That time of year when naked trees no longer hide the birds has come. I can spend time watching them with my binoculars and trying to capture their beauty with my camera. The gray doves are here all year, but mostly seen feeding on the ground beneath the bird feeder. This one flew high onto a snag and then posed with that coy tilt of head in the warm glow of the sunset. He looks bronze rather than the soft gray that is his true color. There whiffet and whistle of wing when they fly is common to most. Some people feel their song sounds like a mourning call, but I find it very soothing as if comforting a small child. Their feathers are most seductive looking as if they were made of smooth and soft suede and inviting you to stroke them. They can live many years. I once owned a ring-neck dove and each morning his song would sing me awake. We had to give him to a friend before a long-ago move, but I think he is still alive and that was over a decade ago. For some reason they remind me of chubby and loving nannies.
That time of year when naked trees no longer hide the birds has come. I can spend time watching them with my binoculars and trying to capture their beauty with my camera. The gray doves are here all year, but mostly seen feeding on the ground beneath the bird feeder. This one flew high onto a snag and then posed with that coy tilt of head in the warm glow of the sunset. He looks bronze rather than the soft gray that is his true color. There whiffet and whistle of wing when they fly is common to most. Some people feel their song sounds like a mourning call, but I find it very soothing as if comforting a small child. Their feathers are most seductive looking as if they were made of smooth and soft suede and inviting you to stroke them. They can live many years. I once owned a ring-neck dove and each morning his song would sing me awake. We had to give him to a friend before a long-ago move, but I think he is still alive and that was over a decade ago. For some reason they remind me of chubby and loving nannies.
I think mourning doves are beautiful.. not overly bright but beauties nonetheless. It's amazing just how many colours the sun can pick up in them depending on the angle. They can appear copper/golden as you've shown here, silvery, buttery yellow, slate blue and even rosy. They're always interesting to watch when nest-building because they haven't the good sense to build up high, or well hidden. Now if only I could get Benny to believe that they're birds and not squirrels, we'll do ok. :)
ReplyDeleteI love mourning doves and your description fits the way I feel about them. I find them comforting and peaceful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots of the Mourning Dove. You really got some great ones---with the perfect coloring...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
Nice lighting! Beautifully captured.
ReplyDelete