Lichen and Butterfly wings

It hasn’t been a surprise lately that the ground around the old Sycamore tree has been littered with small branches and twigs, as the wind has been punishingly strong.  The messy scattering of  strewn pieces are gnarled, twisted and covered in lichen.  I’ve collected them up and put them in the woodshed.

At this time of year I find lichen pieces in the workshop too.  There are bits everywhere – actually more in vaguely grouped areas.  My first job is going round picking all these up.  It is fascinating how many different varieties there are – some with feathery fronds, some like seaweed and others with crisp convoluted leaves.  These little pieces also carpet the area round the trunk of the tree – presumably birds are pecking for insects amongst and beneath the lichen, and others are bringing pieces into the shed to finish eating, or for makeshift roosts.  Do birds eat lichen?   In any event it is untidy activity.

Amongst the lichen pieces are ‘shining eyes’ – glows of gold, red, purple and blue.  They’re actually butterfly wings – just the wings.  I think this must be the birds too – having feasted, tossing away the unpalatable bits.

There are of course various bird droppings too, but I know now to cover things over when I leave at the end of the day,  otherwise I’m constantly rubbing the stone clean of their little marks.