Our nesting pair of collared doves are doing some fancy flying these days.
Their new home is in a conifer hedge behind a large tree covered with ivy. The preferred (upwind) approach is from the ash tree about 15 metres away, despite the shed roof being only 2 metres from the target.
The bird will launch from 5 metres up the ash tree, swoop down for a low pass over the lawn, fly under the washing line and then pull up into a stall turn to port to land neatly on top of the hedge.
This is achieved very smartly and in the best traditions of the service at least eight times in ten. The other twice result in a hot and high approach with associated loss of control in the final manoevre, a crash landing - usually in the hedge - and a very surprised and indignant collared dove.
Still, any landing you can walk away from...