I have had two clouded yellow butterflies visit my garden on two days in late August. In my butterfly book it says that the clouded yellow is rarely seen in these islands and only rarely in the south of England.
Gillian Deeny, Gorey, Co Wexford
Large numbers of clouded yellows have been seen all over the country this year, even along the west coast of Mayo and Clare. The warmer weather all over Europe encourages them to extend their migration north.
I WAS removing brambles from within a large and vigorous escallonia shrub in a garden on the Shannon Estuary earlier this year. As I pulled the briar, I noticed that the stem had become smooth and no longer had thorns. In fact, it was a branch of the escallonia. Further back I found where the blackberry had entered the escallonia branch. It travelled up inside for a foot or so before it emerged and returned inside the "host" at another point. I know brambles are the "terrorists" of the garden, but this seems very strange.
Garry Scaife, Sandymount, Dublin 4
A couple of weeks ago, a beautiful, healthy young fox walked up to within 10 feet of myself and two friends in Dalkey Quarry. He hung around us for a while before drifting off. He seemed to expect to be fed. Some months ago I disturbed a colony of ants at 2,000 feet on Cloghernagh mountain in Glenmalure. I have never seen ants so high before. What height do they go to?
Robin Norton, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Suburban foxes are quite used to being fed and seem not to worry too much about humans. Ants are very adaptable and several species can be found at the tree line in Europe. So they would have no problem with heights of 2,000 feet.
IS IT unusual to find ravens nesting in inland country? A pair has been living here for the past decade in the avenue of an old demesne, far from sea, cliffs or mountains.
Adrian Kenny, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo
Ravens used to nest inland in trees more frequently than they do at present, but it is not unusual.
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 as location is sometimes important to identification or behaviour.