Dozens of avid birdwatchers are gathering near Greer park to see an Oriental turtle dove — a bird that has only been seen three times in California, according to eBird.

The bird is native to Europe and East Asia and can be identified by its distinctive scaly appearance and reddish-brown claws, as stated by eBird.

Many flocked to the area after news of its presence came out, with some even traveling from out of Palo Alto. Guerneville resident Scott Carry believes that the sight of an Oriental turtle dove is remarkable enough to warrant the almost three-hour drive. 

“I am a huge bird chaser, and seeing a Eurasian species is pretty special,” Carry said. “It is certainly a life bird as I have never seen one, so I was really excited to come down.” 

Palo Altans like Rita Colwell share this enthusiasm and are thrilled to have the dove in their hometown.  

“The sighting is pretty incredible because there have only been a few documented sightings,”  Colwell said. “The Oriental coming to a place like Palo Alto makes it pretty unique.”

Bird enthusiasts from all around came together to enjoy this special creature, which is one of avid bird watcher Joshua Stacy’s favorite things about the hobby. 

“It’s special to see any living thing that you normally wouldn’t see,” Stacy said. “It’s also nice to see all these birders gather around here, it’s a nice way to see a lot of our friends.”