Turtle Dove?

[Cheryl]

I'm hoping for confirmation that this is a Turtle Dove?

I saw 2 the other day on a walk that I'd not been on before and spotted them through the trees. Unfortunatley I'd forgotten to turn the "beep" off on my camera and they flew away but I managed to get this shot.

Their back wing fethers were a softer brown with strong brown markings. You can just make out the bar markings on it's neck and also the pink around the eye

[mrs fish]

That definately looks like the turtle doves eye , lucky you seeing a pair and getting a photo

Did you get to here them ?

[Ollie]

I would agree, looks very much like a Turtle Dove to me. Much less common these last few years and a lovely bird to see and hear.
Roger

[aeshna5]

They are lovely birds + sadly much rarer than they used to be, a fact that is at least in part to them being massacred on their way here across the Mediterranean in such countries such as Malta who defy European conservation legislation!

I was pleased to see + hear my first birds of the year yesterday.

[Cheryl]

Thanks - I felt sure it was

I wasn't aware of hearing them, I was so stunned to see them!!!

I shall look out for them in the future.

[mrs fish]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

They are lovely birds + sadly much rarer than they used to be, a fact that is at least in part to them being massacred on their way here across the Mediterranean in such countries such as Malta who defy European conservation legislation!

Do they eat them ?

[witham]

Originally Posted by mrs fish

Do they eat them ?

I saw a disturbing documentary ages ago which showed huge nets being put up to catch migrating birds as they came in to roost at various points along the med, they eat them even the little birds which were shown served in some places in jars similar to pickled eggs, even bought by tourists don't know if it still goes on but it definitely did a couple of years ago, huge numbers of birds are or were caught this way or are shot or trapped etc. many thousands can end up dying in this area before they even reach our shores.

[outdoorguy]

i love there call we get them where i am in kent.. they used to feed on all the spilled grain from the farmers.. they r another bird effected by the clean farming practice's of today.. i still see them just not as many.. listen to there churring call.. very soothing on a summers evening... not seen any this year must get to where i usaully see them... james

[ChrisJB]

They are great birds. I wish we got them up here in Lancashire. I have to head south to see them.

Regards, Chris

[Ukwildlifeo]

I read this thread which reminded me of a unfamilar bird call at stodmarsh, which I suspected might be a turtle dove, so I checked RSPB site and the call matches - my first turtle dove Shame I didnt see it!