Kinneil Kerse Wildlife, Kelly Kettle and Geocaching

[Scots_Charles_River]

Popped along to Kinneil Kerse, SSSI, special mudlfat/intertidal zone for birdlife. Over 18 different species spotted inc. many Geese and Grebe. Some very distinctive white/black winged large ducks/gse as well, Name ?

Very accessable and close to the M9. The hide can be booked thru the Jupiter Centre in Grangemuth/Scottish Wildlife trust. I was just out and about although there were folk in the hide.Best to park up and follow the path clockwise, much evidence of Foxes or Mink/Otter. Deer are seen in the birch woods too.

I was setting a geocache today, also one at Bethankie Bridge too. Nice warming cuppa and hot choc using the grass and twigs for the kelly kettle.

Was this a bird ?

The Kinneil Kerse geocache location.

Nick

 

[Barn Owl]

Barnacle Geese?
They have 'striped' sort of pattern.

Skull and bones..Do you mean are they avian or was a bird the killer?

It's a mammalian skeleton and birds who eat same on mainland usually digest a lot of the bones and regurgitate bony material in pellet form later.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Barnacle Geese?
They have 'striped' sort of pattern..

Aye, sounds like them.

Skull and bones..Do you mean are they avian or was a bird the killer?.It's a mammalian skeleton and birds who eat same on mainland usually digest a lot of the bones and regurgitate bony material in pellet form later.

I knew, form yesterday, that a bird of prey would eat the bones and pellet them, but there was few feathers, rotted away, but the skull is from a ?? Rabbit ? The other bones would be approx. rabbit sized.

Ta, Nick

 

[Barn Owl]

The thing with Rabbit and birds is that only the larger bops will usually go for them and then only if it's an easy kill.
At that locus I could only see a female Peregrine or perhaps a Buzzard taking Rabbit.

Btw a Rabbit skull should hold c.28 teeth.

Tom.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Ta, there was a buzzard around the area today, soaring.

 

[firecrest]

Might be a rabbit
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/Rabbit_Skull.jpg
Or a Hare maybe.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

Ta, that's the same skull. Funny network of thin bones at the cheek ?

Nick