• 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, 1st November 2020

Ness, Isle of Lewis
A Common Redstart was in a garden today. (See photo below).

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
One to three Hawfinches were in a Stornoway garden today (the seventh day they've been visiting).

Luskentyre, Isle of Harris
A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the beach today

Torlum, Benbecula
Six Pink-footed Geese were seen there today

North Bay, South Uist
The Great Crested Grebe was offshore at the west end of the bay this morning

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 08:45-11:40
Weather: Wind SSW f7 gust f10. Frequent heavy showers, a few short sunny spells. Temp 9 - 10c.

A three hour seawatch this morning produced 2 Eider (S), 6 Long-tailed Ducks(S), 6 Red-throated Divers (S), 6 Great Northern Divers (S), 55 Gannets (52S 3N), 1 Shag (S), 4 Kittiwakes (S), 4 Guillemots (S), 3 Razorbills (S), 1 Black Guillemot (S) and 6 auk sp (S).
Also present in the area were Wigeon 27, Teal 4, Tufted Duck 27, Long-tailed Duck 1, Red-throated Diver 1, Cormorant 24, Purple Sandpiper 1, Hooded Crow 12, Skylark 13 and Twite 12.

Redstart.jpg
Common Redstart. Courtesy of and (c) Sam Elmer.
 

Bruce

Senior Member
Barra.
A new Yellow-browed Warbler joined the Siberian Chiffchaff at Creachan. Also 3 Blackcaps and a Brambling there. A further 6 Blackcaps were at Glen and a Common Chiffchaff was at Castlebay.
 

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Ness:-

The unbelievably stormy weekend goes on and on.

Thursday 29 October
Wood Warbler – one in South Dell, in a different area from the one seen on 20th, nine days after the first sighting
Brambling – a male in Port of Ness

Friday 30 October
Iceland Gull – a juvenile in the regular roost of large gulls in the flooded field just N of Loch Stiapabhat

Sunday 1 November
White-tailed Eagle – an adult flew S over Port of Ness (am)
Twite – 40+ in fields at Port of Ness Post Office
Chiffchaff – 1 in Port of Ness
Common Redstart – one seen and photographed by Samantha Hawkins in a garden between Cross and Skigersta.
 
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