In an earlier blog we reported that House Martins had bred on Ramsey for what we think is the first time (certainly the first time since RSPB ownership). A group of birds arrived late in the breeding season (mid June) and began investigating the eaves of the farmhouse. Thinking they were simply non breeders prospecting for next year we put up some artificial nests in the hope they might return in 2014
We were therefore pleasantly surprised when they began investigating the boxes after just 6 hours! We still thought they were just prospecting birds but as time went on we came to realise that 1 pair had stayed for a late breeding attempt.
They currently have noisy chicks in the nest and are busy feeding them. The farmhouse valley is alive with insects so the adults don’t have to go far to find food.
We began hearing the chicks on 6th August so they probably hatched at least a week before that. Fledging is around 28 days (from memory!) so they could be out of the nest in around a week’s time.
Our 10 pairs of swallows which nest in the farm buildings (and the compost toilets as any visitor will tell you!) have done well this year too with second broods about to fledge
If you have house martins nesting on your house why not help the BTO with their 2013 house martin survey if you have a spare few minutes. This species is in decline in Europe and the BTO are trying to discover why.
Here are some shots of one of the adults coming to the Ramsey farmhouse nest to feed the young inside (one of the young did stick it’s head out today but not when I had the camera!)
Looks like my estimated hatching date was slightly out! Within 10 hours of posting this blog, 3 birds fledged from the nest At 07:30 this morning! There is at least 1 bird still in there being fed but it was great to see the others out and about. They took to the wing like experts and were noisly diving around the farmhouse garden most of the morning.