Hovering Blackcaps Batman!

don't you just love the optimism and adaptability of birds? This morning my resident male blackcap has been hovering next to my fat filled coconut to feed. Never seen that before. What a clever chap - whatever next!
  • Hi Barbara, yes these winter migrant Blackcaps have adapted well to garden feeding. Some people are of the belief that their success in surviving our winters has led to many more coming to the UK from central Europe. 

    I've not seen them hovering as you describe but they have no problem clinging to feeders. They seem to have quite an eclectic taste as well and are happy to eat sunflower hearts and apples as well as fat products.

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    Tony

    My Flickr Photostream 

  • lovely pic - the females are so gorgeous. Our female is very shy and hardly ever approaches the feeders - skulks at the bottom hoovering up the scraps. The male, along with his coconut hovering skills, is also adept at using the nut and seed feeders

  • A blackcap has taken over my feeders. I chases everything his own size or smaller away. After a few arial fights the robins are tolerated. I've had to put up another feeder down the garden.

    The blackcap now looks like a tennis ball he's eaten so much.

    Regards Ken