Nature Trail

Our walking these days seems to be limited to walks straight from the door. Not for any reason other than that there is just so much to see on our doorstep and we have acres of private woodland and farmland, which we are lucky enough to be able to wander at our leisure. On a couple of occasions recently, we have seen evidence of a flock of less well known residents. Today, we thought we'd see if we could find them.
The reason for today's exploring? These piles of pine cones

dropped beneath hawthorn trees around the edge of a (mainly) coniferous wood.

These are the evidence of a flock of Common Crossbills. Which take the cone from it's tree, onto a nearby tree such as hawthorn, where they then use their amazing crossed bill, to remove the seeds. Often with the help of somewhere to hold the cone steady.

Having seen a brace of deer, two Jays, a song thrush and countless other everyday birds, we were finally rewarded with the sight of a female Crossbill, high up in a pine tree. Too far to be able to see her bill, but given away by her (and her fellows in the area) chirpy song.