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Upton Warren (32 Viewers)
- Thread starter andythomas
- Start date
upstarts1979
Well-known member
owl pellet
This was found on a post next to East hide.
I have never taken one apart before, so soaked in a container of water. I then gently picked at it.
Any ideas what owl - apparently you can ID by shape colour.
any guesses as to mammal species.
B
John
This was found on a post next to East hide.
I have never taken one apart before, so soaked in a container of water. I then gently picked at it.
Any ideas what owl - apparently you can ID by shape colour.
any guesses as to mammal species.
B
JohnAttachments
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
This was found on a post next to East hide.
I have never taken one apart before, so soaked in a container of water. I then gently picked at it.
Any ideas what owl - apparently you can ID by shape colour.
any guesses as to mammal species.
B
Just found this guide to Owl Pellet ID:
"WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Tawny owls
•Tawny owl pellets are grey, cylindrical, around 6cmx3cm with somewhat pointed ends. Often found at the base of conifer trees used for roosting.
•Often contain bird remains in suburban areas.
Long- and short-eared owls
•In winter, long-eared owls roost in trees (often conifers) and close to the ground in bushes. Pellets are pale or dark grey, thin and elongate up to 7.5cm x 3cm, rounded at one or both ends.
•Short-eared owls roost on the ground and produce very similar pellets.
Barn owls
•Barn owl pellets are generally found at roost sites in buildings and are characteristically rounded or cylindrical, about 5cmx3cm, with a smooth surface covered with blackish-grey crust.
•The barn owl is the owl most likely to eat shrews.
Little owls
•Little owl pellets are mostly found in buildings and hollow trees.
•They are very small, up to 2.5cmx1.5cm, rounded at one end and pointed at the other.
•In summer, they largely contain insect remains, so may appear blue-black from the beetle elytra (the hardened outer wings).
•In winter, pellets are grey and contain the remains of mice and small birds."
shhh
Well-known member
This was found on a post next to East hide.
I have never taken one apart before, so soaked in a container of water. I then gently picked at it.
Any ideas what owl - apparently you can ID by shape colour.
any guesses as to mammal species.
B
all the bones look like voles (skulls, jaws and hip bones),
i'd guess at least two species, with the larger bones from water vole
jon
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Sy V
Well-known member
This was found on a post next to East hide.
I have never taken one apart before, so soaked in a container of water. I then gently picked at it.
Any ideas what owl - apparently you can ID by shape colour.
any guesses as to mammal species.
B
John
http://www.discoverwildlife.com/british-wildlife/how-identify-owl-pellets
With the info here and at other skull ID sites, I've decided that these are Little Owl pellets and the smaller skull is that of a Muntjac!
I got more and more confused the deeper I read! I suspect PC will know though... B 
Stone Snapper
Warrener till i snuff it
This was found on a post next to East hide.
I have never taken one apart before, so soaked in a container of water. I then gently picked at it.
Any ideas what owl - apparently you can ID by shape colour.
any guesses as to mammal species.
B
Nice one :t:
From my " Tracks and Signs of the Birds of Britain and Europe " (an excellent book) I am going with Barn Owl pellet.
Attended a talk on Water Shrews the other day, apparently the 3 mainland species ( Pygmy,Water, and Common ) are also called "Red toothed Shrews " as the tips of the teeth are red, clearly seen on skull samples, due to a high Iron content.
Any evidence of Water Shrew would be especially interesting, as the Trust is currently trying to establish the prevalence within the county.
Cannot see any red on these
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Stone Snapper
Warrener till i snuff it
the wicker man
Well-known member
Hi
Was the Med Gull on at 17:55 exactly? I had one adult Med Gull in the Sailing Pool roost with around 150-200 BHGs at 17:50.
Mike
the wicker man
Well-known member
Visited the Flashes late on. Between 16:40 and 17:40 there were 16 curlew, 9 avocets, 4 oystercatchers (flying between transmitter field and the far side of the Flashes opposite the hide) and the little ringed plover. It was incredibly quiet with hardly any gulls at all (2BHG, 1 LBBG and a few more BHGs circling but not landing). 3 shelducks, a few teal and mallard.
Mike
Mike
forgetfulelephant
Well-known member
Great pics Vern. Superb head portrait. Did Steve know they were out? Good work to the Bittern too. And the G. Woody is hardly a record shot!!:t:
Rob
UW82
Well-known member
the wicker man
Well-known member
Could be the same one then - I first saw it around then as I was on my way back from the Flashes. Just wondered if there were two....
Mike
UW82
Well-known member
Today's highlights: The Moors was 90% frozen for some time and one of the Bitterns showed fairly well from the east hide in the northern reed bed, whilst a second bird could be seen from the west hide in the eastern reeds/trees. The third bird was reported to fly from right of the west hide to reedmace not too far left of the west hide. It was not seen to fly from this location right upto 18.45--quite dark.
The Med Gull was first located at the Flashes during the early afternoon, but did not stay long. It was relocated early evening before flying off again, only to be relocated on the Sailing Pool.
MOORS:
Barn Owl------------------------Bittern (3)
Med Gull (Ad)-------------------Shelduck(2)
Snipe (8)------------------------Oystercatcher (min 5, but possibly 8 across the reserve)
Shoveler (7)--------------------Pochard (12)
Gadwall(4)----------------------Wigeon(f)
Tufted Duck(47)----------------Teal (8)
Cetti's Warbler
FLASHES/SAILING POOL:
Avocet (9)----------------------LRP
Curlew (14)--------------------Common Gull (Ad)
Shelduck-----------------------Teal(46)
B H Gull (c160)
Des.
The Med Gull was first located at the Flashes during the early afternoon, but did not stay long. It was relocated early evening before flying off again, only to be relocated on the Sailing Pool.
MOORS:
Barn Owl------------------------Bittern (3)
Med Gull (Ad)-------------------Shelduck(2)
Snipe (8)------------------------Oystercatcher (min 5, but possibly 8 across the reserve)
Shoveler (7)--------------------Pochard (12)
Gadwall(4)----------------------Wigeon(f)
Tufted Duck(47)----------------Teal (8)
Cetti's Warbler
FLASHES/SAILING POOL:
Avocet (9)----------------------LRP
Curlew (14)--------------------Common Gull (Ad)
Shelduck-----------------------Teal(46)
B H Gull (c160)
Des.
Woodchat
Cogito ergo sum
Mark,
I have personally recorded Water Shrew three times at UW. The last one was sadly found dead on the east track. I photographed it, posted it on this forum and sent the photo to the Trust.
