Ian Ricketts

The adult Bonaparte’s Gull taking a rest outside the Isle of Barra Hotel this afternoon

I came out of a manual handling training course this lunchtime, (a fabulous way to spend any morning) to news of an adult Bonaparte’s Gull. I managed to catch up with it on Cleat beach and just before a Buzzard flushed it and it flew towards the centre of the island

An unexpected clear spell tonight and another go at photographing the Orion Nebula. 582 stacked photos with the Seestar 50 over 97 minutes

When I drive around the island I get sheep in the road. Others though get Franklin’s Gull blocking their way. Vatersay, Caolas this afternoon

A couple of horrible phone scoped images of the Surf Scoter off Eoligarry late this afternoon in the gathering gloom of cool and windy November day. Also GW Teal at Ardmhor and at least 1 Siberian Chiff-Chaff at the pitch before work this morning

Firecrest at Nasg this afternoon. Only the 2nd one I have seen on Barra

A few nights up in Stornoway. So took advantage to see the Ring-necked Duck at Loch an t-Siúmpain. Still in hope of seeing another American duck later this week

A Bohemian Waxwing at Nasg this morning. A highlight of any day

The first time I have seen Teal in a while but there was a small number, distantly at Ardmhor this afternoon. A look through and I picked out this Green-winged Teal which I assume is the same bird now back for its 6th winter

A very wet, grey blustery day but a call about a Curlew Sandpiper at Cleat had me scampering to the car. Finally, my Barra bogey bird was in front of me. The light conditions made it look more monochrome than what it really was

One of those days birds were just dropping in. Late this afternoon I found this Red-backed Shrike at Nasg, a place that had been checked numerous times today. Also 10 Crossbill briefly at Creachan. The RB Fly was showing well at the pitch and another RB Fly at the gnome garden

Red-breasted Flycathcer at the pitch, Castlebay this morning. Always a delight to see one of these

Treecreeper on Barra this morning kidding on it was something else

A day of widely different emotions. Firstly the elation of finding a Red-eyed Vireo at Nasg. A self found tick and my 6th on Barra. But then the frustration of it disappearing before anyone else saw it and no photo of it. Ugh! Also YB Warbler at the pitch and treecreeper Nasg

It’s been a few years since I last saw a Pintail on Barra so I was pleased to see this individual. A Common Scoter is still around the marina and a House Martin around Leanish was about as exciting as it got for me today

With thanks to @coldav1.bsky.social and @rayb126.bsky.social My first one on Barra and timed perfectly for when I left work this afternoon

Always good to see American Golden Plover and caught up with this one after work just north of Barra airport.

I think my first were the ones around Radipole around 81 or maybe Copperhouse creek

Thanks Pete. I was only having a similar conversation earlier about how easy they were when we started.

Delighted to find the ad Ring-billed Gull very close on the shore at Cleat, Isle of Barra this evening. The first I have seen on Barra itself having seen one on Vatersay a few years ago. Also an overdue self found tick.

Missed by seconds Fri, soaked twice, fed midges three times. Fell off boardwalk. Saturday arrived 0545 to 0745, soaked and fed midges. Then 11-1. Fed midges. Gave up birding. Considered therapy. Phone call at 1615 and Collared Fly finally seen 5 minutes later. Fed midges.

A Reed Warbler singing briefly here in the Manse and occasionally being seen this morning. Only my third one here. In fact I have seen more Blyth’s Reed Warbler on Barra. The Hawfinch was again seen in Ardveenish but no sign of yesterdays Bee-eater.

A little bit of shaky phone scope video of the Bee-eater today

Oriole birding group found European Bee-eater at Creachan this afternoon but it flew off towards Castlebay. After a search of about an hour I relocated it from the same garden at Cobhair Bharraigh, where I found one last year whilst at work! All phone scope as my camera battery ran out. Rookie error

A pain in the neck but after almost four hours it finally gave itself up.

Peek-a-boo day with a Hawfinch in a private garden in Ardveenish and a Corncrake in Eoligarry

I was just checking the beach at Cleat when I noticed a dead whale off shore drifting into the bay and later beached itself on the rocks. We think freshly deceased, no obvious injuries and quite a bit of blood going into the sea. Minke is the consensus of opinion RIP.

Off the island for a week so I was very happy the Black Redstart just down the road stayed overnight. Only my second one here, the first being on Vatersay a couple of years ago. #ukbirding #Barrabirding

At least three Orcas heading north past Bolnabodach, Isle of Barra 1709-1720. Too distant to get a photo but an impressive sight through the scope

Here's it's history, ringed Iceland July '23, wintered on Islay 23-24 but has moved up to Barra this winter (yours is the first 24-25 sighting)