Local Rarity 17th December 2023

[Hawkeye]

Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 17th December 2023. Updated throughout the day

Scaliscro, Isle of Lewis
A *Great White Egret* was seen along a small burn between Scaliscro and Kinloch Roag today

Loch an Tiumpan, Isle of Lewis
The drake *Ring-necked Duck* was seen there again today. 6 Pink-feet and 2 Goldeneye were also there

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 09:05-11:45
Weather: Wind SW f6, gust f8, 8/8 cloud, very dull with rain and some misty spells. Temp11c.
A near 3 hour seawatch this morning produced 1 Eider (S), 1 Common Scoter (S), 4 Long-tailed Ducks (S), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (S), 1 Kittiwake (S), 32 herring Gulls (S), 14 Red-throated Divers (S), 8 Great Northern Divers (S), 2 Fulmars (S), 8 Gannets (S), 3 Cormorants (N), and 10 Shag (2S 8N).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 7, Shelduck 1, Wigeon 90, Mallard 80, Teal 27, Oystercatcher 66, Ringed Plover 70, Curlew 12, Turnstone 61, Dunlin 75, Purple Sandpiper 15, Redshank 8, Great Black-backed Gull 6, Herring Gull 45, Great Northern Diver 3, Cormorant 32, Hooded Crow 14, and Otter 3.

 

[MisterT]

A little delayed but I have now found out that the colour ringed Waxwing that was controlled (caught and released) in here in Askernish on 13-November-2023, was originally ringed in the grounds of the Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen on 31-October-2023, a duration of 13 days and a distance of 318km (199 miles). Another example of the east - west movement of birds here on the islands.