My son spotted this frog in Glenbarrow woods recently, near the river Barrow. Can you identify it? – Rory McGuinn, Portlaoise, Co Laois
It is the common frog, Rana temporaria, the only species of frog that occurs in the wild in Ireland. The colour of its skin can vary from very dark brown through olive green to yellow or even sometimes pinkish, depending mainly on the amount of moisture in the air.
We came across these two beauties during a walk near Bray last week, and wondered if you could help to identify them. – Peter Bishton, Bray, Co Wicklow
Beauties indeed. These are the male and female Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies. They both have pigment over the entire wing surface, blue-black on the male and brown on the female, and bodies with a very bright metallic sheen. They are biological indicators of clean streams, as their larvae, which live in the water, are very sensitive to pollution.
I found this shell on my holidays on Drumnacraig beach in Donegal. Please tell me what it is. – Tom Pasley (5), by email
They are pieces of the shell (also called test) of the edible sea urchin.
This has formed on a wooden children's playhouse. Should it be removed? – Seamus Cannon, by email
It depends on whether it is occupied or not. It is a wasp's nest structure. Observe (from a distance) and see if wasps are going in and out. If so, and the playhouse is in use, you may need professional help to remove it. If it is empty and disused, wasps will not return to it. The emerging queen in spring always builds a new nest.
Michael Hetherington sent in this photo of two red kites clashing over the Co Wicklow village of Avoca. The local butcher feeds them from time to time and they swoop in for scraps of meat.
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