What animal collects daffodil flowers?

[Hedge Witch]

Hi guys, sorry this is quite an obscure question, and I don't have a photo. But nothing ventured and all that.

At the edge of a wood (still within it, but in marshy ground) there was a daffodil growing wild. I went over to look at in and noticed that the heads of all flowers but one had been cut off, near the top (about a foot from the ground). Beneath a small clump of Carex pendula growing nearby I could see dying yellow petals and I realised that was where the flower heads had been left, quite neatly, petals still intact. I didn't put my hand in to pick one up, and I originally concluded it was kids playing, and walked away.

Now I think about it, there were no other signs of play, and this part of the woods was very remote and inaccessible. So I think that this was unusual behaviour for a juvenile Homo sapiens. Furthermore, I managed to leave tracks in my short visit, but as I recall, the ground looked undisturbed apart from where I walked.

Does anyone know what other animal might have done this?

[RobinP]

Hi Hedgie

Could it be Muntjac?

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Robin, I'm not sure, but the store was under a very small clump of sedge. Only a few inches high.

A little further on there was evidence of Muntjac activity, and we did spot one in the same woods. But would they hide the flowers under cover?

Curious.

[Pippa]

Haven't a clue HW but know the Blackbird pulls out all my new plants and watched the Sparrows having a good feed on my Aubretia.Hope someone comes along that does.

[Hedge Witch]

I wish I'd investigated further now Pippa I'm now wondering if something was feeding on the seed pods that I think daffodils have.

But did it reach to the top of the stalk, or climb it

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

I wish I'd investigated further now Pippa I'm now wondering if something was feeding on the seed pods that I think daffodils have.

But did it reach to the top of the stalk, or climb it

Always had Daffs in the garden HW and have seen the odd one snapped at the top.Always blamed a bird, usually the Blackbird but really didn't know for certain.

[camo]

Hi Hedgie

This is really intriguing as I beleive if the flowers were picked and stored it shows high intelligence and also a certain size. I think Deer are a possibility but I have never heard of a Deer storing food! Did you notice if there was a clean cut to the stalks, We have lots of wild Daffodils locally and also a large head of Muntjac, I will check and see if any of the heads have been decapitated.

Roy

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by camo

Hi Hedgie

This is really intriguing as I beleive if the flowers were picked and stored it shows high intelligence and also a certain size. I think Deer are a possibility but I have never heard of a Deer storing food! Did you notice if there was a clean cut to the stalks, We have lots of wild Daffodils locally and also a large head of Muntjac, I will check and see if any of the heads have been decapitated.

Roy

Hi Roy
Well, me being like I am , I did notice that The Daffs were very cleanly cut across the tops, and it was quite damp in that area. Might it mean...DAH....DAH...DAHHHH...
The WV?

[camo]

I think they might be too tall for a WV (although they could pull them over!) and a daffodil stalk might take a couple of bites so would probably show teeth marks if a WV but still a nice thought. WV do create stores but they tend to chop drop and eat on the spot. The intriguing thing with yours is that they have been collected like a Squirrel storing food. A clean cut to me suggests sharp and larger teeth than the thickness of the stalk, a Muntjac certainly fals into that category. A badger eats on spot, there are no rodents tall enough for a Daff that are vegetarian and we don't have beavers! On second thoughts, what about a Squirrel would they, could they! They store, probably eat flower heads and they could reach.

Roy

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by camo

I think they might be too tall for a WV (although they could pull them over!) and a daffodil stalk might take a couple of bites so would probably show teeth marks if a WV but still a nice thought. WV do create stores but they tend to chop drop and eat on the spot. The intriguing thing with yours is that they have been collected like a Squirrel storing food. A clean cut to me suggests sharp and larger teeth than the thickness of the stalk, a Muntjac certainly fals into that category. A badger eats on spot, there are no rodents tall enough for a Daff that are vegetarian and we don't have beavers! On second thoughts, what about a Squirrel would they, could they! They store, probably eat flower heads and they could reach.

Roy

I just suggested to the OH that we return on Sunday and I think he agreed so I will investigate further and look for clues
I have never yet seen a squirrel there, but I remain very open-minded.