Bird News for Friday 24th February.

Probable 1w Grey-bellied Brent Goose in Killough this evening showing suite of features (darker shade of brown above and darker, more uniform, grey-brown below compared to Pale-bellied with dusky bib reaching just beyond area between legs. Large white flank flash gives superficial appearance of a washed-out Black Brant). With c.250 Pale-bellied Brent.

Rough-legged Buzzard looked for without luck. 4 Russian White-fronts still present n. of Greyabbey with 320 Greylag. 1 Black-throated Diver n.of Mount Stewart Gasworks. Mixed flock of c.100 House and Tree Sparrows and c.12 Yellowhammers at junction between Lough Cowey and Marlfield. 6 Sandwich Terns Portaferry.(Chris and Tim Murphy)

3 Iceland Gull were at Enniskillen dump(Irishbirding)

On the Antrim side of Belfast Lough the Black Redstart and 5 Red-throated Diver were at Black Head (Gerard McGeehan). 3 Red-throated Diver and 2 Purple Sandpiper were at Whitehead (Cameron Moore).

The second-winter Ring-billed Gull was at Groomsport.

The drake Smew still showing on Drumgay Lough Co Fermanagh.

Our thanks to both Stephen Maxwell who kindly sent in the Goldfinch photograph and David Hill for the Little Egret (middle) and Greenshank (bottom).