I found a small bat, a pipistrelle, on the floor of the conservatory. The only way in was through the cat-flap. My three-year-old cat goes on the roof, but could a cat really catch a bat in flight?Alison McCoy, Bantry, Co Cork
The cat could catch a bat exiting from the roof space. The bat would perch at the exit space before launching into the air.
I found this fungus in my back garden (photograph attached). It reminded me of a passion flower with the petals radiating around it.
John O'Neill, Raheny, Dublin, 5
This white fungus is an earthstar, Geastrum triplex, in which the outer rim is star-shaped with six rays, within which there is an undivided saucer which holds the spherical spore body. This is the second earthstar recently reported here. They fruit from August to December.
I had a vase full of large-flowered oriental poppies from my wind- and rain-lashed country garden in late November, seven from open buds brought in and five buds helped to open.
Marie McCormick, Enniscrone, Co Sligo
My husband met a cock pheasant in the campus of the Smurfit Business School in Blackrock recently. It was not unduly perturbed by its urban surroundings.
Cherry Poynton, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo.
E-mail: viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address.