Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
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28th February:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: A Cackling Goose was with Barnacle Geese at Balranald. At least 2 Long-tailed Tits were in Grenitote again today.
South Uist: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Howmore. 15 Russian White-fronted Geese and a Little Egret were at West Loch Ollay.
27th February:
Lewis: A Mistle Thrush was singing in South Galson. The 1st winter American Herring Gull was at Bayhead , Stornoway harbour late morning today. An Iceland Gull was also in Stornoway harbour and the Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: 6 White-fronted Geese were at Loch Bhrusda, Berneray. 3 Long-tailed Tits were seen in Grenitote again today.
South Uist: 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. 19 Snow Buntings were on the Gulan.
Marine Sightings: 7 Orcas were seen off Eoropie this afternoon.
Snow Buntings (Alan Kennedy); Grey Heron and Shag (Andy Williams)
26th February:
Lewis: A 1st winter American Herring Gull was at Bayhead , Stornoway harbour; apparently for its 3rd day. A Firecrest was seen at Port of Ness this morning before flying towards Skigersta. A Green-winged Teal was Loch Stiapabhat and 5 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Fivepenny. A Glaucous Gull was at Loch Branahuie.
North Uist: 3 Long-tailed Tits were in Grenitote.
South Uist: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was on the shore at Howmore. The Little Egret was at West Loch Ollay. 32 Snow Buntings were on Daliburgh beach.
Barra: A White-billed Diver was off Aird a Chaolais, Vatersay today. 2 x 1st winter Little Gulls were at Traigh Mhor.
Insects: The first White-tailed Bumblebee of the year was seen in Carinish today.
Glaucous Gull, Little Egret and Otter ( Alan Kennedy)
25th February:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Loch Branahuie. A Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat and 4 Russian White-fronted Geese were nearby at Fivepenny.
Harris: A drake Surf Scoter was in the Sound of Taransay. An adult Glaucous Gull was in Leverburgh harbour and an adult was in the Sound of Harris just to the south of Leverburgh.
South Uist: A Glaucous Gull was at Howmore.
Barra: A 1st winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor in the morning.
Glaucous Gull (Steve Duffield)
24th February:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. An immature Glaucous Gull was on the north side of the Braighe. An immature Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay; also 14 Russian White-fronted Geese and a Little Egret nearby.
Marine Sightings: 5 Orcas moved east past Port of Ness in the morning.
21st February:
Lewis: An immature Iceland Gull flew south past South Galson. An immature Iceland Gull was at Loch Branahuie this morning.
20th February:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on the Braighe. Stornoway and the Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour early afternoon.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay; also 15 Russian White-fronted Geese were in the area.
Glaucous Gull (Andy Williams)
19th February:
South Uist: The Little Egret was back at Snishival this afternoon.
18th February:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: 7 Iceland Gulls (an adult, 3rd winter, 2nd winter and 4 juveniles), a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull, 39 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 19 Snow Buntings were between Kyles Paible and Rubh' Arnal. A Cackling Goose was on Baleshare.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay. A Glaucous Gull and Viking Gull were at Peninerine. 24 Snow Buntings were on Daliburgh beach.
Barra: The female / 1st w male Harlequin Duck was seen in the small bay to the south of Traigh Eais again today.
Iceland Gull and Raven (Andy Williams); Snow Bunting (Steve Duffield)
17th February:
Lewis: An immature Glaucous Gull was at Loch Branhuie. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: A Green-winged Teal was on Loch nam Feithean.
Benbecula: 3 Common Scoters were off Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 2 Glaucous Gulls (a 2nd winter and a juvenile) and a juvenile Viking Gull were at Peninerine.
Glaucous Gull (Andy Williams)
16th February:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tiumpan and a juvenile Iceland Gull was at Tiumpan Head.
Benbecula: 3 (2 adults) Russian White-fronted Geese were at Loch Fada.
