The Collared Dove is a recent edition to Great Britain’s breeding bird list. They first nested in the UK in 1956 having spread north through Europe. They are a pretty bird with a nondescript plumage apart from a half collar of black. They nest locally but not in my garden. Never the less they are frequently seen for a few minutes most days and often heard with a distinctive mewing call. This one was seen in the favourite Apple tree at 4 o’clock. As I write this I can hear Blackbirds singing as dusk approaches. To me this is one of the most evocative and beautiful sounds of the English countryside. A sure sign that spring is not too far away as they are silent in the winter months.