Readers' observations on nature
On a visit to Co Kerry I was startled by harsh, high-pitched cries of a bird, repeated in bursts throughout the day. I glimpsed what looked like a small, greyish hawk flashing through the trees and noted the carcasses of two pigeons freshly killed - long trails of feathers and the side of one ripped open.
Gerry Lyne, Dublin 2
What you spotted was probably a peregrine falcon.
Recently we saw an otter swimming in the Grand Canal, near Harold's Cross bridge, and watched it for about 10 minutes. It seemed to be feeding in the vegetation at the bottom of the canal.
Aogán Mulcahy, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6
It was probably feeding on bottom-dwelling fish.
I've recently found droppings in my back garden that looked like cat but contained dark red seeds. They smelt bad but not as bad as cat droppings. Something had also dug up a beer trap full of slugs and carried it across the garden and my wife's shoe had been picked up from the doorstep and dropped five or six metres away. There are foxes around.
Padraig Doyle, Churchtown, Dublin 14
It could indeed have been a fox.
Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo; e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address