• 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

Local Rarity 18th November 2017

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Baleshare North Uist
The *American Golden Plover* still present. 2 Pink-footed Geese were at the north end of the island with 650 Barnacle Geese.

Borve, Berneray
The *Common Crane* was still present on the machair. 56 Whooper Swans were nearby on Loch Bhrusda.

The Butt of Lewis
27 Snow Buntings present this afternoon

Ardveenish, Barra
3+Iceland Gulls and the ringed Glaucous Gull still present A Snow Bunting was nearby at Eoligarry and 135 long-tailed ducks were off Allasdale. - see Bruces post

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Snow Buntings courtesy of Samantha Hawkins
 

MisterT

Always Birding
I am normally asking others to look out for my ringed House Sparrows but today, here at Askernish, I trapped a bird that had been ringed elsewhere. After a few enquiries, I found that it had been ringed by Mark Oksien earlier this year on 18th September at Garrygall, Barra (See map). Not only has this bird moved 26Km, this is the first time we have recorded a House Sparrow crossing water to other islands. As Bruce Taylor commented we think with the way Calmac is operating of late, we can rule out ship assistance!
The Willow Warbler ringed earlier this week is still here and a new Chiffchaff was caught and ringed today.
 

BrianR

Senior Member
In the Rubh' Arnal area, North Uist this morning sightings included five pale-breasted Brent Geese, three Iceland Gulls, a leucistic Common Gull, at least two Pied Wagtails and eight Snow Buntings flew over.
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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from @Ian Ricketts
Long-tailed Tit is rare on Barra, so I was delighted to find two at the Field of Hope this morning. Alas my photos of them were very poor. Always happy to get a Barra tick

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Bruce

Senior Member
Also on Barra today a snow bunting on the beach at Eoligarry (they seem to have been in short supply so far this season), at least 3 Iceland gulls and the ringed glaucous gull still at Ardveenish and c135 long-tailed ducks off Allasdale.

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