In late July I saw a wren at the entrance of a nesting box for blue tits in my garden and thought it was looking for a nest site. On the August bank holiday the chicks were ready to fly when I saw the wren again with a winged insect in its beak which it fed to the eager blue tit chick. We watched for two hours as the wren and the parent tits worked at feeding - the wren's trips were markedly slower that those of the tits. A wildlife photographer friend took slides which clearly show what was happening. - John Ronan, New Ross, Co Wexford
On November 24th we saw a brown shrike beside Ballyferriter village in Co Kerry. It was identified by members of the Rarities section of Birdwatch Ireland. This bird normally breeds in Japan, China and Mongolia and winters in south-east Asia. the Philippines and Thailand. - Eric and Eleanor Prestage, Ventry, Co Kerry.
This little bird has caused a lot of excitement among bird watchers. It is a very rare vagrant into western Europe but has been recorded in Britain and Denmark.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. email - viney@anu.ie Observations sent by email should be accompanied by postal address as location is sometimes important to identification or behaviour.