For those hanging on until today, a band of rain has swept through and the Caspian Tern may have moved ahead of it since there is no sign so far today. A report on the group I run said that it flew from Elton Hall Flash towards Watch Lane Flash at c.20.15am.
Andy Slee said
Sat Jul 6 9:58 PM, 2024
Doc Brewster wrote:
Caspian Tern on Elton Hall Flash this morning, found by Andy Firth. Mainly perched up but has flown around and departed once, but returned. Was still there when I left at 12.10pm and then I had an update at 12.35pm to confirm still present.
Cracking photo showing the rain there Doc.
Was lovely views in the sun later around 4 pm, with down south on Clay Lane on Pump House Flash or the scrapes to the east of the road seven Curlew, one Black-tailed Godwit, five (four?) Little Ringed Plover, four Oystercatchers, two Grey Heron, a Great Egret and both Common and Green Sandpiper and two Raven doing display flights over the dead tree.
Interestingly, (actually, probably not for 99.99% of readers) I saw my first Common Tern here in the 1970s as a six year old! Didn't really register until on the way home today but mine great-Uncle, whom is housebound many counties these days away, whom I rung to tell of said visit for the Caspian Tern today said he'd check his books and rang me back to say himself and my Grandad had been out that way and seen Common Tern....he was well made up I'd seen a first or the Flashes for him by-proxy (Ron Brydon if anyone remembers - moved in the away 1980s).
Oh did I say for me....lifer....
Phil Oddy said
Sat Jul 6 7:04 PM, 2024
other highlights today including GWEgret, L.Egret, ad YLGull, Green Sandpiper & Blk t Godwit
Steven Nelson said
Sat Jul 6 6:08 PM, 2024
Caspian Tern still present at 3.45pm. It spent most of its time asleep but did have an occasional preen and a brief fly around with all the gulls when a flyover Sparrowhawk spooked everything. A UK lifer for me.
Also a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull sat in a dead tree.
Cracking first for the flashes! Well twitched by the great & the good of Cheshire birding. A couple of Wirral Birders made rare inland visits!
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jul 6 2:17 PM, 2024
Caspian Tern still present 2.10pm. Well worth a visit, was chucking it down when I was there but local weather brightened up. When raining we all said it would keep it down on the flash. I suppose with it brightening up a bit then it may leave. But worth a punt
Doc Brewster said
Sat Jul 6 1:58 PM, 2024
Caspian Tern on Elton Hall Flash this morning, found by Andy Firth. Mainly perched up but has flown around and departed once, but returned. Was still there when I left at 12.10pm and then I had an update at 12.35pm to confirm still present.
A brood of 4 (Adult Mallard sized) young Shelducks with 2 adults keeping a watchful eye on them.
Elton Hall Flash
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Tern. Also at the back of the flash were 4 drake Teal still in resplendent breeding plumage.
There was a sizeable gull roost on the flash, mostly Lesser-black Backs together with a few Herring, mainly immature birds,
but oddly not a single Black Headed Gull could be found around the flashes. Are they all at their breeding sites ?.
Although surely this may also reflect just how seriously this species has been impacted by bird flu?.
-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 7th of June 2024 11:58:08 PM
John Williams said
Thu Apr 25 8:25 PM, 2024
Afternoon visit
First birding trip out for many months due to illness, hence no postings, my apologies.
Hancocks Flood
1 Green Sandpiper, also 4 Buzzards circled over the flood, with 2 having quiet a vicious aerial scrap.
Pumphouse Flash
1 Little Ringed Plover.
Large numbers of Swallows, House and Sand Martins swooping low over Hancocks Flood and Pumphouse, but no sign of any Swifts yet.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Mar 9 12:24 PM, 2024
An adult winter-plumaged Little Gull is at Elton Hall Flash today for its second day and showing well from the viewpoint. It was still present until 11.20am at least.
Phil Oddy said
Mon Jan 15 11:06 PM, 2024
Mealy Redpoll at Moston Green showing well on & off today (3rd day)
John Williams said
Wed Apr 26 3:44 PM, 2023
10.00-13.00 (Highlights)
Elton Hall Flash: 1 Hobby, 1 Buzzard, 3 Lapwings and a pair mating of Herring Gulls.
Still quite a lot of Teal on the flash, with a group of 35 seen in front of the viewing area.
Pumphouse Flash: 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Buzzards.
A Yellow Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper were recorded on Pumphouse before I arrived.
John Williams said
Mon Apr 10 4:33 PM, 2023
Morning visit
Pumphouse Flash:
2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2f+1m Wheatears, 8 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Also on Hancocks I witnessed a aerial battle between 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 4 crows, this went on for some time,
almost leading to the belief it was just for fun. However it soon became apparent that the crows were trying to keep the gulls
away from a food item they had on the ground. Just as I wondered who would eventually win a brown flash shot low
across the field, in the form of a Buzzard, grabbed the morsel and made for the sanctuary of a large oak. At one point a crow
actually gripped onto the primary feathers of Buzzard as it fled.
