Dove nests in traffic light where the glass is always greener

It is hardly the traditional dovecote. But when this collared dove was looking for a suitable spot to build her nest and rear her young, she decided a traffic light was ideal - it was warm, because of the heat of the lightbulb, and had a convenient ledge to rest upon.

Motorists queuing at the lights on the corner of Court Road and Spur Road in Orpington, Kent, have been astonished by the sight of the bird gathering twigs to build a nest inside the amber light at a busy junction.

Oblivious to the traffic noise, the bird then settled in the green filter light - and experts suspect she could even have been born in the traffic lights herself.

Another dove was spotted nesting in the same set of lights in 2002. It stayed for five weeks before hatching its young and flying away.

Andrew South, spokesman for RSPB London, explained: "Warmth and shelter are the things birds look for in a good nest. Clearly this dove has found a warm home and it is oblivious to the flashing light. Some birds go back to the same place they were brought up to breed themselves. This could be the chick of another dove that nested in these lights in 2002."

Mr South added: "Collared doves will nest on any ledge or piece of guttering. They don't seem to need a lot of space."

Transport officials say they will not move the bird. A spokesman for TfL said: "We have no idea if it is the same bird as before but as long as it is not obscuring the signal, which clearly it is not, it will be left in peace."

He confirmed another bird had inhabited the same lights three years ago.

"We left that bird alone after taking advice from the RSPB. We will do the same with this bird."

But the spokesman added that after the bird has flown TfL would put up some sort of preventative measures to stop birds nesting.

Mr South added there was no need for concern: "You have to let them get on with it really."