Bird News Saturday 12th January

A male and a female Goosander were at Lough Island Reavy near Castlewellan. 5 Red-throated and 1 Great Northern Diver were off Minerstown with about 2000 Starlings and 200 Fieldfare feeding in flooded fields there, with 2 Buzzards "worming". 30 Whooper Swans flew over the Crossgar-Downpatrick road. A Dipper was in Mayobridge, very easy to see, just by the main road. (Kerry Leonard).

A Greenland White-fronted Goose was with 150 Whooper Swans and Greylags at Myroe this morning. (Keith Bennett).

A Brambling was visiting a garden in Whitehead this afternoon, see picture below. (Bill McCullough).

A 2nd winter Glaucous Gull was at Whitehouse Lagoon this morning. (Adam McClure).

A Barn Owl was seen sitting on telephone wires between Strangford and Downpatrick. (Craig Nash).

The Ring-billed Gull, a Carrion Crow and a Red-throated Diver were at Groomsport, 2 Buzzard were at Portavoe, see pictures below. (Stephen Maxwell).

The male Goosander was at the river at Waterfoot, best seen walking up the river from the sea (Richard Gray). 

An adult Ring-billed gull was at Carrickfergus harbour this morning. (Bird Guides).

Thanks to todays photographers, Bill McCullough for the Brambling and Stephen Maxwell for the Carrion Crow, the Red-throated Diver and the Redpoll. You can see more NI bird pictures at www.nibirdpics.blogspot.co.uk