2015
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.
30th November:
North Uist: A 2nd winter Iceland Gull is at Kyles Paible. The Green-winged Teal and Coot are still on Loch Sandary. A Red-necked Grebe was in Lochmaddy Bay this afternoon.
Barra: The Great White Egret is still at Ardveenish. A juvenile Iceland Gull flew past Cleat this morning.
Insects: A freshly emerged Angle Shades was found in South Glendale today.
Barnacle Geese, Red-necked Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser (Steve Duffield); Angle Shades (John Kemp)
29th November:
North Uist; A drake Green-winged Teal and a Coot are on Loch Sandary.
South Uist: A Leach's Petrel flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew north at Brevig.
28th November:
Barra: The Great White Egret was still at Ardveenish this morning.
27th November:
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule (08:20 – 10:15) included 67 Gannets, 33 Red-throated Divers, 7 Great Northern Divers, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 9 Long-tailed and 49 Kittiwakes.
26th November:
North Uist: The drake Pintail is still on Loch Mor, Baleshare.
24th November:
North Uist: A male and female Pintail were on Loch Mor, Baleshare this morning.
South Uist: The Waxwing is still in South Glendale.
23rd November:
South Uist: 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule this morning. The Waxwing is still in South Glendale.
22nd November:
South Uist: The Waxwing is still in South Glendale and a Snow Bunting flew north at Garrynamonie.
Great Northern Divers (Jac Volbeda); Waxwing (John Kemp)
21st November:
North Uist: 5 Fieldfare were in Carinish today.
Benbecula: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Coot Loch this afternoon; also a Barnacle Goose and Fieldfare there.
South Uist: The Waxwing is still in South Glendale. Northerly passage at Ardvule (08:15 – 10:10) included 65 Red-throated Divers, 3 Great Northern Divers, 65 Gannets, 8 Long-tailed Ducks, 1 juvenile Iceland Gull. A Slavonian Grebe is at the north end of Loch Bee.
Waxwing (John Kemp)
20th November:
North Uist: 2 Fieldfare were in Carinish today.
South Uist: Ardvule 08:20 – 11:10 southerly passage of 12 Sooty Shearwaters and 9 Whooper Swans while species flying north included juv Iceland Gull, juv Kumlien's Gull and a female Common Scoter. A Waxwing was in South Glendale this afternoon.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Traigh Sgurabhal today.
Waxwing and Kumlien's Gull (John Kemp)
19th November:
North Uist: A drake Pintail was on Loch nam Feithean and a Snow Bunting flew over there. 7 Snow Buntings were also on Balranald. A Coot was on Loch Sandary and a Common Redpoll was nearby.
South Uist: Two sessions at Ardvule today produced 52 Gannets, 20 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great Northern Divers, 9 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Glaucous Gulls juvs, 183 Kittiwakes, 1 Common Scoter and 2 Black Guillemots heading south. There were 4 Pintail on Loch Bornish.
Barra: The Great White Egret is still at Ardvenish. A Siberian Chiffchaff and 3 Tree Sparrows are at Brevig. A juvenile Iceland Gull and 5 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry. 69 pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Traigh Mhor. 2 Woodcock, a Willow Warbler and 3 Blackcaps were in North Bay. A Chiffchaff was at Ardmhor. A Sooty Shearwater was off Cleat.
Purple Sandpipers and Starling (Steve Duffield)
18th November:
North Uist: A Jack Snipe was along the shore at Carinish. A pair of Pintail were on Loch Mor, Baleshare.
South Uist: 21 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule this morning. The male Blackcap is still in South Glendale.
Barra: 10 Sooty Shearwaters were lingering off Borve today.
Marine Sightings: 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were hanging about at Ardvule this morning.
Golden Plover and Lapwing (Steve Duffield)
17th November:
North Uist: A drake American Wigeon was on the loch opposite the Loch Portain turning today.
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule (08:00 – 10:00) included 14 Red-throated Divers, 6 Great Northern Divers, 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 juvenile Glaucous Gull, 61 Kittiwakes, 2 Black Guillemots while a Merlin flew out to sea. A drake Pintail was on Loch Hallan, Daliburgh. 11 Greenland White-fronted Geese and 62 Redwing were at Kilpheder. The male Blackcap is still in South Glendale. A female Blackcap was at Carnan today.
Grey Seal pup, Blackcap and Redwing (John Kemp)
16th November:
North Uist: A Short-eared Owl was seen in Carinsh this afternoon.
Benbecula: A juvenile Iceland Gull was in Stinky Bay and a juvenile Pomarine Skua headed north off Balivanich this morning.
15th November:
South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Ardivachar this morning and 2 Brent Geese were at Balgarva. A Blackcap and Wood Pigeon were in South Glendale.
Barra: The Great White Egret is still at Bruernish and the Willow Warbler is in North Bay.
