• 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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Local Rarity 12th April 2018

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 12th April 2018. Sightings updated throughout the day.

Loch Ordais, Isle of Lewis
2nd winter Glaucous Gull seen today

Near Keose, Isle of Lewis
2 drake *Ring-necked Ducks* reported on the small loch near the road end.

Grenitote, North Uist
The small Canada Goose was seen at Sgiobanais this afternoon. 150 Pink-footed Geese were seen flying NW.

Loch na Reivil, North Uist
2 Black-tailed godwits present.

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Seawatch this morning 06:25 to 09:30
Weather: Wind ENE - E f2-3, bright and sunny. Temp 6.9 - 9C

Good movement of Barnacle Geese with 828 seen flying north.
Also: Fulmar 1N, Gannet 2S 9N, Shag 14N, Cormorant 3N, Kittiwake 6S, Great Skua 1S

Also present: Greylag Goose 6, Wigeon 23, Shoveler 1 (male), Teal 2, Tufted Duck 6, Eider 72, Red-breasted Merganser 4, Great Northern Diver 14, Cormorant 22, Common Buzzard 1, Snipe 1, Purple Sandpiper 8, Rock Dove 3, Hooded Crow 1, Raven 3, Skylark 1, Redwing 2, Wheatear 1, Pied Wagtail 3, Meadow Pipit 16, Twite 3

Castlebay, Barra
2 adult Iceland Gulls reported at the harbour this morning.
There is no further news on the 2 Mandarin Ducks that were reported seen in a freshwater gully by the road to Barra airport yesterday.

Mandarins_Barra_April2018-01.jpg
Photo courtesy Pete and Rachel Hazelhurst
 

Bruce

Senior Member
On Barra a female blackcap was by the football pitch at Castlebay and a pair of adult Iceland gulls were on the pontoons. Several willow warblers and a single chiffchaff were singing around Glen and Brevig.

DSCN6576.JPGDSCN6600.JPG
 

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Tony Marr in Ness, Isle of Lewis:-

The strong SE wind this morning had a contrary effect on departing goose flocks.

Barnacle Geese – At (0956) 20 came up from the S and headed off out to sea to NW until almost lost to sight at the horizon. I then could just discern them turning, and eight minutes later they arrived back at the lighthouse and returned whence they had come, probably Loch Stiapabhat. This afternoon there were only 52 there, after 76 yesterday evening.

Pink-footed Geese – At (1050) a flock of 200 swept past the lighthouse from SE-NW and disappeared out to sea. These were not seen to return.

[Footnote: There has been an unusual paucity of divers of all species this spring on the east coast of Lewis between the Butt and Skigersta. Without detailed checking, I guesstimate only 3 Great Northerns, 3 White-billed and 2 Red-throated in eight weeks. This may be influenced by the very rough seas, mostly hitting this coast from the east, making divers very difficult to spot among the wave crests and troughs.
 
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