my first Blackcap !!

toadpole · #1 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 05:38 PM

in the 12 years i have lived in my present home... i have fed my birds daily ...on a very high 7 foot bird table ...4 window feeders and on my flat shed roof which is 2 feet away from the trees that overhang my garden ...and i have been blessed with the usual variety of birds

4 years ago i had a flock of sisikins (about 30-40) visiting daily for about 6 weeks they never came again ...but the surprise of a new species turning up gave me such a wonderful feeling inside ......then last year in the bad snow a moorhen turned up

and that left me feeling amazed and he was around 2-3 weeks ....then all goes back to normal again then out of the blue 2 days ago ...i noticed a strange little chap amongst the blue tits on the shed roof eating the crushed digestive biscuits and low and behold a little male blackcap

well it sure made my day i have never seen one before .... ..you just never know what each day will bring ....and of all the food on offer he chose the cheapest !!

...i have not noticed him again ...but i cannot wait to see what the next surprise nature will provide me with

Marion

C J Smallman · #2 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 06:33 PM

Got my first ever Blackcap earlier in the week and saw him/her again this morning

Chris.

Remou · #3 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 07:30 PM

I saw my first Blackcap just last year, and I could hardly believe it, because they were not marked on the species map for around here (North Wexford). I think I can understand how excited you are, because I was nearly delirious! It is what inspired me to list what I can for the Bird Atlas. I have seen them often enough since, females more often than males, and it is just as you say, one of the wee chaps looks unfamiliar and then you see the cap. Last week, a pair turned up, so I am keeping a close eye out again

Richard Baber · #4 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 07:36 PM

Congratulations! Blackcaps are my favourite garden bird and I look forward to their return each winter - we're lucky enough to get them regularly each year. I hope yours returns soon.
Richard

kimmy · #5 (**permalink**) 12-02-2011, 09:29 PM

I saw my first male Blackcap for this winter just yesterday on my peanut feeder. I had one male visiting last winter too but still waiting to see my first female one. I absolutely love the sound of them and could hear them near here recently. I just got my first sighting of a male Siskin this week too although had female one in October last. I was told to put out peeled apples for the Blackcaps as they will return for apples. I stick them onto a branch. I set a crab apple tree too as love the sound of them so much only to discover I had another climbing one along a fence too. I saw the fruits on it in the autumn to my surprise as got it for the beautiful red flowers on it. I have been waiting all winter on a Blackcap and so pleased to see him back.

faz · #6 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C J Smallman

Got my first ever Blackcap earlier in the week and saw him/her again this morning

Chris.

him has a black cap /her has a brown cap

C J Smallman · #7 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faz

him has a black cap /her has a brown cap

Thank you

Chris.

toadpole · #8 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 04:25 PM

Thanks all for your lovely comments

my close friends get excited about cloathes and shoe shopping

and cannot understand me waffling on about my birds ..foxes.., badgers, and my favourate of all TOADS

so its so wonderful to come on here and chat to people who get excited about a little bird that just flew into my garden one morning and made me smile ALL day

...and thanks Kimmy i will try and entice him back with a nice juicy apple !! Marion

actionfinch · #9 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 08:51 PM

Dont worry to much there toadpole , i have the same problem , people look at me strange...when i go on about a kestral pooing or a blackcap being chased by a robin....