[darrenm]

The Male Blackcap was again on form this morning and it now looks a lot less 'shabby' than it did a few weeks back, that's providing its the same bird. The body plumage and cap are very sleek now and the cap is a shiny black like what we normally see in the breeding population.

Had read various recent reports concerning our wintering Blackcap population and their origins and it has been suggested by some that this population split may be occuring through people feeding wild bird populations during the winter for the last 40-50 years in the UK. I understand the Blackcaps from different populations are showing different genetic make-up and are in the process of becoming seperate races. I was wondering if some of this could also be down to and another indicator of climate change?

I have also wondered about the origins of Chiff-Chaff that have over-wintered on a local site in Nottinghamshire up until the last few years.