Eye on Nature

I saw 14 blackbirds picking through leaves on the lawn. Is it unusual to see so many together?
Brigid Flanagan
Dromiskin, Co Louth

They were flocks from Europe wintering here.

The first tadpoles of 2015 appeared in our south-facing pond on January 31st. You say in your book A Year's Turning that they appear first in west Cork about February 13th. Has global warming anything to do with this?
Neal Cahill
Templenoe, Co Kerry

In recent times frogs have been spawning earlier. In 1960s it was in March. Since then the earliest frog spawn recorded was on January 10th, in 2008. As tadpoles follow in about two weeks your spawn appeared in mid January.

On February 8th about 50 curlews were on a field overlooking the beach. Are they not in decline in Ireland?
Ernie Shepherd
Ballyvaloo, Co Wexford

They were wintering immigrants gathering to return to Scotland and Scandinavia.

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