EGP yet again!

I only went down there this morning to re-trace my steps as I contrived to lose one of my favourite gloves yesterday afternoon, no luck on that score but an interesting influx of hirundines in the area was apparent.

At least 20 Swallow and at least 8 Sand Martin were over the ski-lake.

14 singing Chiffchaff (same count as 28/3), no sign or sound of the Willow Warbler though, but a very early Blackcap was in full voice between the canal and the fishing lake.

Regarding the Blackcap, I have had the good fortune to have 2 male Blackcap over-winter in my garden, one arrived on 14/12/09 and the other arrived on 18/12/09. Both males were seen on 27/03/10 but have obviously departed for Germany or Austria or wherever they breed as I have not seen them since.

A bit more information for anyone who hasn't nodded off yet is that both males starting singing a 'sub-song' on 13/02/10 which continued right up until their departure, however I am confident that the EGP male is not an over-wintering individual as the location is ideal for summer migrants and I have regularly heard them in the same place in previous years and his song was much louder and more protracted.

One tip for attracting wintering Blackcap into your garden is to plant Mahonia as it flowers profusely in December and any insects around at that time of the year are attracted to the nectar produced which in turn makes it irresistible to Blackcaps in particularly although other birds such as Blue Tit and Dunnock also favour it.