John Williams said
Tue Jun 7 4:34 PM, 2022
Morning visit.
No sign of the Red Kites which have been frequenting the area over the last 5 days.
The only raptors seen were a single Sparrowhawk (Mobbed by a very determined crow) and 4 Buzzards.
Elton Hall Flash : 1 Great White Egret.
Pumphouse Flash : 2 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Shelducks with a brood of 7 small ducklings, and 2 Oystercatchers.
A pair of Reed Warblers were seen making frequent visits to the cobweb like nests of ermine moths that hung amongst a clump of willows.
John Williams said
Sun May 29 3:05 PM, 2022
10.30-13.00
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Oystercatchers.
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Common Terns and 2 Ravens.
John Williams said
Sat Apr 30 4:49 PM, 2022
10.00-13.30
Elton Hall Flash: 1 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpipers and 18 Shelducks.
A male Blackcap was singing and showing really well around the view point.
Pumphouse Flash : A pair of Great Crested Grebes and 1 Buzzard.
Hancocks Flood : 2 Oystercatchers (Flood now largely dried out).
John Williams said
Fri Apr 8 3:28 PM, 2022
10.00-13.30 (Highlights)
Elton Hall Flash : 18 Black Tailed Godwits, 7 Common Gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Oystercatchers.
1f Brambling and 1m Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeders.
Hancocks Flood : 1 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Green Sandpipers.
Pumphouse Flash : 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 4 Buzzards (3 in flight and 1 on a pylon).
John Williams said
Mon Feb 14 8:29 PM, 2022
Afternoon visit.
Elton Hall Flash : 6 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 adult Great Black Backed Gulls, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egrets,
6 Cormorants and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. At one point 4 male Reed Buntings were seen together below the feeders.
Fieldfares and Redwings showed well on the hawthorns near the viewing point.
When the rain stopped and the sun briefly appeared a trio of Buzzards soared over the flash, causing even the GBB gulls to flush,
the Cormorants though were unmoved and simply ignored the big raptors.
Amongst a large group of Wigeon on the back pool was a female, who was trying to evade the attention of a drake Tufted Duck.
He was clearly trying to woo her, she managed to place herself between 2 resplendent male Wigeon, they then turned to face
the amorous diving duck and succeeded in persuading him to look elsewhere.
Hancocks Flood : 20 Curlew and 1 Little Grebe.
Pumphouse Flash : A huge flock of at least 1000 Lapwings, they were extremely nervous and flushed numerous times, but the only
possible threat that could be seen were a few crows.
Really impressive numbers of Wigeon seen around the site, Shovelers and Teal appeared to be relatively numerous too, thankfully.
The lane leading to the rear of Elton Hall Flash was flooded, as is often the case, wellies or waders are strongly advised.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jan 19 8:20 PM, 2022
Another visit to Sandback Flashes today, cold but fine.
Spent the time at the viewpoint at Elton Hall Flash. On the saltpan were at least 9(7drk) Pintails, really nice to see. A Black-tailed Godwit flew over and 2 Snipe showed well. At least 6 Goosander pottered around at the back. Later on, as the sun went down a huge number of gulls dropped in. The star bird was an adult Yellow-legged Gull but there were also good numbers of Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a few Great Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls were in huge numbers too.
Another birding mate who joined us at the viewpoint passed on that there was a Great White Egret at Railway Flash.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Jan 13 9:46 PM, 2022
Had the chance to go around a part of the flashes that I wasn't as familiar with today in the company of Patcher-extraordinaire Andy G. many thanks to him for a fabulous morning.
The single massive highlight was our self-found adult Iceland Gull, we think the first one for Cheshire in 2022. The bird was with a big flock of loafing gulls on Railway Flash No.2. As quickly as we found it it took to the air and it headed off high over towards Elton Hall Flash. Weirdly it was the only gull to depart, such a shame as I was just starting to try to phonescope it!! Also on here I picked out a couple of brutes, 2 argentatus Herring Gulls, these being as big and bulky as the accompanying Great Black-backed Gulls. There were at least 20 Great Black-backed Gulls on there and flying over too.
We also had 2 Little Egrets, 2 Bullfinches and a Cetti's Warbler here as well as commoner stuff like Redwings. A nice sight was 2 Ravens in display, beak tapping in a tree not far from Pumphouse Flash. Near here a Grey Wagtail was in a damp field and flew towards a farm settling tank.
