Hi. I’ve attached a photo of a pellet found in my garden. Rural, Central NW Brittany. Lots of Buzzards, Kestrels and Sparrowhawks. Some owls - last year a Long Eared Owl in the garden. I think from looking in my book that this is from a Little Owl? But any help appreciated. Thanks.
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Pellet ID help please (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Deborah1
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Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Measurements would help; so would a dissection of the pellet to see what it contains: Little Owl will be mostly hard insect parts (beetle elytra, etc.), while LEO more small mammal bones and fur. This one looks more like the latter, but tease it apart and it'll be much easier to see.
Fascinating. The pellet is 4cm long. I’ve pulled it apart and attach a pic. It seems to me to be fur and some bones and claws? Do you think it’s more likely to be the LEO rather than Barn or Brown?
Massive vole population here -house backs directly onto permanent pasture and their damage makes gardening difficult. Am hoping to increase/encourage owls. Any advice welcome!
Massive vole population here -house backs directly onto permanent pasture and their damage makes gardening difficult. Am hoping to increase/encourage owls. Any advice welcome!
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Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
4 cm sounds about right for either Barn or LEO; individual pellets vary quite a bit in size, but I'd think a Tawny Owl pellet would be larger than that, and Little Owl smaller (as well as being more insect bits). I suspect you'll have to do a stake-out to see which of Barn or LEO.
To attract more - put up dedicated Barn Owl nestboxes for Barn Owls. Old flower trugs put up in dense trees can be used by LEO, but the use rate will likely be lower; most often they use old crow nests.
To attract more - put up dedicated Barn Owl nestboxes for Barn Owls. Old flower trugs put up in dense trees can be used by LEO, but the use rate will likely be lower; most often they use old crow nests.
