After a dismal start to the season, where one nest was taken immediately and early.....the one that's been most successful over the last 12 years.....and then 'lost'.....no idea why other than sparrows were causing a nuisance.....cold weather then arrived after that......but numbers of martins picked up a bit.
To cut a long story short, there are currently six active nests. One has young a week old and the others appear to be incubating, two of which must be very close to hatching.
There continues to be sparrow involvement, but so far, he, and it is largely just one sparrow, seems more tolerant, or at least less needlessly aggressive than others in previous years. He is clinging onto a swift box, but has failed to attract a mate. There appear fewer female sparrows here this year, and certainly fewer sparrows in general.....no young sparrows so far, and usually by mid June there's a garden full from first broods.
The nest on the left is of the one with young in. The adult entered, did a spring clean, and looked out before departing....the right hand nest with a woodpecker hole in is the sixth of 6 nests. Any eggs will have been laid no more than a week ago. It is directly next to the swift box (edge of it just in view) with the male sparrow......so far, only limited conflict. Infact, the swifts are keeping the sparrow in the tree quite a lot today. I think he is feeling a bit out numbered and intimidated.
Quick update. A second nest has hatched. Over the garage roof. Not been overly successful as an adult was predated by a magpie the previous time it was used. Photo attached is of the first nest with a youngster peeping out.
Good to see one of the young in the artificial nest cups and hope it fledges successfully.
They are amazing flying acrobats ..... took this rubbish photo recently and didn't know they could twist their head round like an owl. !!!!
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Regards, Hazel
Fingers crossed for a successful breeding season.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Another stressful summer for you Robbo! Let's hope for some success.
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Thanks Hazy, Mike and Linda. Quick update is six active nests has now become five. The garage nest had four chicks in. Wildlife rescue now has four more martin chicks. Sparrowhawk and magpies (again for that nest as above) took care of wiping that nest out again. A magpie tried to get into the nest while I was figuring out what to do next. Nestcup was unscrewed and taken with chicks. On a more positive note, first nest has two chicks growing fast poking out in this latest photo, and the neighbouring nest is still incubating and got around to plugging the woodpecker hole.