Male Blackcap- Sylvia atricapilla

[Chocky]

Captured this little chap on a footpath /nature walk in Exmouth
I think it probably the same bird in both sets

[Chocky]

Second set I have arranged into a montage

[Merlin]

This is an excellent winter record Beryl though down your way perhaps not as excellent as it is in my part of the world. Any idea of the significance of your winter Blackcap sighting in Devon Beryl please.


Pete.

[Chocky]

I have only sited one Last October along the nature walk and again another twice in the Park by the estuary about 3 miles away from the from the nature walk

[Chocky]

Here is another capture but I think it is probably the same chap

[Catherine]

I DO envy your Blackcap sighting, Beryl!
I've not seen a single Blackcap since we came south to live.

The first winter sighting of one for me was in the late 1970s, in Lanark, south of Glasgow. I was so excited to see the little bird with the black headgear eating honeysuckle berries outside my kitchen window that I rushed to find a bird book to get an ID.

Of course, I found that it was a Blackcap, but termed a 'summer visitor' in those parts. That caused me to phone the RSPB in Edinburgh as I was worried about its survival on such a cold, frosty day, and wanted to know if I could help it somehow.

The nice gentleman on the phone said that they were having many sightings then south of the Glasgow-Edinburgh line, and that those little birds seemed to fare well despite the climate as there were SO many berries and fruits still on trees in that area. Numbers were rising each winter too.

In 1986, we moved to Ayr on the mild SW coast of Scotland. There, Blackcaps visited the garden every winter, only moving out to the countryside whenever there was too much human activity in the garden in spring!

Here are two pics - a male in January, '07 and a female in February, '07 - both enjoying the fruits of our 'banana bush' outside the 'den' window!

[Chocky]

Thank you Cathrine. You have managed a male and female. Well done
I have to admit I haven't seen many and I am quit excited about siting this one.
Rolf is very clued up on Blackcaps and yes they do winter here as doe the Chiffchaff down in the South west

[Blueberry]

they are great shots chocky....

we saw one of them when we were out walking around farmoor reservoir in oxford:-, but he was way too quick for my camera.......

[Chocky]

Thanks Bluberry.
They don't sit around , I believe thy are relatedm to the warblers as well

[Babs]

These are smashing captures Beryl, well done. In the past I have only seen a Blackcap three times. Once a male and the year after I saw a female on two occasions all in my garden and funnily enough each sighting was on more or less the same branch. Well done again Beryl

[Chocky]

Thank you Babs.
I have only seen a few

[matty]

Lovely shots Chocky

[Chocky]

Thank you Matty

Thank you every one for the kind comments. Really appreciated