They've returned...

[Onelife]

Our House Martins have returned this morning. Up till now we’ve only ever had one nesting pair which is quite unusual as they generally nest with others. Their nest is pretty much intact so not much house maintenance for them this year.

To me they signify summer is just around the corner and being able to sit in my recliner watching them is one of life’s simple pleasures.

Keep swooping!

[Stephen]

Our House Martins have returned this morning. Up till now we’ve only ever had one nesting pair which is quite unusual as they generally nest with others. Their nest is pretty much intact so not much house maintenance for them this year.

To me they signify summer is just around the corner and being able to sit in my recliner watching them is one of life’s simple pleasures.

Keep swooping!

It must be one hell of a corner.

[Esprit]

Sadly the House Martins that nested with us haven't returned for many years. I'm disappointed too that our nest box is currently empty despite some fresh moss lining. We've had Great Tits every year until last year when Blue Tits took it over.
Currently, just have an active Robin's nest, but will not go near it for fear of disturbing them.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We have sparrows who next in our loft every year via a small hole under the eaves and pigeons with a regular squat in a pine tree.

[oldbluefox]

When we first moved here we had house martins nesting under the gable but the following year the sparrows got to their little mud nest, wrecked it and we have never seen them again. Shame really.
We do have blue tits which have nested regularly but their nest box has now been taken over by sparrows. Meanwhile two other nest boxes remain vacant (one being a squirrel feeding box but since the building of a new estate they have deserted). I altered this one hopefully to attract the robins which are a regular visitor to the garden but they seem to be a fussy lot.

[Stephen]

We have nest box on the back wall of the house which I put up last year. As yet no takers, even though it is facing the correct way with trees nearby.

[Onelife]

Thus far we have two pairs of blue tits nesting in boxes and one sparrow nesting in a bird box just outside our back door. The crows which nested in the oak tree last year haven’t returned to the same nest but they still put in a near daily appearance because my wife feeds them. When she puts food out for them, she waves as she walks away and they are down in seconds. We’ve had pied wagtails and robins nesting under our gas tank lid this past 4 years but nothing thus far.

The house martins put in an appearance this morning but no sightings since.

Oh! And we have three Chickens at the bottom of the garden

[Onelife]

When we first moved here we had house martins nesting under the gable but the following year the sparrows got to their little mud nest, wrecked it and we have never seen them again. Shame really.
We do have blue tits which have nested regularly but their nest box has now been taken over by sparrows. Meanwhile two other nest boxes remain vacant (one being a squirrel feeding box but since the building of a new estate they have deserted). I altered this one hopefully to attract the robins which are a regular visitor to the garden but they seem to be a fussy lot.

Hi Foxy…depending on the size of your garden but generally speaking you rarely get two pairs of robins nesting in the same garden as they are very territorial.

[oldbluefox]

Be happy just if one nested there. It is a bit of a penthouse suite so they probably consider it too palatial.

[Onelife]

We have nest box on the back wall of the house which I put up last year. As yet no takers, even though it is facing the correct way with trees nearby.

Getting rid of your cats might help

[Stephen]

We have nest box on the back wall of the house which I put up last year. As yet no takers, even though it is facing the correct way with trees nearby.

Getting rid of your cats might help

Cat, as In just the one, and he’s ten years old next month and not overly bothered about the birds now and spends most of the day sleeping in doors which is why we now have bird feeders in the garden. The nesting box is way out of his reach anyway.

[Ray B]

Correct me if I am wrong Stephen but not long ago you were going to let Monty sort out OLs rats.

[Stephen]

Rats don’t move as quick as birds. Plus he works better at night