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  "description": "First time photographing Rock Pigeon.",
  "path": "/rock-pigeon-at-ocean-city-welcome-centre/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-28T16:54:18.000Z",
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  "tags": [
    "Columba livia",
    "Ocean City",
    "Ocean City Welcome Center",
    "Rock Pigeon",
    "Shorebirds",
    "Spring",
    "Birds"
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  "textContent": "Before Bhavna and I left for Corson’s Inlet, we wandered toward the northern end of the Ocean City Welcome Centre car park. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular — just curious. Then a half dozen birds flew in and landed on the railing behind us. My first thought was dove, but something was off. The colouring wasn’t quite right. In Montgomery Township I only ever see Mourning Dove. On my last trip to St. Vincent and Bequia, I came across Eared Dove, African Collared-Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Zenaida Dove — all of which, if I’m being honest, blur together in my memory — plus Common Ground Dove and Scaly-naped Pigeon, which are distinctive enough that I can pick them out. These were none of those. These were Rock Pigeons. My first. A lifer. Rock Pigeon · Saturday 11 April 2026FujiFilm X-T3 · ISO 3200 · 1/1000 secXF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR · 600 mm · f/8.0 Up close, with the light catching them at the right angle, they weren’t the dull urban grey I’d always imagined. The neck carried an iridescent shimmer of purple and green that you’d miss entirely without decent light. I read later that feral Rock Pigeon plumage is surprisingly variable — pale grey to black, white, orangey-brown, or any mix in between. Yowza. Worth noting: there’s no scientific distinction between a pigeon and a dove. Just a naming convention. Bhavna and I agreed on one thing without much debate: no matter the species, pigeons carry themselves with an unmistakable dopey confidence. Like they know something you don’t, but can’t quite remember what it was.",
  "title": "Rock Pigeon at Ocean City Welcome Centre",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-27T18:20:12.000Z"
}