Ed Drewitt

Something I am very proud of - my new book Bird Pellets is out now! It showcases pellets from eagles to robins and how to identify their contents in detail, especially mammal skulls. Written in an accessible way so it works for schools, families and researchers alike!

@MartinHGames Fab aren't they - the boys love seeing what we have caught in the trap before school (we do it here and there when the night looks good them)

Set up moth trap last night. Why are moths so utterly beautiful?!!!

@GlosBirds A honey buzzard seen in Forest of Dean recently; worth keeping eyes out for them as they are around and there have been other sightings - Gloucestershire Raptor Monitoring Group keen to hear of any other sightings to track/monitor their whereabouts.

@doggie3132 @beachlifeinhell @SheffPeregrines It's got pink leg so I would opt for greenfinch.

@beachlifeinhell @SheffPeregrines I noticed that, my best guess would be something like a Greenfinch or possibly Great Tit. I'll post photos and hope @eddrewitt can come up with an answer. There was a Great Spotted Woodpecker around noon.

@SheffPeregrines since noon he's delivered food every hour.

@robinmmorrison Yes, the latter stages have certainly been munched by a mammal as you can see some feathers have been snipped at tips. Could have been killed by a bird predator and then scavanged or killed by the mammal.

Hi Ed @eddrewitt If you have a spare moment, what do you think this duck was that I came across on the Somerset Levels yesterday. Some feathers were plucked others pulled out so maybe a meal from a raptor then a fox. Many thanks, Robin.

@Mortier_Maarten Yes, I would say skylark. It has probably just got stained from sitting in wet muddy fields.

Peregrine prey found in Antwerp, Belgium. Any idea @eddrewitt . Skylark ? Tailfeathers look beige not white.

@jfmto Hi John Many thanks. This is a primary feather from a pheasant; it has the really long emarginations and notches in its feathers that all help with its strong, sudden flights away from predators.

@eddrewitt Hi Ed. Excellent talk and have read your book. Excellent. I found this feather on my garden lawn and wondered what it came from. Front and back view and a measurement scale added. I was thingking female Sparrow Hawk as she visits me regularly. Very best wishes John.

I'll be doing my annual bird ID course for the @AvonGorgeDowns Wildlife Project later this month (this will be my 22nd year of doing it!!)

@AdrianBell1889 @doggie3132 @wendy_bartter @SheffPeregrines Ah thank you. Yes, it is not uncommon - especially in a healthy/increasing population - for a young bird (usually male) from the year before to help their parents the following breeding season to look after the young. Be interesting to see if it sticks around.

@doggie3132 @wendy_bartter @SheffPeregrines I have a heck of a lot of questions to ask @eddrewitt if ever he does one of those online lectures about peregrines again!

@SheffPeregrines Dad (TRF) left junior (VHD) right and Mum on the ledge

@lee00barber @Au_Erithacus That's brilliant news, congratulations Aurora!

@Au_Erithacus Congratulations! 🎊 Well deserved indeed.

After years of training and thousands of birds I have received my S permit. Thanks to all ringers out there that inspired me 🙂

@PlushieTumRs @BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds They always look very different when dead and up close and some of these features you notice more in the field go out the window; it it definitely knot or dunlin. Were there any feathers with it?

@eddrewitt @BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds But the bill doesn't have that downward tip is expect for Dunlin either.

Who's the latest falcon dinner? @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds

@PlushieTumRs @BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds You're right. Taking a closer look I think it's dunlin.

@eddrewitt @BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds would be the closest to match, but feel like the face pattern isn't right. No pale stripe aabove the eye

@PlushieTumRs @BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds I'm pretty sure it is knot; too large for dunlin.

@BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetBirdClub @harbourbirds @eddrewitt Here's another look

@lynda_lambert @WildOnTheRoad @DorsetBirdClub It is likely several birds are involved here as the smaller black and white feathers are from something else and the longer green, glossy feathers look more chicken/turkey like. The feathers have been snipped off by a mammal predator.

@WildOnTheRoad @eddrewitt @DorsetBirdClub Glossy Ibis🤔😀

So a friend found these feathers whilst on a dog walk. She lives in Sussex. I've been trying to work it out but I'm stumped! Any idea folks? (First pic the bigger feathers are palm sized) 🙏 @eddrewitt @DorsetBirdClub

@lynda_lambert @WildOnTheRoad @DorsetBirdClub This is from a shelduck-type duck - the closest I can match through featherbase is paradise shelduck. This would no doubt be someone's duck that they had in an aviary (as the species come from New Zealand). featherbase.info/uk/species/Tad…

@BayHoles @DorsetStudy Ah this one is a woodcock

Looks like the Golden Plover from last week, a bit more tattered @eddrewitt @DorsetStudy

Please keep an eye out for colour marked Redshanks. Any sightings are greatly appreciated

@BayHoles @PPeregrines @DorsetStudy @harbourbirds @DorsetBirdClub @DorsetWildlife @SightingDOR Yes, golden plover.

Both Pegs on Asda and what looks like Golden Plover below @eddrewitt ? @PPeregrines @DorsetStudy @harbourbirds @DorsetBirdClub @DorsetWildlife @SightingDOR

@BenhamadaRuth Yes all GP - that one is a tail feather.

Golden plover feathers as Peregrine prey today, unsure if the feather in the first pic is GP though, all the others seem to be but this looks a bit different @eddrewitt

@BayHoles Yes woodcock; leg from snipe and grey feathers collared dove

A few prey remains at the base of the tower - Woodcock the first 2 @eddrewitt ?

Fed up (in the falconing sense of well fed!) Pegs on the North side of Asda today @PPeregrines @harbourbirds @DorsetBirdClub @DorsetWildlife @SightingDOR

@doggie3132 @molls11390696 Yes woodcock from a peregrine kill

@molls11390696 It looks like a Wading bird going by the feet, possibly Woodcock, known prey for Peregrines. Hopefully someone will like @eddrewitt will confirm.

@doggie3132 this isn’t a peregrine corpse…is it? By the roundabout near Jessop West Cafe, opposite side of road to info coms