Boosting blackcap numbers
Blackcaps that spend the winter here often turn up at garden feeding stations during harsh weather. They’re particularly fond of suet-based foods and can even master the art of eating at a hanging fat ball feeder. It’s possible that garden feeding is driving a change in blackcap behaviour. A few decades ago an over-wintering blackcap would probably have perished, but now they can rely on garden feeders to see them through tougher times.