plus the usual, Lapwings, Shelduck etc. Moulting Mallard drakes all over the
place. Lots of Swallows and H.Martins, some perched on the dead
tree in the centre of the flash. 1 Common Blue butterfly.
Pumphouse flash
2 Oystercatcher plus the usual waterfowl/gulls and a few Lapwing.
Unusual to find no Cormorants in their normal tree roost.
Patrick Earith said
Fri Jun 1 3:41 AM, 2012
Late afternoon visit produced:
Garganey - male, and a bit scruffy looking. Greenshank Shoveler Wigeon Tufted Duck Gadwall Shelduck Grey Heron x 2 Lapwing Swift Sand Martin House Martin Swallow
Thomas and Bill Jones said
Sun May 13 12:51 PM, 2012
Trip to my old childhood birding haunt was richly rewarded with:
Avocet (first for me, at the flashes)- Elton Hall flash. At the back (left side) down from the railway line. Thanks to the birder who pointed it out to us.
Also saw: Pochard Great crested grebe (lots) Shelduck (lots) Common Buzzard
Watch Lane Flash: Reed warbler (seen after about 45 mins!...) Reed Bunting Bullfinch
Apparently the Maw Green wryneck stayed 2days but moved on well before we arrived!
-- Edited by Bill and his dad on Sunday 13th of May 2012 12:52:33 PM
sid ashton said
Sun May 6 4:22 AM, 2012
A bit of a hike round Maw Green tip this evening with Mr Barber gave us terrific views of the earlier reported Wryneck - a lifetime first for John
Patrick Earith said
Fri Apr 27 4:45 AM, 2012
An hour long early evening visit here confirmed the Little Tern as still present, sat on a rock out in the flash, flying off frequently to take insects off the water in amongst the many hirundines also present. A cracking little bird, such a privilege to see it here! Also seen here earlier, but not by me, was a Bar-tailed Godwit.
Also present on Elton Hall Flash/Pumphouse Flash were:
Yellow Wagtail x 1 House Martin x 10+ Swallow x 30+ Sand Martin x 2 Goosander x 2m Lesser Black Backed Gull Greylag Goose Shelduck Wigeon Teal Shoveler Buzzard x 2 Ruff x 1 Black tailed Godwit x 2 Stock Dove Pied Wagtail Lapwing Tree Sparrow Snipe x 3 Cormorant x 1 Great Crested Grebe x 3 Grey Heron x 1 Oystercatcher x 3
Patrick Earith said
Thu Apr 19 2:48 AM, 2012
A quick visit this evening:
Pumphouse Flash/Elton Hall Flash
Lesser Black Backed Gull Greylag Goose Shelduck Tufted Duck Teal Buzzard x 2 sat on the ground, eyeing up the two red foxes that were about Ruff x 1 Little Ringed Plover x 2 Black tailed Godwit Stock Dove Pied Wagtail (dozens, including at least one White) Lapwing Tree Sparrow Swallow (dozens)
According to the log, a 1st winter Caspian Gull was seen earlier on Pumphouse(but not by me!)
Watch Lane Flash
Great Crested Grebe x 4 Reed Bunting x 2
Mike Baron said
Fri Feb 24 2:05 AM, 2012
Adult and juvenile Iceland Gulls in the roost this evening. Also adult Yellow-legged Gull.
Adam Jones said
Sun Feb 5 6:57 AM, 2012
Saturday 4th February 8.30-10.00
Flashes almost completely frozen. No sign of the Glossy Ibis, Iceland Gull or Godwits this morning. Plenty of Redwings in the fields though. Again, good numbers of Wigeon, Shellduck and Lapwings. One Snipe flew across the road from the feeding station. 40+Tree Sparrows around the feeders Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the distance.
Adam Jones said
Wed Feb 1 5:04 AM, 2012
Tuesday 31st January
Pumphouse Flash: 1 Iceland Gull (a life first for me) 4 Black Tailed Godwits 30 Widgeon 1 Grey Heron c200 Lapwings
In the next field (across the road from the feeders) was the Glossy Ibis. A nice sight. More Widgeon on the river and on the banks. Also a Sparrowhawk seen sat on a fence post.
