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Where are the Turtle Doves? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter firstreesjohn
- Start date
Robin Pearson
Herts irregular
To quote Simon Barnes from The Sunday Times:
'I WAS BACK in Suffolk for about ten minutes: and had one of those strangely privileged moments in which a bird flies at exactly the same speed as the car for a sustained period of time. It is as if you were flying in formation, flying with the bird rather than observing flight.
It was a turtle dove: always a cheering bird to see or hear. Declining, yes, but not gone. They have declined 70 per cent over 25 years but here’s some good news.
Malta joined the European Union in 2004, but thought that it was perfectly all right to continue shooting 100,000 turtle doves every year, exhausted birds that rest up on Malta during their long migrations. This, shockingly, was perfectly legal under Maltese law but not under European law. Now, if the shooting takes place in Malta as early as next spring, the country will be taken to the European Court of Justice. And that should mean that the gentle turrr-turring of the doves will be heard more often in this country. It is the great honey-still-for-tea sound of the English summer.'
'I WAS BACK in Suffolk for about ten minutes: and had one of those strangely privileged moments in which a bird flies at exactly the same speed as the car for a sustained period of time. It is as if you were flying in formation, flying with the bird rather than observing flight.
It was a turtle dove: always a cheering bird to see or hear. Declining, yes, but not gone. They have declined 70 per cent over 25 years but here’s some good news.
Malta joined the European Union in 2004, but thought that it was perfectly all right to continue shooting 100,000 turtle doves every year, exhausted birds that rest up on Malta during their long migrations. This, shockingly, was perfectly legal under Maltese law but not under European law. Now, if the shooting takes place in Malta as early as next spring, the country will be taken to the European Court of Justice. And that should mean that the gentle turrr-turring of the doves will be heard more often in this country. It is the great honey-still-for-tea sound of the English summer.'
Alan Hobson
Well-known member
I've had a bumper year for them in Essex at a number of sites. However, on the other hand, they have disappeared entirely from one of my old stomping grounds, Blacktoft sands up in Yorkshire, where they used to be regulars.
rogerscoth
Well-known member
There are still some here in deep-south-Lincolnshire, with one or two in or around my south-facing rear garden. A near neighbour has more success, with more birds feeding in his garden than I do. Another Birdforum member (he lives just round the corner from me) has complained about being woken by some purring early in the morning last year. Here is a picture taken in June this year in my rear garden.
Roger
Roger
Attachments
Stephen C said:
Spent family holidays in Menorca both this and last year. Last year they were fairly common throughout the island with three pairs seen daily near the hotel (Son Bou). This year I only saw 5 or 6 over the two week period with none around the hotel. Perhaps it's not just the UK which is suffering.
StevieEvans
Well-known member
colonelboris
Right way up again
Saw my first one yesterday!
I heard it purring in a tree the day before, but I had a deal going with Mrs Boris that she'd be the first to see it. So I ran back to get her and the camera bag, but it'd gone when we got back.
Next morning, loud purring and there it was, on a dead stick on the top of the tallest bush in the row. Got some really good views (for the distance) that evening and we're both pretty happy to have finally seen and heard one.
Also 30-odd lapwings on the other side of the river, which came into the castle each night at about 9.00 pm, some flying only ten feet away from us.
Woo hoo!
I heard it purring in a tree the day before, but I had a deal going with Mrs Boris that she'd be the first to see it. So I ran back to get her and the camera bag, but it'd gone when we got back.
Next morning, loud purring and there it was, on a dead stick on the top of the tallest bush in the row. Got some really good views (for the distance) that evening and we're both pretty happy to have finally seen and heard one.
Also 30-odd lapwings on the other side of the river, which came into the castle each night at about 9.00 pm, some flying only ten feet away from us.
Woo hoo!
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
There used to be a turtle dove in the trees on the track to one of the hides - First Hide? - at Blacktoft Sands. It was to be heard regularly but not often seen. Wasn't there yesterday and I forgot to ask the warden about it.
Sandra
Sandra
colonelboris
Right way up again
robinm said:
Thanks! They're lovely little things - especially that purring.
simple
Well-known member
Dont forget to send your sightings into the Turtle Dove hotline either by phone 01603 697527 or email [email protected]
I know the partnership of Operation Turtle Dove would be keen to hear of any sightings.
www.operationturtledove.org
I know the partnership of Operation Turtle Dove would be keen to hear of any sightings.
www.operationturtledove.org
