• 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 13th April 2019. Updated throughout the day.

Today saw the first of the Voluntary Seabirds at Sea (VSAS) surveys. Three teams are covering Oban - Barra, and Ullapool - Stornoway and Kennacraig - Islay.

Observer on Calmac's MV Loch Seaforth, Danni Thompson said "It was puffin central on the Ullapool-Stornoway crossing. Highlights included more bonxies and a Manx shearwater. Fulmars, kittiwakes and gannets aplenty too".
 
A late post for the 13th.

Male merlin at Balranald, and a mixed flock of 250+ twite and linnet on the Machair there. About 6 sand martin hunting in the lee of the dunes.
 
Top