iridescence

Day 169 #365DaysWild

A rhythmic pulsing call from the trees announces the return of stock doves. They’ve been away since late summer.

Compact and frequently-overlooked soft little grey pigeons with iridescence around the neck. Frequently with their mate. Shy, pretty faces, large eyes. I’ve always had a fascination with the pigeon family. And stock doves are amongst my favourites. I fear that I find their pair-bonding behaviour especially attractive. Just watch the behaviour of the birds in our garage gable nest box.

They are the only hole-breeders among our native uk pigeons and doves. Which may explain their large eyes. It is dark in our barn owl, tawny owl and Mandarin duck boxes! Encouragingly, these little pigeons breed successfully with us most years. Encouragingly because they are on the amber list of birds of conservation concern. Theirs is a nest in name only. Two eggs are laid. Pigeon chicks (or squabs) can be classed as being the kind of babies that only a mother can love.

They’ve learned from their garden wood pigeon cousins how to ‘pole dance’ on the long feeder, helping themselves to seeds and grains whilst flapping furiously.