house martins are back!

Gill Catton · #1 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 07:42 AM

I'm very excited spotted my first house martin yesterday and this morning four are flying around and already investigating the nests on the houses of my row! Can't wait for them all to get back - there were about 60 in my immediate area last year!!

Anyone else got their house martins back?

nytecam · #2 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 08:10 AM

Nice one - my daughter and family phoned us lunchtime from NT Mottisfont, near Romsey, Hampshire [loverly place!] last Tuesday to announce they'd seen their first 'swallow' of the year - here in Surrey May 1st is typical for sightings but everything's about a fortnight early this year.

ps:Sorry WAB but I don't know a swallow from swift or sandmartin - they're all birds with those scimitar wings

htcdude · #3 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 08:17 AM

I saw a lone House Martin with a lone Swallow about 3 weeks back, haven't had the chance to get out since, there may be more now!

Nige

Gill Catton · #4 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 08:36 AM

Saw my first swallow at Rutland water on the 7th April but don't tend to see them around the houses here.

I only moved here in 2009 and didn't even notice the house martin nests on the house until they arrived back the following summer. One of the nests is right above the bathroom fan so the first I knew of it was a house martin voice seemingly in the bathroom! I rushed out still with toothpaste on my chin and there they were... two nests on the house! So thrilled I have never lived in a house with house martins before and I feel very lucky.

Have to say though that I was wrong when I thought it would be easier then to get a picture of one in flight!!!

htcdude · #5 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 08:42 AM

Heh they're near impossible to photo!

When I visit Staines they have hundreds at a time, mostly Sand Martin. Great to see as they whizz straight past your head

I did manage a couple of photos when they sat down!

Sand Martin.JPG photo - Nigel Sluman photos at pbase.com
Sand Martin.JPG photo - Nigel Sluman photos at pbase.com

Nige

FUDGEY · #6 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 09:15 AM

Seen my first 5 days ago in Scotland. Love the call. Does any one know why they have fluffy feet?????

Gill Catton · #7 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Seen my first 5 days ago in Scotland. Love the call. Does any one know why they have fluffy feet?????

No that's a good question though! Perhaps keeps them warm when flying very high? Maybe helps them grip the edge of the nest when building it?

htcdude · #8 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Seen my first 5 days ago in Scotland. Love the call. Does any one know why they have fluffy feet?????

Never heard of that before, to keep them warm I perhaps, like our slippers? It gets pretty cold up in Scotland!

Nige

thebeard · #9 (**permalink**) 15-04-2011, 11:35 PM

house martins eluded me til late may last year! hopefully will be sooner this year, i saw my first sand marts on the 15th of march (compared with mid april last year!)