• 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 April 2018. Updated throughout the day

Loch Stiapabhat, Isle of Lewis
News from Tony Marr:-
The drake ***Blue-winged Teal*** is still present at the northern end of Loch Stiapavat. I relocated it at around 0730 feeding in the grassy area into which it had disappeared yesterday morning. It was still present when I left at 0945 but by then it had fallen asleep again in the long grass and was very difficult to see.

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Blue-winged Teal courtesy of Sam Hawkins

Creachan Woodlands, Barra
A male ***Iberian Chiffchaff*** was reported singing there this afternoon. (See Bruce's post below)

Barvas, Isle of Lewis
9 Bramblings was present there this morning

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 07:20 - 09:55
Weather: Wind SSW F4, 8/8 cloud and dull, becoming bright and sunny. Temp 9.8 - 11.6C.

An early morning seawatch produce 267 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (N), 12 Eider (N), 1 Common Scoter (S), 6 Long-tailed Ducks (S), 1 Red-throated Diver (S), 21 Fulmars (S), 12 Manx Shearwaters (S), 116 Gannets (114S 2N), 26 Shag (4S 22N), 3 Cormorants (N), 11 Whimbrel (N), 103 Kittiwakes (S), 1 Great Skua (N), 4 Razorbills (S) and 8 auk sp (S).
Also present in the area were Shelduck 12, Wigeon 12, Shoveler 2, Tufted Duck 10, Eider 72, Red-breasted Merganser 6, Great Northern Diver 3, Grey Heron 1, Black-tailed Godwit 7, Turnstone 130, Purple Sandpiper 23, Arctic Tern 4, Raven 4, Wheatear 1, Pied Wagtail 2 and Meadow Pipit 8. A Snow Bunting was also present in the early afternoon and 2 Pintail were on the flooded machair at Bornish

South Glendale, South Uist
2 Blackcaps, 2 Siskins and a Brambling in a garden there

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male Hen Harrier & Glaucous Gull courtesy of Peter & Rachel Hazlehurst
 

Bruce

Senior Member
A singing male Iberian chiffchaff was at Creachan Community Woodland this afternoon. I found it at around 1pm when it gave a short burst of song in the trees above me. It then showed every 20 minutes or so, occasionally calling for the next couple of hours. After going to ground for an hour or so it popped up again in the late afternoon, singing and calling frequently and showing very well in the trees by the steps that lead into the wood. This appears to be the first record for Barra. Also at least 2 blackcaps at this site and another at Eoligarry. Redwing numbers are dropping off now; I only recorded 3 today. A single brent goose was off Ardmhor ferry terminal.

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YvonneB

OH Bird Recorder
A singing male Iberian chiffchaff was at Creachan Community Woodland this afternoon. I found it at around 1pm when it gave a short burst of song in the trees above me. It then showed every 20 minutes or so, occasionally calling for the next couple of hours. After going to ground for an hour or so it popped up again in the late afternoon, singing and calling frequently and showing very well in the trees by the steps that lead into the wood. This appears to be the first record for Barra. Also at least 2 blackcaps at this site and another at Eoligarry. Redwing numbers are dropping off now; I only recorded 3 today. A single brent goose was off Ardmhor ferry terminal.

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Nice find @Bruce !
 

Ciaran Hatsell

New Member
Some great finds out there in the last couple of days! Couldn’t add to them but a great day to be out birding. Head to Kilda tomorrow so last day of sightings from the ‘mainland’!

Coot Loch
Ring-necked Duck - Drake still present. Golden Plover 865 in opposite field.

Stinky Bay
Long-tailed Duck 7, Turnstone 325, Purple Sandpiper 4, Dunlin 6, Redshank 48.

Culla Bay
Long-tailed Duck 34, Red-throated Diver 1, GN Diver 3.

Lochmaddy
Red-throated Diver 2, Greenshank, 3 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush Willow Warbler 4, Goldfinch 12, Siskin 4.

Balranald
Whooper Swan 2 Adults, Barnacle Goose 5, Black-tailed Godwit 52, White-tailed Eagle 1 adult, White Wagtail 4, Sand Martin 3, Twite 145.

Grimnish
Barnacle Goose 981 in two flocks at Loch at 1500hrs.

Also a Belted Beauty moth on the machair at Balranald.

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YvonneB

OH Bird Recorder
Some great finds out there in the last couple of days! Couldn’t add to them but a great day to be out birding. Head to Kilda tomorrow so last day of sightings from the ‘mainland’!

Coot Loch
Ring-necked Duck - Drake still present. Golden Plover 865 in opposite field.

Stinky Bay

Long-tailed Duck 7, Turnstone 325, Purple Sandpiper 4, Dunlin 6, Redshank 48.

Culla Bay

Long-tailed Duck 34, Red-throated Diver 1, GN Diver 3.

Lochmaddy

Red-throated Diver 2, Greenshank, 3 Redwing, 4 Song Thrush Willow Warbler 4, Goldfinch 12, Siskin 4.

Balranald

Whooper Swan 2 Adults, Barnacle Goode 5, Black-tailed Godwit 52, White-tailed Eagle 1 adult, White Wagtail 4, Sand Martin 3, Twite 145.

Grimnish

Barnacle Goose 981 in two flocks at Loch at 1500hrs.

Also a Belted Beauty moth on the machair at Balranald.

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Thanks @Ciaran Hatsell at least you had chance to explore the Uists a little! :) Safe travels over to St. Kilda tomorrow.
 
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