Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2025
Archive January February March
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24th April:
Lewis: A Red-rumped Swallow was in Port of Ness this afternoon.
North Uist: A Sedge Warbler was at Claddach Kirkibost today; also 18 Whooper Swans dropped in there last night whilst 150 Pink-footed Geese flew over this morning.
South Uist: 3 Avocets and 5 Whimbrel were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. A Cuckoo and Common Sandpiper were along the Loch Carnan road.
23rd April:
Lewis: A juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north at Loch na Muilne, Arnol this afternoon.
North Uist: A Siskin was in Carinish this afternoon.
Benecula: 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Benbecula this morning.
South Uist: 3 Avocets were at the south-west end of Loch Bee this morning. Small numbers of Whimbrel were scattered around the islands today. 80+ Pink-footed Geese flew north over Milton this afternoon.
Insects: 56 moths of 14 species were trapped at North Loch Eynort last night including 1 Puss Moth, 1 Dark Sword-grass, 17 Clouded Drab, 10 Early Grey, 4 Red Chestnut, 7 Early Tooth-striped, 3 Grey Pine Carpet, 3 Ruddy Highflyers, 1 May Highflyer, 1 Double-striped Pug and 1 Brindled Pug.
Oystercatcher and Whimbrel (Steve Duffield); Brindled Pug and May Highflyer (John Kemp)
22nd April:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver was off the Butt at 12:15.
North Uist: 120+ Black-tailed Godwits were on Baleshare around Loch na Paisg.
Black-tailed Godwits (Steve Duffield)
21st April:
Lewis: 2 White-billed Divers were off Skigersta in the evening.
North Uist: 24 Whooper Swans flew north over Claddach Kirkibost thid morning. 45 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Sandary and 100 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Grogarry. There was also a scattering of Whimbrel around the island.
South Uist: A Green Sandpiper was at Loch Eynort this morning. An Arctic Skua flew past Carnan in the evening.
Barra: The female / immature Surf Scoter was again off Vatersay.
Marine Sightings: 9 Orcas were off Skigersta in the evening with 6 off the Butt later on (20:30)
20th April:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan.
South Uist: A Great Skua was in North Bay / Mol Mor early evening.
Barra: The female / immature Surf Scoter was again off Vatersay.
Marine Sightings: 4 Orcas were seen heading into Broad Bay off Portnagurain late this afternoon before making their way back out 20 minutes later.
19th April:
North Uist: 52 Black-tailed Godwits were by Loch na Paisg, Baleshare. 2 Arctic Skuas were also hunting waders over Baleshare in the afternoon.
Barra: A Surf Scoter was off Vatersay (viewed from the Catalina wreckage).
18th April:
North Uist A juvenile Iceland Gull was at the north end of Loch Paible. 80 Pinkf-footed Geese flew north-west over Carinish around 08:30 this morning.
Benbecula: An Arctic Skua was seen in Culla Bay this morning.
South Uist: A Carrion Crow was on the Range today. 60+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar. 60 Pink-footed Geese flew north over Loch Eynort this afternoon.
Insects: An Early Tooth-striped moth was trapped in Carinish last night.
Black-tailed Godwits, White Wagtail and Early Tooth-striped (Steve Duffield)
17th April:
South Uist: 35 Black-tailed Gowits were at Loch Ardvule. An Avocet was in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. 1,500 Golden Plover were at LA3 on the Range. The female Lesser Scaup and Ring-necked Duck were on east Loch Bee.
Insects: 31 Belted Beauty moths (9 males) were seen on Bornish machair today.
16th April:
North Uist: 4 Common Terns were on the North Ford off Carinish today and a Whimbrel was present this evening.
South Uist: A Sedge Warbler was reported singing from Carnan. 12 Black-tailed Godwits were at Kilpheder. 4 Sand Martins were at Orosay.
15th April:
Benbecula: 70 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup and 4 Scaup were on the east side of Loch Bee. 48 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch an't-Saile. 80 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar and 17 were on the Range at LA2. The Little Egret was seen on and off at Clachan, north Loch Bee again today.
14th April:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan. A White-billed Diver was seen drifting south off Tiumpan Head this afternoon.
North Uist: A White-fronted Goose and 14 Pink-footed Geese were with Barnacle Geese at Balranald this morning; also 70+ Black-tailed Godwits there and 10 Puffins north off-shore. A Swallow was seen at Balranald too. 130+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch na Reivil, Hougharry. 70 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch Sandary.
13th April:
Lewis: 2 White-billed Divers were seen off Skigersta today.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Clachan, north Loch Bee again this morning whilst 100 Black-tailed Godwits were there in the afternoon. 40 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Howmore River. 30+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivacahar along with 3 Common Terns this afternoon. 9 Sand Martins were feeding in North Bay / Mol Mor. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Peninerine.
