• 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

Bruce

Senior Member
I heard my first Corncrakes and Grasshopper Warblers (3) of the year on Barra today. There was also an increase in Willow Warblers, Lesser Redpolls, White Wagtails and Chiffchaffs around the island. Just when I thought the Great Tit had departed, it popped up again. At 8 am it was at Northbay House, moving to Garrygall by 11.30, then by this evening it was visiting feeders at Nask.

I had a look for migrants around Vatersay township this afternoon. Several Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a House Martin were present (none of there species breed in the area). Just after 1.30 all the Lapwings and Oystercatchers flushed and the gulls started alarm-calling. I looked around expecting to see a raptor, but instead picked out a Crane circling high overhead before cruising off to the south-west, in the direction of Mingulay.
 

BrianR

Senior Member
Peter Murray also recorded a Corncrake today - photo in his garden at Paiblesgarry, North Uist.

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The most unusual sighting on a walk on the Hebridean Way between the Lochportain road and Loch an Sticir today was a Slavonian Grebe on an inland loch (Loch an Armuinn).
 
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