14th August 2017

[Hawkeye]

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
A two hour seawatch this morning produced 4 Storm Petrels (S), 2 Fulmars (N), 4 Manx Shearwaters (S), 74 Gannets (73S 1N), 2 Cormorants (S), 4 Ringed Plovers (S - in off the sea), 5 Kittiwakes (S), and 1 Great Skua. Also present in the area were 38 Mallard, 18 Ringed Plovers, 4 Sanderling, 53 Dunlin and a Wheatear

 

[MisterT]

Although it is a quiet time of year and outside of the core count, we still conducted our monthly WeBS count at Loch Bee and South Ford today. On the Loch itself there were 497 Mute Swans and counts of 46 Teal and 12 Shoveller were high for this time of year. There were three broods of Red-breasted Merganser totalling 18 birds, a single Wigeon and the uncommon sight of an Eider with 2 ducklings. There were only 144 Lapwing within the count area (but many more just outside), 17 Black-tailed Godwits and 37 Curlew around the loch. A Hen Harrier flushed 54 Snipe from Loch an t’Saille when it flew over and flock of 60+ Swallow were feeding low over the machair.

South Ford was quiet with only 139 Dunlin, 17 Curlew and 210 Ringed Plover on the mud flats. Black-headed Gulls numbered 94 with 72 Common Gulls.

Elsewhere there were 36 Black-tailed Godwits at Aird, Benbecula and another 17 with 152 Golden Plover and 44 Curlew at Borve. 11 Black-tailed Godwits were at Askernish.

The leucistic Common Gull is still at Ardivachar and another (or the same one??) was at Nunton.


Leucistic Common Gull, Ardivachar & Nunton