• 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

Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 31st August 2023. Updated throughout the day

Boisdale, South Uist
The ****Oriental Turtle Dove**** was seen on wires by Corncrake cottage this morning. It was again seen on wires to the south of the township in the evening
 

MisterT

Always Birding
Nights spent ringing Storm Petrels have been less frequent this year and when out, numbers caught have been greatly reduced. One theory is that the unusual high Atlantic water temperatures have seen suitable feeding areas move much further north rather than avian influenza being the problem.

We have however had our first recovery of the year, that of a bird ringed here at Askernish on 31-July being controlled (caught and released) on Lunday, Devon on 23-August, a distance of 693km and a duration of 23days, This is our most southerly recovery to date.

Stope askernish - lunday.JPG
 
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