• 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, 7th April 2018

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Seawatch this morning 06:50 to 10:15. Weather: Wind SW-WSW f3-2, 8/8 cloud, murky at sea. Temp 7.1 - 8.5C

Barnacle Geese 8N, Eider 6S 16N, Long-tailed Duck 1S, Red-throated Diver 3S 2N, Fulmar 38S 1N, Manx Shearwater 47S 2N, Gannet 178S 52N, Shag 3S 36N, Cormorant 2N, Kittiwake 15S 7N, Great Skua 2S, Razorbill/Guillemot 6S 7N, Razorbill 6S 7N, Puffin 5S 24N

Also present: Greylag Goose 2, Mute Swan 1, Wigeon 27, Tufted Duck 8, Eider 89, Long-tailed Duck 13, Red-breasted Merganser 4, Red-throated Diver 3, Great Northern Diver 16, Shag 9, Cormorant 22, Wheatear 1, Pied Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 1, Twite 2

Bornish, South Uist
News from Andrew: Singing willow warbler in the garden today also a Goldcrest and c50 Redwings first thing. c80 Barnacle Geese headed W from Loch Eynort direction over the house mid morning. Also 30-40 goldfinch in the garden for the last couple of weeks.
 

BrianR

Senior Member
A reasonable day, weather-wise, after yesterday and temperatures on the rise at last. There were few migrants present at Aird an Runair, North Uist this morning - two Greenland White-fronted Geese flew S and a Wheatear and Lapland Bunting were also present.
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On my way out to the headland and near the RSPB visitor centre my attention was drawn to an Oystercatcher pecking at a dead Oystercatcher. I watched for some 25 minutes and this antagonistic behaviour was almost continuous stabbing at the copse, mostly in the neck area and dragging it occasionally. Not long before I left it appeared to lose a bit of interest and moved away but soon returned to the dead bird and beviour continued. This happened four or five times and on one occasion grabbed it by the foot.
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Bruce

Senior Member
On Barra today 19 whooper swans flew north-west over Castlebay and 17 were resting on the sea at Eoligarry before also heading north-west. 3 flocks of barnacle geese totalling c200 birds flew north-west through the Sound of Barra in an hour this afternoon. 2 juvenile Iceland gulls were at Ardveenish and another was at Traigh Mhor.

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