We found a substance like a very soft seaweed along the tarmac border of the lawn. It appeared in mid-August.
Patricia Barr
Uragh, Co Leitrim
It is an alga called nostoc, which is not noticeable under dry conditions but swells into this seaweed-like form when it's wet. It is not harmful to either animals or plants.
I photographed some ducks on their migration from the Erne estuary to Mullaghmore every year about this time. It's great craic watching them enjoy the surf, some diving while others surf the wave.
Emer O'Shea
Ballyshannon, Co Donegal
The eider in your mixed flock are resident. Most of the common scoter are winter migrants from Iceland and northern Europe, but a few have been breeding on Lough Erne.
I'm sending you a photograph of an insect that was on the Howth cliff path in August.
Francy Devine
Binn Éadair, Co Átha Cliath
It was a common field grasshopper.
I saw a dead mink on a road in west Co Waterford in August. Another, also dead, was seen on a road the same day about five miles away.
Colm O'Rourke
Carrigaline, Co Cork
If you see a Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish on the beach, don't touch it. Dr Tom Doyle of NUI Galway would like a photograph and the location posted on the Big Jellyfish Hunt Facebook page.
Several letters were concerned about young, late swallows. Late broods can set off in October and hope that the weather favours them on their migration.
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