National Rarity 22nd August 2023

[Hawkeye]

Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 22nd August 2023. Updated throughout the day

Butt of Lewis
A **Cory's Shearwater** 529 Arctic Skuas, 16 Storm Petrels, 1,423 Manx Shearwaters and a Whimbrel flew south during a 3 hour seawatch. another 2 **Cory's Shearwaters** flew south early evening

South Galson, Isle of Lewis
A **Cory's Shearwater** a Sooty Shearwater and 3 Storm petrels passed offshore early evening

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
5 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Leach’s Petrel, 32 Storm Petrels, 4 Arctic Skuas, 9 Great Skuas and 200+ Manx Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry this morning. 16 Storm Petrels, 19 Arctic Skuas, 10 Great Skuas, 23 Arctic Terns and 187 Manx Shearwaters were seen on the return journey

The Briaghe, Isle of Lewis
6 Black-tailed Godwits were there today

Gallan Head, Isle of Lewis
185 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the point between 09:00 and 12:30

Loch ordais, Isle of Lewis
4 Whimbrel and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were there today

Loch Paible, North Uist
A Long-eared Owl was seen hunting there this morning. A Wood Sandpiper, 22 Knot, 3 Ruff and 21 Whimbrel were seen there later in the day

Coot Loch, Benbecula
The **White-winged Black Tern** was there this morning and seen again early afternoon

Clachan, South Uist
The adult ***Bonaparte's Gull*** was roosting with Black-headed Gulls to the west of the township on the north shore of Loch Bee this morning

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 06:55-11:15
Weather: Wind SW veering WSW then W f5. 8/8 cloud, dull with occasional light drizzle
A 4+ hour seawatch this morning produced 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose (S), 6 Kittiwake (S), 1 Little Gull [juvenile] (S), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (S), 7 Arctic Terns (S), 1 Arctic Skua (S), 2 Razorbills (S), 3 Red-throated Divers (S),1 Black-throated Diver (S),6 Storm Petrels (S), 12 Fulmars (S), 1 Sooty Shearwater (S), 885 Manx Shearwaters (S), 136 Gannets (134S 2N), 7 Shag (S), and 1 Perigrine (S).
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 16, Tufted Duck 1, Eider 7, Red-breasted Merganser 7, Oystercatcher 66, Ringed Plover 92, Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Turnstone 13, Knot 6, Ruff 3, Sanderling 33, Dunlin 15, Redshank 20, Cormorant 8, Grey Heron 1, Hen Harrier 1, Pied Wagtail 22, and Meadow Pipit 6

 

[Bruce]

Barra
An hour's seawatch from Cleat early evening produced 224 Sooty Shearwaters, thousands of Manx Shearwaters, a Long-tailed Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie all heading south. 17 Black-tailed Godwits were at Allasdale along with 9 Whimbrel. 2 Whimbrel were at Cleat and a single was at Traigh Mhor. A Blackcap was at Creachen.
Vatersay
A 2 hour seawatch off the west side this afternoon produced 26 Sooty Shearwaters, c2400 Manx Shearwaters, an Arctic Skua, a Bonxie and 2 Whimbrels. A juvenile Cuckoo was at Caolas.