Scottish Rarity 15th May 2017

[Hawkeye]

Loch Branahuie, Isle of Lewis
237 Long-tailed Ducks present on the loch this morning. During the afternoon 16 House Martins were reported.

Loch na Tiumpan, Isle of Lewis
A late Whooper Swan was present.

Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis
During a 30 minute sea watch today birds were moving in a mainly southerly direction. 340 auks (which seemed to be mainly Guillemots), 16 Fulmars, 14 Gannets, 2 Red-throated Divers (flying north), 37 Kittiwakes.

Ness area, Isle of Lewis
News from Tony Marr:-

• Pink-footed Geese – 4 at Fivepenny (or was it 5 at Fourpenny?)
• Gadwall – drake still on Loch Stiapavat
• Whimbrel – 2 on the Butt and 29 on the Lionel-Eoropie machair
• Ruff – 2 at the north end of Loch Stiapavat (one with a black ruff; one with a white one, maybe last Friday’s bird)
• Corncrake – one calling near the hide on Loch Stiapavat – my first of the year
• House Martin – six over Loch Stiapavat

Loch Hosta, North Uist
The Iceland Gull is still present early this morning.

RSPB Balranald, North Uist
Glaucous Gull present plus 4 Little Stint reported from there too.

Loch Sandary, North Uist
Iceland Gull seen today.

Borve, Benbecula
3 male Ruff were on the machair. Nearby at Loch Mor there was another male Ruff, a Swift and a pair of Puntail. The Tree Sparrow is still at Liniclate.

Loch Bee, South Uist
An Osprey was seen on the south side. At nearby Loch an t'Saile 2 Swifts were seen this morning.

Howmore, South Uist
Spotted Flycatcher reported behind the bike hire shop.

North Locheynort, South Uist
8 House Martins and a Chiffchaff were present.

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
During a four hour seawatch: Gannets (172N, 55S), Great Skua (1N), Arctic Skua (2S). Also seen were 1 Kumlien's Gull, 1 Little Gull, 1 Swift and 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese.
Glaucous Gull was also reported in the area today.

 

[BrianR]

Berneray: Geoff Wyatt found a Kentish Plover this afternoon on the cultivated machair near the Borve Community Hall. Blue flag on left leg and white over yellow rings on right leg.

Only our second record following one on South Uist from November 2007 to April 2008 (first wintering and west coast record for Scotland).

 

[Ardmaraig]

Two Long-tailed' and two Pomarine Skuas north at Aird an Runair this evening between 17.24 and 18.45

 

[YvonneB]

Berneray: Geoff Wyatt found a Kentish Plover this afternoon on the cultivated machair near the Borve Community Hall. Blue flag on left leg and white over yellow rings on right leg.

Only our second record following one on South Uist from November 2007 to April 2008 (first wintering and west coast record for Scotland).

Hi Brian, apparantly this **Kentish Plover** is a male and has also been reported in Tacumshin, Co. Wexford back in April. Will be interesting to see here it originates from

 

[BrianR]

Hi Brian, apparantly this **Kentish Plover** is a male and has also been reported in Tacumshin, Co. Wexford back in April. Will be interesting to see here it originates from

Update from Geoff - Cian Cardiff shared a picture of the bird at Tacumshin via Twitter - says it was colour-ringed in Brittany, France - no date given.