National Rarity 1st January 2021

Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, New Years Day 2021. Updated throughout the day

Fivepenny, Isle of Lewis
A Glaucous Gull was on the machair today

Balranald, North Uist
The two ***Cackling Geese*** were today seen at Loch Sgaraigh. Circa 10 Snow Buntings were on the machair and 17 Pintail were seen on Loch nam Feithean and two juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on the beach at Hougharry

Loch Sandary, North Uist
The drake *Green-winged Teal* was again seen on the loch this morning

Rubh Arnal, North Uist
A juvenile Iceland Gull and 60 Brent Geese were seen there today. Another juvenile Iceland Gull was nearby at Knockintorran

Balemore, North Uist
A *Snow Goose* was seen on the machair this morning. 30+ Snow Buntings were also in the area

Baleshare, North Uist
Two juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on the island this afternoon

Carinish, North Uist
A Chiffchaff was seen in the township

Coot Loch, Benbecula
The darke *Green-winged Teal*, 40 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall and two Pintail were on the loch. Three Pink-footed Geese were nearby at Loch Mor and a Glauous Gull was in Stinky Bay. Two Barnacle Geese were at Torlum

Carnan, South Uist
A Water Rail was seen in a garden there

Garrynamonie, South Uist
A juvenile Glaucous Gull was seen on the beach there today

Barra.
The Velvet Scoter and a Slavonian Grebe were off Eoligarry and 2 Snow Buntings were on the beach there. A Common Chiffchaff and Treecreeper were at Castlebay. A Woodcock was at Ardmhor and another was flushed by the gritter as it drove past my house at dusk.

Over 200 wigeon at Steinish (Lewis)

New Years Day birding and a fabulous day for it, cold but sunny and hardly any wind Ended the day on 53 species - three more than the 1st Jan last year, nothing too unusual but the sights of the day were five White-tailed Eagles on the beach at Kilpheder and 70+ Twite on Askernish machair. Managed to get 42 species on the patch, a good start to the Patchwork Challenge year.

YvonneB said:

New Years Day birding and a fabulous day for it, cold but sunny and hardly any wind Ended the day on 53 species - three more than the 1st Jan last year, nothing too unusual but the sights of the day were five White-tailed Eagles on the beach at Kilpheder and 70+ Twite on Askernish machair. Managed to get 42 species on the patch, a good start to the Patchwork Challenge year.

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That's a cracking photograph Yvonne, the light is sublime.