Bird News Wednesday 8th January

At Portstewart Town the Black Redstart was giving good views near the bandstand and on the adjacent beach. The Water Pipit was at the north end of Cushendun beach. (John Clarke/Hill Dick).

Seacliff Road in Bangor had 2 Purple Sandpiper and a Red-throated Diver offshore and 7 Redwing were in a garden in Bangor West. (Derek Polley).

Yesterday 3 redhead Smew were at Portmore Lough RSPB Reserve. (Comghal McQuillan).

Sightings this morning at Newry Canal - Jerrettspass-Poyntzpass were 3 Raven,c50 Redwing c210 Fieldfare, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher and 6 Grey Wagtail. (Fulton Somerville)

Thanks to Hill Dick and John Clarke for the pictures of the Black Redstart and the Water Pipit, to Comghal McQuillan for the picture of the Smew, to Fulton Somerville for the picture of the Reed Bunting and to David Smylie for the picture of the Ring-billed Gull: