One in the bank?

Late 2003 brought the first twitchable Rufous Turtle Dove in my birding lifetime when one of the form meena was discovered at Stromness, Orkney.

So, just over 7 years to wait for its cousin, of the form orientalis, to turn up.

This bird's been wintering in an Oxfordshire garden, so kind thanks to the home-owners for putting up with the hoards.

They've raised well over £2000 for charity so far - the positive side of twitching.

Now, we just need those taxonomists to get their 'splitting' heads on......