Michael Viney responds to readers' queries and observations on nature.
Could you identify some small birds that are visiting our garden? The bird is approximately 10-11cm in length with an orange-red head and a black chin. It has a white stripe over the eye and a pale, white stripe on the wings. The underparts are white, and it has a slightly forked tail. My bird book suggests a firecrest.
Catherine O'Donovan, Shannon, Co Clare
They are almost certainly firecrests and the male has the orange-red head, but the black chin should be a thin line each side of the beak, a sub-moustachial stripe. They are passage migrants and feed on small insects and spiders.
We have been feeding birds in the garden. About six small blue and yellow birds collect food in relays and hide it under the rockery stones or in the surrounding clay or grass. A slightly larger bird, "The Robber" (with a red hue on his chest and white flashes on his tail) waits for them to fly away and then steals the hidden treasure. A fight then ensues. Why doesn't "The Robber" help himself to the feed rather than stealing?
Alison English, Old Cartron, Co Sligo
The small birds are blue tits and are fierce fighters. "The Robber" is a chaffinch that is intimidated by the blue tits, and waits for them to leave before retrieving the food. Make several feeding sites and the battles will ease.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie