Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
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30th April:
Lewis: 2nd winter Iceland Gull South Galson.
North Uist: 47 Whimbrel were at Balranald today. 34 Whimbrel were on Baleshare.
Barra: 2 Sandwich Terns were at Eoligarry.
Marine Sightings: 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Balranald. 40 Risso's Dolphins and 5 White-beaked Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
29th April:
Lewis: A Great White Egret was seen on the river at Gress this afternoon.
North Uist: 180 Barnacle Geese and 13 Whimbrel were at Balranald. 53 Whimbrel were on Baleshare.
Benbecula: 15 Whimbrel were at Stinky Bay.
28th April:
Benbecula: A Common Scoter was south of Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A House Martin flew east at Loch Eynort.
Marine Sightings: 6 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning. A couple of Harbour Porpoise were off Borve point, Benbecula.
27th April:
Lewis: A Pomarine Skua was seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry this morning.
North Uist: 16 Brent Geese flew north-west off Baleshare this morning and at least 20 Whimbrel were present.
Benbecula: A Curlew Sandpiper was in Stinky Bay this afternoon.
South Uist: The Night Heron is still at the fish farm at Loch Carnan. An Osprey flew north at Ardvule this afternoon; also 25+ Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ Whimbrel there and 12 Brent Geese heading north. 30+ Black-tailed Godwits were on the Range at LA2.
Curlew Sandpiper (Steve Duffield)
26th April:
St. Kilda: 2 Night Herons and a Black Redstart were on Hirta.
Lewis: A Little Egret was at Laxdale.
North Uist: An immature Iceland Gull and juvenile Glaucous Gull were at Loch Sandary this morning.
South Uist: 10 Whimbrel flew north at Kipheder point.
Dunlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Short-eared Owl (John Kemp)
25th April:
St. Kilda: Ad adult Night Heron female Black Redstart and a Ring Ouzel were on Hirta.
North Uist: A 2nd winter / summer Iceland Gull was at Loch Paible. 150 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Carinish this afternoon. 28 Whimbrel were on Baleshare this evening. 120 Pink-footed Geese flew over Claddach Kirkibost this evening.
South Uist: The Night Heron was reported from Loch Carnan fish farm again today.
Barra: The 1st summer Little Gull was at Eoligarry and 4 Tree Sparrows were at Bruernish.
24th April:
St. Kilda: The 1st summer Night Heron a Black Redstart and Mistle Thrush were still on Hirta.
North Uist: 24 Whimbrel were on Baleshare this evening. 3 Tree Sparrows were seen in Carinish.
22nd April:
St. Kilda: At least 3 Night Herons are still on Hirta.
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Balranald. 13 Arctic Terns were on the North Ford off Carinish this evening.
Marine Sightings: At least 7 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Balranald. 3 Risso's Dolphins and 3 small groups of White-beaked Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head.
21st April:
St. Kilda: A Black Redstart and 7 House Martins were seen on Hirta.
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull were on Loch Sandary.
South Uist: A female Ring Ouzel was in South Glendale.
20th April:
St. Kilda: 4 Night Herons (3 adults and a 1st summer) were on Hirta today.
Lewis: A Hawfinch was at Port of Ness.
North Uist: 70+ Pink-footed Geese flew north over Loch Sandary early afternoon. 6 Whimbrel were on Baleshare this evening.
Ringed Plover, White Wagtail, Hen Harrier and Whimbrel (Steve Duffield)
19th April:
St. Kilda: 2 Night Herons were on Hirta this evening.
Lewis: A Velvet Scoter was off North Tolsta.
Barra: A Yellowhammer was at Brevig in the evening.
18th April:
Lewis: 2 Whimbrel were at Shader. 100+ Pink-footed Geese were at Loch Stiapabhat in the evening and 200+ flew north off the Butt earlier in the day.
Harris: 60 - 70 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Bowglass in the morning
St. Kilda: A Night Heron was seen on Hirta.
North Uist: A Night Heron was seen near Callernish House. 5 Common Terns were in the Sound of Harris. 730 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Claddach Kirkibost during the day.
South Uist: A Little Tern was at the north end of Loch Bee. A male Brambling was in South Glendale.
Insects: An Early Thorn, 8 Early Grey, 7 Double-striped Pug, 1 Foxglove Pug, 1 Angle Shades, 13 Brown Silver-line, Agonopterix ocellana, Agonopterix subpropinquella, 7 Agonopterix yeatiana, Acleris hastiana, Acleris rufana and 26 Acleris hyemana were caught in South Glednale last night. At North Loch Eynort Emmelina monodactyla, Water Carpet, Red-green Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet, 5 Double-striped Pug, 8 Early Grey and 4 Clouded Drab were trapped.
Marine Sightings: A bull Killer Whale was seen off Brevig, Barra.
Early Thorn and Water Carpet (John Kemp)
17th April:
Marine Sightings: 3 Killer Whales swam south from the Butt of Lewis toward Port of Ness in the evening.
16th April:
North Uist: The female Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch Olobhat. 6 Pintail and 74 Black-tailed Godwits were at Aird an Runair. 116 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch na Reivil.
15th April:
Lewis: An immature Glaucous Gull flew west past the lighthouse late morning.
North Uist: An Iceland Gull was at Balranald.
South Uist: A male Ruff was on the Range. A Common Scoter was off Drimsdale.
Insects: A Peacock butterfly was at Druidibeg plantation today.
