THE BIRDS OF SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
TURTLE DOVE – Streptopelia turtur
As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees
Turtle Dove is a member of the family Columbidae which includes the doves and pigeons. It is a migratory species with a western Palearctic range including Turkey and north Africa, though it is rare in northern Scandinavia and Russia. It is one of the latest migrants rarely appearing in Northern Europe before the end of April and returning south again in September to winter in southern Africa. In the British Isles, France and elsewhere in north western Europe it is in severe population decline; this is partly because of changed farming practices meaning weed seeds and shoots on which it feeds, especially Fumitory, are scarcer. And in part due to shooting on migration in Mediterranean countries. Turtle Dove was first recorded in c.1300 and the present form was used as early as 1544.
In his notes Howard Davis states... 'Turtle Dove are a summer resident, widely distributed and fairly common in most localities'. (H H Davis notes 1957).
Once widespread, Turtle Dove is now scarce in S. Gloucestershire, those documented are;
1962: (Several)
There are breeding season records from Marshfield but no reference to numbers or more specific locations.
1963: (2)
A pair were noted at Littleton-on-Severn on July 26th.
1966: (3)
Reported from Inglestone Common, Filton and New Passage.
1967: (4)
Single birds were noted at Tortworth Lake on April 30th; Inglestone Common on May 26th; Severn Beach on June 18th; New Passage on August 2nd.
1973: (Several)
Op to two birds reported between April 24th and September 14th from Cromhall, Lower Woods - Wickwar, Thornbury, Severn Beach, Tormarton and Marshfield.
1974: (Several)
Reported between May 26th and August 11th from Tortworth, Inglestone Common - Wickwar, Oakford - St. Catherine and Tormarton.
1975: (Several)
Noted from several areas between April 28th and August 17th but no specific locations.
1977: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 8th and September 24th but no specific locations.
1978: (Several)
Reported between April 29th and July 21st from Cromhall, Tytherington, Inglestone Common - Wickwar, Alveston, Stoke park and Oakford - St. Catherine.
1979: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 7th and September 18th but no specific locations.
1980: (Several)
Noted from several areas between April 23rd and August 23rd but no specific locations.
1982: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 8th and September 16th but no specific locations.
1983: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 9th and October 2nd with breeding probable at Sodbury Common where two adults and a juvenile were present on July 8th.
1984: (Several)
Noted from several areas between April 27th and September 29th but no specific locations.
1985: (Several)
Noted in several areas between May 10th and early August but no specific locations.
1986: (1)
One was present at Golden Valley LNR, Wick on August 19th.
1987: (2)
One was seen at Severn Beach on May 7th; One was present at Tormarton on July 1st.
1988: (2)
Two were seen at Severn Beach on April 10th.
1989: (11)
One was seen at New Passage on April 22nd; One was present at Severn Beach on April 29th; One was noted at Tytherington on May 14th; Three were present at Severn Beach on May 21st; One was seen at Yate Rocks on May 24th; One was noted at Inglestone Common , Wickwar on May 27th with a further two on June 11th; One was reported from New Passage on June 13th.
1990: (4)
One was seen at Hambrook on May 3rd; One was present at Oldbury Power Station on May 24th; One was reported from Hinton on June 15th; One was seen in the Marshfield area on June 26th and again on July 8th where breeding was suspected.
1991: (1)
One was noted at Tortworth on July 7th.
1992: (1)
One was reported from Mangotsfield on July 4th.
1993: (4)
Three were noted at Oldbury Power Station on May 6th; One was present at Inglestone Common, Wickwar on May 23rd.
1994:(2)
One was reported from Inglestone Common, Wickwar on May 14th; One was noted at Frenchay on June 8th.
1995: (2)
One was seen in the Marshfield area on May 7th; One was present at Severn Beach on July 1st.
1996: (2)
One was seen at New Passage on June 2nd; One was reported from Downend on September 17th.
1997: (3)
One was seen in flight to the north-east at Northwick Warth on May 17th; Two adults were heard calling near Westerleigh on June 28th.
1998: (2)
One was present at Northwick Warth on April 27th; One was reported at New Passage on May 30th - 31st.
1999: (1)
One was reported at Northwick Warth on May 29th.
2000: (1)
One was reported from New Passage on May 13th.
2001: (2)
One was seen to come in off the sea and from the west at 06:40 at New Passage on May 13th; One was noted at Severn Beach on August 17th.
2003: (1)
A juvenile was present at New Passage on September 3rd.
2006: (2)
One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on April 22nd; One was present in a garden at Rangeworthy from May 22nd - 26th.
2007: (1)
One was seen in flight at ST: 773 738 near Marshfield on June 2nd;