Barra: The female / 1st w male Harlequin Duck was seen in the small bay to the south of Traigh Eais again today.
Insects: A Dotted Border and 2 Pale Brindled Beauty moths were caught at Loch Eynort last night.
Pale Brindled Beauty (John Kemp)
15th February:
Lewis: An Iceland Gull was seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry as it was approaching Stornoway today. A Glaucous Gull was at the Braighe, Stornoway. A hyrbid Green-winged Teal x Teal and Ring-necked Duck were on Loch Tiumpan.
Harris: 2 adult Glaucous Gulls were seen at Bunavoneader. 6 Black-tailed Godwits were at Seilebost.
Marine Sightings: 6 Common Dolphins were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
Common Dolphin, hyrbid Green-winged Teal x Teal and Iceland Gull (Andy Williams)
14th February:
Barra: The female / 1st w male Harlequin Duck was seen in the small bay to the south of Traigh Eais again today. The Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor.
13th February:
Harris: The adult Glaucous Gull is still at Bunavoneader.
12th February:
Lewis: A Green-winged Teal and 2 immature Glaucous Gulls were at Loch Stiapabhat whilst 8 Russian White-fronted Geese and 2 Pink-footed Geese were in nearby fields. The drake Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch Tiumpan.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay; also a Little Egret there and 18 Russian White-fronted Geese were nearby.
Barra: The female / 1st w male Harlequin Duck was seen in the small bay to the south of Traigh Eais again today.
11th February:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull flew south at South Galson this afternoon.
North Uist: 9 (an adult, a 3rd winter and 7 juvenile) Iceland Gulls and 3 (an adult and 2 juvenile) Glaucous Gulls were at Rubh' Arnal. A Vivking Gull (Herring x Glaucous Gull) was at Hougharry.
Viking Gull (Steve Duffield); Goldcrest (Karen Macary)
9th February:
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival first thing this morning.
8th February:
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival this afternoon.
7th February:
Lewis: A drake Green-winged Teal and 6 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 4 Iceland Gulls (an adult and 3 immatures) and 18 Snow Buntings were between Kyles Paible and Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay; also a Little Egret there and 14 Russian White-fronted Geese were nearby.
6th February:
Lewis: 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls were on Stornoway harbour.
Harris: The adult Glaucous Gull was at Bunavoneader.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival.
5th February:
Lewis: 7 (2 juvenile) Russian White-fronted Geese were at Melbost, Borve. A Snow Bunting was at the Butt.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay; also a Little Egret there. A drake Pochard and Scaup were on Loch Bee. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar. A juvenile Russian White-fronted Goose was at Peninerine.
Barra: The drake Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor and 2 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Cleat.
Lesser Scaup with Tufted Duck (Steve Duffield)
4th February:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tiumpan and an adult Iceland Gull was at Tiumpan Head.
North Uist: 2 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Sollas. At least 7 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean and another was at Loch a Roe. A Fieldfare was at Hosta. A Pink-footed Goose was at Malaclate.
South Uist: The Little Egret is still at Snishival.
Insects: 2 Dotted Border moths were caught at North Loch Eynort last night.
Dotted Border (John Kemp)
3rd February:
Lewis: 3 immature Iceland Gulls in Stornoway harbour and 2 Bramblings were in the Castle grounds. The drake Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: An adult Iceland Gull was on Kikibost Island. 26 Snow Buntings were at Kyles Paible; also 17 Brent Geese there. A Jack Snipe was in Carinish.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup is still on West Loch Ollay whilst 14 (3 juvenile) Russian White-fronted Geese were in the area. The Little Egret was at Snishival this afternoon.
2nd February:
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival again today.
1st February:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was at South Galson.
North Uist: 3 immature Iceland Gulls and 26 Snow Buntings Kyles Paible.
Barra: The female / 1st w male Harlequin Duck was seen in the small bay to the south of Traigh Eais again today.