Eye on nature

Two beautiful grey doves were disturbed from a tree when I closed my car door. One crashed into a window and was knocked out. The other turned back and stood beside its injured mate with its wings outstretched. Then after a minute it flew away carrying its mate in its claws over the hedge and into an adjacent field. Do they mate for life?
Daphne Tyrrell
Kildalkey, Co Meath

They do indeed.

On March 29th-30th I saw up to 100 swallows feeding on flies on Lough Ree near Athlone. Could they have been helped by the same winds that brought the Sahara dust?
Michael O'Connor
North Wall Quay, Dublin

Quite likely.

I wonder if the geese in the photo are Brent geese, seen on the strand at Old Head, Co Mayo, at the end of March. What might they be eating there?
Joe Staunton
Ennis, Co Clare

They feed on eelgrass, algae and sea lettuce, fattening up for their migration to the Arctic later this month.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by e mail at viney@ anu.ie. Please i nclude a postal address