[Billy Twigger]

This has been commented on by a few visitors to MUCKLE MOU'ED MEG ....but who or what lives here?


Its not small, -it's far away!


See!

[Seacon]

This type of nest box would generally be described as a large hole nesting box. The one in the photo is a fairly basic, no frills form of this and there are many variations on this theme.
Various species of birds may be found using this. These would include, Dove, Pigeon, Jackdaw, Starling and Woodpecker however a more probable canditate for its use, and probably the reason that it was positioned in this forest, would be one of the owl family (primarily Barn Owl, Tawny Owl or Little Owl). Another strong contender for its use would be a kestrel.

I don't believe that it is being used by the Great Spotted Woodpecker due to the fact that the nest box hole is still reasonably uniform in shape and has not suffered from additional 'pecking' damage.
The size of the hole in the box may rule out Barn Owl and it may even be a little tight, though difficult to determine from the photo, for a Tawny Owl (quite often referred to as a brown owl or wood owl). The Little Owl species is not generally found in Scotland or Northern Ireland however could be a possibility as this cache site is not to far north in Scotland.

On balance therefore I suspect it has been positioned to attract either
1. Tawny Owl
2. Kestrel

In reality though, there would probably be in the region of up to a dozen less glamourous occupants who would be delighted to use it to either roost in or to build a nest in.

[Wildlifewriter]

I'll go along with most of that.

It's a strange-looking box, though - very much "home made", and certainly not one of the Forestry Commission's own boxes. (They're produced in a workshop at Kielder, to a very high standard.)

Barn Owls still prefer nest boxes inside a structure, and would only use a thing like this if they coudn't find somewhere more suitable.

Tawny Owls (and Kestrels) are less fussy and would certainly take up such a box - even though it's a bit on the large side for either species.

-Wlw.

[allieballie]

I've said it already - it's for a griffin..... or a phoenix maybe.......

[Billy Twigger]

Mystery solved......

[Haggis Hunter]

You may laugh, but I have seen it. Can't say any more as it will ruin the cache.
_________________
Let me know if I say anything that offends you
I might want to offend you again later

[Naefearjustbeer]