Feeders: c30 Tree Sparrows 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 2 Fieldfare (around , not on the feeders) Many of the usuals
Elton Hall Flash: 30 Shellduck More Widgeon
Rory Newton said
Sun Jan 15 6:06 PM, 2012
Trip to sandbach, Glossy Ibis flew overhead and landed over at railway flash, Iceland gull not seen but other things were about, 1 woodcock, pintail, 1 pink footed goose and sparrowhawk.
sid ashton said
Sun Jan 8 10:29 PM, 2012
Had a trip over to Sandbach this morning and found the Glossy Ibis that was first reported yesterday, not on Pumphouse Flash where it was first seen but on Railway Flash close to Maw Green tip. I had forgotten what a hike it is to get to the site but worth it - had really good views of the bird before it was spooked by an overflying raptor along with everything else present at the time.
Patrick Earith said
Fri Jan 6 9:05 PM, 2012
Lunchtime visit yesterday produced the following:
Pump House Flash - White Fronted Goose (just the one with the Canadas), 100's of Starling, Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon. Dozens of BHGs, Teal, Coots. Also, Common Gull, Herring Gull, LBB Gull, GBB Gull but couldn't find the reported juvenile Iceland Gull. Curlew (20ish), BT Godwit (2), Ruff (1). Also of interest, a Greylag-type hybrid with a white head and a white crescent on it's breast
Elton Hall Flash - lots more Lapwing, BHG, Wigeon, but, also Shelduck, Goosander (2m) and on the feeders, loads of Tree Sparrow amongst the usual fare
Geoff Walton said
Fri Nov 25 8:22 PM, 2011
Must be following you around Sid We were here today, a little on the cool side but pleasant until the rain. My first visit. I really enjoyed viewing from the "feeder path" Loads of small birds everywhere. All the tits Tree Saprrows G.S.Woodpeckers Nuthatch
Redwing and Fieldfare in reasonably nunbers Hundreds of Lapwings and Starlings Goosander Redshanks Shovellers Widgeon Shelduck 4 Snipe
2 Gtr.White-fronted Geese on the other side
-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Saturday 26th of November 2011 04:10:26 PM
sid ashton said
Thu Nov 17 5:33 PM, 2011
A warmer and sunnier afternoon at Sandbach today found of interest two Greater White-fronted Geese on Watch Lane flash and a single Yellow-legged Gull on Pumphouse Flash - unfortunately still no sign of the reported Caspian Gull.
sid ashton said
Wed Nov 16 6:08 PM, 2011
A chilly couple of hours this afternoon at Sandbach - of note 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls on Pumphouse Flash with the mixed gull flock.
Also present, several Wigeon, Teal, Curlew and Lapwing all being spooked by a Buzzard. There was also a fly over Sparrowhawk.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 16th of November 2011 06:30:19 PM
Patrick Earith said
Fri Apr 15 8:12 PM, 2011
Another evening visit confirmed Green winged Teal still present along with 30 or so BT Godwits, a few Ruff, Redshank and amongst the Little Ringed Plover, a Dunlin. Also Sparrowhawk passed through.
Phil Owen said
Tue Apr 12 10:16 PM, 2011
Quick evening visit at 6.45pm:
Green-winged Teal present along with:
1 Yellow Wagtail 1 Greenshank 3 Little Ringed Plovers 5 Black tailed Godwits 2 Redshank 2 Tree Sparrows amongst others
Patrick Earith said
Sun Apr 3 9:15 AM, 2011
A brief, but, productive visit yesterday produced:
Wheatear (male, in the ploughed field just beyond Elton Hall Flash) Little Ringed Plover BT Godwits (20ish) Ruff (3) Redshank Teal Wigeon Lapwing Iceland Gull (2nd winter) Herring Gull LBB Gull GBB Gull BH Gull Tree Sparrow Buzzard (x2) Chiffchaff (x2) Shoveller Gadwall Tufted Duck Shelduck
Not bad for an hour's work!
-- Edited by Jay Pea on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 09:16:32 AM
-- Edited by Jay Pea on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 09:56:17 AM
John Barber said
Sat Mar 12 9:48 PM, 2011
Thanks Henry !
