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Twigs stuck vertically in the gound by unidentifed creature

  • 15-01-2018 12:24pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭


    Some creature is sticking twigs vertically in the ground. They seem to gather up little piles of twigs and post one vertically! Any ideas what the creature is? Thanks.

    image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg


Comments

  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 77,359 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    The Lesser Spotted Boy Scout? :p

    Corvids are known to use sticks as tools, but I don't know if after they've used them they'd leave them stuck into the ground.

    In contrast to your pictures, I lost a very young potted walnut and a potted bilberry plant to nesting corvids...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    New Home wrote: »
    Corvids are known to use sticks as tools,
    Interesting. Didn't consider birds. I was thinking more along the lines of ants or worms. But its possible.
    Definitely not boy scouts. They went extinct here around 1976-ish :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    Here are a couple of photos of softer leaves. They look more like they were dragged in rather than pushed in. There is clay there that looks like worm casts?

    image.jpg image.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,499 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Could it be something trying to drag the twigs underground, rather than sticking them into the ground?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    Thats what I was thinking.
    And there has been a lot of rain and the ground is quite wet. I wonder if it's a way of keeping a kind of air vent open?
    I've seen ants in a few of those locations. Flying ants.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    An old thread, but I finally found the answer. Earthworms!(PDF)

    They can even move stones around their burrows.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,499 ✭✭✭✭Alun


    Ah, so I was right that it was something dragging them underground rather than sticking them in from above. Fascinating!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    More missing images


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    Alun wrote: »
    Ah, so I was right that it was something dragging them underground rather than sticking them in from above. Fascinating!
    Yeah, your were dead on. I'd never have guessed earthworms. Went up in the dark this evening and I could see them. They withdraw real quick when they sense the torch light.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,937 ✭✭✭SmartinMartin


    firkin wrote: »
    Went up in the dark this evening and I could see them. They withdraw real quick when they sense the torch light.

    Jayzus, dogging earthworms!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 95 ✭✭firkin


    ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,084 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    It's Jim.

    Not your ornery onager



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    i've seen fairly long sticks in the back garden stuck down an inch deep, surely earthworms aren't strong enough for that??


  • Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 77,359 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    I'd say they would be - if they can dig tunnels through any type of soil, I'd say they can.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 619 ✭✭✭vistafinder


    Now that is impressive.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,067 ✭✭✭✭fryup


    fryup wrote: »
    i've seen fairly long sticks in the back garden stuck down an inch deep, surely earthworms aren't strong enough for that??
    New Home wrote: »
    I'd say they would be - if they can dig tunnels through any type of soil, I'd say they can.

    really?

    must take a pic of it the next time i see it, i honestly though it was someone up to mischief


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