House Martin - Onchan - 19 05 2011. Photo: Brian Liggins
Manx: Gollan Thie
On the Isle of Man the House Martin is a common passage migrant and summer visitor. In most years, the first few birds are usually seen in the second half of March, though these are probably not part of the Manx breeding stock. Most local nests are not re-occupied until the middle of April. House Martins can have two, sometimes three broods, so can still have young in the nest as late as October. They spend the winter in Africa, south of the Sahara.
Sometimes non-birdwatchers may confuse House Martins with Swallows. While House Martins make a mud nest that is stuck on the outside of a building (or on a cliff), Swallows will usually nest inside, even if it is only a porch. Only the House Martin has the vivid white rump.
Manx Bird report 2007 ‘Fairly common passage migrant and summer visitor’
First one sighted at Sandygate on 28th Mar, then no further records until 8th Apr when there were 2 at Meary Vooar, one at Conrhenny and 2 at Laxey. There followed occasional records of 1-3 birds until 22nd Apr, when 28 were seen at Mines Road, Laxey and records of 1-2 came from 8 other sites. Breeding birds at Meadowcroft, Lezayre, arrived on 5th May. Flocks of 4 at Fort Island and 5 over Slieu Maggle occurred on 15th May and there were at 20 at Port Soderick on 21st May, although only 2 pairs stayed to nest on the cafe and there were none on the adjacent cliffs (19th Jul). 50 were seen from the old railway line west of Crosby on 23rd Sep and there were 70 at Andreas on 13th Oct, but the only subsequent records were 2 at Castletown on 22nd Oct and 5 at Douglas on 31st Oct.
Manx Bird report 2006 ‘Fairly common passage migrant and summer visitor’
Very few records relating to arrival during Apr – first were 2 at Colby on 2nd, then 1 at Andreas on 6th, 20 at the Gravel Pits on 13th, 2 at Ronaldsway on 18th and 10 at Phurt on 23rd. On 26th May 12 flew around for Eary Farm for 2 hours, but did not remain there. There were several nests at Castletown Golf Links Hotel, with 8 birds in attendance, on 16th May, 43 nests have been built/refreshed at Jurby Church by 22nd Jun, although several had been taken over by House Sparrows, at Port Soderick there were no cliff nests and just 2 on buildings on 10th Jul, and at Meary Voar Cottage 8 occupied nests on 27th Aug. Not recorded after 2nd Oct, when there were 15 at Close Sartfield.
Manx Bird report 2005 ‘Fairly common passage migrant and summer visitor’
Unusually late, single birds were seen during Apr at Ronaldsway Industrial Estate on 12th, at Castletown bypass on 18th, at Nobles Hospital on 19th and near Bishopcourt on 22nd. There were 50+ below Red Bridge on the Silverburnb from 17th May, 250 at the Point of Ayre Gravel Pits on 28th May and 30 in Glenmaye Gorge on 4th Jun. Fifteen pairs nested in the cottage at Meary Voar. Oct records were rather scarce – one at Port Grenaugh on 2nd, 12 over the Eary Farm on 3rd and finally 3 over Claddagh Road (Sulby) on 18th.
Manx Bird report 2004 ‘Fairly common passage migrant and summer visitor’
During Mar there were 2 at Gansey on 19th and 2 over Andreas airfield on 31st. Plenty of records, but never more than 4 together until 26th Apr, when there were 11 at Derby Road, Peel, followed by 14 at Port Grenaugh on 30th Apr. By 13th May there was one occupied nest at the golf shop at Mount Murray, while peak passage at the Point of Ayre involved 150+ birds on 27th May. At Meary Vooar cottage there were 15 occupied nests on 25th Jun and 40 birds were seen on 13th Aug. Other gatherings were 12 at Castletown on 3rd Jul, 40 at Skinscoe on 13th Jul and 60 around the top of the Point of Ayre lighthouse on 2nd Sep. Most of the Oct records came from the Castletown area, where there were 10 on 4th and 17th.
Manx Bird report 2003 ‘Fairly common passage migrant and summer visitor’
First were 2 individuals at Jurby East and the Lhen on 17th Apr, there were then 20 at the Congary on 21st Apr. There were 8 nests at Port Soderick cafe (but none on the cliffs), 14 at the small house by Meary Vooar and 2 at Santon Motel. An albino example was seen at the Guilcagh on 20th Aug. The last flocks reported were 20 at Malew Street, Castletown on 20th Sep and 7 at Mines Road, Laxey on 5th Oct. Late records were individual at Peel and the Dumb River on 17th Oct, 2 at Union Mills on 21st Oct and 2 at Port Mooar on 2nd Nov.
Manx Bird Atlas survey 1998 – 2003
On the Island, House Martins have an extensive lowland breeding distribution, which appears to be influenced by two main factors. The first is the availability of nest sites, thus they are largely absent from upland areas, and also from the Ayres in the north and from the south–west coast. The second factor is the availability of food, which probably accounts for the lack of breeding in the centres of the Island’s larger towns, such as Douglas and Ramsey, where suitable nest sites appear to be available. Nests were found on only two natural sites, one on the cliffs south-west of Port Soderick at Gob Lhiack, where 27 nests were found and one nest at Port Soderick itself; these represent just over 1% of the estimated Manx breeding population of 1,456 – 1,714 pairs.
Typical place to see a House Martin: During the summer, flying overhead at the Dog Mills Lough, Bride.
Other links for House Martin
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