October 16th

pigeons flee the field

stocky shapes accelerate

away from danger

Wood Pigeons look ungainly when on the ground or teetering on the small platform of a feeding table, like portly drunk businessmen negotiating their way to the the toilets in a packed wine bar. But in the air they are agile, they can reach some speed when they have to and are surprisingly manoeuvrable. With that weight comes muscle and power, they look fat, but they aren’t. This bulk allows for explosive bursts of speed. As I drove towards Flitwick a number of them got spooked and jumped into the air and flew over the road above me. They really shifted it.

pic from RSPB website

July 5th

Sleep sound reassured

ubiquitous wood pigeon

velvet pillow song

 

There’s something comforting about the cooing of wood pigeons. Warm days in the summer garden.

(pic from RSPB website)

April 2nd

Lustful combatants

fence post duellists belly barge

posture and display

 

There were two male wood pigeons on the fence between the back gardens, battling for love. A bemused female watched them fight, looking mightily unimpressed by their efforts, wondering if there was another wood pigeon she could choose as her mate.

Wood pigeons are wobbly inelegant fat gits. Their fight was noisy, but fairly ineffective. Just lots of thudding and flapping around. Not sure who won. The fattest one I would guess.

(pic from RSPB website)