Caught on camera

                     For several weeks now I have been putting out a special seed mix, provided by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, on a patch of ground beside the entrance track to our wood. The seed is targeted at Turtle Doves and was made available for me to use as I am involved in a conservation plan for this now rapidly declining migrant species.

                     Most years I see or hear at least one of these lovely, delicate doves near Crow Wood and this year has been no exception - I got some good photos of one no so long ago at the edge of this same patch of ground - but I wanted to be sure that the bird (and maybe it is just one) is actually using the seed. The answer was to put up a remote wildlife camera and leave it there over several days to catch whatever was showing up. Going through over 1000 images taken remotely over several days and nights has been a fascinating experience, even though there is not a single image of a Turtle Dove. However, its extraordinary just what range of species have been caught on camera........
                          (ps the dates on the camera have not been re-set properly so please disregard them)

A gaggle of Jackdaws

Blackbird

Magpie

A Fox checking things out

Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon and Rabbit

A Raven

Roe Deer and foal (hiding behind a bush)

Pheasant

More doves, but not the ones I am after!

A young Fallow Deer buck with velvet covered antlers

The Roe Deer and foal again.

And finally, the target bird,  a fine Turtle Dove, seen and heard but clearly keeping aloof from all the hurly-burly on the ground