I didn’t want to waste the clear night last night so set up to take a photo of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) It is situated about 31 million light years away. This is a stacked image of 642 photos and I will add more when we get another clear night.

Brilliant days birding around Oukaimeden today. Crimson-winged Finch was the obvious highlight but having Shore Lark running around your feet and both species of Chough in huge numbers. Rock Sparrows all over the place (still hurts)

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.

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)

A different colour ringed Barnacle Goose emerged from the ‘pack’ on the Borve machair today. Blue Z4 I think. @stevepercival.bsky.social Also the Green-winged Teal still at Ardmhor #ukbirding #barrabirding

The lowest reading on the Barometer I have personally seen and after the roar of Storm Èowyn for the past few hours an eerie silence has descended as Èowyn takes a deep breath as she passes somewhere close to us

With thanks to @stevepercival.bsky.social

For those who like to play detective. A couple of ringed Barnies on Borve machair this morning. #ukbirding #barrabirding

After a cold week it was good to see the wintering European Turtle Dove still surviving and apparently getting plenty of food around the Horve area of Castlebay this morning. #ukbirding #barrabirding

After a few icy but sunny days it was back to a typical wet and windy day. The surprisingly elusive Green-winged Teal however, appears to have joined the main group of Eurasian Teal at Ardmhor #ukbirding #barrabirding

After an icy morning making travelling a little awkward I decided venture out to Traigh Mhòr this afternoon. Really pleased I did as this Glaucous Gull dropped in late afternoon. #ukbirding #barrabirding

Good calm birding day. Caught up for the year with the wintering Turtle Dove at Glenn. Little Gull off Eoligarry and the GW Teal at Ardmhor. A Velvet Scoter & 2 BT Diver off Ardmhor FT. Yesterday a Purple Sandpiper at Cleat. I’m from Birmingham and still get excited by them. #ukbirding #barrabirding

From about 40 minutes ago but it seems to have gone for now. From Bolnabodach looking north

It is always great to see Otters but usually they just seem to melt away. Not so today as this one was enjoying a light snack at Eoligarry and was oblivious to my presence. Also a Kestrel at Glenn had me wondering if I had seen one in December on Barra before. #ukbirding #barrabirding

After returning from the mainland I was told that a non-birder had claimed seeing the European Turtle Dove. I had given up hope seeing it despite hours looking. This morning as I went past Glenn it was sitting in the gnome garden! Also the Little Gull off Eoligarry jetty pm #ukbirding #barrabirding

First proper look around since getting back from the mainland and having a break in the weather. F. Goldeneye on Tangusdale and at least 1 Chiff-chaff (collybita) at the pitch. This Green-winged Teal was near the ferry terminal at Ardmhor. #barrabirding #ukbirding

The Turtle Dove again in Horve, Castlebay this morning. Also an interesting looking Lesser Whitethroat still in Creachan also a Yellow-browed Warbler. #ukbirding #Barrabirding

Oops, I forgot hashtags the first time round. Juv Pallid Swift, Tiumpan Head, Isle of Lewis, this afternoon. Still present just before dusk. #BirdingScotland #UKbirding

After this morning’s excitement an afternoon stroll around the football pitch produced the European Turtle Dove and a male Blackcap #ukbirding #barrabirding

Large numbers of Great Shearwater past Bolnabodach and Brevig 1000-1030. Around 500 birds heading south. Nice house tick. #ukbirding #barrabirding #seabirds

A momentary rush of adrenaline as a hirundine flew over the pitch. Very quickly identified as a Barn Swallow but I don’t see many this late up here. Presumably it will be considering its life choice. Also 2 Blackcaps. Intentional slow motion video #ukbirding # barrabirding

When I heard about a Turtle Dove spp this afternoon I thought ‘Hello, interesting time of the year.’ Fortunately I have a very understanding boss who just lets me go. It was showing well on arrival but thoughts of something a bit rarer soon vanished. But always a good bird #barrabirding #ukbirding

Very late to the party but this is the first clear night we have had for over a week. But a fading comet C/2023 A3 from the garden this evening just before it started to rain (again) Another quiet birding day with YB Warbler still at the Manse and a swallow over Bolnabodach #ukbirding #barrabirding

I have found photographing Yellow-browed Warbler difficult this year. This one was at the pitch today 1 of 5 here. Still very quiet with Barred, Willow and Blackcap noted. Also Brambling. Finally saw comet C/2023 A3 in breaks in the clouds this evening but all too briefly #ukbirding #barrabirding