Bruce Taylor
@barrabirder.bsky.social
Birder, beachcomber and all round naturalist living on the Isle of Barra, Outer Hebrides.
At least 6 Long-tailed Tits at Ardmhor today, already 5 weeks into their stay on Barra and looking likely to stick around over winter. These autumn influxes seem to be increasing and it's perhaps just a matter of time until they become resident here. #BirdingScotland
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
At least 6 Long-tailed Tits at Ardmhor today, already 5 weeks into their stay on Barra and looking likely to stick around over winter. These autumn influxes seem to be increasing and it's perhaps just a matter of time until they become resident here. #BirdingScotland
It's nearly 18 yrs since I found a Franklin's Gull at Torr Res, Somerset. Back then I spent 100s/hrs yearly scanning gulls at the res, landfill and fields. Today's Vatersay bird was easier, landing on the road in front of us as we headed for the beach...to go check the gulls. #BirdingScotland
November 23, 2025 at 6:51 PM
It's nearly 18 yrs since I found a Franklin's Gull at Torr Res, Somerset. Back then I spent 100s/hrs yearly scanning gulls at the res, landfill and fields. Today's Vatersay bird was easier, landing on the road in front of us as we headed for the beach...to go check the gulls. #BirdingScotland
Just when we thought autumn was done, birding would be quieter and that was that, this vision of larid loveliness landed in the road in front of us! A cracking adult Franklin's Gull, the first record for Vatersay. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
November 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Just when we thought autumn was done, birding would be quieter and that was that, this vision of larid loveliness landed in the road in front of us! A cracking adult Franklin's Gull, the first record for Vatersay. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
A handsome drake Goldeneye on Loch an Duin today; we only get 2-3 on Barra most years, November being the peak month. Also, after a few days' absence from Eoligarry, I relocated the Surf Scoter round the corner at Ardmhor today. Maybe it'll winter here! #BirdingScotland
November 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A handsome drake Goldeneye on Loch an Duin today; we only get 2-3 on Barra most years, November being the peak month. Also, after a few days' absence from Eoligarry, I relocated the Surf Scoter round the corner at Ardmhor today. Maybe it'll winter here! #BirdingScotland
Wintering flocks of Long-tailed Ducks off Barra seem a little later in building up this year; there were c80 off Allasdale today. Our unexpected highlight of the day was 2 Grey Phalaropes struggling into a northerly gale past Brevig late afternoon. #BirdingScotland
November 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Wintering flocks of Long-tailed Ducks off Barra seem a little later in building up this year; there were c80 off Allasdale today. Our unexpected highlight of the day was 2 Grey Phalaropes struggling into a northerly gale past Brevig late afternoon. #BirdingScotland
Lovely view of this Hen Harrier perched beside the road this morning. Late autumn is a great time to see these fabulous birds on Barra: we've had 5-6 sightings most days lately. #BirdingScotland
November 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Lovely view of this Hen Harrier perched beside the road this morning. Late autumn is a great time to see these fabulous birds on Barra: we've had 5-6 sightings most days lately. #BirdingScotland
The Firecrest popped up at Nask again today, our first sighting for a few days. With plenty of cover, fair chance it may overwinter on Barra. Also today Surf Scoter still off Eoligarry, Siberian Chiffchaff at Castlebay and Scaup on L.Tangasdale. #BirdingScotland #Birds
November 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The Firecrest popped up at Nask again today, our first sighting for a few days. With plenty of cover, fair chance it may overwinter on Barra. Also today Surf Scoter still off Eoligarry, Siberian Chiffchaff at Castlebay and Scaup on L.Tangasdale. #BirdingScotland #Birds
More birds on the move over Barra today including these Greenland White-fronted Geese coming in off the sea and pressing on to the south at Cleat plus 15 Snow Buntings heading north past Brevig, my first house tick (153) in over a year. #BirdingScotland
November 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
More birds on the move over Barra today including these Greenland White-fronted Geese coming in off the sea and pressing on to the south at Cleat plus 15 Snow Buntings heading north past Brevig, my first house tick (153) in over a year. #BirdingScotland
Picked up as a speck in the scope heading north over the sea 2 miles west of Barra this afternoon, this family of Whooper Swans struggled to make progress into the strong headwind, deciding after 20 minutes to come in and ride out the weather in the bay below Grean Head. #BirdingScotland
November 12, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Picked up as a speck in the scope heading north over the sea 2 miles west of Barra this afternoon, this family of Whooper Swans struggled to make progress into the strong headwind, deciding after 20 minutes to come in and ride out the weather in the bay below Grean Head. #BirdingScotland
Bumped into our 3rd Surf Scoter of the year at Eoligarry today: for context, we've only had 2 others in the preceding decade. Also today the adult Little Gull was still at Eoligarry and the Firecrest remained at Nask. #BirdingScotland
November 10, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Bumped into our 3rd Surf Scoter of the year at Eoligarry today: for context, we've only had 2 others in the preceding decade. Also today the adult Little Gull was still at Eoligarry and the Firecrest remained at Nask. #BirdingScotland
First dry day in a while, unseasonably mild and an increase in migrants on Barra. As well as the Firecrest, 1 possibly 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, double figures of Blackcaps, 4+ Woodcock, 2 Grey Wagtail and hundreds of Redwings around the island. Autumn's not over yet! #BirdingScotland
November 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
