I have always like House Martins and found them very hard to photograph, particularly in flight. It seems that it is a good year for them because I have seen more this year. Yesterday's post was all about Swallows and I was hoping to photograph more of them today but the weather has made it difficult. At lunchtime there was a 45 minute break in the rain so I went back to the stables and immediately saw a few House Martins flying down to collect mud for their nests, a great opportunity presented itself. It was extreme but I litereally lay down on a grass verge surrounding the muddy paddock and waited for them to return. When they did I snapped off some photos and a couple worked out well but due to the bad weather and light it was hard to get a really special shot....... but almost! If only it would stop and I could go back and try for more. This is the first half decent photo of a House Martin and a new species to add to my Gallery of Devon Bird Species which you can see here.
When you look at this little "swallow species" you can see what a pretty bird it is. A delicate blue on the back and the head. You can seperate them from all the other swallow and Martin species commonly seen in the UK, by the bright white rump. I remember picking up a House Martin from the floor years ago and was amazed at the size of the mite that crawled out of the feathers. House Martins are particularly known for the parrasites that they play host to, even having a mite named after it..... Ceraophyllus hirundinis the House Martin Mite.
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