This morning I had what I thought was a pigeon at my feeder, but upon studying it, I decided it was a dove. Not the turtle dove that is common around here, but larger and yet not as big as a pigeon. It was shades of gray with a black ring around it's neck. Two more showed up and I tried to get a picture of them, but they got nervous when Bud wanted to see them, too. Does anyone out there know what they might be? I am hoping they will come back while Bud is asleep so I can try again for a picture.
Wilma, from your description, it sounds like a ring-necked turtle dove. We had a "bachelor" hanging out at our feeder almost all of last summer, and he was a beauty (although he was more of a buff-white color than gray, but still had that striking black neck band). I was sorry when the temps turned cooler because he stopped coming around. I did a bit of research (not much) and learned that the species isn't native to the area and most likely is an escapee from captivity.
Isn't it odd that you would have three of them hanging around? Do you suppose all three broke loose from the coop?? LOL
Quite possible. I don't have a ring neck turtle dove in any of my books. This bird looks like a turtledove except for the size and the distinctive ring around the neck. I can still see 2 of them in the apple tree.
I have counted 7 male cardinals this morning; a flicker and a red-bellied woodpecker besides all the little sparrows that hang around. Some female cardinals but not as many as the males. Also a squirrel helping itself to the corn out on the old stump.
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r91/okiemon/dove.png)
(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r91/okiemon/dove2.png)
Probably a Euraisan Collared dove, allthough it could be an escaped ring-necked dove as indygal suggested.
Check the wing tips. Black Euraisan, brown Ring-necked dove.
Maybe I can get another look at them tomorrow. They hung around in the apple tree all afternoon, then disappeared. There was an ordinary turtle dove feeding late this evening. Those I can identify just from their shape.
From the excellent picture posted yesterday, I have decided that they are indeed ring necked doves. They are back this morning with friends and I have managed to take a pretty good picture of some of them. Janet will post a picture later today so you can agree with me. Thanks for the help. This is first time that I have seen ring necked doves.
Okay. Here they are and there are four, count them, four, of these ring necked doves. They are pretty.
I counted 8 this morning when they showed up. There wasn't any corn out then, but there is now. Maybe they will be back this evening.
I have been watching a brown-headed black bird and it's pretty little brown mate in my feeder. They are close enough that I could pet them if it weren't for the glass between us. They are smaller than most black birds and very sleek in line and action. Since there are just the two of them still coming in, I wonder if they will be nesting close by. Can anyone tell me?
Wilma, I think you're describing a cowbird. We have them visiting our backyard feeder this time of year as well.
Here's a description I found on the 'Net:
"In the open grasslands of precolonial North America, the Brown-headed Cowbird's habit of depositing its eggs in the nests of other species freed it to follow the peregrinations of the bison herds. The bisons kicked up insects upon which the cowbirds fed. Still associated to some extent with large mammals, such as horses, cattle, and sheep, the Brown-headed Cowbird has now greatly expanded its range throughout the modern landscape from coast to coast."
I think I also read some time ago that the cowbird not only lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, it lets the other birds hatch the chicks and care for them.
Wilma, We have turtle doves like the one you describe in Texas. They are so gently and much larger than those we were used to seeing in Kansas. They do not coo like the northern doves -- they really sound like a dog barking. Fred's brothr Russ had two of them in his yard there in Howard last spring while we were there. We had two that were "ours" lol they stayed in our mesquite tree by our 5th wheel - so we claimed them. I have my hummingbird feeder mounted on my bay window at the back of our 5th wheel and they little darlings are coming each day to entertain us.
Indygal. you're right. I was looking at a page of blackbirds and didn't notice it said cowbird. That's why they are so much smaller than the blackbirds I know.
Jo, my doves have disappeared. They are probably at Russ's right now. When you come back, you might shoo them back over here so I can enjoy them.
Wilma....the poor things are probably having a lot of trouble deciding whether to stay in stormy Kansas or try to return to stormy Texas....They may be hiding out - just hoping for a better weather forecast.
We have had a bit of winter since they were here. I'm not sure what the season is right now. Radar shows some stormy weather moving this way again this morning. I think we might be in Kansas.
I have been hearing the cooing of the turtle dove and the coarse, raspy call of another bird close by. This morning I got to see the birds. One was our turtle dove, the other was the ring neck dove. They were fairly close together but I could tell from which the calls were coming. I was hoping the ring neck dove was still here. I wonder if Teresa has driven them back into town.
What a tacky thing to say about our Queen!
