A Laughing Dove in an Oak Tree

We arrived at Towerwater for our holiday to discover that a couple of laughing doves have built their nest in the big oak tree in front of the kitchen door. Our preferred source of shade has now become home to a pair of laughing doves and their two chicks.

The laughing dove on its nest

This was no laughing matter for us as we had to shift all the activity on the property around this new family. Children had to stop running and playing under the tree and we had to find a new position for al fresco dining.

A flimsy little nest was home to two rapidly growing little doves and we feared for their safety from falling out of the nest to becoming prey to a very interested fiscal shrike.

The laughing dove chicks

We will entertain this inconsiderate nest building from the laughing dove parents and look forward to seeing the two little down balls into adulthood.

We have discovered new ways of enjoying our garden around the new tenants and have to thank them silently for forcing us to look at the entertainment possibilities of the garden differently.

Close to the first day of Christmas our garden gave to me, a laughing dove in the oak tree.