10th April 2017

[BrianR]

The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean and the Green-winged Teal at Aird an Rùnair (Loch a' Roe). There were plenty of restless geese in the area today although none were actually seen to leave - 55 Greenland White-fronts, 10 unidentified (probably Pink-feet) and probably in excess of 5,000 Barnacles. Also a large flock of at least 3,000 Golden Plover were present. Only two Lapland Buntings were seen today by the cattle pens.

Merlins were seen at four places today between Carinish and Balranald NR - perhaps passage birds?

A local rarity was a Yellowhammer found dead at Paiblesgarry - I don't think there has been a record since one was seen on Barra in October 2014.

 

[Bruce]

The white-billed diver was still off Eoligarry late this afternoon. Willow warblers, chiffchaffs and wheatears are now widespread around Barra and a female blackcap was at Nasg today. The long-tailed ducks that winter off the west side of the island have been feeding close to the shore in the past few days giving excellent views.

 

[Hawkeye]

News from Tony Marr in Ness, Isle of Lewis:-

"Last evening, after a major arrival of mostly wildfowl and waders in the north part of Ness, I suggested that ‘it will be interesting to see what the numbers are like tomorrow morning’. The answer is that there were even more birds, as the following totals show:-"

Pink-footed Geese – 2,800
Barnacle Geese – 146
Grey Lag Goose – 110 which were probably yesterday’s wary birds & maybe migrants
Greenland Whitefronted Geese - 6
Whooper Swan – 9 + 5
Pintail – 5
Gadwall – 7
Shoveler – a pair
Golden Plover – 500
Black-tailed Godwit – increased from 18 (early am) to 31 (mid-afternoon)
Lapland Bunting – the flock of 8 yesterday had increased to 12 today
Iceland Gull – two on the cliffs at Port of Ness this morning; none this evening

Elsewhere around the islands:-

Coot Loch, Benbecula
39 Black-tailed Godwits were by the loch and 6 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at nearby Loch Fada.

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
A three hour seawatch produced 85 Gannets flying north. Also recorded were Eider, Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Diver, Fulmar, Shag, Cormorant, Kittiwake, Great Skua, Razorbill, Pied Wagtail and 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese plus 126 Barnacle Geese.