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Green-winged Teal

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Green-winged Teal breeds from northern Alaska, east across northern Canada to the Hudson Bay, Newfoundland, and Labrador, and south to Nevada, Colorado, central Nebraska, and the Maritime Provinces. It winters from British Columbia east to Rhode Island and south to the Caribbean and northern Central America. It also winters in Hawaii. (see map)

This North American duck was formerly considered a distinctive subspecies of the Eurasian Teal but is now regarded as a species in its own right.

Green-winged Teal is a scarce, but increasingly regular, winter visitor to Scotland. Prior to 1968 there had been only nine records, but sightings have since been almost annual. It is one of the most regular transatlantic vagrant ducks recorded in the UK.

The first record for the Outer Hebrides was of one shot at Lochportain, North Uist on 24th October 1938. Somewhat surprisingly it was not reported again until the 1970s when one was at Aignish, Lewis in 1977, with one at Balranald North Uist in June 1979. Since then, records have become more regular, and the species has been almost annual in occurrence since 1991. Numbers vary from year to year with a maximum of nine individuals seen during 2003 and again in 2009.

With few exceptions, most records have been of single birds. It is also clear that birds are often appearing at the same or nearby locations from one winter to the next, indicating that many of the records refer to a small number of returning individual birds. The spread of records suggests that there are wintering birds from November to February, and some spring migrants passing through between April and June. The earliest and latest dates are 14th October 2002 when one was on Benbecula, and the 19th June 2009 on St Kilda.

As elsewhere, all records are of males as female and juvenile birds are essentially indistinguishable from Eurasian Teal.  It has been recorded in all months except from July to September for the same reason when the males are in eclipse.

1938Ard Teilem, Lochportain, North Uist, adult male, shot, 24th October (British Birds 33: 84; Witherby et al, 1938-1946; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953)
1977Aignish, Lewis, male, 26th – 29th March (W. A. J. Cunningham, R. Mac-Intyre, W. Matheson). (British Birds 71: 493)
1979Balranald, North Uist,  male, 3rd – 6th June (C. H. Pickup et al.). (British Birds 74: 461)
1980Loch Eport, North Uist, male, 20th January (L. M. Gardiner).  (British Birds 74: 461)

Village Bay, St Kilda, male, 26th – 27th April (D. J. R. Counsell, Dr R. Gibson). (British Birds 74: 460)

Griminish, Benbecula, male, 28th December (L. M. Gardiner). (British Birds 74: 461)
1982Balranald, North Uist, male, 5th May – unsubstantiated. (Stevenson A unpublished)

Benbecula, male, 10th June – unsubstantiated. (Stevenson A unpublished)
1985Near Loch Portain, North Uist, male, 2nd – 12th April (S.J. & Mrs J. A. Riley et al.). (British Birds 79: 535)
1986Hirta, St Kilda, male, 2nd May (D. Green, J. Kinsley, D. Miller et al.). (British Birds 80: 527)
1987West Loch Ollay, South Uist, male, 2nd December (T. J. Dix, J. J. Gordon). (British Birds 81: 547)

St Kilda, male, 4th December, presumed same as South Uist, 2nd December (J. J. Gordon). (British Birds 81: 547)
Extremely unlikely that these records refer to the same bird, given the locations and closeness of the dates. (Stevenson A. unpublished)
1989Howbeg, South Uist, male, 9th June (T.J. Dix, W. McLaughlin). (British Birds 83: 450)
1991Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 15th December. (OH Bird Report 1991: 23; Scottish Bird Report 1991: 18).
1992Coot Loch, Benbecula, two males, 12th January. (OH Bird Report 1997: 22: Scottish Bird Report 1992: 15).

Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, male, 7th February to 30th April (Scottish Bird Report 1992: 15).
Reported as present 7th February – 5th April. (OH Bird Report 1997: 22)
1994Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 6th February.  (OH Bird Report 1997: 22)
1995Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, male, 25th February. (OH Bird Report 1997: 22: Scottish Bird Report 1995: 18)
1996Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, male,  14th February to 20th March (probably same as 1995). (OH Bird Report 1997: 22: Scottish Bird Report 1996: 17)

Voiskinish, Lochportain, North Uist, male, 19th November. (OH Bird Report 1997: 22: Scottish Bird Report 1996: 17)
1998Clachan Sands, North Uist, two males, 1st May. (OH Bird Report 1998: 25: Scottish Bird Report 1998: 26)
1999near Sollas, North Uist, male, 3rd – 5th April. (OH Bird Report 1999: 24)

near Aird, Benbecula, male, 7th May. (OH Bird Report 1999: 24)

Loch Fada and Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 15th November to 19th December. (OH Bird Report 1999: 24)

Baleshare, North Uist, male, 9th December – 13th February & 11th March 2000. (OH Bird Report 1999: 24)
2000Aird, Benbecula, male, 21st February. (OH Bird Report 2000: 24: Scottish Bird Report 2000: 28)

Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, male, 11th April. (OH Bird Report 2000: 24: Scottish Bird Report 2000: 28)

Croic a Tuath, South Uist, male, 21st April & 4th May. (OH Bird Report 2000: 24: Scottish Bird Report 2000: 28)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 17th December. (OH Bird Report 2000: 24: Scottish Bird Report 2000: 28)
2001Loch Sandary, North Uist, male,  7th – 19th January. (OH Bird Report 2001: 18: Scottish Bird Report 2001: 24)

Ardkenneth, Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 17th & 25th April. (OH Bird Report 2001: 18: Scottish Bird Report 2001: 24)
2002Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, male, 13th February. (OH Bird Report 2002: 17)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 17th February. (OH Bird Report 2002: 17)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 15th – 16th November & 8th December (presumed same as February bird). (OH Bird Report 2002: 17)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 14th October – 10th November & 8th December. (OH Bird Report 2002: 17)

Loch Torornish, South Uist, male, 2nd – 3rd November. (OH Bird Report 2002: 17)

2003Loch Grunavat, South Uist, male,  11th January, same Loch Roag, South Uist, 9th February. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Loch Tuamister, Lewis, male, 8th – 15th February. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 7th – 8th March. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Loch Stiapavat, Lewis, male, 10th – 11th May. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Ardkenneth, Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 11th May. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, presumed returning bird (March), 19th November. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Steinish, Lewis, male, 13th December, male & immature male, 15th – 19th December. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 14th December. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)
2004Steinish Lewis, two males, 3rd – 24th January, one till 9th April. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Loch Bee, South Uist, two males, 17th & 25th January, one on 22nd February. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Loch Tuamister, Shawbost, Lewis, male, 19th February to 4th March. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Loch Mor, Baleshare, North Uist, male, 19th May. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)

Steinish, Lewis, male, returning bird, 27th November to 31st December and in to 2005. (OH Bird Report 2003 & 2004: 16)
2005Steinish, Lewis, male, 1st January to 25th February, over-wintering bird was often in the pool by the Airport boundary or out on the estuary at low tide. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 19th February to 25th March. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 28th February to 17th March. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Steinish, Lewis, male, returning bird, 29th October to 31st December and in to 2006. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)
2006Steinish, Lewis, male, 1st January to 24th March, over-wintering bird was seen occasionally on the pool or out on the salt marsh. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Loch Mor, Boreray, North Uist, two males, 27th January. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Loch Grunavat, Lewis, male, 5th – 7th January. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male 19th February. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 15th – 25th November. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)

Steinish, Lewis, male, returning for a third winter, 17th December in to 2007. (OH Bird Report 2003 / 2004: 29)
2007Steinish, Lewis, male, 1st January to 6th February, returning male in every winter since but not in 2007/2008. (OH Bird Report 2007: 29)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 17th February. (OH Bird Report 2007: 29)
2008Loch Mew, North Uist, male, 10th February. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch an t-Saile, South Uist, male, 19th – 29th March. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 16th April. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, presumed same as Loch an t-Saile returning, 15th November. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, presumed same returning, 29th December in to 2009. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)
2009Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 1st – 3rd January. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 4th January. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch Toronais, South Uist, male, 11th February. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Oban na Buail-uachdraich, South Uist, male, 23rd February to 23rd March. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch na Paisg, North Uist, male, 15th February. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch Stiapavat LNR, Lewis, male, 27th April to 11th June. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Grein Head, Barra, male, 24th May. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

Loch Paible, North Uist, male, 17th June. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)

St Kilda, male, 19th June. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)
The arrival of two in June was noteworthy. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 20)
2010Loch Ardvule, South Uist, male, 12th January & 27th March. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 17th January to 1st February. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)

Oban na Buail-uachdraich, South Uist, male, 23rd February. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)

St Kilda, male, 24th – 28th March. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)

Shader, Lewis, male, on beach, 28th March. (BirdGuides) – unsubstantiated

Loch Stiapavat LNR, Lewis, male, 11th November. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, presumed returning bird, 20th November. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)

Loch Ardvule, South Uist, male, presumed returning bird, 29th December. (OH Bird Report 2008-10: 21)
2011Loch Mòr, North Uist, male, 1st – 4th January & 12th March. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist, male, 1st – 8th January. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Mòr, North Uist, male, presumably returning bird, 16th December. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Rubha Ardvule, South Uist, male, presumably returning bird, 22nd December. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)
2012Loch Mòr, North Uist, male, 26th January. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 24th January to 15th February. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Mòr, North Uist, male, presumed returning bird, 3rd December in to 2013. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, presumed returning bird, 4th – 10th December and in to 2013. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)
2013Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 1st January to 15th February. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Mòr, North Uist, male, 1st January to 2nd March. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Stiapavat LNR, Lewis, male (accompanied by a female teal possibly this species), 29th April. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch na Liana Mòire, Kilpheder, South Uist, male, 15th May. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Smerclate, South Uist, male, 16th – 21st May. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)

