A Collared in the County

Last Sunday evening, a strange cooing alerted me to an unusual visitor in our yard.  It was incredibly exciting to walk out and lay eyes on this Eurasian Collared Dove looking down at me.

Eurasian Collared-Dove July 14, 2019

While the species does show up occasionally around Ontario, they are by no means common and as far as I can find, this is a first for Perth county.  Since their arrival on this continent they have made a remarkable expansion northward.  It is rather surprising that they have not yet penetrated Ontario in greater numbers.

A day later a local birder and photographer visited and managed a variety of shots.

Eurasian Collared-Dove July 15, 2019
photo by Darren Dewitt

Eurasian Collared-Dove July 15, 2019
photo by Darren Dewitt

Eurasian Collared-Dove July 15, 2019
photo by Darren Dewitt

Eurasian Collared-Dove July 15, 2019
photo by Darren Dewitt

As of this writing the dove is still in the area.  Will be interesting to see how long it stays.