Eye on Nature

I have been fighting a weed for five years. I root it out but it keeps coming back. It normally has a clump or small shamrock-like heads and two-inch roots.
Martin Costello
Kilkenny

It is yellow wood sorrel, Oxalis corniculata, from your photograph. Definitely a difficult weed. Try the Royal Horticultural Society advice at iti.ms/1BuUup6.

You can spot red squirrels on the old Derry-Carrigans railway line. The River Foyle may keep the grey variety away.
Jim O'Sullivan
Letterkenny, Co Donegal

I've had yellowhammers in my garden this year for the first time. How common are they in the midlands?
Primrose Cleary
Geashill, Co Offaly

They are found only in the grain-growing areas of the midlands and southeast.

Spiders are in search of mates. Eye on Nature has had several photographs of the house spider Tegenaria gigantea. Phil O'Meara of Baldoyle and Roy Noone of Mullingar sent photographs of Araneus quadratus, the four-spot orb weaver, which has a pretty petal design on its back.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address