Scottish Rarity 27th April 2017

[Hawkeye]

Castlebay, Barra
The 2 **Black-crowned Night Herons ** are still to be found by the football pitch, present for at least their third day


Photo courtesy of Bruce Taylor

Loch Fada, Benbecula
195 Black-tailed Godwits present with 60 Whimbrel nearby. A male Snow Bunting was at Loch Mhor

Ness area, Isle of Lewis
News from Tony Marr

"The bitter NW wind dropped through the day to nil this afternoon, when steady drizzle set in. Fewer birds as each day passes. Hopefully the forecast of warmer southerly/south-east winds over the weekend will generate some migration!"

Highlights today were a 2nd-year Iceland Gull at the Butt; the *Green-winged Teal* 7 Whooper Swans and the pair of Pintail on Loch Stiapavat; 1,200 Golden Plover and 13 Dunlin on the Lionel-Eoropie machair; and 55 Black-tailed Godwits at Fivepenny.

 

[YvonneB]

Many Redwings around in Carloway, Isle of Lewis this morning.

 

[Paul Boyer]

On the Range Hebrides today numbers of Golden Plover were slightly lower with just over 2000 being present, also 86 Whimbrel and 2 Lapland Bunting

 

[Bob stevens]

Castlebay, Barra
The 2 **Black-crowned Night Herons ** are still to be found by the football pitch, present for at least their third day

View attachment 304
Photo courtesy of Bruce Taylor

Loch Fada, Benbecula
195 Black-tailed Godwits present with 60 Whimbrel nearby. A male Snow Bunting was at Loch Mhor

Hope they stay til Monday coming from west sussex

 

[MisterT]

Here at Askernish Golden Plover and Black-tailed Godwits numbers remain at circa 400 and 64 respectively although they were very flighty today. 122 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew North along the beach. At Frobost, 67 Whimbrel were on the machair while 7 Whoopers and 3 Pintail (2 Drakes, 1 Duck) remain on the loch there.


Pintail and Brent Geese

 

[BrianR]

Some North Uist sightings today: at Aird an Rùnair species flying N included three Tufted Ducks, five Red-throated Divers, an Arctic Skua, four Great Skuas and 91 Kittiwakes. A flock of 14 Black-tailed Godwits came from the S and passed over the headland, there was a 1st-winter Glaucous Gull and at least nine Lapland Buntings were by the cattle pens. Only 22 Barnacle Geese were present (there were good numbers yesterday - at least 1,500 - in the Vallay/Callernish area). Also yesterday but still present today at Callernish a flock of 48 Black-tailed Godwits.

 

[Bruce]

A 2cy Iceland gull was on Borve Point this morning. Nearby 9 whooper swans were still on Loch Tangasdale. 11 black-tailed godwits were at Eoligarry. About 20 redwings are still scattered around the island. Regarding the continued presence of the night herons, I'm surprised how tolerant they are to disturbance. They've chosen one of the busiest spots on Barra with a well used football pitch on one side and a popular playground on the other. Their favoured feeding spots are less than 10 metres from a busy path. It'll be interesting to see how they respond to the (much needed) community litter pick around the football pitch this Sunday!

 

[Chris Johnson]

44 Pale-bellied Brent Geese drifted round the headland (a few later seen in North Bay). Also at North Bay were 5 Swallows, my first of the year.