A distant record hand-held phonescoped shot of the adult Iceland Gull is attached, rubbish but proof of a cracking self-found bird
1 Peregrine (Judging by size a female which really spooked the Lapwings, Curlews and ducks numerous times),
2 Buzzards (Even one of these was the target of an attack by the Peregrine, although clearly just as a gesture),
4f+1m Goosanders, 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Great black Gulls, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Little Grebe.
Several small flocks of Redwings were targeting the hawthorns that still had berries.
Pump House Flash : 1 Pink footed Goose (Not amongst feral geese but alone on the field behind the flash)
and 1 Little Grebe.
An egret that seemed large enough to be a Great White was glimpsed flying towards Elton Hall Flash, but when I
checked that area moments later no egrets were found.
John Williams said
Wed Nov 10 5:05 PM, 2021
Midday visit
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Little Grebes, 1 Barnacle Goose (Amongst huge Canada/Greylag Geese flock) and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Pumphouse Flash : 10 Snipe and 200+ Lapwings. The highly nervous Lapwings were frequently flushed by a pair of noticeably aggressive crows.
Hawthorn hedges around the site, most still well laden with berries, attracted numerous roving flocks of Redwings and Blackbirds.
A female Mandarin duck had been reported earlier in the morning at the rear of the Elton Hall Flash.
Doc Brewster said
Wed Oct 13 8:30 PM, 2021
A brief visit to Elton Hall Flash en route (sort of!) to Newchurch Common revealed that one adult Yellow-legged Gull was still on Elton Hall Flash. It was on the shore on the furthest spit out on the left hand side from the viewing area.
Other birds reported from Elton Hall/Pumphouse Flashes were 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Pintail, a pair of Stonechat, 201 Greylag Geese, 50 Shoveler, 168 Wigeon, 227 Teal and 3 Gadwall.
John Williams said
Fri Oct 1 10:00 PM, 2021
14.00-17.00
2 adult Yellow legged Gulls, 1 on Pumphouse Flash the other on Elton Hall Flash.
Both flashes held large roosts of gulls, considering the nearby landfill no longer accepts domestic/food waste, with numerous Great Black Backs
on Pumphouse, and with them were 2 huge Herring Gulls that appeared to be of the Baltic race "Argentatus".
Even the biggest gulls flushed though when 3 Buzzards appeared over Pumphouse Flash simultaneously.
25 Curlews shared Hancocks Flood with large numbers of Canada Geese.
On Elton Hall Flash a juvenile Shelduck closely followed a group of male Mallards around the flash. The drake Mallards only seemed interested
in pairing off with females though and completely ignored their big young Shelduck companion.
Elton Hall Flash also held 1 Pintail and 1 Little Grebe, whilst a single Great Crested Grebe was on Pumphouse.
The water level was high on both flashes with no exposed shoreline or mud showing.
John Williams said
Sun Aug 29 6:51 PM, 2021
Afternoon visit
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Pintails, 7 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Buzzards and 4 Grey Herons.
A Buzzard was seen carrying what appeared to be a dead Swallow, before flying into a tree to eat it's prize.
Hancocks Flood : 4 Curlew.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Dunlin and 1 Wheatear plus 4 Chiffchaffs in the willows.
Hawthorn hedges just North of Pumphouse Flash : 1 Spotted Flycatcher, at least 4 more Chiffchaffs and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Oddly no Lapwings were seen throughout, but numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Gadwall are clearly building up.
Very little sign of migrants, notable sightings were :
Elton Hall Flash - 2 Goosanders, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Stock Dove.
Hancocks Flood - 3 Oystercatchers.
John Williams said
Mon Apr 26 3:01 PM, 2021
Morning visit
Elton Hall Flash : Ruddy Shelduck in the centre of the flash close to edge of the willows.
A male Blackcap was showing well by the viewing area.
Hancocks Flood : Spotted Redshank showing well on one of the remaining pools.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret being harassed by a Grey Heron.
Also 1 Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Oystercatchers and 1 Buzzard.
Doc Brewster said
Sun Apr 25 9:50 PM, 2021
After my long, tiring day on Saturday I needed an easy local site. So Pumphouse Flash was my choice, given that a couple of good birds had been reported there this morning. No walking involved was the clincher for me and being just a few miles away I headed over mid morning.
Immediately the most obvious bird was a new find today on Pumphouse: a Ruddy Shelduck, standing out like an orange sore thumb on the nearest pool! Further away on the far shore of the back pool, but later on the same pool as the duck, was a near summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, always a nice bird to see. Just 50m down towards Elton Hall Flash a report had 3 of us searching. By pishing I tempted the bird out and it showed well every time that I did this - a Sedge Warbler. It even clambered down to the waters edge, had a drink and then a thorough wash!! It showed very well to all.
