Countryside creatures

P5 pupils at St. Bronagh’s Primary School in Rostrevor wanted to share their Home learning countryside project with the Newsdesk.

Aaron went out and about each day for his daily mile and his mum helped him make this pic-collage of his observations.

Michael had been observing the swans each time he went to visit his Granda. When his Granda went on Sunday to see what was happening the baby cygnets had hatched.(See the photos above)

Dara said “In Springtime I go over the fields with my Daddy and Granda to see if any fox cubs have been born.

"We had to be very quiet so not to scare the foxes away. One evening while we were over the fields my Granda took this photo of a Vixen and her cubs.

"If you look closely one of the cubs is playing with its Mother's tail. I love to go over the fields looking for foxes.”    

Red Squirrels have made a welcome return to Kilbroney Forest and the woodlands around Rostrevor. The P5 boys and girls have kept a look out for them and sent in some photos.

Lilie Quinn and her Granda spotted a strange little bird on the Fairy Glen river. ( The little fluffy bird in the bottom right of the main photo above)They discovered that the bird was an egret. They have only come to Ireland about 10 years ago. They were first seen in Cork, but have been seen around Cranfield near Kilkeel, in recent years.  Lilie also saw a Heron Crane in the river beside her house.