Isle of Lewis bird calendar

Most sightings of Glaucous Gull are recorded this time of year. Juveniles can potentially be seen year-round (non-breeding), but typically a late-winter visitor. A good place to see one is Stornoway harbour.

Iceland Gull can possibly be seen on the Isle of Lewis soon. A good place to see one is Stornoway harbour.

Most sightings of Bar-tailed Godwit are recorded this time of year. While some non-breeding juveniles can be seen throughout the year, the arctic breeders arrive in late summer and spend the winter on our coasts. Good places to see one are Loch Barvas or Loch Ordais / Bragar.

Brambling are most commonly seen this time of year. Winter visitor

Glaucous Gull will be arriving soon. Juveniles can potentially be seen year-round (non-breeding), but typically a late-winter visitor. A good place to see one is Stornoway harbour.

Check out the latest BTO Migblog at https://www.bto.org/our-work/news/blog/migblog/05-dec-2025. While not specific to the Western Isles, it's always a good read for the bigger picture.

Most sightings of Long-tailed Duck are recorded this time of year. Common winter visitor. A good place to see one is Broad Bay.

Horned Grebe are most commonly seen this time of year. Winter visitor

Snow Bunting are most commonly seen this time of year. A good place to see one is Butt of Lewis.

Most sightings of Common Goldeneye are recorded this time of year. Winter visitor on Lewis, not all that common. A good place to see one is Loch Ordais / Bragar.

Check out the latest BTO Migblog at https://www.bto.org/our-work/news/blog/migblog/31-oct-2025. While not specific to the Western Isles, it's always a good read for the bigger picture.

Bohemian Waxwing will be heading South soon. Scarce, but some years see irruptions with larger numbers A good place to see one is Lews Castle Grounds.

Curlew Sandpiper will be leaving soon. Peak counts in spring are around 5, whereas in autumn they can reach more than 20. Good places to see one are Loch Ordais / Bragar or Sands of Tong.

Yellow-billed Loon will be arriving soon. Also known as white-billed diver. Moults off the north-east coast of the island. Good places to see one are Butt of Lewis or Tiumpan Head.

Common Linnet will be arriving soon. Some linnets spend the winter on Lewis, but they are uncommon in the summer. Numbers seem to be increasing, though.

Common Goldeneye can be seen on the Isle of Lewis soon. Winter visitor on Lewis, not all that common. A good place to see one is Loch Ordais / Bragar.

Ring Ouzel will be heading South soon. Rare autumn visitor with only about a dozen records for Lewis.

Last chance to see a Sooty Shearwater. They breed in the South Atlantic, then migrate clockwise up the western Atlantic in spring, spend the summer in the northern Atlantic and in autumn move past the UK back to the southern hemisphere. A good place to see one is Butt of Lewis.

White-rumped Sandpiper will be heading South soon. Very rare visitor to Lewis, mainly after westerlies disrupting the migration along the North-American east coast. Good places to see one are Butt of Lewis or Loch Ordais / Bragar.

Best chances to see Bohemian Waxwing is in the next few weeks. Scarce, but some years see irruptions with larger numbers A good place to see one is Lews Castle Grounds.

Whinchat will be heading South soon. Spring and autumn passage migrant.

Pectoral Sandpiper will be leaving soon. Small numbers in autumn, rarely seen in spring. A good place to see one is Loch Ordais / Bragar.

Ruff will be arriving soon. Often seen together with golden plover on the machair. A good place to see one is Loch Stiapabhat.

Bohemian Waxwing can possibly be seen on the Isle of Lewis soon. Scarce, but some years see irruptions with larger numbers A good place to see one is Lews Castle Grounds.

Purple Sandpiper can be seen on the Isle of Lewis soon. A common winter visitor, rarely seen during the summer. Good places to see one are Loch Ordais / Bragar or Port of Ness.

Great Northern Diver will be arriving soon. Mainly a winter visitor, with a few birds spending the summer. Good places to see one are Loch Ordais / Bragar, Port of Ness or Tiumpan Head.

Best chances to see Ring Ouzel is in the next few weeks. Rare autumn visitor with only about a dozen records for Lewis.

Most sightings of White-rumped Sandpiper are recorded this time of year. Very rare visitor to Lewis, mainly after westerlies disrupting the migration along the North-American east coast. Good places to see one are Butt of Lewis or Loch Ordais / Bragar.

Best chances to see Red-necked Grebe is in the next few weeks. Passage migrant, rather scarce winter visitor.

Last chance to see a Yellow-browed Warbler. Scarce autumn passage migrant.