Housemartins - returned but haven't stayed !

whippet

Since I moved in to my house on the north east coast 4 years ago each season we have had martins nesting under the southern eaves of the house.

First two years was only one nest and by last year we had three.

The original nest site has been used each year.

I was waiting for them to come back this year, despite the mess and the noise outside the windows I love watching them and could sit for hours in the summer evenings watching them feed.

This year they seem to come back later and started to build a nest in the original spot .. but it seems they have given up on it now and while I do see the odd one in the garden I can't seem to find a nest. Why would the traditional site be abandoned? I believe they have been nesting there since the house was build over 10 years back.

mossie

I had two nests last year but both fell down over the winter and there's no sign of any rebuilding. My brothers house a mile away had 4 or 5 nests and there has been some activity there but no sign of anything happening here.