Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024
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31st March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat; also 75 Pink-footed Geese and 200 Barnacle Geese here.
North Uist: A couple of Wheatears were reported today.
Barra: The 2nd winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor.
Insects: A Red Chestnut was trapped in South Glendale.
Red Chestnut (John Kemp)
30th March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: 2 Ring-necked Ducks (male and female) were seen on west Loch Bee. 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch an t-saile and 18 were on the Range at LA2.
Marine Sightings: 5 Orcas were seen off Tiumpan Head whilst a White-beaked Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin and Humpback Whale were off Port of Ness.
Kestrel and Redshank (John Kemp)
29th March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Rubh' Arnal. 22 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Claddach Kirkibost this evening.
South Uist: The male Hawfinch is still in Bornish. A female Velvet Scoter was on West Loch Ollay; also 30 Greenland White-fronted Geese dropped in. 2 Pintail, 12 Shoveler and 39 Black-tailed Godwits were at ARdvule whilst 3 Barnacle Geese and 41 Pink-footed Geese flew north. 16 Barnacle Geese flew north at South Glendale. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Bee. 12 White-fronted Geese flew over Stoneybridge.
Goldcrest (John Kemp)
28th March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: A male Hawfinch was in Bornish.
27th March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal and 2 Pintail were at Loch Stiapabhat.
Harris: The drake Surf Scoter was in the Sound of Taransay.
South Uist: A male Hawfinch was in Bornish.
26th March:
North Uist: 126 Whooper Swans (in 3 flocks) flew north-west over Claddach Kirkibost this morning.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. 3 Velvet Scoters and a female Scaup are on West Loch Ollay. A Wheatear was at Hallan cemetery.
Barra: The 2nd winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor in the evening.
Marine Sightings: At least 6 Humpback Whales were off Portnagurain, Tiumpan Head this morning.
25th March:
Lewis: The juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour this evening.
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Kyles Paible this moring. A Manx Shearwater was seen from the Uig - Lochmaddy ferry this morning.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. A Chiffchaff was in South Glendale.
Insects: Single Early Grey moths were caught in South Glendale and North Loch Eynort last night.
Early Grey and Chiffchaff (John Kemp)
24th March:
North Uist: 3 Iceland Gulls were at Rubh' Arnal; also 120 Brent Geese there. An adult Iceland Gull was on Loch Hosta. 40 Whooper Swans flanded on the sands to the north of Baleshare late afternoon.
Benbecula: A Wheatear was seen near Coot Loch.
South Uist: An Avocet was in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. The drake Ring-necked Duck and 5 Scaup were on west Loch Bee.
Barra: A Wheatear was seen at Traigh Mhor.
Avocet and Long-tailed Duck (Alan Kennedy); Otter (John Kemp)
23rd March:
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. The drake Ring-necked Duck and 5 Scaup were at the south-west end of Loch Bee whilst a pair of Pintail were in the north-west corner.
Barra: The 2nd winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor.
Green-winged Teal (Alan Kennedy)
22nd March:
Lewis: The juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour this afternoon.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. 23 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Ardvule whilst 2 Black Guillemots and 116 Kittiwakes flew south off-shore. 2 Fieldfare were in South Glendale.
Black Guillemot and Fieldfare (John Kemp)
21st March:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. A Snow Bunting was seen at the Butt.
South Uist: A seawatch from Ardvule this morning produced a Manx Shearwater, 64 Gannets, 22 Fulmars, 5 Common Scoter, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 28 Kittiwakes, 5 Red-throated Divers and 1 Razorbill heading south.
Common Scoters (John Kemp)
20th March:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: the Snow Goose was at the east end of Vallay this morning. A White-billed Diver was seen off Weaver's Point, on the northern side of the mouth of Lochmaddy harbour (from the ferry) around midday.
South Uist: 3 female Velvet Scoters are still on West Loch Ollay. An adult Iceland Gull was on the machair at Aird Mhichceil.
Insects: 24 Hebrew Characters, Agonopterix yeatiana and Agonopterix ciliella were trapped in South Glendale last night whilst 20 Hebrew Characters were caught in Carinish.
Agonopterix ciliella and Agonopterix yeatiana (John Kemp); Icelabd Gull, Purple Sandpiper and Velvet Scoters (Alan Kennedy)
19th March:
North Uist: A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull and a 2nd winter Iceland Gull were on the machair at Balemore this afternooon.
Barra: A Blue Tit was at Bruernish briefly. A drake Green-winged Teal was at Loch Ob.
