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Olympic Park
Waterworks Nature Reserve

Sand Martin Nesting Tower

Monitoring Report
Prepared for Olympic Delivery
Authority
by
Land Use Consultants

August 2009
43 Chalton Street
London NW1 1JD
Tel: 020 7383 5784
Fax: 020 7383 4798
[email address]

CONTENTS
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3
Overview........................................................................................................................................................................3
Background....................................................................................................................................................................3
2. Monitoring.......................................................................................................................... 5
Methodology .................................................................................................................................................................5
Results.............................................................................................................................................................................5
Discussion and recommendations ...........................................................................................................................8
References ................................................................................................................................. 9
Appendix 1: Sand Martin Nesting Tower Monitoring Results............................................ 11
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report

1. INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW
1.1.
Between March and early April 2007 Land Use Consultants (LUC) instal ed a nesting
tower for sand martin Riparia riparia at Waterworks Nature Reserve, Leyton,
London. The tower was installed on behalf of the Olympic Delivery Authority
(ODA) and in partnership with the Lea Val ey Regional Park Authority (LVRPA).
1.2.
This report represents the second year of a five year monitoring project to establish
the success of sand martin tower in terms of the number of animals nesting. In 2008
the tower was found to be extensively used by sand martin with nest confirmed in
over half of the nesting holes. Full details of the project and results of 2008
monitoring are reported in Land Use Consultants (2008a).
BACKGROUND
1.3.
In 2006 LUC was appointed to identify a suitable location for the construction of an
artificial sand martin nest, and to design, arrange for and supervise its construction.
The aim was to provide replacement nest sites for those which may become
abandoned within the Olympic Park due to disturbance during works. Historically,
within the site of the future Olympic Park, sand martins nested within drainage
tunnels in the vertical, concrete walls of the waterways. Between 2004 and 2008,
eight separate colonies were recorded (Land Use Consultants, 2008b).
1.4.
In their natural environment, sand martins nest in vertical banks such as those
created at river meanders. Sand martins are a migratory species, visiting Britain from
Africa between March and September to breed.  A receptor site was identified at the
Waterworks Nature Reserve in filter beds in the western part of the site. These
filter beds comprise a series of wedge shaped beds radiating from a central point.
Prior to works, sand martins were known to forage over the filter beds but no
nesting occurred on site. The proposed nest site was located in the north eastern
most bed. A design for a nesting tower was drawn up by LUC, LVRPA and
Waterside UK. Published guidance was used to inform and refine the design
(Hopkins, 2001). Full details of the final specification, location and construction of
the sand martin tower are reported in Land Use Consultants (2008a).
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August 2009
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report

2. MONITORING
METHODOLOGY
2.1.

Monitoring is proposed for five years starting in 2008. In 2009, one survey was
undertaken on the 2nd June 2009 to monitor the condition and usage of the nest
tunnels.
2.2.
The monitoring visit involved a three hour period observing the tower using high
powered binoculars or a scope. Only the front could be observed from a hide in the
centre of the filter beds.  However the rear could be viewed from vantage points in
the vegetation nearby. Some of the lower holes could not be seen due to the
vegetation that has grown up around the nesting tower.
2.3.
In 2008 spring/summer visual activity surveys were supplemented by a winter time
inspection to look for nesting material and thus confirm if the newly constructed
nesting tubes were suitable for sand martin nesting. In 2009 winter surveys were not
deemed necessary given the number of holes which indicated positive signs of nesting
in 2008.
RESULTS
2.4.
A summary of the 2008 and 2009 monitoring results are included in Table 2.1.
Visual activity surveys
2.5.
Detailed visit results are provided in Appendix 2.  Survey findings for 2009 are
illustrated in Figures 2.1a and 2.1b. 17 of the 26 holes were used by sand martins
(birds seen flying in or out). Of these 17 of the 12 holes seemed to be used for
nesting with individual birds remaining within the hole for a significant period of time
and/or pairs of birds observed using the hole.

