Local Rarity 29th September 2017

[Hawkeye]

Aird an Runair, North Uist
Two juvenile Little Stints and 43 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were seen on the beach. On the machair nearby there were 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and a probable Little Stint.

Ruhba Ardvule, South Uist
A 3 hour seawatch this morning produced 3 Eider (S), 1 Red-breasted Merganser (S), 13 Red-throated Divers (S), 7 Great Northern Divers (S), 3 Manx Shearwaters (S), 271 Gannets (255S 16N), 2 Snipe (S - on off the sea), 22 Kittiwakes (S), 5 Great Skuas (S), 11 Guillemots (S), 1 Black Guillemot (S) and 5 auk sp (S). 2 Rock Pipits, a Wheatear, Peregrine and Merlin were also in the area

Ness Area, Isle of Lewis
News from Tony Marr
Thursday 28 September
On the Butt in the morning 2 Lapland Buntings west of the lighthouse, and 5 Ruff flew S.

Today
On the Butt a juvenile Little Stint on the pool 500 yards W of the lighthouse this morning.
At Loch Stiapavat 2 Ruffs (am) and yesterday’s juvenile Marsh Harrier (pm)


Marsh Harrier courtesy of Tony Marr

 

[BrianR]

Waited until the afternoon when the showers stopped and the sun came out before venturing out. Even so it was not ideal viewing conditions with a strong southerly blowing. At Eachkamish (Baleshare), North Uist there were two Ruff, the juvenile American Golden Plover was seen again and also two Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Both the plover and the Buff-breasts favour the area near the drove from the shingle ridge/football 'pitch' leading to Traigh Eachkamish.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers in flight-dark crescent on white underwing of one showing quite well.

 

[MisterT]

Like Brian I too waited for a little better weather before venturing out. At Askernish, South Uist there were still 6 Ruff on the machair and 19 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the beach. At Boisdale, Ruff numbered 25 today plus a small group of 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and circa 70 Curlew were on the machair. There was also a large flock of passerines made up of at least 80 Twite, 30 Linnets, 20 Greenfinch, 30 Goldfinch and 40 Skylark.
Just further south at Tipperton, there were circa 300 Pale-bellied Brent Geese on the beach and just off shore which looked set to stay the night.


Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Boisedale and Tipperton

 

[Bruce]

A nice arrival of brent geese on Barra too. 96 were on Traigh Mhor including 3 ringed birds and a further 9 arrived in off the sea at Cleat.