Grooming

The collared dove is a most obliging bird. The temperature is falling and we have dropped back into winter so the small birds are skittering back and forth, filling up from the feeders before nightfall. I noted goldfinches, chaffinches, sparrows, great tits, blue tits, a dunnock (always difficult to catch), a starling and a blackbird this evening but none of them stood still long enough to blip.

Meanwhile the collared dove gave me several beautiful poses from every angle and I have chosen this one of him/her grooming. His/her eye is closed during the operation so it must feel good!