26th December 2023

[Hawkeye]

Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 26th December 2023. Updated throughout the day

Port Nis, Isle of Lewis
An Adult Glaucous Gull and an adult Iceland Gull were seen there this morning. An adult Glaucous Gull was also seen by Loch Stiapabhat and another 2 adults were at the Butt of Lewis.

Bragar, Isle of Lewis
A juvenile Iceland Gull was there today

Loch Airigh na Lic, Isle of Lewis
A Fieldfare and 50 Redwing were there today

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 09:05-12:15
Weather: Wind N f2-3 at first changing to SW f2. Variable cloud, occasional showers and long sunny spells. Temp 4c.
A 3 hour seawatch this morning produced 1 Eider (N), 5 Red-throated Divers (3S 2N), 3 Great Northern Divers (1S 2N), 3 Gannets (2S 1N), and 23 Shag (11S 12N).
Also present in the area were Shelduck 1, Wigeon 94, Mallard 161, Teal 29, Tufted Duck 10, Velvet Scoter [juvenile female]1, Long-tailed Duck 24, Red-breasted Merganser 2, Golden Plover 47, Bar-tailed Godwit 23, Black-tailed Godwit 6, Turnstone 58, Purple Sandpiper 68, Redshank 35, Black-headed Gull 2, Common Gull 25, Red-throated Diver 2, Great Northern Diver 6, Cormorant 17, Grey Heron 1, Hen Harrier 1, White-tailed Eagle 1, Common Buzzard 1, Hooded Crow 6, Raven 2, Skylark 4, Blackbird 1, Pied Wagtail 1, Meadow Pipit 1, and Goldfinch 2


Iceland Gull (C) Simon Niederberger; Glaucous Gull (C) Natalie Ward

 

[MisterT]

The Velvet Scoter was still on Loch Ardvule late afternoon and really standing out in the bright sunlight. The 6 Black-tailed Godwits were also still around the loch with another 8 in the North Bay. 11 Barnacle Geese were by West Loch Ollay, the first I've seen there this winter.

 

[Bruce]

Barra
A Snow Bunting flew north over Traigh Eais this morning; they've been few and far between this winter. Also a dead Little Auk on the strand there today and another casualty on Vatersay west beach yesterday. c10 Fieldfares were around Allasdale this afternoon.