• When here in the Outer Hebrides and looking at a bird, have you ever wondered how rare it is? The status of all species can vary enormously from island to island. How rare is Shoveler on Barra, has Stock Dove been seen on Harris, does Dotterel occur on Benbecula in the autumn, and how common is Blue Tit on North Uist? Well, fret no longer! The Status and Distribution of birds here on the Outer Hebrides has been completely updated and summarised for every species and each of the main islands and outliers. Available as an online resource at https://status.outerhebrides-birdreports.org/ or via our shop

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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 15th September 2018. Updated throughout the day

Hirta, St Kilda
The female ***Snowy Owl*** was again seen on Hirta. The Rose-coloured Starling and a Ruff were also present in the village

Steinish, Isle of Lewis
The juvenile *Buff-breasted Sandpiper* was still present late afternoon

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
19 Leach's Petrels and 3 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry this morning.

Nunton, Benbecula
A Ruff was seen in fields there

The Range, South Uist
A Ruff, Whimbrel and a Pink-footed Goose were there today

Stoneybridge, South Uist
A Whimbrel was there and another was nearby at Aird-mhicheil.

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 06:45 - 10:15
Weather: Wind WSW F4, backing S f2 then veering WSW f3, dull with occasional light showers

A 3+ hour seawatch this morning produced 7 Eider (2S 5N), 11 Red-breasted Mergansers (S), 8 Red-throated Divers (S), 1 Black-throated Diver [adult, summer plumage] (S), 2 Great Northern Divers (S), 1 Storm Petrel (S), 2 Fulmars (S), 34 Gannet (32S 2N), 1 Shag (S), 5 Knot (S), 23 Snipe (S, in off the sea), 1 Arctic Skua (S), 6 Razorbills (S) and 6 auk sp (S).
Also present in the area were Shoveler 1, Mallard 62, Teal 14, Red-throated Diver 2, Common Buzzard 1, Curlew 3, Bar-tailed Godwit 4, Great Black-backed Gull 36, Merlin 1, Hooded Crow 1, Raven 6, Pied Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 50, Rock Pipit 1, Twite 8 and Linnet 2

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Snowy Owl (C) and courtesy of Cairan Hatsell
 
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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Tony Marr at Ness;

No seawatching today – nothing to watch – but an interesting mix of landbirds, some quite unusual here.

Garden Warbler – one in Port of Ness gardens
Whinchat - one in gardens
Robin – 8 in Port of Ness
Tree Sparrow – 2 (appeared to be juvs ) by Port of Ness PO
Linnet - 20 there
Greenfinch – 40 there
Common Snipe – a flock of 22 flew south (am)
Barn Swallow – 9 at Port of Ness and one at the Butt
Willow Warbler – one in South Dell
 
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