Just after the snow had melted here, I saw a new bird appear in the garden - grey with a brown hat on. I couldn't for the life of me work out what it was, until three days later when another new bird appeared - grey with a black hat on.
Well, once I'd worked out what a male blackcap was, I could identify the female blackcap who came first. There was a couple of days when both the male and the female would appear in the garden together, but for the last week the male has been here lots but the female hasn't appeared at all.
Can anyone speculate as to what might be going on?
Are they a pair? (I had presumed so, but having just read about the steamy sex lives of dunnocks, I guess I shouldn't jump to conclusions!)
Could the female already be nesting somewhere nearby, and the male bringing her food? (Though he seems to eat everything in sight, so I think it's doubtful.)
Has the male driven the female away? Or might she come back again a bit later?
I thought maybe the blackcaps were just visiting because of the cold weather, like the redwings. But the redwings are long gone, and the male blackcap seems to have made himself at home, and I see him every day. I'm pleased to have him, though I don't think the other birds are so keen - he's not exactly the caring sharing type where food is concerned. The other day I saw him chase away two robins and about seven starlings - and I thought anyone coming between starlings and their lunch was a logical impossibility!
Susan H said:How nice for you Squirrel, Badgerbread and TJ to have these lovely little birds "out of season".
Hi all
I have 2 males and a female as well, but the large male still chases the smaller male away most days.
I'm confident that this pair are now starting nesting in the conifers at the end of my neighbours garden.
Best wishes Chris
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Thanks for the info Lloyd!
I've had a male coming regularly since the January cold spell too!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Thank you for the information Lloyd - very interesting. Also, I'd not come across the BUDR website before.
Over the last week I've noticed a definite change in behaviour of my blackcaps. Like you Woodpecker, I've got two males and a female. Until recently the female would only appear fleetingly and would sometimes be chased off by the males. Now she seems much more assertive and is staying close to the fat block hanging from the bird table and is in fact quite dominant. Girl power rules! She often disappears into a fairly dense Pyracantha bush and I'm hoping that she and the male that has been with me all winter but which is now less evident, might have paired up.
Meanwhile the other male who is quite a large bird spends most of his time across the other side of the garden where I'd hung a separate fat block to stop the squabbling. However. I've had to move it because it was too close to a new nest box I've put up and he was chasing off any blue tit who started to show an interest in it. I've hung it right in front of the kitchen window and providing I keep still he is quite undeterred as you can see in the following photo.
If Lloyd is right they may all disappear back to eastern Europe, if that's where they came from, but I'm hoping that they might stay and nest as the grub on offer has proved so attractive.
I wait with interest to see what develops over the next few weeks.
Tony
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Lovely photo TJ.
I do enjoy hearing about the private lives of garden birds, even if I don't have any of that particular species. Thank you everyone.
I will be interested to know what happens to these blackcaps.
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi,
I have seen a pair of blackcaps over the winter too but it is the male that I see more regularly.
Here he is on the coconut fat feeder.
He also likes sunflower hearts and the mix sold as 'robin blend'.
These coconut halves are proving very popular with not only the blackcaps but also with blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits and a pair of great spotted woodpeckers.
SB
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Hi TeejayGreat photo of your blackcap you are so lucky to have them
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
Unknown said: Hi, I have seen a pair of blackcaps over the winter too but it is the male that I see more regularly. Here he is on the coconut fat feeder. He also likes sunflower hearts and the mix sold as 'robin blend'. These coconut halves are proving very popular with not only the blackcaps but also with blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits and a pair of great spotted woodpeckers. SB
Sorry Sarum Bat, yet again photos have gone to room 101
Hi SB,
Sorry, but no pics visible.
I've re-loaded them..
Hi Sb,
Lovely pics of your Blackcap.My female Blackcap likes the suet blocks and the robin blend.
Littleowl