It is an extra-warm and dry day, with very little in the way of a breeze. Anthony, who farms this land, drives me in his SUV to an area sparsely vegetated with arable wildflowers where seed has been put down. Anthony has farmed all his life in east Kent, and fondly remembers the song of the turtle dove being his summer soundtrack when he was growing up.
At some point, though, the breeding turtle doves disappeared from here – most likely during the 1990s – as they did on many other farms. Even by the standards of British avian losses, the statistics for these special birds are shocking: a 98% drop since 1970. In recent years I’ve worked with Anthony on the RSPB’s Operation Turtle Dove project, which aims to reverse this astonishing decline, by creating natural seed-rich foraging areas, access to fresh water and dense scrub for nesting, and providing supplementary feeding.
We already know that it has been working – the doves returned to the farm in 2021, and have been back every year since. Today, though, all expectations are exceeded. From the vehicle we hear the distinct purring song, and wait patiently for a sighting, keeping an eye out over the crops of broad beans. Eventually, three turtle doves come gliding into view, land 20 metres away and start nibbling at the seeds of clover and bird’s-foot trefoil. Up close you can see why they are such a celebrated species: strikingly marked and dainty, yet built for migration. We are speechless – this is the highest number we have ever recorded at the farm, and it’s a testament to all the work Anthony has done over the years. There are similar success stories elsewhere, too, in East Anglia and and other areas of the south east.
That’s not all we see either: before we head back, we are treated to fantastic views of a pair of yellow wagtails that are feeding along the track and making use of a puddle for bathing. We also hear the hoarse call of grey partridges in the crop just beyond the track – another species that is now thriving on Anthony’s farm thanks to his careful management.
• Country diary is on Twitter at @gdncountrydiary
• Nicole’s fee for this diary is being donated to the RSPB’s Operation Turtle Dove project
