What is it and who did it? (Not for the squeamish)

[Hedge Witch]

I came across these remains today at a local nature reserve. They were on top of the balustrade of a bridge crossing a fast-flowing river.

I suspect it was quite a sizable frog. Can anyone help me ID it?

I was wondering what sort of animal might have done this. Possibly a bird?

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Thanks!

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

I came across these remains today at a local nature reserve. They were on top of the balustrade of a bridge crossing a fast-flowing river.

I suspect it was quite a sizable frog. Can anyone help me ID it?

I was wondering what sort of animal might have done this. Possibly a bird?

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Thanks!

It could have been a kestrel or other BOP. I'm a little surprised, although I'm not an expert, that the big red arrow didn't scare them off. Interested to see what others think

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

It could have been a kestrel or other BOP. I'm a little surprised, although I'm not an expert, that the big red arrow didn't scare them off. Interested to see what others think

Very good BWD!

But seriously, the find was very wet, like it had been plucked from the water. Kestrels don't do this, or do they?

[The Woodman]

Could be a crow or magpie. I've watched them both stalk breeding frogs as the wet patch in the field behind our house dries up. The crows will walk the perimeter of the wet area and dab any they can reach. They have really keen eyesight and will catch them whilst they are submerged in shallow water. They'll take the frog away from from the waters edge and pick it to bits, leaving pretty much what you've seen on the balustrade.

[Geoff F]

That has been well nibbled. Do you get mink there? Just a thought.

[Billy Wobble Dagger]

I would have thought that if it was a mammal that it would have been eaten in situ rather than taken to the bridge, where as a bird might kill it and then take it to a look out point to eat. The added wetness might just come from the birds feet or feathers. I think a heron would probably just swallow it whole so that excludes them.

BWD

[Hedge Witch]

Thanks all for information

Interesting that crows take frogs from water, Woodman. I never knew that.

I have just found a report from 2004 to say that mink are frequently seen at that reserve, Geoff F. Would they climb to the top of the railing?

[Hedge Witch]

Originally Posted by Billy Wobble Dagger

I would have thought that if it was a mammal that it would have been eaten in situ rather than taken to the bridge, where as a bird might kill it and then take it to a look out point to eat. The added wetness might just come from the birds feet or feathers. I think a heron would probably just swallow it whole so that excludes them.

BWD

I did see a Heron at the reserve when I first went in, but I guess I can eliminate this now. Thanks!

The reserve also has sightings of Kingfishers. Could a Kingfisher do this? The frog (I assume it's was a frog) would have been quite large/fully grown from what I saw of it.

[Dogghound]

There are so many animals that eat frogs such as birds of prey like buzzards, marsh harriers, kestrel, other birds like corvids and mammals such as mustelids, rats. Its very hard to tell exactly what has eaten from this, it could be several animals, most likely a bird has placed it where it is, but the bone has been exposed so well its possibly this has been dead a while and partly decayed. A kingfisher would not attack a frog of this size.

[Hedge Witch]

Hi Dogghound, I can eliminate the Kingfisher then, thanks for that

This reserve has no "exotic" BOPs. But I do remember seeing a crow in the reserve.

It's interesting to read even speculation, because when I first saw this kill, I really couldn't think what might have done this. And I'll never know for sure, but I now have some ideas. Thanks again everyone.

And my money is now on the Carrion Crow. I thought a bird had done this because if the height and inaccessibility of the centre of the railing. I wondered about Heron or Kingfisher, thinking about how wet the catch was. But these have been eliminated to leave the crow as a very strong contender.