When I was inspecting the cattle I heard an unfamiliar bird sound coming from the field 100 yards away. It was after 11pm so I couldn't see it. However the sound was high-pitched and frequent. . It was much louder than the grouse and not as harsh. Could it be a corncrake? Anthony O'Malley, Louisburgh, Co Mayo.
I hope it was. The call of the corncrake is a repetitive, rasping sound. However the grasshopper warbler, a tiny, shy bird, also calls at night with a more high-pitched and a carrying sound, like a fishing reel.
While gardening recently we heard a commotion coming from the pond. It was a heron, a regular visitor, being noisily chased by a crow. Another strange occurrence: last summer I spotted a bumble bee quite obviously being chased by a fritillary butterfly. Ernie Sheppard, Blackwater, Co Wexford.
Butterflies can be territorial. Every year a red admiral claims a sunny patch of stones in our gar- den, and drives off interlopers. Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. email: viney@anu.ie