Sand Martins

198 sounds like a good total. How does that compare with other years?

Pete

The second broods were not as succesful.  We assume the shortage of insects meant that the adults could not find sufficient food and several were deserted at the egg stage. In total 198 Sand Martins were ringed this year and the full data has been submitted to the BTO Nest Record Scheme.

Good effort all round Stuart. Nice to see some of the hirundines are getting back OK. House Martins seem down, and as for swifts...

Latest update on the 2024 breeding season.  Andy Chappell et al went to the colony pre dawn on 8/10/2024 and netted the adults as they left the 32 nest holes.  61 adults were caught including 35 re-traps.  Two of these were originally ringed elsewhere as nestlings at artificial sites at Rutland Water and Wanlip Gravel Pits in Leicestershire.  So far 124 nestlings have been ringed so it's looking pretty good so far.  We await to see what the second brood bring.

2024 update.  Andy checked the site today and four of the holes have already shown signs of excavation and there were 25+ Sand Martins in the air.

Thanks, Phil.  Andy Chappell deserves all the credit as he monitors and records the individual nests throughout the breeding season.