western isles birds

Male Brambling, Barvas, Lewis. May 2019 (C) Graham Forsyth

Great Northern Diver, Askernish (C) Ian Thompson

Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 10th March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 5 Snow Buntings were in the Skigersta area and a further 7 were in Port of Ness. Borve, Berneray The Snow Goose was on the machair there today and the *Crane* was nearby on the west side of Loch...

Atlantic puffins are one of the UK’s highest priority conservation species as they have recently joined the European red list as vulnerable to global extinction. There is much uncertainty as to why puffins are in decline but it is believed that reduced food availability caused by climate change...

Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 9th March 2018 Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis An immature Glaucous Gull was there this morning Loch Leurbost, Isle of Lewis An Iceland Gull was seen there today Loch Ordais, Isle of Lewis 3CY Iceland Gull and a juvenile Glaucous Gull seen...

A Glossy Ibis has just made a brief stop on Ardivachar Headland before moving off in the direction of Kilaulay. It was at Kilaulay that the previous records came from and is probably the same bird.

Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 7th March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 3 Snow Buntings were at in the Cross area today. Balranald, North Uist The small Canada Goose was with the Barnacle Geese and 5 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean. Loch Paible,North Uist 2 Iceland Gulls...

Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 6th March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 4 Snow Buntings were at in the Cross area today. Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist Weather: Wind E F5, 8/8 cloud, light rain for much of the time. Temp 3.7C A 2.5 hour seawatch this morning produced 26 Eider...

Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 5th March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 5 Snow Buntings were in the Cross area today. Balranald,North Uist The small Canada Goose was seen by Loch Sgaraigh, and a single pale-bellied Brent Goose was with Barnacle Geese nearby. A pair of Pintail were on Loch...

Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 4th March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 4 Snow Buntings were in the Cross area this morning Stornoway, Isle of Lewis 1 Kumlien's Gull, 4 Glaucous Gulls and at least 28 Iceland Gulls at Goat Island this afternoon. A little Grebe was at Cuddy Point South...

Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 3rd March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 9 Snow Buntings were in the Cross area this morning Coot Loch. Benbecula The drake *Ring-necked Duck* and the Pochard are still be found on the loch Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist Weather: Wind E backing ENE F6, initially...

Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 2nd March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis 5 Snow Buntings were again in the Cross area today. Borve Berneray The *Crane* is still to be found on the machair there Rubh' Arnal, North Uist At least 2 Kumlien's Gulls, 20 Glaucous Gulls and 40+ Iceland Gulls were...

The Shiant Isles have been officially declared rat-free, thanks to a four-year partnership project to restore them as a secure haven for nesting seabirds. A month-long intensive monitoring check in February found no sign of rats. This means that none has been recorded there for two years, the...

Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 1st March 2018 Ness, Isle of Lewis A single Snow Bunting was in the Cross area this morning increasing to 4 in the afternoon Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis A 3rd winter Kumlien's Gull was seen this afternoon. Carinish, North Uist A Jack Snipe was seen...

Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 28th February 2018 Coot Loch, Benbecula The drake *Ring-necked Duck* is still to be found on the loch along with a drake Scaup, Pochard, a pair of Pintail and a single Greenland White-fronted Goose. Stornoway Harbour, Isle of Lewis The Little Grebe...

Ness, Isle of Lewis 2 Snow Buntings were in the Cross area this morning Orasaigh, North Uist Circa 20 Snow Buntings were seen there this morning. Hougharry, North Uist A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was seen there and 4+ Pintail were nearby on Loch nam Feithean. Carinish, North Uist A Jack Snipe...

Borve, Berneray The *Common Crane* and *Snow Goose* were seen on the machair there today Ness, Isle of Lewis A single Snow Bunting was in the Cross area today Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis 2 Iceland Gulls (adult and immature) were there this morning. 6 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were on...

Carinish, North Uist 10 Whooper Swans flew in high from the south this morning. Balivanich, Benbecula An immature Glaucous Gull was seen on the beach from the town. Rubha Ardvule, South Uist During a seawatch of just over 2 hours this morning the following birds were recorded: Whooper Swan 24...

Ardmhor, Barra the Red-necked Grebe was still to be seen off the ferry terminal this morning. Ness, Isle of Lewis 37 Snow Buntings were present in Ness this morning Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2nd winter Iceland Gull were seen there this morning. A huge...

I last visited Rubh' Arnal, North Uist 10 days ago and the large influx of Iceland Gulls to Stornoway has now filtered down here. At least 21 were present (all on a small area of floodwater near the fish dump at one time so the overall number was probably more as good number of gulls elsewhere...