Turtle Dove

I took a late afternoon walk along Swansea seafront today. As I was nearing the West Cross Inn, heading towards Swansea, I looked to my left and saw a medium-sized brown bird flying out of the trees towards me. Its colour made me at first think it was a Kestrel swooping on its prey, but, as it came nearer - and almost having to swerve to avoid me - I realised it was a dove. I turned round as it flew past me, and saw it land on the sea wall about ten yards away. It was unmistakably a Turtle Dove, and the first one I'd seen - they are quite rare in Wales. The bird was probably quite exhausted, and just sat in one place for about five minutes, occasionally drinking from a small pool of water that had accumulated on the wall, while joggers and cyclists hurtled past about five metres away. I sat on a seat ten to fifteen yards from it, watching it through binoculars, all the while cursing myself that I had not brought my camera with me to capture it as it sat posing in the sunshine. Eventually, a dog came too close, and the dove flew off into a small pine tree by the nearby pub. I watched it for a couple more minutes, before looking away for a second. When I looked back, it had gone; and a short search could not relocate it. As I continued my walk towards Blackpill, I suddenly realised I'd had my camcorder with me; in fact, it had been on the seat beside me, and I'd been so intent on watching this creature, that I'd forgotten to capture any record of it. Argh!

Continuing onwards, the sky developed some lovely 'Turneresque' clouds, which were reflected beautifully in the high tide in the bay. Why is it that, whenever I leave my camera at home, the birds are many and numerous, and the sunsets glorious? (And when I take it with me, everything is dull and grey?) Sod's Law!