I kept spotting this white bird feasting on scattered corn around the corn dryer but did not make the connection that it was the same bird until I came to recognise his style of fluttering off when anyone came near, and then returning to the dryer to start eating again once no-one was around.


Holly, our spaniel, would give desultory chase every now and then, as did Bud, our Jack Russell, but by and large they came to accept the pigeon as part of the poultry scene. Except this 'bantie' could fly rather well.

"Shall we catch him in a net and let his owner know?" I suggested to John. "Not unless you want to see his neck wrung," he answered.


I had forgotten that the last pigeon- owner we rang about a racing bird that had given up the racing urge and taken to farm life foreshortened the bird's flying days by a quick neck twist.


"No-one wants a homing pigeon that doesn't want to go home. It's just a liability," John said.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette April 30