Hello Elaine and welcome; I think several members of the community here have had Black Caps in their gardens or seen them on their travels and have posted photos on the forum. Sounds like a wonderful visitor to have, lucky you ! I haven't seen one in our garden but we do have at least 18 other species which I enjoy watching and also photographing on occasion. You will find the members here are very friendly and helpful and there are plenty of experts around who will be happy to answer any questions you have. Feel free to upload any photos or stories about your bird watching as we would all love to hear about them and see the pics.
Hi Elaine -welcome to the forum from me in Cornwall. I have 4 or 5 Blackcaps in my garden at the moment.I've had them visit for the last few years , right through the winter. I put currants out for them, and they seem to like fat balls and suet pellets. From my experience once they get comfortable in the garden they can be quite feisty(especially the males). Hope you enjoy the forum!
Jayne
'Our' breeding Blackcaps migrate to Iberia and north Africa for the winter, but some of the Blackcaps that breed in Germany and neighbouring countries migrate to Britain to spend winter here with us. Britain hosts an estimated 3,000 eastern European Blackcaps in winter, and they're on the increase.
I live in the midlands Nottingham,I do have suet balls and a square suet feast ,my grandson took one bite out of an apple and left it so i put that out, when I found the bird online it does say they like soft fruit ,it was lovely to see a bird that I had not seen before , I get goldfinch and many from the tit family also my favourite bird the robin regular but this bird is a new visitor , it is a lovely bird.
Will keep a look out and hope they are here to stay will try and get a photo .
In January the BTO are undertaking a survey of garden Blackcaps. It will be worthwhile taking part. See www.bto.org/.../garden_blackcap_survey
Hi Elaine - sounds like you have a good variety there!Hopefully the Blackcaps will visit throught the winter- here's a photo of a lovely female taken in my garden in mid March last year- they got quite used to me taking photos, hopefully yours will be as "obliging"!
That could be a pic of one of the birds I saw today facing this way just the same that's how I was able to look it up to identify it ,beautiful .
Hi Elaine and welcome to the forum from me in Lancashire.
I had a female blackcap in my garden early this year, which was the first one I have seen in the garden. I haven't seen one this winter as yet.
Jayne, that is a lovely photo.
They are quite gorgeous Elaine, I always enjoy that moment when you see something new or a welcome return of a previous visitor.