14th November:
North Uist: A female Pintail was on Loch Mor, Baleshare and a Short-eared Owl was hunting nearby this afternoon. A Fieldfare was on Carinish.
South Uist: A southerly passage at Ardvule (07:55 – 10:10) included 8 Great Northern Divers, 21 Red-throated Divers, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 81 Kittiwakes, 6 Whooper Swans, 7 Common Scoter while a juvenile Iceland Gull flew north. A Wheatear was on the north side of Loch Ardvule.
Barra: A Great White Egret was at Bruernish today.
Common Scoter and Wheatear (John Kemp)
13th November:
South Uist: At Ardvule today (07:45 – 11:45) southerly passage of 184 Gannets, 27 Great Northern Divers, 137 Red-throated Divers, 19 Sooty Shearwaters, 83 Auks sp, 3 Black Guillemots, 202 Kittiwakes, a juvenile Iceland Gull, 31 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 12 Long-tailed Ducks.
Barra: A juvenile Surf Scoter was off Cleat today and a juvenile Iceland Gull was off Brevig.
Iceland Gull (John Kemp)
12th November:
South Uist: A Sooty Shearwater and Great Skua flew south at Ardvule this morning.
11th November:
South Uist: Seawatching at Ardvule (07:40 - 10:40) produced 74 Gannets, 22 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 28 Red-throated Divers, 32 Sooty Shearwaters, 75 Kittiwakes, 1 Grey Phalarope, 43 Auks sp and 1 male Goldeneye heading south whilst a juvenile Iceland Gull flew north. 6 Pink-footed Geese were on Ardivachar machair.
Barra: A Willow Warbler was in North Bay.
Divers and Sooty Shearwater (John Kemp)
10th November:
Benbecula: A House Martin and a Swallow were seen over Balivanich today.
South Uist: The juvenile American Golden Plover was at Bornish. 29 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule between 10:55 - 12:55. A male Blackcap is still in South Glendale.
9th November:
North Uist: 510 Sooty Shearwaters, 18 Fulmars, a single Manx Shearwater, 840 Gannets, 4 Great Northern Divers, 4 Great Skuas, 65 Kittiwakes and 170 Guillemots/Razorbills past Griminish Point in 5 hours.
Benbecula: A House Martin was over Balivanich this afternoon.
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule (07:35 – 12:00) included 348 Gannets, 18 Great Northern Divers, 12 Red-throated Divers, 3 Fulmars, 133 Sooty Shearwaters, 41 Guillemots, 362 Auks sp, 18 Black Guillemots, 4 Great Skuas, 319 Kittiwakes and 1 Grey Phalarope. A male Blackcap was in South Glendale.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew north-east off Cleat this afternoon and 40 Sooty Shearwaters off there between 13:50 - 14:50.
Sooty Shearwater and Golden Eagle (John Kemp)
8th November:
Lewis: 92 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Great Skuas, 5 Fulmars, 480 Gannets, 920 auk sp. and 240 Kittiwakes flew south-west past the Butt (10:30 - 12:30).
North Uist: A Jack Snipe and Woodcock were in Carinish this evening.
Benbecula: A juvenile Pomarine Skua, adult Arctic Skua, a Great Skua, 159 Kittiwakes and a juvenile Glaucous Gull flew south-west off Balivanich this afternoon in an hour.
South Uist: 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule this morning. At least 1 male Blackcap is still in South Glendale. A seawatch from Ardvule (14:00 - 15:30) produced 27 Sooty Shearwaters, a juvenile Pomarine Skua, 2 Great Skuas, a 1st winter Little Gull, 432 Kittiwakes, 5 Fulmars, 200+ Gannets and 400+ auks.
Barra: 5 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Brevig this morning.
Arctic Skua and juvenile Kittiwakes (Steve Duffield)
7th November:
Lewis: A Mistle Thrush was by the community skip in Shawbost this morning.
Sound of Harris: 52 Great Northern Divers, 16 Red-throated Divers, 352 Eider and around 50 Long-tailed Ducks were seen from the ferry this morning. 360 Whooper Swans were between Loch Hallan and Grograrry. A Little Egret was near Ormiclate Castle. 40 Goldfinch were in Bornish. 2 Blackcaps were at Snishival plantation, 1 was in Bornish and 2 were in South Glendale.
South Uist: Seawatching at Ardvule (07:35 – 10:00) produced 610 Gannets, 21 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 15 Red-throated Divers, 7 Sooty Shearwaters, 42 Guillemots, 1 Razorbill, 56 Auks sp, 7 Long-tailed Ducks and 24 Kittiwakes heading south whilst a Merlin flew north over the sea. At least 200 Redwings were in Drimsdale. The juvenile American Golden Plover was on Bornish machair.
