Eye on Nature

Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature.

Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature.

I watched a moth at my lighted kitchen window when suddenly a bat appeared and snatched it. I thought bats hunted in total night darkness.

Niamh Neumann, Newcastle, Co Wicklow

Bats hunt mainly at night to avoid predators. They also hunt around street lights where moths congregate.

READ MORE

For the past few years we had no frogs and I assumed that building work had disturbed their breeding grounds and they were gone for good. On March 10th, a fully grown frog arrived on our driveway. Isn't this too early?

Elizabeth O'Donnell, Droichead Nua, Co Kildare

Frogs were moving to breeding ponds since early February. It was probably a frog that had left the spawning pond and was looking for a home.

I watched a pair of courting robins. With head arched back and beak pointing towards the sky, he swayed back and forth slowly, seeming to hypnotise the female, who watched him intently. This lasted five minutes, the male moving closer to the female twice, before they both flew off, buzzing around each other.

Michael Fewer, Dublin 16

Send observations to Michael Viney, Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie (include a postal address).