Collared Doves are in conflict on the lane. A pair drives off an intruder in an aerial dog fight. I remember when these birds made their spectacular spread through Britain in the late 1960s. At our naturalists meetings they'd be mentioned, with some awe, as a rarity starting to nest in the district 'even in the centre of Castleford'. Some years ago they were ubiquitous, but today their numbers seem to have settled down at little.
From the top of the slope in the wood, a cock Pheasant explodes heavily into the air, 'grockling' (an alarmed throaty chuckle) for additional drama, then careering heavily onwards and downwards through the oak canopy to land clumsily amongst the willows on the opposite side of the stream.
Two Coots were on the Strands flash today, a Jay at the end of the Balk (lane) again, while Mallards were hanging around the shallows on the river.Richard Bell,
wildlife illustrator
E-mail;'richard@daelnet.co.uk'
