Readers' observations on nature
In mid-October a strange bird appeared on my window sill. It had the appearance of a light-grey wagtail except all the feathers at the end of its back and on its tail were bright orangey-red.
DIF Smith, Gorey, Co Wexford
It was an immature female black redstart, an uncommon spring and autumn passage migrant from central Europe.
I poured the lees from blackberry wine on the short grass of the lawn where a young hare comes to feed in the morning. Next morning while feeding, suddenly without warning, it sprang a foot in the air, somersaulted, repeated the act three or four times, and quietly went back to nibbling fresh grass again.
Ross MacMahon, Co Galway
In mid-October, I saw a bright green caterpillar with four tufts of golden-yellow pompom-like protuberances on its back. Its most noticeable feature was a tall, wine-coloured tuft pointing upwards near the end of its body.
Inès Dillon, Naas, Co Kildare
It was the caterpillar of the pale tussock moth, about to go into hibernation.