Re: house martins!?

In message <43045fb2$0$18639$14726298@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Phil Wilson <philip.wilson@xxxxxxxxxx> writes
Klara wrote:
Just opened the kitchen door to find myself in the middle of a flock
of house martins, behaving exactly the same way as when they vet (and
reject) our house for nesting: flying close to the gutter and having 

look - only many more of them. Could they be checking out nesting
sites before they migrate? Or do they check to pick up any strays
before leaving?

Is the weather coolish and overcast or damp? Both hirundines and Swifts tend to go looking for insects close to buildings in such conditions, since the insects themselves are attracted to residual warmth in the buildings.

Cheers,

Phil

No, bright and sunny and high clouds - and their behaviour seemed different, much more like the spring vetting. And definitely a large flock (some 50-60), so gathering for migration? But all swooping down to our gutters in turn? (Wish I'd thought of the camera!)

--
Klara, Gatwick basin
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