So sleeeeeeeepy ... but v nice day

[blamebrampton]

We've failed in about half our planned interactions with other humans over the holidays, due to a combination of extreme heat and Mr B being a giant slug. Had a lovely cup of tea with quatrefoil  the other day, and London H1 was in town v briefly so we had a catch-up. Have failed to catch up with tinofbeans  as yet, but I will! Alas, i_autumnheart  is probably back in the north -- though thankfully in a reasonably dry part of it!

Today we went up the mountains and caught up with S&G, who are two of our oldest friends, and their lad, dogs and chickens. It's luverley up there -- a proper village where neighbours exchange favours and the kids can feed manky carrots to the local ponies. Lad is disturbingly not the midget he once was. Little grower!

There we were, having a great old chat around the kitchen table when a big fat brown pigeon came and perched on the balcony. Then another, and another, soon four. They boldly came up to the door and began to eat the dog food while we watched. Looking them up in my bird book, I think they were brown cuckoo-doves -- anyone out there know better?

Comments

[treacle-tartlet.livejournal.com]

At least they are not as bold as our peahen and her chicken minions, who will come inside to steal food from the kitchen given half a chance.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I admire the fact she has them trained!

[drgaellon]

You're not anywhere near the flooding I saw on the news last night, are you?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Many miles away, thank goodness. It's just awful!

[chantefable.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love the brown cuckoo-doves, whatever they are. They are so lovely and bold-looking. I want them to be my Animagus form.
I'll just go and practise human-bird Transfiguration, then.

[tinofbeans.livejournal.com]

i_autumnheart is now back up north. But the rest of us had a wonderful time catching up with her. She will be back down for Festival.

We would still like to catch up with you so let us know and time and place and I am sure we can manage something. I am going down to 12th Night on the 13th but aside from that we will be around in the evenings and the kids and I are mostly around during the day for the rest of the school holidays. The advantage of now being a teacher. :-)

[i-autumnheart.livejournal.com]

Yes - I am sadly back at work this week. I was sorry to miss you on NYE, but it really was a stinking hot day, so I understood the pull of slug-dom. It is soggy here, and the creek is well over its banks at high tide, but we are not flooded. It's messy everywhere within 2 hours drive though!

[bauhinea.livejournal.com]

Ecologist husband confirms both birds are Brown Cuckoo Doves, the one at the back is a juvenile.
Apaprently this is becasue it is a bit more streaky and has a soft bill. How he can tell the bill is soft I do not know.
Young pigeons have soft bills because they are still feeding from the parents by sticking their bill down the parent's throat! Live and learn!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And that Field Guide to Birds of Australia was apparently worth the money I spent on it ;-)

They were so cheeky! They came all the way up to the back door on the food run, and didn't leave until they were shooed off. We thought they must have been domesticated, but apparently they were just greedy.

[(Anonymous)]

You are very welcome.
Presumably your friends do not have cats if the doves were so tame? Our Spotted Doves are always very wary in the garden - one eye open for our aging hunters.
Am enjoying the last Test reading the over by over account in the Gruniard. I hope you are enjoying it too.

[bauhinea.livejournal.com]

Sorry that was me.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Damn you, random log-outs!

Yes, I am enjoying it! Just popped out for a late lunch, but back now. It's nice for there to be a bit of competition!

[bauhinea.livejournal.com]

Trott out for a duck is a bit too much competiton IMHO!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's true, but it works with my theory that the lads draw straws to see who cocks up for the team each innings, so as to focus the rest of them ;-)