This is a photo special – the first of two posts today.

Here’s one of the Eurasian collared doves that arrived on my window ledge on Saturday morning. Fans of Pontevedra FC can see the new stadium being built top left. . .

And, yes, they were in spring mood. Within 2 days, they’d built a nest which – as you can see - fitted one expert’s description of ‘an almost incredibly flimsy platform of twigs in a tree’. And some time yesterday one of their usual two eggs was laid. Quick workers.

For Spanish readers, this bird is known here as the Tórtula Turca, or Turkish Turtledove. They are now very common in the UK - despite only having arrived in the 50s - but they've only recently reached Spain and Portugal.

Finally, talking of flimsy platforms, here’s a photo of my neighbours’ decorators taking their lunch break. Or perhaps high tea. . . In the background can be seen that ubiquitous Spanish bird, the Builder's Crane. Unless it's a head decoration.