Henry Cook said
Sat Mar 12 9:38 PM, 2011
Directions are on the Richmond Bank thread John. Page 2 I think. Henry.
Phil Owen said
Sat Mar 12 9:37 PM, 2011
John Barber wrote:
Couldn't ignore all the goodies on offer at Sandbach - thanks for your reports guys.
Not too many gulls on view today ( only a few hundred ) Saturday and Sundays are their days off apparently.
Did manage to bump into Jonathan Platt - nice to see you again Jonathan, who kindly pointed me in the direction of the Glaucous, Iceland and Med Gull which were all present this cool grey morning. Bit disappointed you didn't find me a Caspian though !!
Looks like I'll have to go to Richmond Bank for the Caspians - anyone tell me how to get to Richmond Bank ?
The local patcher at Sandbach had a Caspo this morning apparently John so it's worth another go there.
John Barber said
Sat Mar 12 9:22 PM, 2011
Couldn't ignore all the goodies on offer at Sandbach - thanks for your reports guys.
Not too many gulls on view today ( only a few hundred ) Saturday and Sundays are their days off apparently.
Did manage to bump into Jonathan Platt - nice to see you again Jonathan, who kindly pointed me in the direction of the Glaucous, Iceland and Med Gull which were all present this cool grey morning. Bit disappointed you didn't find me a Caspian though !!
Looks like I'll have to go to Richmond Bank for the Caspians - anyone tell me how to get to Richmond Bank ?
Phil Owen said
Sat Mar 12 6:40 PM, 2011
Nice couple of hours this afternoon:
Glaucous Gull still present Iceland Gull (in same 'scope view as Glauc) 5 Goosander 2 Gadwall 2 Pintail 1 Ruff 1 Black-tailed Godwit 2 Redshanks 2 Oystercatchers Lots of Wigeon 100+ Stock Doves 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Tree and House Sparrows on the feeders amongst others
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 12th of March 2011 06:41:18 PM
sid ashton said
Thu Mar 10 11:08 AM, 2011
Visited the flashes this morning, 07.00 - 09.15, haven't been for a while but was inspired to go by Messers Owen and Cook's report on Monday
Upon arrival found the long staying Glaucous Gull on Pumphouse Flash with a mixed gull flock - had a really good look at this "big gull" so hopefully I shall be able to recognise the species again in future !!!!!
Also on & around PHF/Elton Hall Flash 10's of Wigeon, Ruff x4, Redshank x2, many Oystercatchers, Shelduck and Stock Doves, several Common Gulls, Pied Wagtails c.20 - 25, and on the feeders Tree Sparrows and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 10th of March 2011 05:57:23 PM
Phil Owen said
Mon Mar 7 5:35 PM, 2011
Quick afternoon visit with Henry Cook:
1st winter Glaucous Gull still present on Pumphouse Flash.
1 Yellow-legged Gull also present amongst the commoner Gulls.
John Rayner said
Fri Apr 10 3:21 PM, 2009
No sign this morning of yesterday's bird but 1st S. Iceland Gull in same scope view as 1st S. Glaucous Gull plus 2 Little Ringed Plovers, 62 Black-tailed Godwits, Blackcap and Swallow.
Cheers, John
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Apr 9 8:40 PM, 2009
There's a photo on the Focalpoint Forum.
Mike Passant said
Thu Apr 9 2:55 PM, 2009
Hi Rob,
I just had a phone call from our former Durham County recorder up here (Tony Armstrong ) to the effect that a possible Amer. Herring Gull reported at Sandbach is now upgraded to a "probable." Any more concrete (or preferably first hand) info you can glean would be most appreciated please, as some of us are "on standby" to get down there early tomorrow if it looks promising. Regards, Mike P.
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Apr 9 1:24 PM, 2009
Possible 1st w American Herring Gull (+ Glauc) there this morning.
One to test your ID skills....
3 common tern
3 green sandpiper
1 common sandpiper
4 garganey
1 ad. Yellow legged gull
Pied wagtail
20+ stock dove
2-3 kingfisher
Tree sparrow
Elton Hall Flash
4 Green Sandpipers and 14 Black Tailed Godwits. Also 9 well grown orphaned young Shelduck, they must surely be the ones I found at the same spot
on June 27th, I'm amazed they have all survived and they're too big now to be gull/crow fodder.
