Bruce Taylor

Day 3 for the Bonaparte's Gull on Barra. It's very much a loner, shunning local foraging flocks of gulls but continuing to give incredible close views from time to time. #birdingscotland #RareBirdsUK

A Merlin looking for its next meal from a chimney on rainy Vatersay this afternoon. #birdingscotland

The Bonaparte's Gull was still roaming around the west side of Barra today, again often foraging along or near to the road. Also the Surf Scoter was still in Vatersay Bay and the Velvet Scoter was still off Ardmhor. #birdingscotland #RareBirdsUK

I don't think it's either of those things. We occasionally get 1w BHG doing this, but most local birds have more sense! It seems odd to get 2 consecutive N.American species both doing it.

Just like the Franklin's in November, today's Bonaparte's Gull on Barra seemed a bit too keen to spend time in the road, causing a few heart-stopping moments when cars passed. Here's a shot through our windscreen as it dropped in front of us briefly at Allasdale. #birdingscotland #RareBirdsUK

A dinky gull feeding near the road at Borve had us doing an emergency stop this morning: a fabulous adult Bonaparte's Gull giving incredible views. Only the second record for Barra and my third self-found. #birdingscotland #RareBirdsUK

It's been a wet and breezy day on Barra but signs of spring are getting stronger. Our first migrant Whooper Swans and Lesser Black-backed Gulls arriving from the south, Oystercatchers everywhere and Ringed Plovers busy displaying on the beach. #birdingscotland

Slightly milder conditions over the weekend encouraged the Firecrest we last saw in November to resurface again in the same spot at Nask. Of the 7 Barra records this is the first one to over-winter here. Maybe the shape of things to come... #birdingscotland

Greenshank on a raft of seaweed, one of around 8 wintering on Barra this year. Not long now until they leave here for the breeding season. #birdingscotland

Had similar issues with a wintering CR Curlew here a few years back. Eventually got close enough to photograph the metal ring and traced it via the BTO code back to a scheme in Aberdeenshire. Turns out it had lost/damaged a coded cr! Good luck tracing you bird.

***SBRC BIRDERS CONFERENCE*** you’ve got until Thursday to register for the free online birders conference which starts next week. For full details of talks check out the SOC website: the-soc.org.uk/pages/sbrc-onl…

Yes, very sad and concerning too that it's happening on both sides of the Atlantic.

No I don't think that's the case. It's more likely to do with the persistent strong winds of recent weeks reducing their ability to feed.

Consensus seems to be that it's weather related, though I've reported these to Defra for possible testing.

It seems very widespread, even happening in Cornwall apparently.

All bar one of ours have been adult.

Indeed!

Finding more dead seabirds than usual on east facing Barra/Vatersay beaches in the past week, perhaps due to prolonged poor weather. Puffins in particular seem to be taking a big hit with 15 corpses on the small sections of coast we've checked. All reported to Birdtrack and Defra. #birdingscotland

Haven't got one yet Jon, but we're looking!

Cool! Thanks for flagging this up. New search image acquired...

Glorious sunny, calm conditions at Eoligarry this morning. 6 Snow Buntings were foraging on the beach, the Surf Scoter and Velvet Scoter were offshore along with 3 Slavonian Grebes. Oystercatcher numbers are increasing around the island; the first sign of spring migration here. #birdingscotland

Birding around Ardmhor this afternoon. On one side of the road the wintering drake Green-winged Teal was still down in the creek, on the other side the young drake Surf Scoter was visible distantly in the Sound of Barra alongside a young Velvet Scoter. #birdingscotland

A couple of White-tails perched near the road, gazing out to sea yesterday. Good to be back home on Barra after a couple of weeks away. #birdingscotland

A couple of hours in the field today produced the two wintering Surf Scoters (1 Vatersay Bay, 1 distantly off Ardmhor) plus an adult Glaucous Gull at Borve and a Grey Wagtail still surviving the winter at Brevig. #birdingscotland

Yep, an event that's etched on my memory for evermore!

A grubby Glaucous Gull at Traigh Mhor this afternoon. I dread to think what it's been feeding on to get in that state, though extra mature seal carcasses are a firm favourite for this species on Barra. #birdingscotland

A dusky juvenile Iceland Gull on Vatersay today was our first in almost a year. An hour later we picked up a second juv in more advanced plumage nearby. Coming just 2 days after the Glaucous Gull, it's starting to look like a better winter here for white-wingers. #birdingscotland

A lone Tree Sparrow in a sparrow flock foraging for seeds among the hay at Eoligarry today. Only the second time I've recorded Tree Sparrow wintering on Barra in the past ten years. #birdingscotland

Yes indeed. Notice how the Great Black-backs are hiding behind each other!

Quality!