20th April 2018

[Hawkeye]

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
A seawatch this morning, nearly 5 hours produced:-
227 pale-bellied Brent Geese (N), 1 Tufted Duck (S), 7 Eider (N), 4 Long-tailed Duck (S), 1 Red-throated Diver (S), 2 Great Northern Divers (1S, 1N), 104 Fulmars (103S, 1N), 12 Manx Shearwaters (S), 277 Gannets (253 S, 24N), 9 Shag (3S 6N), 33 Black-tailed Godwit (N), 379 Kittiwakes (N), 2 Great Skuas (N), 29 Guillemot (S), 53 Razorbill (S), 9 Puffin (S), 1 Skylark (N) and 6 Meadow Pipits (N).

Also present in the area: 46 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Wigeon, 8 Tufted Duck, 33 Eider, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 6 Shag, 19 Cormorant, 2 Golden Plover, 10 Whimbrel, 13 Arctic Tern, 1 Razorbill, 2 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Robin, 1White Wagtail and 4 Meadow Pipits.
John comments: The Robin was at the end of the headland next to the sea. A first site record.

Smerclate, South Uist
16 pale-bellied Brent Geese, an Iceland Gull and 3 Sand Martins were present there.

South Glendale, South Uist
2 Blackcaps and 2 Siskins were in a garden there

 

[Roger Auger]

A colourful group of 46 Black-tailed Godwits, nearly all in breeding plumage near Loch Mhic Coan on Baleshare this afternoon.

 

[BrianR]

There were good numbers of Barnacle Geese present this morning on North Uist. At Balmartin 1,350 (including a colour-ringed bird) and at Callernish/Vallay at least another 800. Among the birds at Callernish there were 11 pale-bellied Brents and a Canada Goose. Goodness knows whart race but quite a large-bodied bird compared to the Barnacles and I could only get some rather distant photos (fifth bird from the right hand end).

There were a small number of species, including 101 Kittiwakes, heading W during a half-hour watch from the headland (11.50-12.20 hours).

A flock of 18 Black-tailed Godwits flew over, there was not much in Callernish House garden apart from a singing Willow Warbler.
In a Claddach-vallay garden there was a ♂ Blackcap (apparently has been visiting frequently earlier in the month along with a ♀).
One or two Swallows seen since the first on the 11th. This one was at Carinish this afternoon - if a returning bird to breed in the byre next-door will have to find another site as it has recently been demolished.

 

[Hawkeye]

Ness News from Tony Marr

So far as I know, the drake ***Blue-winged Teal*** was NOT seen today. It could well have still been present, as it spent much of yesterday skulking in the long grass at the north end of Loch Stiapabhat. Bob Wemyss came up from Stornoway on Thursday afternoon and after waiting patiently in his car overlooking the site for two hours, eventually saw it for just a few seconds.

There were a number of new arrivals today (Friday):

Greenland White-fronted Geese – 25 in fields near the hide at Loch Stiapabhat (pm)
Barnacle Geese – only two left now
Gadwall – pair at Loch Stiapabhat
Black-tailed Godwit – 15 at Loch Stiapabhat
Golden Plover – 1,000 there
Snow Bunting – at the Butt of Lewis a female west of the lighthouse
Robin – one inside the lighthouse compound at the Butt