A summer visiter from Northern Africa. I watched this bird have its first brood in July 2013, four chicks fledged at 9.15am on 8th July 2013. Today 12th August it looks as though the parent birds are well on with their second brood, same nest site as early July. The second brood actually had two chicks and all fledged safely on 1st September 2013

Their upper parts are a sandy brown colour with white underparts less a brown breast. They like the swallow have a forked tail but the Sand Martin's is much shorter. The bill and legs are a black brown colour.

They feed in flight catching insects, flies and spiders. They normally nest in small colonies, burrowing into sandy banks, they line their nest with pland material and feathers.  They normally have two broods per year weather permitting, each clutch consisting of between three to seven eggs. They start their return journey to Africa during August