Sand Martins
The Sand Martin (or Bank Swallow in north America) is a migratory passerine bird in the hirundine or swallow family. It is the smallest member of its family in Europe. It is brown above, white below with a narrow brown band on the breast. The bill is black and the legs are brown. Its brown back, white throat, small size and quick jerky flight separate it at once from similar swallows such as the House Martin.
The Sand Martin has a wide range in summer and can be found near larger bodies of water such as rivers and lakes throughout Europe, parts of north Asia and north America. It winters in east and south Africa, south America and the Indian subcontinent.
The Sand Martin arrives in its breeding range as the first of its family, starting towards the end of March just in advance of the Swallow. At first, they flit over the larger bodies of water alone in search of early flies. Later parties accompany other swallow species before moving on to their nesting sites. It departs early from its breeding range from the end of August and the majority have left by the end of September.
The Sand Martin is gregarious in its nesting habits and many hundred pairs will nest close together according to available space. The nests are located at the end of tunnels from a few inches to 3 or 4 feet in length and are bored in to sand or gravel. The actual nest is a litter of straw and feathers in a chamber at the end of the tunnel. Eggs are laid around mid-May and a second brood is usual in all but the most northernly breeding sites.
The Sand Martin feeds on small insects, mostly gnats and other flies, whose early stages are aquatic.
Date: 27th June 2018
Location: near Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, Highland
The Sand Martin has a wide range in summer and can be found near larger bodies of water such as rivers and lakes throughout Europe, parts of north Asia and north America. It winters in east and south Africa, south America and the Indian subcontinent.
The Sand Martin arrives in its breeding range as the first of its family, starting towards the end of March just in advance of the Swallow. At first, they flit over the larger bodies of water alone in search of early flies. Later parties accompany other swallow species before moving on to their nesting sites. It departs early from its breeding range from the end of August and the majority have left by the end of September.
The Sand Martin is gregarious in its nesting habits and many hundred pairs will nest close together according to available space. The nests are located at the end of tunnels from a few inches to 3 or 4 feet in length and are bored in to sand or gravel. The actual nest is a litter of straw and feathers in a chamber at the end of the tunnel. Eggs are laid around mid-May and a second brood is usual in all but the most northernly breeding sites.
The Sand Martin feeds on small insects, mostly gnats and other flies, whose early stages are aquatic.
Date: 27th June 2018
Location: near Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan, Highland
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Also in: Hirundines
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