• 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, 4th January 2019. Updated throughout the day

Berneray
1,900 Barnacle Geese were at the south end of the island

Aileodair, North Uist
The drake *American Wigeon* was again on Loch there

Balranald, North Uist
The Cackling Goose and small Canada Goose were again there today

Loch Bornish, South Uist
A drake *American Wigeon* was seen on the loch this morning

Eoligarry, Isle of Barra
The adult *White-billed Diver* was again seen from the jetty this afternoon (see Bruce's post below)

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 08:30 - 10:45
Weather: Wind SW - SSW F4 easing to f3, 8/8 cloud, dull. Temp 8.3C.

A 2+ hour seawatch this morning produced 15 Eider (13S 2N), 5 Long-tailed Duck (S), 2 Red-breasted Mergansers (S), 7 Red-throated Divers (5S 2N), 1 Great Northern Diver (S), 4 Gannets (S), 65 Shag (2S 63N) and 8 Cormorants (S).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 81, Wigeon 52, Tufted Duck 8, Great Northern Diver 3, Golden Eagle1, Common Buzzard 1, Lapwing 19, Golden Plover 46, Curlew 8, Hooded Crow 2, Raven 4
 

Bruce

Senior Member
The adult White-billed Diver was again off Eoligarry this afternoon, about 200m out from the jetty. This is the closest I've seen it since it arrived in November. Nearby there were 11 Brent Geese on Traigh Mhor and 3 Slavonian Grebes offshore. The parvipes type Canada Goose was still at Borve.

DSCN3460 (2).JPG
 

YvonneB

OH Bird Recorder
Another day out birding. Headed down to the north of South Uist, around the range, Ardivachar and South Ford then across to Benbecula to take in Coot Loch, Lochs Mor and Fada, Stinky Bay and the bay at Balivanich.

Added to list today:-
77. Greenland White-fronted Geese - near Loch Bee
78. Coot - Coot Loch - unsurprisingly :)
79. Gadwall - Coot Loch
80. Shoveler - Coot Loch
81. Velvet Scoter - offshore at Balivanich - good views as it was quite close in.

12 Snow Buntings were at Iochdar, a Pied Wagtail was at Ardivachar Point and 8 Gadwall were on Coot Loch

velvetscoter2.jpg velvetscoter1.jpg
 
Top