Pigeon Courtship

A photo from about this time last year. I was testing out my big telephoto lens in the back garden and noticed this pair of pigeons showing courtship behaviour.

I noticed that the female bird on the right had leg rings, suggesting she was a lost / escaped racing bird.

Over a sequence of photos I was able to read the letters and numbers on the rings (it's a very good lens!) and contact the Royal Pigeon Racing Association, who gave me her owner's phone number.

He was sorry to hear that his bird wasn't coming back to her loft in Bristol - about 60km away - but pleased that she had found a mate and settled down!