WINTER warblers

Les McCallum

I am enjoying the company this winter of a small warbler that comes and feeds on our Calicarpa bush.

The bird in question is a Blackcap, a small bird that just a few decades ago would never have been seen here in the UK in the depths of winter, as it was regarded as a summer visitor only. Climate change was thought to be the reason why this attractive bird had started to over-winter but research has found that while the summer birds have returned to Spain, these winter birds have travelled south from Germany and the simple reason is because we in the UK provide plenty of food on our bird tables.

The Blackcap will feed on insects, berries, fat-balls and bird feeders.

Getting back to the Calilicarpa bush, also known as the Beauty Berry bush, it produces clusters of bright purple berries. Five years ago as a keen birdwatcher I was delighted to see a male bird on this snow covered bush. Minutes later a female appeared and both eagerly fed on the berries.

To my amazement another male flew in and chased both of them off, keeping all the berries to himself.

Every year they have returned to the same bush and sometimes it’s a Blackbird that will chase them away. They creep back only when the Blackbird has gone.

What do they look like? Well the name is pretty descriptive for the male bird - a soft grey sparrow sized bird with a jet black crown or cap; the female, grey - brown with a rust red cap.

Keep your eye out for this most welcome addition to our winters.