.It is a pigeon’s feather and a complex structure with
four different shades of grey. There is
a broad white streak along the leading edge and a much finer white one along
the tailing edge. The central quill is
blackand contrasts strongly with the grey on either side.
I have pushed the quill end into the ground by the self-heal near my feet where I sit and I intend to watch its deterioration (or disappearance). I have a book somewhere which includes details of microfungi that grow on feathers. So far I have not been able to find any of these so perhaps my pigeon's feather will fill this gap.
Although insects are rather few at the moment, the list continues to grow and the other day I photographed this horse fly (Tabanus bromius I think) resting on a leaf in Brambly Hedge.
