Local Rarity 20th November 2017

[Hawkeye]

Baleshare, North Uist
The *American Golden Plover* was seen again this morning near Loch Mhic Coan - see @BrianR post below

Rubh' Arnal, North Uist
10 Snow Buntings flew south this morning and 3 Lapland Buntings were seen nearby on the machair

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
A 1.5 hour seawatch this morning in fog with variable visibility produced 3 Teal (N), 6 Eider (S), 9 Long-tailed Dick (S), 3 Red-throated Divers (S), 1 Great Northern Diver (N), 2 Gannets (S), 13 Shag (N) and a Cormorant (S). 2 Great Northern Divers and 95 Twite were also in the area

South Glendale, South Uist
The two female Blackcaps were still present today

 

[BrianR]

Photo of the juvenile American Golden Plover opposite Loch Mhic Coan. This bird was first seen on October 22nd.

There were ten Gadwall on the nearby unnamed loch at Illeray.

 

[YvonneB]

Monthly WeBS counts today and a very murky start to the day!
Loch Bee, visibility was very poor. A good count of over 800 Wigeon though. Numbers of Mute Swan were well down on last months with only 193. We had a White-tailed Eagle flyby and there were a selection of waders including Greenshank, Dunlin, Snipe and Redshank. At the flooded area on the range all the gulls were gathered up on the road in the early morning gloom.

Later on in the morning the sun came out and things looked more cheerful. South Ford had good numbers of Shelduck (82), Dunlin (196) and Grey Plover (72) one of which was photographed pulling a worm from the sand! Also had a White-tailed Eagle flyby near the causeway.

Had to pop to Balivanich as well to do some mundane domestic chores so took the opportunity to pop in to scope Loch Mor and Fada where there were two Little Egrets present.


Gulls in the early morning mist, the range, West Gerinish


Grey Plover catching worm, South Ford


Red-breasted Merganser, Loch Bee