First dry day in a while, unseasonably mild and an increase in migrants on Barra. As well as the Firecrest, 1 possibly 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs, double figures of Blackcaps, 4+ Woodcock, 2 Grey Wagtail and hundreds of Redwings around the island. Autumn's not over yet! #BirdingScotland
Kathy found this lovely showy Firecrest at Nask this morning, only the 7th Barra record with most occurring in late autumn. One of my favourite birds. #BirdingScotland #Birds
November 8, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Kathy found this lovely showy Firecrest at Nask this morning, only the 7th Barra record with most occurring in late autumn. One of my favourite birds. #BirdingScotland #Birds
A 3 second flight view of a small duck flying over Morghan this morning set alarm bells ringing. 90 minutes of frantic searching ended when I found Barra's 1st BUFFLEHEAD on a tiny loch in the Dark Glen. Unringed and flighty, it flew off west at 12.12pm. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
November 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
A 3 second flight view of a small duck flying over Morghan this morning set alarm bells ringing. 90 minutes of frantic searching ended when I found Barra's 1st BUFFLEHEAD on a tiny loch in the Dark Glen. Unringed and flighty, it flew off west at 12.12pm. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
The returning drake Green-winged Teal was taking a seaweed bath at Ardmhor this morning, its 6th winter on Barra. It probably won't go far between now and March. #BirdingScotland
November 1, 2025 at 6:37 PM
The returning drake Green-winged Teal was taking a seaweed bath at Ardmhor this morning, its 6th winter on Barra. It probably won't go far between now and March. #BirdingScotland
Siberian Chiffchaff giving point-blank views at Castlebay again today, one of my favourite late autumn migrants on Barra. #BirdingScotland
November 1, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Siberian Chiffchaff giving point-blank views at Castlebay again today, one of my favourite late autumn migrants on Barra. #BirdingScotland
Wild overnight weather grounded 5 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Eoligarry and at least 70 Whooper Swans around Barra. A Puffin standing in the road by the airport was a surprise, but the lingering Siberian Chiffchaff at Castlebay was less unexpected. #BirdingScotland
October 31, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Wild overnight weather grounded 5 Greenland White-fronted Geese at Eoligarry and at least 70 Whooper Swans around Barra. A Puffin standing in the road by the airport was a surprise, but the lingering Siberian Chiffchaff at Castlebay was less unexpected. #BirdingScotland
A nice little arrival of migrants on Barra today including another Red-breasted Flycatcher at Creachan plus our first Siberian Chiffchaff of the autumn at Castlebay along with a Waxwing and a Rook! #BirdingScotland
October 29, 2025 at 5:09 PM
A nice little arrival of migrants on Barra today including another Red-breasted Flycatcher at Creachan plus our first Siberian Chiffchaff of the autumn at Castlebay along with a Waxwing and a Rook! #BirdingScotland
Surprised to see 2 Sandwich Terns at Eoligarry today, the latest I've seen this species on Barra by some margin. #BirdingScotland
October 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Surprised to see 2 Sandwich Terns at Eoligarry today, the latest I've seen this species on Barra by some margin. #BirdingScotland
Bang on cue Barra's first Waxwing of the autumn dropped in at Nask this morning. Hopefully more of these to come. #BirdingScotland
October 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Bang on cue Barra's first Waxwing of the autumn dropped in at Nask this morning. Hopefully more of these to come. #BirdingScotland
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
October 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
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
A Triggerfish washed up on the west coast of Barra today, a new species for me. They're occurring more frequently off the west coast of Scotland as their range expands northwards with warming oceans. #Beachcombing
October 23, 2025 at 4:47 PM
A Triggerfish washed up on the west coast of Barra today, a new species for me. They're occurring more frequently off the west coast of Scotland as their range expands northwards with warming oceans. #Beachcombing
The Surf Scoter was still hanging out with 5 Common Scoters off Vatersay today and looking settled. Another pulse of Whooper Swans pushed south over Barra this morning and at least 10 Long-tailed Tits spread over 3 sites were our highlights of the day. #BirdingScotland
October 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
The Surf Scoter was still hanging out with 5 Common Scoters off Vatersay today and looking settled. Another pulse of Whooper Swans pushed south over Barra this morning and at least 10 Long-tailed Tits spread over 3 sites were our highlights of the day. #BirdingScotland
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
October 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
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
We've seen more Common Scoters around than usual this autumn including a flock of 5 lingering off West Beach, Vatersay. A cursory scan today revealed a 6th bird with a chunkier head and bill: a young Surf Scoter, the second we've found on Vatersay this year. #BirdingScotland
October 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
We've seen more Common Scoters around than usual this autumn including a flock of 5 lingering off West Beach, Vatersay. A cursory scan today revealed a 6th bird with a chunkier head and bill: a young Surf Scoter, the second we've found on Vatersay this year. #BirdingScotland
Another shot of today's Blackpoll on Barra. We were watching a Lesser Whitethroat when a big pair of wing-bars appeared in the same bush! 10 minutes of shock and awe followed as it bounced about the garden. Then it was gone with no further sign by late pm. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK
October 16, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Another shot of today's Blackpoll on Barra. We were watching a Lesser Whitethroat when a big pair of wing-bars appeared in the same bush! 10 minutes of shock and awe followed as it bounced about the garden. Then it was gone with no further sign by late pm. #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUK