Michael Viney responds to queries and observations on nature.
We have three grey squirrels eating from our Crinodendron trees. They appear to be eating something from the flowers. They are also fond of our two crab-apple trees.
Sheila Comiskey, Bray, Co Wicklow
In summer squirrels will eat buds, flowers and bark.
A magpie landed on my bird table and then grabbed a blue tit by the wing from one of the feeders and flew off with it in his beak.
Joan Roberts, Belgooly, Co Cork
You could protect the feeders with globes of net wire that allow the small birds through and keep off the large predators.
We have five joined-up swallows' nests outside our kitchen window and recently flocks of starlings have attacked them viciously as if to drive them out of their nests. We have monitored these swallows for years and find that the last of them leaves between Sept 17th and 23rd every year. We have 17 other nests in the stables.
Mary and Michael Crowley,
Dunboyne Co Meath
It is unusual for starlings to attack nests, but there have been occasional records.