Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2022
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.
31st March:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Loch Branahuie and 4 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Balranald. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Rushgarry, Berneray.
South Uist: A Great White Egret was seen at Stilligarry this afternoon.
Great White Egret (Christine Smith)
30th March:
North Uist: A Snow Goose was amongst the Barnacle Geese at the west end of Vallay Island this morning. 2 (pair) of Cackling Geese were at Aird an Runair, Balranald; also 2 Snow Buntings were on the shore there. At least 7 Iceland Gulls and a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull were at Kyles Paible.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Craigston along with a juvenile Iceland Gull.
Purple Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit and Snow Bunting (Steve Duffield)
29th March:
North Uist: 5 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull were at Rubh' Arnal.
28th March:
Lewis: 5 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour this morning. The drake Lesser Scaup was on Loch Stiapabhat. A White-billed Diver was off Skigersta.
North Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch nam Feithean. A Cackling Goose was at Knockintorran, just south of Loch Sandary. 2 immature Glaucous Gulls were on the North Ford, off Carinish this evening.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee with a second (Welsh, colour-ringed individual) present in the afternoon.
Insects: 2 Peacock butterflies were seen in Carinish this afternoon.
27th March:
Lewis: 4 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour. 3 Snow Buntings were at Shawbost.
North Uist: A Snow Goose was seen on Vallay. 42 Common Scoters were in the Sound of Pabbay, off Berneray.
Barra: A Jackdaw was at Eoligarry.
26th March:
North Uist: 2 Glaucous Gulls (juvenile and 2nd w), 2 juvenile Kumlien's Gulls and 17 Iceland Gulls (1 adult) were between Rubh' Arnal and Kyles Paible. 116 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal and 30 White-fronted Geese flew north there around midday. 28 Whooper Swans flew north-west over Carinish this morning. Another 37 Whooper Swans flew north at Carinish around 13:30.
South Uist: At Ardvule this morning there was a northerly passage of 13 Whooper Swans, 11 Greylag geese and 235 Greenland Whitefronts (in 2 flocks at 09:49). Also 75 Black-tailed Godwits there. Also 29 Black-headed Gulls and 62 Oystercatchers heading N out to sea off the point. A Chiffchaff was in South Glendale.
Insects: A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen at Loch Sandary. 10 male and 16 female Belted Beauty moths were seen just south of Ardvule today.
Belted Beauties (John Kemp); Iceland Gull and Skylark (Steve Duffield)
25th March:
Wheatears are thinly but widely distributed already this year with birds seen at Sgarasta, Harris, at Carnach, Claddach Baleshare and Carinish in North Uist; and at the north end of Benbecula just this morning.
North Uist: The Snow Goose was at Malaclate this afternoon. 22 White-fronted Geese flew west over Vallay. A Cackling Goose was at Sollas. 18 White-fronted Geese landed at Loch nam Feithean.
Insects: Moth trapping at North Loch Eynort last night produced a Yellow Horned, 6 Early Grey and an Autumn Green Carpet.
Short-eared Owl, Snow Goose and White-tailed Eagle (Steve Duffield)
Early Grey and Yellow Horned (John Kemp)
24th March:
Lewis: 3 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour. 70 Whooper Swans flew north at Carloway.
North Uist: 14 White-fronted Geese flew over Loch Mor, Baleshare this morning. At least 2 male Wheatears are in Carinish.
South Uist: A Wheatear was at Cladh Hallan Cemetery.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Borve.
Insects: A Double-striped Pug, Dotted Border and 2 Agonopterix yeatiana were trapped in South Glendale last night.
Agonopterix yeatiana, Dotted Border and Double-striped Pug (John Kemp)
23rd March:
North Uist: 2 Cackling Geese (pair) were at Aird an Runair, Balranald. 11 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean. 8 Iceland Gulls (an adult, 3rd w, 3 x 2nd w and 3 x juvenile) and a 3rd winter Kumlien's Gull were on the beach at Kyles Paible.
22nd March:
Benbecula: 2 Glaucous Gulls (a 2nd winter and a juvenile) and a juvenile Iceland Gull were off Balivanich. 5 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee. A male Wheatear was in South Glendale today.
Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)
21st March:
Lewis: The drake Lesser Scaup was on Loch Stiapabhat.
20th March:
Lewis: A Chiffchaff was singing at Skigersta. The drake Lesser Scaup and a drake Ring-necked Duck were on Loch Stiapabhat today.
St.Kilda: The female Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta.
North Uist: A Wheatear was in Carinish.
South Uist: A Little Egret (unringed) was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning.
Barra: A Wheatear was seen at Brevig. 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were also at Brevig and 2 Green-winged Teal were at Ardmhor.
Insects: A Yellow Horned was trapped at Keose, Lewis last night and is the first record for the Outer Hebrides.
Yellow Horned (Debbie Storrow)
19th March
North Uist: A drake Garganey was seen on Baleshare today.
18th March:
Lewis: 5 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour.
South Uist: A Siberian Chiffchaff is in Askernish. A Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee.
17th March:
South Uist: A Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee.
Barra: The Kumlien's Gull is still at Borve.
