• 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

    New - now available as an ebook

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today 19th May 2019. Updated throughout the day

Balgarva, South Uist
A male *Bearded Tit* was seen by the road junction this morning. A first for the Outer Hebrides

Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis
A Swift was seen there mid morning

Aird an Runair, North Uist
7 Long-tailed Skuas and 19 Pomarine Skuas flew by this afternoon

The Minch
3 adult Long-tailed Skuas were seen from the Uig to Lochmaddy ferry this evening - the observer, Jack, also reported 2 Orca which were heading towards Skye!

Clachan, South Uist
The Little Egret was again at the north end of Loch Bee

Loch Druidibeg, South Uist
An Osprey was seen there today

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 06:25 - 08:45
Weather: Wind N backing NW F2, 8/8 cloud dull, drizzle for much of the time. Temp 10 - 11C.

A 2+ hour seawatch this morning produced 2 Great Northern Divers (N), 37 Fulmars (N), 22 Manx Shearwaters (N), 103 Gannets (71S 32N), 25 Kittiwakes (20S 5N), 2 Pomarine Skuas (N), 1 Long-tailed Skua (N), 2 Guillemots (N), 12 Razorbills (N), 1 Black Guillemot (N) and 145 auk sp (52S 83N).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 2, Tufted Duck 7, Eider 4, Great Northern Diver 4, Cormorant 14, Whimbrel 1, Arctic Tern 15, Rock Dove 1 and House Martin 2.
A male Killer Whale and 4 Basking Sharks were seen also offshore



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Bearded Tit (C) and courtesy of Chris Townsend
 

BrianR

Senior Member
The weather conditions recently have not been suitable to bring any good numbers of skuas close inshore at Aird an Runair but today the wind turned into the NW so there was every chance of some passing. With the wind only F2-3 no large numbers were expected and totals for the day (observations mainly by Mark and Adele) were 23 Pomarine and 15 Long-tailed. Unusually one of the Long-tailed went back S and then headed inland.

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Also present were two Dotterel.
 

Bruce

Senior Member
The Purple Heron was still at Loch an Ali, Barra late this afternoon. The Garden Warbler was still at Castlebay and a Tree Pipit was again at Creachan.

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