Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

A bit of a wasted day, we waited in for a carpet fitter who never appeared. The carpet had been due to arrive at the shop on Friday and didn't. The firm sent it today by courier but it arrived wet and dirty so was sent back. We will see what tomorrow brings.

This is taken from the living room window. I find Collared Doves attractive and interesting partly because I am old enough to remember the UK without them. Originating in India they had slowly spread west to Turkey. Then suddenly around 1930 they began a dramatic expansion. They were first recorded breeding in the UK in 1955 in Norfolk. I saw my first in the early 60s in the unlikely place environment of on the track to Sandeels Bay Iona

The expansion continues with vagrants having been seen 41 times on Iceland.