Rare bird climbs into Scotland

The only British bird that can climb headfirst down trees is moving further into Scotland, it has been revealed.

Nuthatches first crossed the border from England in 1989 and have since been expanding their range north, probably due to climate change.

A pair of the woodland birds has now been recorded at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve near Dunkeld, in Perthshire, for the first time.

Assistant ranger Paul Anderson said: “We regularly see climbing birds including tree creepers and greater spotted woodpeckers at the reserve but these colourful new arrivals have been causing quite a stir at our viewing window.

“The nuthatch has been increasing its range north for decades. We were aware that they had been seen relatively close by at Killiecrankie in recent years so it was really just a matter of time until we started to see them at Loch of the Lowes.

“It is a delight to have our first pair here on the reserve.”

Identified by their dark eyestripe and a woodpecker-like bill, nuthatches climb up and down tree trunks looking for insects, seeds and nuts, and are renowned for storing their food.

Unlike woodpeckers and treecreepers, which work their way up a tree then fly to another, nuthatches are able to climb headfirst down the trunk due to their powerful toes.

Anderson added: “We are conscious that their presence here is likely down to climate change, something which could have other less welcome effects on our native wildlife as temperatures increase.