Hawkeye
Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 18th April 2018. Updated throughout the day
News this morning from Tony Marr in Ness, Lewis:-
"At 0925 this morning I found an immature drake ***Blue-winged Teal*** at the north end of Loch Stiapabhat, preening, in the boggy area and visible from the road above. After about five minutes it flew c 50 yards and dropped out of sight into the long grass. The area is viewable from the Passing Place by the car wreck garden. Suggested immature as the white face crescent and the white patch at the rear of the flanks are not very bright, although the pale blue forewing is.
At about 0940 as I scanned the rest of the boggy area, I found a solitary Wigeon asleep, which raised its head and revealed a white crown before resuming its dozing. Too much to hope that it’s an American Wigeon, but after yesterday’s south/south west gale, anything could happen up here, as the Blue-winged Teal indicates. I’m on the case…"
Update from Tony Marr (13:50)
No further sign of the ***drake Blue-winged Teal*** at the northern end of the loch since it flew into the long grass at 0930 this morning.
The Wigeon with the white crown did eventually wake up, but showed mixed characters that suggest it is a hybrid. The area concerned is inaccessible and beyond camera range, but I’ll be seeking better views later today.
News this morning from Tony Marr in Ness, Lewis:-
"At 0925 this morning I found an immature drake ***Blue-winged Teal*** at the north end of Loch Stiapabhat, preening, in the boggy area and visible from the road above. After about five minutes it flew c 50 yards and dropped out of sight into the long grass. The area is viewable from the Passing Place by the car wreck garden. Suggested immature as the white face crescent and the white patch at the rear of the flanks are not very bright, although the pale blue forewing is.
At about 0940 as I scanned the rest of the boggy area, I found a solitary Wigeon asleep, which raised its head and revealed a white crown before resuming its dozing. Too much to hope that it’s an American Wigeon, but after yesterday’s south/south west gale, anything could happen up here, as the Blue-winged Teal indicates. I’m on the case…"
Update from Tony Marr (13:50)
No further sign of the ***drake Blue-winged Teal*** at the northern end of the loch since it flew into the long grass at 0930 this morning.
The Wigeon with the white crown did eventually wake up, but showed mixed characters that suggest it is a hybrid. The area concerned is inaccessible and beyond camera range, but I’ll be seeking better views later today.