Dove Factory

It's almost impossible to imagine a time when Collared Dove was a major rarity in the UK. In less than 60 years it has turned into one of the most common birds we have. With our resident breeding pair I now know why. They have just fledged their fifth brood (=10 fledglings). After the third they moved nests, abandoning the neighbours satellite dish platform and moving under the eves to their equally redundant security light. Still a precarious looking situation for the usual two nestlings. Female attending the nest and trying to coax out the full-size nestlings - both just visible. This latest pair of fledglings finally flew on Friday. No better looking than their older siblings. No better looking than their older siblings. Still time for a sixth brood!