Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2022
Archive January February March April
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20th May:
North Uist: The Broad-billed Sandpiper was seen at the southern edge of Loch Paible again this afternoon; also a 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was there. A Wood Sandpiper and a Ruff were at Loch Sandary.
South Uist: 2 Red-rumped Swallows were reported from Loch nam Faoileann, Daliburgh again this morning and were still present this afternoon; also a Spotted Flycatcher and 4 House Martins there.
Red-rumped Swallows, Great Northern Diver, Spotted Flycatcher and Otter (Steve Duffield)
19th May:
Lewis: A Common Crane flew south over Skigersta this morning.
St. Kilda: A Blue-headed Wagtail was on Hirta.
North Uist: A Broad-billed Sandpiper was discovered at Loch Paible this afternoon and was still present this evening. The Wood Sandpiper was seen at the south end of Loch Sandary in the morning.
Benbecula: An Osprey flew east over Loch Fada.
South Uist: 2 Red-rumped Swallows and a House Martin are at the loch behind the co-op in Daliburgh.
Barra: A Turtle Dove was at the Manse this evening.
Broad-billed Sandpiper (2 photos - Martin Gillingham); (2 photos - Roger Auger)
18th May:
Lewis: 2 White-winged Black Terns were reported flying south-east past Adabroc, Ness at 08:45 pm.
St. Kilda: 2 flava wagtails including a male Grey-headed Wagtail, the Little Ringed Plover, 2 Snow Buntings and a Redwing were on Hirta.
North Uist: A Swift was over Lochmaddy today. A Wood Sandpiper and a Ruff were at Loch Sandary. A House Martin was seen on the north side of Berneray. 2 Pomarine Skuas flew north past Aird an Runair in the morning.
Benbecula: The Little Egret was on Loch Fada this morning. A Turtle Dove was seen in Balivanich.
South Uist: The hybrid Herring x Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar.
Barra: The Turtle Dove is still in South Allasdale.
17th May:
St. Kilda: A Little Ringed Plover was seen on Hirta today.
North Uist: 2 Pomarine Skuas flew north off Aird an Runair this morning; also a Curlew Sandpiper there. A Swift was seen at Cheese Bay.
Benbecula: A Spotted Redshank was seen at Loch Fada before relocating to the shoreline at Borve Point. 3 Garnganey (2 males and a female) flew from Loch Fada to Loch Mor. 3 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Egret were at Loch Fada. A female Ruff was at Loch Mor. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Stinky Bay. A Tree Sparrow was at Mornay guesthouse, Balivanich.
South Uist: 2 Swifts were seen at either end of Loch Bee this morning. A House Martin flew north at Howmore. A male Whinchat was at North Loch Eynort. A Curlew Sandpiper was at Ardivachar.
Barra: A Turtle Dove was at South Allasdale. The Kumlien's Gull was also at Allasdale. 2 Mandarins remain in Castlebay. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Cuithir and 2 House Martins were at Brevig.
Ruff (Adey Rowley)
16th May:
St. Kilda: A Snow Bunting was on Hirta.
North Uist: 2 Curlew Sandpipers were on Baleshare. A Curlew Sandpiper was seen at Aird an Runair this morning. A House Martin was at Clachan na Luib this morning.
Benbecula: A drake Garganey was on Coot Loch this morning. A Little Egret was at Coot Loch this evening.
South Uist: A House Martin was at Druidibeg plantation this morning.
Barra: A Golden Oriole was seen at the Manse and a Turtle Dove was at Allasdale.
15th May:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver was seen off Skigersta early afternoon.
North Uist: The female Snowy Owl was seen on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig again today. An Iceland Gull was ay Bayhead on the loch to the north-west of the shop. A pair of Ruff were at Loch Sandary.
Benbecula: A female Ruff was at Loch Mor. A 2nd cal yr Glaucous Gull was seen in Stinky Bay.
Barra: 2 drake Mandarin were in Castlebay. 2 drake Mandarin were also seen on Vatersay. The juvenile Kumlien's Gull is at Allasdale. A Wood Sandpiper was reported from Vatersay.
Marine Sightings: 2 Minke Whales and 5 - 10 Harbour Porpoise were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Insects: Moths trapped at Druidibeg last night included 19 Nut-tree Tussocks, 1 Miller – new for Outer Hebrides, 5 Ruddy Highflyers, 1 Autumn Green Carpet, 1 Grey Pine Carpet, 3 Common Pugs, 2 Foxglove Pugs, 2 Scalloped Hazel, 1 Brimstone Moth, 4 Syndemis musculana, 2 Epinotia immundana and 2 Carpatolechia proximella.
At least 3 Four-spotted Chasers and numerous Large Red Damselflies were at Druidibeg today.
The Miller, Nut-tree Tussock and Autumn Green Carpet (John Kemp); Great Northern Diver (Alan Kennedy)
14th May:
Lewis: 3 Pomarine Skuas flew north off Tiumpan Head this morning.
North Uist: The female Snowy Owl was seen on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig again today. 10 Long-tailed Skuas and 20 Pomarine Skuas flew north off Aird an Runair this morning.
South Uist: A Green Sandpiper and House Martin were reported just north of the ferry terminal in Eriskay.
Marine Sightings: A Minke Whale and 3 Risso's Dolphins were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Hen Harrier and White-tailed Eagle (Steve Duffield); Hobby - from 13th May (Chris Sharp)
13th May:
Lewis: A drake Surf Scoter was seen off New Tolsta, A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Stornoway landfill site.
