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Bird Sightings : Hebrides : Lapland Bunting

 

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Longspur

Calcatius lapponicus

Photograph by David Knowles
Brenish - Isle of Lewis - Outer Hebrides (Western Isles)
15th April, 2011

"Reckon I just found a Lapland Bunting in the garden at Breanish. Single male so far. Took lots of photos.
Can you confirm?"

Martin Scott confirmed it was a Lapland bunting...
"Certainly a male moulting into breeding (summer) plumage. A bit of a flurry of Lapland Buntings at the moment. Odd ones dotted all down the coast and small flocks at Ness and Balranald."

Brian Rabbitts wrote:
"A nice photo and a good bird to get in the garden. Last autumn there was an unprecedented influx of Lapland Buntings and perhaps not surprising a record passage this spring. These birds are making their way back to Greenland (they are one of the commonest passerines in the Arctic tundra). In spring we usually get a few but this year there have been exceptional numbers with the largest flock being 15. "

 

• Lapland Bunting (AKA Lapland Longspur)
• Calcatius lapponicus
• UK: Scarce breeder, passage - winter visitor
• UK: 350 birds (winter) Arrives September - October, leaves by May BTO
• WI: Scarce passage migrant (very small numbers recorded in most years)
• Breeds: Arctic Europe, Asia, Canada, North America. Birch, willow, bare mountains areas
• Winters: South to Central Europe, Central Asia, South America, cultivated land or coasts, wet meadows
• Chunky yellow seed-eater bill. Winter males: very noticeable black crown, face & throat. White eyestripe. Chestnut nape. White below. Heavily streaked black-grey back. Mixed species flocks.
• Diet: seeds (summer invertebrates)
• Listen to a Lapland Bunting - RSPB site

 

 

Lapland Bunting records in the Western Isles

Scarce passage migrant (very small numbers recorded in most years)

 

The chart below shows how abundant the Lapland Bunting is during a month or when you are more likely to see it.

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D

(Source: Outer Hebrides Birds Checklist)

 

Other local bird photographs

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