Last winter my callicarpa bush was stripped of it's berries by a blackcap which visited several times a day, every day until they were all gone. I only ever saw one male blackcap on the bush at a time so I presume it was just one bird.
Due to the abundance of berries this year my bush is bending with the weight of them and a few days ago I was delighted to see that my feathered friend (or one of it's friends or family) has returned.
It is only a small bush tucked away in the corner of a small garden and yet the blackcap finds it. Perhaps it is particularly partial to purple berries and spotted it as it flew over the garden or maybe these little birds have incredible memories and can remember where they had a good feast the previous year. Either way I am very pleased to see one back again this year.
I took some photographs this morning but the bird is easily spooked so I had to keep well back from the window. (Note to self - clean the windows!)
Here he is caught in the act:
SB
There is something new to learn everyday...
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Nice pictures. I love the colour of those berries. On my must have list for next year
Sue
Hi SB,
What a gorgeous little bird, and superb photos SB. Dirty windows or not - they look lovely. I'm so pleased for you that he (or a relative) has come back. I'm sure they have memories - my redpolls seem to have found me again after a long break. He is really enjoying those berries.
Well done for spotting him - and again, superb pics.
Cheers, Linda.
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I agree - what amazing coloured berries. And a really cheeky chappie enjoying them.
The Blackbirds eat our Pyracantha. We have orange and red ones both gobbled up.
It has been a particularly abundant harvest of berries this year, hasn't it.
Pipit
Hi SB
What lovely photos of your blackcap, and your Callicarpa! Well captured! :-)
Note to self: I must get one of those "purple berried bushes" :-)
Best wishes Chris
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Thank you all for your nice comments and I am pleased you enjoyed seeing 'my' blackcap.
The callicarpa is a very showy bush with it's lovely purple berries and I recommend it to brighten up your garden. It has nice purple flowers in the summer too. The blackcap is the only bird I have noticed eating the berries. Most of the other berry-eating birds in my garden seem to go for the pyracantha or cotoneaster. It's great that there are so many berries this year for us and the birds.
Greta pictures, like many of the others have said, what lovely colours on those berries, I will look out for this bush on my next visit to the garden centre I'm not sure if I will get the Blackcaps but just colour the berries will add to the garden will be worth it.
Shane
Regards Shane
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I'm jealous of the abundant berries (My bush has never grown much :( ) AND the gorgeous blackcap!
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Great to see the blackcaps return to the garden and what wonderful photos. I've never heard of calicarpa but it looks a most attractive shrub with those brilliant purple berries. Definitely on my list to acquire.
I had two male blackcaps who spent most of last winter in my garden. They were quite aggressive to each other and I had to provide two seperate feeders for them to keep the peace. I'm hoping they (or others) will return this winter.
TJ
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Tony
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Thanks SB, Beauiful pictures of the blackcap set against the calicarpa berries. Reading previous comments, I think you may have increased the sales of calicarpa.
Thanks everybody. I think had better warn the Garden Centres to stock up! Interestingly, my Mum and my Aunt both admired my callicarpa and went bought one each but neither has had much luck with it and both have only a scattering of berries this year. I think they take a while to establish but it is worth persevering.