The Spotted-necked Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) has been described as the most abundant pigeon of open country and cultivation, but I had to wait a long time to "shoot" one. My chance came recently when I saw a pair of them on the backlane behind my house. They flew away at my first attempt to photograph them, but one returned to feed on some left-over rice placed there for the birds by somebody in the neighbourhood.