Fresh in from Africa

Sitting here under the Weigela bush at the front of the house I watched the newly-arrived house martins nest-building under the eves. There seem to be three pairs, swooping in and out bringing fresh clay in their beaks and working together or singly to apply the material in tiny dollops. Gradually the little mud cradles take shape as the birds arrow in and out, their irridescent blue-black and creamy white plumage catching the sun in flashes and fast-forwarding the instinct-driven creation process.

We're thrilled to have them back, only hoping that the resident house sparrows won't interfere as sometimes happens.

Extra is a not very clear closer-up, the best my little camera can manage. On the left is a pair working in tandem, the one in the middle is putting finishing touches to a large nest and the nest on the right has only recently started. Let's hope our summer guests will have some babies before too long.

This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve
By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle;
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed
The air is delicate." (Shakespeare, Macbeth Act I, scene VI)