North Uist: A Hobby was seen at the Tractor Shed, Bayhead today. 320 Long-tailed Skuas and over 100 Pomarine Skuas were seen off Aird an Runair today. An immature Glaucous Gull was also to the south of Aird an Runair.
Barra: A Kumlien's Gull was at Craigston.
Long-tailed Skua, Pomarine Skuas, Purple Sandpiper and Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)
12th May:
Lewis: A 2nd cal yr Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: The female Snowy Owl was seen on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig at 11:15. Around 30 Pomarine Skuas were seen off Aird an Runair during the day. A Glaucous Gull was reported along the beach at Balranald.
South Uist: The hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull was at Ardivachar. A pair of Scaup were on Loch Bee. 39 Whimbrel were on the Range and 17 were on Drimsdale machair.
Scaup (Alan Kennedy)
11th May:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Loch Stiapabhat. 2 Pomarine Skuas were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
North Uist: The female Snowy Owl was apprently seen at 8 am on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig but not subsequently. 29 Long-tailed Skuas flew north at Aird an Runair at 17:50; plus a Pomarine Skua. 7 Pomarine Skuas also flew north off Aird an Runair between 10:45 - 12:00.
Benbecula: 2 male and a female Garganey were on Loch Fada (at the east end) this evening.
South Uist: A pair of Scaup were on Loch Bee (east of the causeway) this morning.
10th May:
North Uist: The female Snowy Owl (from St. Kilda) was still on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig today. 4 Pomarine Skuas were seen off Aird an Runair early morning and a 1st summer Little Gull was seen on the shore there. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Tigharry. A Marsh Harrier was reported from Clettreval.
South Uist: A pair of Scaup were on Loch Bee.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was at Allasdale.
Snowy Owl, Sanderling and Corncrake (Alan Kennedy)
9th May:
North Uist: The female Snowy Owl is still on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig this evening. An Iceland Gull was seen near Bayhead this morning.
South Uist: The hybrid Glaucous x Herring Gull is still at Ardivachar.
Short-eared Owl (Steve Duffield)
8th May:
North Uist: A female Snowy Owl was on the north side of Beinn Scolpaig this afternoon. A pair of Garganey and a male Ruff were at Loch nam Feithean. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Loch Paible. An Iceland Gull was seen at Loch na Reivil.
Benbecula: A drake Garganey was at Coot Loch; whilst 42 Whimbrel and 19 Black-tailed Godwits were nearby.
Corncrake, Little Tern and Snowy Owl with a Short-eared Owl (Steve Duffield)
7th May:
North Uist: 28 Whimbrel and 5 Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in a field near Loch Sandary.
Insects: A Double-striped Pug and 4 Puss Moths were trapped in Carinish this morning; amongst others.
Marine Sightings: 3 Minke Whales, 9 Risso's Dolphins, 7 White-beaked Dolphins and a handful of Harbour Porpoise were off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Double-striped Pug (Steve Duffield)
6th May:
North Uist: A summer plumage White-billed Diver flew north, close inshore off Aird an Runair this morning; also 4 Long-tailed Skuas, 5 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Bonxies and 32 Whimbrel north (07:00 - 09:00). Another 5 Long-tailed Skuas, a Pomarine Skua, 6 Arctic Skuas, 3 Bonxies, 55 Whimbrel and 40 Common Scoter also flew north off Aird an Runair (14:30 - 17:50). A pair of Garganey were on Loch nam Feithean. A Snow Bunting was seen along the beach at Balranald. 30 Whimbrel flew north along the shore in Carinish this evening.
Benbecula: A drake Garganey was on Coot Loch; also 8 Black-tailed Godwits there. 5 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch na Meallaird.
South Uist: 70 Whimbrel were at Frobost.
Marine Sightings: 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins were off Howmore this morning.
Pomarine Skua, Purple Sandpiper and Whimbrel (Steve Duffield)
Garganey, Arctic Skua and Bottle-nosed Dolphin (Alan Kennedy)
5th May:
Lewis: The Ortolan Bunting was seen again in a private garden in Fivepenny, near Port of Ness.
North Uist: A Pomarine Skua flew north off Aird an Runair early evening.
South Uist: 42 Whimbrel were at Howmore.
4th May:
Lewis: An Ortolan Bunting was reported as showing well from a garden in Port of Ness. A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Loch Barvas.
North Uist: 5 Pomarine Skuas flew north off Aird an Runair early afternoon with 3 at 12:40 and 2 at 13:10. 2 Garganey were seen on Loch nam Feithean again today.
South Uist: An Iceland Gull was at Ard Mhicheal.
Arctic Skuas and White-tailed Eagle (Alan Kennedy)
3rd May:
Harris: A Ring Ouzel was singing at Crabhadail.
Benbecula: 2 drake Garganey were on Coot Loch today.
Barra: The juvenile Kumlien's Gull was seen in Castlebay.
2nd May:
Lewis: A drake Ring-necked Duck at Loch Stiapavat and 2 Iceland Gulls at Stornoway harbour.
North Uist: 5 Dotterel are on Baleshare. A Glaucous Gull was at Loch Paible
Benbecula: A Glaucous Gull was at Stinky Bay
1st May:
Lewis: A Ring-necked Duck at Loch Tiumpan
North Uist: 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew north off Aird an Runair, 5 Dotterel are sill on Baleshare. 2 Iceland gulls and 30 whimbrel at Rubha Arnal,
Benbecula: a drake Garganey was on Coot Loch