Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2025
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29th October:
Lewis: 6 Jackdaws were seen in Port of Ness.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Jackdaws were at Ardvule; a Little Egret was on Loch Arvdule. At least 10 Long-tailed Tits were at North Loch Eynort.
Barra: A Waxwing flew west over Castlebay this morning and a Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Creachan.
Long-tailed Tit and Goldcrest (Steve Duffield)
28th October:
North Uist: On Berneray a female Scaup and a Coot were on Loch Bhrusda; 37 Common Scoters were off the west beach and a Snow Bunting flew over Borve.
Benbecula: A juvenile American Golden Plover was reported from the field next to Borve Castle. A Little Egret was at Coot Loch; also 4 Pink-footed Geese nearby. 17 Greenland White-fronted Geese were seen on the west side of Loch Mor.
Barra: 10 Jackdaws were at Traigh Mhor.
27th October:
North Uist: 2 female Ring-necked Ducks were on Loch an Fhaing, Grimsay. 8 Black-tailed Godwits were at Balranald.
South Uist: A Glossy Ibis was at West Loch Ollay. A Snow Bunting and Wheatear were at Balgarva.
Barra: A Waxwing was in Castlebay this morning.
26th October:
Lewis: A Little Stint was at Loch Ordais. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: A Taiga Bean Goose was at Claddach Kirkibost this afternoon. 12 Fieldfare were at Clachan.
South Uist: 3 Black-tailed Godwits were on The Range.
Taiga Bean Goose (Steve Duffield); Black-tailed Godwit (John Kemp)
25th October:
Lewis: An adult Iceland Gull was at Port Stoth. 47 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the Butt this morning. 13 Sooty Shearwaters and a juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north-west off Skigersta this afternoon.
North Uist: 2 female Ring-necked Ducks were on Loch an Fhaing, Grimsay.
Benbecula: A Little Egret was at Coot Loch. A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was in Culla Bay.
South Uist: A juvenile American Golden Plover was on The Range at LA3; also 2 Pintail on Loch Bee.
Barra: An adult Little Gull was at Eoligarry.
Female Ring-necked Ducks with Tufted Ducks (Steve Duffield); American Golden Plover and Snipe (John Kemp)
24th October:
Lewis: A Waxwing flew over the golf course at Lew's Castle this afternoon.
North Uist: 2 Waxwings were at Langass Lodge. 2 Coots were on Loch nam Feithean. A Greenland White-fronted Goose was at Loch Sandary. 117 Whooper Swans flew south over Claddach Kirkibost this afternoon.
Benbecula: Around 100 Whooper Swans were on Loch Mor and 15 Snow Buntings were near Nunton Cemetery.
South Uist: A drake Lesser Scaup was on Loch Ceann a Bhaigh, Ormilcate. The Long-tailed Tit remains at North Loch Eynort. A Snow Bunting was a mile south of Ardivachar.
Waxwing and White-fronted Goose (Steve Duffield)
23rd October:
Lewis: 25 Sooty Shearwaters were feeding off Port of Ness. A Yellow-browed Warbler was by Borve Pottery.
North Uist: The female Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch an Fhaing, Grimsay.
South Uist: A juvenile Turtle Dove was seen at Clachan at the north end of Loch Bee this morning. A Jackdaw flew towards Bornish machair this morning. A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull, 3 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 or 5 Pintail were at Ardivachar. 5 Jackdaws were on the beach at North Bay / Mol Mor. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Peninerine.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales were feeding off Port of Ness.
Ring-necked Duck (Steve Duffield)
22nd October:
Barra: A Pomarine Skua flew south past Brevig mid-afternoon. The juvenile Surf Scoter was still off the west beach, Vatersay.
21st October:
Lewis: The drake Lesser Scaup and a juvenile Iceland Gull were at Loch Barvas. 2 Cattle Egrets were at Lionel. 2 Taiga Bean Geese were south-east of Loch Stiapabhat. A Bramnling was in South Dell. A Woodcock was at the Butt; also 7 Fieldfare around Ness.