Insects: A Silver Y was in South Glendale and a Small Tortoiseshell was in Carinish.
6th November:
North Uist: At least 100 Redwings and a Fieldfare were still in Carinish today.
South Uist: 26 Sooty Shearwaters flew south at Ardvule (07:40 - 09:10). A male Blackcap, 2 Fieldfare and 18 Redwings were in South Glendale.
5th November:
Lewis: 9 Whooper Swans were on Loch Ordais and 28 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Arnol.
Sound of Harris: 65 Great Northern Divers, 14 Red-throated Divers and a Black-throated Diver were seen on the crossing between Leverburgh and Berneray this morning.
North Uist: At least 200 Redwings and a Fieldfare in Carinish today.
South Uist: At Ardvule there was a a southerly passage of 291 Gannets, 21 Great Northern Divers, 15 Red-throated Divers, 5 Sooty Shearwaters (plus 11 loitering and feeding offshore), 19 Kittiwakes and 5 Long-tailed Ducks. The American Golden Plover is still on Bornish machair.
Insects: A Brick was caught in South Glendale this morning.
American Golden Plover and Brick (John Kemp)
4th November:
Lewis: A Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps and 2 Great Tits were in the Castle Grounds. 12 Whooper Swans flew south over Arnish Moor this morning and a juvenile Hen Harrier was there this afternoon. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Port of Ness. A Brent Goose and Snow Bunting were at the Butt.
North Uist: A Black Redstart and Yellow-browd Warbler were at Callernish and a Yellow-browed Warbler was at Claddach Vallay.
South Uist: At Ardvule (0815 – 0930) the following flew south: 8 Great Northern Divers, 8 Red-throated Divers and 18 Sooty Shearwaters with some of the latter lingering offshore for a spell. A juv Glaucous Gull flew west out to sea. 15 Fieldfare were in South Glendale whilst 45 Greenland Whitefronts and 30 Whooper Swans flew south there this afternoon. A Hawfinch was in Bornish first thing along with 12 Fieldfare and a Blackcap. 58 Whooper Swans flew south over Bornish early morning. 3 Bramblings were at Snishival and 47 White-fronted Geese flew south. 119 White-fronted Geese (in 4 flocks) flew south or south-east over Bornish early to mid afternoon.
Barra: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were in North Bay.
Insects: A Red Admiral was at Arnish Moor this afternoon. 3 Angle Shades, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 10 Brindled Ochre, 6 Small Wainscot and a Feathered Thorn plus micros Acleris hastiana, Agonopterix yeatiana and Caloptilia stigmatella were trapped in South Glendale last night. At North Loch Eynort the folliwing were caught: 1 Angle Shades, 1 Small Wainscot and 10 Grey Pine Carpets plus micros Caloptilia stigmatella and Udea ferrugalis.
Otter, Feathered Thorn and Udea ferrugalis (John Kemp)
3rd November:
Lewis: 40+ Brambling, 40+ redpolls and 3 Blackcaps were in the Castle Grounds. Two flocks of White-fronted Geese (50+ and 21) flew south at Arnish Moor with a handful of Greylag Geese late this afternoon. A male Han Harrier was also at Arnish Moor.
South Uist: Southward passage at Ardvule this morning (0730-1000) included 208 Gannets, 29 Great Northern Divers, 11 Red-throated Divers, 4 Sooty Shearwaters and 27 Kittiwakes flying south. A single Jack Snipe was also present. A Little Egret was on Loch na Liana Moire, Daliburgh.
Barra: Yellow-browed Warblers were at Eoligarry and Earsary. A Siberian Chiffchaff was in North Bay.
Insects: 3 Silver Y, 1 Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Small Wainscot and single micros Parsnip Moth and Acleris hyemana were caught in South Glendale last night.
2nd November:
Lewis: 10 Fieldfare were on Arnish Moor, just south of Stornoway and a Slavonian Grebe was also there on Loch Orasaigh. A Short-eared Owl was at Stornoway airport today.
South Uist: Seawatching at Ardvule (0730-1000) produced a southely passage of 126 Gannets, 36 Great Northern Divers, 13 Red-throated Divers, 1 Fulmar, 22 Sooty Shearwaters, 104 Guillemot, 10 Razorbills, 139 Auks sp, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 12 Kittiwakes and 5 Long-tailed Ducks.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen at Eoligarry today.
1st November:
Harris: 9 Snow Buntings were on the summit of Ulabhal.
South Uist: Southerly passage at Ardvule today (0720-1200) included 297 Gannets, 46 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 4 Red-throated Divers, 1 Fulmar, 73 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Pomarine Skua, 104 Kittiwakes, 453 Guillemots, 4 Razorbills, 268 Auks sp, 3 Black Guillemots and 2 Long-tailed Duck. Still at least one Blackcap in South Glendale.
Sooty Shearwaters (John Kemp)