A Crossbill in the Borders

Yesterday we went to Dave Lochhead's for a BBQ (In April!) and it was great. Dave's son Jamie and his partner Helen are off travelling to Eastern Europe (parts of the former Soviet Union that we hear about on the news, but I certainly can't spell). Dave's daughter, Ailsa, has just come back from a year in South America - intrepid bunch the Lochheads. Apart from getting a bit of a going over for my gently rapid anti independence stance from the Glaswegian contingent the afternoon passed off without incident.

Until that is Helen's father spotted a bright red bird. It was a Scottish Crossbill - a bird said to be found only in the Highlands in pine forests (Dave's house backs onto pine trees). You can read more HERE.