Barra & Vatersay Outdoor Ranger Service

Surprised to see 2 Sandwich Terns at Eoligarry today, the latest I've seen this species on Barra by some margin. #BirdingScotland

On a windy Sunday last week Steve, Bruce and Kathy did an excellent job of cleaning Bagh nan Clach, Scurrival. 26kg was collected. Mostly plastic but also 20plus gun cartridges and a piece of carpet. Another great job done! THANK YOU.

There will be no shoreline clean this weekend #isleofbarra

Good to see the regular wintering Little Gull at Traigh Mhor for the past few days, back for its 4th successive winter around the Sound of Barra. #BirdingScotland

When you see Seals or Seal pups on the beach then please follow the 5 S's.

Keep dogs on leads and do not approach.

This Sunday, Scurrival at 2pm - remember the clocks go back!

A big shoreline clean this week. On Friday, Steve went out to Traigh Bharlais and collected 66kg of rubbish including this 22kg ball of rope. On Saturday, Steve & 4 volunteers collected an amazing 172kg including this 94kg plastic doughnut.
Well done everyone - smashing job!
#beachclean #vatersay

A thoroughly wet morning on Barra brightened considerably on seeing this Curlew Sandpiper at Cleat. Despite exceptionally good numbers of them on neighbouring islands this is only the second we've had this autumn on Barra, where it remains a very scarce visitor. #BirdingScotland

A Portuguese Man O' War on the west side of Vatersay today, slightly deflated and weather-beaten. It's the first we've seen for 3 years. #Beachcombing

Coal Tit at Northbay today, our first on Barra for nearly 2 years and the rarest bird on the island so far this week! #BirdingScotland

Hot on the heals of last week's Coconut, another transatlantic vagrant drift seed on Barra today, a Grey Nickarnut, the seed of a Caribbean leguminous shrub. #Beachcombing

Many thanks to the 7 volunteers who came along to the shoreline clean on Saturday at #Vatersay South Beach. An amazing 38kg was collected. Well done and thank you to all who took part. #CommunitySpirit #CommunityAction

Do come along and lend a hand tomorrow. Fresh air, friends and a nice walk.

Ranger Service is doing a beach clean at Vatersay South Beach this Saturday. Do come along and help - many hands make light work!

#communityaction #vatersay #beachclean

Many thanks to Clare who helped Steve this Sunday with the beach clean at Vatersay West. Only 12kg of marine plastic collected which is good as it shows that regualr cleanups are making a big difference to our environment.
#marineplastic #CommunityAction #beachclean #vatersay

Pintail is a barely annual visitor on Barra. Pleased to see one flying over Garrygall this morning , but surprised when it came back and landed in the road just in front of us! We stared at each other for a moment before it flew again, settling in the bay. #BirdingScotland #Birds

Location update: Shoreline Cleanup this Sunday at 2pm.
Meet at Vatersay Hall and cleaning the south end of Vatersay West Beach.

Do come along and help - all welcome and a great way to meet people and enjoy the outdoors.

#beachcleanup #marineplastic #marinepollution #vatersay #communityaction

Another great walk at Eoligarry yesterday afternoon in perfect weather. The high point was being watched over by 2 white-tailed eagles throughout the 2 hour stroll. Moss carder bees, red admiral butterflies and migrant wading birds kept us entertained.
#eoligarry #isleofbarra

Highlights of a blustery day on Barra included a Turtle Dove at Eoligarry this evening, a Great Shearwater heading north past Brevig this afternoon and about 40 Sooty Shearwaters heading the other way! #BirdingScotland #Birds

After 2 very wet and windy days, better weather revealed a few new migrants on Barra. Pick of the bunch was our 1st Barred Warbler of the autumn at Nask, absolutely not posing for photos, though this Spotted Flycatcher in the same spot clearly was! #BirdingScotland #Birds

A great nature walk at Eoligarry this afternoon in bright sunshine, the perfect antidote to the rough weather of previous days! The group saw a wide range of resident and migrant birds, a Moss Carder Bee, learned about Barra's Corncrakes, rare solitary bees and oil beetles! #naturewalk #isleofbarra

Lets hope the weather breaks and we are able to go a nice walk tomorrow. #isleofbarra #autumn

RESCHEDULED TO THURSDAY AS MORE CHANCE OF MISSING RAIN ☔️ SAME PLACE, SAME TIME.

Join Bruce, aka @barrabirder.bsky.social, on a nature walk at Eoligarry this Wednesday. It is a great chance for some excellent wildlife spotting.

Signup at @buthbharraigh.bsky.social

#naturewalk #isleofbarra #eoligarry

Total so far......

As we enter September we thought it would be a good time to update on the total of the shoreline cleans and community litter picks. Now over 2 tonne.
Many thanks to all the people who have volunteered their time to help.

#CommunityAction #isleofbarra #isleofvatersay

Another enjoyable guided walk on Vatersay yesterday afternoon. Lovely views of a golden eagle overhead, eiders in the bay, waders on the beach, flocks of twite feeding on seedheads on the crofts and even a glimpse of the late afternoon sun!
#naturewalks #isleofvatersay
#goldeneagles #autumnvibes

Our first migrant geese of the autumn on Barra today. 32 Pale-bellied Brents sheltered at Traigh Mhor and 49 settled on the stormy sea off Craigston, all adults. Must've had a hard journey flying into this gale. Also c35 Sooty Shears and a Pom Skua off Brevig. #BirdingScotland #Birds

Ruff is a regular visitor to Barra in small numbers at this time of year. This one was scampering about on the machair at Eoligarry this morning. Nearby a juvenile Little Gull was hanging out with the Common Terns on the airport beach. #BirdingScotland

Nice to look back at the nice weather we had - hopefully more nice days to come in September!

Our first nature walk in September is Tuesday 2nd, meeting at Vatersay Hall, 4pm. It's a great opporunity to explore the machair and beaches with the local expert, Bruce Taylor. To book reach us through social media or call 01871 817948, or go into Buth Bharraigh
#vatersay #naturewalks

Another very enjoyable nature walk at Eoligarry on Wednesday afternoon in lovely sunny conditions. Highlights included a perched White-tailed Eagle, a smart male Hen Harrier hunting over the crofts (photo) and a beautiful Short-eared Owl perched on a fence-post (photo). #naturewalk #isleofbarra