Flooded pasture across the road from Pumpmhouse Flash
1 Wood Sandpiper
Pumphouse Flash
15 Curlew, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Buzzard (sat on the dead tree normally occupied by Cormorants) and 1 Peregrine sat on a nearby pylon.
Also, 32 Curlew flew in while I was watching the Garganey.
1 Mandarin
Common Scoter on Pumphose Flash
1 Shelduck
6 Grey Herons
1 Lesser Whitethroat
Elton Hall Flash
1 Green Sandpiper, 64 Lapwing, 4 G.Heron and 9 young Shelduck ducklings
in a single group with adults nowhere to be seen.
1 Ruby Tailed wasp on the gate near the farm.
Pumphouse Flash
2 Shelduck (did they leave their young 'Home Alone' on Elton).
2 Buzzards on the pylons.
1 dead Emperor Dragonfly with a shredded abdomen, Hobby kill?.
Elton Hall flash
1 LR.Plover, 2 Stock Dove, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Wigeon (m) still looking
resplendent, 1 Buzzard, 2 GS Woodpecker, 3 broods of Mallard ( 12,10 &7)
plus the usual, Lapwings, Shelduck etc. Moulting Mallard drakes all over the
place. Lots of Swallows and H.Martins, some perched on the dead
tree in the centre of the flash. 1 Common Blue butterfly.
Pumphouse flash
2 Oystercatcher plus the usual waterfowl/gulls and a few Lapwing.
Unusual to find no Cormorants in their normal tree roost.
Garganey - male, and a bit scruffy looking.
Greenshank
Shoveler
Wigeon
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Shelduck
Grey Heron x 2
Lapwing
Swift
Sand Martin
House Martin
Swallow
Avocet (first for me, at the flashes)- Elton Hall flash. At the back (left side) down from the railway line.
Thanks to the birder who pointed it out to us.
Also saw:
Pochard
Great crested grebe (lots)
Shelduck (lots)
Common Buzzard
Watch Lane Flash:
Reed warbler (seen after about 45 mins!...)
Reed Bunting
Bullfinch
Apparently the Maw Green wryneck stayed 2days but moved on well before we arrived!
-- Edited by Bill and his dad on Sunday 13th of May 2012 12:52:33 PM
Also present on Elton Hall Flash/Pumphouse Flash were:
Yellow Wagtail x 1
House Martin x 10+
Swallow x 30+
Sand Martin x 2
Goosander x 2m
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Greylag Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Teal
Shoveler
Buzzard x 2
Ruff x 1
Black tailed Godwit x 2
Stock Dove
Pied Wagtail
Lapwing
Tree Sparrow
Snipe x 3
Cormorant x 1
Great Crested Grebe x 3
Grey Heron x 1
Oystercatcher x 3
Pumphouse Flash/Elton Hall Flash
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Greylag Goose
Shelduck
Tufted Duck
Teal
Buzzard x 2 sat on the ground, eyeing up the two red foxes that were about
Ruff x 1
Little Ringed Plover x 2
Black tailed Godwit
Stock Dove
Pied Wagtail (dozens, including at least one White)
Lapwing
Tree Sparrow
Swallow (dozens)
According to the log, a 1st winter Caspian Gull was seen earlier on Pumphouse(but not by me!)
Watch Lane Flash
Great Crested Grebe x 4
Reed Bunting x 2
Flashes almost completely frozen.
No sign of the Glossy Ibis, Iceland Gull or Godwits this morning. Plenty of Redwings in the fields though.
Again, good numbers of Wigeon, Shellduck and Lapwings.
One Snipe flew across the road from the feeding station.
40+Tree Sparrows around the feeders
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the distance.
Pumphouse Flash:
1 Iceland Gull (a life first for me)
4 Black Tailed Godwits
30 Widgeon
1 Grey Heron
c200 Lapwings
In the next field (across the road from the feeders) was the Glossy Ibis. A nice sight. More Widgeon on the river and on the banks. Also a Sparrowhawk seen sat on a fence post.
