• 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 19th May 2018. Updated throughout the day

Ardmore, South Uist
The drake *Ring-necked Duck* was again seen on Loch nan Ceann with a pair of Tufted Ducks

Loch Fada, Benbecula
The drake Garganey and a male Ruff were still on Loch. A 3CY Iceland Gull was on Loch Mor in the evening

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 06:50 - 10:10
Weather: Wind S F4-5, 8/8 cloud, dull. Temp 11 - 12C

A 3+ hour seawatch this morning produced 4 Red-throated Divers (S), 2 Black-throated Divers (S), 6 Great Northern Divers (2S 4N), 7 Fulmars (4S 3N), 46 Manx Shearwaters (2S 44N), 140 Gannets (61S 79N), 13 Shag (5S 8N), 1 Cormorant (N), 12 Kittiwakes (2S 10N), 1 Great Skua (S), 3 Arctic Skuas (S), 2 Guillemots (S), 7 Razorbills (S), 1 Black Guillemot (N) and 44 auk sp (9S 35S).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 2, Whooper Swan 4, Wigeon 2, Tufted Duck 10, Eider 18, Great Northern Diver 3, Purple Sandpiper 1, Arctic Tern 15, Twite 2
 

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from St Kilda
There’s been a slow trickle of migrants in recent days, with two Tree Sparrow since 13th, a Turtle Dove on 17/18th, a Whooper Swan on 17th and a small number of common migrants.

DdjvYl1X0AApSV7trees.jpg
Tree Sparrows courtesy of Cairan Hatsell
 

BrianR

Senior Member
Apart from 765 Dunlin there were low numbers of other waders present during WeBS count at Loch Paible, North Uist this morning. One of the Dunlin was in retarded plumage.
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At Loch nam Feithean, North Uist the two male Ruff and a female were still present. I only managed some photos of the female but Barry Barnacal has some good photos. Barry witnessed the dominant male with white ruff (the other one is black) copulating with the female. Many females thought to copulate during migration, thus have better chance of breeding successfully in short northern season (The Birds of the Western Palearctic).
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