Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2020
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31st December:
South Uist: At least 2 Lapland Buntings and 2 Snow Buntings were on Eochar machair.
30th December:
North Uist: 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare.
South Uist: An immature Iceland Gull was at Howmore.
29th December:
Lewis: 5 Glaucous Gulls and 4 Iceland Gulls were seen at the Butt this morning.
North Uist: Around 50 Snow Buntings were at Balranald today.
South Uist: An American Golden Plover was at Balgarva. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Kilpheder.
Barra: The Velvet Scoter was still off Eoligarry and 25 Snow Buntings were on the beach there. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Vatersay.
American Golden Plover - 2 photos, Grey Plober and Bar-tailed Godwit (Steve Duffield)
28th December:
Lewis: A Hawfinch is still visiting Urquhart Gardens in Stornoway.
North Uist: 60+ Snow Buntings were at Balranald today. A Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare in the afternoon.
South Uist: An immature Iceland Gull was at Smerclate. A juvenile Iceland Gull flew north past Ardvule this morning.
Barra: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 2 Iceland Gulls (juvenile and an adult) flew south at Cleat today.
27th December:
North Uist: 4 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 2 Snow Buntings were on Baleshare.
South Uist: An immature Iceland Gull was at Howmore River and an adult was in Snishival this morning.
Barra: The Velvet Scoter was seen off Eoligarry again this morning.
Glaucous Gulls (Steve Duffield)
24th December:
North Uist: 5 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare this afternoon.
South Uist: A Jack Snipe was seen on the east side of Èiseabhal.
Barra: A Velvet Scoter was off Eoligarry this morning.
Glaucous Gulls (Steve Duffield)
23rd December:
Lewis: A 3rd cal yr Glaucous Gull flew past Tiumpan Head this afternoon.
North Uist: A drake American Wigeon was on Loch Aileodiar, NF888726 near the Loch Portain tunring this afternoon. A Greenland White-fronted Geese was amongst the Barnacle Geese on Berneray and at least 3 Snow Buntings were there.
Benbecula: The Green-winged Teal was on Coot Loch and a pair of Pintail were on Loch Mor.
South Uist: An immature Iceland Gull was at Howmore. The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen on Eochar machair this afternoon.
Marine Sightings: 10 Common Dolphins to the east of Tiumpan Head this afternoon.
22nd December:
North Uist: 3 Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare.
South Uist: At least 3 Lapland Buntings and 2 Snow Buntings were on Eochar machair.
Marine Sightings: Over 60 Common Dolphins were feeding distantly to the east of Tiumpan Head in the morning.
21st December:
South Uist: The Lesser Yellowlegs is still on Eochar machair this morning, just south of Ardivachar. The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still at Ardvule.
20th December:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Tiumpan Head this morning.
North Uist: At least 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare; also 10 Snow Buntings at the north-west end.
South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule and a Great Skua flew south there.
Great Skua and Red Sword-grass (John Kemp)
18th December:
North Uist: 2 Iceland Gulls (2nd winter and juvenile), a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull and 20 Snow Buntings were at Rubh' Arnal.
Benbecula: The Green-winged Teal is still on Coot Loch.
17th December:
North Uist: 5 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were on Baleshare this morning. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Balranald.
South Uist: A Velvet Scoter was on the sea between Kilpheder and Askernish. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and female Common Scoter were at Ardvule this morning.
Marine Sightings: 2 groups of Common Dolphins swam south east of Tiumpan Head this morning.
16th December:
South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was on the beach at Garrynamonie today.
Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen in Brevig today.
Iceland Gull (John Kemp)
15th December:
Benbecula: A drake Green-winged Teal was on Coot Loch.
South Uist: The Lesser Yellowlegs was on Eochar machair again today; also a Lapland Bunting and at least 8 Snow Buntings. 182+ White-fronted Geese were on the west side of Loch Bee (from Ardkenneth). A female Common Scoter was off Balgarva. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Garrynamonie and an Iceland Gull flew along the shore.
