Latest Outer Hebrides Bird and Wildlife Sightings 2024

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31st October:

South Uist: 1,000 Great Shearwaters and 200 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Lochboisdale - Mallaig ferry this morning (07:15 - 07:50)

 

30th October:

Lewis: A Little Stint and Scaup were at Loch Ordais. A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tiumpan.

North Uist: A juvenile American Golden Plover was seen on Berneray.

South Uist: 4 Scaup were at the south-west corner of Loch Bee. 2 Fieldfare were at North Loch Eynort. A Curlew Sandpiper and 15 Snow Buntings were at Peninerine.

Barra: The Common Rosefinch was at Nask. The juvenile Turtle Dove was still at Gleann; also a Lesser Whitethroat there. The juvenile American Golden Plover was at Eoligarry. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Cuithir. The Ring-necked Duck and 2 Scaup were on Lch Tangasdale.

Curlew Sandpiper, Merlin, Golden Eagle, Sparrowhawk and Snow Bunting (Steve Duffield)

 

29th October:

Barra: A Turtle Dove was at Gleann. The Ring-necked Duck was on Loch Tangasdale. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Cuithir. 2 Little Gulls were at Traigh Mhor.

 

28th October:

Lewis: The Spotted Flycatcher and a Garden Warbler were at South Galson.

Harris: 15 Whooper Swans were at Northton.

North Uist: A minimum of 5 juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were at Loch Paible. An adult Turtle Dove was at Paiblesgarrry. 4 Lapland Buntings were reported from Baleshare. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and a Chiffchaff were in Carinish.

South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Water Rail were in South Glendale.

Barra: A Common Rosefinch was at Nask. Yellow-browed Warblers were seen in Castlebay and at Cuithir. The Ring-necked Duck and Scaup were on Loch Tangasdale.

White-rumped Sandpiper (Steve Duffield)

 

27th October:

Lewis: A Swallow, a Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Sparrow were in South Galson. A drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Tiumpan. A Scaup and Little Stint were at Loch Ordais.

North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler and Chiffchaff are in Carinish.

Benbecula: A White-rumped Sandpiper was at Borve.

South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Chiffchaff were in South Glendale.

Barra: A Yellow-browed Warblee was at Cuithir. 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were in Castlebay. A Ring-necked Duck and Scaup are at Loch Tangasdale. The juvenile American Golden Plover was at Eoligarry and a Little Gull was off-shore there.

Chiffchaff (Steve Duffield); Tree Sparrow (Andrew Gouldstone); Yellow-browed Warbler (John Kemp)

 

26th October:

Lewis: The Spotted Flycatcher is still in South Galson.

North Uist: 2 (possibly more) juvenile White-rumped Sandpipers were on Loch Paible today. 19 Whooper Swans flew south over Loch Sandary. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Carinish.

Benbecula: A juvenile American Golden Plover was just south of Balivanich this morning.

South Uist: A Snow Bunting was at Ardvule. 20 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at West Loch Ollay.

Barra: The American Golden Plover was at Eoilgarry and a Yellow-browed Warbler was in Castlebay.

Insects: The micro Palpita vitrealis was trapped at Eochar last night - the first for the Outer Hebrides.

Palpita vitrealis (Robin Sutton); White-rumped Sandpiper (Steve Duffield)

 

25th October:

Lewis: A Canada Goose was with Barnacles at Loch Stiapabhat today; also a Brent Goose, 6 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Scaup and a female Pintail. The Spotted Flycatcher was still in South Galson. A Carrion Crow was at Steinish. A Wheatear was on Coll beach.

Benbecula: 4 Snow Buntings were on airport beach, Balivanich today. A Snow Bunting was also on the shore at Borve. A juvenile Amercian Golden Plover was at Liniclate. A Barn Owl was seen just north of Stinky Bay.

South Uist: A Snow Bunting was along the shore 1 miles south of Ardivachar.

Barra: 2 White-rumped Sandpipers were at Traigh Mhor and the juvenile American Golden Plover was at Eoligarry.

 

 

24th October:

South Uist: A female Hawfinch was in Bornish.

Barra: A juvenile American Golden Plover was at Eoligarry, north of the airport today.

 

23rd October:

Lewis: The Spotted Flyctacher is still in South Galson.

North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Claddach Kirkibost. A juvenile American Golden Plover was at Loch Paible. 17 Whooper Swans flew south-east over Carinish this afternoon.

Spotted Flycatcher (Andrew Gouldstone)

 

22nd October:

Lewis: The Spotted Flyctacher is still in South Galson.

North Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Claddach Kirkibost.

South Uist: The adult White-rumped Sandpiper was in North Bay / Mol Mor again with a Little Stint.

