A Dublin resident, Ercus Long, observed a grey squirrel in Rockfield Park securing a chestnut. As autumn arrives, squirrels gather and stockpile nourishment to weather the winter months, contrary to children’s stories suggesting they hibernate. It’s a question of survival, as sleeping for four months without sustenance would be unfeasible. Unlike hedgehogs and bats, squirrels go a step ahead, not only by gathering food but storing it as well. It’s essential for the squirrel not to consume the horse chestnut it was seen possessing, as it contains aesculin – an ingredient that could upset their stomachs and can be highly toxic in higher quantities.
In a separate encounter, Stephen O’Brien from Wexford encountered an unusually large spider while cleaning his backyard. The spider, intriguingly, appeared to have what looked like a skull on its back, causing some concern. However, the spider was identified as the giant house spider, Eratigena duellica, which poses no threat to humans. A female Eratigena duellica can measure up to 16mm in body length with legs more than double that size. The pattern on its body scientifically is referred to as a series of chevrons, and the markings on its head, from which the legs spring, are known as dentate bands.
Siobhan Martin of Belfast found a moth with intriguing markings resting within her garage. The moth was initially mistaken for the grey form of the peppered moth due to the colouring pattern. However, it was determined to be a grey chi moth, which typically appears in September. Named after the bold black Greek symbol depicted on the front wings, the moth subsists on a diet of various wildflowers present in grasslands. Furthermore, the species hibernates in the egg stage during the cold season.
“Was that an amphibian that invaded the dining room? I tried ushering the little fellow outdoors, yet he seemed completely at ease and unbothered. As he finally stumbled into the great outdoors, he staggered around on wee steps and even took a couple of tiny leaps. He seemed pretty docile. Do his colouring patterns signify anything? I was under the impression that toads were a rare sight in Malahide. Yours sincerely, Tom Sheehy, Dublin.
You are absolutely correct – toads are indeed an unusual sight in Malahide, because they are not indigenous to Ireland at large. We are home to the native natterjack toads, but these live in Co Kerry. What you saw was a plump, robust frog.
Rob Gandola, a proficient member of the Herpetological Society, elucidated that the warm and damp weather we’ve been witnessing lately has led the native ordinary frogs to emerge in greater numbers. They’ve been filling themselves with worms, slugs and other organisms, all to aid in amassing energy and enhance their physical status, preparing themselves for the oncoming hibernation period, thus maximising their chances of survival. It’s noteworthy that there is no discernible difference between the males and females of this species.
The very first time I took a picture of this fan coral was whilst I was scuba diving at St John’s Point in Donegal in June 2007. When I went diving recently, the same fan coral was there, still in its original spot. Given their frail and slow growth, I’m astounded that this coral fan is still standing strong after so many years. Sincerely, Brendan Moran, Donegal.
It goes by the name Eunicella verrucosa, or as it’s commonly referred to, the pink sea-fan, a species of cold-water coral found along the western shores of Europe up to the northern boundary of Donegal. With the onset of climate change and the subsequent warming of the ocean, it’s plausible that this coral may extend its boundaries further north.”