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Housemartins

2K views 13 replies 6 participants last post by  Valanita 
#1 ·
At the cottage we have had Housemartins for the last three years, gotta love returning guests :D

Flying in




The nest (the black line you can see if from the nest they made last year)



I love watching them flying about catching insects.
 
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#8 ·
We used to have one too, I called him Bruce :rolleyes:, the guy who bought the disused building next to ours cleared it out, Bruce was no more :(

All done within one weekend, bought it, cleared it, nothing I could do in time. Annoyed with myself :(
Not your fault at all!

I'm planning to plant some night time flowering and scented plants to attract more insects and moths for the bats to eat :)
 
#9 ·
Not your fault at all!

I'm planning to plant some night time flowering and scented plants to attract more insects and moths for the bats to eat :)
I have more than enough insects :eek: along with my housemartins I've seen several more all out catching. It's fascinating watching them swooshing around :)

My neighbour kinda guzumpt us with his purchase so a bit miffed cos Bruce could have stayed, or at least been accommodated properly :mad:
 
#10 ·
Sad to say that my Housemartins have not nested on our cottage this year.

Not sure why not, could see the starting of s nest build but they've not finished it.

There are Housemartins flying around but can't see any nests in the usual spots either.

Very sad.
 
#11 ·
There's been a huge reduction in house martins over the years we have lived here. When we moved in nearly 25 years ago, there was a farm next door with a jersey herd milked twice daily, the farmer sold the milk and cream which was lovely. Whilst he was still farming there were loads of martins and swallows with queues forming for the best nesting spots. Farm gone, birds more or less gone too, just a few about.
Swifts are on the decline too, but we still have a number coming to the village and screaming around like mini jet propelled planes. I'm planning to put a swift box up under the eaves as I'm aware of a number of old cottages that have been done up over the last few years which have stopped the swifts nesting in the roofs. I noticed this year the swifts seemed to be examining houses for suitable nesting sites when they first arrived. If we get the box up soon, they will have another scout round for suitable nesting places just before they depart for Africa mid August. Next year maybe I will have a happy event to report.:Happy
 
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