12th April:
North Uist: An albino / leucistic Barnacle Goose was on Vallay. 2 Little Terns were at Kyles Paible and another was at Griminish.
South Uist: An Osprey was reported from Loch Druidibeg. A Little Egret was at Clachan, northern Loch Bee all afternoon.
Barra: A Sabine's Gull was reported from the ferry between Barra and Oban this afternoon.
Albino / leucistic Barnacle Goose (Steve Duffield)
11th April:
Lewis: The female Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Stiapabhat again today. A Lapland Bunting flew north-west over Port of Ness at 16:45.
Benbecula: A Common Tern flew over Coot Loch towards the coast.
South Uist: 65 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardivachar; also 4 Sand Martins flew south there. 2 Sand Martins were on the Range at LA2.
Barra: 5 Little Terns were at Traigh Mhor.
10th April:
North Uist: The pair of Cackling Geese were by Loch Grogarry again today. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Sandary; also 4 Black-tailed Godwits there.
South Uist: A Cuckoo was in South Glendale today.
9th April:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat.
Harris: A Swallow was at Huisinis.
North Uist: The pair of Cackling Geese were by Loch Grogarry today. 140 White-fronted Geese flew north-west off Balranald and 3 White Wagtails were at Aird an Runair. 2 Swallows flew past Claddach Kirkibost. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Sandary. 45 Pink-footed Geese flew over Loch Paible. A Little Tern was on the North Ford off Carinish this evening.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup was on the east side of Loch Bee. An Avocet and 4 Black-tailed Godwits were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee.
8th April:
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup and a female Ring-necked Duck were on the east side of Loch Bee. 30 Black-tailed Godwits were at the north end of Loch Bee. 30+ Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardvule. A male Blackcap, Chiffchaff and at least 15 Willow Warblers were at North Loch Eynort.
7th April:
Lewis: A White-billed Diver was seen off Skigersta this morning. A Lapland Bunting flew north-west over Port of Ness this evening.
North Uist: The pair of Cackling Geese were again to the south of Loch na Reivil, Hougharry.
6th April:
Lewis: A Common Crane was seen flying south over Shawbost this afternoon. Snow Bunting was at Skigersta and a Stock Dove flew south-east. The Ring-necked Duck is still on Loch Tiumpan.
North Uist: 40 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch nam Feithean along with a White-fronted Goose. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Sanadary. 380 Barnacle Geese were seen heading high, north today. 75 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Claddach Kirkibost this afternoon. The pair of Cackling Geese were reported to the south of Loch na Reivil, Hougharry this evening.
Benbecula: 3 Sandwich Terns were off Balivanich.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup was on east Loch Bee. A male Ruff and 80 Black-tailed Godwits were on the Range at LA2.
Marine Sightings: 12 White-beaked Dolphins were off Skigersta this afternoon.
Oystercatcher (Steve Duffield)
5th April:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat. 2 Sand Martins flew south-east at Port of Ness.
North Uist: 2 Sandwich Terns were off Baleshare. The pair of Cackling Geese are to the south of Loch na Reivil, Hougharry; also 2 Sand Martins there. 69 Black-tailed Godwits and 24 Pink-footed Geese were at Loch nam Feithean. 330 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Carinish this afternoon. Another 40 -50 Pink-footed Geese landed to the south of Carinish early evening. 350 Pink-footed Geese and 80 White-fronted Geese fkew north past Aird an Runair. The Ring-necked Duck was still on Loch Sandary.
Benbecula: 22 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch. A Sandwich Tern flew north through Stinky Bay.
Sandwich Tern (Steve Duffield)
4th April:
Lewis: A female Ring-necked Duck and the Green-winged Teal were on Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 2 Cackling Geese were with Barnacle Geese and 7 Pink-footed Geese in fields to the north of Loch nam Feithean, Balranald. 3 Pink-footed Geese and a White-fronted Goose were with Barnacle Geese at Aird an Runair. A Hoopoe was reported from Kyles. A drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Sandary. A Sand Martin was at Griminish.
South Uist: 2 Avocets were in the south-west corner of Loch Bee. A Willow Warbler was at Carnan.
Cackling Geese and Ring-necked Duck (Steve Duffield)
3rd April:
Lewis: 500 Pink-footed Geese (in 4 flocks) flew north off Port of Ness this morning; also a Willow Warbler was in Ness.
North Uist: A pair of Ring-necked Ducks were on Loch Sgealtair, near Lochmaddy. A Willow Warbler was singing in Carinish today.
Benbecula: A Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff were in Torlum. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch.
South Uist: A Willow Warbler and Blackcap were in South Glendale today.
Willow Warbler (John Kemp)
2nd April:
Lewis: A Stock Dove was behind the sport centre at Eoropie this morning. The Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat.
1st April:
South Uist: A Long-tailed Tit was in Bornish.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales were seen off Port of Ness before passing close inshore off the Butt this afternoon.