17th April 2017

[Hawkeye]

Balranald RSPB, North Uist
4 Lapland Buntings near the visitor centre. Chiffchaff also recorded.

Aird an Runair, North Uist
3 Lapland Buntings reported.

Loch nam Feithan, North Uist
7 Black-tailed Godwits but no sign of the american Coot (but was seen yesterday).

Coot Loch, Benbecula
1 juv Glaucous Gull

Balivanich, Benbecula
1 Hawfinch remains in the area around the hospital/Winfield Place (first reported yesterday).

Orasaigh, South Uist
1 juv Iceland Gull

Ness area, Isle of Lewis
From Tony Marr "Quite a lot happening today. Andy Williams texted early to say that Pink-footed Geese were heading out of Loch Broom north-westwards towards Lewis. I sat in the car on the hill behind the Butt lighthouse, with a 360 degree view, sheltering from the bitter northerly wind, for most of the day, counting them heading off out towards Iceland. A few bits and bobs made for an excellent day’s vis.mig. You really can’t beat it! Snow on the tops of the higher mainland mountains."

Butt of Lewis (0740-1640)

• Pink-footed Geese – a total of 2,100 in 20 flocks headed out NW towards Iceland into a N F.4-5 wind
• Whimbrel – one on the Butt. A flock of 12 came up from SW in (pm) and headed round the Butt towards Port of Ness
• Snow Bunting – an immaculate female on the hill behind the lighthouse
• Iceland Gull – a juvenile at the pool near the lighthouse
• Fivepenny floods
• Green-winged Teal – the drake with the duck teal sp. absent (am) but present (pm)
• Northern Shoveler – pair

Loch Stiapavat

• Lapland Bunting – two by the sheep troughs (am) and three (evening)
• Eurasian Coot – still present
• Barnacle Goose – only 12 (pm) - have the rest gone today?

Lionel, Isle of Lewis
2 Lapland Buntings by the sheep troughs

Loch an Duna, near Ranish, Isle of Lewis
2 Whooper Swans were present


Photo courtesy Tony Marr


Photo courtesy Tony Marr

 

[Ardmaraig]

At least 77 Long-tailed Ducks off the west side of Barra and several 100's Eider in the Sound seen from the ferry.

 

[BrianR]

There was a good movement of Barnacle Geese today over North Uist: at Bayhead René saw at least 800 flying N in small groups between 08.00 and 13.00 hours while at Callernish over 2,000 were seen between 09.20 and 11.10 hours (at least 1,500 arrived from the W in a number of parties and joined at least 300 already present on Vallay; the only groups seen to leave were of 30 and 100 that flew out to NW; another group of at least 100 geese flying N a long way out were presumably this species). Single Little and Arctic Terns were also seen while in the gardens there was a singing Chiffchaff and a ♂ Blackcap.

 

[Chris Johnson]

I was away all day today (Monday) so undoubtedly missed a good Barnacle Goose movement.
0900hrs 250 (100, 90, 60).
2100hrs 120