Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla))

A regular breeder in the woods on-site and a common passage migrant. Small numbers sometimes overwinter.

Migrants:
Earliest: 1 on 17th March 2012 (Alan Pearce).
Latest: Some birds overwinter.

Other arrivals:
2011: 28th March
2012: 17th March
2013: 3rd April
2014: 3rd April
2015: 23rd March
2016: 8th April

High numbers:
10 together in the bushes alongside Longham Reservoir North, 7th September 2009
10 (at least) from south end of Samuel’s Wood to Green Lane, 20 April 2012.

Winter observations (see also ringing, below):
1 by the Red Lion pub on 6th March 2007 could have been a wintering bird. Another on 31st March 2009 was borderline.
1 in Emily’s Wood on 28th November 2014.

Breeding:
2010: Minimum of 4 singing males on-site.
2012: 2 singing males in Emily’s Wood, 25th May.
2014: 4 singing males, early April.
2016: 15 territories were found in woodland and mature scrub (Steve Morrison).

Ringing:
2011: 84 ringed between 10th June and 4th October, with 22 on 15th September (Roger Peart).
2012: 98 ringed between May and October, with 63 in September.
2013: 77 ringed between April and November.
2014: 139 (!) ringed between May and November, with 113 in September.

Recoveries/Controls:
L902631, a young female ringed at Longham on 9th September 2011, was controlled on Lundy Island, Devon on 3rd May 2012 (197km WNW, 237 days).
L902703, a young male ringed at Longham on 20th September 2011, was controlled at Charrito-Silves, Faro, Portugal on 3rd January 2012 (1598km SSW, 105 days).
Y512772, a young male ringed at Longham on 18th September 2012, was controlled at Cam Valley, Cameley, Bath and NE Somerset on 22nd April 2013 (76km NW, 216 days).
Y512684, a young female ringed at Longham on 7th September 2012, was controlled at Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset, on 30th April 2013 (47km SW, 235 days).
D155224, a juvenile ringed at Longham on 21st June 2013, was controlled at Ensbury, Bournemouth on 27th August 2013 (2km E, 67 days).