Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

Almost every nut was full-sized and stuffed with white 'meat'. Sweet as a nut, the ancients coined, and they were so right.

Hazels are better than pork or turkey on the tongue and just as nutritious I believe. Had I waited until November then I'd have been too late.

My photo shows a hoard buried by a squirrel but discovered by either a jay or nuthatch. As the nuthatch is smallish and vulnerable on the ground I shall have to say jay. But both birds crack them open with their marlin spikes.

The nuthatch also prefers to wedge his food in the anvil of tree bark and hammer heartily on high. He even takes peanuts there from the bird table.

But then today I saw a great spotted woodpecker on the ground, hammering away at a yew nut instead of safely in the branches.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette December 12