Outdoor Living

NATURE John Shelley ruminates on the many myths and facts attached to the cuckoo, which arrives in Ireland in late April

NATURE John Shelley is besieged by an unwelcome stalker — aged, cranky and decidedly foul-smelling

NATURE Lambs and sheep are defenseless against dogs that are let run loose by irresponsible owners

NATURE John Shelley’s friend is won over by the charming courtship-feeding ritual of a pair of robins

NATURE The ordinarily mild-mannered coot turns hot-headed and spiritedly competitive come the spring

NATURE Almost the entire world population of light-bellied Brent geese winter in Ireland, but their numbers are falling

NATURE Farmers often misunderstand the valuable role that rooks play in ridding pasture of damaging leatherjackets

NATURE Man’s use of poison risks killing more than was intended and upsetting the delicate ecosystem

NATURE John Shelley takes his rod to Emlagh beach in search of winter fish, hoping for cod, turbot or sea bass

NATURE ‘Wherever there’s fish there’s men, and wherever there’s men there’s a villain or two’, writes John Shelley