Tracks in the snow

I found these tracks in my garden this morning and wondered what made them. I think it must be a bird of some sort because it was clearly hopping, and the tracks start and finish abruptly as if it landed and then flew away. The tracks are very large and each one is roughly a foot apart.

We have red kites flying over the garden almost all the time so I thought it could be one of them, but I don't think they hop. We often hear owls at night and have also seen herons nearby so maybe its one of those two. 

Does anyone recognise the shape of the tracks or have any other suggestions?

  • Hi Lucy, sorry no one has answered you yet. I am afraid I don't have a definite answer. Big, odd shaped prints in a straight line. If it is a bird the rounded shape must be the body landing in the deep snow, if they just stop, it has to be a bird that has then flown, if it was a bigger bird wth longer legs, the prints don't look like bird foot prints. My first thought was maybe a fox but if they suddenly stop? Hopefully someone can help.