The bird is the word

A couple days before we left for Italy we heard some little things falling down the chimney in the front room. We assumed it was bits of mortar crumbling, which maybe a bird had knocked off the top of the stack.

Part of that assumption was correct.

Today, I heard flapping. So, we (meaning Ole) opened up the hood and we (again, Ole) withdrew a wood pigeon. Bloody nuisances, they are. And huge too! I was surprised this one was still alive, given it's been in there for a couple weeks.

The unassuming fireplace

 

Ole with the prize catch

 

The culprit