After a catch up with all and a bit of Focalpoint advice for some I headed home, an easy morning behind me, just what The Doc ordered!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of April 2021 09:50:49 PM
John Williams said
Wed Apr 14 5:41 PM, 2021
Midday visit
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 3f+1m Goosanders, 1 Great crested Grebe and 2 Buzzards.
A couple of Swallows posed on overhead wires alongside the flash.
Elton Hall Flash : 14 Black tailed Godwits, 2 Oystercatchers and an impressive 60 Shelduck.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Apr 10 9:21 PM, 2021
Had a brief visit to Pumphouse Flash late morning when news broke on one of our Whatsapp Groups. I left Newchurch in bright sunshine with lots of blue sky and arrived at Sandbach Flashes in a heavy sleet shower. It was almost unbelievab;e that the wtaher could be so different. The good news was that by viewing from the car I picked up 3 Yellow Wagtails on the Pumphouse Flash shoreline. earlier 3 Yellow Wagtails had been seen across on Railway Flash on the other side of the tip. Presumably the birds had moved over the short distance to be on Pumphouse. A great sighting in horrid weather conditions.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Mar 20 1:00 PM, 2021
The good run continues with a great find by Ange Goodwin this morning. An Avocet was on Elton Hall Flash, out on the most distant spit of land on the left looking fron the Viewpoint. Also here several Black-tailed Godwits with some in smart orange garb and a close-up Little Egret with head plumes.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Mar 18 8:46 PM, 2021
Dave 'Robbo' Robinson found a Little Ringed Plover on Pumphouse Flash today, it was there at 4pm at least.
Doc Brewster said
Sat Feb 20 11:22 AM, 2021
Andy Firth found a group of Golden Plovers amongst the Lapwings on Pumphouse Flash this morning, initially counted at 36 birds the final total was 38 Golden Plover as counted by Ian Barber, cheers guys
Doc Brewster said
Mon Feb 15 10:02 PM, 2021
News from Sandbach Flashes : A Green Sandpiper was found and watched all afternoon on Pumphouse Flash (the first report that was put out on the grapevine erroneously had the bird as on Elton Hall Flash according to a patcher that contacted me).
John Williams said
Tue Dec 22 6:44 PM, 2020
Around Midday.
Elton Hall Flash : 1m Goosander, 23 Curlew (On field alongside railway), 5 Great Black Backed Gulls,
18 Shelducks, 2 Common Gulls and 100+ Lapwings.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe and 580 Lapwings (They posed on the ground just long enough to be counted,
but otherwise were frequently flushed by an adult Great Black Gull).
Hancocks Flood : 1 Little Grebe.
The water level on Pumphouse Flash was almost high enough to cover the road.
Cheers Andy, much appreciated.
For those hanging on until today, a band of rain has swept through and the Caspian Tern may have moved ahead of it since there is no sign so far today. A report on the group I run said that it flew from Elton Hall Flash towards Watch Lane Flash at c.20.15am.
Cracking photo showing the rain there Doc.
Was lovely views in the sun later around 4 pm, with down south on Clay Lane on Pump House Flash or the scrapes to the east of the road seven Curlew, one Black-tailed Godwit, five (four?) Little Ringed Plover, four Oystercatchers, two Grey Heron, a Great Egret and both Common and Green Sandpiper and two Raven doing display flights over the dead tree.
Interestingly, (actually, probably not for 99.99% of readers) I saw my first Common Tern here in the 1970s as a six year old! Didn't really register until on the way home today but mine great-Uncle, whom is housebound many counties these days away, whom I rung to tell of said visit for the Caspian Tern today said he'd check his books and rang me back to say himself and my Grandad had been out that way and seen Common Tern....he was well made up I'd seen a first or the Flashes for him by-proxy (Ron Brydon if anyone remembers - moved in the away 1980s).
Oh did I say for me....lifer....
other highlights today including GWEgret, L.Egret, ad YLGull, Green Sandpiper & Blk t Godwit
Also a 2nd summer Yellow-legged Gull sat in a dead tree.
Cracking first for the flashes! Well twitched by the great & the good of Cheshire birding. A couple of Wirral Birders made rare inland visits!
Caspian Tern still present 2.10pm. Well worth a visit, was chucking it down when I was there but local weather brightened up. When raining we all said it would keep it down on the flash. I suppose with it brightening up a bit then it may leave. But worth a punt
Caspian Tern on Elton Hall Flash this morning, found by Andy Firth. Mainly perched up but has flown around and departed once, but returned. Was still there when I left at 12.10pm and then I had an update at 12.35pm to confirm still present.
Pumphouse Flash
A brood of 4 (Adult Mallard sized) young Shelducks with 2 adults keeping a watchful eye on them.
Elton Hall Flash
1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Tern. Also at the back of the flash were 4 drake Teal still in resplendent breeding plumage.
