Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2023
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31st March:
Lewis: A Great Tit was in Garrabost.
North Uist: Around 200 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over Carinish this morning. 65 Pink-footed Geese were in the Balranald area. A Lapland Bunting was by the cattle pens at Aird an Runair. 13 Whooper Swans were on the North Ford before heading north this evening.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup was on West Loch Ollay today.
Insects: Single Early Grey moths were caught in South Glendale and North Loch Eynort last night. A Small Tortoiseshell butterfly was seen at Claddach Kyles.
Early Grey (John Kemp); Lapland Bunting (Steve Duffield)
30th March:
North Uist: 3 Iceland Gulls and a Glaucous Gull were at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: A Mistle Thrush and a Wheatear were in South Glendale.
Wheatear (John Kemp)
29th March:
Harris: The adult Glaucous Gull is still at Leverburgh harbour.
Barra: 2 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Allasdale.
28th March:
Benbecula: The Iceland Gull was in Stinky Bay again today.
27th March:
Lewis: A Tundra Bean Goose was seen by Loch Stiapabhat in the evening.
Benbecula: An Iceland Gull was at Stinky Bay. 10 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch.
Barra: A 1st winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor; also a Snow Bunting there in the evening.
Marine Sightings: 3 Orcas were seen heading north off Tiumpan Head in the morning.
26th March:
North Uist: A Glaucous Gull was on Loch Sandary. 39 Pink-footed Geese were at Aird an Runair.
Barra: 2 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Allasdale. A 1st winter Little Gull was at Traigh Mhor.
25th March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat. A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Loch Airigh la Nic, Stornoway.
24th March:
Lewis: The juvenile Iceland Gull is still at Tiumpan Head.
23rd March:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was seen briefly at Loch Tiumpan. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Loch Branahuie. A Wheatear were in South Galson.
North Uist: 3 Iceland Gulls, a Glaucous Gull and a Viking Gull were at Rubh' Arnal; also 89 Brent Geese there.
Benbecula: 16 Black-tailed Godwits were at Coot Loch. A Glaucous Gull was seen near Nunton.
South Uist: A Glaucous Gull flew south at Kipheder Point and 19 Snow Buntings were on the beach.
Snow Bunting (John Kemp)
22nd March:
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival again this morning.
21st March:
Lewis: A Great Tit was in North Tolsta.
North Uist: A Green-winged Teal was on Loch Sandary.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival again this afternoon.
Barra: A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was at Traigh Eais and a juvenile was at Loch Tangasdale. The Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor.
20th March:
Lewis: A juvenile Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival this morning.
19th March:
Lewis: A Snow Bunting was at the Butt; also 15 Greenland White-fronted Geese and a Jack Snipe were in the area.
North Uist: 6 Iceland Gulls and 83 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal.
Barra: 2 Glaucous Gulls and a Little Gull were at Eoligarry. 90 Whooper Swans flew north.
18th March:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat. 2 Bean Geese were also seen in the area but flew towards the Butt. 4 Russian White-fronted Geese were at the Butt. The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in South Galson.
South Uist: The Little Egret was at Snishival.
16th March:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal were on Loch Stiapabhat.
15th March:
Barra: A Little Auk flew past Eoligarry pier in the afternoon; also 2 Glaucous Gulls and 2 Iceland Gulls in the area.
14th March:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal were at Loch Stiapabhat. 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at the Butt and 4 Russian White-fronted Geese were nearby.
Barra: A Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor. 2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls, 2 Iceland Gulls (and adult and a juvenile) and 2 x 1st winter Little Gulls were at Eoligarry.
13th March:
Barra: A Green-winged Teal was at Ardmhor. 2 Glaucous Gulls, an Iceland Gull and a 1st winter Little Gull were at Eoligarry.
12th March:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal and 4 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Loch Stiapabhat.
Benbecula: A Common Scoter was just south of Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 13 Russian White-fronted Geese were at West Loch Ollay. A drake Ring-necked Duck and Pochard were on the east side of Loch Bee.
Barra: 2 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Allasdale.
11th March:
Lewis: The Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal were on Loch Stiapabhat. 2 Lapland Buntings were on the machair nearby. 4 Snow Buntings were at the Butt. The 2nd winter Iceland Gull is still in South Galson.
North Uist: 2 (pair) of Cackling Geese were at Aird an Runair, Balranald this morning. The female Ring-necked Duck was still on Loch Olobhat.
Barnacle Geese, Cackling Geese and Skylark (Steve Duffield)
10th March:
Lewis: The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in South Galson.
