To wonder where all of the House Martins are?

[ingeniousidiot]

And I mean the birds, not the band - we have none, we usually have up to a dozen nests, they should be here by now. Have they built at your house instead? I'm in East Yorks.

[DonkeyOaty]

Under my cottage eaves. We usually only have one family nesting but we've got about half a dozen new nests being constructed as we speak

(Welsh Marches)

[sall74]

Same in my area, hardly seen any Swifts Swallows or Housemartins this year, where as last year there seemed to be more than usual.

[silverpenny]

To early?

[flindorama]

I was just thinking the exact same thing not an hour ago. We usually have 3 or 4 nests. Lots of people here put up physical barriers to stop them but I love having them. Last few years they arrived first week of May. We are in West of Scotland.

[Oakmaiden]

I liked the Housemartins...

nostalgia

[Vastra]

They are back here ingenious, but I've only seen them in the last week or ten days, I'm sure they are usually back around the end of April. I'm in the South East.

[CMOTDibbler]

They are in Worcestershire - loads and loads of them round here, busy nesting

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

I liked them too. Happy hour is on my playlist.

[ineedaholidaynow]

We have many swallows and housemartins flying around near us, we are in the South West

[Zwellers]

House Martin is in long term decline and has been lost from many places especially in the south. They no longer nest by me in the midlands either. It's now red listed. Reasons most likely lack of suitable insects in spring for young birds. Others factors could be destruction of nests and lack of nest sites. Incidentally were they go in winters a bit of a mystery. We know it's afirca but no one's really know were.

[Zwellers]

Ps average arrival is late April or early May so nesting should be well underway.

[Spotsondots]

There all at our house and next door. Been back for at least a fortnight (south coast of England).

[Spotsondots]

*They're

[TheDuchessOfArbroathsHat]

I've noticed more than usual here - south-ish near Gatwick. Everything seems to be a little earlier than usual this year - but then I give my head a little wobble and remind myself that it is very nearly June!

[Rarastar]

Lots near me in East Mids OP. Plenty of swallows and swifts too.

[DuvetDayEveryday]

Oh, I only came on to say I think some of them are in The Beautiful South.

[WorraLiberty]

The rest will be in a caravan somewhere

[Florinda2016]

Lots here in the south east. Swallows are back this year too.

[Bassetfeet]

Thanks for this post ingenious . We have had the glorious House Martins nesting under our eaves for many years . Not a colony but a pair would always return . This year nothing. Same with swallows down by the river .
I miss their chee chee in the air while they swoop and dive .
A few years ago a roofer took down the nest ( thankfully in winter ) .
I bought a very realistic fake nest . Hey they came back in Spring but made their nest on top of fake one . Win win . A balcony when chicks too big for nest .
It is shocking how much of our wildlife is decreasing I empathise OP. Hope the lovely 'Aerial Dolphins' come by you and nest late .

[DuvetDayEveryday]

Worra

[HeirOfNothingInParticular]

The lead singer has a pub nearby to where I live. I know that wasn't your question though!

[bigsnugglebunny]

Loads here in Northumberland, clearly taking advantage of the good ale and Geordie hospitality!

[iMatter]

We have 14 nests round our house. Usually we have about 10.

[Reluctant2ndtimer]

There's a few under my eaves in north Cumbria, not as many as last year though. They're using what's left of last years nests at the front of my house but they haven't rebuilt the nests at the back of the house that were knocked off by storm Desmond. I wonder if there isn't enough mud around for them to rebuild as it's hardly rained here in weeks and everything is dried up.

[Littlegreyauditor]

The swallows are all in my friend's barn, nesting in the eves and using her horses' hair for building material.