I have been watching this colony of Sand Martins (Latin name Riparia Riparia) above the canal in Shipley for a few years now. Like their cousins the Swallow, they belong to the Hirundine family and like the Swallow are one of our first birds to arrive back in the Spring, typically arriving in early March and leaving again for Africa in October.
They are our smallest Hirundine after the Swallow and House Martin and typically weigh around 13g. Although very similar in appearance to Swallows and House Martin, the Sand Martin can be easily distinguished by its dark brown upperparts, dark underwings with pale under parts and a distinctive dark bar on its chest. It also has a forked tail unlike the delicate long streamers of the Swallow.
Traditionally, the Sand Martin nested in sandy cliffs along the coast and rivers, however, they are increasingly nesting in holes in walls and buildings along water ways and they can also be seen nesting in old water pipes along the Aire in Leeds city centre. Keep an eye out next time you are walking along the canal in Shipley, just before Gallows Bridge in the walls of the buildings on the canal bank. If you are not local to my area, then keep your eyes peeled next time you find yourself walking along the coast or a river.
Enjoy the video filmed on my phone earlier today where the birds can be seen checking out nest holes.
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