Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2026

Archive   January  February  March  April

If you would like to join our WhatsApp group - Bird Sightings Outer Hebrides (for scarce / rare bird reports in the Outer Hebrides) please contact me: steveduffield70@gmail.com or text me on 07867 555971. For a guide as what to submit please see here.

 

17th May:

North Uist: 74 Long-tailed Skuas and 34 Pomarine Skuas flew north at Aird an Runair (07:30 -13:00). Another 19 Long-tailed Skuas and 6 Pomarine Skuas flew north between 13:30 - 17:45. An adult Sabine's Gull was lingering off-shore amongst Kittiwakes to the north of Aird an Runair this morning.

South Uist: An Iceland Gull and immature Glaucous Gull were on the beach between Stoneybridge and Peninerine. Another Iceland Gull was seen on The Range.

 

16th May:

North Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Balranald.

Benbecula: 8 Dotterel were reported near Loch Fada along the coastal trail.

South Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar.

 

15th May:

Lewis: A female Yellow Wagtail was on the machair at Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: 4 Dotterel were still at Balranald. A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Knockintorran. An Iceland Gull was at Loch Sandary.

South Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar.

Marine Sightings: 5 Orcas were seen from the ferry between Lochmaddy and Uig this evening.

 

14th May:

North Uist: 4 Dotterel were seen at Balranald. A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull flew north over Aird an Runair. 10 Long-tailed Skuas and 2 Pomarine Skuas were seen between Uig and Lochmaddy this afternoon.

South Uist: 3 Dotterel were on the machair at Drimsdale. A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Loch Bornish mid-morning before flying north.

 

13th May:

North Uist: The pair of American Wigeon were at the southern end of Loch Paible. 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew north past Aird an Runair. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Borve. Berneray along with a male Ruff and 2 Black-tailed Godwits. 23 Pink-footed Geese were at Loch Bhrusda, Berneray. An Iceland Gull was at Loch Sandary.

South Uist: An Iceland Gull was on the beach at Peninerine.

Pectoral Sandpiper and Ruff (Steve Duffield)

 

12th May:

North Uist: The pair of American Wigeon were still at the southern end of Loch Paible. A minimum of 308 Long-tailed Skuas and 73 Pomarine Skuas flew north past Aird an Runair today; also an adult White-billed Diver north there at 11:45. A Ruff was at the south-west end of Berneray.

South Uist: 11 Long-tailed Skuas and a Pomarine Skua flew north past Ardvule (10:20 - 11:45)

Long-tailed Skuas and Pomarine Skua (Steve Duffield)

 

11th May:

St. Kilda: The Iceland Gull was still in Hirta this morning.

North Uist: The drake American Wigeon was at Loch Paible.

South Uist: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at the south-west end of Loch Bee. An Iceland Gull was at Ardivachar and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were on the machair nearby.

Barra: A Hobby was seen flying south past Brevig.

Marine Sightings: An Orca was seen off Port of Ness.

Otter (Alan Kennedy)

 

10th May:

Lewis: The drake American Wigeon is still at Loch Stiapabhat. An adult White-billed Diver flew north-west past Port of Ness this morning.

North Uist: A Long-tailed Skua and a Pomarine Skua flew north past Aird an Runair this morning; another 4 Pomarine Skuas flew north there this evening. A pair of American Wigeon were at Loch Paible. A 3rd cal yr Iceland Gull was at Loch Sandary.

Benbecula: A Wood Sandpiper was at Loch Fada.

South Uist: An Iceland Gull flew north from The Range towards Ardivachar. A non-breeding Curlew Sandpiper was on the machair at Ardvule.

Marine Sightings: 2 Orcas were off Port of Ness.

Long-tailed Skua (Steve Duffield); Corncrake (Alan Kennedy)

 

9th May:

North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was feeding in fields with large flock of Dunlin on Baleshare; opposite Loch na Paisg.

South Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was on the Range at LA2. A Glaucous Gull was later seen at Ardivachar. 3 Avocets and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.

Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale and 40 Risso's Dolphins were seen off the Butt.

 

8th May:

Lewis: The American Wigeon was at Loch Stiapabhat. 3 White-billed Divers (2 adult and 2nd cal yr) were off Skigersta this afternoon. A Green-winged Teal was seen at Valasay, Great Bernera.

North Uist: 4 Long-tailed Skuas and 24 Puffins flew north past Aird an Runair (06:30 - 07:30) today. 17 Barnacle Geese and 5 Pink-footed Geese are still at Balranald. A 3rd cal yr Iceland Gull was at Loch Sandary.

Benbecula: 2 Dotterel and 50 Whimbrel were in a field west of the road at Aird.

South Uist: 2 Avocets were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.

Barra: The Hawfinch was still in Castlebay this morning.

 

7th May:

North Uist: A House Martin was at Loch Grogarry this evening. 2 Pomarine Skuas and 35 Long-tailed Skuas flew north past Aird an Runair late evening.

South Uist: An Iceland Gull was at Loch Drimore. 3 Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Bee. 3 Avocets were on The Range today.

Barra: The Hawfinch was in Castlebay again this morning.

Purple Sandpiper (Steve Duffield); Arctic Skuas and Hen Harrier (Alan Kennedy)

 

6th May:

Lewis: The American Wigeon was at Loch Stiapabhat.

North Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Kyles Paible.

South Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Aird Mhicheil.

Barra: A Hawfinch was in Castlebay.

 

5th May:

Lewis: A Pomainre Skua flew north-west past Skigersta this evening.

North Uist: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were seen on the beach at Balranald. A Ruddy Shelduck was reported from Loch Bhrusda, Berneray. 2 Dotterel were seen by the track to Aird an Runair this evening. 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew past Balranald early morning.

Benbecula: 92 Whimbrel were on the island today. 5 BLack-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret were at Coot Loch.

South Uist: An adult Curlew Sandpiper was at Ardivachar and an Iceland Gull was also seen there. A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull was in a field behind Kildonan beach.

Barra: A Hawfinch flew over Castlebay this afternoon.

 

4th May:

Lewis: The drake American Wigeon was still at Loch Stiapabhat. An adult White-billed Diver was seen 800m north of the Butt this evening.

North Uist: 7 Pomarine Skuas flew past Balranald this morning. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Aird an Runair.

South Uist: An Iceland Gull was seen at Ardivachar and it or another was on the pools on The Range.

Iceland Gull (Alan Kennedy)

 

3rd May:

Lewis: The drake American Wigeon was still at Loch Stiapabhat; where there was also a pale-bellied Brent Goose amongst 22 Pink-footed Geese.

North Rona: A Great Shearwater was seen at sea near the island from a boat today.

Benbecula: A 2nd summer Little Gull was at Coot Loch.

South Uist: 2 Avocets were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee and a Ruddy Shelduck was also reported from there today.

Little Gull (Neil Bennett)

 

2nd May:

Lewis: A drake American Wigeon was on Loch Stiapabhat.

St. Kilda: A drake American Wigeon was with 10 Wigeon in Village Bay this morning before flying off east.

 

1st May:

Lewis: An Osprey was seen over Port of Ness. A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Sgailleir, just above Meavaig.

North Uist: 78 Whimbrel were at Balemore. 49 Whimbrel were on Baleshare and another 28 were seen at Lochmaddy.

Benbecula: A drake Garganey was on Loch Fada.

South Uist: 2 Avocets were at the south-west end of Loch Bee.

Insects: North Loch Eynort last night had 53 moths / 13 species which included 11 Ruddy Highflyers, 2 Golden-rod Pugs and a Brindled Pug. South Glendale produced 87 moths / 13 species which included a Powdered Quaker, Autumn Green Carpet,  2 Striped Twin-spot Carpets and a Sweet Gale Moth.

In Lewis a Small Mottled Willow was trapped in Point.

Brindled Pug and Sweet Gale (John Kemp)