Black and white bird?

Saruman

OK bearing in mind i was driving when i saw these...

It was in north Dublin, Clonsaugh ind estate.
I saw about 10 - 20 Black and white birds..
Here is the thing.. like magpies but not.. Their colouring (and size etc) was more like a crow.. you know the black and grey (silver) crows? Like them only it was obviously white not grey. Also i could swear their beaks were orange or yellow.. though they may have only had worms in their mouths.

Anyway is there such a bird or was it just crows and the sun made them look white not grey.. was it all an optical illusion as i drove past?

Saruman

Wait never mind.. i think it may be a hooded crow! Orange beak being worms
I knew it was not a magpie though.
http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nicksampford.co.uk/PHOTOS/FRONT%2520PAGE/BIRDS/crows/CCN.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nicksampford.co.uk/crows.htm&h=261&w=261&sz=11&tbnid=zZ8LbPSjwg7zXM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=107&hl=en&start=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrow%2Band%2Braven%26start%3D120%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN

Mr. Presentable

Oystercatcher?

http://www.stevenround-birdphotography.com/Oystercatcher.htm

Saruman

OK im replying to myself again
Im pretty sure of what it was now though do not know why they were there! Oystercatchers!!! This is exactly what i saw!!
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpaper/Nature/Birds/Shore/OysterCatchers.jpg

[edit]Oh nipplenuts just got there before me! [/edit]

boneless

I don't trust those hoodies... they dress up as oystercatchers betimes... then they strike!!

jmkennedyie

Yep, Oystercatcher sounds good. Sometimes flock on grassy fields probing for worms, but usually hang out on the coast. Here's some more info . These guys fly quite direct & quickly, not much messing around.

Another similar sized black & white bird that often flocks in Winter is Lapwing. However, no colourful beak, and it flies at a more leisurely pace, with big floppy wingbeats.

The mention of white rules it out, but if you were on the West coast of Ireland and saw black crow-like birds with red beaks (and legs) you'd be lucky enough to have seen some Choughs.

cynos

Found the Bird your talking about
Didnt think you'd see em around Clonsaugh ind estate though!