This may be very common to some people but today I saw my first Nuthatch on my bird feeder. How common are they in gardens?
Fairly so Miacat. If you've got some broadleaved woodland anywhere near you you'll probably get the odd Nuthatch prospecting for handouts in nearby gardens at some times of the year. We get them on a "now and again" basis, but there's no predicting when they'll next stop by.
J
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
I have just been on holiday to a cottage on a private estate near Lancaster. I was lucky enough to have a peanut feeder in the garden by the kitchen window. Two nuthatches came regularly every day to this feeder. They tended to prize out a single nut and fly off with it, then return for another one, and so on, rather than cling on pecking away like the tits do. They were the first ones I have seen on a feeder.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hello.
I think the furtherst north they get is probably the southern part of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. They're seen at Baron's Haugh nature reserve, which is near Motherwell. I don't think they've reached any further north yet. I'd imagine if you live in England or Wales, you wouldn't have too much of a problem seeing a nuthatch, I'd imagine.
Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Nuthatch populations have shown a rapid increase in recent years with a population increase of 175% between the time period of 1970-2006. Breeding Bird Surveys across Britain between 1994-2007 show an increase of 71% for that time period. So certainly a species which are increasingly seen in gardens!
Despite minor setbacks during the 1990s, there is no indication yet of a halt to the upward trend. This increase has been accompanied by their range expansion into northern England and has been associated with a large increase in brood size. The reasons for these changes are unknown. A trend towards earlier laying and effects of climate change has also been identified. At present there are an estimated 144,000+ breeding territories throughout the UK.
Breeding Bird Survey data of Nuthatch abundance 2003 from BTO.
Also, at this time of year there is more food available than the birds can actually eat (as sparrow mentions) and several species have been observed storing this access food in preparation for winter. They will hide or "cache" (pronounced "cashing") food in tree crevices or holes in the ground as food for times of less plenty.