2017
Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings. 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.
28th February:
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and 5 Pintail were on Baleshare.
South Uist: At Ardvule a juvenile Glaucous Gull was in the south bay along with 2 juvenile / 1st winter Iceland Gulls (the latter flew south) as well as 2 Common Scoters south off the point.
Oystercatcher (Steve Duffield)
27th February:
North Uist: 2 Pink-footed Geese are in Carinish. The Little Egret was back on the North Ford, west of the causeway late morning.
Benbecula: A Black-tailed Godwit was at Coot Loch. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was in Stinky Bay around lunchtime.
South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Ardvule.
Marine Sightings: A male Common Dragnet was found in South Uist.
Common Dragonet (John Kemp)
26th February:
Lewis: An Iceland Gull was in Stornoway Harbour this morning.
North Uist: 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 6 Pintail (4 males / 2 females) were on Baleshare today. 2 Pink-footed Geese are in Carinish.
South Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Ardvule and an Iceland Gull flew south there.
Barra: 2 Iceland Gulls were at Traigh Mhor and another was at Ardveenish.
25th February:
Lewis: A juvenile Kumlien's Gull, 7 juvenile Iceland Gulls and 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were in Stornoway Harbour this evening.
North Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Clachan this morning.
South Uist: 17 Scaup were at the south end of Loch Bee. A drake Green-winged Teal was on Loch an't-Saile, north-west of Loch Bee. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Ardivachar and a 3rd winter Iceland Gull (click for video) was off Balgarva. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Smerclate. 13 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Boisdale.
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
24th February:
Lewis: 2 adult Glaucous Gulls and a juvenile Iceland Gull were at Tiumpan Head this morning. A juvenile Kumlien's Gull, 3 Iceland Gulls and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were in Stornoway Harbour today.
North Uist: 4 Iceland Gulls (an adult, 3rd winter and 2 juveniles), 3 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 74 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: 38 Kittiwakes flew north at Ardvule this morning and 7 Barnacle Geese were on Bornish machair.
Eiders (John Kemp)
23rd February:
Lewis: 2 immature Glaucous Gulls were at Tiumpan Head this morning. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls, 5 Iceland Gulls (an adult and 4 juveniles) and a juvenile Kumlien's Gull were in Stornoway Harbour this morning. A Grey Wagtail was at Bayhead and 5 Siskins were with Lesser Redpolls in Urquhart Gardens.
North Uist: 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 5 Pintail (4 drakes and a female) were on Baleshare this afternoon.
22nd February:
Lewis: 2 juvenile Kumliens Gulls, 10 Iceland Gulls (2 adults and 8 juveniles) and 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were in Stornoway Harbour late this afternoon. 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were at Marybank in the morning.
North Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull was by Loch na Reivil, Hougharry. A juvenile Glaucous Gull and female Pintail were on Baleshare.
South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew south at Ardvule this morning. The Blue Tit is still around Bornish.
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
21st February:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was at Tiumpan Head this morning.
Barra: 5 Iceland Gulls were at Traigh Mhor and 3 were at Ardveenish this afternoon.
20th February:
North Uist: A minimum of 6 Iceland Gulls and 16 Glaucous Gulls were at Rubh' Arnal today; along with 41 pale-bellied Brent Geese.
19th February:
Lewis: At least 12 Iceland Gulls (3 adults and 9 immatures) and 3 Glaucous Gulls (an adult and 2 juveniles) were at Tiumpan Head this morning. 8 Iceland Gulls (an adult and 7 juveniles) and 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were in Stornoway Harbour whilst 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Loch Branahuie.
North Uist: The American Coot was seen on Loch nam Feithean.
18th February:
Lewis: 9 Iceland Gulls (4 adults and 5 immature) and 2 adult Glaucous Gulls were seen at Tiumpan Head this morning. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and 4 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway Harbour today whilst a juvenile Glaucous Gull and 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were on Loch Airigh na Lic, by the landfill site.
South Uist: 22 Scaup were on Loch Bee whilst 84 Greenland White-fronted Geese and a Pink-footed Goose were at Kilauley. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Kildonan.
Barra: An Iceland Gull and 11 Snow Buntings were at Traigh Mhor. An Iceland Gull was also at Ardveenish.
Marine Sightings: 5 Orcas and 20 White-beaked Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head today.
Shag (John Kemp)
17th February:
Lewis: 6 juvenile Iceland Gulls were in Stornoway this morning with 3 off Cross Street, 2 at the fish quay and 1 near Arnish. Also 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls and a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull were in the harbour. 6 Iceland Gulls (3 adults and 3 immature) and 3 Glaucous Gulls (1 adult and 2 immature) were at Tiumpan Head today.
South Uist: 2 Glaucous Gulls (3rd winter and a juvenile) and 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were at Aird-mhicheil, Stoneybridge. A juvenile Glaucous Gull also flew south at Bornish machair.
Insects: 5 Dotted Borders, 1 Hebrew Character and a Depressaria daucella were caught in South Glendale last night whilst at North Loch Eynort 6 Dotted Borders and 2 Pale Brindled Beauties were trapped.
Hebrew Character, Dotted Borders and Pale Brindled Beauty (John Kemp); Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
16th February:
Benbecula: A Little Egret was at Loch Olabhat, Gramsdale this morning.
