General Discussion
Apologies in advance for the gruesome nature of the attached photo. My daughter took it whilst out walking our dogs last month. It is a picture of a large bird laid out on a tree stump on Ideford Common - we're not sure if it's a real act of nature or some sort of sacrifice. A couple of weeks earlier we had met some TDC refuse employees on the Common who were looking for a skinned animal remains. Is something going on up there? Does anyone know? I also reported to the RSPB who said it looked like a pigeon caught by a Sparrowhawk. Pretty big for a pigeon I think!
Looks like a Christmas dinner practice gone wrong or maybe its been a Voices for Dawlish committee meeting. scary pic though
Well that is a monster pigeon I must say. Looks more like a mini dinosaur - what on earth is going on up at Ideford???
Everyone can relax. The Lidwell chapel spooks are not on the loose.
I've just had confirmation back also from Teignbridge rangers that it is most likely a wood pigeon caught by a female Sparrowhaw. To quote:
"I think I can reassure you a little in that what it looks very much to me is a Woodpigeon caught and eaten by a bird of prey – quite likely a female Sparrowhawk (which are larger than the males). I attach a photograph of one doing just this, taken just outside our base in Newton Abbot by one of the Rangers (copyright so please don’t forward). They will pluck the bird’s chest and eat the big flight muscles – leaving a quite gory mess! A bird of prey may well use a plucking perch such as the tree stump in your photo."
I have seen Sparrowhawks catch pigeons in a City Centre and pluck out the chest while holding the pigeon on the pavement. Man kills and eats millions of animals a day so don't know why a Hawk having a feed is considered 'disgusting' or 'scary'.
