Spotted Doves on Tree

Malay spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) are easy to recognise from the patch of white on black spots on their nape.  Their colours are shades of browns with dashes of black on the wings and tails. 

Their presence is often indicated by a pleasant crooning.


They are often found striding along the tree branches of this casuarina that I had planted from a young sapling about two decades ago.
 
A branch of the casuarina tree laden with cones.


A branch with the colourful bougainvillea in the background.


The casuarina after the rain.


The upper reaches of the casuarina.



With the sun low down on the horizon, these doves can still be heard cooing above.

On another tree nearby, another spotted dove was seen chilling out.

It passed its time by preening and snoozing. 



These doves are normally found alone and often in pairs feeding on the ground.

A Nesting Spotted Dove

The Spotted Doves (Spilopelia chinensis) often nest in my garden. They are quite bold and are not too shy of human presence. 

I took a ladder and clambered to the top to take this photo. This one sat serenely atop its nest and simply ignored my intrusion. 


I was actually very close to it. The bird was merely inches away from my lens.

These were her two precious eggs - pristine white.

This is how the Spotted Dove accessed its nest, its tail a tell-tale sign of its domestic activities.


This is the Juniperus chinensis where the nest was lodged.

Bauhenia kockiana vine tends to be invasive. I kept it under control with constant pruning and shaping.

Nearby is this elegant casuarina tree is around twenty years old. Birds of all varieties love to perch on its branches.