• 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

25th November 2017

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
A two hour seawatch this morning in frequent sleet/rain showers produced 1 Long-tailed Duck (S), 4 Red-throated Divers (1S 3N), 1 Great Northern Diver (S), 8 Gannet (2S 6N), 5 Shag (N) and 1 Glaucous Gull (N). Also present in the area were Greylag Goose (95), Barnacle Goose (1), Wigeon (74), Tufted Duck (19), Long-tailed Duck (4), Red-breasted Merganser (4), Cormorant (18), Hen Harrier ( 1 - female), Golden Plover (19), Snipe (2), Purple Sandpiper (33), Rock Dove (25), Hooded Crow (1), Raven (4), Meadow Pipit (1), Rock Pipit (10, and Twite (300)

South Glendale, South Uist
A Brambling and 2 Blackcaps seen in a garden there

Ness Area, Isle of Lewis
News from Tony Marr
My last day before leaving for Norfolk for my winter hibernation!
In the NW gale today:
Glaucous Gull – juv. near the lighthouse – see photo.
Iceland Gull – juv. on the machair by Loch Stiapabhat with 70+ GBBGs

In my garden in Port of Ness:
House Sparrow – up to 120 at feeding station earlier this week – attached photo shows most of them – any advance on 95? (incl. one Greenfinch)

I’ll be returning in late February – season’s greetings to you all, and have a good birding winter.

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Glaucous Gull & House Sparrows courtesy of Tony Marr
 

Bruce

Senior Member
89 pale-bellied brent geese were at Traigh Mhor today including a rather freaky looking aberrant individual (see attached image). Interestingly this bird was feeding on the edge of or away from the main flock most of the time, rarely mingling with the others. Also at Traigh Mhor, a 2nd winter Iceland gull and 14+ snow buntings (Ian saw 34 yesterday). The juv Iceland gull was still at Ardveenish this morning.
A new chiffchaff was in the plantation at Northbay; it has a shiny new-looking ring on its right leg so may perhaps be one of Ian Ts birds from Askernish.

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MisterT

Always Birding
A quiet day here on South Uist with the only bird of note being a 1CY Glaucous Gull at Peninerine
 
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