National Rarity 4th October 2018

[Hawkeye]

Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 4th October 2018. Updated throughout the day

Eoligarry, Isle of Barra
The ***Isabelline Shrike*** was again in the garden of Donscurravel House this morning

Askernish, South Uist
The ***Lesser Yellowlegs*** was still on the flooded field near golf clubhouse this morning

Creachan, Barra
A **Blyth's Reed Warbler** was there this afternoon

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis
A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in Lews Castle grounds along the Strawberry Hill Trail this afternoon

Shawbost, Isle of Lewis
2 Scaup were on Loch Grinnebhat

Upper Coll, Isle of Lewis
2 Common Redpolls were in a small planation there

Langass Lodge, North Uist
A Lesser Whitethroat was there today

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 07:55 - 10:20
Weather: Wind SW f6 veering W f 4-5. Dull with drizzle and occasional sea mist. Temp 12.5C
A 2+ hour seawatch produced 1 Teal (S), 3 Eider (S), 3 Red-throated Divers (S), 1 Great Northern Diver (S), 203 Gannets (211S, 2N), 2 Cormorants (S), 1 Golden Plover (S), 104 Snipe (S), 1 Kittiwake (S), 2 Black-headed Gulls (S), 7 Razorbills (S), 1 Puffin (S) and 8 auk sp (S)
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 42, Red-throated Diver 1 and Skylark 5

 

[BrianR]

A Pied Flycatcher, first seen on Sunday, is still present in a garden near Loch Sandary, North Uist.


At Loch Paible, North Uist a flock of 57 Barnacle Geese came down to rest and later departed S.


Five Pink-footed Geese also landed and there must have been well over 200 Snipe in the general area (impossible to work out how many as flocks coming and going; largest wisp was 37).

Six Black-tailed Godwits were at Knockintorran, North Uist.

 

[Bruce]

On a wet and windy morning on Vatersay I noticed a Merlin perched in an unusual spot; on the windscreen wipers of an abandoned van! On Barra the Blyth's Reed Warbler found at Creachan during the late afternoon was typically very elusive. A Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap were also at this site and the Wood Warbler remained at Glen.

 

[MisterT]

The Isabelline Shrike was again showing well in between the showers at Duncurraval House this morning. Snipe were noticable with at least 3 wisps of 20+ passing over, there was a Wheatear at Eoligarry jetty which according to those on the island were scarce this year and 42 Barnacle Geese flew over mid afternoon

 

[Hawkeye]

News from Tony Marr at Ness

Butt of Lewis – Port of Ness (am)
Snow Bunting – 8 near the lighthouse in mid-morning
Barnacle Geese – flocks of 28, 48, 46, and 16 E-W round the Butt
Barn Swallow – one in Port of Ness
Chiffchaff – one there
Willow Warbler – one there
Arctic Tern – one at Port of Ness

Machair between Lionel School and Eoropie (pm)
Golden Plover – 550
Black-tailed Godwit – one
Bar-tailed Godwit – one