Is this bird a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker?

[Jimarilo]

Hi all,

I have moved to Nigg Ross-Shire to a rural cottage, where today I came across a bird in the large woody back garden that I have never seen before

It looks very much like a lesser spotted woodpecker that I have found on the Internet

Is smaller than a blackbird and bigger than a sparrow, white front,
dark brown back with white flecks, the head looked dark with brown/black and white strip across face. It had a slightly longer than normal beek, but slim, pointed

The bird was clinging to the side of a tree trunk and tapping away like a woodpecker and pulling of any moss. there are a number of trees with marks on them the same as this tree had

Anyways on the net they say this bird doesn't live in Scotland, can it be the bird I think it is ?

Cheers

[AshLee]

Here's a nice shot from the Gallery. The LSW is about the size of a Chaffinch I believe. Might yours have been a Great Spotted Woodpecker do you think?

GSW courtesy of glsammy:

[solus]

Sounds very much like a Treecreeper to me!

[Jimarilo]

Yes it could be the Great spotted woodpecker as I am sure it didn't have red on its head

I have never seen one before and it was a very lively active bird in very good condition, a real treat

Are they known to be in North east Scotland or is this very rare ?

Thanks for your help

[Melus]

Sounds like a Tree Creeper to me as well

One of the stiff tails, long slender down curved beak, and normally runs round the trunk of a tree before dropping to the bottom again.

[Jimarilo]

Having just looked at TreeCreeper pics, I am 100% sure it is a TreeCreeper

It was definitely brown with white on its back

We are in two acres here with some very old large trees, with a very good mix of birds large and small

Also found a large flat nest high up made from large twigs, who ever lives there is big ;-)

Thanks for all your help