Eye On Nature

On the Flaggy Shore in the Burren, a stoat dashed across the road carrying a heavy load, then dropped it and went down a hole…

On the Flaggy Shore in the Burren, a stoat dashed across the road carrying a heavy load, then dropped it and went down a hole.

It was a still kicking rockfish about half the stoat's size. Is this new behaviour ?

Mark Helmore, Burren, Co Clare

There have been a few reports to Eye on Nature of stoats fishing rock pools, one from the Burren by an observer who witnessed it more than once. Stoats are carnivores but will eat what is available; one used to visit regularly the birds' seed and fat mixture on our windowsill.

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In Glendalough we saw frozen frog spawn. Will the spawn survive?

Eimear Heffernan (aged 9), Tullow, Co Carlow.

I'm afraid it will not survive.

While walking along the canal near Portobello I saw an otter. Are otters known to be residents of the canal?

Declan Dalton, Portmarnock, Co Dublin

Any body of water that contains fish will attract otters. They may only visit it to feed and have a holt a distance away in a safer area.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address.