It was a very frosty morning, and when we looked out, about 8.30, we were amazed to see a very large, hawklike bird, brownbacked but with mottled chest, crouched over a blackbird. When it became aware of us it flew off, carrying the blackbird in its claws. Could it have been a buzzard?
Rosemary Fletcher, Belfast BT6
It could have been a buzzard (above): the brief description you gave fits generally, but a definite identification would need greater detail. They are found in the countryside around Belfast, and could well have ventured into the city on a frosty morning for breakfast.
A sighting of an all-white magpie has been reported locally. Is this a rare observation, and is a spot of twitching called for? Have there been other sightings elsewhere?
D. Kay, Castledermot, Co Kildare
Albino magpies have been reported in the literature, but they are rare. I have not heard of any sightings in this country, but that does not mean that there have not been some.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. email: viney@anu.ie. Observations sent by email should be accompanied by postal address as location is sometimes important to identification or behaviour.