EYE ON NATURE

Observations from readers

I went into the shed where I heard a noise coming from the woodpile. To my surprise, up popped a pine marten. We regarded each other for a few seconds before he decided to shimmy up a pipe into the rafters where he slowly made his way across the rafters to the shed wall where he could look at me from a secure spot.

Steve Chapman, Louisburgh, Co Mayo

Recently I saw a creature moving like a snake along the stony bottom of the River Fergus in Ennis. It looked about 40 inches (100cm) long, pale mushroom colour, with long fins on its back but none on its belly. Was it a sea lamprey come in from the sea to spawn?

Dyan Smith, Ennis, Co Clare

Yes. The eggs are laid in a nest among stones in running water.

For the second year the swallows' nest in our shed has fallen and the parents continued to feed the young on the floor. Are this year's builders the same poor builders of last year, or their offspring who are no more talented genetically than their parents? Is nest-building inherited or learned?

Jimmy Reilly and family, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath

Nest-building is innate or genetic, and evolved as favourable adaptions over millions of years.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo;

e-mail: viney@anu.ie  Include a postal address