Nesting and breeding is hungry work so there are still birds taking advantage of the peanut feeder in my garden. A new visitor this year is the nuthatch, which spends most of its time upside down, whether on tree trunks or bird feeders.
Nuthatches are striking looking birds with their dusky blue backs and buff orange fronts. They have a black band over their eyes.
They have long sharp beaks which they use to hack nuts (nut hack has become nut hatch). They can easily prize out bugs and insects from the trunks of trees.
They also nest in holes in tree trunks. Here is one having a wee rest in a tree fork, remarkably the right way up for a change!!
They have a distinctive high pitched wolf whistle call, “wheep, wheep, wheep, wheep” and also add in trills and squeaks as part of their repertoire. I knew one was near my garden from hearing their calls this spring, then was delighted to see one come in to visit. I wonder if they are nesting nearby?
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 