There was a sizeable gull roost on the flash, mostly Lesser-black Backs together with a few Herring, mainly immature birds,
but oddly not a single Black Headed Gull could be found around the flashes. Are they all at their breeding sites ?.
Although surely this may also reflect just how seriously this species has been impacted by bird flu?.
-- Edited by John Williams on Friday 7th of June 2024 11:58:08 PM
First birding trip out for many months due to illness, hence no postings, my apologies.
Hancocks Flood
1 Green Sandpiper, also 4 Buzzards circled over the flood, with 2 having quiet a vicious aerial scrap.
Pumphouse Flash
1 Little Ringed Plover.
Large numbers of Swallows, House and Sand Martins swooping low over Hancocks Flood and Pumphouse, but no sign of any Swifts yet.
An adult winter-plumaged Little Gull is at Elton Hall Flash today for its second day and showing well from the viewpoint. It was still present until 11.20am at least.
Mealy Redpoll at Moston Green showing well on & off today (3rd day)
Elton Hall Flash: 1 Hobby, 1 Buzzard, 3 Lapwings and a pair mating of Herring Gulls.
Still quite a lot of Teal on the flash, with a group of 35 seen in front of the viewing area.
Pumphouse Flash: 4 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Buzzards.
A Yellow Wagtail and a Common Sandpiper were recorded on Pumphouse before I arrived.
Pumphouse Flash:
2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2f+1m Wheatears, 8 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Elton Hall Flash :
1f Goosander, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Buzzard.
There was a steady trickle of hirundines passing through during my stay, mostly Sand Martins but at least 8 Swallows were with them too.
A Cettis Warbler was heard calling loudly near the viewing area on Elton Hall Flash, although the bird remained hidden.
Elton Hall Flash:8 Black Tailed Godwits, 3 Oystercatchers and 2 Buzzards.
Pumphouse Flash:1 Great Crested Grebe, 1m Goldeneye, 5 Cormorants and 2 Buzzards.
Also 2f Lesser Redpolls were on willows opposite the broken gate, as were 2 Chiffchaffs (With 1 briefly in song).
A single Water Rail was seen below the willows too.
Nearby a flock of at least 14 Fieldfares plus 1 Redwing were seen at the base of an hawthorn hedge.
Noticeably missing around the flashes were Lapwings, with not a single individual being seen throughout.
Elton Hall Flash:
2 Snipe, 6 Black-Tailed Godwits, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Buzzards and 4 adult Great Black-Backed Gulls.
Also 50+ Fieldfares on an adjoining field.
Pumphouse Flash: A flock of 17 Pied Wagtails, plus the usual Wigeon etc,.
Just the usual Wigeon on Hancocks and Rosemary's Floods too.
Pumphouse Flash: 1m Goldeneye, 870 Lapwings and 6 Tufted Ducks.
Hancocks Flood: 1 Little Grebe and 22 Curlews.
Elton Hall Flash: 1 adult Great Black-Backed Gull, 14 Cormorants, 7 Shelducks, 53 Greylag Geese,
230 Lapwings, 2 Fieldfares and 1 Coal Tit.
A massive flock of Lapwing flew up from a field at the side of me. Mustve been 500+ birds.
Next field supported a few 100 Redwings and Fieldfares.
Pumphouse Flash
1 Golden Plover amongst a huge flock of Lapwings, and 1 Great White Egret.
Elton Hall Flash
4 adult Great Black Backed Gulls. Also 1 Mistle Thrush with Fieldfares on a adjoining field.
4 Stock Doves were amongst Fieldfares and Redwings on Rosemarys Flood.
Elton Hall Flash : 1 adult Yellow-Legged Gull, 1 Whooper Swan, 1m Goldeneye and 1 Black-Tailed Godwit.
Hancocks Flood : 6 Meadow Pipits (Single flock bathing in a small muddy pool).
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret, 1 huge adult "argentatus" Herring Gull and 1 Buzzard.
Elton Hall Flash :
1m+1f Ruff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Snipe, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 adult Yellow Legged Gull,
1 Buzzard, 1 Barnacle Goose and 1 Little Grebe.
Pumphouse Flash:
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Buzzards (In flight above the flash together),
1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Curlews.
Large numbers of hirundines were over Pumphouse Flash, mostly Swallows but with a few House Martins mixed in too.
No egrets were seen throughout, just 3 Grey Herons.
Elton Hall Flash: 1 Great White Egret (Large red ring on left leg marked "ABC") this bird later moved across
to Pumphouse Flash, 1 Sparrowhawk seen carrying prey, 4 Grey Herons and 1 Stock Dove.