South Uist: 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were at the mouth of the Howmore River. A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north at Ardvule this morning and 48 Kittiwakes flew south.
Iceland Gull and Little Egret (Steve Duffield)
15th February:
Lewis: A juvenile Kumlien's Gull, 4 juvenile Iceland Gulls and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were in Stornoway Harbour.
Barra: 2 Iceland Gulls were at Ardveenish today and a Glaucous Gull was at Loch Tangasdale.
14th February:
Lewis: A juvenile Kumlien's Gull, 2 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull were in Stornoway Harbour this morning.
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Baleshare this afternoon.
South Uist: A juvenile Kumlien's Gull and 13 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at Kilpheder. A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south from Ersikay ferry terminal.
Barra: A Glaucous Gull was around Castlebay today.
Marine Sightings: 4 Humpback Whales were seen from Upper Bayble this morning including a young individual.
Kumlien's Gull, Red-breasted Merganser and Shag (John Kemp); Kumlien's Gull (Tristam ap Rheinallt)
13th February:
North Uist: The American Coot and 5 Coots are still on Loch nam Feithean. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Balranald. A Pink-footed Goose and 2 Cackling x Barnacle Geese hybrids were at Sollas.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Ardveenish and 11 Snow Buntings were at Traigh Mhor.
12th February:
South Uist: A Coot is on the loch behind the Daliburgh Co-op.
Coot and Moorhen (John Kemp)
11th February:
Lewis: 3 Iceland Gulls (adult and 2 juveniles) and 3 Glaucous Gulls (an adult and 2 juveniles) were at Tiumpan Head today.
Marine Sightings: A couple of Humpback Whales (possibly 4) were off Tiumpan Head today as well as White-sided Dolphins.
10th February:
Lewis: 8 Iceland Gulls (1 adult and 7 juveniles) and 5 juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at the Butt of Lewis.
Benbecula: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the beach at Balivanich.
South Uist: A juvenile and 2nd winter Glaucous Gull were at Boisdale and 35 Goldfinch were at Kilpheder.
9th February:
Lewis: 2 adults and a juvenile Iceland Gull were at Tiumpan Head this morning. A juvenile Iceland Gull was seen in Stornoway Harbour and another was at Marybank.
South Uist: A juvenile / 1st winter Glaucous Gull flew south at Ardvule this morning.
Barra: 2 Glaucous Gulls and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Ardveenish today and 11 Snow Buntings were at Traigh Mhor.
Glaucous Gull (John Kemp)
8th February:
Barra: 2 Glaucous Gulls and 2 Iceland Gulls were at Ardveenish. A Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull were at Traigh Mhor. A Glaucous Gull was at Tangasdale.
7th February:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was in Stornoway Harbour. 4 juvenile Iceland Gulls and 2 Glaucous Gulls (juvenile and 2nd winter) were on Loch Airigh na Lic. A juvenile Iceland Gull was seen at Tiumpan Head this afternoon.
South Uist: An adult Glaucous Gull flew north at Ardvule this morning and 27 pale-bellied Brent Geese moved south.
Marine Sightings: Risso's, White-beaked and White-sided Dolphins were all seen off Tiumpan Head today along with Harbour Porpoise.
Otter (John Kemp)
6th February:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull and a juvenile Glaucous Gull were on Loch Airigh na Lic, opposite Bennadrove Landfill Site, Stornoway today.
5th February:
Lewis: A juvenile / 1st winter Glaucous Gull was at Tiumpan Head this morning.
Harris: A Gyr Falcon was seen at Toe Head today before heading out towards Pabbay.
North Uist: A Snow Bunting was on the roadside at the north end of Grimsay.
South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull is at Ardivachar. At least 3 Lapland Buntings were on Eochar machair.
Barra: Juvenile Glaucous Gulls were at Ardveenich and Loch Tangasdale. 6 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry.
Golden Eagle and Gyr Falcon (Ronan Dugan)
4th February:
Benbecula: A drake Scaup was on Coot Loch.
South Uist: 3 Common Scoter flew south at Ardvule this morning; also a juvenile / 1st winter Iceland Gull and 3 Glaucous Gulls (2 adults and a 1st winter) there.
Barra: 3 Iceland Gulls were on the island today with an adult around Allasdale, a 2nd winter at Traigh Mhor and a juvenile at Brevig.
3rd February:
Benbecula: A 3rd winter Iceland Gull, juvenile Glaucous Gull and adult Lesser Black-backed Gull (1st this year) were on the beach in Balivanich this morning.
South Uist: A juvenile Iceland Gull is at Ardivachar.
Barra: An adult Iceland Gull was on Vatersay. 9 Snow Buntings were at Traigh Mhor.
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)
2nd February:
North Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Baleshare this morning.
South Uist: The drake Green-winged Teal was at the north end of Loch Bee again today whilst nearby 105 Shelduck were on the pools at Balgarva.
Barra: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Brevig and a juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardveenish.
1st February:
North Uist: 3 juvenile / 1st winter Iceland Gulls and 66 Snow Buntings were on Berneray.
South Uist: A juvenile / 1st winter Glaucous Gull was at Ardvule and a Puffin flew south there.
Barra: A juvenile Glaucous Gull and a 3rd winter Glaucous x Herring Gull were at Ardveenish today.
Iceland Gull (Steve Duffield)