Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024
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29th November:
Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was back on Loch Tiumpan today.
28th November:
North Uist: A Chiffchaff is in Carinish. A Fieldfare was at Claddach Kirkibost.
South Uist: A juvenile Glaucous Gull was at Ardivachar.
Marine Sightings: A Humpback Whale was seen distantly off Tiumpan Head this morning; also several White-beaked Dolphins.
27th November:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal was at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: A Mistle Thrush was seen near UIst Asco, close to the turning for Berneray.
South Uist: 7 Scaup were on west Loch Bee and a Black-tailed Godwit was in the south-west corner. A female Pintail was in North Bay / Mol Mor.
Black-tailed Godwit and White-tailed Eagle (Steve Duffield)
26th November:
North Uist: A very mobile Mistle Thrush was at Malaclate this afternoon before heading east. 4 Pintail were on Loch nam Feithean.
Benbecula: A juvenile American Golden Plover was at Liniclate, opposite the HIE buildings today.
South UIst: Around 20 Scaup were on Loch Bee.
Barnacle Geese and Mistle Thrush (Steve Duffield)
24th November:
Lewis: A Sooty Shearwater was seen from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry, just outside Stornoway.
North Uist: A Jack Snipe was along the shore at Carinish.
22nd November:
Lewis: A Green-winged Teal and 3 Scaup were at Loch Stiapabhat. A Jack Snipe was near the Butt.
North Uist: 2 Fieldfare were at Claddach Kirkibost.
21st November:
South Uist: A Chiffchaff is in South Glendale.
20th November:
North Uist: A Jack Snipe was along the shore at Claddach Kirkibost.
South Uist: A Brambling and 6 Fieldfare were in Bornish.
19th November:
South Uist: An adult Glaucous Gull was on the beach to the south of Ardivachar; also 7 Snow Buntings and 500 Purple Sandpipers there. 5 Scaup were on Loch Bee. A Chiffchaff and 9 Fieldfare were in South Glendale.
Glaucous Gull, Lapwing, Redwing and Whooper Swans (Steve Duffield)
18th November:
North Uist: 3 Snow Buntings and 40 Brent Geese were at Rubh' Arnal. A Fieldfare was in Carinish.
17th November:
Lewis: 258 Great Shearwaters and 3 Sooty Shearwaters past the Butt (08:30 - 10:40). 11 Little Auks and 2 Great Shearwaters passed the Butt (15:00 - 16:15). A Black Redstart was at the north end of Traigh Mhor, Toslta; also an adult Iceland Gull there.
North Uist: 40 pale-bellied Brent Geese were on the shore at Kirkibost Island and a further 39 flew south-east past Baleshare.
South Uist: A Chiffchaff was in South Glendale.
Barra: 6 Snow Buntings were at Eoligarry and an adult Iceland Gull was at Traigh Mhor.
Chiffchaff (John Kemp)
16th November:
Lewis: 566 Great Shearwaters and 22 Sooty Shearwaters flew west or north-west past the Butt (09:30 - 14:20). A further 172 Great Shearwaters, 6 Sooty Shearwaters and 5 Little Auks passed the Butt later afternoon. A Marsh Harrier flew south-east Adabrock. A Snow Bunting was at Traigh Mhor, Tolsta.
North Uist: A Chiffchaff was in Carinish. 373 Kittiwakes, 19 Great Northern Diver, 17 Red-throated Divers, 5 Black Guillemots, a Long-tailed Duck and 4 Purple Sandpipers flew south-west past Griminish Point (08:55 - 10:50).
15th November:
Lewis: The drake Green-winegd Teal and 5 Scaup were at Loch Stiapabhat.
14th November:
Lewis: A Glaucous Gull was at Steinis. 24 Snow Buntings were on Melbost beach.
North Uist: The Barred Warbler is still in Carinish. 2 Fieldfares were at Balemore.
South Uist: A Fieldfare, female Blackcap and Chiffchaff are in South Glendale.
Barra: The juvenile Turtle Dove was at Gleann and a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Cuithir.
Barred Warbler (Steve Duffield), Blackcap and Chiffchaff (John Kemp)
13th November:
Lewis: The Green-winged Teal and 4 Scaup were at Loch Stiapabhat.
