The droppings were tucked into a steep hillside above the twin lochans, so I think they are more likely to be grouse than geese, though someone else has suggested pheasant.
We have been seeing more grouse in the hills above us, which is good news.
I have two further people tell me that they are quite certain they are red grouse droppings. Steve Suttill says
"I'm the Regional Rep for the British Trust for Ornithology for the Manchester area. I spend a lot of time surveying birds on our local (Saddleworth) moorlands and am very familiar with Grouse droppings. They are dry and fibrous (due to them eating little else but heather) whereas Goose droppings are very slimy.
"I was amazed in September to see how tame your local Grouse are. Leaving Kilchoan on the Sanna road, we had to stop the car as a Grouse was sitting in the middle of the road. We waited as she led her young family slowly back into the heather. Don't know if this behaviour is a result of them not being shot as much as they are here, or whether they are impersonating your local sheep!"
....or, as The Diary's youngest daughter so quaintly terms it, 'poo'.
Both Dochie and I think it is wild goose
ReplyDeleteYes, they do look like geese but from the pix I don't know what species.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do look like geese but from the pix I don't know what species.
ReplyDeleteI can assure the diary this is grouse droppings, found in the high hills and grit pits and lowland bogs.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the suggestions.
ReplyDeleteThe droppings were tucked into a steep hillside above the twin lochans, so I think they are more likely to be grouse than geese, though someone else has suggested pheasant.
We have been seeing more grouse in the hills above us, which is good news.
I have two further people tell me that they are quite certain they are red grouse droppings. Steve Suttill says
ReplyDelete"I'm the Regional Rep for the British Trust for Ornithology for the Manchester area. I spend a lot of time surveying birds on our local (Saddleworth) moorlands and am very familiar with Grouse droppings. They are dry and fibrous (due to them eating little else but heather) whereas Goose droppings are very slimy.
"I was amazed in September to see how tame your local Grouse are. Leaving Kilchoan on the Sanna road, we had to stop the car as a Grouse was sitting in the middle of the road. We waited as she led her young family slowly back into the heather. Don't know if this behaviour is a result of them not being shot as much as they are here, or whether they are impersonating your local sheep!"