Dead Wood

This weeks blog photo shows a remote Welsh valley with the centre piece a decaying  old  Rowan tree. Further down the valley are some vibrant pine forests and these are home to one of our most colourful and secretive birds, the Crossbill. What then is the connection between the rotting Rowan tree and the Crossbills? Well for at least five years now small parties of Crossbills have made their way each day from the forests to the Rowan and found food among the mosses and peeling bark on this tree. On one occasion last week five Crossbills were present and although the weather was poor you never turn down the chance to photograph these colourful birds. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife