House Martins moving south?

[Tringa]

Spotted a couple of house martins from the back garden this morning. Really nice to see as, although they bred regularly a few doors away there have been none nesting here for about 15 years.

Mrs Tringa was in Inverness airport on Monday and saw a group of about 20 around the airport building. I suppose they are getting ready to move south.

Dave

[operanut1972]

So long as they aren't flying by BMI

[Shrike]

still quite a few around on my local patch when i last visited 2 days ago

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by Shrike

still quite a few around on my local patch when i last visited 2 days ago

Will be till oct lot of young still in nests were we are and will get passage birds from further north comeing through till mid oct
MIKE

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by tigertom

Will be till oct lot of young still in nests were we are and will get passage birds from further north comeing through till mid oct
MIKE

Do the resident House martins leave en masse like swallows or leave in trickles ?

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by Shrike

Do the resident House martins leave en masse like swallows or leave in trickles ?

Good question lets see the martins that breed round sandymoore seem to have now finshed very few round there now, yet ones near to me and in weston still with young in the nest, to be honest I dont no

[Deb London]

In the Metro (newspaper) today there was a report that around 500 House Martins had landed on the roof of one house in Malvern. The paper said that they normally migrate in October, but that the recent cold spell had upset their migration pattern.

[tigertom]

Some martins will be on the move now geting a few passage birds comeing though cheshire now but a lot of local birds still busy feeding young dont think they will be moveing just yet unless gets really cold lots of insects still about for them and still got swallows with young on a local farm and in horse shelter in field few miles away.
MIKE