Silhouetted Woodpecker on Dead Tree Above Glacial Stream

Late morning light in Normandy casts a sharp silhouette of a woodpecker clinging to the rough, grey bark of a dead tree. The bird stands out against the bright, clear sky, its form defined by the strong backlight of the dry mountain atmosphere. Below, a glacial stream flows with milky blue-grey water, cutting through the spring greenery of the valley. The scene is still, with the texture of the dead wood contrasting against the smooth, cold surface of the stream. A thin branch extends from the trunk, catching the sunlight at its very tip.