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 is a summer resident,
widely distributed and fairly common in most localities'. (H
H Davis notes 1957).
Once widespread, Turtle Dove is now at best scarce in S.
Gloucestershire;
2012: (2)
One was seen briefly at Severn Beach at around 09:30 on April
23rd;
At Oldbury Power Station one was found at 17:10 along the
sea wall then around Lagoon I on April 30th; One was seen in
the New Passage/ Northwick Warth area on May 2nd;
2011: (2)
One was seen in bushes on the Severn Way south of Severn
Beach at 06:15 on April 24th; An unconfirmed report of one
at Severn Beach on May 6th.
2009: (1)
One was seen at Marshfield on July 25th flying towards
Harcombe Wood near Ebbdown Farm.
2008: (1)
One was seen in flight south over Rushmead Lane near
Marshfield at 14:54 on September 12th.
2007: (1)
One was seen in flight at ST: 773 738 near Marshfield on the
evening of June 2nd.
2006: (2)
One was noted at Oldbury Power Station on April 22nd; One
was present in a garden at Rangeworthy from May 22nd - 26th.
2003: (1)
A
juvenile was present at New Passage on September 3rd.
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.
2000: (1)
One was reported from New Passage on May 13th.
1999: (1)
One was reported at Northwick Warth on May 29th.
1998: (2)
One was present at Northwick Warth on April 27th; One was
reported at New Passage on May 30th - 31st.
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.
1996: (2)
One was seen at New Passage on June 2nd; One was reported
from Downend on September 17th.
1995: (2)
One was seen in the Marshfield area on May 7th; One was
present at Severn Beach on July 1st.
1994:(2)
One was reported from Inglestone Common, Wickwar on May
14th; One was noted at Frenchay on June 8th.
1993: (4)
Three were noted at Oldbury Power Station on May 6th; One
was present at Inglestone Common, Wickwar on May 23rd.
1992: (1)
One was reported from Mangotsfield on July 4th.
1991: (1)
One was noted at Tortworth on July 7th.
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.
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.
1988: (2)
Two were seen at Severn Beach on April 10th.
1987: (2)
One was seen at Severn Beach on May 7th; One was present at
Tormarton on July 1st.
1986: (1)
One was present at Golden Valley LNR, Wick on August 19th.
1985: (Several)
Noted in several areas between May 10th and early August but
no specific locations.
1984: (Several)
Noted from several areas between April 27th and September
29th 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.
1982: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 8th and September 16th
but no specific locations.
1980: (Several)
Noted from several areas between April 23rd and August 23rd
but no specific locations.
1979: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 7th and September 18th
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.
1977: (Several)
Noted from several areas between May 8th and September 24th
but no specific locations.
1975: (Several)
Noted from several areas between April 28th and August 17th
but no specific locations.
1974: (Several)
Reported between May 26th and August 11th from Tortworth,
Inglestone Common near Wickwar, Oakford and Tormarton.
1973: (Several)
Up to two birds reported between April 24th and September
14th from Cromhall, Lower Woods near Wickwar, Thornbury,
Severn Beach, Tormarton and Marshfield.
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.
1966: (3)
Reported from Inglestone Common, Filton and New Passage.
1963: (2)
A
pair were noted at Littleton-on-Severn on July 26th.
1962: (Several)
There are breeding season records from Marshfield but no
reference to numbers or more specific locations.