I found this creature alive in a packet of raspberries that I purchased before Christmas. The country of origin was Morocco – Anne Healy, New Ross, Co Wexford.
It’s a seed bug, Spilostethus pondurus, which is common in Mediterranean countries. They are a pest of cultivated crops.
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The newly opened walk around Wicklow Head has caves, coves, beaches and inlets. From one cove I saw a sizeable yellow oil can bobbing in the tide. Then a seal came up and started to nudge it with her nose. A bull followed and for 20 minutes I watched them play with the can, batting it with their flippers, poking it with their noses and even attempting to climb on it. – Paddy Demery, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
On a cold, bright morning in early December I saw 20 waxwings – a museum, I believe – of feathered jewels feeding on the berries of a rowan tree. – Paul Grant Letterkenny, Co Donegal
I saw this gorgeous fungus growing on trees near Killaloe, Co Clare, and wondered what it was. – Maeve O'Reilly, Dooradoyle, Limerick.
It's yellow brain fungus, which grows on dead wood of broadleaved trees.
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We were very excited before Christmas to see that Santa sent one of his reindeer to our back garden to check that our children were being good. – Andrew Synnott, Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow
Santa probably couldn’t spare one of his sleigh reindeers and deputised one of the local Sika to check.
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This amazing structure is a wasps' nest in the wood shed. It's about 3ft by 2ft, beige colour rather than grey, and paper light. The wasps didn't look like the common wasp and were slightly smaller. – Deirdre Rowsome, Killaloe, Co Clare.
There are two wasps in this country that would build nests of that size: the common wasp and the German or European wasp. The latter is slightly smaller than the common wasp.
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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.