Did you run out of vermouth?
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House Martins are fairly scarce here, I usually see maybe a couple each year but I’ve seen a few more this Spring. As with all hirundines, they’re buggers to photograph, being small and extremely fast fliers.
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I can’t decide if that is a watercolour looking like a photograph, or a photograph looking like a watercolour. 
Either way, it looks fantastic.
One of these days I’ll properly nail one. That pic is ok-ish but quite ‘soft’ a massive crop and there’s a lot of room for improvement.
If that’s OK’ish, I’m really looking forward to seeing the good shot.
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No, for the speed they fly and change direction that is very impressive to catch that shot.
well easy catch caught
An ignorant question but here goes.
My garden has several large overgrown bushes that badly need trimming down to approx half height, reducing their size to about 3 to 4 feet ( old money ). I am getting widely varying opinions on when it would be safe to trim them without endangering any possible nesting birds. I haven’t seen any but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any there. If I go rummaging I’ll disturb them and they’ll abandon the nests.
What is the earliest towards the end of summer can i trim the bushes safely without reaping carnage on the birds.
My garden birds are mainly, blackbirds, wrens, dunnock, thrush, robins ( yes plural so I imagine there may be a mating pair somewhere ) and tits and finches.
Really would appreciate some knowledgeable advice.
General rule is September
Any of those could still be nesting.
You might disturb them temporarily but it’s unlikely they would abandon (eggs or chicks) with just one isolated incident.
Thanks for your replies, really appreciated, I do like my garden birds.
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Minor additional point, amongst the stuff you do see there will be other species more cryptic in their habits that you won’t, and all nesting birds tend to make an effort not to be seen coming-and-going from the nest, so it’s always best to assume more’s going-on than you’re observing.
For me it depends on the weather - if it stays good I leave heavy garden work until autumn arrives properly, can be November some ‘Indian summer’ years, (plus, I’m a lazy cunt, so any excuse).
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Been doing my Merlin survey today, bloody hard work, I’m knackered.
Absolutely made up to discover a breeding pair - only the third breeding record in over 20 years!
Short video of the bird(s) alarming when I was getting close (the wheezing in the background is me trying to get my breath back ) The second bird appears briefly, at the bottom of the screen, near the end.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZYpT09sLfxM?feature=share
I’m still buzzing! Going back there on Monday (with the Shetland Merlin expert) to try and ring the chicks. I’m borrowing a quad this time, this old body is creaking after today…
(survey carried out under Schedule 1 license)
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Says the video is private, Paul.
Anyone else unable to see the video?
Yep.
Ok, I’ve made it public until 11pm tomorrow when it will return to private (for obvious reasons)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZYpT09sLfxM?feature=share
Try it now
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Nope, nor available.
Last try, dunno why it hasn’t unlocked
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