Perseverance pays.

Early in the season we had a pair of House Martinsrepair last years nest and show signs of settling in.  Then a pair of House Sparrows decided it was the ideal place to nest and ousted the Martins.

Whyen the House Sparrows lost interest (we do have a "Sparrow Terrace" on the wall round the corner) the Martins returned.  They "bricked up" the entrance so there is only a tiny slot.  Somehow they manage to get through at speed hardly seeming to touch the nest.  Today I saw the first signs that they are probably feeding young.

A nest of Martins, if successful, is very welcome.  Martins have along with most of the Hirundines crshed over the last decades.  It is estimsted the population is down by about 65-70% since the late 70s early 80s.  So today's blip is a House Martin (Delichon urbicum).