2016
Please note that the sightings below do not reflect the variety of species you can see in a normal day out birding or wildlife watching. These reports concentrate on more unusual species or significant counts or movements.
30th November:
Stornoway: 3 Waxwings were in Urquhart Gardens, Stornroway.
29th November:
North Uist: The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean. A Glaucous Gull flew past Aird an Runair.
South Uist: A Wawxing and a Blackcap are in South Glendale. A Black-tailed Godwit was at Loch Ardvule.
Barra: A Siberian Chiffchaff, a Chiffchaff and a female Blackcap were at Brevig.
28th November:
South Uist: A Blackcap and a Waxwing are still in South Glendale.
27th November:
North Uist: The Yellow-browed Warbler was again in Carininsh today. 39 Snow Buntings were on Baleshare.
South Uist: A Waxwing, Blakcap and Fieldfare are in South Glendale.
24th November:
Lewis: 10 Waxwings were in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway today.
North Uist: The American Coot and 5 Coots are on the south side of Loch nam Feithean. A Jack Snipe was by Loch Sandary. A drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Grogarry. The Yellow-browed Warbler was still in Carinish.
South Uist: A Chiffchaff is at Loch Eynort. 2 Waxwings and 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Ardveenish; also a Blackcap here. A Waxwing and a Brambling were in Castlebay. A Chiffchaff and Blackcap were at Garrygall.
23rd November:
North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Carinish today. A Jack Snipe was on the shore at Baleshare and 5 Pintail were on the island.
South Uist: A Waxwing and 2 Blackcaps were in South Glendale. A Jack Snipe was at Ardvule.
Yellow-browed Warble (Steve Duffield)
22nd November:
Lewis: A pair of Goosanders were at the Braighe at midday today.
North Uist: 4 Pintails are on Baleshare.
South Uist: 2 Blackcaps are still in South Glendale where 2 Waxwings also dropped in for a short while.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales have been seen off Tiumpan Head 3 times during the last week with the last sighting just yesterday.
Waxwing (John Kemp)
21st November:
North Uist: The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean with 5 Coots.
South Uist: 10 Fieldfare and 2 Blackcaps were in South Glendale this morning.
Turnstone (John Kemp)
20th November:
Harris: 3 Goosanders were at Seilebost. A drake American Wigeon was at Luskentyre.
South Uist: 5 Common Scoters were off Kilpheder today. A female Pintail was on Loch Ardvule. A female Blackcap was in South Glendale.
Marine Sightings: 100's of Common Dolphins were reported off Tiumpan Head (Tiumpan Head Watchers)
Great Northern Diver (John Kemp); Harbour Seal (Steve Duffield)
19th November:
South Uist: A female / immature Velvet Scoter and 12 Whooper Swans flew south at Ardvule this morning. 4 Pintail flew over Loch Bronish (heading towards Ardvule) early afternoon. A female Blackcap was in South Glendale.
Barra: A Waxwing was in Castlebay today. A Chiffchaff and Blackcap were in North Bay whilst another Blackcap was in Brevig.
Velvet Scoter (John Kemp)
18th November:
Lewis: A male Blackcap was in Port of Ness. 11 Waxwings were in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway.
South Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee this morning. A Jack Snipe was at the west end of Loch Stilligarry and a Lapland Bunting was on Drimsdale machair. 2 Waxwings and a female Blackcap were in South Glendale this morning. A female Blackcap and Water Rail were at Carnan today.
Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Brent Goose were on Vatersay. 2 Waxwings were at Brevig. 2 Chiffchaff were at Morghan. 101 Brent Geese were at Traigh Mhor.
17th November:
Lewis: 13 Waxwings were in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway this afternoon. An adult Glaucous Gull was at Fivepenny.
