Eye on Nature

On March 1st I saw something I'd never observed before - the field of several acres below our house was literally hopping with brown birds pecking furiously at the stubble. I stopped counting after a couple of dozen when I realised that there were probably hundreds of them. They resembled thrushes in size and had similar stripy breasts and longish straight tails.

Sophie Kennedy, Clareen, Co Offaly

They were either redwings or fieldfares, or a mixed flock of both. They are cousins of our song thrushes still visiting from Scandinavia in late winter and early spring.

We feed the birds in our garden with birdseed and peanuts. Last November, a male blackcap had arrived, and is still here. He has been feeding on the peanuts on a daily basis, but never seems to touch the wild birdseed. Is this unusual? Now that spring has arrived, will he go looking for a mate?

Harvey and Hilda Heavener, Redcross, Co Wicklow

Blackcaps generally eat insects rather than seed, but they eat fruits in autumn and also enjoy peanuts. The male blackcap has marked out a territory and will advertise it in beautiful melody to entice a mate.

Eye on Nature is edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. e-mail: viney@anu.ie. Observations sent by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address.