North Uist: A Pallas's Warbler, Brambling and 2 Fieldfare were seen at Scolpaig. A seawatch from Griminish Point (11:10 - 13:40) produced 5 Sooty Shearwaters, a Manx Shearwater, an Arctic Skua, 548 Kittiwakes, a Sandwich Tern and 14 Puffins. 14 Fieldfare were at Claddach Kirkibost this morning. 25 Whooper Swans flew south over Carinish at first light. The juvenile / female Ring-necked Duck was on Loch an Fhaing, Grimsay.
Brambling (Steve Duffield)
20th October:
Lewis: An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Loch Branahuie this morning. 2 Cattle Egrets were at Lionel. The drake Lesser Scaup was on Loch Barvas
North Uist: A juvenile / female Ring-necked Duck was on Loch an Fhaing, Grimsay.
Benbecula: The 2nd winter Little Gull was in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was at Ardivachar.
Barra: The juvenile Surf Scoter was off the west beach of Vatersay.
19th October:
Lewis: 2 Taiga Bean Geese were south-east of Loch Stiapabhat. The drake Lesser Scaup plus a female / juvenile Ring-necked Duck were on Loch Barvas. The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tiumpan. A Glaucous Gull was at Loch Ordais; also 6 Jackdaws were feeding along the shore there. An adult Pomarine Skua and 12 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this evening.
Barra: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Cleat. A Pomarine Skua flew south past Brevig this afternoon.
18th October:
Lewis: 2 Glossy Ibis flew south-east over Port of Ness this morning. 2 Cattle Egrets were at Lionel. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpann.
North Uist: A juvenile Long-tailed Skua was seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry this afternoon.
Benbecula: The Little Gull was in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: An adult American Golden Plover was on The Range at LA2. A Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Peninerine. A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper (flew north) and adult White-rumped Sandpiper were in the south bay at Ardvule. A juvenile Wood Sandpiper was on the flood west of Loch Bornish and a White-rumped Sandpiper was seen in flight. A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper and Ring Ouzel were seen in North Bay.
Barra: The Surf Scoter was off the west side of Vatersay. A Pomarine Skua and 14 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig this afternoon.
Wood Sandpiper (John Kemp)
17th October:
Lewis: 300 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning; also a Snow Bunting there. The drake Ring-necked Duck and an adult Iceland Gull were at Loch Tiumpan. A Barred Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and 3 Cattle Egrets were in South Dell. A Glossy Ibis was at Loch Stiapabhat.
Benbecula: 5 Long-tailed Tits were at Torlum.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Peninerine. 2 White-rumped Sandpipers (an adult and juvenile) were in the south bay at Ardvule. The Lesser Yellowlegs, juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and 7 Pintail were on the pools on Bornish machair, west of Loch Bornish and south of the track. A Little Egret was near Hebridean Jewellery.
Barra: A Surf Scoter was off the west beach of Vatersay. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Castlebay. The Red-backed Shrike was still at Nask.
Merlin (Steve Duffield); White-rumped Sandpipers (Andrew Stevenson)
16th October:
Lewis: 2 Cattle Egrets were at Lionel and 3 near South Dell. A Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and 5 Blackcaps were in South Galson. A Pomarine Skua, juvenile Sabine's Gull and 11 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off Labost (08:30 - 10:00); also 6 Snow Bunting were on the headland. 6 Pomarine Skuas and 250 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the Butt in 3 hours this morning. A Glossy Ibis was seen at Loch Stiapabhat. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Dell.
St. Kilda: The Cattle Egret was still present today.
North Uist: 8 Crossbills were in Lochmaddy.
Benbecula: An American Golden Plover was with 400 Golden Plover in a field opposite Liniclate School today. 9 Pink-footed Geese were at Aird.
South Uist: A Little Egret was on the Howmore River this afternoon. A Scaup was on Loch Ceann a Bhaigh. A Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Peninerine.
Barra: A Blackpoll Warbler was seen briefly in Bruernish today. 3 Red-breasted Flycatchers (Nask, Castlebay and Gleann) and a Red-backed Shrike (Nask) were also on the island. A Garden Warbler and Treecreeper were in Castlebay. A Crossbill flew over Nask. A Pied Flycatcher was in Northbay by Heathbank Hotel.
