Red-eyed vireo, Castlebay, Barra

Around 10 days ago Barra experienced an unprecedented fall of North American passerines, with eight individuals present, of three different species. Philadelphia vireo, two Tennessee warblers and five red-eyed vireos! 

For those of us who were imminently about to visit the island for a two week birding holiday this was a difficult time because it happened just a little too early. If it had happened a couple of days before we were due to travel we might have hoped that surely something will stay until we arrive, but 10 days is asking a lot. 

However, a single red-eyed vireo stuck it out in the woods around the football pitch at Castlebay and today showed exceptionally well in good light.

I don't have a great record with North American passerines and this was a UK tick for me. Later in the day the Philadelphia vireo was seen again on a couple of occasions in the same area, but we failed to connect with it. Hopefully one for tomorrow.

What a fabulous bird this is though, that grey cap contrasts nicely with the olive green upperparts.

Earlier in the day we found this 1st winter pied flycatcher at Nask, which amazingly is a new bird for my Scottish list.

Fleeting glimpses of various bits of this warbler set the pulse racing for a bit at Creachan wood but ultimately we couldn't turn it into anything other than a garden warbler. 

The red-eyed vireo was in these bushes.

Our cottage.