• 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
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 16th October 2019. Updated throughout the day

Hirta, St Kilda
A *Bluethroat* was seen on the island today

Loch Stiapabhat, Isle of Lewis
A ***Long-billed Dowitcher*** was seen there this afternoon

Borve, Berneray
3 **White-rumped Sandpipers** and a *Buff-breasted Sandpiper* were on the flodded machair this afternoon 15:30-16:00

Callernish North Uist
The ****Mrtyle Warbler**** was still in the walled garden today. Also 2 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs, 2 Fieldfare, a Brambling and a Jack Snipe were seen there

Loch Paible, North Uist
The ***Richardson's Cackling Goose*** was seen there this morning at 08:30 with Barnacle Geese

Kilaulay, South Uist
At least two **White-rumped Sandpipers** were on the beach there this morning

Ardivachar, South Uist
6 **White-rumped Sandpipers** and a *Pectoral Sandpiper* were still there today

Glenn, Barra
2 Yellow-browed Warblers and a female Ring Ouzel were there

Garrygall, Barra
3 Blackcaps, a Woodcock and a Sparrowhawk were there while a Chiffchaff, at least 1 Yellow-browed Warbler and 3 Blackcap were at the football pitch in Castlebay.

Creachan, Barra
2 Yellow-browed Warblers, a Chiffchaff, 3+ Blackcap and at least 1 Fieldfare were there. Also a probable Rosefinch

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 07:45 - 10:35
Weather: Wind WSW backing SW f4. Mostly mix of variable cloud and sunny spells. Temp 11C.

A near 3 hour seawatch this morning produced 10 Barnacle Geese (S), 5 Long-tailed Ducks (S), 6 Red-throated Divers (5S 1N), 6 Great Northern Divers (5S 1N), 231 Gannets (229S 2N), 39 Shags (2S 37N), 3 Cormorants (2S 1N), 66 Kittiwakes (S), 3 Arctic Terns (S), 1 Arctic Skua (S), 3 Guillemots (S), 2 Razorbills (S) and 10 auk sp (S).
Also present in the area were Wigeon 2, Tufted Duck 36, Cormorant 8, Common Buzzard 1, Black-tailed Godwit 73, Snipe 1, Hooded Crow 2, Raven 2, Skylark 2, Meadow Pipit 4 and Twite 8

st kilda bluethroat.JPG
Bluethroat (C) and courtesy of Sarah Lawrence
 
Last edited:

Bruce

Senior Member
Another pulse of migrants on Barra today including a minimum of 8 Yellow-browed Warblers, 30 Blackcaps, 1000 Redwings, 6 Fieldfares, 15 Chiffchaffs and 3 Woodcock. The Red-breasted Flycatcher was still at Morghan and the Iceland Gull was still at Craigston.

DSCN3567 (2).JPG
 

BrianR

Senior Member
A couple of photos of the Callernish Myrtle Warbler (needless to say there are some much better ones out there). It was a good North Uist 'twitch' (seven) in much better weather conditions than the previous day.

_DSC1722.jpg_DSC1725.jpg
 

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Tonty Marr at Ness:-

The highlight of the day was a juvenlle Long-billed Dowitcher on the flooded machair to the north of Loch Stiapavat at (1730) this afternoon. We watched it until (1808) when it flew off calling loudly. It towered off into the sky until we lost sight of it.

Other significant records today were:
Blackcap – at least 7, including two on The Butt (one in the lighthouse compound and one in a boggy area half a mlle to the west)
Pied Flycatcher – one in Port of Ness
Chiffchaff – 4 in Port of Ness
Fieldfare – one in Port of Ness
Jack Snipe – one in a boggy area half a mile west of the lighthouse
Twite – 10 in the first geo west of the lighthouse
Snow Bunting – a flock of 6 flew SW from the lighthouse plus a single bird on the clifftop nearby
Common Redpoll – 7, probably Mealy
 
Top