Marine Sightings: A Northern Bottle-nosed Whale was off Tiumpan Head.

Spotted Flycatcher (Andrew Gouldstone)

 

21st October:

Lewis: The drake Ring-necked Duck was at Loch Stiapabhat. A Spotted Flycatcher was in South Galson.

Benbecula: A juvenile American Golden Plover was seen at Borve. A Swallow was at Borve late afternoon.

South Uist: An adult White-rumped Sandpiper was in North Bay / Mol Mor along with a Little Stint. A juvenile American Godlen Plover was on The Range at LA2. The Cattle Egret was at Ormiclate still today. A Green-winged Teal was on the Howmore River. A Swallow was seen at Ormiclate this afternoon. A Snow Bunting was at Bornish. 246 Gannets, 53 Great Northern Divers, 3 Red-throated Diverts, 55 Kittiwakes, 2 Arctic Terns, 4 Pale-bellied Brent and 2 Black-tailed Godwits flew south at Smerclate this morning.

White-rumped Sandpiper with Sanderling (Steve Duffield); Green-winged Teal (Alan Kennedy)

 

20th October:

Lewis: A Scaup was off Bragar.

North Uist: 2 Blackcaps were at Claddach Kirkibost.

 

19th October:

South Uist: The Cattle Egret was in the field opposite Ormiclate Castle. A Sow Bunting was at Advule. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Druidibeg.

Cattle Egret (Alan Kenedy)

 

18th October:

South Uist: The Cattle Egret was in the field opposite Ormiclate Castle again this morning.

 

17th October:

Lewis: A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Port of Ness. A drake Ring-necked Duck was at at Loch na Muilne, Arnol.

Benbecula: 8 Greenland White-fronted Geese and 2 Pink-footed Geese were by Coot Loch whilst a Redstart was also seen there. A Red Kite was reported flying south at Nunton.

South Uist: The Cattle Egret was in the field opposite Ormiclate Castle again this morning. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Druidibeg. 4 Greenland White-fronted Geese were at the south end of Loch Bornish and 6 Black-tailed Godwits were on the west side. A Garden Warbler was at Howmore.

Barra: A Barred Warbler and 5 Yellow-browed Warblers were reported from the island today.

Insects: A Silver Y, 4 Angle Shades, a Red Sword-grass and a Rusty Dot Pearl were found nectaring on Buddleia in South Glendale this evening.

Cattle Egret (John Kemp); Peregrine (Alan Kennedy)

 

16th October:

Lewis: The Cattle Egret was at Sandwick in the field across from North Street.

South Uist: The Cattle Egret was in the field opposite Ormiclate Castle again this morning. A Yellow-browed Warbler and Water Rail were at North Loch Eynort. The female Scaup was on Castle Loch and 2 Coots were on Loch Stilligarry.

Barra: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Ardmhor plantation.

 

15th October:

Lewis: A Pomarine Skua and 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew past the Butt whilst a Lapland Bunting came in off the sea at 10 am. A Snow Bunting was at Swainbost.

St. Kilda: A Corncrake was seen today.

South Uist: 17 Greenland White-fronted Geese flew south at Smerclate and 2 Pink-footed Geese were present.

Barra: 19 Great Shearwaters and 250 Sooty Shearwaters flew south past Brevig. At least 1 Yellow-browed Warbler is still on the island.

Marine Sightings: 10 White-beaked Dolphins were off Port of Ness this afternoon.

White-fronted Geese (John Kemp)

 

14th October:

Lewis: 2 Sooty Shearwaters flew south-east past the Butt.

South Uist: A pair of Scaup were on Castle Loch, Drimsdale. 2 Pink-footed Geese were at Stilligarry and 77 Whooper Swans were on Loch Stilligarry.

Barra: 600+ Great Shearwaters and 300 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the ferry between Oban and Barra; also a Leach's Petrel. A juvenile Ring-necked Duck was seen off the north of Vatersay before settling on to Loch Scotageary near Bolnabodach.

 

13th October:

Lewis: 2 Yellow-browed Warbler and a Siberian Chiffchaff were in Port of Ness; also 2 Lapland Buntings flew south-east over there this morning.

St. Kilda: The Dotterel was still on Hirta and 11 Snow Buntings were present.

North Uist: A Wheatear was at Claddach Kirkibost. A Blackcap was at Langass Lodge.

South Uist: A Yellow-browed Warbler was heard calling at Loch Eynort. 4 Lapland Buntings and a Snow Bunting were on Ardivachar machair. 3 Scaup were on east Loch Bee.

Barra: 3 Barred Warblers were at Nask.

Golden Eagle (Steve Duffield)

 

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)