Could you identify the worms in the attached picture? I found several clusters of these under stones in my garden recently. I also found a couple of New Zealand flatworms under pots in my garden. – Anne Johnston, Co Mayo
They look very much like the early stage of New Zealand flatworms.
Lots of these urchins were washed on to a section of the beach at Salthill, Galway. I was wondering why and if they were dead. – Ann Mulvihill, Cloonboo, Co Galway
These potato urchins are dead, probably because of a storm. When they are alive they are covered with dense short spines.
In one of the last remaining open stretches of the river Poddle, I saw a bird that can only be described as a black heron. I'm very familiar with grey herons and there is a local one known as "Bertie Aheron". – Denis Goodbody, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W
There is anecdotal evidence from Britain of sightings of black herons thought to be melanistic.
I found this spider in our kitchen. What type is it? – Sean Malone, Blackrock, Co Dublin
It’s one of the giant house spiders, probably Eratigena gigantea.
Alan Flett, Delgany, Co Wicklow, and John O'Connor, Rathgar, Dublin 6, watched a young otter emerge from a pond in the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, Co Wicklow, and act in a playful manner around their feet. At one stage it rolled over on its back as if it wanted to have its belly tickled. When it saw a dog it slid back into the pond and disappeared.
This speckled wood butterfly was out in mid-March – a bit early, I would have thought. – Frank Folan, Ballyvaughan Co Clare.
In fact just on time.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address, please.
