• 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
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 10th April 2021. Updated throughout the day

Large numbers of Whooper Swans, White-fronts and Barnacle Geese were reported as "moving north" throught the islands today. 220 Pink-footed Geese flew over Benbecula late afternoon and another 140 dropped in at Loch na Meallaird. Several hundred geese ssp. and circa 100 Whooper Swans flew over Loch Stiapabhat, Lewis late morning and 150 Pink-feet passed over Shulishader, Lewis at midday. Whoopers were seen passing over Stornoway and Tiumpan Head late afternoon and Redwings were seen in large numbers in Point, Lewis. (Also see posts below). Circa 100 Redwing were in and round Askernish, South Uist and c500 were at roost in a garden in Bornish.

Loch Stiapavat, Isle of Lewis
Nine Lapland Buntings were reported as being present

Leurbost, Isle of Lewis
1,300 Pink-footed Geese in 11 flocks flew over during the day

Breasclete, Isle of Lewis
150 Pink-feet flew over early afternoon and a Willow Warbler was seen in the township

Druidibeg plantation, South Uist
A Chiffchaff was there today

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 08:55-11:20
Weather: Wind N veering NE then E. Initially cold with snow on ground becoming sunny. Temp 2c - 4c

A 2+ hour seawatch this morning produced 223 Barnacle Geese (N), 162 Greenland White-fronted Geese (N), 27 Whooper Swans (N) and 43 Gannets (12S 31N).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 2, Shelduck 4, Shoveler 3, Wigeon 53, Teal 3, Tufted Duck 16, Eider 12, Long-tailed Duck 5, Red-breasted Merganser 3, Great Northern Diver 4, Shag 3, Cormorant 30, White-tailed Eagle 2, Golden Plover 7, Bar-tailed Godwit 16, Black-tailed Godwit 23, Purple Sandpiper 23, Black-headed Gull 12, Great Black-backed Gull 6, Hooded Crow 2, Raven 4, Skylark 1, Wheatear 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 6, Twite 3 and Otter 2.
 

Bruce

Senior Member
Barra.
Hundreds of Barnacle, Greenland White-fronted and Pink-footed Geese passed north over the island by early afternoon. Hundreds of Redwings were still present along with at least 5 Chiffchaffs. At least 1 Green-winged Teal was still at Ardmhor.
 

YvonneB

OH Bird Recorder
Up early and out for the monthly WeBS count - bit of a surprise to find everything under a layer of snow!

Loch Bee
c150 Whooper Swans at the north end of the loch, Wigeon numbers have dropped from last month (when 600+) with only c130 today, c200 Golden Plover and although i'd counted c120 Redwings there must have been many, many more. Four white-tailed Eagles were active and we also had a flyby Golden Eagle (a good day for raptors with Merlin and Buzzard also recorded). A Slav Grebe in full summer plumage was a fab sight :) Found 1 Pink-footed Goose in with some Greylags. A total of 122 Greenland Whitefronts with more seen flying over. At the very north end where the outlet to the South Ford is there were 46 Black-tailed Godwits plus a Grey Plover.

South Ford
The tide was very low and not too many waders in evidence though a flock of Ringed Plovers were out on the flats. One male Wheatear was seen, plenty more Redwings, 32 Shelduck and 2 Greenshank.

During coffee break at Ardivachar skeins of Barnacle Geese were seen heading north out at sea.

Popped to Balivanich for some shopping and checked out the usual places on the way back:-

Nunton - near the hostel - a flock of at least 45 Linnet
Loch Mor - The Little Egret was still present.
Loch Fada - 3 Grey Herons and 2 Shoveler
Stinky Bay - further skeins of Barnacles were seen from here and 128 Eider were just offshore. A single Long-tailed Duck was in the bay, 70 Sanderling and 19 Redshanks on the beach.
Coot Loch - 5 Coot, 5 Gadwall, 32 Wigeon and 4 Little Grebes plus a selection of the usual ducks

Don't want to speak too soon but I think spring is coming!

IN8A4220.jpg
A few of the many geese seen flying north today

IMG_2370.jpg
Early morning snow scene as we set out to do WeBS - the sixth day this week we've had snow.
 
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Andrew

Senior Member
c500 redwings again roosting in my garden this eve, also a woodpigeon in the garden today and a flock of Greenland White-fronts (heard only) headed N mid morning.

cheers, Andrew
 
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