Omo & Flash are proud to annouce....

16th Sept.'11 - The picture above was taken in the garden today - one of those lovely warm dreamy Indian Summer afternoons when the doves laze, take baths and peck on the lawn - you can just see Mummy Omo or Daddy Flash in the dovecote window. The egg or eggs hatched a week ago - Friday the 9th and on Tuesday I saw Omo peek her head out, take a good look round, then fly out. Flash didn't replace her so I grabbed the steps and the opportunity to look inside the nest. Two babies! Both covered in yellow down and plumptious! I could see them well, but they were so small this is all the camera could get I'm afraid, and of course I was trying to be quick in case Omo came back!

4 days old

and here is big sibling, Fairy - aged approx 11 weeks

There is an excellent website showing the day to day growth of a baby pigeon here - from day 1 to day 31 I think it is : http://www.speedpigeon.com/ - see the left hand side panel.

And here we have my two squabs at about 5 days old - the eldest is starting to open it's eyes.

I visited Claremont again and this time took my camera. This is Rusty as she was in June when I rescued her - I'm sure you remember the state she was in.

And here she is now, ringed by me, still with her flock - a bit scruffy, but a true survivor!

The flock at Claremont are tamer than my own birds. They'll do anything for a peanut!


Even two at a time - it reminded me of the good old days when you were allowed to feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. Do you remember the men selling the little bags of food?

And now here are the babies again - 6 days old (below) Sorry I don't think the flash worked that time on my camera, and I don't like to take too many photos in case it upsets them.

And today Friday 16th Sept '11 is their one week old birthday. They were cuddled down and I didn't get a good photo. The nestbox is beginning to smell a bit, and hopefully this will be the last lot of squabs this year and I can clean it out! It'll be a lot smellier by the time these babies are fledged! I do hope all goes well for them. I'm going away for a few days next week on holiday, so will miss some of their growing up. I pray nothing happens to them while I'm gone.
Their story will continue when I get back.