Insects: 2 Green Carpets, a Dark Sword-grass, 2 Eudonia angustea and 2 Acleris hyemana were trapped in South Glendale last night.
Acleris hyemana (John Kemp); Red-backed Shrike and Red-breasted Flycatcher (Steve Duffield)
15th October:
Lewis: 3 Cattle Egrets were seen in South Dell this afternoon. 2 Cattle Egrets were at Lionel this morning. 3 Pomarine Skuas and 75 Sooty Shearwaters past the Butt (08:20 - 10:00); also 43 Snow Buntings and 2 Lapland Buntings there. A further 2 Lapland Buntings came in off the sea at the Butt. A Dotterel was reported from near Loch Stiapabhat this afternoon.
St. Kilda: An Eastern Yellow Wagtail and Cattle Egret were seen today.
North Uist: A House Martin was over Balranald this afternoon. A Sandwich Tern was at Kyles Paible.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Peninerine.
Barra: A Red-backed Shrike was at Nask. Red-breasted Flycatchers were at Castlebay and Glenn.
Marine Sightings: 3 Minke Whales, 1 Risso's Dolphin, 5 - 600 Common Dolphins and 68 Harbour Porpoise were seen from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry (return).
14th October:
Lewis: 10 Pomarine Skuas and 100 Sooty Shearwaters past the Butt this morning (08:00 - 10:00). 200 Sooty Shearwaters were seen fom the ferry between Stornoway and Ullapool. 2 Cattle Egrets were by the school at Lionel. 2 Pomarine Skuas and 250 Sooty Shearwaters were seen passing Port of Ness (12:30 - 13:00). A drake Lesser Scaup and Curlew Sandpiper were at Loch Barvas. A Pied Flycatcher was at Outend, Coll.
St. Kilda: A Curlew Sandpiper was seen today.
North Uist: A Glossy Ibis was seen at Rushgarry.
South Uist: A Grey Phalarope and Little Stint were at Peninerine. 11 Fieldfare were at North Loch Eynort.
Barra: The Red-breasted Flycatcher was at Catlebay this morning and another at Glenn around midday. A Lesser Whitethroat was also on the island.
Grey Phalarope (Alan Kennedy)
13th October:
Lewis: 9 Pomarine Skuas, a juvenile Sabine's Gull, an adult Iceland Gull and 250 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the Butt today. 2 Cattle Egrets were by the school at Lionel. A Pied Flycatcher was in South Dell. 50 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off North Dell.
North Uist: The juvenile Baird's Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper were on Loch Paible. A Cackling Goose was at Balranald before flying south over Loch Paible. A Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Black-tailed Godwits and an Arctic Tern were also seen at Balranald. A Pied Flycatcher was at Knockintorran.
Benbecula: An American Golden Plover was seen at Liniclate. A White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Gull were reported from Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 2 Little Stints were at Peninerine. 2 Curlew Sandpipers and 60+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardvule and 7 Pintail were on Bornish machair.
Barra: A Red-breasted Flycatcher was in Castlebay.
Insects: An Autumn Green Carpet, Dark Sword-grass, Silver Y, Red-line Quaker, 2 Angle Shades and 74 Small Wainscots were caught in South Glendale last night. At North Loch Eynort singles of Udea ferrugalis, Dark Sword-grass, Barred Red and Red-green Carpet and 2 each of Grey Pine Carpet, Autumn Green Carpet, and Red-line Quaker.
12th October:
Lewis: 2 Cattle Egrets were by the school at Lionel. A Little Egret was at Steinish; also 2 Carrion Crows there. 2 Taiga Bean Geese were by Loch Stiapabhat. A juvenile Sabine's Gull and 62 Pomarine Skuas past the Butt today; also a Lapland Bunting amongst 24 Snow Buntings there. A Red-eyed Vireo was caught on a trail cam in Port of Ness.
North Uist: The juvenile Baird's Sandpiper and a Curlew Sandpiper were on Loch Paible. A Barred Warbler was in a garden just north of Kilmuir Church. A Curlew Sandpiper and around 40 Black-tailed Godwits were at Balranald. A Russian White-fronted Goose was at Loch Sandary.
