Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers

So, here I am at Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers, Birds Part III, you will have noticed that I haven't tried for a catchy title like my previous Bird Blog (I'm not naturally a comedian, though some people who know me may disagree), but I took a serious thought about what to call this one. I was worried that it may come up on search engines used by porn seekers and young boys (I was a young boy once, honest, and, like most, giggled very easily at certain words), but it is the title of the chapter, it's nonsense for me to worry, and should it happen to even one person, then maybe they'll see something they should have a healthy interest in. So welcome if you are such a reader, many thanks for clicking on this blog. And many thanks to the rest of you for bearing with me and my waffle, enjoy the blog!

Primarily, this was going to be about the Tit Family as these were the only birds from this chapter of the book* that I have noticed during my daily exercise from east to west, and back again, across Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve. These birds are historically woodland birds, however, now many are seen regularly in urban gardens too, they are very adaptable. They are also very gregarious. Although being territorial during the breeding season, they can often be seen to come together in mixed flocks at other times of the year, particularly the winter, indeed Nuthatches and Treecreepers may also join in these mixed flocks!

As the image from The Complete Birdwatcher's Guide is of 2 Nuthatches, I shall start with that bird, as, although I hadn't noticed any in the last few months, one may well have been in my eyesight, honestly, how many times do birds flit across in front of you and you have no idea what it was? Many times, really, and this is true of the last 4 months for me. But the Nuthatch, this colourful little (about the size of a Great Tit), woodpecker-like bird, is an interesting bird to observe, I have never noticed one 'in the wild' but I have seen them in the days I had a garden, climbing upside down on a tree searching for insects, or breaking seeds and nuts.

I include this photograph of a Blue Tit because it is probably one of the birds that most people can recognize, and is a frequent garden visitor, and I have seen many over the months, including 'juveniles' more recently, with their pale greener plumage and crown. They are exotic, colourful, and very interesting to watch. Indeed, the only time in my life I have had a nesting box, Blue Tits nested there, I observed the pair choosing their nest site and flying to and fro whilst feeding their young ones. I also had the great honour of spotting the last half a dozen young leaving the nest; they typically have 8-12 chicks, sometimes as many as 20! You could see the nesting box from our kitchen window, and I was washing up the breakfast dishes at the time, not that I ever needed to find an excuse to watch the box, but I was fortunate that morning.

The other tits I have seen include the largest, the Great Tit, more frequently at the beginning of the lockdown period, but am still seeing them now and then. Similar the Coal Tit, which I have not seen for at least 2 months now. All the tits are omnivores, eating insects and seeds, and anyone with a Nut Feeder will have seen them tucking in there too, though mostly going for the kernel of the nut, with bits and pieces of nuts flying off for ground feeding birds to take advantage of! I have also seen Marsh Tits, maybe Willow Tits as well, difficult to tell the difference, although their song is different (YouTube), hence why I know I have seen Marsh Tits, but... Oh yes, and the video shows other tits and birds at garden feeders and tables too, so well worth the watch.

It has been a pleasure to observe these gregarious birds, but onwards I go, and the next chapter of the book* is called Warblers and Flycatchers, consequently, so will the Birds Part III blog, please watch out for it.

Sorry, as far as I'm aware, I haven't seen a Treecreeper ever, let alone recently...

* John Gooders The Complete Birdwatcher's Guide.

Photograph of the Nuthatch with many thanks to Derek Middleton, and of the Blue Tit to Bob Eade, and to the Sussex Wildlife Trust for both.