2 Willow Warblers appeared in bushes by the viewing area.
Also a noticeably large adult Herring Gull that appeared to be around 30% bigger than any of the other Herring or Lesser Black Backs,
the bird showed real aggression to the other gulls too. It had a noticeably long neck, but otherwise the normal characteristics
of a normal "Argenteus" in having a light saddle, yellow iris and red spot on it's lower mandible.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Grey Heron.
Elton Hall Flash: 6 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard and 7 Grey Herons.
Pumphouse Flash :1 Great White Egret, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Also a group of 10 (Mallard sized) juvenile Shelducks.
A Red Kite and an adult Yellow Legged Gull had been reported before I arrived.
Eton Hall Flash : 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Buzzards, 1f Mandarin Duck and at least 170 Lapwings.
The gathering of moulting Mallards that were resting on the spit in front of the viewing area had to make a quick exit
when a large fox appeared amongst them. Luckily all the birds escaped, the fox though was clearly on the look out for
eggs, chicks or dopey ducks.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Stock Doves and 1 Buzzard.
Hancocks Flood (Now completely dry): 1 Mistle Thrush.
Also on Hancocks I witnessed a aerial battle between 2 Lesser Black Backed Gulls and 4 crows, this went on for some time,
almost leading to the belief it was just for fun. However it soon became apparent that the crows were trying to keep the gulls
away from a food item they had on the ground. Just as I wondered who would eventually win a brown flash shot low
across the field, in the form of a Buzzard, grabbed the morsel and made for the sanctuary of a large oak. At one point a crow
actually gripped onto the primary feathers of Buzzard as it fled.
No sign of the Red Kites which have been frequenting the area over the last 5 days.
The only raptors seen were a single Sparrowhawk (Mobbed by a very determined crow) and 4 Buzzards.
Elton Hall Flash : 1 Great White Egret.
Pumphouse Flash : 2 Great Crested Grebes, a pair of Shelducks with a brood of 7 small ducklings, and 2 Oystercatchers.
A pair of Reed Warblers were seen making frequent visits to the cobweb like nests of ermine moths that hung amongst a clump of willows.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron and 2 Oystercatchers.
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Common Terns and 2 Ravens.
Elton Hall Flash: 1 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpipers and 18 Shelducks.
A male Blackcap was singing and showing really well around the view point.
Pumphouse Flash : A pair of Great Crested Grebes and 1 Buzzard.
Hancocks Flood : 2 Oystercatchers (Flood now largely dried out).
Elton Hall Flash : 18 Black Tailed Godwits, 7 Common Gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Oystercatchers.
1f Brambling and 1m Great Spotted Woodpecker on feeders.
Hancocks Flood : 1 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Green Sandpipers.
Pumphouse Flash : 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 4 Buzzards (3 in flight and 1 on a pylon).
Elton Hall Flash : 6 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 adult Great Black Backed Gulls, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egrets,
6 Cormorants and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. At one point 4 male Reed Buntings were seen together below the feeders.
Fieldfares and Redwings showed well on the hawthorns near the viewing point.
When the rain stopped and the sun briefly appeared a trio of Buzzards soared over the flash, causing even the GBB gulls to flush,
the Cormorants though were unmoved and simply ignored the big raptors.
Amongst a large group of Wigeon on the back pool was a female, who was trying to evade the attention of a drake Tufted Duck.
He was clearly trying to woo her, she managed to place herself between 2 resplendent male Wigeon, they then turned to face
the amorous diving duck and succeeded in persuading him to look elsewhere.
Hancocks Flood : 20 Curlew and 1 Little Grebe.
Pumphouse Flash : A huge flock of at least 1000 Lapwings, they were extremely nervous and flushed numerous times, but the only
possible threat that could be seen were a few crows.
Really impressive numbers of Wigeon seen around the site, Shovelers and Teal appeared to be relatively numerous too, thankfully.
The lane leading to the rear of Elton Hall Flash was flooded, as is often the case, wellies or waders are strongly advised.
Another visit to Sandback Flashes today, cold but fine.
Spent the time at the viewpoint at Elton Hall Flash. On the saltpan were at least 9(7drk) Pintails, really nice to see. A Black-tailed Godwit flew over and 2 Snipe showed well. At least 6 Goosander pottered around at the back. Later on, as the sun went down a huge number of gulls dropped in. The star bird was an adult Yellow-legged Gull but there were also good numbers of Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a few Great Black-backed Gulls, Black-headed Gulls were in huge numbers too.
Another birding mate who joined us at the viewpoint passed on that there was a Great White Egret at Railway Flash.
Had the chance to go around a part of the flashes that I wasn't as familiar with today in the company of Patcher-extraordinaire Andy G. many thanks to him for a fabulous morning.
