Broadback wrote:
Sowed a row of broad beans a couple of weeks ago lots of neat holes
along the row. Sowed the replacement beans in paraffin and resowed. At
the same time I placed three mouse traps baited with peanut butter. Went
down this am a few more holes along the bean row and all three traps
gone. going down the garden to the compost heap I found one trap about
15 meters from its original position and over a 4ft fence. Is it a
reasonable assumption to think that some bird/s of prey have snaffled
the dead mice and taken the traps with them?

I suppose it's possible. Is it an allotment or a garden?
I guess it's equally possible something like a cat or fox has caught
itself in your trap and been unable to remove them?

Anyhow, at least your mice are sticking to the outdoors. We've trapped
(nasty snappy traps, unfortunately - tried humanely throwing them out on
the compost heap for them to be back next day!) 2 so far, plus one that
must have been hit by the trap then crawled off to die (and make a
stinky smell in my pan cupboard!)