Readers' observations and questions
My friend Clara and I found a live boarfish in a rock pool at Ballydonegan on the Beara Peninsula last summer. A marine biologist identified it. We were in the newspapers as the first people to find one in Ireland. Róisín Neville (aged nine), Cork
A collared dove that eats at my bird table has been seen twice recently flying away with a large twig in his beak. Surely he cannot be building a nest? Máirín de Burca, Fairview, Dublin 3
It is early for nest-building as the normal egg-laying period starts in March. Perhaps he was practising. The male brings twigs to the female, who builds the nest.
We have three narcissus plants in full bloom since the beginning of November. Daffodil and narcissus plants were springing up in October.
They usually start in December. John Walsh, Sunday's Well, Cork
In a recent violent downpour, I watched a bumblebee take off across the garden and wondered how it was able to navigate its way through millions of extremely large raindrops. Peter Roberts, Delgany, Co Wicklow
There is a theory that each raindrop creates a shockwave that pushes an insect out of the way.
• Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; or viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address