Lesser Yellowlegs (Steve Duffield - 2 photos); Lesser Yellowlegs (John Kemp)
14th December:
North Uist: 5 Glaucous Gulls (4 juveniles and a 2nd winter) were on Baleshare this afternoon.
South Uist: The Lesser Yellowlegs was on Eochar machair early afternoon; also a Snow Bunting there. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule. An immature Iceland Gull was at Smerclate.
Barra: 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were in Castlebay.
Marine Sightings: 10 Common Dolphins headed south, to the east of Tiumpan Head this morning.
Lesser Yellowlegs (Joe Newman); Glaucous Gulls (Steve Duffield)
12th December:
Lewis: 4 Velvet Scoters were with Common Scoters in Broad Bay off Melbost today. A Hawfinch is still visiting Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway on an almost daily basis.
North Uist: At least 30 Snow Buntings were at Balemore. An immature Iceland Gull and 70 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the Range at LA2 this morning. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and a Pink-footed Goose were at Ardvule.
Marine Sightings: 2 Minke Whales and 4 Harbour Porpoise were seen to the east of Tiumpan Head this morning.
Golden Eagle (John Kemp)
11th December:
St. Kilda: The female Snowy Owl is still on Hirta.
Marine Sightings: 10 Common Dolphins headed south-east off Tiumpan head at 3 pm.
10th December:
North Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull and 3 Glaucous Gulls (a 2nd winter and 2 juveniles) were on Baleshare today.
Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Brevig and a Siberian Chiffchaff was in Castlebay.
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
9th December:
Harris: 2 Surf Scoters and a Little Auk were seen in the Sound of Taransay this morning; the latter off Horghabost.
North Uist: 2 Cackling Geese and a Snow Bunting were at Balranald.
Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Traigh Eais.
Marine Sightings: 3 Minke Whales, 6 Harbour Porpoise and 4 White-beaked Dolphins amongst 30 Common Dolphins off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Cackling Geese (Steve Duffield)
8th December:
North Uist: A drake Green-winged Teal and a Scaup were on Loch Sandary. The pair of Cackling Geese were between Balranald visitor centre and Loch nam Feithean.
South Uist: The juvenile Iceland Gull was still at Ardivachar today.
Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north past Eoligarry.
7th December:
Harris: The drake Surf Scoter is still in the Sound of Taransay.
South Uist: A Lesser Yellowlegs is at Ardivachar, 500m south of car park on beach; a juvenile Iceland Gull is also there. 2 Snow Buntings were on Ardivachar machair. A Black-tailed Godwit was at the north end of Loch Bee. 2 Jack Snipe were at Ardvule; also a Corn Bunting there and 83 Red-throated Divers were in the bay to the north.
6th December:
South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Balgarva today. A Black-tailed Godwit was on the Range at LA2. 6 White-fronted Geese were in Askernish.
Marine Sightings: At least 8 White-beaked Dolphins and 7 Risso's Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head late morning / early afternoon.
5th December:
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south past Bolnabodach this morning.
4th December:
South Uist: A Blackcap and Chiffchaff were in Askernish.
3rd December:
North Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary. 14 Pintail were on Loch nam Feitheann.
South Uist: The juvenile Iceland Gull was still at Ardivachar.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was on Vatersay.
Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale was seen east of Tiumpan Head this morning.
2nd December:
Benbecula: A female Common Scoter was off Balivanich.
South Uist: A Lapland Bunting and juvenile Iceland Gull were on Eochar machair, south of Ardivachar today.
1st December:
Lewis: A Hawfinch is still coming to Urquhart Gardens, Stornoway.
St. Kilda: The Snowy Owl was seen on Hirta again today.
North Uist: 6 Glaucous Gulls (a 2nd w and 5 juveniles) were on Baleshare.
South Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. A Chiffchaff was in Askernish. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule.
Barra: 28 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were in Castlebay.