18th March:
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River.
female Belted Beauty (John Kemp); White-tailed Eagle (Alan Kennedy)
15th March:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. The juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour this afternoon. 2 drake Goosanders were on Loch Ordais. 5 Snow Buntings were on Coll beach.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. 2 Ring-necked Ducks (male and female) were on west Loch Bee.
White-tailed Eagles (John Kemp); Great Northern Diver (Steve Duffield)
14th March:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver was off Skigersta this afternoon. The Green-winged Teal, 2 Pintail and a Lapland Bunting were seen at Loch Stiapabhat. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour this evening.
Harris: 2 Surf Scoters (male and female) and 5 drake Velvet Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay.
North Uist: 2 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull were at Kyles Paible; also the Jackdaw was still there. 5 Snow Buntings were at Balranald.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. 3 female Velvet Scoters were on West Loch Ollay.
Goldcrest (John Kemp); Black Guillemot and Green-winged Teal (Steve Duffield)
13th March:
Lewis: The Thayer's-type Gull was in Stornoway harbour this evening.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River.
Barra: A Scandinavian Rock Pipit was on Vatersay.
12th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: 26 Common Scoters were off the west side of Berneray.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at Clachan, north Loch Bee. The drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River.
Green-winged Teal (Alan Kennedy)
11th March:
Lewis: The probable Thayer's Gull was in Stornoway harbour this morning. The drake Green-winged Teal and 2 Pintail were on Loch Stiapabhat.
10th March:
Lewis: A Snow Bunting was at Bragar.
North Uist: 32 Whooper Swans flew north-west over Claddach Kirkibost this evening. The Snow Goose was at Sollas. 6 Snow Buntings were at Balranald. 2 Iceland Gulls were at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: The Mistle Thrush is still in South Glendale. The Litle Egret was at Clachan, Loch Bee. A drake Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. The female Lesser Scaup and 3 Velvet Scoters were on West Loch Ollay. A 1st winter Iceland Gull was on Ormiclate machair.
Barra: 2 Chiffchaffs were at Cuithir. 2 Rooks and a Jackdaw were at Scurrival and another Rook was seen over Castlebay. 2 Velvet Scoters were off the causeway to Vatersay.
Insects: 2 Hebrew Characters and a Dotted Border were caught in South Glendale last night whilst at North Loch Eynort trapped a Yellow Horned and 4 Hebrew Characters were trapped. 2 male Belted Beauties were seen at Balranald this afternoon.
Yellow Horned (John Kemp); Snow Goose and Snow Buntings with Twite (Steve Duffield)
9th March:
Lewis: The juvenile Kumlien's / Thayer's Gull was in Stornoway harbour again today.
North Uist: An adult Glaucous Gull was at Aird an Runair. 2 Bonxies flew west over the North Ford causeway in the afternoon.
8th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Kumlien's / Thayer's Gull was in Stornoway harbour again today. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: An adult Kumlien's Gull, 5 Iceland Gulls (2 juveniles, 2 x 2nd w and an adult), 3 Glaucous Gull (3rd w and 2 juveniles), 120 Brent Geese and a Jackdaw were between Kyles Paible and Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: A Mistle Thrush was in South Glendale. A Chiffchaff was in Askernish.
Mistle Thrush (John Kemp); possible Thayer's Gull (Steve Dodd)
7th March:
South Uist: 2 Ring-necked Ducks (male and female) and 6 Scaup were on Loch Bee whilst 15 Black-tailed Godwits were also in the area.
6th March:
Lewis: A Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: The Snow Goose was at Grenitote this morning.
South Uist: 2 Velvet Scoters were on West Loch Ollay.
Lapwing (Steve Duffield)
5th March:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
4th March:
North Uist: 3 Snow Buntings were at Balranald. The Little Egret was seen just to the south of Grimsay this morning.
South Uist: 2 Ring-necked Ducks (male and female) and 5 Scaup (2 males and 3 female) were on Loch Bee. 2 Common Scoters and 14 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew south past Ardvule this morning.
Ring-necked Ducks with Scaup, plus drake Teal (John Kemp)
3rd March:
Lewis: An adult Glaucous Gull was at Loch Stiapabhat. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
South Uist: 2 Ring-necked Ducks (male and female), 5 Scaup and around 75 Whooper Swans were on west Loch Bee.
2nd March:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. A Snow Bunting was at Port of Ness this morning.
Barra: The 2nd winter Little Gull was seen at Eoligarry today.
1st March:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan and a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: An immature Iceland Gull was at Kyles Paible.
South Uist: A 2nd winter Little Gull was fly-catching at Orosay this morning and 10 Whooper Swans flew north.
Purple Sandpipers and Whooper Swans (John Kemp)