Hi,
I've a Nightingale in my garden (middle of a town).
Is this usual for this time of year?
Greetings from a mild but damp West Sussex
moth
Hi there,
No, this is not usual. Nightingales are summer visitors and shouldn't be back from Africa until April, so an overwintering individual would be a pretty extraordinary record. Are you certain your bird is a Nightingale? Somewhat similar-looking species which would be much more likely in a UK garden in winter include Black Redstart, Blackcap (female) and Chiffchaff.
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Hi aiki,
You're up late, like my bird! Thanks for the reply.
Well I'm not certain it's a nightingale; I'm no expert. The appearance (under sodium street lamps when walking home at midnight tonight) is very similar to id pictures I googled as is its song which was very distinctive and 'fluid'. I'm not familiar with the appearance of the Redstart or Blackcap ( i will have a look) and I am only familiar with the chiff chaff's spring/summer call. I'll research a bit.
Zzzzz
aiki,
Yes, possibly a female Blackcap. Definitely not a Redstart or Chiffchaff. I saw a very white breast. Do Blackcaps sing at night in town gardens?
Thanks for your help
Regards
Our wintering Blackcaps don't sing at all while they're here, as far as I know. They don't breed here, but are visitors from central Europe - song and other courtship behaviour won't begin until they go 'home' in spring. In any case, it is males that sing rather than females...
The bird most often heard singing at night at any time of year, especially in urban and suburban places, is probably the Robin. Other common resident species that have begun to sing include Dunnock, Wren, Song and Mistle Thrushes, Blackbird and Great Tit, none of which sound like a good match appearance-wise for your bird. Is there any chance of a photo, or a recording of the song?
I'll see what I can do.