16th March:
Lewis: The drake Lesser Scaup and a drake Ring-necked Duck were on Loch Stiapabhat today.
15th March:
Lewis: 7 juvenile Iceland Gulls and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were in Stornoway harbour.
14th March:
Lewis: The drake Lesser Scaup was back on Loch Stiapabhat today.
Benbecula: The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still on the beach in Balivanich. A drake Pochard and Little Egret were at Coot Loch.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Borve. 2 Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor.
13th March:
North Uist: 25 Whooper Swans flew north-west over Carinish this morning.
Benbecula: The Pochard is still on Coot Loch. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls (an adult and a juvenile) were on the beach in Balivanich.
South Uist: 58 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Scaup were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. A juvenle Iceland Gull was at LA2 on the Range. A juvenile Iceland Gull was in North Bay (Mol Mor) and another juvenile was at Ardivachar. A Spotted Redshank flew south over Askernish.
Marine Sightings: 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Ardivachar this afternoon.
Iceland Gull and Scaup (Steve Duffield)
12th March:
Lewis: 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull is still at Borve.
Marine Sightings: Around 300 Common Dolphins and 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry this morning.
11th March:
South Uist: A Siberian Chiffchaff was in Askernish.
Barra: A juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Borve.
10th March:
Lewis: 6 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour. An adult Iceland Gull was at North Tolsta
Harris: An adult Iceland Gull was reported from Bunavoneader.
North Uist: A Cackling Goose was in fields at Balemore, south of Loch Sandary. 12 Iceland Gulls (3 adults and 9 immature) and 2 Glaucous Gulls (an adult and a juveile) were at Rubh' Arnal. 2 Cackling Geese were at Balranald.
Benbecula: The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still in Balivanich this morning along with 2 Iceland Gulls (a juvenile and an adult). The female Lesser Scaup and drake Pochard were on Coot Loch.
South Uist: A drake Ring-necked Duck was at the south end of Loch Bee; also 4 Scaup (3 female) were on the loch. 2 Little Egrets (both ringed and one colour-ringed) were at the north end of Loch Bee. 53 Black-tailed Godwits were in the north bay at Ardvule; also 5 Common Scoter past (4 south and 1 north); also 5 Shoveler on the loch there. A Little Egret was at Loch Bornish. 2 Lesser Scaup were on West Loch Ollay.
9th March:
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Baleshare.
Benbecula: The female Lesser Scaup and drake Pochard were on Coot Loch. 2 Iceland Gulls, a juvenile Glaucous Gull and 9 Snow Buntings were on the beach in Balivanich.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at Clachan, north Loch Bee again this morning. This was joined by a second bird (the colour-ringed Welsh individual) this afternoon. 4 Scaup (a male and 3 females) were on Loch Bee.
8th March:
Benbecula: The Lesser Scaup is still on Coot Loch; also a drake Pochard there. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls (an adult and juvenile) were on the beach at Balivanich. The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still in Culla Bay.
South Uist: The 1st yr drake American Wigeon was in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. 2 Lesser Scaup were on West Loch Ollay.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Borve.
7th March:
North Uist: The Snow Goose was on Grenitote machair today. A Cackling Goose was to the south of Loch Sandary. An adult Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull were near Rubh' Arnal; also 44 pale-bellied Brent Geese were there.
Benbecula: The Lesser Scaup is still on Coot Loch. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 25+ Snow Buntings were at Culla Bay. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls (an adult and juvenile) were on the beach by the airport in Balivanich.
South Uist: A Little Egret was by Hebridean Jewellery early afternoon.
Glaucous Gull with Herring Gull and Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
6th March:
Lewis: 7 Iceland Gulls (6 juveniles and a 3rd winter) were in Stornoway harbour today.
North Uist: A Cackling Goose was to the west of Loch Sandary.
Benbecula: The Lesser Scaup is still on Coot Loch.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning. A drake American Wigeon was also at the north end of Loch Bee. 2 Lesser Scaup were on West Loch Ollay.
Barra: A 2nd winter Iceland Gull flew south at Caolas in the afternoon.
Barnacle Geese and Cackling Goose (Steve Duffield)
5th March:
North Uist: 2 Cackling Geese were on the south side of Loch nam Feithean. Another Cackling Goose was by Loch Sandary.
Benbecula: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Culla Bay.
South Uist: 2 Lesser Scaup and a Coot were at West Loch Ollay. A Little Egret was at Loch Tornish. A Little Egret was at Clachan, at the north end of Loch Bee.
Barra: A Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor and a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Brevig.
4th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull and juvenile Glaucous Gull were at Loch Ordais.
Benbecula: The female Lesser Scaup is still on Coot Loch.
South Uist: A ringed Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning.
3rd March:
Lewis: 3 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway harbour.
Barra: The Kumlien's Gull is still at Borve.
2nd March:
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Borve.
1st March:
Benbecula: The female Lesser Scaup is still on Coot Loch.
South Uist: A Little Egret was at the north end of Loch Bee this afternoon. 2 Lesser Scaups are still at West Loch Ollay. An Iceland Gull was at Wset Gerinish on the range at LA2.