After a highly successful breeding season all the Sand Martins at my local nest-site have now moved south. Some have reared two broods so with fifty pairs present hundreds of young have been reared from just one sandy bank – well worth the effort to get it ready for their return every March!!
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Now is the time that two species of birds of the Pennine streams have their second broods. Both Kingfishers and Dippers managed to rear their first young without a drop of rain falling on them. For their second attempts the weather has not been as kind and one of my Kingfisher nests failed after a dramatic thunderstorm – the flood-water coming down the stream was ten foot above normal and the Kingfishers nest-hole was only three foot above normal water levels. Disaster ensued with all the young drowning. Thankfully the Kingfishers take it all in their stride by clearing out the nest-chamber and laying again! Lets hope that there is no repeat performance. www.facebook.com/gordonyateswildlife