Bird News Friday 8th January

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was near Corrick House, Augher this afternoon. (Adam McClure).

A male Brambling is regularly visiting sunflower-heart feeders in a garden at Gilnahirk, Belfast. (Ron Price).

Castlereagh Playing fields and surrounding farmland on Comber road Dundonald. On lake :-4 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 10 Moorhen, 12 Coot. On surrounding farmland:- 2 Buzzard, c 40 Linnets, a mixed flock of c 150 Redwing and Fieldfares, c 70 Yellowhammers and 25 Lapwing. (Gilly Irwin)

The drake Smew was at the causeway

at Inch NR, Co.Donegal today(8/1/2016). (David Mcilveen)

Thanks to Lindsay Hodges for these pictures of a Sparrowhawk and David McIlveen for the Smew: