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  • 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

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  1. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 14th January 2024

    WeBS Count today. Ardivachar from headland to Range 1 – three-hours after high tide. Bar-tailed godwits c.600; oystercatchers 13; golden plovers 35; lapwings c.60; knots 9; redshanks 10; ringed plovers 37; great northern diver 1; a few gulls and some odds. Kilauley Bay Bar-tailed godwits c.300...
  2. Chris Johnson

    30th July 2023

    Circa 150 black-tailed godwits passed over the headland this afternoon heading for Ardivachar bay.
  3. Chris Johnson

    Scottish Rarity 18th April 2023

    A belated WeBS count as Sunday's tide was too early and not very high. Ardivachar Headland to Range 1. Oystercatchers 134, sanderlings c600, ringed plovers c100, bar-tailed godwits 253, turnstones c300, black-tailed godwit 1, purple sandpipers 11, lapwings 8, redshanks 15, eiders 12, mallards 8...
  4. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 17th January 2023

    The last two days have seen in influx of lapwings (118) and golden plovers (47) on our headland. Also 2 curlews and a few turnstones, a small party of twites, 18 redwings and about 3,000 starlings. The redwings have been around daily since the large numbers in October, they like to follow the...
  5. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 24th October 2022

    Another day for redwings: no less than 1,500. This is exceptional here as were barely see a handful most autumns. We are on the west coast and Bruce on Barra specifically mentioned the birds there were on the west side. perhaps an atypical weather pattern?
  6. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 23rd October 2022

    A steady influx of redwings all day today on the headland. Still coming in close to dark. A sensible estimate would be 2-3,000.
  7. Chris Johnson

    Scottish Rarity 7th September 2022

    A juvenile turtle dove was sitting on the fence by the house this morning. Also c40 swallows hunting over the headland. The past two weeks have seen a huge number (thousands) of meadow pipits feeding and passing through the headland. Tailing off a bit now.
  8. Chris Johnson

    Scottish Rarity 24th May 2022

    Flushed a woodcock at the back of the croft house, Ardivacher, this afternoon.
  9. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 2nd May 2022

    Yes please, thank you.
  10. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 2nd May 2022

    Very little spring movement on the headland this year. Several lapwing pairs nesting with the first brood off last week and another today. We also have oystercatchers nesting on the inbye and one is ringed. Left leg above the knee a red ring; below the knee a metal ring. Right leg has a white...
  11. Chris Johnson

    National Rarity 5th December 2021

    A morning count, as soon as light-levels allowed, on a falling high tide from Ardivachar beach to the first range. Bar-tailed godwits, c750, Sanderlings c1400, redshanks 23. Same area mid- to late-afternoon. Similar numbers of bar-tailed godwits and sanderlings spread over a large area. 350+...
  12. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 10th October 2021

    A challenging WeBS count today with a strong westerly pushing an alraedy high tide farther up the shore. There was little room for waders on the shore, especially with large amount of seaweed. Mostly gulls with black-headed (55) and common (125) predominating. 49 oystercatcher, 15 turnstone and...
  13. Chris Johnson

    National Rarity 29th September 2021

    The range machair had c400 golden plovers with one black-tailed godwit. South-west Loch Bi had 1000+ widgeons, 4 whooper swans and 25 knots.
  14. Chris Johnson

    26th August 2021

    Nice work and results. Was the Fair Isle record before the disastrous fire or is ringing still ongoing?
  15. Chris Johnson

    22 August 2021

    WeBS Count today North Bay was disturbed and uncountable. Ardivachar Headland and Bay. A good start to the day with a dark-phased Arctic skua heading north pasted the headland. Waders: sanderlings, 460; turnstones, 222; dunlins, 38; ringed plovers, 51; curlew, 1; .resdshanks 2; oystercatchers 3...
  16. Chris Johnson

    Local Rarity 8th May 2021

    A steady pasage of whimbrels all weeks with about 50-60 daily. More today, c80 stopping briefly to feed on the headland, much to the annoyance of the nesting lapwings. A corncrake ran across the road in Iochdar this morning.
  17. Chris Johnson

    National Rarity 29th April 2021

    A tremendous passage of whimbrels all week with no less than 200 daily. Parties of 40-50 stay overnight and are there early morning. Today has seen over 300 passing through with close on 50 on the headland as I write. A few wheatears too.
  18. Chris Johnson

    National Rarity 12th April 2021

    A number of small skeins of barnacle geese over the headland today: c240. A stead movement of redwings through the croft: c400.
  19. Chris Johnson

    National Rarity 11th April 2021

    A nice day for the WeBS count. Ardivachar: Oystercatchers 205; bar-tailed godwits 44; turnstones 265; purple sandpipers 66; curlews 2; sanderlings 376; cormorants 28; a scattering of gulls and some oddments plus several skeins of barnacle geese all morning amounting to c470. Also a steady...
  20. Chris Johnson

    9th April 2021

    C300m redwings on the croft this morning joined by 33 golden plovers. Rather nice from the lounge window!
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