 House Martin (Delichon urbicum). Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on June 3rd 2023. Taken at Farmoor, Oxon., on June 3rd 2023. (1/640th sec at f8. Click image for larger version. © David Hastings) Description WS: 13.5 - 15 cm The House Martin is a small bird with glossy blue-black upper parts and pure white under parts. It has a distinctive white rump with a forked tail and white feathers covering its legs and toes. It is widely distributed in Europe, but is a summer visitor, arriving in April and leaving in October. It winters in Africa. House Martins are colonial breeders, making their mud nests on buildings, or cliff faces in undeveloped areas. They spend much of their time on the wing collecting insect prey. The House Martin has Amber status in the UK due to moderate population decline. Upwards of half a million pairs breed in the UK. Sightings | 26-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 17-Apr-2024 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2+) |
| | 28-Jul-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (3) | | 02-Jun-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (100+) | | 15-May-2023 | : | Crog Hill, Oxon | (20+) | | 02-May-2023 | : | Elan Valley, Powys | (3) | | 28-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 21-Apr-2023 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (50+) |
| | 22-Jul-2022 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | | | 16-Jul-2022 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (1) | | 02-Jun-2022 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (6) | | 08-May-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (10+) | | 04-May-2022 | : | Gwenffrwd-Dinas, Ceredigion | (2) | | 29-Apr-2022 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (100+) | | 23-Apr-2022 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) |
| | 04-Oct-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (30+) | | 09-Aug-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (10+) | | 23-May-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) | | 19-May-2021 | : | Cholsey Marsh, Oxon | (1) | | 11-May-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (20+) | | 09-May-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 07-May-2021 | : | Graven Hill, Oxon | (2) | | 05-May-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 30-Apr-2021 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 30-Sep-2020 | : | Abingdon, Oxon | (2) | | 26-Sep-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (100+) | | 04-Sep-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (150+) | | 31-Aug-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 29-Aug-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (250+) | | 21-Jul-2020 | : | Culham, Oxon | (2) | | 11-Jun-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (6+) | | 02-Jun-2020 | : | Culham, Oxon | (2) | | 17-May-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 14-May-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (10) | | 11-May-2020 | : | Radley Lakes, Oxon | (1) | | 02-May-2020 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | |
| | 28-Sep-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | | | 29-Aug-2019 | : | Otmoor, Oxon | (12) | | 28-Aug-2019 | : | Chimney Meadows, Oxon | (3) | | 11-Aug-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 04-Aug-2019 | : | Greenham Common, Berks | (6) | | 28-Jul-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (6) | | 09-May-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (250+) | | 03-May-2019 | : | Elan Valley, Powys | (4) | | 14-Apr-2019 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (1) | | 31-Mar-2019 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (1) |
| | 13-Sep-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (2) | | 30-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | (10) | | 28-Aug-2018 | : | Farmoor Reservoir, Oxon | | | 25-Aug-2018 | : | Standlake Common, Oxon | (100+) |
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