Hi,
I have a lone Black cap that flies into my garden every day, perches for a few seconds in the bush by the feeders and then goes again without ever eating,
Anyone any ideas what might tempt him?
All suggestions appreciated
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
They tend to love the Elderberries and have seen them enjoy crushed mealworms. My friend tells me they like spiders, but she may be kidding me
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Thanks
have bought some meal worms today, but am not volunteering to round up spiders!
Birdatcher, they would love spiders as their main diet is insects and berries.
Hi Bramble,
I believe they like suet things (I haven't got any blackcaps but am trying!) and you can buy insect filled suet cakes.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
bramble67 said: Thanks have bought some meal worms today, but am not volunteering to round up spiders!
Don't blame you, they would go hungry if I had to catch spiders !!
Our male blackcap is easy to please - he frequents the fat balls most, but also likes suet sprinkles, the blackbirds' apples (he chases them off sometimes) and even the odd bit of bread that gets put out. He was having a macho standoff with a robin today for some granary loaf!
The female is a fussy eater - just a couple of nibbles from the fatballs all winter, but she likes to patrol through the honeysuckle hedge for berries and bugs - and I suspect plenty of spiders because in autumn that hedge is just a mass of webs!
Hi Sarah
I discovered a food source that blackcaps seem to like purely by accident.
I made a fat block by mixing blitzed sunflower hearts with lard in the ratio of 2:1 by weight plus a few currants thrown in for good measure.
I did this for the tits who totally ignored it but to my surprise a male blackcap seems to love it. So much so that he chases off any any other blackcap (male or female) that appears. I've since made another one which I hung in a separate part of the garden and now I've got two regular visitors.
Of course I can't say whether it would work for you but my Berkshire blackcaps seem to like it.
Tony
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I also have a lone Blackcap i think a female,and it tucks into the fatballs and a suet tray.
Thanks Tony and every one for your suggestions. He does arrive usually with my two blue tits that love a suet cake I have (bought not home made) I will try some of your suggestions and hope he stays long enough for me to get a pictue.
Tony did you make yours using the tray a bought one came from to get the size right?
Hi Bramble67
I would just like to get one first! lol
you luckly thing you!
Hey farmer, farmer, put away the D.D.T now. Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees, please!