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Rosedale Community News

Welcome to the Rosedale blog. This is where we share news and information about events in Rosedale and the wider community throughout the year. You’ll also find news about the village timetable, our micro enterprises, school events, clubs, and lively socials.

Posts Tagged ‘Wildlife’

A fascinating study of barn owl pellets reveals harvest mice in Rosedale

Ever wondered what barn owls feed on? Well here it is. Barn owls typically eat small prey items such as mice and voles. They swallow them whole and their digestive system extracts the nutrition as juices and forms a pellet with the remains, namely bones and fur which cannot be digested. The pellet, which is black is regurgitated and dropped from the beak, approximately 6 hours afterwards. A pellet can contain the remains of 2-5 prey items depending on the prey. By collecting and studying these pellets the diet of the barn owl can be monitored which in turn tells us what small mammals are present in our countryside. One such study is being conducted by Derek Capes of Great Ayton to establish the extent of harvest mice within the National Park. Sample pellets from various locations are collected twice a year for analysis. Such is Derek’s knowledge of small mammals he only needs to see the jaw bone in order to identify the species. Two barn owl roost locations in Rosedale provide good numbers of pellets and the results, below are fascinating.

The field vole is the dominant prey for the barn owl with common shrew being an important secondary prey species. Field voles are more nutritious therefore less are required. Shrews are less so and the barn owl needs to expend more energy hunting a higher number. Results have revealed the presence of harvest mice here in the dale. Normally associated with arable crops the harvest mouse is also found to nest in long rough grass and rushes. A local resident at Rosedale East has actually seen harvest mice whilst cutting his grass. He has also provided this fabulous photo of one of our resident barn owls. Very much appreciated.

51 barn owl pellets collected in February 2017 in Rosedale East revealed 8 mammal species present, a total of 254 prey items with mean prey items per pellet of 4.98:

90 Field vole
1 Bank vole
16 Wood mouse
1 Harvest mouse
11 Brown rat
85 Common shrew
43 Pygmy shrew
1 Water shrew
6 birds

80 barn owl pellets collected in February 2017 in Rosedale West revealed 8 mammal species present, a total of 397 prey items with mean prey items per pellet of 4.96:

132 Field vole
12 Bank vole
7 Wood mouse
1 Harvest mouse
5 Brown rat
162 Common shrew
72 Pygmy shrew
4 Water shrew
1 bird
1 frog

The next pellet sample collections are in progress and the results will reveal mammal species over the Spring and Summer seasons.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Resident barn owl in Rosedale

Bones of field voles and wood mouse from a pellet

Barn owl pellet

Autumn in our hedgerows

A real autumnal feel walking through the dale this weekend.  Birds and mammals taking full advantage of the seasonal bounty along our hedgerows.  Hazels Corylus avellana full of cobnuts and Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus laden with shiny red berries.  Good to be out.  Updale Natural History Recorder

Hazel cobnuts

Guelder rose berries

What have we in our river!

Brook lamprey are some of the most primitive vertebrates alive today and they are spawning in our river here in Rosedale right now. They are jawless, having a round sucker-like mouth and small round gill openings on the sides of the head. They have two dorsal fins and are about 15cm long. They spawn in clean gravel beds. Wonder if they know how excited Rosedale folk are about the TDY! Updale Natural History Recorder

Brook lamprey at Battlings Hill ford

Brook lamprey at Battlings Hill ford

Kestrel nestlings

Kestrels are our commonest falcon and widespread throughout the UK in both urban and rural areas. They are easily identified by their ability to hover while hunting for prey, with fluttering wings and fanned tail, keeping the head perfectly still. Up on the moor these four nestlings are well grown and starting to acquire their true plumage. They are coming out in to the open in anticipation of food from the adult birds. Until now they have been well hidden in a crevice. Incubation takes about four weeks and at least another four weeks feeding at the nest until fledging which is not too far away for these. Interestingly, the males fledge up to two days earlier than the females, presumably as the females are the larger of the two and take longer to mature. Updale Natural History Recorder

Four kestrel nestlings

Four kestrel nestlings