Witches’ Brooms

Who knew that this is the name given to these growths? I certainly didn’t before today. These particular ones are on a silver birch on the edge of Salen Bay on the Isle of Mull. I had spent most of the day in Salen Church attending a very interesting course on leading worship and I realised on the way home that if I didn’t stop to take a photograph, it would be a bit dark by the time I arrived home.
The witches’ broom looks like a densely tangled bird’s nest and on a birch tree they are most likely caused by a fungus. This tree had some great examples.