EYE ON NATURE

On December 28th I observed three blackcaps feeding on the remaining cotoneaster berries in our garden. The female is still, with us and I believe that here in Kildare we are at the edge of their wintering range in Europe. Do those who breed and winter here ever return to Africa, or do they become more or less a native here in Ireland?

Sean Bean, Maynooth, Co Kildare

It seems almost certain that the blackcaps that winter in Ireland arrive here in late autumn from northern and eastern Europe they have also been found to winter as far north as Orkney and Shetland. It is not clear if the Irish wintering birds remain to breed or return whence they came the latter is more likely. The birds that breed here generally migrate to the western Mediterranean region - southern Spain and the north coast of Africa.

Over the past year crows have been lifting balls, both white and coloured, from the fairways of our golf course during play. They carry some into the gorse on the perimeter of the course, while considerable numbers have been found on the strand on the opposite side of the harbour. Can you suggest a reason for this behaviour? and, perhaps, propose some kind of suitable deterrent.

Nuala Denniss, Schull, Co Cork

They think they are eggs. I can't think of any serious deterrent, but you could carry a football rattle and scare them away or paint eyes on the balls

In removing my kitten from the chimney I got this beak of some bir (object enclosed). Could you tell us if it is a gull's or a crow's beak, and how did it come to be there?

Anita, Sandymount, Dublin 4

It is not a beak, but the pincer from the claw of an edible crab which was probably brought to your chimney by a crow.