River Ribble Sand Martins Revisited

I had enjoyed my visit so much last week to the Banks of the Ribble to see the Sand Martins , that having more time on Saturday and a cracking sunny day I planned to set off again, this time hoping with a little more patience to get some 'in flight' photos, which is not easy at the speed they fly. I also took the video camera and left that running whilst I was firing off the photos. Lovely clear blue skies down by the River, the Sand Martin nest burrows high up in the sandy river bank.



Todays mission was to try and get some good flight shots, not easy due to the terrific speed in which they swoop down.







The easier shots are when they rest up at the burrow entrances







Its spring and that means doing what the birds and bees do!!













At times the 'airspace' outside the burrows got very congested.













Every now and then the whole flock disappeared as one, off feeding over the fields, and it went very quiet until they returned, the passing Mallards provided to good fill in time, they are a common duck that is very much overlooked, but in the sunlight their colours look truly spectacular.





The flocks are back and all is busy again







Almost caught this one full frame









The last picture for this post, a couple resting up in the lovely spring sunshine.