What had caught my eye was the glow from the neck feathers which looked like a piece of shiny sweet wrapper changing colour as it caught the sunlight from different directions. Often a metallic green and sometimes an iridescent pink. The bird started near the bottom of the garden and was obviously very nervous so I had to move about slowly in the kitchen as I took some photographs. Gradually it came closer and stayed long enough for me to get some video which should be available tomorrow and shows much better the colourful glow from those neck feathers.
Wow ~ another new visitor! Your Bistro fame is spreading far and wide. How exciting to see and recognize that particular type of dove. I hope it's not as slippery so you are able to get out on your walks with Bobby.
ReplyDeleteHello Glo. Right place, right time. I should imagine there are a few more shy visitors I haven't spotted yet. I am looking forward to lazy hot days sat in the garden when I can keep a better watch on the bushes to see what is there.
ReplyDeleteAll the ice melted yesterday, froze again last night but a thin layer of new snow made a walk round the block possible this morning.
I see your new toy has arrived safely at last. Sighs of relief all round.
John now that is coincidence yesterday the bird book fell open at Stock Dove page. I had never heard of them either.
ReplyDeleteWell! Blow me down with a feather too :) Now that is a coincidence. Strangely enough I saw one on someone else's blog recently and they said they felt privileged to see it in their garden as they are quite nervy which is borne out by what you said and by the fact I only managed one photo! Mind you, had I realised what I was looking at sooner I could probably have got more.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff John and I'm really looking forward to seeing the video eventually.
So glad Bobby is going on OK but had to smile at your words about him slithering on the ice :)
Thank you very much for the mention and the link.
Hello Adrian. Must be a conspiracy to get themselves noticed. ;)
ReplyDeleteHello Jan. Strange world. One minute Stock Doves are obscure shy birds now they seem to be popping up everywhere. Probably shows how much difficulty they are having finding food in the prolonged below average temperatures. It really did look very nervous but settled better when it came across to join the Wood Pigeons. It was gobbling seed at a rate to rival a Starling so I guess it was very hungry.
ReplyDeleteI was walking on the grass verge but Bobby insisted on staying on the icy path. At least four legs had a better chance of staying upright, even when they go in different directions.
I think it only right that when I mention someone else's blog that others should be able to see it for themselves.
That's brilliant John, I would love to see one of these in my garden.
ReplyDeleteNice addition to your garden list John.
ReplyDeleteLOVELY bird! Love the glitter on his neck.
ReplyDeleteHello Linda. It was a nice surprise. Probably like the Turtle Dove some months ago it will be a one off visit.
ReplyDeleteHello Frank. I never know what is going to pop up from time to time. Some day I will have to work out how many different species have visited.
ReplyDeleteHello Maree. The glitter is very unusual in the way it seems to change colour and glints like liquid metal.
ReplyDeleteHi again John, now the sparkly necks of these Stock doves immediately caught my attention in your photos! Great captures you got there of you new visitor :-D
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the newbie cautious moves around the garden and feeders. I’m quite sure it will fit in well if it stays a while.
Funnily enough, I had only heard of this bird recently (but I am a newbie with birds) just before the Birdwatch weekend. Then I saw it for the first time in Jan’s posting and now you have it too. Maybe they have a PR agent working for them… they are way prettier than the woodpigeon :-D
Hello Shirl. The photos, or even the video, don't really show just how sparkly those neck feathers are - just like the old fashioned toffee wrappers.
ReplyDelete