Bird News Thursday 18th October

A Dotterel was at Scawt Hill, Antrim Plateau (above Cairncastle north of Larne) this afternoon: it was a flyover, calling, heading north (bird also seen). Also there was a flyover Snow Bunting and 15 Twite. (David Steele)

A Buff breasted Sandpiper was showing well but fair distance out from the viewpoint at Inch (Nigel Moore / Garry Wilkinson / Richard Smith)

Unusually, 20 Whooper Swans were on the north foreshore of Belfast Lough (Roberta McKee)

A Twite was at Portstewart Strand and over 250 Whoopers were seen (Richard Donaghey)

Two Brambling were on Rathlin. Also present were a Bullfinch and a Treecreeper as well as small numbers of Barnacles (Ric Else / Hazel Watson)

Myroe had 21 Pink-footed Geese (Ken Perry/ Peter Robinson/Hill Dick)

Wilf Swain, Grey Heron: