Michael Viney responds to reader's queries and observations on nature.
Among the visitors to our bird table is a flock of house sparrows. Some weeks ago I noticed that one of them was a tree sparrow and now there are two. Can I encourage them to nest here, and are there many tree sparrows in Ireland? Annora Whitley, Nobber, Co Meath
Tree sparrows are found all over the country, but are scarce. They are most plentiful in the east of the country. They nest in holes in trees and in old buildings.
I was walking along the boardwalk by the lower lake in Glendalough on March 15th, when a brown, agile creature, a few inches long, flashed before me and went into a crack in a wooden post, leaving only its head visible. I thought it might be a common lizard but as we were close to a wetland area, perhaps it was a newt. Niamh Lennon, Dundrum, Dublin, 14
As it was daylight and a sunny day, it was more likely a lizard sunning itself. Newts tend to hide during the day and come out at night to feed. Lizards feed during the day and need to warm up in the sun before they can become active enough to hunt; then they move rapidly in a series of darts.
Edited by Michael Viney, who welcomes observations sent to him at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo. E-mail: viney@anu.ie (include postal address)