In a stream recently I noticed an insect about 2cm long living in a tube with only its head and front legs visible. It could pull them into the tube when disturbed.
Bryan Rodgers
Dunleer, Co Louth
It was the larva of one of the caddis flies. Each species constructs a different type of larval case from debris in the stream.
Three great black-backed gulls have been grazing in fields behind my house. Is it unusual to see them inland among sheep?
M Doyle
Ballymore Eustace, Co Wicklow
Great black-backed gulls usually stay on the coast, coming inland only after a storm. They sometimes come inland to large lakes.
I watched a jackdaw catch a house sparrow, pull it to the ground and kill it. I found the "hawk in jackdaw's clothing" hard to take.
Kieran Fitzpatrick
Greystones, Co Wicklow
Moths: Rod Tuach from Ashford, Co Wicklow, sent a photograph of a magpie moth. Owen Daunt of Fountainstown, Co Cork, sent one of a garden carpet moth. And Frank Folan of Labasheeda, Co Kerry, sent one of an eyed hawkmoth.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address