South Uist: 2 Glossy Ibis were on the west side of Loch Bee. An American Golden Plover was on Bornish machair. A Scaup was at Loch a' Mhuillin, Stoneybridge. A Little Stint was at Howmore. A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper, Little Stint and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were on the South Ford. A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper was in North Bay; also a Lapland Bunting over there. A White-rumped Sandpiper was also seen at Ardivachar.
Marine Sightings: A Basking Shark and 10 White-beaked Dolphins were seen off the Butt.
Barred Warbler (Steve Duffield)
11th October:
Lewis: A Glossy Ibis flew south over the Butt and relocated to Loch Stiapabhat. 500 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this morning (08:00 0 12:00) and 10 Snow Buntings were present. Another 500 Sooty Shearwaters and a Balearic Shearwater were seen from the Butt this evening. A Cattle Egret was at Lionel.
St. Kilda: An Iceland Gull was seen today.
North Uist: The Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stint and 2 Curlew Sandpipers and a Cackling Goose were seen at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was in Culla Bay.
South Uist: A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper and adult American Golden Plover were at Ardivachar. The Pectoral Sandpiper was at LA2. A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was at Aird Mhicheil. A Little Stint and 1st winter Mediterranean Gull were at Howmore.
Mediterranean Gull (Alan Kennedy)
10th October:
Lewis: 124 Sooty Shearwaters past the Butt (08:15 - 09:00); also 11 Snow Buntings were present. 120 Barnacle Geese were in Port of Ness. 2 Taiga Bean Geese were in fields south-east of Loch Stiapabhat. The White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Loch Ordais. A Great Shearwater, 496 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Manx Shearwaters past the Butt this eveing (16:00 - 18:15); also 20 Snow Buntings were present. A Cattle Egret was at Habost. Another Great Shearwater was seen off the Butt in the afternoon.
North Uist: The Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stint and 3 Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible.
South Uist: 4 Curlew Sandpipers were at Ardvule. The Pectoral Sandpiper was at LA2.
Curlew Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
9th October:
Lewis: 2 Cattle Egrets were at Lionel. A White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Stint were at Loch Ordais. 43 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt this morning (08:00 - 09:30) and 4 Snow Buntings were present.
St. Kilda: A Pectoral Sandpiper was on Hirta.
North Uist: A Cackling Goose was amongst 1,800 Barnacle Geese on Baleshare today.
Benbecula: A Little Egret was on Coot Loch.
South Uist: A Baird's Sandpiper and 4 Curlew Sandpipers were at Ardvule. A Snow Bunting was at Bornish. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at LA2. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Kildonan. A juvenile American Golden Plover was seen in North Bay, Killaulay this evening. A female Scauo was on Loch a Mhuilinn, Stoneybridge.
Glaucous Gull (Alan Kennedy)
8th October:
Lewis: 2 Cattle Egrets were just off the main road between Habost and Lionel.
North Uist: 2 Lapland Buntings flew west over Grenitote. The Cackling Goose was again with Barnacle Geese at Loch Paible and the juvenile Baird's Sandpiper was still present.
Benbecula: An adult American Golden Plover was at Liniclate. A White-rumped Sandpiper was in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was at Peninerine. A Waxwing was brought in by a cat at West Gerinish.
American Golden Plover and Mediterranean Gull (Alan Kennedy); White-rumped Sandpiper (Tim Wallis); Waxwing
7th October:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver, Sooty Shearwater and Grey Phalarope were seen from the Butt this morning; also 15 Snow Buntings were there. 2 Long-tailed Skuas were seen between Port of Ness and the Butt (around 11:00). A Leach's Petrel, 2 Storm Petrels and a Sooty Shearwater were seen off the Butt this evening.
North Uist: A juvenile Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper were at Loch Paible; also a Cackling Goose amongst hundreds of Barnacle Geese this morning. A Glossy Ibis was at Kyles Paible. The juvenile Turtle Dove was at Balranald and a juvenile Iceland Gull was on the beach there.
