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A study in doves - Dial up beware

MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
edited July 9, 2008 in Wildlife
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. :D 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.
Whitewingeddove1.jpg

WhiteWingedDove2.jpg

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.
GroundDove3.jpg

Back to the Martin Refuge

GroundDove1.jpg

GroundDove5.jpg

The inca doves were equally as numerous and cute I might add. :wink
IncaDove4.jpg

IncaDove3.jpg

IncaDove2.jpg

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.

WhiteTippedDove5.jpg

Coming in for water at the Martin Refuge.
WhiteTippedDove2.jpg

I even saw two Eurasian collared doves at the Martin Refuge.
CollaredDove1.jpg

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.
MourningDove3.jpg

MourningDove.jpg

Phew! I am all "doved" out now. ;)

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    bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2008
    Phew Me Too !! rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif

    Lovely Set and some I've never seen thumb.gif
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2008
    bfjr wrote:
    Phew Me Too !! rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif

    Lovely Set and some I've never seen thumb.gif

    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.
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    shoepickshoepick Registered Users Posts: 65 Big grins
    edited July 5, 2008
    Great shots, Stephen. <!--StartFragment --> super.gif <!--StartFragment --><!--StartFragment -->
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    BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited July 5, 2008
    Very nice set Stephen thumb.gif We often tend to overlook doves as subjects.
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 5, 2008
    shoepick wrote:
    Great shots, Stephen. <!--StartFragment --> super.gif <!--StartFragment --><!--StartFragment -->

    Thanks Shoepick. These doves are so common in some area that they are easily overlooked.
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    PhotosbychuckPhotosbychuck Registered Users Posts: 1,239 Major grins
    edited July 5, 2008
    Great Photos!
    I have seen some in my area that I need to get some pictures of also.
    Thanks for posting.

    Take Care,
    Chuck,
    D300S, 18-200mm VR, 70-300mm VR

    Aperture Focus Photography
    http://aperturefocus.com
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    Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited July 5, 2008
    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.
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    raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited July 6, 2008
    Great collection Stephen! thumb.gif What's up with that Eurasion Collared Dove its missing alot of plummage on its throat? headscratch.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 6, 2008
    BigAl wrote:
    Very nice set Stephen thumb.gif 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.
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 6, 2008
    [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.
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    jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,006 Major grins
    edited July 6, 2008
    doves crows ravens etc never get air time :cry nicely done
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
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    jonh68jonh68 Registered Users Posts: 2,711 Major grins
    edited July 6, 2008
    Nice set. I haven't seen some of those either.thumb.gif
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2008
    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. rolleyes1.gif
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2008
    Great collection Stephen! thumb.gif What's up with that Eurasion Collared Dove its missing alot of plummage on its throat? headscratch.gif

    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.
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    Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2008
    2 and 4 are exceptionally nice, Stephen. thumb.gif

    Doves are a very docile tender bird that we just take for granted because they fit in so well...a lesson for us all.
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    WildWallyWildWally Registered Users Posts: 494 Major grins
    edited July 7, 2008
    Nice set and story Stephen !!!!clap.gif
    But you forgot 1 thing ...
    Doves are "REALLY" good eating !!!!mwink.gif :food binge.gif
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2008
    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.
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2008
    jonh68 wrote:
    Nice set. I haven't seen some of those either.thumb.gif

    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.
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2008
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    2 and 4 are exceptionally nice, Stephen. thumb.gif

    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.
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2008
    WildWally wrote:
    Nice set and story Stephen !!!!clap.gif
    But you forgot 1 thing ...
    Doves are "REALLY" good eating !!!!mwink.gif :food binge.gif

    Thanks WildWally. As far as the eatin' goes, I guess if you are hawk, they are good. :D
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    kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited July 8, 2008
    Excellent series, Stephen. You got some great shots of some unsual doves species there.

    -joel
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2008
    Thanks so much Joel.
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    Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited July 8, 2008
    Nicely done Stephen. thumb.gif
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
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    MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited July 9, 2008
    Thanks Mike. I appreciate you looking in the thread.
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