Nesting Blackcaps

The blackcaps are busy looking for a nesting site in the garden, I thought they were usually settled by now, but perhaps I am mistaken.

Blackcaps ( Sylvia Atricapilla) are neat looking little birds,about the size of a robin, and as the name suggests they have a little cap on their heads, brown on the female and black on the male. When we first lived here we used to only see them in the summer, but a few years ago we realised that it was winter and they were still here, now they are here all the year through and are a very welcome addition to the winter garden. They eat both berries and insects, I hope one day to see them at the feeding station, but it hasn't happened yet.

Blackcaps are warblers and if ever you hear them sing it will stop you in your tracks, often have I laid aside what I was busy with, just to stand or sit and listen spellbound to their beautiful rich song.

They lay their eggs around this time of year, in a neat cup shaped nest near the ground in thick undergrowth, their eggs are beigeish in colour and they lay four to six. The eggs hatch in about eleven days and the nestlings fledge in the same length of time.

Do listen out for these little birds and if you are lucky enough to hear what might be them, then stand still and look around you, following the sound, they are usually to be spotted in a tree or bush and are well worth trying to see. They are easily recognisable with their grey plumage and either black (male) or brown (female) cap. Good luck.