Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
Pictured at its nest hole this martin is found nesting in banks of earth or sand. Large colonies will develop at quaries - along river banks - coastal bluffs and so on. They are seen hawking over water primarily for insects and are told from other Hirundine species by their brown above and white below colouration in Britain. Elsewhere it becomes more problematic with the likes of Crag Martins and so on.
They are a Summer migrant to the UK from Africa although Summer is probably inaccurate as they can turn up as early as the first week of April. They should be called Spring migrants.
A came across a small colony in the bluff alongside a beach in Anglesey this Summer while I was rock pooling with the boys.
Anglesey, North Wales
August 2012
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