Stock Dove 'driving' behaviour

I watched a small group of Stock Dove today on the edge of Halldale Wood. Two birds, sometimes three, repeatedly flew in the air with what I assume was the male (in several photos you can see that the upper bird has a puffed out chest, usually associated with a displaying male) chasing the female and flying very close and sometimes coming in to contact as they flew. 

This behaviour was first described as 'driving' by Derek Goodwin in 1956 in an article in the BTO journal Bird Study. He described the behaviour as the male 'driving' the female away from other males and said it took place both on the ground and in these short flights and occurred shortly before egg laying.

Stock Dove male upper chasing female

I watched at least 10 of these flights today and concluded that the male was not 'driving' her away but was chasing the female and was attempting to force her to land so that they could mate. On one occasion I was able to watch the birds after the male had followed her in to the trees where they appeared to mate.

Male Stock Dove attempting to mate with female at the end of a 'driving' flight

Stock Dove

I haven't seen many Stock Dove recently so was slightly surprised to see a fairly tight group of nine flying over the Farley Moor plantation today. A common resident they are more often heard than seen in the summer but flocks of a hundred or more can be seen locally in the winter although as noted above I haven't encountered any significant flocks this winter.

Stock Dove

Stock Dove - revisited

I didn't think I had done the Stock Dove justice with the photo yesterday and had another chance early this morning. I think this shot shows the subtle greys and pinks of much better.

Stock Dove

Stock Dove

I've never posted a Stock Dove before but there are good numbers around at present in the fields bordering the moors. This is an adult with a juvenile in the foreground. They are nice looking birds up close and this photo doesn't really do them justice.

Stock Dove adult and juvenile