Table 2.1: Summary of 2008 and 2009 monitoring surveys

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Number of entrance holes used during  15/26 17/26 -
-
-
visual surveys (2008 represents an
average of three visits)
Number of holes where nesting was
14/26 N/a  -
-
-
suspected following winter visual
inspection
Number of used holes with pipe
6/14
8/14
-
-
-
tunnels
Number of used holes with sand
8/14 9/14 -
-
-
tunnels (2008 represents an average of
three visits)
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August 2009
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report

Figure 2.1a: Nest inspection survey 2009 (Front view)
2-Pipe -
3 – Sand
Used
- Used
1-Sand- No
activity
4 -Pipe
Used (1 pair)
5 -Pipe –
No activity
6-Sand –
Used (1
pair)
7- Pipe -
Used
10-Gap in
8-Sand –
(1 pair)
join – not
Used (1 pair)
used
9 - Sand
– Used
11-Sand
(1 pair)
- Used
12- Used  -
Pipe (1 pair)
13-Pipe –
Used (1 pair)
15-Sand -
Used
16 – Pipe –
19-Sand
Not used
- Used
14- Sand
18-Sand –
– Used
Obscured by
(1 pair)
vegetation
17-Sand
– Used
(1 pair)
20-Sand –
Obscured by
vegetation
Key
  Nest hole in use in 2009
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August 2009
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report

Figure 2.1b: Nest inspection survey 2009 (back view)

21-Pipe
Not used
22-Sand
Not Used
23-Pipe
Not Used
24-Pipe
Used (1 pair)
26-Pipe
Used (1 pair)
25 - Pipe –
Used (1 pair)
27- Sand -
Obscured by
vegetation
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August 2009
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report

DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
2.6.
It was encouraging to find that in 2009, as was the case in 2008, the sand martin
tower was extensively used. Indeed, in 2009, slightly more holes were confirmed as
being used by sand martin than in 2008.
2.7.
The 2009 results reinforce the conclusion formed in 2008 that there seems to be no
clear preference between plastic and sand tunnels for nesting by sand martin.
2.8.
During the 2009 survey it was found that vegetation (mainly common reed Phragmites
australis) had grown to obscure several of the nesting holes (holes 18, 20 and 27) in
the lower section of the tower. Consideration could be given to the removal of
common reed from the immediate vicinity of the tower during autumn 2009 when it
can be confirmed that sand martins are no longer present. In addition, it is
recommended that the tower and tunnels are closely inspected to determine
whether the sand/cement mix requires replenishing. Given the extent of use, a large
proportion of the mix may have been excavated by nesting birds. At the least, the
tunnels should be cleaned out and additional sand added for birds to excavate.
2.9.
Monitoring wil continue during the sand martin nesting season in 2010.

Land Use Consultants
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report

REFERENCES
Hopkins, L. (2001) Artificial Bank Creation for Sand Martins and Kingfishers. The Environment
Agency.
Land Use Consultants (2008a). Olympic Park Waterworks Nature Reserve Sand Martin

Nesting Tower: Monitoring Report. LUC.
Land Use Consultants (2008b). Olympic Park: Kingfisher and Sand Martin Surveys 2008. LUC
Land Use Consultants
August 2009
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report
APPENDIX 1: SAND MARTIN NESTING TOWER MONITORING RESULTS
Flight activity nesting surveys 2008 and 2009
14-May-08
15-May-08
27-May-08
02-June-09
Sand martin tower
In use?
Individual
In use?
Individual
In use?
Individual
In use?
Individual
hole number
staying in
staying in
staying in
staying in
hole / pair
hole / pair
hole /
hole / pair
pair
1
No
No
2
Yes
No/yes
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
No
3
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
Yes/yes
Yes
No
4
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
Yes/ Yes
5
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/yes
No
No
6
Yes
Yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/ Yes
7
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
Yes/yes
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
No/ Yes
8
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
Yes/ Yes
9
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/ Yes
10 (Gap between
Yes
No
No
sections)
11
Yes
No
12
Yes
Yes/yes
Yes
Yes/yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/ Yes
13
Yes
Yes/yes
Yes
Yes/yes
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
No/ Yes
14
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/ Yes
15
Yes
No/yes
Yes
Yes
No
16
No
No
17
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
Yes
No/ Yes
18
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No/yes
Yes
Out of
N/a
Yes/no
view
19
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
No/yes
Yes
No
20
Yes
Yes/no
Out of
N/a
view
21
Yes
Yes/no
Yes
Yes
No/yes
No
No
22
Yes
Yes
Yes/no
No
No
Land Use Consultants
August 2009
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4065 Waterworks Sand Martin Nest Tower Monitoring Report
Flight activity nesting surveys 2008 and 2009
14-May-08
15-May-08
27-May-08
02-June-09
23
No
No
24
Yes
No/ Yes
25
Yes
No/ Yes
26
Yes
No/ Yes
27
Out of
N/a
view
Total in use
15
17
13
17
Nesting confirmed
14
10
13
12
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August 2009
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