Duck predator on our ponds.

[r1steele]

 

Can't see a Sparrow Hawk killing a fully grown mallard. I wouldn't rule out a fox as they are inclined to bite the head off prey and it could be possible that it has left it & something else has ate it.

+1 for the sparrow hawk. Usually (not always) when foxes take heads there would be more than 1 head removed and usually 1 carcase is taken. Goshawks and buzzards would have been my first guess apart from the fact that they were found on the water which leaves me thinking an otter or mink. Over the years I've seen a lot of otter kills and they do tend to eat the breast meat.

[Codeye]

Untill the culprit is caught or id'd im afraid its just guess work; im suprised no one has mentioned hedgehogs or even a cat whatever it is its mighty hungry

[scotslad]

Where the duck not floating? Althou to be fair anything could have moved or dragged them. Seen pheas killed by tawny yet the mice have ate away at there back or breast, so doesn't need to be same animal that killed it

 

I could see a gos or Perry taking a duck no probs never heard of a Buzzard althou they will take adult pheas, surely an adult duck will be to big for a Sparrow?

 

I'm sure if u search the net or speak to any keen fishermen they could tell u about otter signs, i'm a bit rusty, but u should be able to see slide marks where they slide into the water, tend to s **t (skat? dunno if that's the correct term?) on large stones to mark territory, also the footprints should be a give away.

Dunno about the inland otter but on the nature program's u see the sea based otters floating on back eating crabs and stuff, no idea if river otters do the same, watched them floating on back but just playing or chilling.

 

Quite a lot on our local river now, always had some but now a real population u could almost guarantee to go out and see 1 or more if u wanted. My mate lost a 4ish lb browny to one this season mid fight, a real fishermans tale

 

Some rivers/fishery boards have a fleet of mink rafts and traps now u could mibee phone them up and ask to borrow 1.

 

Really all gues work until

[kent]

Where the duck not floating? Althou to be fair anything could have moved or dragged them. Seen pheas killed by tawny yet the mice have ate away at there back or breast, so doesn't need to be same animal that killed it

 

I could see a gos or Perry taking a duck no probs never heard of a Buzzard althou they will take adult pheas, surely an adult duck will be to big for a Sparrow?

 

I'm sure if u search the net or speak to any keen fishermen they could tell u about otter signs, i'm a bit rusty, but u should be able to see slide marks where they slide into the water, tend to s **t (skat? dunno if that's the correct term?) on large stones to mark territory, also the footprints should be a give away.

Dunno about the inland otter but on the nature program's u see the sea based otters floating on back eating crabs and stuff, no idea if river otters do the same, watched them floating on back but just playing or chilling.

 

Quite a lot on our local river now, always had some but now a real population u could almost guarantee to go out and see 1 or more if u wanted. My mate lost a 4ish lb browny to one this season mid fight, a real fishermans tale

 

Some rivers/fishery boards have a fleet of mink rafts and traps now u could mibee phone them up and ask to borrow 1.

 

Really all gues work until

Well I spent a while as a river keeper but before ten years ago Otters were totally unknown in these here parts, last I remember was when I was about 6 or 7 at most. first encounter was circa 2003-2004 sea trouting one night in swest wales over 150 miles away from here

Well I spent a while as a river keeper but before ten years ago Otters were totally unknown in these here parts, last I remember was when I was about 6 or 7 at most. first encounter was circa 2003-2004 sea trouting one night in swest wales over 150 miles away from here so I guess we need another fisherman LOL

[scotslad]

Was about to say we are very lucky but the annan is moving with them, i never fish now but mate manages a beat, he could take u down almost any time of day and have a reasonable chance off seeing them. To be fair probably getting near saturation point, They do fairly chase the mink off thou, very few mink left compared to wot there was

 

I can mind 25 odd year ago watching them in the spotlight up the back hill prob well over a mile from any sort of burn or the pond, must off been hunting the hill drains. Always been a small population but really boomed in last 10 or so years

 

Must admit they are nice to see

 

Another fella i know runs a shoot near mine walked his dogs down river twice a day, this summer watched the usual mallard brood dwindle away every day, 1 day he actually seen the momther duck just dragged underwater by an otter it surfaced a fair distance away with a dead duck

[islandgun]

you could look for mink scat (usually twisted tight about an inch or so long, strong smell) otter spraint usually much bigger with a sweet smell and loose, both will mark a raised area like a small mound of grass or other prominant feature along water edge, otter will mark the same area for years, as the problem is recent suspect mink although it could be a young otter finding a new territory. Mink are easy to trap will come to fish in a cage trap.

[henry_o]

I lost a mallard one night last year that dropped in thick vegetation. Went back next morning and picked it from next to a rat hole. It was stripped like yours is in the photo. The difference is mine still had most of its head, so maybe fox initiated it and rats did the opportunist thing. On ponds where the ducks are fed there are bound to be some rats even if poisoned, and they will swim for a meal or jostle it in to the water if feeding with other rats.

 

Henry