Shortly after dawn I stepped outside my back door and beheld a sweet and beautiful sight.
Two mourning doves were perched on a tree limb very near the deck. They were preening and were totally absorbed with each other, to the point they didn't seem to notice my presence.
I silently took my phone in hand and started making pictures. Hoping for a closer shot, I moved in, fully expecting them to fly away. But surprisingly, they seemed to ignore me, which was a good thing for me.
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| The birds perched on the lowest thin branch. |
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| The birds can be seen a bit more clearly in this photo. |
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| A little more daylight gives a better view of the doves. |
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| This is obviously not the best photo of perching birds, but it was a special moment and I'm happy they didn't fly away when I got relatively near them. |
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| Credit: wikipedia American Mourning Dove. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing. The bird is a strong fllier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph). |
Mourning doves are quite abundant in this area. They are within the same family of the Turtle Doves, which we all are familiar with through the song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Turtle Doves, also known as the European Turtle Dove is found throughout the continent and North Africa.
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| Credit: wikipedia European Turtle Dove |
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| Credit: Abstract-thoughts.com |
I was pleased these "two turtle doves" decided to visit and bring much joy during the Christmas season.
From The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me Two
Turtle Doves
and a partridge in a pear tree.
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| Credit: Fashion-era.com |
Isn't this such a sweet picture?
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| The Turtle Dove by Sophie Gengembre Anderson |
My day was quite hectic and there were challenges, but my morning started perfect with a viewing of the two doves. I think my planets have been out of alignment the past few days. I'm ready for them to shift!! (haha)
How was your day?
Hurrah for two turtle doves to visit just before Christmas. Fingers crossed a partridge will arrive in the next few days!
ReplyDeleteBusy here too, going to glaze the ham tomorrow..
Yes! And hopefully will perch in my pear tree! I'll know then that my planets are back in alignment!!
ReplyDeleteWe have mourning doves here too. I love to listen to them cooing early in the morning. In the springtime they make nests in various precarious looking places.
ReplyDeleteMay your planets soon align!
Darla
I love their cooing sounds too! I think the axis has shifted and everything is back in alignment!
DeleteI have the Partridges by the dozen also the Pear tree,anyone have the French hens?
ReplyDeleteWhat an early bird you are Sanda,have never seen the Mourning Turtle dove,such delicate colours.Ida
Oh do send me a partridge, I think that's the same as the Bobwhite Quail, and we see lots of them in summer but not in winter.
DeleteSome days I'm an early bird; some days not.
The song is familiar to me too. I learned it at school and still remember parts of it!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures.
My day has been " the usual ", except for some socializing with the owner of our guest horse.
In fact, the socializing wore me up totally, I had to take a nap afterwards, omg!
The daylight time is so very short, after tomorrow, it will lengthen - very slowly.
I too find socializing exhausting. Thank goodness for refreshing naps. When I arise at 5 a.m. I usually have a one-hour nap after lunch. Love naps!
DeleteSo what time does the sun rise and set on these short days of winter in your area?
Sunrise 9.25 ( am ) , sunset 15.10 ( pm ), and after 22/12 the sunset lengthens a minute a day ; ).
DeleteWhat a sweet, sweet story and the pictures are so, so pretty.
ReplyDeleteThings like this make me feel good even if I wasn't the one experiencing it.
Just reading this makes me feel good!
There's just something about birds that's a song to the soul. I have to get a bird feeder to place outside my kitchen window so I can watch them feed all winter long.
DeleteYou know, Sanda, it's those little things like a couple of lovebirds that can re-align our thought process. I love wathing birds! However, today I got realigned by going to the accupuncturist/massage doctor. Now, THAT will get everything in gear! Right now, I feel cool-as-a-cucumber - ready for the hustle and bustle.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I want to wish you a very blessed Christmas and happy New Year!!
I suppose it was the turtle doves that got me back in alignment! I am anxious to hear about your experience with the acupuncturist. And a massage sounds just what the doctor ordered to face the upcoming holiday madness.
DeleteAnd best wishes to you as well!