A Trip to Wrabness in Search of Turtle Doves

29th June 2024

During my last visit earlier in the year I went to all the sites that I have seen and photographed Turtle Doves in the past but without success on this occasion, not even hearing one. It was only on my way back that I did eventually hear one was purring from an Elder bush just 10 yards from the path, but stayed stubbornly deep inside the bush. Therefore I wasn't too confident of finding one today.

I have been to Wrabness at this time of year on several oocasions but don't recall seeing the diversity of flora that was on display today. Perhaps it is a result of the large amount of rain earlier in the season. Here are some shots of the more colourful ones.

Biting Stonecrop

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Centaury

Pea sp possibly Everlasting

Lady's Bedstraw

Meadow Cranesbill (only one location)

Meadow Vetchling

Ox-eye Daisy

Red Campion

Ribbed Melilot

Self-heal

Tufted Vetch

Viper's Bugloss

White Stonecrop

On the warbler front there were only Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats singing today whereas last time Lesser Whitethroats were singing from every bush. As usual the Chiffchaffs were singing from the top of a dead tree................

........................whereas this Whitethroat preferred to hide amongst the seed pods in a Broom bush.

There were a few Linnets around and this male was particularly obliging.

But the star of the passerines today was this cracking male Yellowhammer which was treating us all to a chorus of "A little bit of bread and no cheese" from the top of a bush...................

......................before dropping to the ground to feed.

So far so good. So what about the Turtle Doves? Well from the car park we walked for about 10 minutes down the track, listening as we went. Then at the top of a distant tree a single Turtle Dove appeared and started purring. Unfortunately it only stayed for about one minute and then disappeared and was never seen again.

I haven't seen any survey results but from reports of other visits I do get the impression that they are harder to see this year, even if the same number of birds are present.