North Uist: 4 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers are still at Loch Paible. The Barred Warbler is still in Carinish.
Barra: The Turtle Dove is still in Glenn.
Barred Warbler (Steve Duffield)
12th November:
Lewis: 5 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
Barra: A Siberian Chiffchaff was singing in Northbay.
11th November:
Lewis: A 1st winter Little Gull and a Pochard were on Loch Branahuie.
North Uist: 37+ Common Scoters were off the west side of Berneray. 2 Chiffchaff were at Grenitote.
South Uist: A Curlew Sandpiper and 7 Black-tailed Godwits were at Ardvule. A Chiffchaff was in South Glendale.
Curlew Sandpiper (John Kemp)
10th November:
Lewis: 250 Great Shearwaters flew north-west at the Butt (12:15 - 12:45). A further 2 Great Shearwaters passed the Butt (15:30 - 16:30) and the Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat. A drake Pochard was on Loch Branahuie.
North Uist: Chiffchaffs were in Carinish, at Langass and in Lochmaddy. A Fieldfare was at Langass.
Benbenbecula: The hybrid Mallard x American Black Duck is still in Stinky Bay. An American Golden Plover was at Borve.
South Uist: 2 Chiffchaff and 3 Fieldfare were in South Glendale.
Barra: The Turtle Dove was at Gleann. The Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow-browed Warbler were at Creachan. 2 Ring-necked Ducks were at Borve. A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Cuithir and another at Castlebay. A Snow Bunting flew over Eoligarry. A Little Gull and the American Golden Plover were at Traigh Mhor.
9th November:
Lewis: 6 Great Shearwaters and 26 Sooty Shearwater past the Butt in 3 hours this morning. An adult White-billed Diver also drifted suoth-east off the Butt.
Benbecula: The hybrid Mallard x American Black Duck is still in Stinky Bay.
South Uist: 33 Great Shearwaters and 120 Sooty Shearwaters were seen off the east side of Eriskay from the north side of Acarsaid Mhor (08:30 - 09:40). A female Pochard was at West Loch Ollay.
Barra: The juvenile Turtle Dove was at Gleann. The American Golden Plover was on the machair north of the airport today. The Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow-browed Warbler were at Creachan. 2 Ring-necked Ducks and 3 Scaup are on Loch na Doirlinn.
8th November:
Lewis: A Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tiumpan this morning. 140 Sooty Shearwaters and 2 Great Shearwaters flew past Tiumpan Head. A Green-winged Teal was on Loch Stiapabhat. 3 Great Shearwaters, 45 Sooty Shearwaters and a Leach's Petrel were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry. 11 Great Shearwaters and 198 Sooty Shearwaters flew south off Tiumpan Head (10:45 - 10:50). 7 Great Shearwaters, 1 Cory's Shearwater and 29 Sooty Shearwaters past the Butt in an hour this afternoon.
North Uist: The Barred Warbler and a Chiffchaff were in Carinish.
South Uist:2 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were in the north bay at Ardvule.
Barra: The Turtle Dove was in Castlebay. A Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow-browed Warbler were at Creachan. A juvenile American Golden Plover was at Traigh Mhor.
Marine Sightings: 2 Minke Whales, 10 Harbour Porpoise, 6 Risso's Dolphins and 60 Common Dolphins were seen from the Ullapool - Stornoway ferry.
Great Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwater, Common Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise (Andy Williams)
7th November:
Lewis: A Brambling was in Lews Castle Grounds.
Benbecula: A hybrid Mallard x American Black Duck was in Stinky Bay this morning.
South Uist: The Yellow-browed Warbler and Chiffchaff were in South Glendale.
Barra: 2 Ring-necked Ducks (a male and juvenile) were at Loch na Doilinn along with 3 Scaup. The juvenile Turtle Dove was at Gleann. A Red-breasted Flycatcher, Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow-browed Warbler were at Creachan. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Eoligarry. 110 Great Shearwaters and 40 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig in an hour this morning.
hybrid Mallard x American Black Duck (Steve Duffield)
6th November:
Lewis: A 1st winter Little Gull was on Coll beach.
