Is the sparrowhawk that I photographed, which was hunting outside my kitchen window, male or female?
Michael Brogan
Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo
It is a male.
Recently, in the Inch wildfowl reserve, in Co Donegal, I saw an unusual little bird feeding with a group of chaffinches. It had a bright yellow head and yellow markings underneath. Could it have been a serin?
Janice Doherty
Derry
It was more likely to be a siskin, a finch that frequents woodland but comes to nut feeders in winter.
I watched a crow on a branch above a nut feeder jumping up and down to shake out some food. Pheasants and other crows on the ground were lapping it up. Teamwork?
Pat Lewis
Ballinhassig, Co Cork
The teamwork is probably accidental. The clever rook has found that he can shake down nut particles for himself. The others are taking advantage.
I've been picking up bits of moss torn from my roof by magpies searching for the insects underneath. Ten years ago I hadn't seen this activity; then it seemed to erupt everywhere. Did a clever bird discover and pass on the trick?
David Heap
Ranelagh, Dublin
I notice on the RSPB website community page that people began to notice the phenomenon a few years ago.
I'm sending you a photograph of a dead bird that I found. Is it a yellow tit?
Mark McCloskey
Drogheda, Co Louth
It is a juvenile grey wagtail.
Norman Stanley of Edenderry saw his first swallow of the season on March 28th.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978 , or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address