South Uist: At least 2 Lapland Buntings are on Eochar machair. 4 Scaup were on Loch Bee. At Ardvule birds flying south included 14 Red-throated Divers, 8 Great Northern Divers, 6 Whooper Swans, 9 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 52 Wigeon, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Common Scoter, 39 Long-tailed Duck and a Snow Bunting. A drake Pintail was on Loch Ardvule. A Waxwing and female Blackcap are in South Glendale. A Waxwing is in Bornish and the Blue Tit is still around.
Barra: The drake American Wigeon is still at Eoligarry. A juvenile Iceland Gull is at Craigston. 101 Brent Geese are at Traigh Mhor. A male Blackcap is in North Bay. The Coot is still on Loch Tangasdale.
16th November:
North Uist: The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean with 5 Coots.
South Uist: A single Waxwing and Blackcap are in South Glendale.
Long-tailed Ducks (John Kemp)
15th November:
South Uist: A Little Egret is at the north end of Loch Bee this morning. Southerly passage at Ardvule this morning included 177 Gannets, 8 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Arctic Skua, 123 Kittiwakes, 1 Long-tailed Duck and 1 Black Guillemot. 3 Waxwings and 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.
Golden Eagle (John Kemp)
14th November:
Lewis: 7 Waxwings were in Willowglen, Stornoway today. A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Bennadrove Landfill Site, Stornoway today and 6 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the ferry between Ullapool and Stornoway.
North Uist: A Lapland Bunting was on Baleshare today.
South Uist: 2 Lapland Buntings flew south over Carnan this morning. A juvenile American Golden Plover was on Bornish machair today. A female / immature Scaup was on Loch Ardvule and 12 Brent Geese flew south off the point. 5 Waxwings and 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.
American Golden Plover (John Kemp)
13th November:
South Uist: 5 Waxwings and a Blackcap are still in South Glendale.
Barra: The drake American Wigeon is still at Eoligarry. A juvenile Iceland Gull is at Ardveenish. A Chiffchaff was in Castlebay.
12th November:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was near Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: The American Coot was still on Loch nam Feithean with 5 Coots. A Snow Bunting was on Balemore machair and 8 Brent Geese were near Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: 142 Greenland White-fronted Geese (just 3 juveniles) and 5 Pink-footed Geese were on West Gerinish machair this afternoon. A Waxwing was at Kinloch. 8 Pink-footed Geese were west of Loch Bee and 4 Pink-footed Geese were at Kilpheder. 88 Greenland White-fronted Geese were also west of Loch Bee but presumably part of the 142 at West Gerinish later. 5 Waxwings and a Blackcap were in South Glendale. A Waxwing flew west at Druidibeg this morning.
American Coot and Waxwings (John Kemp)
11th November:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was on the machair near Loch Stiapabhat this morning and a male Blackcap is in Port of Ness.
North Uist: An American Coot is on Loch nam Feithean along with 5 Coot (video here).
South Uist: A Blackcap and 4 Waxwings were in South Glendale.
Barra: The drake American Wigeon is still at Eoligarry. A Coot and a Scaup are on Loch Tangasdale. An Iceland Gull was at Traigh Mhor. 2 Waxwings were in North Bay and 2 were in Castlebay. A Brambling is at Brevig.
American Coot (Steve Duffield); Waxwing (John Kemp)
10th November:
North Uist: A hybrid Cackling x Barnacle Goose was with Barnacle Geese at Grenitote this morning.
South Uist: 3 Waxwings, a Brambling and a Blackcap were in South Glendale today.
Barra: The drake American Wigeon is still at Eoligarry. A Scaup is at Tangasdale. 7 Pink-footed Geese are at Scurrival. A brief Waxwing was in North Bay.
Cackling Goose x Barnacle Goose (Steve Duffield); Waxwings (John Kemp)
9th November:
North Uist: A female Blackcap was at Scotvein, Grimsay today.
8th November:
North Uist: A Chiffchaff and Woodcock were in Carinish this morning.
South Uist: The Little Egret was a Hebridean Jewellery again today.
Barra: The drake American Wigeon was at Eoligarry and 47 Brent Geese were at Traigh Mhor.
7th November:
North Uist: 2 Lapland Buntings were on Berneray and 40 Common Scoters were off the west side.
