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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 18th April 2018. Updated throughout the day

News this morning from Tony Marr in Ness, Lewis:-

"At 0925 this morning I found an immature drake ***Blue-winged Teal*** at the north end of Loch Stiapabhat, preening, in the boggy area and visible from the road above. After about five minutes it flew c 50 yards and dropped out of sight into the long grass. The area is viewable from the Passing Place by the car wreck garden. Suggested immature as the white face crescent and the white patch at the rear of the flanks are not very bright, although the pale blue forewing is.

At about 0940 as I scanned the rest of the boggy area, I found a solitary Wigeon asleep, which raised its head and revealed a white crown before resuming its dozing. Too much to hope that it’s an American Wigeon, but after yesterday’s south/south west gale, anything could happen up here, as the Blue-winged Teal indicates. I’m on the case…"


Update from Tony Marr (13:50)
No further sign of the ***drake Blue-winged Teal*** at the northern end of the loch since it flew into the long grass at 0930 this morning.

The Wigeon with the white crown did eventually wake up, but showed mixed characters that suggest it is a hybrid. The area concerned is inaccessible and beyond camera range, but I’ll be seeking better views later today.
 

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Griomsiader, Lochs, Isle of Lewis
A cuckoo was heard there today - first of the spring??

Barvas, Isle of Lewis
A Brambling was seen there today

Coot Loch, Benbecula
The drake *Ring-necked Duck* is still to be found on the loch (see post below)

Stinky Bay, Benbecula
The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was seen again in the bay (see post below)

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 06:55 - 11:05
Weather: Wind S F6, 8/8 cloud, dull. Temp supposedly 10.7 - 12.1C but felt much colder.

A 4+ hour seawatch this morning produced 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (N), 1 Common Scoter (S), 1 Long-tailed Duck (S), 1 Red-throated Diver (S), 89 Fulmars (S), 7 Manx Shearwaters (S), 128 Gannets (98S 30N), 24 Shag (1S 23N), 4 Cormorants (1s 3N), 1 Golden Plover (N - in off the sea), 1 Whimbrel (N), 24 Kittiwakes (18S 6 N), 1 Great Skua (N), 15 Razorbills (S), 3 Black Guillemots (S) and 8 auk sp (S).
Also present in the area were Wigeon 14, Eider 74, Red-breasted Merganser 4, Red-throated Diver 2, Great Northern Diver 8, Cormorant 29, Hen Harrier (male) 1, Whimbrel 1, Redshank 36, Purple Sandpiper 80, Black-headed Gull 35, Common Gull 120, Great Black-backed Gull 12, Iceland Gull (2CY)1, Herring Gull 200, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Arctic Tern 4, Razorbill 2, Wheatear 1, Pied Wagtail 2 and Meadow Pipit 6

South Lochboisdale, South Uist
A Glaucous Gull was on the beach there today

South Glendale, South Uist
2 Blackcaps and a Brambling were in a garden there
 

BrianR

Senior Member
Not quite the first Cuckoo (see above) as I heard from Peter Murray today that one was calling for a minute or two at Knockintorran, North Uist on 13th.

A few migrants around today at Balranald NR, North Uist: a Whimbrel, seven Black-tailed Godwits, seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls and several White Wagtails. Also a lone Pink-footed Goose was near the RSPB visitor centre, a Great Skua flew N at Aird an Runair and an Iceland Gull was on the beach.
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Ciaran Hatsell

New Member
The Drake Ring-necked Duck was at Coot Loch today - I was chuffed at finding it only to discover it’s been here for ages! Doh! Also a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Shoveler there. 2 Greenshank flew north over Borve and the Golden Plover flock totalled 365.

Stinky Bay
Long-tailed Duck 16, Eider 164, Iceland Gull still present, GBB Gull 4, LBB Gull 3, Herring Gull 34, Common Gull 155, BH Gull 92, Bonxie 1, Cormorant 9, Whimbrel 1N, Purple Sandpiper 11, Turnstone 190.
Also a single Arctic Tern there in the evening.

Culla Bay
Long-tailed Duck 27, RB Merganser 1 male, Great Northern Diver 4, Whimbrel 2N, Buzzard, Wheatear 2 - both leucorhoa, Lapland Bunting - male on beach then flew north.




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YvonneB

OH Bird Recorder
The Drake Ring-necked Duck was at Coot Loch today - I was chuffed at finding it only to discover it’s been here for ages! Doh! Also a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Shoveler there. 2 Greenshank flew north over Borve and the Golden Plover flock totalled 365.

Stinky Bay
Long-tailed Duck 16, Eider 164, Iceland Gull still present, GBB Gull 4, LBB Gull 3, Herring Gull 34, Common Gull 155, BH Gull 92, Bonxie 1, Cormorant 9, Whimbrel 1N, Purple Sandpiper 11, Turnstone 190.
Also a single Arctic Tern there in the evening.

Culla Bay
Long-tailed Duck 27, RB Merganser 1 male, Great Northern Diver 4, Whimbrel 2N, Buzzard, Wheatear 2 - both leucorhoa, Lapland Bunting - male on beach then flew north.




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Thanks for the sightings @Ciaran Hatsell - welcome to the website and we look forward to hearing your news about the birds over in St. Kilda :)
 
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