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Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2025

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14th May:

Lewis: An American Golden Plover was seen at Loch Ordais.

North Uist: A Little Gull was seen near Sollas. A House Martin flew north east of Grenitote. A Whinchat was near Langass Lodge. A Marsh Harrier was seen from the west side of Loch Sandary heading towards Balranald.

Benbecula: A drake Garganey was seen on Loch Fada.

 

13th May:

Lewis: A White Stork was seen just south of Aline Community Woodland.

Benbecula: A Marsh Harrier and a Russian White-fronted Goose were at Loch Mor.

South Uist: A drake Goosander was on the Howmore River early morning. The female Marsh Harrier flew south over Hebridean Jewellery. An Osprey flew south-east at Kildonan. An Avocet was on the west side of Loch Bee. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Loch Bornish. A Long-tailed Tit was at North Loch Eynort.

Cornrake, South Uist Goosander, Howmore Corncrake and Goosander (Alan Kennedy)

 

12th May:

Lewis: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Loch Ordais.

North Uist: The Lesser Yellowlegs was in fields by Loch Sandary; also around 50 Whimbrel there. A female Surf Scoter flew north past Aird an Runair this morning. An Iceland Gull flew north at Balranald this evening.

South Uist: The juvenile Glaucous Gull was still on the beach at Kildonan. 2 Sandwich Terns were at Smerclate.

Barra: Late news of a pair of White Storks at the southern end of Vatersay on 9th May

Sandwich Terns, Smerclate Sandwich Terns (Alan Kennedy)

 

11th May:

Lewis: An American Golden Plover was at Bragar this morning.

North Uist: A Lesser Yellowlegs and a juvenile Iceland Gull were at Loch Sandary. A Long-tailed Skua flew north past Aird an Runair in the morning and 2 Pomarine Skuas flew past in the evening,

Benbecula: A female Surf Scoter was off Stinky Bay this morning. A Brent Goose was at Stinky Bay this afternoon and a Pink-footed Goose was at Loch Mor.

South Uist: 3 Bee-eaters were in Bornish around midday. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was on Kildonan beach. A House Martin was in Howmore this morning.

Barra: An Osprey flew along the east side of the island today.

Bee-eaters, Bornish Lesser Yellowlegs, Loch Sandary, North Uist Whimbrel, Outer Hebrides Golden Eagle, North Uist
Bee-eaters (Andrew Stevenson); Lesser Yellowlegs, Whimbrel and Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)

 

10th May:

Lewis: A Grey-headed or White-tailed Lapwing flew south over Adabroc, Port of Ness at 5pm but couldn't be relocated. A Little Egret was in Uig bay.

St. Kilda: A Turtle Dove was on Hirta.

North Uist: 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew north at Aird an Runair. A 1st summer Little Gull was on Loch na Revil, Hougharry.

adult White-tailed Eagle White-tailed Eagle (Alan Kennedy)

 

9th May:

Benbecula: A Garganey was on Loch Fada.

Barra: A Hawfinch was at Glenn. A female / 1st summer male Golden Oriole was at Creachan this evening briefly.

Little Tern, South Uist Sanderling, South Uist Little Tern and Sanderling (Alan Kennedy)

 

8th May:

North Uist: An Osprey was seen heading west over Baleshare.

Barra: A Hawfinch was at Ardveenish.

Sedge Warbler, Outer Hebrides birds Wheatear, Outer Hebrides birds Sedge Warbler and Wheatear (Alan Kennedy)

 

7th May:

Lewis: 170 Whimbrel were at the Butt. A Sandwich Tern was off Barvas.

South Uist: The male Ruff was still at Ardivachar.

Benbecula: A Little Egret was at Coot Loch. A Little Stint and 2 Sandwich Terns were seen in Stinky Bay.

Barra: A Hawfinch was seen at Bruernish.

Insects: A White-pinion Spotted was trapped at North Loch Eynort last night. It is the first for the Outer Hebrides and a substantial northern range expansion for this species.

Marine Sightings: 15 White-beaked Dolphins were seen off Port of Ness.

White-pinion Spotted Moths of Outer Hebrides White-pinion Spotted (John Kemp)

 

6th May:

Lewis: The Solitary Sandpiper was seen at the Butt again this morning; as well as this evening. 2 Dotterel flew north over Cross towards the Butt in the afternoon.

Harris: 60 Pink-footed Geese were at Northton this morning.

Benbecula: An Osprey was seen circling over Creagorry before flying south this afternoon.

South Uist: A male Ruff was at Ardivachar. 3 Avocets and a Little Stint were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.

Insects: Moth trapping in Carinish last night produced 48 moths of 12 species including Powdered Quaker, 6 Dark Sword-grass, Rush Veneer, Pebble Prominent, 6 Puss Moths and Common Pug amongst others.

Common Pug, Outer Hebrides moths Dark Sword-grass, Outer Hebrides moths Powdered Quaker, Outer Hebrides moths Otter, North Uist Solitary Sandpiper
Common Pug, Dark Sword-grass, Powdered Quaker and Otter (Steve Duffield); Solitary Sandpiper (Bob McMillan)

 

5th May:

Lewis: An adult White-billed Diver flew south-east past the Butt; also a Crossbill flew south-east there and a Green Sandpiper was seen briefly. A Solitary Sandpiper was seen at the Butt early morning.

North Uist: A Whitethroat was in Lochmaddy. Large numbers of Whimbrel were around with 38 At Balranald and at least 40 at Cnoc a Lin amongst many others. A male Ruff was at Loch Paible. A Garganey was at Loch a Roe, Balranald.

Benbecula: A Pied Flycatcher was seen from the causeway at Loch Olabhat.

South Uist: A Whitethroat was in South Glendale.

Insects: A Red Admiral and a Peacock butterfly were at North Loch Eynort.

Large Red Damselfly Whitethroat Large Red Damselfly and Whitethroat (John Kemp)

 

4th May:

Harris: 40 Whimbrel were at Northton.

North UIst: The female Golden Oriole was seen briefly at Langass Wood today. 100 Whimbrel were at Loch Sandary.

South Uist: 3 Avocets were at the south-west end of Loch Bee.

 

3rd May:

Lewis: A Lapland Bunting was on crofts opposite the post office at Port of Ness this afternoon. 10 Whimbrel were at Garrabost. The drake Ring-necked Duck was back at Loch Geal, Great Bernera this morning.

North Uist: A Golden Oriole was at Langass Wood. 60 Brent Geese flew north past Aird an Runair.

 

2nd May:

North Uist: A Pied Flycatcher was at Claddach Vallay plantation.

Benbecula: A female Golden Oriole was reported from Loch Dun Mhurchaidh this morning.

South Uist: A Long-tailed Tit was at Loch Eynort.

Marine Sightings: 3 Killer Whales were seen heading north-west off the Butt.