A study in doves - Dial up beware

Maestro

Visiting the Lower Rio Grande Valley in June, I noticed that I had the opportunity to get almost all of the known occurring doves in N. America. I didn't get all of them, but I photographed a good number of them. Doves really are quite pretty (handsome) birds when found in their natural environment and when not overwhelming other birds or people for that matter. All of these were shot at the Martin Refuge in Edinburg, Texas, a great place to visit for bird photography, except for a few pictures where noted.

I'll start with the white winged dove.

They eye is a bit soft, but I like the perch.




The common ground doves were everywhere. I even saw a roadrunner grab one and run off with it, but that was at Laguna Atascosa NWR.

Actually this first one is the bird that wasn't taken by the roadrunner so this one is from LANWR.


Back to the Martin Refuge





The inca doves were equally as numerous and cute I might add. :wink






The White Tipped Doves were out too. Man, I didn't realize how big these were. Compared to the ground doves and inca doves, these guys are giants. Only the white winged compares in size. They are a speciality of the Valley. I do not think they can be seen anywhere else. These guys were very shy. This first one is actually from LANWR as well under a ton of foliage so I had to use my flash.



Coming in for water at the Martin Refuge.


I even saw two Eurasian collared doves at the Martin Refuge.


And just so the mourning doves do not feel left out, here are two from April that I have posted before, but here they are again so as to not hurt their feelings. These are from Los Madrones Ranch, another great Texas bird photography ranch.




Phew! I am all "doved" out now.

bfjr

Phew Me Too !!

Lovely Set and some I've never seen

Maestro

bfjr wrote:

Phew Me Too !!

Lovely Set and some I've never seen

Thanks Benjamin. When these doves aren't leaving poop 7 inches deep around feeders and walkways or overwhelming other birds they are quite elegant. I prefer to the country version to the city version.

shoepick

Great shots, Stephen. <!--StartFragment --> <!--StartFragment --><!--StartFragment -->

BigAl

Very nice set Stephen We often tend to overlook doves as subjects.

Maestro

shoepick wrote:

Great shots, Stephen. <!--StartFragment --> <!--StartFragment --><!--StartFragment -->

Thanks Shoepick. These doves are so common in some area that they are easily overlooked.

Photosbychuck

Great Photos!
I have seen some in my area that I need to get some pictures of also.
Thanks for posting.

Take Care,
Chuck,

Dennis Kaczor

NIce series here and the one that I really like is the second image of the Dove drinking water. Love the blue around the eyes. We have Doves here and they don't have that blue around ther eyes.

raptorcaptor

Great collection Stephen! What's up with that Eurasion Collared Dove its missing alot of plummage on its throat?

Maestro

BigAl wrote:

Very nice set Stephen We often tend to overlook doves as subjects.

Thanks Al and I am guilty of overlooking them too, but when not overwhelming feeders or people in parks doves can be quite elegant.

Maestro

[quote=

Photosbychuck

]Great Photos!
I have seen some in my area that I need to get some pictures of also.
Thanks for posting.

Take Care,
Chuck,[/quote]

Thanks Chuck. Up where I am in N. Texas I only see the mourning dove with just the occasional white winged dove or Eurasian collared dove. It was fun seeing all of them.

jwear

doves crows ravens etc never get air time :cry nicely done

jonh68

Nice set. I haven't seen some of those either.

Maestro

Dennis Kaczor wrote:

NIce series here and the one that I really like is the second image of the Dove drinking water. Love the blue around the eyes. We have Doves here and they don't have that blue around ther eyes.

Thanks Dennis. They do know how to put on the mascara.

Maestro

raptorcaptor wrote:

Great collection Stephen! What's up with that Eurasion Collared Dove its missing alot of plummage on its throat?

Thanks Glenn. I am not sure if this dove has mites or if it is a disease or injury. Actually, some who have seen the photo do not think it is even a eurasian collared dove. They mainly point to the collar that should ring the neck. Some have suggested it is an escaped ringed turtle dove. I am not sure.

Ric Grupe

2 and 4 are exceptionally nice, Stephen.

Doves are a very docile tender bird that we just take for granted because they fit in so well...a lesson for us all.

WildWally

Nice set and story Stephen !!!!
But you forgot 1 thing ...
Doves are "REALLY" good eating !!!! :food

Maestro

jwear wrote:

doves crows ravens etc never get air time :cry nicely done

Thanks Jeff. I know what you mean. In fact, I really need to take more pictures of the crows in my area. They are all around although we do not get ravens where I live.

Maestro

jonh68 wrote:

Nice set. I haven't seen some of those either.

I did read where an Inca Dove showed up in Alabama recently. I saw that in the latest Birder's World magazine. Thanks for the comments.

Maestro

Ric Grupe wrote:

2 and 4 are exceptionally nice, Stephen.

Doves are a very docile tender bird that we just take for granted because they fit in so well...a lesson for us all.

Thanks a bunch Ric. Just yesterday I saw two Eurasian Collared Doves in my neighborhood. They are really starting to expand their territory. That was only the second time I have seem ECDs in my area.

Maestro

WildWally wrote:

Nice set and story Stephen !!!!
But you forgot 1 thing ...
Doves are "REALLY" good eating !!!! :food

Thanks WildWally. As far as the eatin' goes, I guess if you are hawk, they are good.

kdog

Excellent series, Stephen. You got some great shots of some unsual doves species there.

-joel

Maestro

Thanks so much Joel.

Osprey Whisperer

Nicely done Stephen.

Maestro

Thanks Mike. I appreciate you looking in the thread.