• 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, 3rd November 2019. Updated throughout the day

Loch Paible, North Uist
6 Pintail were seen there today and a Siberian Chiffchaff was nearbly at Paiblesgarry

Carinish, North Uist
The 4 Long-tailed Tits were still there today

Loch Sandary, North Uist
15 Black-tailed Godwits and a Coot were on the loch this morning

Ardivchar, South Uist
2 juvenile **White-rumped Sandpipers** were there today

South Glendale, South Uist
2 Blackcaps were in a garden there

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 08:05 - 09:45
Weather: Wind NE f4-5, mostly sunny with scattered cloud. Temp 10C.

A near 2 hour seawatch this morning produced 3 Red-throated Divers (2S 1N), 3 Great Northern Divers (1S 2N), 10 Gannets (3S 7N), 21 Shags (3S 18N), 1 Cormorant (S), 22 Kittiwakes (S) and 11 auk sp (8S 3N).
Also seen in the area were Greylag Goose 1, Wigeon 5, Teal 21, Tufted Duck 64, Goldeneye 1, Red-throated Diver 1, Great Northern Diver 1, Shag 45, Cormorant 11, Hen Harrier 1, Grey Plover 1, Curlew 15, Bar-tailed Godwit 3, Black-tailed Godwit 34, Dunlin 24, Purple Sandpiper 4, Snipe 2, Peregrine 1, Raven 4, Redwing 1, Rock Pipit 2
 
There was clearly an arrival of new migrants on Barra. A Yellow-browed Warbler was calling repeatedly in Castlebay at dawn and there was an obvious influx of Chaffinch and Dunnock around the island. 2 Waxwings flew east over the football pitch around 8.30. Several Brambling were at Creachan along with 2 Blackcap and c25 Fieldfare. The Ring-necked Duck and a Greenland White-fronted Goose were on Loch Tangasdale and the Iceland Gull was by the church at Craigston. The long-staying Great Tit was in the plantation at Northbay plus a Blackcap and 4 Siskins.

As I arrived at Eoligarry church around 10.15 I had brief views of a shrike species in the bushes on the hillside. I saw it again in flight about an hour later, flying from the bushes to the clump of conifers below. On both occasions the views were too brief for photos. It was probably a Red-backed, but I couldn't eliminate the possibility of a rarer species on the views I had. 3 of us searched the area until late afternoon without any further sign of it, however there was a very vocal Siberian Chiffchaff present. A Swallow was flying over the bay at Brevig when I got home at dusk.
 
News from Andrew:-

Still 3 (at least) two-barred crossbills at Langass, though tricky to see/hear in the breezy conditions with birds keeping in the canopy. c40 siskins and 2 brambling still, with 20 fieldfare over mid morning

35 gadwall and 19 shoveler on Coot Loch, Benbecula

Siberian type chiffchaff (not calling) and 10-15 siskins Snishival plantation

5 siskin, 1 brambling, and a woodcock in my garden.
 
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