We decided to do something different, and ended up going down to the pier at San Clemente. There is a restaurant right next to it, a fish place that also has a very nice brunch. The views of the water are great and on a sunny day it makes everything feel just OK.

After brunch we had to walk, of course. So we strolled down the pier together, watching fishermen trolling for the odd fish that might take a bite on their hook, families with running kids, and lovers walking hand in hand.

As we stood leaning against the railing at the end of the pier, I noticed two birds that appeared to be fighting. One bird kept picking on the other, chasing after it and pecking at it. I remembered thinking how unfair it was that this bully was picking on the smaller bird.

And yet, the smaller bird seemed to keep coming back for more. It would run away, its head bobbing in the classic pigeon form, but it never flew away. As I watched, the interaction seemed more and more like a dance, a relationship of some sort. The smaller bird was taking the abuse being handed out by the larger bird, making motions as if running away but in reality teasing and leading the larger bird on.

It began to dawn on me. Yes, I can be rather slow at times. The two birds were flirting with each other. The male was being big and dominant, the female was being weak and submissive, though through her constant coming back and teasing the male assured his continued interest. She fluffed her feathers and strutted, demonstrating her attractive body and approachability. The male was getting progressively hornier and began tracking the female down, demanding that she stay still.

During this dance, they pecked each other. The male was the most aggressive, pecking as you see in the top image; he would reach out and poke his girl, and she would lean back demurely as if she didn't really want to kiss, but in reality loved it. They pecked and circled and finally the guy climbed on top of the girl for a little rear entry action.

And promptly fell off.

Standing and then squatting on the back of another pigeon can't be easy, and they had to try it a few times. before getting it right. They stabilized and proceeded to mate the heck out of each other, right there, in public, on the pier in San Clemente.