Black caps

[hillwalkinggirl]

We have had a male black cap visiting our bird table every day, all during the winter, although our bird book says they arrive in April, (no sign of a female though) but he has disappeared for the last 4 days. Strangely enough another bird photographer has stated that he had 2 females, but they disappeared at the same time. He lives in Bath and I live in Pembrokeshire.

I was just wondering whether they fly off somewhere to mate, and whether it would be mating time yet? Hopefully it's not a case of the Sparrow Hawk eating them.

[Dogghound]

They will establish a territory around April/May when breeding will occur. British wintering blackcaps tend to originate from central Europe, the British breeding birds tend to winter in African and southern Europe. It is therefore likely your birds will leave your garden to breed in another country.

If you have a woody/scrubby garden you may get them breeding.

[hillwalkinggirl]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

They will establish a territory around April/May when breeding will occur. British wintering blackcaps tend to originate from central Europe, the British breeding birds tend to winter in African and southern Europe. It is therefore likely your birds will leave your garden to breed in another country.

If you have a woody/scrubby garden you may get them breeding.

We definately have a woody scrubby garden, so I hope we will be lucky and he won't have gone off to Central Europe to breed. I still look for him hopefully everday.

[thebeard]

i've had a pair feeding regularly in my garden, they come and go, so its always a bit of a surprise when they come back out of the blue.

much harder to see i've found, in the breeding season, i always seem to hear them almost every time i go to suitable areas, but only rarely see them as they are usually hidden away in the vegetation

[janeandphil50]

We have had a male and female Blackcap in our garden for 2 weeks now. The female flies in about 4 times a day, the male not so often . They both enjoy the mistletoe berries and suet cake on the birdtables. I'm hoping they'll stick around to breed. :-)

[greenace233]

Hi there
i had a black cap ,not sure if male or female, visiting each day for about a week, then disappeared, not been back for a good week or so, i also have a pied wagtail pair (pesky cat got one of them) but the remaining one visits, some days popping in and out then nothing or ages. really strange. debbie

[Hedera]

There was a pair of blackcaps around before Christmas which went away. now I have a male one on the fatballs every day but no female to be seen.

[wizzo]

Hi Hillwalkinggirl. I know that there have been numerous sighting in gardens around Bristol of Blackcap. Wizzo

[hillwalkinggirl]

Originally Posted by thebeard

i've had a pair feeding regularly in my garden, they come and go, so its always a bit of a surprise when they come back out of the blue.

much harder to see i've found, in the breeding season, i always seem to hear them almost every time i go to suitable areas, but only rarely see them as they are usually hidden away in the vegetation

We found our black cap most unusual as he wasn't at all shy. He was there all day and didn't seem to be worried about being in the open. We had put the food out on our old picnic table, and he just sat there with the other birds to feed.

Originally Posted by janeandphil50

We have had a male and female Blackcap in our garden for 2 weeks now. The female flies in about 4 times a day, the male not so often . They both enjoy the mistletoe berries and suet cake on the birdtables. I'm hoping they'll stick around to breed. :-)

Ours was very fond of muesli. I hope yours stay to breed - that would be lovely.

Originally Posted by greenace233

Hi there
i had a black cap ,not sure if male or female, visiting each day for about a week, then disappeared, not been back for a good week or so, i also have a pied wagtail pair (pesky cat got one of them) but the remaining one visits, some days popping in and out then nothing or ages. really strange. debbie

Our wagtails disappeared for a few years, but after the cat died they came back.

Originally Posted by Hedera

There was a pair of blackcaps around before Christmas which went away. now I have a male one on the fatballs every day but no female to be seen.

I had never seen one before this year. I wonder if they are becoming more common?

Originally Posted by wizzo

Hi Hillwalkinggirl. I know that there have been numerous sighting in gardens around Bristol of Blackcap. Wizzo

Quite a few sightings in Bath as well I believe.

[hillwalkinggirl]

My blackcaps just arrived back looking fit and healthy.