Housemartins: 2016

I thought I would begin a thread so I can record the house martin activity for this year.

I have some photographs (taken in the last hour) but, please be forgiving as
a) its a very awkward angle to get the pictures and
b) my camera is no super-duper-fast-shutter effort, just a basic point and shoot digital; apologies for any poor quality in advance.

Ok, here goes:-

The nest: this nest was here when we were viewing the house 2 years ago. No idea how long it may have been used previously



Then something flew in (not sure if that is one or two but there are definitely 2-3 flying around):



A very fuzzy shot (but you can still make out the feet!) as this one swooped out of the nest:



And then this one flew in:



And then ... my "cover" was discovered



At the other side of the window, another one landed against the wall:



Then turned towards that wall - wonder if s/he is going to make another nest that side?




That's as much activity I could get at that time.

 

Its nice to see House Martins not so common these days. Are these still building M ?

 

I believe they are @Ady or rather, renovating. They only arrived back in the last 10 days or so but that nest has been in use for at least 2 years (to my knowledge).

 

I would think that there is just the one pair @"M" , you are lucky, they don't nest anywhere on this estate.

 

Nice pics "M", never get anything like that around here.

 

Ours arrived in the hood on April 23. They never nest on our house but next doors. The weirdest thing is when the chicks fledge the parents use our wall as a practice site for the chicks to learn the art of sticking mud against a wall nest building wise.
They do this with us standing underneath,and as its a bungalow their only 3-4 ft above our heads.

 

Well, as this is the 2016 House Martin thread ...



.... (you know what's coming ) ...


... we want PICS!!!

 

On this occasion I hope there wont be any pics as Ive only just painted the house and i really dont want to see a 7meter line of mud blobs along the front of the house again.

Thought I`d add the swifts made it here about 7 days ago but theres no swallows here yet. Saw a magical sight 2 years ago as the housemartins from the surrounding valley flocked in our back garden at the end of summer meeting up before they set off the next day. There must have been about 80 odd swooping about ,once in a lifetime sight for me i think.