I jumped off the airport bus by the Dublin quays at 11pm and witnessed a remarkable scene near the Custom House. A heron was perched in customary frozen stance on the wide steps that lead into the Liffey. I followed its gaze on to the steps and saw the shiny head of a seal and, eventually, an otter eating a live eel that was squirming around in its paws. The heron, I suspect, was hoping for some leftovers. Coming from a siren-ridden, pea-souper London, I was bowled over. I watched the otter devour his meal over five minutes, with Butt Bridge, Ulster Bank HQ and the Custom House facade in the background. It was nice to be home.
Patrick Earls
Rathgar, Dublin
I found the substance in my photograph [above] on grass in the paddock recently. Is it fungal?
John McDonald
Athy, Co Kildare
It is a slime mould, ‘Mucilago crustacea’, commonly called scrambled egg or dog’s sick mould. It is a protist, not a fungus, although it goes through some similar stages of development.
Lately I've noticed rooks on their nests, instead of roosting on branches, just as night is closing in. In wild weather, I presume, nests would offer a more secure night-time roost.
Albert Nolan
Newport, Co Tipperary
It is unusual for rooks to roost on nests, but seeing is believing.
I found several balls of delicate white material, shell-shaped and about a third the size of an egg, on the ceiling of my shed.
Kay Bennett
Bishopstown, Cork
They were the silken sacs enclosing spiders’ eggs.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address