What type of animal is lifting roof tiles??

[rosiewesti]

Myself and our neighbours have always fed the birds in our garden and they all seem to nest in either our trees and the sparrows nest in the ridges on the roof edge tiles. We also have a regular sparrowhawk, who has been about for years.
Over the last week something is lifting the roof tiles up, and has actually, pulled some off not only my house but neighbours too, at the moment about a quarter of the roof edge tiles have been moved or lifted. We assume that a bigger bird is lifting these to get to the baby birds? .
The tiles are being damaged during the night or daybreak times.
I must also say that we live next to a nature reserve and the only different bird in our gardens, we have seen lately is a rook hanging about.
We see at night, bats, owls, foxes and lots of hedgehogs in the gardens but simply cannot work out whats happening to our roofs.
Any advice please...Many thanks

[rosiewesti]

On the nature reserve there is obviously all sorts, but there are more than usual Canada geese this year and an neighbour thought they may have something to do with it!

Although I don't think so, they just fly over the house to get to the lake.

Surely if it was rats or squirrels we would hear something?

Last year we all had the council out as there were rats living in our gardens, not that we ever saw them, but the signs were there, and the pest control chap said it was because we were so close to the reserve.

Please tell me its not rats!!!!

[rosiewesti]

Magpies!! yes we have so many on the reserve but I have fed what I believe are the same family for years now, they come every morning and evenings (mum,dad and 2 babies this year) and scream their noise until I go out with their catfood.
Could it be them? or their relatives!!!
My husband has counted 37 of them one evening walking on the reserve in an open space.

[rosiewesti]

Ice.Maiden

Just had a look at your link and yes we have bats in the garden at night and from reading this link, there is every possibility that they may be living in the roof but then we have had them in the garden for years.

[swotty]

terambulan;
I agree with you about Ferrets & Rats as a lad I would lock up the Chickens and let the Ferret out to "sweep the area"
Certain times of the year it was pretty dramic

[swotty]

If you have Rats in your roof space and you have had a good look up there you should have seen signs of them by now.
The smell will give them away pretty soon if they are there.

[rosiewesti]

We were up there a couple of weeks ago getting the suitcases out for hols, then put them back 3 days ago!

Will have to go to bed now as its almost 1am in the morning (UK) and I can hardly keep awake!

Will check any replies in the morning and will keep you up to date on what happens.

Thanks to you all for taking the time to advise me.
Night Night -