With practiced ease you scamper down,
along, around or up indeed.
A blue cloaked acrobat of trees,
a master of the living bark.
The Nuthatch is often first noticed because of its unique habit of climbing down the trunk of a tree. They will then notice its beautiful colouring, its blue grey back and its stunning buff coloured chest and belly and the striking black eye stripe.
Not a particularly melodic singer it announces its presence with a sharp “tee whit” which can carry a long way in the woodland setting.
Tradition has the bird as industrious, thrifty – using what is there, it is known to store food.
This photo was taken by Steve Allanson in a forest in Galloway.
Posted by Steve Allanson 12/04/2026