The Green Cabmen's Pigeons, Hanover Square, London

Took this shot on the way to get some bits and bobs at lunchtime. When I held my camera up to my eye they were all roosting tightly packed on the roof of this cabmen's shelter but as I continued to press the shutter many of them flew up and off in a cacophony of beating feathers and wings. It was then that I realised the ones coming straight towards me would be out of focus but I rather like that the more reticent, watchful birds in the background are sharp as it gives the image a sense of depth along with the blurring of the birds in flight.
The story of the cabmen's shelters begins in the 1870's when, of course, London cabs were horse drawn with the driver seated on the top. In really bad weather drivers would often leave their cabs to seek shelter. One particularly cold and unpleasant night the editor of the Globe newspaper, George Armstrong, was looking for a cab but couldn't find a single one. He eventually found the drivers huddled in a nearby pub! Instead of complaining he decided to tackle the problem. He enlisted the help of MP's and philanthropists and they got together to establish The Cabman's Shelter Fund in 1875. 
The huts were constructed by cab ranks and offered food and hot drinks (but strictly no alcohol, with gambling and the playing of cards also prohibited). Sixty one of them were built between 1875 - 1914 and were elegantly designed by the architect Maximilian Clarke. The distinct green colour made them instantly recognisable and easy to spot. There are now only thirteen left (still looked after by the Fund today) but they are now Grade 2 listed so hopefully not many more will be lost.
 Sadly, this one at Hanover Square is not in use but maybe it will restored in the near future. For now it seems to be a favourite resting place, and take off point, for flocks of pigeons.