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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
15th March 2023
- Thread starter Bruce
- Start date
YvonneB
OH Bird Recorder
WeBS counts today, slightly delayed due to the poor weather of the last few days.
Loch Bee: Most numberous birds were c390 wigeon and c340 Mute Swans. A good count of 82 Whooper Swans spread out over a fairly wide area. 24 Goldeneye, 100+ Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck, c60 Mallard, c80 Teal, 23 Redshank, c70 Oystercatchers, 65 Dunlin, c60 Golden Plover, 3 Greenshank, 6 Buzzards, 2 White-tailed Eagles and a male Hen Harrier. A colour-ringed Oystercatcher was photographed and is believed to be from a project on the River Exe, Devon (see photo). Unfortunately no sight of the Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck or Pochard!
South Ford: I was surprised to find c112 Barnacle Geese along with several groups of Greylag. Out on the estuary the waders were starting to gather again as the tide dropped, c300 Bar-tailed Godwits, 110+ Grey Plover, c140 Dunlin, 17 Curlew, 4 Knot and a single Ringed Plover. c115 Black-headed Gulls were in the area near Hebridean Jewellery.
Teal & Colour-ringed Oyc
Loch Bee: Most numberous birds were c390 wigeon and c340 Mute Swans. A good count of 82 Whooper Swans spread out over a fairly wide area. 24 Goldeneye, 100+ Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck, c60 Mallard, c80 Teal, 23 Redshank, c70 Oystercatchers, 65 Dunlin, c60 Golden Plover, 3 Greenshank, 6 Buzzards, 2 White-tailed Eagles and a male Hen Harrier. A colour-ringed Oystercatcher was photographed and is believed to be from a project on the River Exe, Devon (see photo). Unfortunately no sight of the Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck or Pochard!
South Ford: I was surprised to find c112 Barnacle Geese along with several groups of Greylag. Out on the estuary the waders were starting to gather again as the tide dropped, c300 Bar-tailed Godwits, 110+ Grey Plover, c140 Dunlin, 17 Curlew, 4 Knot and a single Ringed Plover. c115 Black-headed Gulls were in the area near Hebridean Jewellery.
Teal & Colour-ringed Oyc
YvonneB
OH Bird Recorder
Update on the colour-ringed Oystercatcher.
Turns out it was originally ringed by our friend Chris Dee at Dawlish, Devon, on the Exe estuary, 4th February 2018.
It was seen the following year at Larne Harbour, Co. Antrim, 17th February, 2019
Possibly seen at Askernish beach in very poor light on 16th February 2023 by Bill Neill
Then our sighting today.
Turns out it was originally ringed by our friend Chris Dee at Dawlish, Devon, on the Exe estuary, 4th February 2018.
It was seen the following year at Larne Harbour, Co. Antrim, 17th February, 2019
Possibly seen at Askernish beach in very poor light on 16th February 2023 by Bill Neill
Then our sighting today.