Golden Plover, Ruff and Wheatear (Steve Duffield)
14th April:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver was off Skigersta this morning and 2 were seen off there in the evening. 110 Pink-footed Geese flew over Loch Stiapabhat this morning whilst another 90 came over in the afternoon; a Lapland Bunting was also nearby. A juvenile Glaucous Gull came into the gull roost at Loch Tiumpan in the evening.
North Uist: 7 Common Terns were on the North Ford off Carinish this evening.
13th April:
Lewis: A Night Heron was seen near Shader.
North Uist: The female Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch Oloabhat.
South Uist: The Night Heron is still at Loch Carnan, at the fish hatchery. 2 drake Scaup are on Loch Bee. The female Lesser Scaup was on West Loch Ollay.
12th April:
South Uist: The Night Heron was still at Loch Carnan today (for its 4th or 5th day). 114 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch an-t'Saile. 45 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Hallan.
Night Heron (Steve Duffield)
11th April:
Lewis: An immature Glaucous Gull was at Loch Tiumpan this morning. A Velvet Scoter was in Broad Bay.
South Uist: A Night Heron was at the fish hatchery at Loch Carnan today. The female Lesser Scaup was on West Loch Ollay. A drake Scaup was on Loch Bee.
10th April:
Lewis: The Night Heron was seen briefly in flight at the southern end of Loch Stiapabhat this morning.
North Uist: The female Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Olobhat.
Benbecula: A drake Surf Scoter was off the jetty at Stinky Bay late morning.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup was at West Loch Ollay; also a Little Egret there.
Short-eared Owl (Steve Duffield)
9th April:
Lewis: A Black Redstart was at the Butt lighthouse and 2 Snow Buntings were nearby. A Night Heron was at Loch Stiapabhat this evening.
North Uist: 250+ Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Carinish this morning.
South Uist: 74 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardvule. 61 Gannets and 2 Fulmars flew south at Ardvule whilst a Great Skua flew north.
Bonxie and Gannet (John Kemp)
8th April:
Lewis: A House Martin was in Skigersta.
Harris: The adult Glaucous Gull was at Leverburgh harbour. Around 350 Pink-footed Geese (in 2 flocks) flew north-west at the Clisham today. A Willow Warbler was at Northton.
North Uist: A Bean Goose species was seen at Borve, Berneray
South Uist: A female Lesser Scaup was on West Loch Ollay.
Barra: The 1st winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor. A 2nd winter Iceland Gull flew over Brevig.
Marine Sightings: Mixed pod of 30 Risso's and White-beaked Dolphins off Port of Ness today.
7th April:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver was off Skigersta late afternoon.
North Uist: A 2nd winter Iceland Gull and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were at Traigh Iar, Balranald. At least 7 Iceland Gulls were at Rubh' Arnal.
Benbecula: An Iceland Gull was in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 270 Barnacle Geese and 7 White-fronted Geese flew north over South Glendale today.
Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull and Wheatear (Steve Duffield)
6th April:
Lewis: The 2nd winter Iceland Gull is still in South Galson.
Harris: A drake Surf Scoter was in the Sound of Taransay. The adult Glaucous Gull was at Leverburgh harbour.
North Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at the south end of Loch Paible this evening.
Benbecula: An adult Ring-billed Gull and an Iceland Gull were seen in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A female Lesser Scaup was on east Loch Bee.
Barra: A 1st winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor.
Insects: An Early Grey, 2 Double-striped Pugs and an Acleris hastiana were caught in South Glendale last night.
Acleris hastiana (John Kemp); Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)
5th April:
North Uist: 50+ Whooper Swans were resting on the sands between Baleshare and Claddach Kirkibost. 20 Whooper Swams flew north-west over Carinish this evening.
Benbecula: A Willow Warbler was in Balivanich.
4th April:
North UIst: A Greenland White-fronted Goose was in Carinish this morning.
3rd April:
North Uist: The female Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Olobhat. A Swallow was by the Westford Inn and 2 Sand Martins were at Hosta.
South Uist: 33 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Pintail and a Brent Goose were at Ardvule. The female Lesser Scaup was still on West Loch Ollay.
2nd April:
North Uist: 243 Whooper Swans and 62 Pink-footed Geese were seen heading north / north-west off the west side of the island this morning. 36 Whooper Swans were seen heading north-west over Baleshare early afternoon and a furher 27 late afternoon. A Swallow was also seen on Baleshare. A Sand Martin was at Loch nam Feithean. An adult Iceland Gull was at Kyles Paible. A drake Pintail was on Loch Ardheisker.
South Uist: A Lesser Scaup and 2 Scaup were on west Loch Bee. 4 Snow Buntings were at Kilpheder Point. A Lesser Scaup was also on West Loch Ollay.
Marine Sightings: 2 Orcas (a female and calf) were seen off Port of Ness late afternoon. Later 7 Orcas moved north-west past Adabrock. Somewhere between 6 - 12 Bottle-nosed Dophins were off Baleshare early afternoon.
Whooper Swans (Steve Duffield); Great Northern Diver and Twite (John Kemp)
1st April:
Lewis: A Cuckoo was heard singing at Portvoller; Point.
Benbecula: A Common Scoter was off Stinky Bay. 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Borve.
South Uist: A Black-tailed Godwit was at LA2 on the Range.
Marine Sightings: 7 Orcas were seen heading south past Port of Ness early evening.
Insects: An Agonopterix ocellana, a Double-striped Pug, Early Grey, Red Sword-grass and 7 Hebrew Character were caught in South Glendale last night.
Redwings and White-tailed Eagle (Steve Duffield); Agonopterix ocellana and Double-striped Pug (John Kemp)