• 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
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides bird sightings for today, 29th April 2021. Updated throughout the day

St. Kilda
The ***Snowy Owl*** was present today

Butt of Lewis
An immature Iceland Gull was there early afternoon. Ten Lapland Buntings were still present this morning nearby on Lionel machair and another six were seen at Loch Stiapabhat. Also present were a single Shoveler and c100 Pink-feet

Loch Sandary, North Uist
Three immature Iceland Gulls and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were there early afternoon. Two immature Iceland Gulls were nearby at Rubh' Arnal

Carnan, South Uist
Two Common Redpoll and a Siskin were visiting a garden there

Smerclete, South Uist
An immature Glaucous Gull, seven Black-tailed Godwits and 30 Whimbrel were seen there

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist
Counting period: 08:35-10:55
Weather: Wind NE f4-5, mostly prolonged sunny periods. Temp 7-8c.

A 2+ hour seawatch produced 4 Eider (N), 8 Gannet (N), 1 Cormorant (N), 3 Whimbrel (N), 1 Kittiwake (N), 2 Common Terns (N), 4 Arctic Terns (N) and 1 Great Skua (N).
Also present in the area were Pale-bellied Brent Goose 4, Greylag Goose 12, Pink-footed Goose 1, Shelduck 4, Shoveler [male] 1, Tufted Duck 8, Red-breasted Merganser 3, Great Northern Diver 4, Cormorant 30, Hen Harrier [adult male] 1, White-tailed Eagle 1, Whimbrel 11, Curlew 1, Bar-tailed Godwit 4, Black-tailed Godwit 51, Turnstone 40, Dunlin 122, Little Tern 2, Hooded Crow 4, Sand Martin 14, Wheatear 5, White Wagtail 2, Pied Wagtail 2, Meadow Pipit 14, Twite 12, Linnet 7
 

Chris Johnson

Senior Member
A tremendous passage of whimbrels all week with no less than 200 daily. Parties of 40-50 stay overnight and are there early morning. Today has seen over 300 passing through with close on 50 on the headland as I write. A few wheatears too.
 
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Hawkeye

Eyes and Ears Everywhere
News from Tristan

The Ness area of Lewis was carpeted in Wheatears today, some of them obviously belonging to the Greenland race. An Iceland Gull (2 or 3cy) was at the Butt, with possibly the same bird (2cy) seen later at Port of Ness.
At Loch Stiapabhat, there were 6 Lapland Buntings, a drake Shoveler and 95 Pinkfeet. A Corncrake also called briefly.
A male Hen Harrier was at Skigersta.
 
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