Common Swift - apus apus Except when nesting, swifts spend their lives in the air. They drink, feed, and often mate and sleep on the wing. They mate for life and we recently noticed a pair investigating the location of our house martin colony, presumably looking for a nest site for themselves. Unfortunately one of them collided with something, possibly a window pane, and we found it lying on the terrace, apparently uninjured but stunned. I hoped it would recover and fly off if we left it alone, but next morning it was still there, awake but unmoving. Elena gently picked it up and held it out in the palms of her hands and it took off without hesitation. Apparently they have very short legs and cannot lift off from a flat surface.
That evening as we were watching the martins coming and going a pair of common swifts wheeled past us several times, coming very close and making their high pitched call, before disappearing over the rooftops. I like to think they had come to say thank you Elena.
That evening as we were watching the martins coming and going a pair of common swifts wheeled past us several times, coming very close and making their high pitched call, before disappearing over the rooftops. I like to think they had come to say thank you Elena.
House Martin Colony The House Martins are extremely busy feeding chicks at the moment. All the nests but one are occupied and judging from the number of jettisoned eggshells we have two or three chicks in each.
You will notice that the nest on the right is actually designed for swallows, having an open topped cup. Well there has been something of a struggle going on lately between the martins trying to modify it to their liking, and a renegade sparrow who seems to resent their presence.
You will notice that the nest on the right is actually designed for swallows, having an open topped cup. Well there has been something of a struggle going on lately between the martins trying to modify it to their liking, and a renegade sparrow who seems to resent their presence.
Jealous neighbour
The pesky Sparrow chases the Martin away then proceeds to break off the newly built wall and stuff the empty nest full of dead grass! We are constantly pulling out the cloying grass but then the battle starts all over again. A clear case of sabotage out of resentment as the sparrow makes no attempt to use the nest, it just doesn´t want anyone else to have the pleasure. | 
Bob the Builder
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Face at the Window Fortunately the sparrow is unable to bother the Martins in their regular nests and the families are progressing well. It´s a good thing Elena doesn´t mind cleaning up after them, a case of mopping the floor underneath as the birds are meticulous about expelling their droppings out of the nest, as can be soon below.
Some jettisoned eggshells
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Ablutions, good housekeeping practice
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