Looking over Scotsman's Bay in Sandycove in January and early February, I've noticed about 150 yards out to sea small groups (between 15 and 50) of dark birds moving south in V-formation approximately a foot above the waves. What type of birds were they and why were they behaving in that manner?
James H. Casey, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Common scoter, one of the wintering sea ducks, usually behave in this manner, flying astern in both small and large flocks, just above the waves. It was a bit early for them to be flying back to their breeding grounds in artic Finland and Russia, so they may have been moving away from their feeding grounds along the Louth coast because of severe weather.
Two years ago, I acquired a small fibreglass pond into which I put some frog spawn which duly turned into froglets. Last December four fat frogs were to be found under stones in the pond, and since January two are in permanent embrace. Are these my returned froglets? Are they mating? And why didn't they hibernate under mud?
Orna Dunleavy, Ventry, Co Kerry
Generally only male frogs hibernate under water, in mud if there is any. Females find some relatively sheltered place on land in which to spend the winter and emerge pregnant with eggs in early spring returning to their pond of birth. The two in permanent embrace are mating, but the one clasping back of the other is male and should be smaller. He is waiting for the female to lay her eggs which he will then spray with his sperm.
I have had backcaps visiting my garden during 1995. During February and March a female repeatedly visited my bird-table. In December a male frequented the place for a few days eating berries on cordylines.
Brendan Dunne, Salthill, Galway