North Uist: A female Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Oloabhat. 2 (pair) Cackling Geese were at Hougharry this afternoon. A Green-winged Teal was on Loch nam Feithean. At least 6 Iceland Gulls and 19 Snow Buntings Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: The 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Howmore. A female Lesser Scaup and drake Pochard were on east Loch Bee. The female Lesser Scaup was on West Loch Ollay although flew off towards Mid Loch Ollay. A drake Ring-necked Duck was on West Loch Ollay. A Little Egret was at Stoneybridge. 14 Russian White-fronted Geese were also by West Loch Ollay.
Ring-necked Duck, Russian White-fronted Geese and Otters (Alan Kennedy)
9th March:
Lewis: The 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in South Galson.
North Uist: 2 Cackling Geese were at Balranald.
South Uist: The 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Howmore. A female Lesser Scaup and Green-winged Teal were at West Loch Ollay. A Little Egret was at Stoneybridge.
Barra: 2 x 1st winter Little Gulls were at Eoligarry in the afternoon.
White-tailed Eagle (Alan Kennedy)
8th March:
Lewis: The 2nd winter Iceland Gul is still in South Galson. The drake Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Stiapabhat.
South Uist: A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Howmore. A Snow Bunting was along the Gualan, Balgarva.
Marine Sightings: 2 Humpback Whales were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Iceland Gull (Andrew Gouldstone); Glaucous Gull, Snow Bunting and Otters (Alan Kennedy)
7th March:
Lewis: A 2nd winter Iceland Gull was in South Galson. An immature Iceland Gull was in Stornoway harbour. An immature Glaucous Gull was at Port Stoth, Butt of Lewis.
South Uist: A drake Goosander was on the Howmore River. A Common and Lesser Redpoll were at Carnan.
Iceland Gull (Andy Williams); Goosander (Alan Kennedy)
6th March:
Lewis: An immature Iceland Gull was at South Galson.
North Uist: 4 Fieldfares were in Locheport.
South Uist: 7 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Aird Mhicheil.
Purple Sandpipers (Alan Kennedy)
5th March:
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup, a drake Scaup and a drake Pochard were on east Loch Bee. A female Lesser Scaup, 12 Russian White-fronted Geese and a Little Egret were at West Loch Ollay. A Black-tailed Godwit was at Loch Ardvule.
Insects: 3 Belted Beauties were at Ardvule.
female and male Belted Beauties (John Kemp)
4th March:
Lewis: A Ring-necked Duck and a Green-winged Teal were at Loch Stiapabhat. 3 Snow Buntings were at the Butt and 15 Russian White-fronted Geese were on crofts nearby.
North Uist: A Cackling Goose was at Balranald. 7 Russian White-fronted Geese were on Berneray.
South Uist: The female Lesser Scaup, 2 Scaup (male and female) and a drake Pochard were on east Loch Bee. 6 Black-tailed Godwits were on west Loch Bee. 2 Black-tailed Godwits were at Loch an't-Saile.
Barra: 2 x 1st winter Little Gulls were at Traigh Mhor briefly this afternoon.
Lesser Scaup (Alan Kennedy)
3rd March:
North Uist: 8 Iceland Gulls, 13 Snow Buntings and 77 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal.
South Uist: 12 Russian White-fronted Geese and a Little Egret were at West Loch Ollay. A Common and a Lesser Redpoll were seen visiting a feeder at Carnan.
Barra: 73 Black-throated Divers were seen off Vatersay today. 2 x 1st winter Little Gulls were at Traigh Mhor.
Insects: A Dotted Border, Mottled Grey and a Red Sword-grass were caught in South Glendale last night.
Mottled Grey and Red Sword-grass (John Kemp); Long-tailed Duck, Purple Sandpiper and Otter cub (Alan Kennedy)
2nd March:
Lewis: A Ring-necked Duck and Green-winged Teal are at Loch Stiapabhat. A juvenile Iceland Gull was at Skigersta.
Harris: 2 drake Surf Scoters were in the Sound of Taransay. An adult Glaucous Gull was at Leverburgh harbour.
South Uist: A female Lesser Scaup and drake Ring-necked Duck were on the west side of Loch Bee. A drake Pochard was on east Loch Bee. A Mistle Thrush was in Bornish. The Little Egret was at West Loch Ollay.
Great Northern Diver and Pochard (Alan Kennedy)
1st March:
Benbecula: 3 Russian White-fronted Geese were at Borve
South Uist: A female Lesser Scaup and drake Ring-necked Duck were on the west side of Loch Bee. 12 Russian White-fronted Geese were at West Loch Ollay.
Barra: 2 x 1st winter Little Gulls were at Traigh Nhor this evening.
Marine Sightings: 11 White-beaked Dolphins and a couple of small pods of Common Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head this morning.
Russian White-fronted Geese and Otter with a Rabbit (Alan Kennedy)