Observations on nature
Last Sunday while canoeing on the Boyne we saw a hooded crow at Slane Castle hopping up and down alongside the weir, fishing small minnows up to 5cms in length directly out of the fast moving water. He caught half-a-dozen in a few moments, flew away, and came back for more before we left.
Michael Towers, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath
Crows never cease to amaze with their ability to learn new tricks. This is the first time I have heard of any member of the crow family fishing, but they eat fish carrion.
I noticed a slug "abseiling", using its own slime as rope, from the underside of a metre-high table. By raising its head and spinning its body, it managed to make it to about six inches from the ground before dropping and landing perfectly on it's belly.
Ruairi Ferrie, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
There were several reports of sightings of golden eagles in the west, one on Inishbofin and another near Oughterard, following Another Life (May 22nd)