New behaviour observed when finished a long session feeding on lerps this bird spent a long time then chewing off pieces of timber and it appeared as if it was swallowing them. I am advised however this is unlikely and is usually undertaken to keep their beaks trim and exercises their jaw muscles. I am sure I saw the bird swallowing the chips and they were not dropping, so where did they go? So for me the jury is still out on thsi closely abserved behaviour.
Not behaviour that I have observed - usually the chewing is of the outer tree layer and just below not the end of a broken branch - so yes the Jury is still out - but they will pouch a lot bark in beak -mouth area and then spit it out down a hollow - but not at this time of year but perhaps practicing?