Eye on Nature

I work for Eircom, and when I enter rarely used buildings in winter I sometimes find a small butterfly fluttering around. Should I let it out or let it stay in the relative warmth?
Gerry Clerkin
Ballinode, Co Monaghan

You have disturbed the butterfly out of hibernation. Leave it be.

In late January it was great to see a flock of 71 choughs feeding on wet pasture before going to roost on nearby cliffs . It is a lovely bird, so graceful and distinctive in flight.
Declan McGrath
Waterford

My favourite bird is the song thrush, and for the past few years it has enthralled me with its song. Recently I watched as it discovered a very fat worm. As it began to eat it a cock blackbird dived down from a few yards up a tree and ate the worm.
Tom Lee
Sandycove , Co Dublin

I've seen a pure white bird, about the size of a blackbird , with black tips on its wing feathers. It behaves like a blackbird, ducking under the hedge.
Lindsay Gillespie
Carlow

It is a leucistic, or partially albino, blackbird.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by e mail at viney@ anu.ie. Please i nclude a postal address