Blackcap (was - Anyone know what this is ?)

Oliverdog · 21-09-2010 8:52pm #1

This one flew into our window this week and was on the path looking very dazed. My wife breathed on it for a few minutes to stop it losing body heat, and fortunately it recovered and flew on its way. Could anyone please identify it ? It doesn't look like any of our regulars.

IrishHomer · 21-09-2010 9:02pm

Blackcap.

they are failry rare and i think most of them migrate to warmer places like Africa for the winter.

This time of year i think they like to feed around elder Berry trees and ivy.

http://www.birdfood.co.uk/fact_files.php?area_id=1&nav_id=70&ff_id=42

Judgement Day · 21-09-2010 10:37pm

IrishHomer wrote: »

Blackcap.

they are failry rare and i think most of them migrate to warmer places like Africa for the winter.

This time of year i think they like to feed around elder Berry trees and ivy.

http://www.birdfood.co.uk/fact_files.php?area_id=1&nav_id=70&ff_id=42

Female Blackcap alright and fairly common throughout Ireland see here: http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Default.aspx?tabid=439

Oliverdog · 21-09-2010 11:13pm

Thanks for this, and for the links.
We have had blackcaps here in the winter, on a feeder we have in a quiet part of the garden near trees. These were certainly males as we've never seen the reddish cap of the female before.
It was on the ground very early in the morning, and a stroke of luck that we saw her and got her airborne again - very satisfying.

Thanks again - it's a sad day when you don't learn something !

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 22-09-2010 8:46am

IrishHomer wrote: »

Blackcap.

they are failry rare and i think most of...

Not rare at all! Common in many gardens. In fact .according to the Birdwatch Garden Bird Survey. it's in the top 20 most widespread garden birds.

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/IrelandsBirds/Warblers/Blackcap/tabid/439/Default.aspx

I'd suggest trying Irish reference sources over UK ones when it comes to birds and wildlife in general.

That said, I don't get too many to my garden and I'm delighted when I do!

stevensi · 22-09-2010 3:01pm

It could be a juvenile as even juv. male blackcaps have redcaps.

As Srameen said they are common enough and in fact this Summer i think I saw more than i ever have. For me one of the best songsters we have in the country

Connacht · 23-09-2010 9:20am

But not that common here in the far West. I've never seen one over here. Birdwatch Ireland map suggests same.

LostCovey · 23-09-2010 9:28am

Connacht wrote: »

But not that common here in the far West. I've never seen one over here. Birdwatch Ireland map suggests same.

Connacht,

That used to be true, but it has changed and they are everywhere in the far west, in my experience, but you do need to know the song, as you will hear them before you see them. This summer they were in every suitable piece of habitat, and in some areas that didn't look ideal - always a sign of an exploding population.

Anywhere there was good cover and trees - around Kylemore, and Old Head near Louisburgh, and up past Bundorragha on the road from Leenane to Louisburgh, along by Fin Lough, are a few good places off the top of my head.

LostCovey

littlebug · 23-09-2010 10:24am

I've never seen one here in South Mayo either. If they're around I don't think they've started visiting our gardens yet like they seem to in other parts.

Connacht · 23-09-2010 1:16pm

Thanks Covey. I don't know my bird songs at all. A project for the winter.
Does anybody know a good (Irish if possible) bird song resourse / CD / learning aid ?

Feargal as Luimneach · 23-09-2010 5:46pm

Connacht wrote: »

Thanks Covey. I don't know my bird songs at all. A project for the winter.
Does anybody know a good (Irish if possible) bird song resourse / CD / learning aid ?

http://www.pdasolutions.co.za/collinsbirds.htm

http://www.nhbs.com/collins_bird_eguide_tefno_144626.html

I have one of these, calls and songs of nearly all european birds. Can use it in the field. As important as a pair of binoculars IMO.

LostCovey · 23-09-2010 6:19pm

Connacht wrote: »

Thanks Covey. I don't know my bird songs at all. A project for the winter.
Does anybody know a good (Irish if possible) bird song resourse / CD / learning aid ?

Hi Connacht,

Those are excellent choices recommended by Feargal, also look at

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Field-Guide-Northern-accompanying/dp/0002200376

If you have computer skills (or a kid with same), you can convert the songs that come on those programs/CDs to mp3s and put them on your phone as a regular ringtone for a week or two per species. A fantastic way to learn a species. I think that the only real confusion risk with Blackcap is Garden Warbler, which we get really small numbers of in Ireland.

LostCovey

Oliverdog · 28-09-2010 11:02am

Connacht wrote: »

Thanks Covey. I don't know my bird songs at all. A project for the winter.
Does anybody know a good (Irish if possible) bird song resourse / CD / learning aid ?

I found this little one when I was looking for something else. Quite good, you download a little sound file - no blackcap, unfortunately.

stevensi · 28-09-2010 11:56am

The following is a very good site as it records different calls of the same species. http://www.xeno-canto.org/europe/all_species.php .

Blackcap (was - Anyone know what this is ?)

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