• 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, 23rd March 2019. Updated throughout the day

Barvas, Isle of Lewis
A Great Tit was visiting a garden there

Balranald, North Uist
25 Pink-footed Geese flew north over the reserve at midday

South Glendale, South Uist
The Great Tit was again in a garden there

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 06:45 - 09:20
Weather: Wind W F5-6, bright and sunny. Temp 7C.

A 2+ hour seawatch this morning produced 12 Eider (S), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (S), 1 Great Northern Diver (S), 12 Gannets (5S 7N), 16 Shag (4S 12N), 4 Cormorants (1S 3N), 3 Golden Plover (N), 18 Kittiwakes (S) and 24 Razorbills (20S 4N).
Also present in the are were Wigeon 22, Tufted Duck 4, Red-breasted Merganser 6, Great Northern Diver 1, Cormorant 18, Hen Harrier 1, Turnstone 51, Redshank 8, Black-headed Gull 10, Great Black-backed Gull 8, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Hooded Crow 2, Raven 2 and Pied Wagtail 1

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Great Tit (C) & courtesy of Graham Forsyth
 
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BrianR

Senior Member
The following were among the species recorded at Loch Paible, North Uist this morning for a WeBS count: at least 500 Barnacle Geese in the area (possibly some were newly arrived as 43 came onto exposed bed of loch from high up from S), at least 13 Pintail (a very high number for this site), 89 Oystercatchers, 9 Grey Plover, 12 Knot, 80 Redshank and 203 Turnstone.

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MisterT

Always Birding
Whoopers were again on the move today with 200+ flying north over Askernish early morning in numerous small groups. There were also 150+ on the lochs in Frobost and further 60+ on Loch Hallan late morning. An additional then 75 dropped in on Keepers Loch here in Askernish early afternoon. 212 were then counted flying north late afternoon with more large herds further inland estimated to be in excess of 200.

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Bruce

Senior Member
There was an obvious increase in the number of Goldcrests, Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits on Barra today. The parvipes type Canada Goose was still on Borve Point among c90 Barnacles. The were a few Whooper Swans scattered about the island but nothing like the numbers seen on South Uist. Watching from Eoligarry yesterday I saw a couple of big flocks flying through the Sound of Barra close to the S.U. side, presumably pushed onto that side by the strong wind.
 
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