I came across these creatures (see photograph below) on the beach in Ballymoney, Co Wexford, and was wondering what they were. Some of them were up to 10 centimetres long and were like large caterpillars with clusters of dark spines and small bright green feather-like plumage. In all my years of living beside the sea, I have never come across them before, and thought it strange that so many of them should suddenly turn up en masse. David O'Callaghan, Ballymoney, Co Wexford
This is a marine, annelid worm called a sea mouse (Aphrodite aculeata). The scales on its back are covered with fine grey hairs, and the spines on its flanks have iridescent green, blue and gold hairs. It burrows on the sea-bed into mud or muddy sand, and can get washed ashore in large numbers after storms.
A bird the size of a great tit but with the markings of a siskin has visited our birdfeeder. What is it?
Yoke Daams, Durrus, Bantry, Co Cork
It sounds like a greenfinch.
Eye on Nature is edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie. Observations sent by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address.