• 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 October 2018. Updated throughout the day

Castlebay, Barra
The ***Pechora Pipit*** was again at the SW corner of the football pitch. A Wood Warbler was also in the area

Brevig, Barra
3 Yellow-browed Warblers and 2 *Common Rosefinch* were seen there this afternoon

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in the Castle Grounds and another at Steinish. A Little Egret was at Gress
 
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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Tony Marr at Ness

Port of Ness
Most of yesterday’s birds were still present in the fields and gardens around the Post Office, with marked increases in House Sparrow and Brambling numbers.

Barn Swallow – one (juv)
House Sparrow – 110
Greenfinch – 5
Brambling – now up to 55
Blackcap - still 2 (male and female)
Yellow-browed Warbler – one
Twite – 3
Fieldfare - one
Redwing – 10
Goldfinch – one

Hen Harrier – a male at the south end of Loch Stiapabhat seen from Port of Ness.
 

BrianR

Senior Member
North Uist: a Little Egret was present again at Loch Grogary (first seen on the Reserve in late September). A rather late seawatch at Aird an Runair (10.30-12.00 hours) and some movement SW included: a Long-tailed Duck, 413 Gannets (eight juveniles), nine Great Northern Divers, two Turnstone, a Pomarine Skua, 31 Kittiwakes, two Razorbills (also 52 Guillemots/Razorbills) and five small parties of Skylarks (34 in all). Also present were ten Whooper Swans (on the loch on the headland), a Pergrine and a Sparrowhawk (this was most unusual as came over just as I finished the seawatch and watched until lost to sight heading towards the island of Causamul two and a half km away).

At Loch Sandary there was a very vocal Merlin - I can only assume it was alarming at the dogs. Continued to call when perched on wire.

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There was a Yellow-browed Warbler in the garden of Cnoc na Luib (Clachan-a-Luib).
 
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Bruce

Senior Member
There were a minimum of 6 Yellow-browed Warblers on Barra today. A white-winged gull was flushed off Loch Tangasdale by a Golden Eagle as I arrived this morning; it looked like it was probably an Iceland rather than Glaucous but my views were very distant. 22 Whooper Swans and a single Pink-footed Goose were there and a single Brent Goose was still on the crofts at Eoligarry along with the 2nd winter Med Gull.

This afternoon on Vatersay I saw a Snipe being chased by 2 Merlins. After a few moments the first Merlin broke off, leaving the second bird to pursue the Snipe back and forth over the township for around a minute. The pursuing Merlin finally gave up the chase and the Snipe decelerated and looked as if it would land on the hillside. Just then the first Merlin reappeared on the scene, grabbing the Snipe in flight and carrying it off to the south. Looks can be deceptive, but it certainly appeared that the 2 Merlins may have been working together to wear out the Snipe before going in for the kill.
 

Robyn PF

Active Member
We can add to the North Uist Merlin count as watched one take a Meadow Pipit after a short pursuit - seen from the main road by the North Lee Walk parking spaces.
 
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