I came across this dinner table while walking in a beech wood today. Any ideas about who the diner was and what the dinner might have been. The back of the carcass is about half the size of a chicken. The feathers looked brownish but were very decayed so difficult to tell.
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Hi frog prince
This does indeed appear to be a plucking post, as for the diner I would strongly suggest a Sparrowhawk rather than a Common Buzzard or Goshawk.
However this is only my opinion and a numbers of years studying these magnificant raptors, and also based on your photo's and description of the area.
If the area is very dense, I would be more inclined to go with a Sparrowhawk and determine the prey was of Pigeon size, then I would suggest it was a female Sparrowhawk that dined there!
As for identification of the prey, again I would agree that it was a Pigeon / Stock Dove!
Plucking posts, surrounded by feathers and fur, may indicate that a raptor nesting site is nearby and these may be mainly used during the breeding season.
If you happen to visit the site again or come across another plucking post, check the trees for nests!
The food of this species consists principally of the smaller birds, and some that are larger—snipes, larks, jays, blackbirds, swallows, sparrows, lapwings, buntings, pigeons, partridges, landrails, thrushes, pipits, linnets, yellow-hammers, bullfinches, finches, as also, occasionally, mice, cock-chaffers and other beetles, grasshoppers etc.
The female been the size of a kestrel would take the larger prey whereas the male is only large thrush sized. 28-38cm
The smaller birds that are caught are generally swallowed whole!
The elevated nature of the post allows for a safer landing with the heavy load of the prey, as well as being a good vantage point to scan for other predators, while the bird is vulnerable, involved in the relatively complex process of plucking and feeding upon its prey.
The above photo's were taken a number of years ago in my garden, I have a breeding pair that have visted almost daily for several years and are very fond of the Collared Doves.
I see the female more often than the male, this particular shot shows the female with a Collared Dove.
The plucking has already taken place ( if I can find the photo I will upload it) the head and wings are removed with the majority of body feathers. She then moves onto hedges were she has the elevated view.
I hope this helps.
Regards Paul
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Can't answer your questions but how interesting! I would guess that it was a pheasant by size and feather colouring? As for the predator.... Maybe a goshawk? I really don't know though! Hope someone on here can shed some light on it!
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Interesting pictures! I would suspect that this plucking post has been used by a buzzard or indeed a goshawk as already suggested! The prey item does look quite large, maybe not quite large enough for a pheasant, possibly a woodpigeon or jackdaw? I don't suppose you can post any close up pictures of any of the intact feathers?
Plucking posts are also used by sparrowhawks and some owls but i would think that the larger birds of prey would be the leading contenders here.
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Interesting pictures FP
Not seen a plucking post yet so it is something to watch out for on ones travels.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
IanHI don't suppose you can post any close up pictures of any of the intact feathers?
This is the best I can do. Certainly doesn't look like a pheasant. Woodpigeon looks more like it. Buzzards are very commom here in the Quantocks, however this was in quite dense woodland which made me question my first thought that it was a Buzzard.
I agree that it looks like a plucking post, the feathers look as if they'd match a woodpigeon and the finding being in woodland, to me, points to goshawk or sparrowhawk. Might be worth keeping an eye open in that area in case the culprit reappears! I've found sparrowhawk plucking posts before that were used on a regular basis though I only ever managed to get glimpses of the hawk itself.
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KatTai, thats great advice, well worth keeping an eye on this area as it might be a regular haunt.
FP, thanks for posting the close ups, you can see from some of the larger wing feathers that they have a light grey middle with darker tips, typical of a woodpigeon so that would be a good call!
In a beech wood in Somerset i wouldn't rule out any of the three leading contenders, the buzzard sparrowhawk or goshawk as all are capable of taking a pigeon and all use plucking posts! Imagine if it is a goshawk, wow, although the buzzard and sparrowhawk are pretty impressive too.
Interesting replies FP, and all who have contributed them so far {thumbs up}
Let us know if there is any other activity at this plucking post when it is available
IanH KatTai, thats great advice, well worth keeping an eye on this area as it might be a regular haunt. FP, thanks for posting the close ups, you can see from some of the larger wing feathers that they have a light grey middle with darker tips, typical of a woodpigeon so that would be a good call! In a beech wood in Somerset i wouldn't rule out any of the three leading contenders, the buzzard sparrowhawk or goshawk as all are capable of taking a pigeon and all use plucking posts! Imagine if it is a goshawk, wow, although the buzzard and sparrowhawk are pretty impressive too.