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After studying both the live creature and a few books on the bird, I have learned some facts concerning the blackcap. Hopefully, I shall also have some photos to share in a month or so, when I can get them off my camera and onto a computer that I have yet to purchase.

Blackcaps come from the same family as the warbler. They are circa 14cm in length and make their nest from dried grasses. Their nests are situated in brambles and similar shurbs with undergrowth.

Blackcaps do not only eat the berries on my father's looks-dead shrub - but also enjoy insects and flies in their diet, as well as the berries from other trees and shrubs. Whilst a few decades ago they were rarely seen other than during summer in Britain, they are now winter visitors as well - as proved by my own sighting!

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Blackcaps 1& photos to come

January 20th 2010 10:18

A female blackcap is almost a sparrow in way of its looks - however, that rusty red 'hat' makes it stand out as not a sparrow and worth further investigation. After swatting through 3 bird identification books, I finally found out that this is what I was seeing landing on the dead-looking tree in my father's front yard recently and nibbling a few tiny purple berries.

It took me a time to identify, as the male blackcap has a black 'hat' and was shown in all the pictures without its female counterpart. Eventually however, I was able to swat up on the bird. Sparrow-sized, it is now the subject of a few photos - when I can get a computer at home, I will share them with you.

I also have a video of fieldfares, and photos of robins, WP the wood pigeon, starlings, sparrows, bluetits, and the larger than Aussies doves... (OH for that home-computer, sigh!)

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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fieldfares

January 14th 2010 13:43

Like the redwings mentioned in my last post, fieldfares munch berries - particularly in cold icy and snowy weather. They also eat seeds and bugs when weather permits. These birds have black eyes and orange-tan feet. They are frequently seen in all but the hottest of months in southern England.

They enjoy woodland districts but will venture into gardens when the weather hides their usual food sources. For year-round observation, you should head to Eastern Europe. The bird measures approximately 10 inches in length and has a 5-10 year life span.

I have finally managed to get a video of a fieldfare munching cotoneaster berries direxctly below the window - now, I have to get a computer/net service at home, so that I can share it with you!

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Redwings

January 9th 2010 10:50

The redwing is not so often seen in gardens as many thrushes, but will visit in snowy cold spells to munch berries. Lucky us have one hanging out with the fieldfares in our yard.

I have not yet managed to get a photograph - but it has been seen hopping about both the front and back yards. It likes the cotoneaster berries out front and the ornage berries on a plant I do not know the identity of out back

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Firecrest

January 6th 2010 09:58

I was glancing out of the window recently and spotted a small sparrow sized bird that interested me. I had never seen one before - but it had an ora nge stripe and a yellow stripe....

I managed to identify it as a firecrest. Apparently they mainly frequent Europe but sometimes live in the most southern parts of England. The latter is where I am currently situated

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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a pigeon!

December 30th 2009 10:14

Yes, regular readers know that it would not take me long to get some pigeon news to post!! The local wood pigeon and I are becoming friends - slowly. Unfortunately, many of the local birds are not very tame. This might be due to cats or kids, or lack of affectionate dwellers - but not food. Many neighbors have bird tables and baths in their back yards, I spy.

The wood pigeon, whom I have named WP, spends some time sitting in the tree outside my bedroom window and staring at me - also making tis strange version of a pigeon coo. (Different breed, different sound

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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English birds

December 16th 2009 09:36

I do not yet have a home computer or internet service to be able to share any new photos, but I can connect to the WWW from the local library in the meantime to update you on the new environment and birdlife that I am experiencing in England.

My last few hours in Australia were spent hanging out with my friendly city flock of pigeons and my son. Smokey, Spotty, and White-Throat all flew in about half an hour before I left - as if they knew that I was leaving and wanted to wish me well on my jounrey. That was a precious moment

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Blogging break - relocating overseas

December 2nd 2009 16:23

Just a quick message to regular readers, to inform you that I shall continue posting as soon as I can organize an internet connection at my new location. (If I cannot get the net at home quickly, I will try to make irregular update posts from a net cafe to let you know which new birds I have met!) I may be absent in full for 1-2 months as I have to wait on my rental deposit refund before purchasing a new computer & then setting up a local bank account before paying for an ISP service.

This will hopefully give me a few weeks to get to know the new local birds and also take some photos ready to share with you - as soon as I can transfer them to the new computer (which I have yet to buy) and then onto the blog (which I can't do without the internet

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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BIRDS…

November 29th 2009 14:46

In England, I recall blackbirds, thrushes, finches, wrens, - mostly dull-colored twittery birds. In Australia, we have galahs, cockatoos, magpies, lorikeets, parrots, and brightly colored birds with an array of warbles, croaks, and calls. Returning to England and it's birdlife will be akin to eating a plain slice of fruit cake after being used to chocolate sponge with cream n jelly filling and a frosted and sprinkled top!

Yet, they will still be full of feathers, tamable, want to be fed, get used to me and possibly land on my windowsill… What breeds and connections there will be will be a surprise for us all. Whatever I find, I shall endeavor to photograph - and then share here as soon as I am set up with a computer and internet access again

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Only two week's left…

November 24th 2009 14:46

As my passport arrived a week earlier than expected, I shall shortly be heading overseas. I will mildly miss the garden, lifestyle, and freedom of running my own home - but I will heavily miss my pigeon friends!

Shredding excess photos, turning out pleasant memories, and go to this or that place for the final time offer mild pangs I can rise above and ignore - but looking into Smokey's eyes, or seeing the way Speckley, White Throat, & Spotty trust me is a heart-wrencher. They do not have many friends that provide them with fresh water, healthy seed, and love

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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January 2010

5 Posts

December 2009

3 Posts

November 2009

8 Posts