Early AM woodpecker

It is early AM as the sunrise bursts through the morning mist that is filtering through St Erth's river valley trees.

This industrious pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker are already out and about and bringing food back to their nest full of lively chicks

And the reason for this early AM visit is because it happens to be the only hour when direct sunlight reaches right to the edge of the nest hole. At all other hours of sunlight the hole is in underside trunk shadows which is why the clever birds selected it in the first place.

The image above demonstrates just how easily the woodpeckers powerful talons are capable of working with a downwards facing nest entrance

Woodpecker use their stiff tail for alignment and support when working in vertical and diagonal conditions.

The final shot shows the male Woodpecker approaching the nest with a mouthful of natural insect life making sure that the chicks are on a good varied diet