Loch Paible, North Uist, male, 29th – 30th May. (OH Bird Report 2011-13: 48)
2014Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 10th January, presumed same Loch Mòr, Benbecula, 9th February. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Howmore River, South Uist, male, 7th – 8th May. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Stilligarry, South Uist, male, 30th November. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 7th  December in to 2015. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)
2015Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, present intermittently 1st January to 10th May, presumed same Loch nam Feithean (two dates in January and one in early April) and Aird an Rùnair (Loch a’ Roe), 12th-23rd April when paired with a female Teal. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch na Meallaird, Benbecula, male, 7th February. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Stiapavat LNR, Lewis, male, 2nd May. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 20th May, still present 22nd June. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Lochportain, North Uist, male, 27th May. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, returning bird, from late November in to 2016. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)
2016Loch Sandary, Loch nam Feithean, Loch a’ Roe, North Uist, male, 1st January to 19th April. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, several dates until Feb 10th at least. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Stiapavat LNR, Lewis, male, 4th February to 7th April. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Oban Trumisgarry, North Uist, male, 26th February. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 18th November in to 2017. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)

Loch Grogary, North Uist, male, 24th November. (OH Bird Report 2014-16: 35)
2017Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 2nd January to 2nd February, same Loch an t-Saile, South Uist, 25th February. (OH Bird Report 2017: 23-24)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 26th January – unsubstantiated. (OH Bird Report 2017: 147)

Loch nam Feithean, North Uist, male, 9th – 31st March, same Aird an Runair 1st-6th April. (OH Bird Report 2017: 23-24)

Loch Stiapabhat, Lewis, male (with possible hybrid influences), 15th April to 10th May. (OH Bird Report 2017: 23-24)

Oban Trumisgarry, North Uist, male, 19th – 22nd April. (OH Bird Report 2017: 23-24)

Loch na Reival, North Uist, male, 29th April – unsubstantiated. (OH Bird Report 2017: 147)

Loch an t-Saile, South Uist, male, 10th May. (OH Bird Report 2017: 23-24)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 26th November in to 2018. (OH Bird Report 2017: 23-24)
2018Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 1st January to 11th May. (OH Bird Report 2018: 26)

Loch a Roe, Aird an Runair, North Uist, two males, 7th March to11th May. (OH Bird Report 2018: 26)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 29th October in to 2019. (OH Bird Report 2018: 26)

Loch Mor, Benbecula, male, chased and probably caught by White-tailed Eagle, 18th November. (OH Bird Report 2018: 26)
2019Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 1st January to 5th April. (OHRC 032-2019)

Loch Bee, Clachan, South Uist, male, 30th January to 4th February. (OHRC 022-2019)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 17th & 23rd February,  possibly same Loch Bee. (OHRC 024-2019)

Howmore River, South Uist, male, 15th April. (BirdGuides) – unsubstantiated

Clachan, South Uist, male, 12th November to 31st March 2020; same West Gerinish, South Uist, 16th November: same, Coot Loch, Benbecula, 18th – 22nd January 2020. (OHRC 027-2020)
2020Ardmhor, Barra, male, 26th January to 20th February. (OHRC 029-2020)

Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 15th November to 12th March 2021; same, loch eaval, 9th February 2021. (OHRC 040-2020)

Coot Loch/ Loch Fada, Benbecula, male, 15th December to 19th February 2021. (OHRC 017-2021)
2021Ardmhor, Barra, three males, 4th March to 15th April. (OHRC 053-2021)

Loch Hallan, South Uist, male, 18th – 31st March. (OHRC 019-2021)

Sandwick Bay, Stornoway, Lewis, four, 19th March. (BirdGuides) – unsubstantiated

Loch Bhrushda, Berneray, North Uist, male, 13th May. (OHRC 023-2021)

West Gerinish, South Uist, male, 14th June. (OHRC 027-2021)

Ardmhor, Barra, male, returning bird, 26th October to 6th April 2022; two males present from 3rd November. (OHRC 006-2022)

West Gerinish, South Uist, two males, [one considered to be hybrid], 28th October. (OHRC 010-2021)

Loch na Faoileige, North Uist, male, 5th November, 17th December & 20th January 2022. (OHRC 004-2022)
Possibly same Loch nam Feithean/Loch Grogary, North Uist, December 2021 to March 2022

Loch nam Feithean, North Uist, male, 20th December to 28th March 2022; same Loch Gorgary, North Uist, 22nd February 2022. (OHRC 005-2022)
2022Loch Sandary, North Uist, male, 25th October. (BridGuides) – unsubstantiated

Callanish, Lewis, male, 4th November. (OHRC 077-2022)

Coot Loch, Benbecula, male, 7th November. (BirdTrack) – unsubstantiated

Stilligarry, South Uist, male, 20th November. (OHRC 067-2022)

Ardmhor, Barra, male, returning bird, 23rd October to 13th March 2023. (OHRC 085-2022)
2023Loch nam Feithean, Balranald, North Uist, male, various dates between 2nd January to 10th March. (BirdGuides) – unsubstantiated

Loch Bee, South Uist, male, 3rd November. (BirdGuides) – unsubstantiated
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