Damien Enright enjoys an exciting time outdoors.

SPRING may be here, and no real need to feed the birds, but the sight of a new species at the bird table sends me to buy another bag of peanuts, whatever the expense. Long-tailed tits are almost unheard of at bird feeders and so pretty and entertaining that I want to keep them coming. There’s a possessiveness to it — people with garden bird tables will know what I mean.

Damien Enright on how borders are non-existent for birds.

ON the second day of last week’s storms and spring tides, I walked down the long, sandy beach that stretches away from the village of Courtmacsherry, in west Cork.

Damien Enright says ‘facts’ on both sides are inconclusive

THIS morning, dawdling knee-deep in the water at the edge of the port beach at Valle Gran Rey on the Canary Island of La Gomera, I remembered standing in the same spot many years ago with a skinny boy, now a giant of 30 years, and looking at a big manta ray lying in the sand at our feet.

THE intention on the Saturday afternoon, our second day back on the island, was simply to sample our friend’s 2007 wine, stay a few hours and then go back down to the sea, the banana plantations and the black sand beaches.

Damien Enright says sunshine brings out best in nature.

Damien Enright meets with Foxes of a very different kind

Damien Enright says the world of nature has been knocked out of kilter.