Spot the pigeon!

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A couple of weeks ago some friends came to visit, and as it was a pleasant warm day we thought we would eat lunch outside. We carried the food, plates and cutlery to the table on the patio, where it is shaded by a grape vine growing over a pergola – then my partner happened to look up and realised a pigeon was nesting directly above the table! Before the day in question we had had a run of cool, damp weather which hadn’t been conducive to outdoor dining, so the pigeon had been able to build the nest undisturbed. Well we moved the table a short distance away and continued our meal, then cleared away and left the pigeon in peace. Since then we have had a couple more meals outside, and I have used the table for taking cuttings and repotting houseplants as well. I always say hello to the pigeon and imagine that watching me might add a little bit of interest to her day – but maybe I’m just deluding myself. Anyway she seems quite content sitting there; she’s shaded from the sun when it’s hot and even quite well protected from the day-long downpours we’ve had a couple of times this week as well. Apparently pigeons hatch after around 18 days, and of course we don’t know how long she was sitting there before we noticed, so I expect something should be happening quite soon! Can you spot her peeping down from among the leaves? All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2023.