Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2020
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30th November:
North Uist: 2 Glaucous Gulls (a 2nd winter and a juvenile) were on Baleshare today. A Jack Snipe was in Carinish.
29th November:
South Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Ardvule and a female Common Scoter flew south there.
Common Scoter and Red-breasted Mergansers (John Kemp)
28th November:
North Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was on Loch na Faoileag, Grimsay.
South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Pink-footed Goose were at Ardvule.
Marine Sightings: 2 White-beaked Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head.
Buzzard and Pink-footed Goose (John Kemp)
27th November:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was seen at the Butt of Lewis. 3 Pink-footed Geese were with 40 Barnacle Geese at Loch Stiapabhat. A male Blackcap was in Port of Ness. A Hawfinch is still visiting Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway.
North Uist: 4 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare.
South Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and a Pink-footed Goose were at Ardvule. 700 Twite were on Bornish machair.
Marine Sightings: 3 pods of Risso's Dolphins, 4 White-sided Dolphins and 2 Minke Whales were seen off Tiumpan Head.
Glaucous Gull and Ravens (John Kemp)
26th November:
South Uist: An Iceland Gull was at Snishival today.
Marine Sightings: 4 Risso's Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
25th November:
Barra: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs are still in Castlebay.
24th November:
St. Kilda: The Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta again today.
South Uist: 4 Snow Buntings were on the beach at Frobost. 19 Red-throated Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Divers, 11 Long-tailed Ducks and 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Ardvule this morning; also a juvenile Glaucous Gull present.
Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale and 6 Harbour Porpoise were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Sooty Shearwater (John Kemp)
23rd November:
South Uist: A Green-winged Teal was reported at the north end of Loch Bee and Clachan.
22nd November:
Late news from Barra where there was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet from 12th - 19th November.
21st November:
North Uist: A juvenile and a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull were on Baleshare today.
Benbecula: A Grey Phalarope was off Balivanich early afternoon.
South Uist: A Grey Phalarope was in North Bay (Mol Mor) this morning. A Long-tailed Skua flew south at Ardvule this morning; also a Great Skua, 72 Gannets, 8 Red-throated Divers, 5 Great Northern Divers, a Slavonian Grebe, an Eider, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 51 Kittiwakes, 2 Shags, 3 Black Guillemots, a Guillemot and 2 Razorbills.
Long-tailed Skua (John Kemp); Grey Phalarope and Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)
20th November:
North Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was blown north-eastwards over Carinish this afternoon.
19th November:
North Uist: 2 Cackling x Barnacle Geese hybirds were on the machair at Grenitote today.
Benbecula: 4 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Loch Mor.
South Uist: A female Common Scoter and 5 Scaup were on Loch Bee. 110 Greenland White-fronted Geese were on the west side of Loch Bee. A Siberian Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and 2 Woodcock were at Snishival. A Brambling, 3 Blackcaps and a Woodcock were in Bornish.
Barra: A Siberian Chiffchaff was in Castlebay; a Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail and Treecreeper were also present.
18th November:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was on a pool just south of the Butt of Lewis this morning.
North Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary. 3 juvenile Iceland Gulls were at Rubh' Arnal and 49 Brent Geese were nearby.
17th November:
Lewis: A Hawfinch is still visiting Urquahart Gardens, Stornoway. A Swallow and a Grey Wagtail were at Bayhead, Stornoway.
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Baleshare this afternoon. The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary and there was an Iceland Gull in the area.
Marine Sightings: A Killer Whale was seen just to the south-east of Eriskay today. At least 5 Blue Fin Tuna were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
16th November:
North Uist: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was on Baleshare.
South Uist: Birds heading south at Ardvule this morning included a Greenland White-fronted Goose, 5 Common Scoter, 73 Kittiwakes and a juvenile Iceland Gull.
Iceland Gull and Kittiwake (John Kemp)
15th November:
Lewis: 1 or 2 Hawfinch are still visiting Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway.
North Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary. A Lapland Bunting and at least 4 Snow Buntings were on Balemore machair. 3 Pink-footed Geese were at Knockintorran.
South Uist: 5 Common Scoters flew north and 1 flew south.
Barra: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were on the island; also 4 Bramblings and a Treecreeper. 21 Whooper Swans flew south over Castlebay this afertnoon.
Marine Sightings: 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins swam south at Ardvule this morning.
Green-winged Teal (Steve Duffield); Bottle-nosed Dolphins (John Kemp)
14th November:
Lewis: 5 White-fronted Geese flew south at the Braihe.
St. Kilda: The Snowy Owl is still on Hirta.
North Uist: 4 White-fronted Geese and a Ruff were on Borve machair, Berneray.
South Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule.
Barra: A Siberian Chiffchaff was in Castlebay.
Golden Plover (Steve Duffield)
13th November:
North Uist: A Pink-footed Goose was with Greylags on Baleshare today. 2 Woodcock were in Carinish. A Snow Goose was at Knockintorran this afternoon.
12th November:
Benbecula: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was off Balivanich this afternoon.
10th November:
Lewis: A Hawfinch was seen in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway today. The 1st winter Brown Shrike was seen in Ness along the Cross - Skigersta road again today.
Harris: A drake Surf Scoter was in the Sound of Taransay with 280 Common Scoter. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Luskentyre. A Chiffchaff and Fieldfare were at Horghabost. 7 Crossbills flew east at Leverburgh.
Barra: A Siberian Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Chiffchaffs are in Castlebay.
