[Haggis Hunter]

I was cycling along the Water of Leith yesterday, when I spotted a small bird, about the size of a finch, walking up a tree. Not hopping or flying but walking! It got to a branch and then starting walking along the branch, only thing was it was upside down and negotiating it as if it was on top of the branch.

It was too far away to get a picture. I have never seen a bird do this before. Is it common for birds to do this? Is they're a specific species that can only do this? Or even better have I witnessed evolution?

OK, maybe it was hopping slightly.
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[Wildlifewriter]

It's most likely to have been a Treecreeper. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Treecreeper's markings are less obvious than appears from the drawing - he can be quite hard to see against the bark.



The other possibility is Nuthatch which are becoming more common in central Scotland, on account of global warming, Tony Blair, etc.

-Wlw

[Haggis Hunter]

Thanks Wlw, I'll go with the Treecreeper as the markings look like what I saw yesterday.
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[Team Ballibeg]

A good way to tell between the a Treecreeper and a Nuthatch is Treecreepers go up a tree, and Nuthatches down.

http://www.bto.org/gbw/Species/BIRDS_TREEC.htm

Dave