Any day from the end of March onwards we can expect to see the tiny, brown-and-white sand martins returning from Sub-Saharan Africa where they have been over-wintering. Trevor Hulme, reserve manager for Bodenham Lake, reports that last year small numbers nested along the River Lugg at Wellington Gravel Pits and frequently flew upstream to feed at Bodenham Lake. We hope they’ll do the same this year.

It’s a wonderful sight to see these agile birds feeding on the wing, flying fast over the surface of the water to feast on the clouds of gnats and midges we have at Bodenham Lake.

You can also spot them at various spots along the River Wye, where there are sandy banks nearby for them to nest and raise their brood. In past years, sand martins have been seen at Sellack, Hampton Bishop, Winforton and south of Glasbury.

Sand martins have suffered a number of major population crashes in the last 50 years, mainly due to droughts in their over-wintering sites south of the Sahara  which means many birds can’t build up enough energy to help them cross the desert. Within the UK they are also under threat from habitat loss. Protecting the nesting sites we have in Herefordshire for sand martins is important in their continued survival.