Marine Sightings: 15 Sperm Whales were seen from Tiumpan Head this morning.
9th November:
Harris: The adult Glaucous Gull is still near Bunovenaeder.
North Uist: 4 Glaucous Gulls (3 juveniles and a 2nd winter) were at Rubh' Arnal; also a Snow Bunting and 18 Brent Geese there.
Buzzard (John Kemp); Corn Bunting, Golden Eagle, Goldfinch and Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)
8th November:
Lewis: The 1st winter Brown Shrike was seen in Ness along the Cross - Skigersta road again today.
Barra: 5 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry.
Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle (John Kemp)
7th November:
Lewis: The 1st winter Brown Shrike was seen in Ness along the Cross - Skigersta road this morning between crofts 64 - 70; also a Blackcap there. A Blackcap and Chiffchaff were in Port of Ness.
North Uist: 5 Crossbills, 2 Fieldfare and a Blackcap were at Langass Lodge. 2 Chiffchaffs were at Grenitote.
South Uist: 90+ White-fronted Geese were at Ardnamonie, by Loch Bee. A Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps and a Brambling were in Bornish.
Barra: The Dusky Warbler was still in Gleann this afternoon; also a Siberian Chiffchaff, a Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcaps were there. 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat were in Castlebay. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Creachan
Insects: A Brindled Ochre and Angle Shades were trapped in South Glendale last night.
Crossbill (Steve Duffield); Reed Bunting (John Kemp); Brown Shrike (Tristan ap Rheinhallt)
6th November:
Lewis: A 1st winter Brown Shrike was in Port of Ness. A White-fronted Goose and 3 Pink-footed Geese were seen at Sandwick.
St. Kilda: The Snowy Owl and 2 Black Redstarts are on Hirta.
Barra: The Dusky Warbler was still in Gleann; also a Siberian Chiffchaff briefly. Another Siberian Chiffchaff was in Castlebay.
Dusky Warbler (Steve Duffield)
5th November:
North Uist: A Jack Snipe was in Carinish this morning. A Chiffchaff is at Langass Lodge.
South Uist: The juvenile Glaucous Gull is still at Ardvule.
Barra: A Dusky Warbler was seen at Gleann today. 5 Siberian Chiffchaffs, 2 Lesser Whitethroats and a Treecreeper were seen in Castlebay. 3 Fieldfares, a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Grey Wagtail were at Creachan. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Northbay.
Chiffchaff (Steve Duffield)
4th November:
Lewis: A Hawfinch was still in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at the Butt and 9 Sooty Shearwaters flew past. 7 Snow Buntings were at the Butt. 5 Fieldfare were in Port of Ness. A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Tiumpan Head.
Barra: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroat were in Castlebay. Yellow-browed Warblers were seen at Creachan and on Northbay.
3rd November:
Lewis: 16 Snow Buntings were at the Butt. A Hawfinch was still in Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway.
Harris: An adult Glaucous Gull was at Bunovenaeder this morning. The drake Surf Scoter was in the Sound of Taransay.
North Uist: 13 Sooty Shearwaters, a Fulmar, 656 Kittiwakes, 382 Gannets, a Bonxie, 3 Black Guillemots, 4 Eiders, 4 Long-tailed Ducks, 10 Black-headed Gulls and 6 Purple Sandpipers flew west past Griminish Point (08:00 - 11:40); whilst a juvenile Iceland Gull flew east. A Scaup was on Loch Hosta. A Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Brambling were at Langass Lodge.
Barra: A Siberian Chiffchaff and Lesser Whitethroat were in Castlebay. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Northbay.
2nd November:
Harris: A male Surf Scoter and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were at Luskentyre.
North Uist: A seawatch from Griminish Point (11:50 - 12:45) produced 238 Kittiwakes, 373 Gannets, a Red-throated Diver, 3 Great Northern Divers, a Black Guillemot, 5 Black-headed Gulls, a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Curlew and 4 Oystercatchers heading south-west; also a Snow Bunting flew south. 21 Whooper Swans flew south over Carinish this morning. A Blackcap was at Claddach Vallay and 2 Blackcaps were at Callernish House.
South Uist: A Blackcap was at Kilaulay. A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south at Ardvule this morning; also 5 Great Northern Divers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 68 Kittiwakes south and a Common Scoter north. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was also there.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were on the island; also a Lesser Whitethroat, Treecreeper and 2,000 Redwings.
Brambling (Marie Morrison); Blackcap and Purple Sandpiper (Joe Newman); Surf Scoter (Martin Benson)
Glaucous Gull, Buzzard and Skylark (John Kemp)
1st November:
Lewis: A Redstart was seen between Cross and Skigersta. A Chiffchaff was in Port of Ness. Up to 3 Hawfinch were in Uquhart Gardens, Stornoway today.
Harris: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Luskentyre beach.
Benbecula: 6 Pink-footed Geese were at Torlum.
South Uist: The Great Crested Grebe was at the west end of North Bay (Mol Mor). 52 Gannets, 6 Great Northern Divers, 6 Red-throated Divers, 4 Guillemots, 3 Razorbills, 1 Black Guillemot, 4 Kittiwakes and 8 Long-tailed Ducks flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff and 9 Blackcaps were seen on the island today.
Long-tailed Ducks (John Kemp); Seaduck and Slavonian Grebe, Glaucous Gull (Martin Benson); Redstart (Samantha Hawkins)