(True, but tacky)
I'm sure that she drove them back into town. She probably opened the pickup door, said, "Hop in my little turtle doves. I'll take you to town." And the birds probably hopped in and she drove them to town and released them so that my momma could enjoy seeing them.
I have two of the ring necks hanging in my back yard right now, too.
Could be that we drove them back to town. And Derek shot a ring neck this weekend. First time I had seen one. I don't believe that we have ever had any ring necks in our hunting before.
Doves haven't bunched together much yet.. we kind of need a slight cold front to come in, then they will, but right now they are just doing their thing in their native fields and are all spread out.
Had one good hunt and everyone limited out ( myself and Teri included) THAT was fun.
Teresa, Frank and I went out Saturday afternoon. He hunts, and I go along and enjoy the outside and retrieve! You are right, the birds haven't bunched up much yet out where we were. Sure wish some of these in town would go to the country, though. They love the big Live Oak trees and sure do make a terrible mess on the driveway, patio, or wherever they decide to roost. Glad you had a good hunt. How do you fix them? We bone the breast out, marinate them, stuff them with a little onion, a slice of jalapeno, wrap them in bacon and cook them on the grill. They are wonderful!!! People who say they don't like dove eat them and rave about them!
Myrna
We do ours several ways.
Sometimes we fillet the breasts out and fry them into dove nuggets.. or fry them and make gravy with them and put them over hot biscuits..
Then sometimes we just keep the breasts and I fry them like chicken.
Other times we have wrapped bacon around them ..marinated and cooked slow on the grill.
Then we also clean them and leave them whole.. splitting up the back and I fry them and then set them back in the cast iron skillet and add water.. put the lid on and smother them until they are tender tender tender.. Yummy.
(That is mama and daddy's favorite way ) I like them all ways.
We had dove for supper Monday night -- we were blessed with a gift of doves, brought to us by Chris our park manager, his buddy and his Father. I left them whole (of course lol) breaded them and fried them in my cast iron skillet..real slow and they were so tender and good. Myrna, to our way of thinking, almost anything stuffed with a little onion and jalapeno wrapped in bacon is wonderful. I split whole jalapenos - remove most of the seeds and membrane - make a stuffing of crab meat, philly cheese, garlic, a little worchester sauce, paprika, then dip the stuffed pepper halves in egg and cream - roll in cracker crumbs mixed with a little flour - do this procedure twice then deep fry them in oil.
Ask our family if these are good to eat. uuummmmmmm good!
Sorry - Teresa, I realize this should have gone in the recipe thread -- but "the old one" got carried away.
Maybe next time. :o :o :laugh: :laugh:
Quote from: frawin on September 04, 2007, 09:16:46 AM
Teresa, Frank and I went out Saturday afternoon. He hunts, and I go along and enjoy the outside and retrieve! You are right, the birds haven't bunched up much yet out where we were. Sure wish some of these in town would go to the country, though. They love the big Live Oak trees and sure do make a terrible mess on the driveway, patio, or wherever they decide to roost. Glad you had a good hunt. How do you fix them? We bone the breast out, marinate them, stuff them with a little onion, a slice of jalapeno, wrap them in bacon and cook them on the grill. They are wonderful!!! People who say they don't like dove eat them and rave about them!
Myrna
That recipe sounds like a home run!!! I have a huge batch of jalapeno's in the garden and that sounds like a great place for them....Smack dab on my dove breasts
Sounds good, Jo. We'll have to try that when we ever get unpacked!
Myrna
Jo, those sound like crab poppers to me. yum!
I have seen 3 of the ringnecks from my window, but only one has come down to feed. I need to stay away from the window. I thought maybe with Russ out of town I would get more ringnecks in to feed. There are plenty of cardinals and sparrows, a couple of chickadees and titmice and one little redbreasted woodpecker that picks up a kernel of corn and flys to a tree or roof and tucks it away for the future. Hope he can remember where he put it.
We have redwing blackbirds, grackles, cardinals, english sparrows, white crowned sparrows, Harris' sparrows, house finches, pine siskins, a single blue jay, a woodpecker, and dozens of goldfinches at the feeders this morning. With the weather unsettled, they are really feeding today. Gonna break us for sure! No ring necks though!
What happened to the hawk that was lurking around? ( or can you say.. :-X ) :)
Apparently the sight of an old woman weilding a broom was too much for him. He has left my part of the country anyway; I hope for good!
Robins in my front yard this morning. They must have missed Phil's forecast.
I have some in our trees today, but not on the ground.