Michael Viney responds to reader's observations and queries about nature.
I have noticed the local rooks reacting in different ways to various birds of prey: an indifferent approach to a kestrel, one or two rooks seeing it on its way; a clamorous reaction to a sparrowhawk, the rooks being joined by jackdaws, grey crows and magpies. I saw six rooks chasing a hen harrier, following it not too closely until they were out of sight. But the bird that gets the rooks really worried is the buzzard; they gather in hundreds in noisy pursuit until the buzzard moves on.
Anthony Mooney, Maynooth, Co Kildare
On a gentle hillwalk near Ballyvaughan in the Burren we were joined for lunch by an energetic, mottled green lizard. Is it normal for it to exist within the limestone crags and the numerous delicate wild flowers.
Betty Walsh, Na Forbacha, Co Galway
Yes, lizards are native to the Burren and quite plentiful.
Early in September while sailing near the Copeland Islands at the mouth of Belfast Lough, we came upon a large sea diver caught in a piece of net. We released it and think it was a black-throated diver. It was not in summer plumage, and its beak was not upturned as in the red-throated diver. I have never seen the black- or red-throated diver in the Irish Sea.
James Nixon, Bangor, Co Down.
Both the black- and red-throated divers are regular winter visitors to Irish coastal waters in particular the north.
• Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie (observations sent by e-mail should include a postal address)