Benbecula: An adult American Golden Plover was on Borve machair. A White-rumped Sandpiper, Little Stint, Grey Phalarope and Little Gull were in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 130 Black-tailed Godwits and 2 Little Gulls were at Ardivachar. The Lesser Yellowlegs was on Bornish machair; also 2 Pintails and 16 Whooper Swans there. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at Ardvule. 421 Barnacle Geese (in 9 skeins) flew south over Howmore (07:30 - 09:30).
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales were seen between Port of Ness and the Butt this morning.
Baird's Sandpiper and Cackling Goose (Steve Duffield); Curlew Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs (Alan Kennedy)
6th October:
Lewis: A Cory's Shearwater flew west past the Butt this morning.
Benbecula: A Grey Phalarope and 2nd winter Little Gull were just south of Stinky Bay and a Little Auk was in the bay for a short while before flying inland.
South Uist: 2 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were at Ardivachar.
Little Auk and White-rumped Sandpiper (Steve Duffield)
5th October:
Lewis: A Leach's Petrel, 2 Sooty Shearwaters and a Glaucous Gull were seen off Swainbost this morning; also 2 Taiga Bean Geese flew over. A seawatch from the Butt (15:20 - 16:50) produced 70 Sooty Shearwaters, a juvenile Sabine's Gull and a Pomarine Skua. A drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: 100's of Barnacle Geese were on teh beach and flying south over Sollas / Grenitote this morning.
Benbecula: 2 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were at Stinky Bay this evening.
South Uist: 2 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were on North Bay / Mol Mor. A White-rumped Sandpiper , 2 Common Scoters and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at LA3. A Glossy Ibis was at Snishival. A Baird's Sandpiper, Little Stint, Pectoral Sandpiper and 2 Curlew Sandpipers were in the south bay at Ardvula. The Lesser Yellowlegs was on a flood on Bornish machair.
White-rumped Sandpiper - centre bird (Steve Duffield); Lesser Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
4th October:
North Uist: A Pomarine Skua was off Hougharry this morning. A seawatch from Griminish Point (09:15 - 11:45) produced a juvenile Sabine's Gull, 85 Sooty Shearwaters and 8 Leach's Petrels as well as 2 Storm Petrels, 3 Bonxies, a Purple Sandpiper and 6 Whooper Swans.
Benbecula: 60 Barnacle Geese were seen heading south-west over Creagorry this afternoon.
South Uist: A White-rumped Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper were in the south bay at Ardvule. 16 Barnacle Geese flew south along the shore at Howmore this afternoon and 30 flew west over Eochar. 2 Pintail were at LA2. A juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs was at Ardvule in the afternoon; also 58 Barnacle Geese south (in 2 flocks) there. 36 Black-tailed Godwits and a Brent Goose were on Bornish machair.
Barra: A Leach's Petrel and an adult Pomarine Skua flew west past Cleat this morning.
Leach's Petrel and Pintail (Steve Duffield)
3rd October:
Lewis: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Adabrock, Port of Ness.
North Uist: 64 Black-tailed Godwits were at Hosta. A Pintail was seen at Griminish. 2 Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: A White-rumped Sandpiper and Little Stint were in Stinky Bay this morning.
South Uist: A Baird's Sandpiper was at Kilaulay / North Bay. A Little Egret was at Loch Toronais.
Barra: The juvenile Black Tern is still off Eoligarry pier.
White-rumped Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)
2nd October:
North Uist: A Little Stint and 3 Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: The Little Stint was in Stinky Bay. The adult American Golden Plover was at Liniclate.
Barra: The Yellow-browed Warbler is still in Castlebay. A Common Rosefinch was briefly at Bolnabodach this morning. The Black Tern was off Eoligarry pier.
1st October:
Lewis: An adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach at South Galson.
S. Kilda: A 1st yr Brown Shrike was on HIrta today.
North Uist: 3 Curlew Sandpipers were at Loch Paible. The juvenile Turtle Dove is still at Balranald by the visitor centre.
Benbecula: The adult American Golden Plover was at Liniclate.
Barra: The Yellow-browed Warbler was in Castlebay and the Black Tern still at Eoligarry.