Topic: A stranger on my bird table

[pakaba]

Hi
Yesterday morning i  noticed a new bird on my bird table.  i was racing around to get my son off to school and couldn't find the camera anywhere >:(  I looked in all 3 of my bird books and decided it was either a nightingale  or a cetti warbler (which i hadn't ever heard of)  I think it is too early for nightingales though.  What do you think ???

The bird was about the size of a sparrow but more slender, it had a chestnut coloured cap on his head  and chestnut back and wings, however his underside was much paler, almost grey, he had a narrow black beak.  I didn't notice any other markings on is body, there may have been more around the eyes, but as i was in a rush i didn't notice.

Does anyone have any suggestions, we are in wiltshire if that helps, and not by any water!

 I will post a photo if i get one, te camera is now on the kitchen window sill!!! :)

P.

[Paulines7]

It could be a female blackcap for she has a chestnut coloured cap.  I have two in my garden that nest every year and I am in Wiltshire though further south than you.

[pakaba]

:D :D oohhhh thank you Pauline7 :D :D

I think it might have been, i found a   picture

http://www.homepages.mcb.net/wormwell/female%20Blackcap131105b.htm

and it does look like my visitor, the cap was so red that i first looked for a 'red cap',

I hope she comes back, with her mate, i love getting new birds in the garden.

Thank you again :) :)

P.

[montanum]

I,ve not taken a picture of the female blackcap yet but she looks more or less the same as the male except having a chestnut cap, hope this helps.
  P S  I am in north Wales.
                                              Montanum.
                                               

[Paulines7]

You can hear the song of the blackcap on this site.

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/blackcap.htm

[pakaba]

thankyou for the photo, and the link.  I haven't ever seen a male black cap, i think he'd be really obvious, a real beauty.

The web site was fascinating, really useful.

P.

[littlegem]

My OH says and i quote 'there are over 40 species of warbler on the british list of which the black cap is one, the vast majority are migratory and not here yet. however, some black caps do over-winter as do some chiff-chaffs and other odd exceptions. the bird you describe does sound like a female black cap but be sure to eliminate the more common tree sparrow'
Hope this is of some help to you, and make sure you have that camera ready!  ;D