hello everybody... well i am ready seeing thing today i have many bird feeders set up around my garden so imagine my surprise when this afternoon i was sitting at my computer when the wife called me to ask me what that bird was that had just flown onto the sunflower seed feeder...
i look and couldnt beleave my eyes as i was looking at a BLACKCAP... yes true and i know ya usually see them during summer as i have them in my garden then but i though they fly south in october...
i am going to see if i can get a photograph of it if its comes back over the next few days.... as anyone else seen anything like thisin the last week or so...
dont just look enjoy and leave for others to share after you. we dont own the earth we just rent a small part of it....
A few people have mentioned that they've had blackcaps on their feeders - this isn't too unusual as more and more blackcaps are overwintering in the UK rather than travelling further south. While some maybe be permanent residents, others are coming from Scandanavia or Northern Europe because we tend to have a milder climate plus a plentiful suppy of berries. It gives these birds a bit of a head start when the breeding season arrives so it is likely we will start seeing more come/stay here for the winter.
Still, brilliant sighting and I hope you get a photo!
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hi Derek
I've had one with me since before Christmas. As Kat says they have been overwintering increasingly in recent years presumably due to milder winters. I'll bet they are sorry they stayed this year. Here's my little feller.
I've had a female visit too but he usually chases her off.
Good luck with getting a photograph
Tony
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Thanks guys... knew some did in fact stay over at times but wondered if others had seen them,love the picture feller.. hope i can get a picture also... had pair nest in garden afew years ago but thats the best i had done........ bet they wish they had gone south as well...
We've only ever had one in the garden. Would you believe exactly half way through my Big Birdwatch hour last year. So, another winter visit!
An egret changed my life!
Yes, we had a Blackcap land on our Fatballs this week, a female (browncap) was around as well , but she was put off by the Blue tits swarming about. We had several 'visitors' over the last couple of weeks, Redwings,Fieldfares, Jays, Nuthatch,Songthrush. mostly gone now that the Thaw is taking hold. We are in Fishguard West Wales. Ray
We also had a Blackcap in the garden, the first I had ever seen, it stayed for four days, but we were unable to get a photo, unfortunately. Also visiting were two Fieldfares. On a visit to the New Forest yesterday to one of our favourite spots for birdwatching, we saw a Marsh Tit for the first time, among all the other species which, thankfully, seem to have survived the recent very cold weather. The large pond there was still covered in thick ice, despite the thaw.
Regards to all like-minded people who enjoy and care for our wildlife.
There's some discussion within the scientific community over whether we could see a new sub-species of Blackcap emerge. It would be a fully resident sub-species descended from ancestors which decided to shelve the annual autumnal travel plans in favour of cashing-in on free garden handouts.
Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?
Yes John, I read about that dicussion too. I guess the only way we will know is if the resident numbers increase each year.
Hi John
Interesting facts about the Blackcaps.
Do you have the information at hand as I would love to read it.
Not heard of any scientific discussions other than what has been mentioned here.
Maybe humans are having an effect on the birds now, and they want the easy life after all.
Not so good!
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Unknown said: There's some discussion within the scientific community over whether we could see a new sub-species of Blackcap emerge. It would be a fully resident sub-species descended from ancestors which decided to shelve the annual autumnal travel plans in favour of cashing-in on free garden handouts.
http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/12/british_birdfeeders_split_blackcaps_into_two_genetically_dis.php
This is not the original article I read, but is about German blackcaps coming to Britain. I will find the original.