The first Sand Martin of the Year! (1 Viewer)

[Tony]

Spring is just around the corner and the Knutsford Ornithological
Society invites you to enter our 8th. annual Sand Martin competition.
The idea is to predict the time and date the first returning bird will
be recorded over Tatton Mere, our own "local patch". Data from the
past 15 years are provided, to make the task a little easier and
there's even a small prize for the winner! Take a look at

http://www.10X50.com

Tony Usher

 

[Darren Oakley-Martin]

From the title of your thread, you had me VERY excited there Tony!! Still, good competition and looks an excellent site. I've bookmarked it and will return to it later!

 

[Brian Stone]

Birdguides have a report of a House Martin at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight today so it might not be that long!

 

[Jamspangle]

i know i´m a little further south here but I have seen sand martins all through December and January, although only in very small groups - is this unusual for Northern Spain?

 

[Tony]

From the title of your thread, you had me VERY excited there Tony!! Still, good competition and looks an excellent site. I've bookmarked it and will return to it later!

It never fails Darren!

Tony

 

[Tony]

i know i´m a little further south here but I have seen sand martins all through December and January, although only in very small groups - is this unusual for Northern Spain?

I think these might be Crag Martins, Sand Martins winter south of the Sahara - I believe Crag Martins are resident all the year round in Spain

Tony

 

[Jamspangle]

I think these might be Crag Martins, Sand Martins winter south of the Sahara - I believe Crag Martins are resident all the year round in Spain

Tony

Thanks for that - i´ll look carefully and get back to you, although to be honest i was fairly sure they were the riparia riparia - and we´re some way from the hills and mountains here. Now to find them again...

 

[Jamspangle]

Spot on tony:t:, little white windows on the tail. Obvious now i look at the distribution maps again but didn´t expect them down here on the flats of the Delta. Goes to show, never put too much emphasis in the name.

 

[mike4co]

With more and more reports of early house martins,i wonder what their chances of survival are in england this time of year,as insect food must be very hard to come by while it is still quite cold.

 

[Tony]

Spring is just around the corner and the Knutsford Ornithological
Society invites you to enter our 8th. annual Sand Martin competition.
The idea is to predict the time and date the first returning bird will
be recorded over Tatton Mere, our own "local patch". Data from the
past 15 years are provided, to make the task a little easier and
there's even a small prize for the winner! Take a look at

http://www.10X50.com

Tony Usher

A record number of entries this year (76)! Thanks.

Now on view at http://www.10X50.com

Good Luck!

Tony

 

[Motmot]

Hi,
Crag Martins in winter in Mediterranean Spain love the lowlands, specially marshes (Ebro Delta, LLobregat Delta, Albufera de Mallorca etc)
Saludos

 

[Tony]

Spring is just around the corner and the Knutsford Ornithological
Society invites you to enter our 8th. annual Sand Martin competition.
The idea is to predict the time and date the first returning bird will
be recorded over Tatton Mere, our own "local patch". Data from the
past 15 years are provided, to make the task a little easier and
there's even a small prize for the winner! Take a look at

http://www.10X50.com

The first Sand Martins returned yesterday - 15th. - a little later than in previous years (global cooling?!). Our Competition was won by Paul Hill from Crewe - well done Paul!

Tony Usher

http://www.10X50.com

 

[tuftyhill]

I wish I was as lucky on the lottery !!!!!!!!!