Turtle Dove.

[Kenn]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/kenliz/Birds/2010_0107Doves0005-1.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/kenliz/Birds/2010_0107Doves0006-1.jpg

Was delighted to see this in the garden today, came in in the company of our regular Collared Doves.
Pictures taken through the kitchen window.

[nirofo]

Excellent LIZZ

That's a quite rare Summer passage bird, even more so these days with numbers being shot at an alarming rate in places like Malta. The birds are in general decline anyway due to modern farming methods destroying their habitat.

I should pass the record on to the local recorder if I were you, it's a good one for Caithness, only one I've ever seen locally was down Strath Halladale and that was years ago.

nirofo.

[Sporran]

What a handsome fellow he is, LIZZ! :)

[kas]

Fantastic LIZZ

A beauty. and as Nirofo says a rare bird. I for one have never seen one.

[manloveswife]

Lucky you, seems quite a privilidge to have him / her as a guest

[Kenn]

Still with us, obviously with a free grain supply, in no hurry to move on.

[Kenn]

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i316/kenliz/Birds/2010_0109Doves0013-1.jpg

OH got this shot yesterday evening.

[nemosia]

Excellent record Lizz. Here's a list of Turtle Dove records since 2003.


04/06/2003 1 St. John's Loch
14-17/06/2004 1 St. John's, first summer bird
24-25/06/2005 1 St. John's Loch, Adult. Third record for site
08/06/2006 1 Duncansby Mains
01/06/2008 1 St. John's Loch
15/07/2008 1 St. John's