Twelve doves greeted me again this morning (and, as always, a male blackbird scurrying round the edges grabbing whatever he can--now because he is feeding a chick). I always start them with many bits of cheese, which always means being surrounded by an eager flurry of doves.
Then I break up and hand out an end-crust. Because I am right-handed that means holding it in my left hand and breaking bits off with my right. F1 has long perched on my left hand as I do that, because she knows that by gnawing away at the crust she will get more than any of the others. BigFeet has tried supplanting her, but she is queen at that stage, so today for the first time he solved the problem by flying up to my left shoulder where I fed him. Then another dove perched in the crook of my left arm, yet another perched on my right arm, and to my delight the beautiful snow-white one flew to my head. So for a moment I had five doves on me and was crowned with the most beautiful one. A wonderful start to the day!
That beautiful one, the most beautiful one in that beautiful flock, would be aptly named if she were called Guinivere, which means white spirit.
Then I break up and hand out an end-crust. Because I am right-handed that means holding it in my left hand and breaking bits off with my right. F1 has long perched on my left hand as I do that, because she knows that by gnawing away at the crust she will get more than any of the others. BigFeet has tried supplanting her, but she is queen at that stage, so today for the first time he solved the problem by flying up to my left shoulder where I fed him. Then another dove perched in the crook of my left arm, yet another perched on my right arm, and to my delight the beautiful snow-white one flew to my head. So for a moment I had five doves on me and was crowned with the most beautiful one. A wonderful start to the day!
That beautiful one, the most beautiful one in that beautiful flock, would be aptly named if she were called Guinivere, which means white spirit.