Blackcaps, Sylvia atriciapilla.

Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla


male
We have 4 male Blackcaps in the garden at the moment. Although originally classified as a migrant bird, there is a small population of Blackcaps which are now resident in the SW of Ireland.
During the cold winter 2009/2010 we had a female visiting the birdtable. She was a very feisty lady and even the House Sparrows and Chaffinches were put in their place whenever they came too close to where she was feeding on the seed and home made peanutcake. The first male which appeared us was a very shy character however and very polite too, whenever other hungry species would come close.
This all changed when another three Blackcaps (all males) made this garden their local diner.
female, March 2010.






Blackcap and Greenfinch.

The Blackcap is feeding on one of the many peanutcake pots and trays, while the Greenfinch prefers the mixed seeds.

I really hope that there is one or more female Blackcaps around as I'd love to see them breed in my area.
One of my 4 males should be able to sire offspring, don't you think?

It is weird that their total keeps growing now that the worst of this early winter cold weather has past. Wonder where they had been hanging around? And will I get any more? If so, can I have a female perhaps?

Mind you, they make great subjects for photos, I think.

Although many of the heavier birds try to steal nuts from the feeder, the Blackcap is the only one which is able to cling on and feed on the peanuts inside the feeder.
Blackcap and Siskin.

Blackcap, Collared Doves, and my other birds in the garden

Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla

Here's my Blackcap,, yesterday. I haven't seen her at all, today. I think she was caught by an estate cat, although I cannot be sure, unless I see it happen. All I saw was her being chased by one of the cats here. It looked as if she had been injured already; so he might have caught her before that, with her escaping briefly.





Coal Tits, Parus ater.


One of my Robins, Erithacus rubecula
He/she looks more like a stalking cat than a bird, doesn't he?
female Blackbird, Turdus merula. Hiding under the Fatsia. A plant pot regularly used by the birds as an escape from bully birds in the planter. i put a little food out here as well is in the planter.


Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus

My Chaffinches, Fringilla coelebs, are visiting in relative low numbers; contrary to most years.


At the end of the day, around 5pm, I spotted one of the Collared Doves. It was in the planter, and because they are -super-wary- I didn't see number two when I took this picture. Two was to the left of my window and it was very much a surprise when he/she showed its face and came forward,, as I made the following picture.
Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
Number One (which had been feeding in the planter) flew to join its mate on the wall, It took a bit before they headed off.
But I did manage this little portrait of number One, while it was in the planter.


They then started walking towards the end of the wall.

Food and Spring on the minds of my Birds

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus


Dunnock, Aegithalos caudatus

We've been having cold days, and frosty nights in the past week, and over the weekend, meaning that Thrushes like Blackbirds, Mistle or Song Thrushes, are still finding it hard to find earthworms in the ground. The Song Thrush is still coming for her daily meals, the Blackbirds too, are also still feeding here. On another note, the Blackbirds seem to have something else on their minds too; Spring.
The two males and the one female, which have been coming daily, have been joined by male number three. He, and another 2 females, had been calling on us in December and early January. It is clear that the males do not tolerate him this time. I just love observing them. It is a pity that I do not get to see the beautiful chestnut female any more. A colouring which I had not seen before in Blackbirds.
The female Blackcap is still in control of the food, it seems. Fruit in all shapes, sizes and taste, is still going fast. Miss Blackcap seems to have switched to the more staple foods like seeds, suet and nuts. Never mind; the fruit is being gobbled up by the Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Jackdaws. They are the garbage bins of the garden and will eat anything, which others might not favour immediately.
Song Thrush, Turdus philomelus



Jackdaw, Corvus monedula


2 Blackbirds, Turdus merula
(Left: male. Right: female.)
male House Sparrow, Passer domesticus


female Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla



We try and keep these suet halves (which have now been filled up with home-made peanut cake again) for the little ones; the Coal and Blue Tits, mainly. So, upon spotting this tail, at the end of the feeder (which the Rooks had turned around) I had a suspicion as to who the owner of this tail was, and indeed: Miss Blackcap had found her way onto the coconut husk. Not very good news; she is bullying them enough already.


eventually she appears.

Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto


Robin, Erithacus rubecula


Spotting my little Wren in the garden again, made me feel a lot better again. It kept busy with foraging on the ground, on the supports of the shelf, in planters, and anywhere else she thought might be fruitful.

Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes



Foryears I've tried getting a clear picture of my Wren scouring the wood of the shelf supports, and I might have -almost-succeeded. At least I can show people now where she goes on these supports. More or less.

Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla

Female Blackcap, Syvia articiapilla. The Blackcap is seen in 45% of Irish gardens, according to the Birdwatch Ireland-GardenBird Survey (2008/2009)

The East and North Eastern winds have brought cold weather with them again. Spring had just started to surface, when we have start wearing the extra layer again, when we venture out to the shop. I was used to January/February being the cold months (on the continent it would be cold from late November,) but when the temperatures plummeted in December, we were all in shock at first.
we had three new species this winter; The Redwing, Turdus pilaris, The Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, and now a female Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla, has joined the others.
The Blackcap is a migrant from Africa. There is however, a breeding population in Europe, and these "winter-Blackcaps" in countries like Ireland are perhaps the result from these resident European birds.
It being February, it would still be early for any migrants to have arrived from Africa, I would think.
Another option is that she came from the continent, escaping the extreme cold winter there.
Wherever she came from, she has made her home in the garden already. (she arrived only yesterday)
The only problem being that she is too bossy towards the other birds. We have other bullies in the garden; House Sparrows, Chaffinches, Rooks, Great Tits, (very much dominating) Dunnocks, Wagtails, Blackbirds, Turdus merula, and Song Thrushes, Turdus philomelos,and now this Madam Blackcap, Sylvia atriciapilla













The Dunnock, Aegithalos caudatus, which has fought off Robins, House Sparrows and Finches, appeared very cautious with this new visitor.


Even the little Coal Tits, Parus ater, and the Blue Tits, Parus caeruleus, are not spared by her bossy antics. The problem arises that these little one's feed on the suet cake in the coconut shells, something which she doesn't want to feed on at all. yet she chases every winged creature from the area. Every airspace seems to be hers.

I still keep looking about the place, to see if there are any male Blackcaps around.

Coal Tit, Parus ater

Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus