Recently in Foxrock I spotted a red kite, which I'm well used to seeing at Woodenbridge Golf Club, in Avoca. How far north have they gone?
Michael Altman
Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow
It could have been a young red kite being adventurous and going walkabout. They normally return to their home territory to breed.
I saw a very small spider attempting to deal with a large bumblebee caught in her nest. The bee was rescued and escaped unharmed.
AJ Rous
Killiney, Co Dublin
I found a spider in the flower of a tulip. I think it was a white crab spider. Should it be in Ireland? A website suggests it is a native of Australia.
Valerie Cribben
Blackrock, Co Dublin
It is the native crab spider, Misumena vatia, which has the ability to change colour to match the flower where it lurks in search of prey – usually yellow, white or pale green.
What is the large, creepy spider in my photo (above)?
Frank Folan
Ballyvaughan, Co Clare
It is the giant house spider, Eratigena atrica (formerly Tegenaria atrica). They have a venomous bite if disturbed but generally avoid humans. (My colleague Kevin Courtney wrote about spider behaviour in The Irish Times of November 5th, 2015.
Recently I saw a fox and a pheasant in a field not 10m apart, ignoring each other. Both walked off in different directions.
Philip Fay
Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo
Generally, unless it was very hungry, a fox would not go after a large bird that can run or fly away.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address