Columns - Irish Examiner

Dick Warner

Having fun with flowers

Identifying wildflowers is not an easy thing for the amateur naturalist. 

Mon, 29 Aug, 2016

Birds hoover up spilt grain

Despite the fact that August has been quite wet most of the winter cereals around here have been harvested. It’s barley mainly, with a bit of wheat, writes Dick Warner

Mon, 22 Aug, 2016

Commas are back. Full stop

I have two buddleia bushes at the bottom of my garden. They’ve been in flower for a couple of weeks and, on the odd occasion when the sun shines, I stroll down to check them for insects. 

Mon, 15 Aug, 2016

Amazing quality of cobwebs

I hadn’t used my car for a couple of days and when I went out to get into it I discovered that a spider had woven a web between the wing mirror and the body of the car. 

Mon, 08 Aug, 2016

Water lilies’ big role in our past diet

The pleasures of travelling our inland waterways are enhanced at this time of year by the blossoming of water lilies. 

Mon, 01 Aug, 2016

Otters feel safe in the sunshine

RECENTLY I spent some time in and around the village of Corofin in Co Clare, writes Dick Warner

Mon, 25 Jul, 2016

Hens at risk from feral cats

Last winter, my small flock of hens was killed by a feral tom cat, says Dick Warner. 

Mon, 18 Jul, 2016

Swooping swallows take a sip

BECAUSE I like boating and fishing I spend many summer days around water. 

Mon, 11 Jul, 2016

Medieval ‘science’ behind naming of weeds and their dubious medicinal purposes

Long daylight hours, plenty of showers, warm soil, and the weeds in my garden have put on a spurt of growth. I have to mount an offensive, by hand and by hoe, to control them.

Mon, 04 Jul, 2016

I AM researching a project about Irish freshwater fish species. The other day I set off in search of dace. The dace has an interesting story in this country which is quoted in all the scientific papers and popular articles about them.

Mon, 27 Jun, 2016