Episode 2.70 - Sand Martin Spectacle and Earsham Colonies

Send us Fan MailOn a breezy early-May morning, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin visit Earsham Gravel Quarry on the northern edge of High Ash Farm to witness a wonderful spectacle. Hundreds of sand martins swirl around the towering sand cliffs, pouring in and out of nest holes like a living Swiss cheese. Chris explains their colonial lifestyle, playful feather-chasing games, tiny size, brown collar, and long journey from the Sahel, while noting their sharp national decline and dependence on nearby river meadows for insect food. Back on the farm they check a busy rookery in tall ash trees, where early nests hold well-grown young “branchers” stretching their wings. Chris highlights differences between rooks, carrion crows and jackdaws, and the challenges of dry weather for feeding the chicks. From the Yellowhammer Hide they enjoy a close roe deer browsing hawthorn and panoramic views across the fields, though the hoped-for rooks stay cautious. Listener letters add warmth: stone owls and donations from Houston, Minnesota; min-till benefits in Africa and the UK; nettles in pots for gardeners; hen harriers and swifts in France; and thoughtful comments on the shooting industry’s role in conservation. This episode bubbles with the energy of early summer migrants and bustling rookeries — ideal for savouring the lively return of colonial birds and the everyday wonders of farm and quarry alike.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/19107894-episode-2-70-sand-martin-spectacle-and-earsham-colonies.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast [email protected] podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm