Michael Viney responds to reader's queries and observations on nature.
Me and my brother Conor found a huge puddle where there was a lot of frog spawn. We check the puddle every day to see did someone go near it, cos it's against the law to move it.
Cian Heffernan (aged 4), Ballykillduff, Co Carlow
I found the elephant hawkmoth caterpillar last autumn, and I put it in a jar with its food plant fuchsia. It made a chrysalis shortly afterwards. Around Feb 20th the adult moth, a female, had just emerged. As it is usually on the wing at the earliest in May, will she find a mate this early in the year?
Isabel O'Shea (aged 10), Caherdaniel, Co Kerry
She might, if she survives for a couple of months.You must have kept the jar in a warm place for her to emerge so soon.
On March 1st, I spotted three unusual birds sitting on the telephone wire outside my bedroom window. I identified them as waxwings because of their yellow tail feathers and punk rock hairstyles. Is this a rare sighting?
Shane Whooley (aged 10) Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Waxwings are uncommon visitors in late winter from northern Europe. Some years there are none, and occasionally flocks of them arrive in search of berries.
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 email should be accompanied by postal address.