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Birds - Pigeon & Doves Page 4

Image Taken on 11 Oct 2006 at 13:36    Image of day on 20 Oct 2006

Countrywide day of heavy rain (24mm in 6Hrs) had wildlife finding sheltered spots, providing our first view of this young pigeon on a gloomy mid-afternoon. Note the unfeathered base & colour of the beak which changes with maturity.


Ref: 20061020_d35_20061011_1336_051 fb2 young pigeon sheltering from heavy rain(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 14 Aug 2023 at 12:14    Image of day on 10 Oct 2023

It looks like this juvenile Wood Pigeon is fresh out of a nearby nest and has crash landed in the hedge at the front of the house. He seems to instinctively 'know' that the best way of avoiding detection is to keep perfectly still. We almost missed spotting them.


Ref: 20231010_d71_20230814_1214_013 pigeon youngster on blackberry hedge at front of house(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 14 Dec 2018 at 13:35    Image of day on 24 Jan 2019

At first glance this looked like just a row of pigeons along the top of this distant tree. In fact the image shows that the tree was holding some 50, but we still find it fun.


Ref: 20190124_df3_20181214_1335_002 50 pigeons in treetop at brook to west(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 31 Aug 2012 at 13:26    Image of day on 10 Oct 2012

The 2 pigeons in a ivy covered Lilac bush are doing well - these two fledged the next evening. There are probably many other pairs we know nothing about.


Ref: 20121010_df1_20120831_1326_270 2 young pigeons on nest in ivy covered lilac bush by garage(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 21 Jun 2007 at 20:33    Image of day on 08 Jul 2007

We don't usually 'go' for back views of which we get altogether too many, but this collared dove particularly appeals. Think of a Victorian lady with bustle and fantail skirt (but no corset!).


Ref: 20070708_d35_20070621_2033_006 fb2 rear view of collared dove(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 18 Jan 2024 at 10:44    Image of day on 11 Feb 2024

A Rook and a Jackdaw (with a Wood Pigeon bringing up the rear) share the recently delivery of grain and scraps.


Ref: 20240211_e6a_20240118_1044_009_fb5 rook + jackdaw + wood pigeon at frosted meadow site(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 25 Feb 2024 at 11:19    Image of day on 23 Mar 2024

The landing Rook has no bad intentions towards the Pigeon, who nevertheless 'gets clear of the landing zone'.


Ref: 20240323_bu5_20240225_1119_304_sc1 rook landing behind startled wood pigeon(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 14 Oct 2006 at 16:29    Image of day on 23 Oct 2006

What do you do with a dead pigeon Pt 2:- This 2nd image was taken 10m after 'yesterdays'. A minute after that the pigeon was gone.


Ref: 20061023_d35_20061014_1629_058 fb2 sparrowhawk at pigeon remains 2 of 2 (web crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 14 Oct 2006 at 16:19    Image of day on 22 Oct 2006

What do you do with a dead pigeon:- Feel sad for it's death but note that it was plucked (raptor rather than fox) and wasn't wasted. Then put the remains out as 'bait' and see what happens. It was put out 1Hr 40m before the first image timed at 4:19p.m. Tomorrows image concludes the sequence.


Ref: 20061022_d35_20061014_1619_057 fb2 sparrowhawk landing at pigeon remains 1 of 2 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 09 Oct 2024 at 15:25    Image of day on 15 Nov 2024

The 3 days of the Apple.
A Grey Squirrel brought this small red apple to the top of the Meadow Post, ate some of it, and left it there.
That evening, and the following day, several Magpie visits saw the apple moderately reduce in size.
Over the second night a Tawny Owl landed by it but, as you would expect from a pure carnivore, completely ignores the fruit.
Next day a Pigeon landing on the post knocks the apple off the top.
A search for the apple on the ground came up empty - Fox and Badger don't miss such opportunities
All 6 images all at the same scale should you wish to compare creature sizes.



Ref: 20241115_d01_20241009_1525_061-0241011_0834_020_fb6 squirrel with small apple + magpies peck + owls ignore + hit by pigeon (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 23 Mar 2025 at 09:56    Image of day on 27 Apr 2025

A rare visitor is this Stock Dove, captured by grabbing the nearest camera as the bird spend just a minute of two on this minimalist bird table


Ref: 20250427_d5c_20250323_0956_007 stock dove(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 31 Jul 2018 at 14:58    Image of day on 21 Sep 2018

Late summer sees the arrival of what has in recent years become the annual appearance of a few Stock Doves.


Ref: 20180921_e64_20180731_1458_126_fb2 stock dove(r+mb id@1024).jpg


Image Taken on 20 Jun 2008 at 05:39    Image of day on 05 Jul 2008

Expect we have seen them before, but this is the first image of a Stock dove we have thought good enough to keep.


Ref: 20080705_d3a_20080620_0539_023 fb2 stock dove(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 17 May 2022 at 19:47    Image of day on 24 Jun 2022

Another hour on a third landing for the Stock Dove, this time with a Wood Pigeon already perched. Similar size but different eye colour, no white flash and different coloured beak.


Ref: 20220624_e60_20220517_1947_056_fb3 stock dove about to land next to wood pigeon(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 01 Jun 2014 at 18:36    Image of day on 10 Aug 2014

Our 2 regular full-sized pigeons (i.e. excluding the smaller Collared Dove) tolerating each other. On the left is the Stock Dove with all Black eye. On the right is the Wood Pigeon with yellow Iris and always keyhole shaped pupil we see in other photos of Wood Pigeons, but not in drawings in older ID books. Maybe it is a recent evolution (but worldwide?), or the artist in our old books thought they had a rogue specimen and painted the Iris as round. Can anybody tell us?


Ref: 20140810_e62_20140601_1836_283_fb5 stock dove and wood pigeon together(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 11 Oct 2013 at 08:32    Image of day on 10 Dec 2013

The Stock dove chick (In the broken Owl box) has been changing visibly each day. Here for a change it was setting facing to our right on a different piece of it's own horrendous dung heap!


Ref: 20131210_p10_20131011_0832_285 stock dove chick in broken barn owl box (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


Image Taken on 13 Oct 2013 at 14:07    Image of day on 10 Dec 2013

2 days later backs to it's preferred position.
Next day, and thereafter the box was empty in what we assume was a successful fledging of the Stock Dove.


Ref: 20131210_p10_20131013_1407_288 stock dove chick in broken barn owl box (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Oct 2013 at 12:38    Image of day on 07 Dec 2013

This single stock Dove chick in a broken Owl nest box is now mostly feathered, but a couple of tail feathers are still in pin (sheathed). This is also known as a Blood Feather which provides a blood supply to the growing feather.


Ref: 20131207_p10_20131008_1238_246 stock dove chick in broken barn owl box (crop 1)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 08 Oct 2013 at 12:38    Image of day on 07 Dec 2013

A detail of the Stock Dove chick showing two remaining tail feathers 'in pin'.


Ref: 20131207_p10_20131008_1238_246 stock dove chick in broken barn owl box (crop 2 tail detail)(r+mb id@576).jpg


Image Taken on 01 Oct 2013 at 11:23    Image of day on 29 Nov 2013

3 days later the smaller of the chicks has disappeared - the box is wide open to predation by crows or similar. But the larger bird seems to be doing well with the feather 'pins' grown substantially in the 3 days. When the birds have flown repairs will be in order.


Ref: 20131129_p10_20131001_1123_200 stock dove chick in broken barn owl box (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg


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