T is for… Treecreeper

T is for… Treecreeper

Treecreepers are present throughout the year at Brockholes Nature Reserve, however with their diminutive stature and unique style of movement they can be especially difficult to spot.
Treecreeper

Amy Lewis

Among the Brockholes woodland lies a family of treecreepers, these small and diminutive birds are resident in the UK throughout the year. However, the best time to see these compact creatures is during the autumn and winter months. Treecreepers are largely unsociable birds, preferring to exist alone or in pairs. However, very occasionally they are known to gather in small communal roosts among the trees, in densely wooded areas. Interestingly it is also notable, that these curious birds appear much larger from a distance. As they have a large tail and curved bill which gives the impression of a much larger size, than reality.

Treecreeper

Harry Hogg

Treecreepers live up to their aptly given name, when observed going about their business. As they climb trees in search of food, in their particularly awkward fashion. Treecreepers climb in a spiral motion, traversing the face of a tree in a breath-taking manner. Upon negotiating the height of their chosen tree, depending upon the outcome, they will quickly jump to the next tree and begin their ritual once again. Boilton wood at Brockholes, is the perfect place to view this extravagant ritual, however make sure you are quiet, as treecreepers are exceptionally timid birds.

Treecreeper

Gillian Day 

Moreover, treecreepers are not only reliant on woodland areas for food, they ultimately rely on sufficient woodland for their very existence. With their perfectly camouflaged feathers, the woodland is the ideal environment to not only survive but thrive. They also find their main food sources within the woodland, as they forage for insects and spiders amongst gaps and crevices within a trees bark. The treecreepers song is also uniquely distinctive with its extremely high-pitched sound, which is rather strangely contrasted by its exceptionally quiet nature. Wonderfully, there is always an opportunity to see treecreepers at Brockholes Nature Reserve, as they are present throughout the year.