It is pleasing to report an increase in the number of participants in the survey in 2004, with 24 forms completed for 25 sites (cf. 19 returns in 2003). As usual most of those who submitted data are non-CAWOS members, who have a great interest in their House Martins. The forms returned to me are frequently accompanied by lengthy letters detailing the fortunes of their birds and the threats they face. It would be nice to receive records from CAWOS members as well and increase our knowledge of the county’s House Martins.

Most sites saw the first birds back in mid-April, although an early arrival was at Toft Hall on 5th April. As usual, a few observers reported House Martins arriving very late, for example Harry Andrews at Winsford not seeing his first birds until late May and Jackie Ashworth’s at Rainow not visiting her breeding colony until 5th June.

Departure dates are always less precise, with some observers away on holiday, but most Martins departed from mid to late September, with the latest at Croft, near Warrington, on 1st October.

I was not able to arrange access to Styal Prison this year and so the largest reported colonies were Toft Hall, which showed a pleasing increase with 27 first broods (though just seven second broods), and Holcroft Hall, Culcheth, where Angela Love had 26 occupied nests on this old Tudor mansion. Interestingly, information was submitted by J.D.Atkinson and Alan Straw for a previously unrecorded site, the Horseshoe Inn at Newbold by Astbury, south of Congleton. Up to 17 newly built nests were occupied there, the old nests having been removed for repainting the previous autumn. Country inns, which often have overhanging eaves, are popular House Martin sites, with, for example, good populations in the recent past on the Cock of Budworth and the Cat and Lion at Stretton.

Farm houses, too are often favoured, with P.Matthews discovering two interesting sites high above Macclesfield during Breeding Atlas fieldwork. One at Hordern Farm supported 20 pairs, while another nearby, which was empty, held 10 pairs. John Gregory, however, who lives at Pit Farm, Swettenham, reported just two breeding pairs in 2004, a major fall from the 34 occupied nests in 1998. The significant collapse in his population occurred in 1999 and is reminiscent of a similar crash at Moss Brow Farm, Lower Stretton, a few years ago, when numbers fell from 46 pairs to just a few nests in a year or two. The reasons for these sudden losses are not known.

Again, no information has been submitted for the once large populations at the AstraZeneca site at Alderley Edge or that at Hunts Lock, Northwich.

The majority of observers reported a reasonably successful breeding season at their sites. For example, most of the 20 pairs at Hordern Farm were thought to have double brooded and Ann Pym at Swettenham had six first broods and five second in the six nests on her house, while both pairs double brooded on Carole Taylor’s home in Widnes. Mr and Mrs Johnson at Helsby had good success for the second year running, with up to 100 House Martins above the area later in the summer, although birds breeding on nearby properties had mixed fortunes. Harry Andrews at Winsford also saw success with his two pairs (both double brooded), but only after Harry had repaired one of the nests with ‘No Nails’ adhesive! Clearly, there is a very good population in Steve Turner’s street in Barnton, for in addition to the two pairs which bred on his house he believes that up to another 12 properties nearby had breeding House Martins on them.

A few sites were less successful, with Beryl Colley-Davies at Norley again witnessing battles between House Martins and House Sparrows which "raged for three weeks" after the House Martins returned. At one point the House Martins moved to a neighbouring property but without success. They then returned to her house and built two nests. These produced chicks, but the Sparrows’ "bombardment" continued leading to three chicks being ejected from one nest. As the season progressed two further House Martin nests were built and were probably successful. M.F.Griffiths from Sandbach also reported problems with House Sparrows, and his House Martins left by the end of July. Hilary Sarjeant, who once had a healthy population on her house at Parkgate had no House Martins breeding for the first time in 20 years and it was disappointing to see that only seven of the 27 pairs that produced first broods at Toft Hall subsequently double brooded. Rob Cockbain reported fewer breeding pairs in Hale Village (near Widnes) than in previous years.

Given the extremely wet July and August it was surprising that few comments were made about the weather apart from Jackie Ashworth’s belief that the two nests on her home at Rainow were washed off in a severe downpour on the very wet 25th August.

The only report of predation came from Ann Pym, who witnessed a Magpie taking a large young Martin from a nest on her house.

The Rev Hugh Linn has five artificial boxes on the Rectory at Eccleston, Chester. Four of these were occupied and three of the pairs double brooded. Similar success occurred on the two boxes Steve Turner has on his house at Barnton, but Sheila Blamire’s boxes at Mere were not used this year, nor were those erected in 2004 by Julian Borrow at Wildboarclough – probably early days yet!

Every year reports are submitted to me of nests being removed by people who are presumably not prepared to tolerate the mess that House Martins can create below an active nest. Attempts are also often made to deter the birds from breeding and several were reported this year, the most common being string or plastic strips hung from the eaves. The more expensive option is wire mesh stapled to the soffits, which has been done on a number of properties in Warrington. Presumably this has been happening for a long time and House Martins have adapted to it by moving elsewhere.

A much more worrying threat is the increasing use of uPVC replacement soffits, which have been discussed in previous reports. There is little doubt that these offer much less adhesion than wood for House Martin nests. Many observers commented on this on their recording forms and expressed concerns for the long-term future of House Martins given the spread of uPVC. Speaking to householders in Antrobus who have fitted these soffits and previously had House Martins breeding, there was evidence that nests built on them frequently fell off before the end of the breeding season. In contrast, others have had a different experience. Phil Brighton at Croft had uPVC soffits fitted to his home in 2001 and House Martins have bred successfully since. Harry Andrews at Winsford had had a similar experience, but only after adaptations were made to the uPVC to make it easier for the birds to gain access to the gable end. Perhaps it depends on the product, with some plastics having greater adhesion than others. One wonders if the manufacturers are aware of this potential long-term problem and would be prepared to address it. Two supporters of this survey are having replacement uPVC soffits fitted before the 2005 breeding season and it will be interesting to see how their birds cope.

Overall, it seems to have been a reasonably successful breeding season for the majority of sites reported. It was pleasing to see an increase in the number of forms returned in 2004 and one hopes this continues. My thanks go to all who submitted data - often extremely detailed - on the fortunes of their local House Martins and I would request that all Atlas fieldworkers, if they confirm breeding, note the size and location of the colony. This would add greatly to the CAWOS database of sites and numbers of breeding pairs.

Brian Martin, 45 Albert Road, Grappenhall, Warrington, WA4 2PF. Tel: 01925 264251