2016

Please note that the sightings below do not reflect the variety of species you can see in a normal day out birding or wildlife watching. These reports concentrate on more unusual species or significant counts or movements.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 

31st December:

South Uist: 4 Little Auks flew south at Ardvule this morning and a female Pintail was on Loch Ardvule. A juvnile Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. 122 Greenland White-fronted Geese and 33 Barnacle Geese were west of Loch Bee.

Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)

 

30th December:

South Uist: At Ardvule this morning 29 Gannets, 17 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Northern Divers, 42 Long-tailed Ducks, 1 female Common Scoter, 6 Kittiwakes and a Little Auk flew south while 15 Pale-bellied Brents flew north.

 

29th December:

North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the North Ford, off Carinish early afternoon. A juvenile and 2nd cy Glaucous Gull were on Baleshare this afternoon; plus 5 Pintail (3 drakes).

South Uist: A Little Auk flew south at Ardvule this morning and a juvenile Glaucous Gull is still present.

Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)

 

28th December:

Benbecula: A 3rd winter Glaucous Gull was on Loch Mor this afternoon and a Black-tailed Godwit was at Coot Loch. A Little Egret was on the Benbecula side of the North Ford around midday today.

South Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule and another was at South Glendale.

Marine Sightings: Hundreds of thousands if not millions of By-the-wind Sailors have been washed up in the west side of Barra.

Black-tailed Godwit (Steve Duffield)

 

27th December:

North Uist: The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean along with 5 Coots.

 

26th December:

North Uist: A drake Pintail and a Snow Bunting were on Baleshare, whilst a juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north-west there this afternoon.

South Uist: A Little Auk and 24 Kittiwakes flew south at Ardvule this morning. A Woodcock was in South Glendale.

Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Brambling were at Brevig today.

Marine Sightings: Small numbers of By-the-wind Sailors have been washed up on Baleshare.

By-the-wind Sailor (Steve Duffield)

 

25th December:

South Uist: Birds heading south at Ardvule this morning included 19 Gannets, 2 Fulmars, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Northern Diver, 17 Long-tailed Ducks, 221 Kittiwakes and a Golden Plover came in off the sea; a juvenile Glaucous Gull was also present.

Glaucous Gull and Kittiwake (John Kemp)

 

24th December:

North Uist: The American Coot was on the far side of Loch nam Feithean today along with at least 4 Coots. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Aird an Runair along with 4 Snow Buntings.

South Uist: 7 Gannets, 12 Great Northern Divers, 4 Red-throated Divers, 15 Long-tailed Ducks, 16 Kittiwakes, 1 Razorbill and a Black Guillemot flew south at Ardvule this morning.

Barra: A Glaucous Gull (new indiviual) was off Tangasdale today. 7 Pink-footed Geese are at Eoligarry. The Brambling is at Brevig.

Snow Bunting (Steve Duffield); Great Northern Diver and Long-tailed Ducks (John Kemp)

 

23rd December:

South Uist: A Blackcap and Woodcock were in South Glendale today.

 

22nd December:

South Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal is at the north end of Loch Bee. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was still at Ardvule this morning.

Barra: A Chiffchaff was at Nasg and a Brambling was in Brevig. 7 Pink-footed Geese were at Scurrival.

 

21st December:

Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Craigston / Allasdale today.

 

19th December:

South Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls are at Ardvule and a Pintail is on Loch Ardvule. A Blackcap is still in South Glendale.

Buzzard (John Kemp)

 

18th December:

North Uist: A pair of Pintail are on Baleshare.

South Uist: 42 Gannets, 19 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Northern Divers and 2 Black Guillemots flew south at Ardvule this morning; also 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls in the south bay there. A Blackcap is in South Glendale.

Glaucous Gull (John Kemp)

 

17th December:

South Uist: The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still at Ardvule today and 2 Common Scoters were in the south bay there with Eiders. A single Blackcap was at South Glendale.

Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Ardveenish. 6 Pink-footed Geese were at Eoligarry.

Glaucous Gull (John Kemp)

 

16th December:

North Uist: A Little Egret was on the North Ford between Grimsay and Gramsdale, Benbecula this afternoon.

South Uist: A 1st winter Little Gull, adult Iceland Gull and a Black-tailed Godwit were in North Bay this morning. 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale. 16 Goldfinch were at Garrynamonie.

Little Gull and Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)

 

15th December:

North Uist: 41 Brent Geese are near Kyles Paible and a juvenile Glaucous Gull flew south-eastwards there.

 

14th December:

South Uist: A Blue Tit, Water Rail and Fieldfare were in Bornish today. 2 Common Scoters flew south at Ardvule and the juvenile Glaucous Gull was still present. 3 Pintails were on Loch Ardvule. 22 Goldfinch were in Bornish. 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.

Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull, 89 Brent Geese and 13 Snow Buntings were at Traigh Mhor.

 

13th December:

North Uist: 3 Pintail are on Baleshare.

South Uist: 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.

Marine Sightings: A dead 30 ft whale on Baleshare beach appears to be a fully grown Minke Whale.

presumed Minke Whale (Steve Duffield)

 

12th December:

South Uist: 5 Pink-footed Geese were at Boisdale. 2 Blackcaps remain in South Glendale.

 

11th December:

Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Goat Island and a Grey Wagtail was at Bayhead, Stornoway.

North Uist: The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean with 5 Coots and viewable from the road.

South Uist: The juvenile Glaucous Gull is still at Ardvule. 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Peninerine.

Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale and Minke Whale were seen off Portvoller this afternoon.

Glaucous Gull and Purple Sandpipers (John Kemp)

 

10th December:

Lewis: A single Barnacle Goose and Pink-footed Goose were with Greylags at Shore Street, Stornoway.

North Uist: A Chiffchaff was in Carinish today.

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule. 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.

Barra: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on the island with 1 at Eoligarry and the other at Craigston. The Coot is still on Loch Tangasdale.

 

9th December:

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule.

 

8th December:

North Uist: The Water Rail is still at Scotvein, Grimsay.

South Uist: 5 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Divers, 23 Gannets, 1 Fulmar, a Manx Shearwater, a juvenile Glaucous Gull, 67 Kittiwakes, 1 Great Skua and 17 Long-tailed Ducks flew south at Ardvule this morning. 3 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.

 

6th December:

North Uist: The Water Rail is still at Scotvein, Grimsay.

South Uist: A Water Rail and a Blackcap are in Carnan.

Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Traigh Mhor and 10 Snow Buntings were just south of the airport.

 

5th December:

North Uist: The American Coot is still on Loch nam Feithean and close to the road this morning. The Water Rail is still at Scotvein, Grimsay.

American Coot (Steve Duffield)

 

4th December:

North Uist: A Water Rail is coming to a garden at Scotvein, Grimsay.

South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule. 2 Blackcaps were at South Glendale.

juvenile Glaucous Gull (John Kemp)

 

3rd December:

South Uist: 2 Blackcaps and a brief Waxwing were in South Glendale.

 

2nd December:

South Uist: 2 Blackcaps are in South Glendale.