THE robin is the bird most associated with the Christmas season and, I suppose, if you had to pick a mammal you’d have to go for the reindeer.

LIKE many people with an interest in wildlife, I keep track of the birds in my garden.

THIS is a fairly quiet time of year for most forms of gardening activity but the exception is the management of trees.

I WAS working down at the bottom of the garden the other day, converting a fallen tree into logs for the fire. It was one of those pet November days, hardly a breath of wind, and enough sun to make me take my jacket off.

I HAD an odd and rather unpleasant experience the other day.

I WAS travelling in my boat on the Grand Canal recently, enjoying the wonderful autumn colours of the trees and shrubs growing along the bank.

THERE is still quite a bit of tillage farming around where I live, mostly winter cereals.

I RECEIVED an email the other day from a lady who was appalled because she’d just spotted a large rat sitting on the peanut feeder she puts out for the birds in her garden and nibbling at the contents.

USUALLY when I work at the computer I close the curtains on the big window beside me so that I can see the monitor more clearly.

LAST week on this page I mentioned that on a trip to Kerry I had found a plant called the large-flowered butterwort and that it was carnivorous.