27th May 2017

[Hawkeye]

Tangasdail, Barra
A male Black Redstart seen this morning see Bruce's post


Black Redstart courtesy of Bruce Taylor

Tipperton, South Uist
2CY Iceland Gull seen along the shoreline

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
A three hour seawatch this morning produced 96 Gannet (62S 34N), 48 Manx Shearwaters (47S 1N), 6 Fulmar (1S 5N), 3 Red-throated Divers (2S 1N), 5 Kittiwake (4S 1N), 2 Puffin (S), 99 Auk ssp (88S 11N), a Great Skua (S) and an Arctic Skua (S). Also present in the area were 2 Iceland Gulls, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Great Northern Divers, and a Whimbrel

Bornish, South Uist
Female Whitethroat in a garden there

South Glendale, South Uist
A Turtle Dove, Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat seen today

Stinky Bay, Benbecula
2nd Summer Iceland Gull seen on the beach

Aird an Runair, North Uist
A single Curlew Sandpiper present this morning and a Swift present this evening


Curlew Sandpiper courtesy of Bob McMillan

Ness area, Isle of Lewis
News from Tony Marr:-
Dry warm hazy morning; fog from midday; and rain from (1700). No apparent new bird arrivals.
Loch Stiapavat
Otter - The mother with three cubs again present.
Ruff – the white-ruffed male still present
Butt of Lewis
Risso’s Dolphins – three moving steadily northward out of The Minch (late morning).
Yesterday’s White-tailed Eagles:- I enquired of Robin Reid, RSPB Conservation Officer for the Outer Hebrides, as to whether the 8 flying together were more than usual. He wrote to say that there have been 11 together in Pairc (SE Lewis) where they are at the highest density in the Outer Hebrides. On Mull there have been into the teens coming into roost together.

 

[BrianR]

In addition to Bob's Curlew Sandpiper at Aird an Rùnair this morning the three were still present on the south side of Loch Paible.

White-tailed Eagles: the eight immatures seen by Tony yesterday circling over Loch Stiapavat would appear to be our largest number seen together. As far as I know six seen over the Shiant Islands in late April last year was the previous highest. BWP mentions juveniles and immatures tend to be more nomadic and gregarious especially in winter or for roosting - groups of up to 10, or even 30-40.

Photo courtesy of Tony Marr.

On the 18th May Barry Barnacal photographed two near Beinn Scolpaig, North Uist, the adult having a white wing-tag. In reply to Barry's query about its origin Andrew thinks it could have been white T that was a male fledged on Skye in 2001. Until recently it was breeding on South Uist but appears to have gone wandering in the last year or two.

Photo courtesy of Barry Barnacal.

 

[Bruce]

I caught up with the adult male black redstart in the rain at Tangasdale this evening. Elsewhere on Barra today at least 8 spotted flycatchers and 8 siskins scattered around the plantations. About 12 singing male whitethroats are still holding territory around the island.