Birds of the Hebrides

From a birding point of view this holiday far exceeded my expectations. In total I saw 106 species during the two weeks, including one lifer (Great Shearwater), one UK tick (White-tailed Sea Eagle) and eight year ticks (Great Shearwater, White-tailed Sea Eagle, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Corncrake, Black throated Diver, Great Skua, Arctic Skua and Hooded Crow),. Most pleasingly, all of these birds I found for myself, including Great Shearwater and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Below is a list of all of the species we saw with a brief comment.

My UK life list is now 390 and my 2013 year list is 218.

Red-throated Diver		A fairly common species, seen at several sites throughout the Hebrides.
Black-throated Diver		Two on Harris
Great Northern Diver		Adult summer plumage and juvenile on the sea at Berneray.
Little Grebe		Pairs with chicks seen at several locations, especially on the Outer Hebrides.
Fulmar		A fairly common species at sea.
Storm Petrel		Five at sea from the Uig, Skye to Loch Maddy, North Uist ferry.
Manx Shearwater		Seen in small numbers from various ferries.
Great Shearwater		One from the Tarbet, Harris to Uig, Skye ferry on 29/07/2013.
Gannet		A common species at sea.
Cormorant		A few at various coastal locations
Shag		A common coastal species.
Grey Heron		Common in small numbers.
Mute Swan		Common, with the largest numbers on the Uists.
Whooper Swan		One summering at Balranald, North Uist.
Greylag Goose		A common breeding species.
Canada Goose		Two flocks on Mull.
Shelduck		Five at Balranald 29/07/2013.
Teal		Two Balranald, North Uist.
Mallard		Common in low numbers.
Shoveler		A few at Balranald, North Uis.
Tufted Duck		Fairly common on the Outer Hebrides, with several females with chicks seen.
Eider		Common around the coasts of most islands.
Common Scoter		30 at sea from Berneray.
Red-breasted Merganser		Seen mainly around the coast of Skye and Mull, with 30 at Loch Sligachan, Skye.
Hen Harrier		Ringtail over Balranald, then flew over the tent 28/07/2013.
Sparrowhawk		One over the campsite at Craignure, Mull on 22/07/2013.
Buzzard		Common in small numbers.
Golden Eagle		Adults with juveniles seen on Mull on 24/07/2013 and at the Quiraing, Skye on 26/07/2013.
White-tailed Eagle		Adult with juvenile at Loch na Keal, Mull, 21/07/2013.
Kestrel		Small numbers seen on Mull and North Uist.
Merlin		Two on South Uist on 28/07/2013, and one from the campsite at Balranald, North Uist on 29/07/2013.
Peregrine		One from campsite at Craignure, Mull 20/07/22013.
Corncrake		One calling next to Iona abbey 22/07/2013, one calling on Staffa on 23/07/2013 and at least five birds calling at Balranald, North Uist, including three calling all night right next to the tent 28 & 29/07/2013!
Oystercatcher		Very common around all coasts.
Ringed Plover		Small numbers on most beaches on the Outer Hebrides.
Golden Plover		20 on Mull on 22/07/2013 and 40 on Berneray on 29/07/2013.
Lapwing		Fairly common on Outer Hebrides.
Knot		Two in summer plumage on the beach at Balranald 28/07/2013.
Sanderling		100 on the beach at Berneray on 29/07/2013, small numbers elsewhere in the Outer Hebrides.
Dunlin		Up to 200 on the beach at Balranald, North Uist. Small numbers elsewhere.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper		I found an adult in summer plumage on Berneray with Golden Plovers on 29/07/2013.
Turnstone		Several at Balranald 28 & 29/07/2013.
Snipe		Several at Balranald 28 & 29/07/2013.
Black-tailed Godwit		Eight at Balranald 29/07/2013.
Bar-tailed Godwit		40 on the beach at Balranald, North Uist 29/07/2013.
Whimbrel		One calling from the beach at Balranald 29/07/2013.
Curlew		50 at Loch Scridain, Mull on 21/07/2013, and 20 at Balranald on 29/07/2013. Small numbers elsewhere.
Redshank		Fairly common along , most coasts.
Greenshank		One on Mull24/07/22013 and one flew over the campsite at Balranald, 29/07/2013.
Common Sandpiper		Fairly common around most coastlines.
Arctic Skua		One on the sea at Lunga, Treshnish Isles 23/07/2013.
Great Skua		Low numbers seen on most ferry crossings. Two at Lunga on 23/07/2013 and two flying along the cliffs at Staffin, Skye 26/07/2013.
