Patchlisting has an odd side effect of highlighting the "missing" birds. I've lived in Acton for three years now, and it was only this week that light dawned that Collared Doves are mysteriously absent. Why? There are enough Wood Pigeons and Rats with Wings to keep me in pigeon pie for the next several decades. So - why are there no Collared Doves?
I sought advice from the ultimate London patchlister Des McK. He tells me he struggles to add CD each year, and generally only has a flyover on passage. How bizarre! I don't understand at all. My initial suspicion is that it's the same root cause as House Sparrows - no grains. Wood Pigeons and the ferals seem to have adapted to eat crisps and kebabs, but perhaps Collared Doves can't. Anyway - I'm interested. Please post your theories.
I add a random photo of a Tree Rat. I got a fab new point-and-shoot digital camera for Crimble as I'd whined so much about the iPhone camera.
3 comments:
It is odd. My Collared Doves are extremely persistent (against my best efforts) and wolf down most popular bird feeds including a whole tray of sunflower hearts the other day.
Collared Doves are very hard at a couple of my patches too, and as with Des McKenzie, they are usually just fly overs during passage periods.
Iknow what you mean about patch listing highlights the missing birds. I was in my local hide the other day and heard a Pheasant and started to panic trying to get the scope on it. I found it in a farmers feild over looking the reserve. My first one here after nearly two years of birding the place and 18 months of being warden
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