scotvein, Grimsay.
25th January:
Lewis: 2 adult Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway Harbour this evening.
North Uist: 108 Grey Herons were in Scotvein Bay, Grimsay this morning. The Richardson's Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald again today.
Barra: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was seen on Vatersay.
Redwing (Steve Duffield)
24th January:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was on Goat Island, Stornoway this afternoon.
North Uist: The Richardson's Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald again today (video here). 7 Pintail were off Hougharry. The drake Green-winged Teal was at Loch Sandary. 5 Fieldfares were at Scotvein, Grimsay.
Benbecula: 22 Fieldfare were seen at Peter's Port.
South Uist: 2 Little Egrets were at Loch Druidibeg in Stilligarry this morning. 5 Scaup were on Loch Bee.
Barra: A 1st winter drake Velvet Scoter was seen off Castlebay today. 53 Brent Geese were at Traigh Mhor. 31 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry and a further 5 were over Borve Point.
Cackling Goose and Canada Goose (Steve Duffield)
23rd January:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was seen in Stornoway Harbour this afternoon.
North Uist: The Richardson's Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald this morning whilst 2 Coots were on Loch nam Feithean. The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary.
Canada Goose and Cackling Goose with Barnacle Geese (Steve Duffield)
22nd January:
North Uist: The Richardson's Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald again today.
21st January:
South Uist: A Pink-footed Goose was at Kilpheder.
20th January:
North Uist: The Richardson's Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald today.
Benbecula: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Fada. A pair of Pintail are on Coot Loch.
South Uist: 9 Common Scoters were seen off Ardivachar.
Barra: 24 Snow Buntings were seen at Eoligarry.
Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle (John Kemp); Otter (Steve Duffield)
19th January:
Lewis: 10 Velvet Scoters and 58 Common Scoters were on Broad Bay, north of the Braigh. 54 Black-throated Divers were south of the Braigh. 2 Pink-footed Geese were with Greylags at Steinish and a Snow Bunting was at Marybank.
North Uist: A pair of Goosanders were at Gearraidh Dubh in the channel just north of Grimsay. 110+ Greenland White-fronted Geese were seen at Loch Bee whilst the Little Egret and 2 Scaup were at the south end.
Benbecula: The Velvet Scoter was off Balivanich.
Barra: 24 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry today. The Canada Goose was at Borve. The dark-bellied Brent Goose was with 43 pale-bellied Brents at Traigh Mhor.
18th January:
Harris: A Brambling was in Bunavoneadar today. 50 Long-tailed Ducks and 200 Common Scoters were off Seilebost.
17th January:
Lewis: 100+ Bramblings are still in Lews Castle Grounds and a Grey Wagtail was at Bayhead, Stornoway.
South Uist: A female Pintail was on Loch Hallan.
Barra: The White-billed Diver was seen off Eoligarry again today. A dark-bellied Brent Goose was with 46 pale-bellied Brents at Traigh Mhor. 34 Black-throated Divers were off the east side of Vatersay.
Otter cub (Andy Coyne)
16th January:
North Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary today.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at the south end of Loch Bee.
Agonopterix subpropinquella form rhodochrella (John Kemp)
15th January:
Benbecula: A pair of Pintail are on Loch Fada today.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at the south end of Loch Bee; also 2 female Scaup there.
Barra: The Canada Goose was on Borve machair today.
Little Egret (Steve Duffield)
14th January:
North Uist: 7 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean. A Glaucous Gull and 18 pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen on Baleshare.
South Uist: 2 Little Egrets are on Loch Bee.
Merlin (John Kemp)
13th January:
North Uist: An adult Kumlien's Gull, 17 Brent Geese and 38+ Corn Buntings were at Rubh' Arnal this afternoon.
Barra: 29 pale-bellied Brent Geese and a single dark-bellied Brent Goose were at Traigh Mhor.
Kumlien's Gull and Whooper Swans (Steve Duffield)
11th January:
Lewis: A Chiffchaff was in Bragar today.
North Uist: A Pink-footed Goose and 2 hybrid Cackling x Barnacle Geese were on the machair at Grenitote.
South Uist: 3 Fieldfare and 2 Lesser Redpolls were seen in Askernish today.
10th January:
South Uist: A Little Egret is at the south end of Loch Bee this morning.
Barra: The White-billed Diver was seen off Eoligarry with 34 Snow Buntings on the beach there. The Canada Goose was still at Borve with around 200 Barnacle Geese. 27 Brent Geese were at Traigh Mhor. The Coot is on Loch Tangasdale.
9th January:
Lewis: A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull was on the shore north of Stornoway airport this evening and the adult was in Stornoway Harbour.
Harris: 12 Knot were at Seilebost.
8th January:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was in Stornoway Harbour at dusk.
North Uist: The Richardson's Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald; also around 20 Snow Buntings with a huge mixed flock of Twite and Linnet also there. 13 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean. The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary. 2 Fieldfare were seen at Loch Euphort.
Barnacle Geese (adult with 2 juveniles) and small Canada Goose with Barnacle Geese (Steve Duffield)
6th January:
North Uist: A few Snow Buntings were on Borve machair, Berneray; also a Pink-footed Goose there and 14 Common Scoters off the west side of the island.
Benbecula: The female / immature Velvet Scoter was off Balivanich. 4 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Nunton. The drake Ring-necked Duck and a pair of Pintail were on Coot Loch.
South Uist: The Rook flew over Askernish this afternoon.
Great Northern Diver (John Kemp)
5th January:
Harris: At least 100 Common Scoters and 50 Long-tailed Ducks were in the Sound of Taransay.
North Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary.
South Uist: A Black-throated Diver flew south at Ardvule this morning. The drake American Wigeon was on Loch Bornish; also a female Pintail. 12 Snow Buntings were at Peninerine. 4 Barnacle Geese were at Ormiclate. 130 Greenland White-fronted Geese were on the west side of Loch Bee. 2 female / immature Scaup were at the south-west corner of Loch Bee.
Barra: The Canada Goose was off Allasdale. The White-billed Diver was off Ardmhor and 36 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry.
Black-throated Diver (John Kemp)
4th Janaury:
North Uist: The Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald. 1,900 Barnacle Geese were at the south end of Berneray. The drake American Wigeon was on Loch Aileodair.
South Uist: A drake American Wigeon was on Loch Bornish today.
Barra: The adult White-billed Diver was off Eoligarry jetty this afternoon and the Canada Goose was at Borve.
Golden Eagle (John Kemp)
3rd January:
Barra: The Canada Goose was at Borve again today.
2nd January:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was in Stornoway at Cross Street. 120 Bramblings were in the Castle Grounds, around the golf course.
South Uist: Ca. 130 Greenland White-fronted Geese and 55+ Barnacle Geese are on the west side of Loch Bee.
Barra: The small Canada Goose was at Borve again today.
Happy New Year
1st January:
Lewis: A Little Egret was seen in Riof. A Black-tailed Godwit was at Loch Ordais, Bragar.
North Uist: The Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were at Balranald; also 10+ Snow Buntings there. A juvenile Glaucous Gull, 20 Snow Buntings and 19 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal. The drake American Wigeon was on Loch Aileodair.
Benbecula: The female / immature Velvet Scoter was off Balivanich. The drake Ring-necked Duck and a pair of Pintail were on Coot Loch.
Barra: An adult White-billed Diver was seen off Cleit.
Cackling Goose and Canada Goose (Steve Duffield); Cackling and Canada Goose, Corn Bunting and Glaucous Gull (John Kemp)