Contested carcass

 

Doug Thorburn and his trail camera have done it again: produced a remarkable sequence of images. Last time, they were of a bull elk preparing for a date. This time, they are of a carcass being contested by a marten and a goshawk. The marten spotted the deer carcass first, but it seems that once the goshawk spotted it, the marten began to lose out.

I said that the marten spotted the carcass first, but probably Doug did—and so set the camera.  I have not seen either of these two animals of the deep forest before, (although, I have previously seen a deer carcass or two).

The deer carcass is under the snow just behind the marten.

The marten turns and helps itself to a piece of the carcass.

The marten leaves; an hour later a Northern Goshawk arrives. 

Twenty-five minutes later, the marten returns (top of picture) to discover its find has been usurped. 

Unwilling to tackle a goshawk, the marten leaves it with the carcass.

An hour later, the goshawk has left and the marten returns to feed.

That is the last that is seen of either of them until the goshawk returns three days later.

And apparently finishes off whatever is worth eating.

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4 Responses to Contested carcass

  1. Peter Jonker says:

    Exquisite images, Alistair. Thank you and Doug both. What make/model of trail camera?

  2. D Thorburn says:

    The camera is a Bushnell “NatureView cam”. I have been happily surprised by the quality of photos it takes.

    I was amazed at the volume of food that the marten and goshawk were able to put away over the Christmas break. There were also a number of poor quality night shots, where the marten clearly controlled the carcass. He seemed to be taking away chunks to stash out of reach of the goshawk.

  3. D Thorburn says:

    I should add, thanks to Alistair for working his post-processing magic on the images!

  4. Travis says:

    Amazing catch Doug!

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