Blackcaps are notorious for this, and there is not much that can be done to deter them. They are very much out of their comfort zone in a cold Irish winter, which they have not really evolved to cope with, so their instincts tell them that they must fight hard to defend a reliable food supply at all costs. Sometimes using a technique called distraction feeding can help, however. If you cut some apples in half and spear them onto some branches (or even wire coat-hangers) as far away from your feeders as possible, the Blackcap may choose to spend more time feeding on those instead, leaving the feeders alone. Blackcaps go crazy for apples.
For more information about Blackcaps, please click here.