Black-headed Gull		Mainly on Mull in small numbers.
Common Gull		Perhaps the commonest gull, especially inland.
Lesser Black-backed Gull		Two at the campsite at Craignure, Mull.
Great Black-backed Gull		Common at coastal site in small numbers.
Herring Gull		Common at coastal sites.
Kittiwake		Common at sea and pairs breeding on Lunga.
Common Tern		A family party of two adults and two juveniles  in the Sound of Harris 30/07/2013.
Arctic Tern		Small numbers around various coastal sites, most numerous in the Sound of Harris and at Lerverburgh, Harris.
Guillemot		Very common on the sea on most ferry crossings. Up to 6000 pairs on Lunga, Treshnish Isles, 23/07/2013.
Razorbill		Common on the sea on most ferry crossings, perhaps up to 500 pairs on Lunga 23/07/2013.
Black Guillimot		Common in small numbers around the coasts, especially around harbours (e.g. Uig, Tarbet, Loch Maddy, Berneray).
Puffin		Common on the sea on most ferry crossings, with up to 2000 pairs on Lunga, Treshnish Isles 23/07/2013.
Rock Dove		One on Lunga 23/07/2013 and two at the Quiraing, Skye 26/07/2013.
Woodpigeon		Present in small numbers, especially Mull.
Collared Dove		Present in small numbers, especially Mull.
Tawny Owl		One hooting near the campsite at Craignure, Mull.
Short-eared Owl		Three seen on North Uist 29/07/2013.
Swift		A few seen on Mull.
Skylark		Two at Balranald, North Uist 29/07/2013.
Sand Martin		16 on Iona 22/07/2013.
House Martin		Small numbers seen throughout.
Swallow		Small numbers seen throughout. Breeding on the campsite at Craignure, Mull.
Meadow Pipit		Common everywhere.
Rock Pipit		Common around rocky coasts.
Pied Wagtail		Small numbers seen throughout.
Wren		Two on Lunga on 23/07/22013 and one on Berneray, 29/07/2013.
Dunnock		One at the campsite at Craignure, Mull.
Robin		A few on the campsite on Mull.
Stonechat		Small numbers seen throughout, especially on the Outer Herbides.
Wheatear		Common in small numbers everywhere.
Blackbird		A few at the campsite on Mull.
Song Thrush		A few at the campsite on Mull.
Mistle Thrush		One at the campsite on Mull.
Sedge Warbler		Several singing on Iona 22/07/2013.
Whitethroat		Several on Ulva 21/07/2013.
Chiffchaff		Small numbers throughout, especially at the campsite at Glen Brittle, Skye.
Willow Warbler		Small numbers throughout.
Goldcrest		Two singing at the campsite at Portree, Skye.
Blue Tit		Small numbers throughout.
Great Tit		Small numbers throughout.
Jackdaw		A few at the campsite at Portree, Skye.
Rook		A few at the campsite at Portree, Skye.
Hooded Crow		Common throughout.
Raven		Common in small numbers throughout.
Starling		Common throughout.
House Sparrow		Common throughout.
Chaffinch		A few seen throughout.
Goldfinch		A few on the campsite at Craignure, Mull.
Siskin		A few on the campsite at Craignure, Mull.
Twite		Small numbers seen on Ulva, Eriskay and Skye, with 30 at Balranald, North Uist 29/07/2013.
Lesser Redpoll		A few at the campsite on Mull.
Bullfinch		Two seen on the campsite at Portree, Skye.
Yellowhammer		One on Mull.
Corn Bunting		Up to 5 singing at Balranald, North Uist.

Adult White-tailed Eagle, Mull.

Adult and juvenile White-tailed Eagle, Mull. Magnificent birds, we saw these on our first day on Mull and I expected to see a few more, but they were the only Sea Eagles we saw in the holiday.

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle, Mull.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper with Golden Plover, Berneray. I was delighted with this find. I was scanning through a flock of Golden Plover feeding on the machair, when suddenly I saw a small wader walking amongst them. I knew what it was straight away, but wanted to get the scope on it just to be 100% certain. It was a fantastic bird, this and Pectoral Sandpiper are amongst my favourites of all waders.

I didn't think it could get any better than this, but the following day it did! We were on the Tarbet to Uig ferry, and I spotted a large shearwater fairly close to the boat. I could hardly believe it when I saw that it had a dark cap, and its upperwings were mid brown, with noticeably darker brown primaries. My first ever Great Shearwater!



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