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  • 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

24th July 2017

B

BrianR

Senior Member
After an absence of almost half a century Sand Martins resumed breeding on the Uists in 2010. This year many colonies were located, some good counts made, and breeding appears to have been particularly successful. On North Uist counts have not been as high as on South Uist but 30-40 have been regularly over Loch nam Feithean. The attached photo was taken at the colony near Loch Hosta.

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YvonneB

YvonneB

OH Bird Recorder
Very unHebridean weather today (warm and sunny!) for the regular monthly outing to do WeBS counts on Loch Bee and the South Ford.

Water levels at Loch Bee are probably the lowest i've seen them. Fairly quiet bird-wise but counts of 413 Mute Swans, 337 Greylag Geese, 206 Black-headed Gulls, 168 Lapwings topped the list. Shelduck seemed to be mostly absent with a count of only 7. Ducks with young - Wigeon (a female and 4 young), Tufted Duck (female and 4 young) and Mallard (a female with 7 young). Also saw 1 Short-eared Owl and heard a Sedge Warbler.

At the South Ford the tide was rapidly falling and it was good to see a group of 147 Bar-tailed Godwits, quite a few of which were still in breeding plumage. Highest count of the day was Oystercatchers 97. A single Greenshank was recorded.

Also happy to say I joined the "two white-wingers on one day in July" club - the Glaucous Gull was at North Bay, Iochar and the Iceland Gull was still at Kildonan - both were loafing on the beach.

20170724-IN8A3121Wigeon.jpg
Wigeon
 
Fred

Fred

Member
Good to see the Hosta colony thriving. I was a bit concerned this year to see some 'sand slip' on the dune face. Then one afternoon some local children decided to practice their 'knickerbocker breaking' skills as well but the birds did return..
I shall look out for them again in 2018.
 
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