‹ Previous Regional: UKNP Gallery Next ›

Location-Location -- - -

Gallery: Regional: UKNPPosted April 16, 2011185 views13 comments

Sand Martins home building.
Last winter played havoc with the sand face where the Sand Martins nested. It took the face right back to last years nesting chamber in many cases. (If they use the same chambers the chicks get tick infected,)
I got the quarry manager to get the digger driver to cut a new face in the sand, which ended up about 100 metres long. (Cost me 3 bottles of Bells ! ) I asked him to rough it a bit so it didn’t look too “man made”. We used to do this with a spade but age creeps up on you !!
The birds came back about a week ago and after a couple of days started digging. It looks like it may be the biggest yet.
You can see by the second picture how much sand they have dug out in that time ,by the spoil at the bottom of the face.
Hide available at £200 per day (Joke )

The hide was there long before they came back so no problems from the "anti nest photo brigade,"
Cheers
JohnR

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on April 16, 2011 at 6:59 PM

This shows the site in general
You can see how much spoil they have dug out in four days by the stuff at the face bottom.

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Ellard on April 17, 2011 at 4:37 AM

Lovely photo John, I also am pleased to hear of your efforts in helping their nesting site. I liked seeing your photo below seeing your hide and nest site, looks like a good set up hope you have many happy hours...

Registered on December 17, 2010, 60 Posts, 634 Comments

Comment posted by Des Ong on April 17, 2011 at 4:43 AM

Echo Phil's comment. Like the main pic too, especially with the shifting sand.

Registered on July 12, 2007, 23 Posts, 234 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Goddard on April 17, 2011 at 6:19 AM

That's a really interesting story John - the second picture really tells the story. I assume in the first image that there is a bird in the nest chamber ?

Glad to see that your efforts at helping these birds has paid off

Registered on November 21, 2008, 66 Posts, 253 Comments

Comment posted by Oscar Dewhurst on April 17, 2011 at 7:01 AM

great shot John - there is an artificial bank for these at the LWC, but it is a long way away.

Nice to see the second image as well

Oscar

Registered on August 6, 2009, 85 Posts, 502 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on April 17, 2011 at 8:19 AM

Thanks all.
Graham -yes there is - you can just see the tail end. They certainly go a pace when they're at it too !
Cheers
JohnR

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by David Sewell on April 17, 2011 at 8:29 AM

Great picture, John, and I like the second one showing the set up.

David

Registered on September 10, 2008, 63 Posts, 801 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on April 17, 2011 at 2:54 PM

Cracking behavioral shot JR, I always like to see how you go about obtaining your images, so thanks for sharing the hide shot.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Guy Rogers on April 17, 2011 at 3:47 PM

Hello John.

Both excellent images.

Love the first one showing the birds digging the hole out, and the second one for showing the birds enviroment and yours

Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Cole on April 18, 2011 at 2:12 AM

An excellent shot John and very interesting to see your set up.

Matt

Registered on February 18, 2008, 17 Posts, 267 Comments

Comment posted by Neil Burton on April 18, 2011 at 5:40 AM

Great to see how it was made, very natural shot in an alien environment.

Registered on September 16, 2010, 26 Posts, 461 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Tilley on April 19, 2011 at 5:33 PM

A super image John, would love to get a close up like this but won't be able to unless you patent a floating version of your hide

The sand martins I've been taking pictures of are in the back of the mighty river trent!!!

Scott

Registered on January 3, 2009, 12 Posts, 108 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on April 19, 2011 at 5:38 PM

Thanks all.
Scott- it probably would float !

Cheers
JohnR
PS remember well the happy days as a lad fishing the Trent with my Dad.

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments