I would like a moment of silence for Mr and Mrs Dove.
Last Tuesday, we discovered two piles of collared Dove feathers and some spots of blood in the garden within a few hours of each other. The doves - who visit the bird table at the same time every day - have not returned since then. I suspect Mr Sparrow Hawk was the culprit, because I inspected the feathers and they had been cleanly plucked out rather than ripped out courtesy of a cat or fox.
It's a shame, but at least they ended up as a much needed meal for another creature
.