There has been a female blackcap at the bird table since just before the cold Christmas weather. This is perhaps not rare, but uncommon enough for me not to have seen one before. Strangely, the usually pugnacious greenfinches kow-towed to her, and since she has remained all the greenfinches have moved on. I don't know whether the two observations are related as the greenfinches come and go anyway. - John-Mark Dick, Skreen, Co Sligo
The migrating blackcaps that winter here are mainly seen in the east and south of the country, generally in gardens, but there are occasional sightings in the west, but not in the same numbers. We had one in our hedge in November, 1995. And Eye on Nature had a report of one in Galway the following year. They can be very aggressive birds, particularly the females, driving all other birds away from feeders. The solution is to hang another feeder some distance away from the one the blackcap has claimed.
Some years ago, I was on a beach at Rossturk searching the rock-bound sea weed for wild mussels at lowtide. As I moved some of the weed I came upon an eel-like creature which was ribbon shaped, about 20-25mm wide and possibly 500mm in length. I pushed him on to the surrounding sand so that I could examine him. He moved purposefully towards a small beach pool at which I attempted to stop him with my hand. I received quite an electric shock - sufficient to discourage me. I never saw such a creature before. Could it have been an electric eel? - Karl Quinn, Dalkey, Co Dublin There are dozens of eels and eel-like fish in the Atlantic but I've yet to hear of an electric one.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie (E-mails should be accompanied by a postal address.)