Scottish Rarity 8th October 2017

[Hawkeye]

Balgarva, South Uist
The **White-rumped Sandpiper** and 2 Little Stints were still present late morning on the beach opposite the thatched holiday cottage

Carnan, South Uist
A juvenile *Common Rosefinch* was seen at midday.

Druidibeg Plantation, South Uist
A Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Brambling seen there today

Coot Loch, Benbecula
A Short-eared Owl seen on the machair nearby

North Loch Eynort, South Uist
A single Pale-bellied Brent Goose seen on the loch

Tiumpan Head, Isle of lewis
An adult Glaucous Gull and immature Iceland Gull were seen this morning

Ness Area
News from Tony Marr

Friday 6 October
Whooper Swan - 6 on Loch Stiapavat
Brent Goose - one still there
Chiffchaff - 3 in various Ness gardens
Redwing- 1
Lesser Redpoll- flock of 5 in South Dell

Saturday 7 October
Whooper Swan - flock of 11 asleep (pm) on Loch Stiapavat
Coal Tit one in South Dell (pm)
Sand Martin- 1 in Port of Ness (pm)

Sunday 8 October
Sand Martin - 1 along Port of Ness beach cliffs for only three mins. before it flew off
1 Brent Goose & 1 Ruff on Loch Stiapavat
Blackcap - female in Port of Ness


White-rumped Sandpiper courtesy of Toby Green. Coal Tit courtesy of Tony Marr

 

[Chris Johnson]

The most disappointing WeBS count I can remember. Almost no waders but hundreds of gulls.
Gull count:
Great Black-backed - 29
Black-headed - 165
Common - 63
Herring - 810
The very high tide probably had something to do with it, especially with copious amounts of kelp, but observing over the past couple of weeks has shown a distinct lack of wader movement.

 

[YvonneB]

WeBS counts day today for @MisterT and myself as well.

A dreich and dreary start to the day but hardly any wind which made a pleasant change!

Loch Bee, the range and surrounds, South Uist: nothing too unusual but high counts were Lapwings (241), Mute Swans (314), Black-tailed Godwits (6), Herring Gulls (127 - most of which were at Loch an t'Saile), Wigeon numbers building up (216). 30 species seen in total.

South Ford, A reasonable number of species seen (26). Wader numbers were not high with Grey Plover being the most numerous (159). Just 3 Brent Geese out on the estuary with 5 Knot nearby. Sadly the White-rumped Sandpiper and a couple of Little Stint's at Balgarva were just out of the count area!

After the WeBS counts:-

On the fields at Torlum, Benbecula there were 400+ Golden Plover, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and good numbers of Lapwing.

Loch Druidibeg, South Uist - Whooper Swan, a family group of 6 seen.

Peninerine, South Uist - a rather late Swallow was seen along the machair this afternoon.

Loch Rog, South Uist - the female Scaup is still on the loch