Any idea what's causing these circles in my gravel driveway?

[sixdogs]

Attached are two pics of circular clean spots in my gravel driveway. I have about seven of them. All that happens is the gravel is brushed away from the base material. Almost all are nearly round and I've seen them for a couple years and almost always in the fall.

These two areas in the driveway are maybe 30 ft apart.

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My first thought is a bird was doing this in order to get smaller grit to eat for their gullet that grinds up food. I don't know. We are also frequented by possums and coons and an occasional red fox. A couple housecats as well and a rabbit.

Anyone have a guess what these are or what is causing them?

 

[seville009]

Maybe put a trail camera up - see if it catches anything.

 

[Jstpssng]

This could turn into another holes in barn floor thread, or maybe even-
NAH, I won't torment people by mentioning "pallets. "

 

[DieselBound]

Beginner aliens, not yet well-versed in doing crop-circles?

Dust devils (or a small water spout touching down)?

Water rising/upwelling? (no clear channels/paths away though)

Same area every year?

Hard to tell from pictures, but is there excavated material to be found nearby?

My birds, chickens and Guineas, can make dust bath craters, but they've never done so in any gravel that we have.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Turning a ZT and spinning on the wheel?

 

[bcp]

Birds, maybe.

Video at the link below:

3.3K views · 49 reactions | Why Do Birds Take Dust Baths? Dust baths, also called dusting, dirt baths, or sand bathing, are part of a bird's preening and plumage maintenance that keeps feathers in top condition. The dust that is worked into the bird

Why Do Birds Take Dust Baths? Dust baths, also called dusting, dirt baths, or sand bathing, are part of a bird's preening and plumage maintenance that keeps feathers in top condition. The dust that...

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Another video:

Bruce

 

[NHBX]

Alien drone landing pads?

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Tannerite.

 

[Carl_NH]

Fuel oil or propane delivery trucks turning with their front tires stationary?

Air brake release on a large truck, but that would be all year and not just in the fall.

 

[Boss 302]

I give up!

 

[Jstpssng]

Alien drone landing pads?

I think we have a winner here!

 

[sixdogs]

I'm the OP and I give up too. It's not air brakes because it's seasonal and in different locations in a 500 ft curving driveway. it's not a truck turning because a)it's a driveway with lawn on both sides and b) gravel would be crushed in the center and not dusted to the sides.

Under that thin layer of small gravel is a packed limestone base that has smoothed out because of the stone dust in the material. It's smooth and hard. I don't think it's an alien drone because nothing alerts the dogs. They sleep lightly in wait of any sounds.

It could be a bird preening and I have seen a few over the years but never one that cleaned a circle. The driveway is a little dusty so maybe a bird is dusting himself. But I've never seen one do that and don't see any birds in the driveway.

No need to make this a pallets in fields or hole in the barn floor thread but I sure would like to see if anyone knows what is making these circle.

 

[K5lwq]

I had a dog that would make those. She would sit in one spot and spin round and round on her butt.

 

[MossRoad]

Attached are two pics of circular clean spots in my gravel driveway. I have about seven of them. Ask that happens is the graves is brushed away from the base material. Almost all are nearly round and I've seen them for a couple years and almost always in the fall.

There are actually two pictures below but they got placed this way. Beats me. These two areas in the driveway are maybe 30 ft apart.

View attachment 722870 . View attachment 722871

My first thought is a bird was doing this in order to get smaller grit to eat for their gullet that grinds up food. I don't know. We are also frequented by possums and coons and an occasional red fox. A couple housecoats as well.

Anyone have a guess what these are or what is causing them?

I edited your post and put some space between those most curious photos.

 

[MossRoad]

Attached are two pics of circular clean spots in my gravel driveway. I have about seven of them. Ask that happens is the graves is brushed away from the base material. Almost all are nearly round and I've seen them for a couple years and almost always in the fall.

There are actually two pictures below but they got placed this way. Beats me. These two areas in the driveway are maybe 30 ft apart.

View attachment 722870 . View attachment 722871

My first thought is a bird was doing this in order to get smaller grit to eat for their gullet that grinds up food. I don't know. We are also frequented by possums and coons and an occasional red fox. A couple housecoats as well.

Anyone have a guess what these are or what is causing them?

Maybe a vehicle was stopped there for a while and the loose rocks stuck or froze to the tire. When the vehicle moved, it took the loose rocks with it.

Just guessing.

 

[Halftrack]

Google "killdeer nest" and see what you think. I have killdeer every year on my gravel drive and 2 or three hatches every year. Your circles look a little larger than what I am used to seeing. Even though it is late in the season, if they are in the area, they are moving gravel.

 

[sweettractors]

I agree with Carl_NH, Air brake release on a large truck. Ken Sweet

 

[the old grind]

My soil is sandy but 'dusty' somehow and I've watched buzzards and turkeys use flattened molehills to dust themselves out on the lawn. Took 3 quick pics of one from kitchen window May '19 but don't recall which it was. This is the best of them quite cropped.

That fine dust on the OP's hard base seems about right for avians and I didn't hear chinchillas mentioned yet. I could imagine truck brakes if they were doing dressage on his driveway, sure.

 

[Doofy]

Maybe it's a neighbor pranking you?

 

[bcp]

Or someones car has a downward pointing exhaust.

Bruce