A SMALL greyish bird alighted on the trunk of an ash tree in the wood behind our house in Strathdevon. I quickly brought it into focus through my binoculars. Ah-ha, this was something different and my brain spun into overdrive. Is it? Yes it is. A nuthatch - and what a marvellous looking bird too.

A recent coloniser to this part of Scotland from England, nuthatches have been turning up in recent years in woodlands from Muckhart to Stirling, as well as Dunblane and Strathallan.

About the size of a great tit, the attractive plumage is a mix of slate-grey, buff and chestnut. It is a bird I am well acquainted with from trips to Europe and for me it is the wonderful piercing song that really catches the attention; a liquid-flowing repertoire fit for any choir, featuring an incredible range of ringing notes including one melody that is similar to a boy whistling.

The poet John Clare described the song as a “long and loud continued noise” that “often stops the speed of men and boys”.

In some ways the nuthatch is similar to a small dumpy woodpecker, but unlike a woodpecker it can crawl down a tree trunk headfirst, its sharp grasping claws providing perfect grip and its long bill ideal for searching the nooks and crannies of the bark for insects.

Down by the River Devon, the succession of wildflowers in bloom is a sight to behold. Meadow saxifrage was a good find last week as it is not particularly common in these parts. Also catching my eye was dame’s violet, water aven, red campion, comfrey, lady’s mantle and crosswort.

Comfrey is a most interesting plant and in times past was believed to make an effective poultice for treating wounds and bruises, with the roots containing a substance called allantoin, which promotes healing. Indeed, an old folk-name for the plant is ‘knitbone’ because of its repute in helping mend fractures and broken limbs.