I have a large garden which has been remarkably free of flies and wasps for the last two months except under two healthy mature willow trees where the trunks, leaves and plants underneath and gravel adjoining are covered with flies, wasps, butterflies - all highly agitated. There is obviously some substance falling from the trees on to the ground underneath. I am told it's a product of greenfly deposited on leaves but it's difficult to accept this as the situation has to be seen to be believed. - David Falconer, Waterford
The insects are indeed feeding on honeydew dropped by aphids that live in the willows. Aphids feed on sap and must imbibe a lot to get enough protein. This means that they get too much sugar which they excrete as honeydew. This concentrated sugar is much sought after by wasps and butterflies.
Since we got the house renovated last year there has been a brown frog living in our small back yard. As a result we are almost a slug-free zone. How could we extend the tenure of our welcome guest? - Max Manning, Dublin 8
By providing access to a source of food if the yard does not provide enough slugs and beetles.
Recently, while walking past a mud- exposed bay on Strangford Lough, I heard and then saw two birds apparently fighting to the death. Thinking that it might be a sparrowhawk strike, I watched and wondered what the outcome would be. Minutes later I was most surprised to see one of the combatants fly off, followed immediately by the other - both curlews. What do you think might have been the problem? - Julie Mackie, Mahee Island, Co Down
It's possible that they were squabbling over food.
I fished Lough Sheelin on August 28th amd noted numerous young mallard barely able to fly. Certainly they would not be able to evade wildfowlers. Surely the time has come to defer the opening date for duck shooting to a later date, such as November 1st. - Denis J. Liston, Bray, Co Wicklow
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. email: viney@anu.ie Observations sent by email should be accompanied by postal address as location is sometimes important to identification or behaviour.
A Wildlife Narrative, compiled from 10 years of this column, is now available at £9.99 from all good book shops and Irish Times Books. Fax 353 1 6718446.