• 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

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Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 24th January 2022. Updated throughout the day

Loch na Meallaird, Benbecula
The *Glossy Ibis* was there again today

Ardmore, South Uist
The ***Lesser Scaup*** was again seen on Loch an Daill this morning

Loch Grogarry, South Uist
A Little Egret was seen there today

Traigh Mor, Barra
2 Glaucous Gulls (1 adult, 1 juv) were there today

Loch Orb, Barra
The Goosander was on the river side of loch Orb this morning

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Adult Glaucous Gull with old injury (C) Ian Ricketts
 
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Monthly WeBS counts today, weather started off a little murky but turned into a half reasonable day with some sunshine at times.

Loch Bee:
Over 200 Mute Swans which is a somewhat lower count than some winters, 39 Whooper Swans, 500+ Wigeon, c240 Tufted Duck and 15 Goldeneye. Many Lapwing with an estimated 280+ in several flocks. Three White-tailed Eagles were in the area as was a Peregrine and a Sparrowhawk - needless to say the birds were generally feeling a little nervous! Waders included an unseasonal group of 24 Black-tailed Godwits, plenty of Redshank around and 3 Turnstones, c90 Golden Plover. 126 Greenland Whitefronts were a welcome sight. Bonus sight of the day 3 Otters!!

South Ford:
Tide still fairly high so the waders were quite close, c300 Dunlin, c175 Ringed Plover, c130 Grey Plover, 46 Knot and 45 Curlew. A Little Egret was seen between Heb Jew and Carnan. 58 Shelduck, 55 Teal and 134 Greylags were the only duck/geese around.

Quick call in at Coot Loch on the way to Balivanich to see what was about there, plenty of duck including a male Pintail. 9 Coot. The Lesser Scaup was at Loch an Daill late morning and still there during a brief stop on the way home.

Plenty of raptors out and about today with White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Merlin all on the list.

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Lesser Scaup, Loch an Daill, South Uist
 
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