Common House Martin at Desroches

Craig Nisbet, Conservation Officer for Island Conservation Society at Desroches has reported a Common House Martin Delichon urbica at the island on 27 May. SBRC has accepted 23 previous records of this species, including one at Desroches in May 2015.

This species has been recorded in Seychelles throughout the islands on both southbound migration (October to December) and northbound migration (February to June). Interestingly, there are more records over a more extended period during Spring migration than Autumn migration, which is unusual for any species, albeit the number of observations is still small. The phenomenon of a relatively leisurely return to breeding grounds over a longer period is also seen in Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica records from Seychelles.