North Uist: A late Sand Martin was at Claddach Kirkibost this morning; also 3 Chiffchaffs there. 2 Great Shearwaters were seen from the Lochmaddy - Uig ferry today. 4 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers are still at Loch Paible.
Benbecula: A juvenile American Golden Plover was at Liniclate. A juvenile White-rumped Sandpiper was reported from Stinky Bay. A female Scaup was on Coot Loch. A Chiffchaff was at Carnan.
South Uist: The Yellow-browed Warbler and Chiffchaff were in South Glendale.
Barra: A Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat were at Creachan. A Great Shearwater and 3 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig.
5th November:
Lewis: 8 Great Shearwaters and 520 Sooty Shearwaters past Tiumpan Head this morning by 09:30; also 8 Snow Buntings there. 29 Great Shearwaters, 26 Sooty Shearwaters and a Manx Shearwater past the Butt (13:00 - 14:00). 9 Great Shearwaters and 95 Sooty Shearwaters past Port of Ness in half an hour in the afternoon.
North Uist: The Turtle Dove was still at Paiblesgarry.
South Uist: The Yellow-browed Warbler and Chiffchaff were in South Glendale. 144 Great Shearwaters were seen off the south-east of Eriskay late morning. A Chiffchaff and Blackcap were at Carnan.
Barra: 1,409 Great Shearwaters past Brevig in an hour this morning.
Marine Sightings: White-beaked, Risso's and Common Dolphins were seen off Tiumpan Head and the Butt.
4th November:
Lewis: A juvenile Pallid Swift was seen at Tiumpan Head this afternoon; also a Pomarine Skua was also seen off-shore here. 7 Great Shearwaters and 5 Sooty Shearwaters from the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry today. A Mistle Thrush was in South Galson.
North Uist: A Snow Bunting flew over Carinish this morning; also the Barred Warbler, Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaffs. A Chiffchaff was at Claddach Baleshare.
South Uist: The Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff were in South Glendale.
Barra: The juvenile Turtle Dove is still in Castlebay. 185 Great Shearwaters flew past Brevig. A Snow Bunting was on Heaval. The American Golden Plover was at Traigh Mhor. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tangasdale.
Barred Warbler and Chiffchaff (Steve Duffield); Pallid Swift (Tristan ap Rheinallt)
3rd November:
Lewis: 3 1st winter Little Gulls were at Tong. A Little Stint was at Loch Ordais.
North Uist: A Barred Warbler and a Chiffchaff were in Carinish. A Lapland Bunting and 17 Snow Buntings were at the Udal. The adult Turtle Dove was at Paiblesgarry in the evening.
South Uist: A White-rumped Sandpiper was at Ardvule. A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff were in South Glendale.
Barra: At least 200 Great Shearwaters flew south off Bolnabodach (10:00 - 10:30) this morning. The Turtle Dove was in Castlebay. A Lesser Whitethroat was at Brevig.
White-rumped Sandpiper (John Kemp); Turtle Dove (Peter Murray)
2nd November:
Harris: A Common Rosefinch was at Govig.
North Uist: A male Blackcap and Chiffchaff are in Carinish; also a Water Rail and Woodcock.
South Uist: 2 Chiffchaffs, a Yellow-browed Warbler and a male Blackcap were in South Glendale.
Barra: The juvenile Turtle Dove was in Castlebay. 39 Great Shearwaters flew north past Leanish late afternoon. 2 Little Gulls were at Eoligarry.
Insects: 5 Red-green Carpet, 2 Autumn-green Carpet, 1 Grey Pine Carpet and a very late Silver-ground Carpet were trapped at Loch Eynort last night.
Silver-ground Carpet (John Kemp)
1st November:
Lewis: The Spotted Flycatcher is still in South Galson. A Yellow-browed Warbler and Chiffchaff were at Outend, Coll.
Harris: 36 Whooper Swans were at Northton.
North Uist: A Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and Woodcock were in Carinish this morning; also around 70 White-fronted Geese flew south over there and 2 Snow Buntings flew south-eastwards. A Chiffchaff was at Claddach Kirkibost. 2 White-rumped Sandpipers were still at Loch Paible.
South Uist: A Brambling and Chiffchaff were at Carnan. A Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs were in South Glendale.
Barra: The Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tangasdale. A Swallow was in Castlebay.