The single massive highlight was our self-found adult Iceland Gull, we think the first one for Cheshire in 2022. The bird was with a big flock of loafing gulls on Railway Flash No.2. As quickly as we found it it took to the air and it headed off high over towards Elton Hall Flash. Weirdly it was the only gull to depart, such a shame as I was just starting to try to phonescope it!! Also on here I picked out a couple of brutes, 2 argentatus Herring Gulls, these being as big and bulky as the accompanying Great Black-backed Gulls. There were at least 20 Great Black-backed Gulls on there and flying over too.
We also had 2 Little Egrets, 2 Bullfinches and a Cetti's Warbler here as well as commoner stuff like Redwings. A nice sight was 2 Ravens in display, beak tapping in a tree not far from Pumphouse Flash. Near here a Grey Wagtail was in a damp field and flew towards a farm settling tank.
A distant record hand-held phonescoped shot of the adult Iceland Gull is attached, rubbish but proof of a cracking self-found bird
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Little Grebes and 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Pumphouse Flash : 400 Lapwings (Relatively relaxed flock for a change as no predators were seen throughout), except
perhaps for the 13 adult Great black Backed Gulls that rested nearby. The big gulls don't appear to worry the Lapwings though.
The field behind Pumphouse Flash was packed with impressive numbers of Wigeon alongside the usual Canada Geese.
A solitary Redwing perched on top of the big dead tree on Hancocks Flood for at least 10 minutes, then 5 Starlings flushed it.
Also on Hancocks Flood a group of 13 Magpies foraged together.
Elton Hall Flash : 1 adult Yellow legged Gull, 32 Curlews, 120+ Lapwings,
1 Peregrine (Judging by size a female which really spooked the Lapwings, Curlews and ducks numerous times),
2 Buzzards (Even one of these was the target of an attack by the Peregrine, although clearly just as a gesture),
4f+1m Goosanders, 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Great black Gulls, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Little Grebe.
Several small flocks of Redwings were targeting the hawthorns that still had berries.
Pump House Flash : 1 Pink footed Goose (Not amongst feral geese but alone on the field behind the flash)
and 1 Little Grebe.
An egret that seemed large enough to be a Great White was glimpsed flying towards Elton Hall Flash, but when I
checked that area moments later no egrets were found.
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Little Grebes, 1 Barnacle Goose (Amongst huge Canada/Greylag Geese flock) and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Pumphouse Flash : 10 Snipe and 200+ Lapwings. The highly nervous Lapwings were frequently flushed by a pair of noticeably aggressive crows.
Hawthorn hedges around the site, most still well laden with berries, attracted numerous roving flocks of Redwings and Blackbirds.
A female Mandarin duck had been reported earlier in the morning at the rear of the Elton Hall Flash.
A brief visit to Elton Hall Flash en route (sort of!) to Newchurch Common revealed that one adult Yellow-legged Gull was still on Elton Hall Flash. It was on the shore on the furthest spit out on the left hand side from the viewing area.
Other birds reported from Elton Hall/Pumphouse Flashes were 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 Pintail, a pair of Stonechat, 201 Greylag Geese, 50 Shoveler, 168 Wigeon, 227 Teal and 3 Gadwall.
2 adult Yellow legged Gulls, 1 on Pumphouse Flash the other on Elton Hall Flash.
Both flashes held large roosts of gulls, considering the nearby landfill no longer accepts domestic/food waste, with numerous Great Black Backs
on Pumphouse, and with them were 2 huge Herring Gulls that appeared to be of the Baltic race "Argentatus".
Even the biggest gulls flushed though when 3 Buzzards appeared over Pumphouse Flash simultaneously.
25 Curlews shared Hancocks Flood with large numbers of Canada Geese.
On Elton Hall Flash a juvenile Shelduck closely followed a group of male Mallards around the flash. The drake Mallards only seemed interested
in pairing off with females though and completely ignored their big young Shelduck companion.
Elton Hall Flash also held 1 Pintail and 1 Little Grebe, whilst a single Great Crested Grebe was on Pumphouse.
The water level was high on both flashes with no exposed shoreline or mud showing.
Elton Hall Flash : 2 Pintails, 7 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Buzzards and 4 Grey Herons.
A Buzzard was seen carrying what appeared to be a dead Swallow, before flying into a tree to eat it's prize.
Hancocks Flood : 4 Curlew.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Dunlin and 1 Wheatear plus 4 Chiffchaffs in the willows.
Hawthorn hedges just North of Pumphouse Flash : 1 Spotted Flycatcher, at least 4 more Chiffchaffs and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Oddly no Lapwings were seen throughout, but numbers of Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler and Gadwall are clearly building up.
