Sir, – One of the most wonderful birds to visit Ireland in the winter is the whooper swan. These majestic birds make the journey from their breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland to the UK and Ireland to escape the harsh winter conditions in their native lands. They can often be seen on lakes and rivers, where they feed on aquatic plants and invertebrates.
Another winter visitor is the redwing, a small thrush with a distinctive reddish-brown breast and a distinctive white stripe above the eye. These birds migrate from their breeding grounds in Scandinavia and Russia to Ireland in search of food, and can often be heard singing their distinctive, high-pitched song. – Yours, etc,
SARAH MAGUIRE,
Dublin 4.