In August, a Galway mallard hatched five ducklings, one of which was creamy white. Is this unusual?
Mary Hanly, Salthill, Co Galway
Albinism can occur in mallards where there is inbreeding. In urban areas, where mating with domestic ducks takes place, colour variations are also found.
On Keel strand, Achill Island, I found a buoy covered in shells. They were basically flat and up to 10 millimetres deep, somewhat pear-shaped and a light violet colour. They were moving at the end of a myriad of hydra-like arms and protruding from them were fronds resembling the gills of a fish.
Martin Crotty, Blackrock, Co Louth
They were goose-necked barnacles which are found at sea in the Atlantic and fasten onto floating debris which brings them ashore.
In our village of Ardglasson we have two rookeries with all the attendant cacophony. Standing under them in the early morning or evening, one intriguing sound is for all the world like a rook snoring heavily. None of our bird books mentions this sound.
Anne Serff, Kells, Co Meath
Rooks are great mimics and they have a wide range of sounds, one of which is a croak.
Eye on Nature is edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. Observations by e-mail should be accompanied by postal address. E-mail: viney@anu.ie