Eye on Nature: Your notes and queries

I was walking along a river with my dog when I saw an otter moving along parallel to the river. When the otter saw me he disappeared into a cornfield. Why was he so far from, and moving away from, the cover of the river?
Seán Byrne
Dundalk, Co Louth

Perhaps he was returning to his holt farther along the river, and avoided disclosing its location.

As I stood on a bridge in Trooperstown wood at dusk a pine marten emerged from the undergrowth and started to cross it towards me. When I raised my binoculars it stopped and retreated to the end of the bridge, turned and looked in my direction and then stood up on its hind legs, supported by its tail. It peered at me before crossing the road and disappearing into the undergrowth.
Jim Sheehan
Greystones, Co Wicklow

I feed a charm of goldfinches in my back garden all year round but noticed that they became very scarce recently for about five or six weeks. They have now returned in their usual numbers.
David Larkin
Galway

They were away breeding.

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