Oriental turtle dove spotted in Oxfordshire

[Dave McCormick]

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110216/tod ... 0a197.html

An avid ornithologist, Mr Akers, 56, first saw the unusual dove through his kitchen window while eating breakfast with his family. 500 people came to see it and because of the numbers coming the RSPB sent two volunteers to control them.

Wouldn't have minded seeing such a rare sight myself.

[Gibster]

Yeah, on Monday I missed it by "two minutes, mate. It was sat on that near rooftop" which is somewhat galling. I'm off work this Friday coming though...round 2, seconds away...

Gibster.

[Susie]

I heard that he was charging a fiver a time, and conflicting reports said that it either was or wasn't donated to the RSPB. I reckon the bloke would need to keep at least some of it to clean his carpets after all those muddy boots had traipsed through his livingroom.

[Gibster]

Yeah, a fiver a pop...and viewing only till 4pm. Recommencing the following day from 10am till 4pm. Then no more viewing until Friday or Saturday. Mercenary b*gg*r! Luckily the dove, having flown several thousand miles the wrong way, is perfectly capable of flying across the road into neighbouring gardens and depriving No 41 of a small fortune. No chance of muddy boot stains either, it's a perfectly ordinary tarmac and paving slabs type of street. Well, perfectly normal apart from all the frustrated twitchers encamped there! As you say, conflicting reports of where the cash is going...ho hum.

We were bantering at the time (after 4pm) that maybe we could lean over his fence for maybe three quid, or perhaps he'd sell us a cup of something hot for a couple of quid. Or maybe even use the loo for a small fee. Luckily I spotted a portaloo at the end of the road, unlocked and gloriously free Some of the neighbours came out and asked us what we were all looking at and were outraged at the grab-a-quick-buck attitude their neighbour had (actually that's a bit strong, but they were surprised at five quid per head.) But if the money IS going towards the RSPB I guess it's OK. Personally I can think of several better wildlife organisations to give the money to.

[Rogerdodge]

Hi
FYI
Here is an Oriental Turtle Dove I photographed in Bandhavgarh, India last March.
(It cost me a good deal more than a fiver!)

[Padfield]

So Roger, where are your butterfly photos from last March then?

Have we seen them?

Guy

[Gibster]

Here is an Oriental Turtle Dove I photographed in Bandhavgarh, India last March.

No it isn't.

Your photo is of a Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis. Subspecies cambayensis is common throughout the Indian subcontinent. Right genus, wrong species. Still a cracking bird though!

Gibster.

[Padfield]

More thread hijacking, but I need to take advantage of Gibster and co.

I identified most of the birds I saw in India (I spent far more time butterflying) but these large creatures moving around noisily at the top of a tree in a Jain temple complex in Kolkata are still a mystery to me:





A local told me they were migrants from Siberia, if that makes any sense. My first thought, while I was watching them, was some kind of night heron but I don't think that's even close.

Guy

[FISHiEE]

Looks a bit like some kind of Night Heron?

[Rogerdodge]

Gibster said

No it isn't.

Gibster, you are, of course, quite corret.
I was given the identification by our guide, and didn't bother to double check.
I stand corrected (and a bit embarrassed)
Guy
We were in the reserve from dawn to dusk, with just a short break out of the park for lunch. When in the reserve we were not allowed out of the jeep.
I also did not have a macro lens with me.
These were just a few of the ones I did get (forgive the quality)
The second one was my favourite. The Jezabel, it looked like a kid had coloured in a butterfly outline with thick, felt-tipped pens.
The last two are the real reason we were there!

[Padfield]

Thanks Roger - it brings it all back.

When I was a kid I had a set of black and white butterflies to fill in with felt tips and one of them was indeed a jezebel. Your imaginings are my memories.

Very good tiger portraits. Stopping the car was strictly forbidden where we drove through tiger forest on our way to the hills and we didn't get a glimpse.

Guy

[Paul Wetton]

I think you're correct Guy they look like Black-crowned Night Herons.

Tw0 adults in the first photo and a juvenile in the second.

[Padfield]

Thanks again. I can't remember why I had decided against night heron but I trust the judgment of real birders!

In fact, I think there are five adults in the first picture...

Guy

[Jack Harrison]

I was lucky enough to get an accidental photo of this Oriental Turtle Dove on its way to Chipping Norton as it happened to fly over my house at night.

OTD.jpg (1.91 KiB) Viewed 864 times

Jack

[Trev Sawyer]

Wrong species again Jack... That's a Night Heron

Trev

[Jack Harrison]

Trevor tells me:

That's a Night Heron

Damn. I'd seen Night Heron before and thought I'd got a new tick.

Jack

[Rimo]

The idea was for all money collected to go to Birdlife International and Birdlife Malta for their campaign to stop the Maltese killing every migrant that comes anywhere near the island, so I think he can be let off the accusation of being entirely mercenary! Especially as in the event the bird only showed in his garden for a few minutes first thing, so only around 20 people paid to come in...

[Gibster]

In fact, I think there are five adults in the first picture...

Well I can see SIX...any advances on six..?

Hey Roger, superb tiger pics. It all seems so peaceful and serene and I'm insanely jealous. To see a tiger in action, just Youtube 'Tiger Attacks Man on Elephant'. Utterly stunning and frightening. Apparently the elephant pinned the tiger to the ground for 30 seconds before it escaped back into the grasses. The men were attempting to dart and relocate the animal after it developed a taste for local cattle! Think I'll take my chances with the squirrels on trusty ol' Epsom Common!!!

Gibster.

[FISHiEE]

I have seen that clip. I didn't know the story behind it, but when I saw it I thought good on the Tiger. An animal that demands the utmost of respect

I think to see a wild Tiger hunting would be one of my greatest ambitions in Natural History. Up there with Killer Whale, Great White and Cheetah as some of the greatest wildlife events on the planet.

[Paul Wetton]

I'll name that tune in seven if there's one bottom left behind the leaves. Bit of stringy sighting though the seventh.