Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2026
Archive January February March April
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31st May:
North Uist: The American Golden Plover was at Balemore again today and the Iceland Gull was in the general area.
South Uist: A male Crossbill and a House Martin were at North Loch Eynort.
30th May:
St. Kilda: A Common Rosefinch and Quail were on Hirta.
North Uist: The American Golden Plover is still at Balemore today. A 2nd summer Iceland Gull and a House Martin were at Loch Sandary.
American Golden Plover and Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
29th May:
Lewis: A Turtle Dove was at Adabrock this afternoon.
Harris: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Sgailleir, Miabhaig.
North Uist: 3 Pomarine Skuas and 6 Long-tailed Skuas flew north past Aird an Runair today. A 2nd summer Iceland Gull was at Loch a' Mhuillinn, Bayhead this afternoon before flying to the south-west. An American Golden Plover was at Balemore.
South Uist: The 1st summer Glaucous Gull is still at Ardivachar.
28th May:
St. Kilda: A Marsh Warbler and an Iceland Gull were on Hirta.
Flannans: A Pied Flycatcher was on Eilean Mor. A Sooty Shearwater was seen between Lewis and the Flannans.
Harris: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Sgailleir, Miabhaig.
North Uist: A Little Stint was at Balranald. A Glaucous Gull was at Bayhead.
South Uist: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at Ardvule.
Marine Sightings: 2 bull Orcas were seen off Tiumpan Head.
Insects: A Rustic Shoulder-knot , Silver Hook, Powdered Quaker, 2 Scalloped Hazel and an Udea ferrugalis were trapped in South Glendale; whilst 2 Beautiful Yellow Underwings nectaring on cotoneaster there. A Broad-bordered White Underwing was seen at the summit of Mullach a'Ruisg, Harris today.
Rustic Shoulder-knot and Silver Hook (John Kemp)
27th May:
North Uist: A Sandwich Tern was at Balranald early afternoon. An immature Iceland Gull and a Glaucous Gull were at Loch a' Mhuilin, Bayhead this evening. A Spotted Flycatcher was in Lochmaddy. A Little Stint was along the west beach on Berneray.
26th May:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver and a Sooty Shearwater flew north-west past the Butt this morning.
St. Kilda: A Common Rosefinch and Grey-headed Wagtail were on Hirta.
Harris: A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Sgailleir, Miabhaig.
North Uist: 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew north early morning past Aird an Runair. A 2nd summer Ring-billed Gull and a 2nd summer Iceland Gull were at Loch a' Mhuillinn, Bayhead this evening. 2 House Martins and 3 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Sandary.
Benbecula: A House Martin was at Griminish. A Garganey was at Loch Fada.
South Uist: A 2nd summer Little Gull was at south-west Loch Bee.
Barra: A Red-rumped Swallow was at Traigh Mhor this morning.
Marine Sightings: 7 Orcas passed Port of Ness heading towards the Butt thsi afternoon. 10 Minke Whales and 10+ Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head.
Ring-billed Gull (Steve Duffield)
25th May:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater flew north-west past Port of Ness this morning. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Loch Barvas.
South Uist: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. A Goosander was at Loch Eynort. 2 House Martins were at Howmore.
24th May:
North Uist: 7 Long-tailed Skuas and a Pomarine Skua flew north at Aird an Runair (midday - 14:10).
South Uist: The Glaucous Gull is still at Ardivachar.
23rd May:
North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was seen on Borve machair, Berneray.
South Uist: A 1st summer Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. A female Pintail was at North Bay / Mol Mor. A 3rd cal yr Iceland Gull was at Howbeg. A Spotted Flycatcher was in South Glendale this evening.
Spotted Flycatcher (John Kemp)
22nd May:
Lewis: A Black Redstart was in Laxay today.
St. Kilda: A Grey-headed Wagtail was on Hirta this afternoon.
North Uist: A Little Stint was at Loch Paible.
21st May:
Lewis: The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen briefly at the Butt this morning.
Benbecula: A drake Garganey was at Loch Mor / Loch Fada today.
South Uist: A drake Goosander was at Loch Eynort and a male Whinchat was at the turning for Loch Eynort. An immature Glaucous Gull was on Bornish machair.
Barra: A Golden Oriole was seen in flight at Nask.
20th May:
Lewis: A Lesser Yellowlegs was at the Butt this evening.
St. Kilda: A Firecrest was seen briefly on Hirta this morning.
North Uist: 16 Long-tailed Skuas and 10 Pomarine Skuas were seen heading north past Aird an Runair (10:30 - 11:30). A further 22 Long-tailed Skuas and 6 Pomarine Skuas were seen later in the day. A pair of Garganey were on Loch Sandary. 2 House Martins were in Hougharry.
Pomarine Skuas, Corncrake and Peregrine Falcon (Steve Duffield)
19th May:
Lewis: An Osprey was at Loch Barvas.
North Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Balranald.
South Uist: A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was at Stoneybridge. A pair of Goosanders were seen at Howmore.
18th May:
North Uist: An immature Glaucous Gull was off Aird an Runair this morning. A Glaucous Gull was at Loch Paible.
South Uist: An Iceland Gull was at Ardivachar.
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)