Unidentified droppings

[vole-woman]

Can anyone tell me what these might be from? I've so little idea I couldn't even decide whether to post my question in the birds or mammals forum. I've found several of these droppings on a bridge above a stream, and when I break the droppings apart they're full of very small stones and what might be beetle cases. They didn't smell of very much - certainly not foul - and were about the size of an otter spraint, about 2inches. Oh, I'm based in Shropshire, if that's any help.

[Adam Cheeseman]

I would say these are pellets as opposed to droppings. Beetle cases says Little Owl to me.

Cheers,

Adam

[mrs fish]

Good find VW

[hammock monkey]

i'd have said the same, owl - possibly little owl.

might be a good opportunity to see one - if its easy enough to watch the bridge from a reasonable distance away?

[vole-woman]

Wow! Yes, I might go back and watch one evening. Do little owls eat mice and voles as well?

[hammock monkey]

they go for insects & shrews mostly i think, not 100% sure about mice etc- i guess if they're small enough?

either way, it'd be a great thing to see. If you can establish if its a common feeding spot for it you might be able to get some nice pics.

I think i've only ever seen barn owls in the wild - i'd love to spot a little owl

[vole-woman]

I'll try and go one evening this week. Trouble is, I already go watch for water voles every evening (I like to try and get a sighting for our log) and I usually spend half an hour or so after dark communing with the hedghog in our garden. My husband already complains he never sees me!

[vole-woman]

Anyway, thanks for the replies. I'll do a blog post on it this week. Steve, the newhythebirder, had a pic of a little owl recently on his blog (and his blog's in the links section of mine if anyone wants to see).