Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024

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12th October:

Lewis: The Cattle Egret was between Sandwick and Plasterfield; east of Stornoway again this morning. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Stiapabhat. 3 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Siberian Chiffchaff were at South Dell. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at South Galson.

St. Kilda: A Ring Ouzel was on Hirta.

Benbecula: 9 Scaup were on Loch Dun Mhurchaird, Dunganachy.

South Uist: The Cattle Egret was in the field opposite Ormiclate Castle this morning. 2 Lapland Buntngs were on Ormiclate machair and a single Lapland Bunting was on Bornish machair. A female Pintail was at Kilaulay.

Barra: 1,000 Great Shearwaters, 3 Cory's Shearwaters and 200 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the ferry between Barra and Oban.

Marine Sightings: 2 probable Bottle-nosed Whales were seen off Tiumpan Head.

Cattle Egret (Steve Duffield)

 

11th October:

Lewis: A Cattle Egret was between Sandwick and Plasterfield; east of Stornoway this afternoon. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was in Port of Ness. A Siberian Chiffchaff was in Brue. 2 Snow Buntings were at the Butt.

St. Kilda: A Dotterel was on Hirta.

North Uist: 100+ Barnacle Geese and 13 Whooper Swans flew south-east over Grimsay this morning.

Benbecula: 3 Swallows were at Torlum.

South Uist: A Cattle Egret was in the field opposite Ormiclate Castle this afternoon. A female Scaup was on Loch Bee. The Spotted Flycatcher and Water Rail are still in South Glendale. 13 Barnacle Geese and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardvule.

Barra: 33 Great Shearwaters and a Sooty Shearwater were seen from the Oban - Barra ferry this morning. A Barred Warbler was in Castlebay this afternoon. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Gleann.

Cattle Egret and Otters (Alan Kennedy)

 

10th October:

Harris: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Northton.

North Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Loch Paible. 2 Bramblings were at Claddach Kirkibost. 2 Coots were on Loch Sandary. Around 800 Barnacle Geese were around the west side of North Uist along with 3 Pink-footed Geese.

South Uist: A Brambling was at North Loch Eynort. A Jack Snipe was at Bornish. A Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat and Water Rail were in South Glendale.

Barra: The juvenile American Golden Plover was at Borve. A Ring Ouzel and a Yellow-browed Warbler were in Castlebay.

Spotted Flycatcher and Water Rail (John Kemp)

 

9th October:

Lewis: A Brambling was in South Galson.

North Uist: 674 Barnacle Geese, 2 Pink-footed Geese and 21 Whooper Swans were on Berneray.

South Uist: A Little Egret flew south over the Howmore this afternoon.

 

8th October:

North Uist: 150 Redwings and a Brambling were in Carinish.

Benbecula: 100 Barnacle Geese flew north past Stinky Bay late afternoon. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Torlum

South Uist: 70 Redwings were in South Glendale this morning; also 36 Whooper Swans (in 3 flocks), 59 Barnacle Geese and 57 Pink-footed Geese south over there. 350 Barnacle Geese flew north past Ardivachar this afternoon; also a Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit present. A Pied Flycatcher was at Howbeg. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were at North Loch Eynort. A Blackcap and 10 Common Redpolls were at Druidibeg. 2 Snow Buntings were at Ardvule. A Wood Warbler was seen on Eriskay this afternoon. A Wheatear was at Balgarva.

Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Bruernish and 3 were at Ardhmor plantation.

Insects: 223 moths / 11 species were caught in South Glendale including 213 Small Wainscot, a Silver Y, Pinion streaked Snout, Spruce Carpet, Angle Shades, Brindled Ochre and a Rush Veneer. A Red Admiral was also present. 2 Angle Shades, a Dark Sword-grass, Setaceous Hebrew Character and a Rusty-dot Pearl were trapped in Carinish.

Pied Flycatcher, Song Thrush and Rusty-dot Pearl (Steve Duffield); Rush Veneer and Spruce Carpet (John Kemp)

 

7th October:

Lewis: 5 Redwings were in South Galson.

St. Kilda: A Yellow-browed Warbler was on Hirta.

North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler and Ring Ouzel were in Carinish; also 20 Redwings and 50 heading south there this evening. 150 - 200 Barnacle Geese were on Baleshare whilst 8 Pink-footed Geese flew north there this afternoon and the Coot is on Loch Mor. 2 Blackcaps were at Claddach Kirkibost and 2 more were at Langass. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were at Callernish House. 100 Barnacle Geese were on Vallay.

South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler and Cihffchaff were at Loch Druidibeg. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Snishival. A Yellow-browed Warbler was also in Bornish; 2 Jackdaws flew south there this morning. 19 Whooper Swans flew south at Ardvule this morning; also 96 Black-tailed Godwits were there. A Redwing and 3 Common Redpolls were in South Glendale. 50 Whooper Swans were at Loch Hallan.

Barra: A Barred Warbler was at Nask. 14 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Pied Flycatcher were also on the island.

Buzzard and 2 Hooded Crows (John Kemp)

 

6th October:

Lewis: A Lapland Bunting and 9 Snow Buntings were at the Butt this morning; also 7 Sooty Shearwaters passed. A Little Bunting was seen at Port of Ness.

North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Carinish.

Benbecula: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Torlum.

South Uist: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were at North Loch Eynort.

Barra: A Cattle Egret was in Castlebay on the football pitch this morning before flying towards Nask. Later relocated at Horve, Castlebay.

 

5th October:

Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Stiapabhat. 6 Snow Buntings flew in off the sea at the Butt; plus a Sooty Shearwater flew south-east. A juvenile Sabine's Gull flew north-east off Labost this afternoon. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Dell.

North Uist: 20 Sooty Shearwaters and 12 Storm Petrels from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry.

 

4th October:

Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat. A Snow Buting was at the Butt. A Great Shearwater flew north-west past the Butt at 17:30; also 4 Sooty Shearwaters past this evening.

North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Langass Lodge.

Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Garrygal.

 

3rd October:

Lewis: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Lionel whilst 2 Lapland Buntings flew over. The drake Ring-necked Duck is on Loch Stiapabhat. A Garden Warbler and Tree Sparrow were in South Dell.

North Uist: Around 200 Barnacle Geese were on Baleshare today; also a Coot on Loch Mor.

South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper was at Peninerine this afternoon.

Barra: A Little Bunting was in the churchyard at Eoligarry early morning before flying off to the east; also 4 Yellow-browed Warblers were on the island and 508 Sooty Shearwaters were logged off Brevig.

Barnacle Geese (Steve Duffield); Curlew Sandpiper (Alan Kennedy)

 

2nd October:

Lewis: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at 1 Adabrock briefly before flying towards Skigersta. 13 Barnacle Geese flew south-east over Ness in the evening.

North Uist: A Buff-breasted Sandpiper, a Carrion Crow and a dark-belled Brent Goose were all reported from Berneray today.

South Uist: 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were at North Loch Eynort. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in South Glendale.

Barra: The American Golden Plover was at South Allasdale.

Marine Sightings: A Fin Whale was seen off Port of Ness.

 

1st October:

Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck is still at Loch Stiapabhat. A Brambling and Chiffchaff were in Lionel. At least 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were in South Dell today.

North Uist: A Barred Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler were in Carinish this morning.

Benbecula: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Gramsdale this morning.

Barra: 3 Yellow-browed Warblers were on the island today and the American Golden Plover was at Allasdale.

Barred Warbler and Yellow-browed Warbler (Steve Duffield)