Bird News Wednesday 4th January

The Bonaparte’s Gull was showing well at Ballygally this morning (Tony Dodds)

The Arctic Redpoll (probable Coue’s, exilipes race) was showing well from late morning/early afternoonat Dunsilly, Co Antrim (Tony Dodds, Bob Watts, Dave Fox, Mark Stewart et al). Viewable from the slip road to the works yard overlooking the Bonfire/Horse field. Please do not park on the grass verges no enter the driveway of the house.

Four Ring-necked Parakeets were at Belfast Waterworks (Orla McAllister)

A single Barnacle Goose with approx. 250 Greylags at Annaghroe, Co. Tyrone. (David Knight)

A drake Goosander roosted at Castle Park, Newcastle this evening (Suzanne Belshaw).

Arctic Redpoll, all pics by Tony Dodds: 

(The size difference with the Lesser Redpolls is very clear in the above picture)