• 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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Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 13th May 2023. Updated throughout the day

Butt of Lewis
42 Pink-feet flew over NW. 7 Whimbrel were also in the area. 4 Pintail and 5 Pink-feet were nearby at Loch Stiapabhat. 6 Common Scoter, 2 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua, and 15 Manx Shearwaters were seen at Skigersta in the evening

Borve, Berneray
2 Pink-footed Geese were there this morning

Cladach Vallay, North Uist
An Osprey was there today

Loch nam Fietheam, North Uist
The drake Gargeaney was seen there early morning, the pair seen again in the afternoon. A female Pintail was also present. 5 Black-tailed Godwit and a Coot were nearby at Loch na Reivil

Loch Sandary, North Uist
6 Whimbrel and a 3CY Glaucous Gull were there today. 15 Whimbrel were nearby at Balemore where 58 Pink-feet were seen to fly north mid-morning

Loch Dursary, North Uist
A Glaucous Gull was seen there today

Loch Mor, Benbecula
The female Ruff was there again this morning. A Black-tailed Godwit was also in the area

Ardivachar, South Uist
A Jackdaw was there this morning

Loch Druidibeg, South Uist
A Whinchat was there today
 
Barra
Hawfinch in gardens at Brevig this afternoon but very flighty. A pair of Common Scoter from the Sound of Barra ferry early afternoon.

Eriskay
Singing male Whinchat and a Chiffchaff just up the hill from the ferry terminal.
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Hawfinch
 
Global Big Day today so headed out early to see what was about, had some shopping to do in Balivanich anyway so headed north from home calling at Loch Bee, Ardivachar, Northbay and South Ford on the way. After shopping in Balivanich and having a look round there headed back south calling at Stinky Bay, Lochs Mor and Fada, Coot Loch, Liniclate and back across to Heb Jew via the track around the South Ford, then Howmore, Peninerine, Stoneybridge, Loch Bornish and Rubha Ardvule, Locheynort (but not the woodland). Nothing too out of the ordinary, we managed to finish the day on 75 species which was more than I anticipated and there were quite a few birds that I expected to see and didn't get. Bird of the day for me was probably a lovely male Whinchat near Iochdar. Manx Shearwater at Rubha Ardvule was a bonus.

St. Kilda Rangers and some visiting birders added to the Outer Hebrides species total and as I write this at 21:18 we were coming second, in terms of species seen today with 94, to Highland region in first place who had 107 species - Scotland round up here: https://ebird.org/region/GB-SCT?yr=BIGDAY_2023a&m=&rank=lrec

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Two White-tailed Eagles at Loch Bee
 
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