Observations from readers
On a small side-road near Roundstone, in Connemara, I saw a tiny pygmy shrew hunting around the pebbles. It was the size of a bumble bee, with a long snout and looked like a mouse. Was it a baby pygmy shrew? Suzanne Cronin, Foxrock, Dublin
Pygmy shrews are weaned at 21 weeks and at that stage are around 2.5cm long, about half the size of the adult.
Recently I saw a large thrush foraging in the garden followed by a small, brown bird which was bigger than a wren. When the thrush captured a worm the small bird snatched it and made off. This happened on a few occasions and the thrush did not seem at all upset by this. When the thrush flew up to ESB wires the small bird followed suit. Dermot McHugh, Glenties, Co Donegal
There are records of thrush species feeding the young of other species, usually if the nests are close together. The small bird could have been a young robin.
I watched a small, one inch, flying creature hovering and sucking at valerian flowers. I couldn't get near enough to see whether it was a fly or a bird. It reminded me of humming birds I've seen in Canada. David Sowby, Dublin
It was a hummingbird hawkmoth
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo.
e-mail: viney@anu.ie .
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