Signs of nature Thursday 17th August 2017

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Quite often it is possible to confirm the presence of elusive creatures by the signs they leave behind.

Today whilst doing a reptile survey I found some "scat" from a small mammal, can anyone identify it?
small mammal scat (poo)
Birds also leave behind evidence of their presence, I don't mean the splashes of poo on your clean car but signs in the form of "pellets", the undigested remains of their prey, any ideas which species of bird left this pellet?, clue its composed of beetle elytra, and seeds



bird pellet


Signs of the changing seasons are everywhere not least in the presence of migratory birds last seen on their spring arrival, Northern Wheatears were on the reserve this morning, this member of the Chat family is a summer visitor to our shores, nesting in a range of open habitats from offshore islands, dune systems (not Pembrey sadly) to mountain slopes, they have one of the longest migrations of any passerine with some birds passing through the UK to breed in artic Canada; before returning to sub-Saharan Africa.



Northern Wheatear, Juvenile/female type

map from wikipedia


Comments

  1. Anonymous17 August 2017 at 23:08

    Probably stoat, 2nd choice polecat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Paul Aubrey18 August 2017 at 12:30

      Well certainly a mustelid, I had thought Weasel, it was deposited under a reptile refugia

      Delete

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