Feeders:
c30 Tree Sparrows
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
2 Fieldfare (around , not on the feeders)
Many of the usuals
Elton Hall Flash:
30 Shellduck
More Widgeon
Pump House Flash - White Fronted Goose (just the one with the Canadas), 100's of Starling, Lapwing, Teal, Wigeon. Dozens of BHGs, Teal, Coots. Also, Common Gull, Herring Gull, LBB Gull, GBB Gull but couldn't find the reported juvenile Iceland Gull. Curlew (20ish), BT Godwit (2), Ruff (1). Also of interest, a Greylag-type hybrid with a white head and a white crescent on it's breast
Elton Hall Flash - lots more Lapwing, BHG, Wigeon, but, also Shelduck, Goosander (2m) and on the feeders, loads of Tree Sparrow amongst the usual fare
We were here today, a little on the cool side but pleasant until the rain.
My first visit. I really enjoyed viewing from the "feeder path" Loads of small birds everywhere.
All the tits
Tree Saprrows
G.S.Woodpeckers
Nuthatch
Redwing and Fieldfare in reasonably nunbers
Hundreds of Lapwings and Starlings
Goosander
Redshanks
Shovellers
Widgeon
Shelduck
4 Snipe
2 Gtr.White-fronted Geese on the other side
-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Saturday 26th of November 2011 04:10:26 PM
Also present, several Wigeon, Teal, Curlew and Lapwing all being spooked by a Buzzard. There was also a fly over Sparrowhawk.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 16th of November 2011 06:30:19 PM
Green-winged Teal present along with:
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Greenshank
3 Little Ringed Plovers
5 Black tailed Godwits
2 Redshank
2 Tree Sparrows
amongst others
Wheatear (male, in the ploughed field just beyond Elton Hall Flash)
Little Ringed Plover
BT Godwits (20ish)
Ruff (3)
Redshank
Teal
Wigeon
Lapwing
Iceland Gull (2nd winter)
Herring Gull
LBB Gull
GBB Gull
BH Gull
Tree Sparrow
Buzzard (x2)
Chiffchaff (x2)
Shoveller
Gadwall
Tufted Duck
Shelduck
Not bad for an hour's work!
-- Edited by Jay Pea on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 09:16:32 AM
-- Edited by Jay Pea on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 09:56:17 AM
Henry.
The local patcher at Sandbach had a Caspo this morning apparently John so it's worth another go there.
Not too many gulls on view today ( only a few hundred ) Saturday and Sundays are their days off apparently.
Did manage to bump into Jonathan Platt - nice to see you again Jonathan, who kindly pointed me in the direction of the Glaucous, Iceland and Med Gull which were all present this cool grey morning. Bit disappointed you didn't find me a Caspian though !!
Looks like I'll have to go to Richmond Bank for the Caspians - anyone tell me how to get to Richmond Bank ?
Glaucous Gull still present
Iceland Gull (in same 'scope view as Glauc)
5 Goosander
2 Gadwall
2 Pintail
1 Ruff
1 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Redshanks
2 Oystercatchers
Lots of Wigeon
100+ Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Tree and House Sparrows on the feeders
amongst others
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 12th of March 2011 06:41:18 PM
Upon arrival found the long staying Glaucous Gull on Pumphouse Flash with a mixed gull flock - had a really good look at this "big gull" so hopefully I shall be able to recognise the species again in future !!!!!
Also on & around PHF/Elton Hall Flash 10's of Wigeon, Ruff x4, Redshank x2, many Oystercatchers, Shelduck and Stock Doves, several Common Gulls, Pied Wagtails c.20 - 25, and on the feeders Tree Sparrows and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 10th of March 2011 05:57:23 PM
1st winter Glaucous Gull still present on Pumphouse Flash.
1 Yellow-legged Gull also present amongst the commoner Gulls.
Cheers, John
I just had a phone call from our former Durham County recorder up here (Tony Armstrong ) to the effect that a possible Amer. Herring Gull reported at Sandbach is now upgraded to a "probable."
Any more concrete (or preferably first hand) info you can glean would be most appreciated please, as some of us are "on standby" to get down there early tomorrow if it looks promising.
Regards,
Mike P.