Elton Hall Flash : 2 adult+ 1 2nd summer Yellow legged Gulls, 3 Ruddy Shelducks, 3 Black tailed Godwits, 2 Redshanks,
and 1 Egyptian Goose. Also 5 Chiffchaffs amongst a roving flock of Blue and Long tailed Tits moving through the waterside Ash trees.
Hancocks Flood : 2 Curlews and 3 noisy Oystercatchers.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Green Sandpiper and 1 Common Sandpiper. A solitary Buzzard sat on top of a nearby pylon and a male Reed Bunting
was still singing from willows alongside the flash.
Elton Hall Flash : 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Stock Doves.
Hancocks Flood : 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Curlew, 4 Teal and a gathering of 78 Black headed Gulls.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe. A pair of Buzzards rested on a nearby pylon.
The water level was very high on the flashes, with no shoreline showing and mayweed growing right down to water's edge.
Elton Hall Flash : 1 adult Yellow legged Gull, 3 Green Sandpipers (1 with a yellow ring on right leg), 4 Oystercatchers and 60+ Lapwings.
A male Blackcap gave a brief burst of song and showed well near the viewing area.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Buzzard.
Hancocks Flood :
1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Egyptian Goose and an exotic escape in the form of a White faced Whistling Duck.
Pumphouse Flash :
A brood of 6 half grown Shelduck ducklings and 2 Great Crested Grebes, whilst 4 Buzzards soared on thermals above the flash.
Very little sign of migrants, notable sightings were :
Elton Hall Flash - 2 Goosanders, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Stock Dove.
Hancocks Flood - 3 Oystercatchers.
Elton Hall Flash : Ruddy Shelduck in the centre of the flash close to edge of the willows.
A male Blackcap was showing well by the viewing area.
Hancocks Flood : Spotted Redshank showing well on one of the remaining pools.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret being harassed by a Grey Heron.
Also 1 Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Oystercatchers and 1 Buzzard.
After my long, tiring day on Saturday I needed an easy local site. So Pumphouse Flash was my choice, given that a couple of good birds had been reported there this morning. No walking involved was the clincher for me and being just a few miles away I headed over mid morning.
Immediately the most obvious bird was a new find today on Pumphouse: a Ruddy Shelduck, standing out like an orange sore thumb on the nearest pool! Further away on the far shore of the back pool, but later on the same pool as the duck, was a near summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, always a nice bird to see. Just 50m down towards Elton Hall Flash a report had 3 of us searching. By pishing I tempted the bird out and it showed well every time that I did this - a Sedge Warbler. It even clambered down to the waters edge, had a drink and then a thorough wash!! It showed very well to all.
After a catch up with all and a bit of Focalpoint advice for some I headed home, an easy morning behind me, just what The Doc ordered!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 25th of April 2021 09:50:49 PM
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 3f+1m Goosanders, 1 Great crested Grebe and 2 Buzzards.
A couple of Swallows posed on overhead wires alongside the flash.
Elton Hall Flash : 14 Black tailed Godwits, 2 Oystercatchers and an impressive 60 Shelduck.
Had a brief visit to Pumphouse Flash late morning when news broke on one of our Whatsapp Groups. I left Newchurch in bright sunshine with lots of blue sky and arrived at Sandbach Flashes in a heavy sleet shower. It was almost unbelievab;e that the wtaher could be so different. The good news was that by viewing from the car I picked up 3 Yellow Wagtails on the Pumphouse Flash shoreline. earlier 3 Yellow Wagtails had been seen across on Railway Flash on the other side of the tip. Presumably the birds had moved over the short distance to be on Pumphouse. A great sighting in horrid weather conditions.
The good run continues with a great find by Ange Goodwin this morning. An Avocet was on Elton Hall Flash, out on the most distant spit of land on the left looking fron the Viewpoint. Also here several Black-tailed Godwits with some in smart orange garb and a close-up Little Egret with head plumes.
Dave 'Robbo' Robinson found a Little Ringed Plover on Pumphouse Flash today, it was there at 4pm at least.
Andy Firth found a group of Golden Plovers amongst the Lapwings on Pumphouse Flash this morning, initially counted at 36 birds the final total was 38 Golden Plover as counted by Ian Barber, cheers guys
News from Sandbach Flashes : A Green Sandpiper was found and watched all afternoon on Pumphouse Flash (the first report that was put out on the grapevine erroneously had the bird as on Elton Hall Flash according to a patcher that contacted me).
Elton Hall Flash : 1m Goosander, 23 Curlew (On field alongside railway), 5 Great Black Backed Gulls,
18 Shelducks, 2 Common Gulls and 100+ Lapwings.
Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe and 580 Lapwings (They posed on the ground just long enough to be counted,
but otherwise were frequently flushed by an adult Great Black Gull).
Hancocks Flood : 1 Little Grebe.
The water level on Pumphouse Flash was almost high enough to cover the road.