South Uist: 2 Blackcaps, 4 Fieldfare and a Brambling were in South Glendale. 90 Long-tailed Ducks were in the north bay at Ardvule.
Barra: 3 Waxwings were in the Catlebay / Glen area. A Scaup and the Coot were on Loch Tangusdale. A Swallow was at Nasg. 81 Long-tailed Ducks were off Craigston.
Otter and Twite (Steve Duffield)
6th November:
Lewis: A Glaucous Gull was over Port of Ness. 27 Greenland White-fronted Geese have returned to Arnol.
North Uist: A Waxwing and a male Blackcap were in Carinish this morning. A female Blackcap is at Langass Lodge.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Hebridean Jewellery again today. 2 Waxwings were in Bornish along with a Blue Tit, 2 Blackcaps and 2 Chiffchaffs. 2 Common Scoters flew north at Ardvule this morning and a Snow Bunting came in off the sea. 3 Blackcaps and a Brambling were in South Glendale.
Barra: The drake American Wigeon was back at Eoligarry. 2 Iceland Gulls were at Ardveenish. A Whimbrel was at Earsary. The Coot is still on Tangusdale. Also a couple of Waxwings, Chiffchaff and several Blackcaps still around the island.
Blackcap (John Kemp)
5th November:
Lewis: 6 Sooty Shearwaters flew west past the Butt (11:00 - 12:00).
North Uist: 2 Waxwings were at Knockintorran road end this morning and 2,500+ Barnacle Geese were in the Piable area.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Hebridean Jewellery this morning. A Waxwing visited South Glendale again briefly today whilst a Brambling and 2 Blackcaps were also present.
4th November:
North Uist: A Jack Snipe was on Beinn na Coille.
Benbecula: 5 Waxwings were seen on the east side of Benbecula today.
South Uist: A brief Waxwing, 2 Blackcaps and a Brambling were in South Glendale.
Barra: A Little Bunting was at Skallary this afternoon. At least 24 Waxwings, 10 Blackcaps and a Chiffchaff also around the island; as well as the Coot still on Tangusdale.
3rd November:
Lewis: 3 Sooty Shearwaters and a Pomarine Skua flew west past the Butt (08:00 - 09:00).
North Uist: A male Blackcap and 2 Bramblings are in Carinish. At least 3 Blackcaps are in Lochmaddy and 2 1st winter male Scaup are on the outskirts.
South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Blackcaps and a Brambling are in South Glendale. 3 Common Scoters and 41 Kittiwakes flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Yellow-browed Warbler (John Kemp); Scaup with Tufted Duck (Steve Duffield)
2nd November:
North Uist: A female Scaup and Coot are on Loch Sandary. 4 Coots are on Loch nam Feithean. 2 1st winter Scaup are on the outskirts of Lochmaddy. A male Blackcap is in Carinish. At least 12 Waxwings were in Lochmaddy.
South Uist: A female Common Scoter was off Orosay. 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Boisdale. A male Blackcap was in South Glendale.
Barra: The male American Wigeon was back at Eoligarry today. A Common Scoter was off Craigston. A Coot is at Tangasdale.
1st November:
Lewis: A seawatch from the Butt (08:00 - 11:00) produced 11 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 1 Great Skua, 1 blue Fulmar, 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 5 Little Auks, 1,750 auks and 875 Kittiwakes heading west; also 11 Whooper Swans in off the sea. A Snow Bunting was at the Butt and a Goldeneye was at Eoropie.
South Uist: 10 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew south at Ardvule this morning and 10 Barnacle Geese flew north. A Snow Bunting was at Ardvule and 2 Blackcaps were in South Glendale.
Barra: A Waxwing flew east over Castlebay, 2 Snow Buntings are at Eoligarry and several Blackcaps and Chiffchaff are scattered around the island.
Marine Sightings: 8+ Risso's Dolphins were seen from the Butt this morning.
Brent Geese and Snow Bunting (John Kemp)