Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature.
Towards the end of April, I was walking on the Curragh Gallops and the short grass seemed to be moving with millions of little slender-bodied flies, like a net in the long, low light of the setting sun.
John Colleran, Grangemore Stud, Co Kildare
They might have been St Mark's flies, which appear around St Mark's Day (April 25th) and drift slowly over low vegetation with legs hanging.
A friend who lives on a mountain near Clonmel discovered a small creature in the barn. He described it as pinky/ginger, very hairy with a bushy tail, about the size of a small cat, with pointy nose and red eyes.
Gina Molloy, Mullinahone, Co Tipperary
It was a feral ferret or a polecat/ferret identifiable because of its red eyes.
I watched the little goldcrest in my garden fly to the sycamore followed by her mate. He started to display to her with his crest standing up. The crest caught the sunlight - gold and a tiny flash of orange.
Rosemary Carr, Cashel, Co Galway
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address