Sand Martins 2011 - Barrow Tanks

Club member Terry Bond has sent in this update regarding breeding Sand Martins at the Barrow Gurney reservoirs this season. Considering that the colony wall was only constructed in 2008, things are looking very promising:

18 pairs of Sand Martins finally took up occupation of the nest holes at the start of the season, although only 14 appear to have produced young. 

We believe that c.45 young birds fledged from the first broods. Our estimate for the second broods is that a further 43 young birds flew, giving a total result of 88 fledged young birds for the year. 

Adding back in the number of adults that bred (or attempted to) gives a total “colony size” of 124 birds. 

From a standing start only a few years ago, that is not a bad result.

Great-crested Grebes have attempted to breed once more, but with little success this year. One nest of three eggs would appear to have been flooded out, and another nest with one egg seems now to be deserted.


Terry Bond.

Many thanks Terry.