This rosemary or lavender beetle was photographed in Co Meath. I've seen these handsome, iridescent wee humbugs in the greater Dublin area this year.
Francis Devine, Howth, Co Dublin
On August 29th at Lough Coumduala in the Comeragh mountains, we watched about 200 house martins in flight, dipping into the lake for a drink. Each contact with the water threw up a spray, creating a spectacular display.
Eddie Beglin, Waterford
We spotted this beauty on a recent visit to Plitvic lakes in Croatia.
Ed Armitage, Douglas, Co Cork
It’s the male beautiful demoiselle, also called the beautiful jewelwing, which is quite plentiful in the south of this country. The wings appear very dark.
I found a group of these shield bugs on the underside of a rhubarb leaf. Is it a native species?
Susan O'Regan, Cobh, Co Cork
This is the dock bug, Coreus marginatus. a squash bug that can be found on docks and fruit plants. It has been reported here only in the south of the country and not far inland from the coast.
This kingfisher is an unusual bird to have fly into a window. Our school overlooks the Galway canal.
Neil Spellacy, St Joseph's College, Galway
Over a period of four or five days towards the end of July some birds were circling in a field nearby. They looked and sounded like curlews and had long curved beaks. They disappeared and over the following two weeks similar, solitary birds flew overhead. The sound was extraordinary and beautiful.
Mo Moloney, Virginia, Co Cavan
They sound like whimbrels migrating from breeding in Iceland. They are smaller and have slightly shorter beaks than curlews. They are more frequently seen along the coast.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address.
