Sun spotters around Ireland made the most of the beautiful weather yesterday when the sunshine broke through and raised temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius.
Almost the whole of Ireland experienced the warm sunny weather, with the unusual exception of the sunny southeast and the south of the country, where there were outbreaks of rain.
However, the "Indian summer" weather has led to some unusual behaviour from animals around the country. Dublin Zoo reported that all the animals were making the most of the sunshine and spending all of their time outside their enclosures.
One rhinoceros responded to the sun more than most and went into heat, something that usually only happens in the summer months as it takes between 10 and 16 hours of good sunlight for this to occur.
The hippopotami were also acting oddly and were anxious to make the most of their outdoor pool. "The animals are all outside enjoying the sunshine. Normally at this time of year they're inside, looking for an extra layer of clothes like the rest of us," said Jerry Creighton, senior keeper at the zoo.
A further example of the warm weather's effect is an unusual absence of birds around the country. Birdwatch Ireland, who noticed the drop, believe the weather is the cause.
While a few swallows, which would have moved on by now, are lingering the majority of birds, which usually don't migrate until later in the year, had left as up to last week we seemed to be heading fast into winter.
Yet many of the winter birds have held up their arrival here, as the weather is still too mild for them.
"It's very quiet at the moment. There's been a clearout of birds as they tend to migrate when the weather is fine," said Dick Coombs, of Birdwatch Ireland.