Recently we've had much pleasure watching a flock of mute swans on a neighbouring flooded field. Twenty years ago there was a small permanent pond there and a pair of Bewick's or whooper swans came there for a month or so. But the field was drained and in spite of odd flooding no swans came until this year. We wonder what they are getting to eat. Are they grazing the wet grass from the bottom? Catherine Bonham, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath.
The swans are eating the natural grassland vegetation of the field.
My aunt saw primroses in bloom in Cashleen, Renvyle on January 17th. She also saw one primrose in bloom in November, which has been verified by my mother. Is this possible? Elaine Nolan, Punchestown, Co Kildare
In recent years, unseasonably mild weather in winter has upset the natural rhythm of primroses, with the result that they, and their cultivated cousins the primulas, have been blooming through every month.
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.