AN UNCOMMON garden bird is increasing in numbers in the region.

For many years nuthatches have been regarded by ornithologists as one of the less familiar garden birds - but over the winter, numbers appear to have almost doubled.

The findings were reported by volunteers taking part in the Garden Birdwatch project run by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).

Usually, according to the BTO, about ten per cent of people report the colourful birds, but during the past three months this reached 18 per cent.

Although most of the UK nuthatch population lives in southern England, the BTO says nuthatches are expanding their range, with increasing numbers breeding in northern England and southern Scotland.

A BTO spokesman said: "These exciting birds have been a welcome addition to nut feeders helping to brighten up late winter days."

The BTO believes the birds may be arriving in more gardens after a poor crop of beech seeds last autumn, which are a favoured food of nuthatches.

Usually, there are plenty of the seeds available, but the shortage drove the nuthatches to seek other types of food and target bird tables and nut-feeders in gardens.

The spokesman said: "This sudden increase in the number of nuthatches in gardens can be set against a backdrop of a gradual long-term increase in their British breeding population."

However, the numbers of birds sighted in gardens will drop rapidly as the birds fly further afield seeking nest sites during the spring months.

The spokesman said: "Unlike other cavity nesters, such as blue tit and great tit, nuthatches do not take readily to next boxes, so we are unlikely to see them remaining to breed in our gardens this coming summer."