EYE ON NATURE

ON a morning walks up our boreen on December 5th we saw a complete rainbow in the field alongside us. We are relatively new to living in Ireland and to us it was a remarkable sight so close to us. However, on January 17th we saw an even more remarkable sight. It was a misty morning and the sun was just shining through. In virtually the same place there was a bright, white are composed of the mist itself. The top of the arc was less distinct than either of its ends. How unusual is this phenomenon?

Lorraine and Howard Marshall, Kildorrey, Cork

The arc was caused by the refraction and reflection of the sun's rays in ice crystals in clouds or mist. It is not a common occurrence and required just the conditions you described.

WE have a wagtail who taps on the windows challenging his, reflection every morning, starting about one hour after dawn. He has been at this for three months when will he stop?

Also, wrens in our outbuildings seem to eat tortoiseshell butterflies. Do the butterflies attempt an unseasonable outing or do the wrens pick them out of the crevices?

Gillies MacBain, Templemore, Co Tipperary

The wagtail's behaviour was probably an early onset of territorial aggression. It will probably stop when the mating season is over. Wrens have always feasted on hibernating tortoiseshells, they pick them out of the crevices.