LAST month's floods decimated the nest sites of sand martins and many young were washed out of their nests and drowned.

There are signs that some pairs have tried to raise another brood but we shall have to see how successful they are.

I have also seen some house martins in East Lancashire, but I don't think there have been many as in previous years and certainly they are less numerous than the sand martins.

I wonder if any LET readers have noticed a shortage of house martins?

There is a folklore in Lancashire which says that the house martin is a lucky bird.

A few years ago I knew of a couple who bought a cottage and the first thing they did was to knock down the nests of house martins situated in the eaves.

Whilst they were doing this the husband fell off a ladder and broke his leg.

A farmer said to me: "Serve him reet. He should have left yon martins along."

House martins make their nests from mud which they collect from riverbanks or ponds.

The species is easily distinguished by their prominent white rump which is clearly visible in flight.