• 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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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Outer Hebrides / Western Isles bird sightings for today, 22nd November 2018. Updated throughout the day

Loch Erisort, Lewis
A drake Goosander was at the head of the loch (near Balallan) today.

Sound of Taransay, Isle of Harris
2 drake Surf Scoters, circa 300 Common Scoters and 80+ Long-tailed Ducks were in the sound today

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

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 08:50 - 10:30
Weather: Wind E-SE f2-3, 0/8 cloud, bright, sunny and cool. Temp 5.2 - 6C.

A 1+ hour seawatch this morning produced 5 Eider (S), 1 Common Scoter (S), 6 Red-throated Divers (S), 8 Gannets (S), 9 Shag (3S 6N), 1 Woodcock [First for headland] (S), 1 Little Auk (S) and 1 auk sp.
Also present in the area were Greylag Goose 55, Wigeon 27, Mallard 47, Teal 12, Tufted Duck 12, Long-tailed Duck 18, Goldeneye 2, Red-breasted Merganser 6, Red-throated Diver 18, Great Northern Diver 1, Cormorant 10, Lapwing 14, Hooded Crow 2, Raven 6, Song Thrush 1, Rock Pipit 1 and Twite 23. 5 Black-tailed Godwits were nearby on Bornish machair
 

Bruce

Senior Member
It was a relatively quiet day on Barra. There were 3 Slavonian Grebes and a female Common Scoter off Ardmhor ferry terminal; seems to be a good season for Common Scoters. Around 100 Long-tailed Ducks were off the west side of the island in several flocks. I was watching one flock on the sea about a hundred metres off Craigston this morning when I noticed something smaller and brown bobbing among the flock. It seemed to be lying flat to the surface and watching it for a few moments I concluded it must be some debris. A few moments later it caught my eye again as it sat up, took flight and headed strongly towards land. I must admit that I was completely gobsmacked when I realised it was a Woodcock! What on earth is a Woodcock doing sitting on the sea in a flock of Long-tailed Ducks?
 
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