• 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 May 2018

Aird an Runair, North Uist
The ***Semipalmated Sandpiper*** was still present this afternoon on its favoured pool at top of the beach. A Long-tailed Skua north at 15:12, 11 Pomarine Skuas and a 2CY Glaucous Gull were also seen. 3 Long-tailed Skuas and 10 Pomarine Skuas were reported later at 14:00

Paiblesgarry, North Uist
The 3 Dotterel are still to be found on the machair there

Garynahine, Isle of Lewis
A *Nightingale* was heard singing there last night

Barvas, isle of Lewis
7 Common Redpolls have been coming to feeders

Linsiader, Isle of Lewis
2 Redpolls have been present for three weeks and have recently been joined by a male Brambling. 3 Siskins have also been seen in the area. A Brambling is also visiting feeders at Callanish

Stinky Bay, Benbecula
An Iceland was there this afternoon

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 12:40 - 18:00
Weather: Wind W F4 veering WNW f5-6. Cloudy at first, sunny later.

A 5+ hour seawatch this afternoon produced 3 Red-throated Divers (S), 1 Great Northern Diver (S), 20 Fulmars (17S 3N), 111 Manx Shearwaters (S), 315 Gannets (283 S 32N), 8 Shag (4S 4N), 2 Cormorants (N), 231 Kittiwakes (216 S 15N), 2 Arctic Skuas (N), 5 Guillemots (S), 8 Razorbills (S), 1 Black Guillemots (N) and 8 auk sp (S).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 4, Eider 16, Red-throated Diver 2, Great Northern Diver 3, Common Buzzard 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Arctic Tern 18, Peregrine 1 and Wheatear 2

South Glendale, South Uist
5 Common Redpolls seen in a garden there
 

Bruce

Senior Member
The lesser yellowlegs was still at Caolas, Vatersay this morning, though more elusive than previously.
 

BrianR

Senior Member
Nothing to add to total of Pomarine Skuas at Aird an Runair today but the total of Long-tailed Skuas (up to 17.45 hours) was 17. These included two seen by Barry Barnacal around 16.00 hours that passed N inland between the headland and RSPB visitor centre and a flock of seven likewise at 16.40 hours (seen by Glyn Evans who had just arrived).

From Geoff Wyatt - five extra Long-tailed (two at 19.50 and 19.55 with a single at 20.25). Also seven more Pomarines (days total 29 and a small number of probables). Also today Geoff witnessed Arctic Skuas hunting in pairs and catching two Dunlin. This behaviour has only been occurring here relatively recently and there is a short note by Mark Darlaston and Adele Rennells in the 2005/2006 Outer Hebrides Bird Report.
 
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Bruce

Senior Member
A late surprise this evening at Brevig, Barra when I glanced out of my window and noticed 5 tree sparrows in my front garden.

DSCN7824.JPGDSCN7830.JPG
 

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Tristan

Pair Wigeon, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Sand Martins at Steinish this evening. About 400 Ringed Plovers and 400 Dunlin on the saltmarsh at high tide
 
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