Well spotted

I was so torn with what to share this week but decided to stick with my original plan as it will take too long to do justice to the totally amazing sights I have seen in the garden this week – hopefully I’ll be able to get better shots of two melanistic species sometime during the week, if not I’ll work on the grainy specimens I have so I can share the excitement with you.

In the meantime I’ll talk about this gentle-looking bird. Very few introduced bird species visit my place apart from the resident Common Blackbirds. Occasionally a Spotted Dove turns up, looking a little lost as it fossicks around the patio.

Sometimes their perplexed expressions are quite comical! I find myself wondering what this one had spotted on the branch. The pastel blues and pinks of their plumage is quite attractive but their orange irises, red feet and legs look a bit like they’ve been borrowed from another species.

Spotted Doves are named for the broad, black collar on their lower hind neck, which is liberally sprinkled with white spots. Their white-tipped tail is more obvious in flight.

Spotted Doves were introduced to Australia from eastern Asia at different times from the 1860s to the early 1900s. Several years ago a pair nested here at the edge of the bush. I wouldn’t have realised this if I hadn’t unknowingly walked beneath their nest and flushed the sitting bird. The nest was about 2.5m from the ground and was the flimsiest, most pathetic excuse for a nest I’d ever seen. Looking up at it I was astonished that the clearly visible eggs hadn’t fallen between the sparse collection of twigs on which they had been laid. It’s fascinating to think how intricately some nests are constructed while these doves manage to raise nestlings balanced on a handful of crossed sticks.

Happy birding, Kim

~ Prints and gifts Lirralirra Shop
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography