Sandbach Flashes

John Williams · Status: Offline

RE: Sandbach Flashes

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.30-14.30

Elton Hall Flash : 4M+1f Pintails, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 35 Curlew, 8 Snipe,

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and 4 Great Black backed Gulls.

Pumphouse Flash 36 Great Black Backed Gulls.

Hancocks Flood : 3 Black Tailed Godwits and 1 Redshank.

Lots of Fieldfares and Redwings were feasting on haws, especially around Elton Hall Flash.

The Fieldfares appeared noticeably less wary than usual and allowed close viewing as they

sat on top of the hawthornes, Redwings though were just as shy and unapproachable as ever.

John Williams · Status: Offline

12.30-15.30

Elton Hall Flash : 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 1f Goosander, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers,

2 Nuthatches and 1 Buzzard. Lots of Redwings and the occasional Fieldfare showing really well feeding on

haws from the bushes in front of the viewing area.

Pumphouse Flash : 3 Snipe (2 more on Hancocks Flood), 1 of which was chased in flight by a

Carrion Crow and only narrowly avoided being caught.

Also, amongst the big gull roost on PF were 27 adult Great Black Backs.

Hancocks Flood : 41 Curlew

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Popped down to Elton Hall Flash for a couple of hours this afternoon & caught up with lots of my birding pals down there. Spent a fair bit of time answering optics questions but managed to see an adult Yellow-legged Gull in amongst the gulls. Also seen were a Kingfisher, a Swift and a Peregrine.

John Williams · Status: Offline

16.00-19.00

Elton Hall Flash :

1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1f Goosander, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher,

1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Stock Doves and 32 Curlews.

Pumphouse Flash :

8 Great Black Backed and 1 huge "Argentatus" Herring Gull amongst the large gull roost.

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.00-14.30

Elton Hall Flash

Lots of small migrants were moving around mixed with Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits,

together with a few House Sparrows, Goldfinches and a single Coal Tit.

Most of the migrants were Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, together with a few Chiffchaffs,

however singles of Common and Lesser Whitethroats were in the gathering too.

2 Common Sandpipers flew across the flash, but with no exposed shoreline due to the very high

water level the little waders simply disappeared into the vegetation below the driving range.

Also around the flash were 4 juvenile Shelducks, 1 adult+1 young Great Crested Grebes,

1 Buzzard and 1 Stock Dove.

Pump House Flash

This was just flooded to the point of being one large lake, with no grass areas exposed.

Amongst the few gulls here was 1 adult Yellow Legged, whilst a single Great Crested Grebe

swam across what would normally be pasture.

7 Curlews were on Hancocks Flood.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

I popped in this am and just want to give folk the heads up that the Gull-billed Tern has been very mobile today. When I arrived it had just flown off from Elton Hall Flash. A search of Pumphouse Flash revealed nothing so folk spread out. It was finally relocated in a field with gulls well up the hill from the EHF viewpoint. This was viewable only from the raod over the field gate and not visible from the viewpoint at all. The field has lots of undulations so the tern went out of view on landing on several occasions. Good luck to anyone visiting tomorrow, and be prepared to search !!

Phil Oddy · Status: Offline

Gull-billed Tern still present this evening also Caspian, Mediterranean & 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, Hobby present

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Phenomenal find this morning at roost on Pumphouse Flash by Andy Goodwin - a Gull-billed Tern biggrin

A photo has been posted of the bird at 11.20am but it went missing between then and 11.30am. It is currently being looked for.

John Williams · Status: Offline

14.00-18.00

Elton Hall Flash :

6 Black tailed Godwits, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank, 1m+1f Sparrowhawks, 1 Raven, 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls,

and 2 adult + 1 juvenile Common Terns.

Pumphouse Flash :

7 juvenile Shelducks, 1 juvenile Great Crested Grebe and 60 Lapwings.

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.30-12.30

Elton Hall Flash

1 Little Egret, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel and 2 Buzzards.

Pumphouse Flash

1 Kingfisher and a creche of 10 near full grown Shelducks with 2 adults.

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-13.00

Elton Hall Flash : 30 Black tailed Godwits, 2 Buzzards and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Hancock's Flood : 2 Oystercatchers.

Pumphouse Flash : 1m Wigeon and 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Also on Pumphouse Flash is a female Tufted Duck not only with a distinct white patch at the base of the bill, but also distinctly round head.

However she is paired with a drake Tufted, and showed a darkish saddle, so I'm convinced she is Tufted too, but perhaps with some hybridisation.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

After news from patchwatcher Andy this morning I nipped down to Elton Hall Flash to see the cracking adult Kittiwake that he had found this morning. Large numbers of Sandbach regulars had turned up o tick it so a good bird all round, a good find and it stayed for patchers to tick it smile

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-13.00

Elton Hall Flash :

1 Barnacle Goose, 9 Goosanders, 5 Gadwall, 5 Great Crested Grebes (1 Pair Displaying), 8 Great Black Backed Gulls, 1 huge adult "Argentatus" Herring Gull,

7 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 singing Chiffchaffs.

Pumphouse Flash :

1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Tree Sparrow (The only one seen throughout).

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-12.00

Elton Hall Flash : 2 Sand Martins, 10 Black Tailed Godwits, 4 Snipe, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Buzzard, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 4 Goosanders (2m+2f).

40+ Fieldfares flew over heading West. Tree Sparrows were visiting the feeders.

Pumphouse Flash : 1m+1f Pintail and 4 Curlews.

Curt Whitby · Status: Offline

Had a quick look today around the roadside flashes. Saw the following -

3 black tailed godwit (that were only 10 yards away), 1 redshank, numerous curlew but too distant to count/see properly with the binos as on the grass pasture behind the flash. Tree and house sparrows on the feeders along with chaffinches. Great, blue and long tailed tits, wren, loads of field fares, hundreds of lapwing, wigeon, teal, great crested grebes, mute swans, coot,moorhen, and other usual suspects. Lots of gulls but I haven't got the skill or the time to pick out any rarities amongst the usual encountered gulls. However I have purchased Peter grants book on gulls so in older age when I get chance/more time I'll get to grips with 'em!

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-14.30

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Great Black Back Gulls, 2 Snipe, 1 Little Egret, 1m Sparrowhawk, 1 Song Thrush,

1 adult "Argentatus" Herring Gull, 1 Tree Sparrow and 1 Buzzard.

Hancocks Flood : 3 Ruff, 4 Golden Plovers, 26 Curlew and 2 Stock Doves.

Pumphouse Flash : 1m Kestrel, 1 Redshank and 1 Buzzard.

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-13.00

Elton Hall Flash : 5m + 1f Pintails, 3 Tree Sparrows, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Redshank, 1m+1f Goosanders, 12 Fieldfares, 2 Little Grebes and 2 Great Black Backed Gulls.

2 huge " Argentatus" Herring Gulls were on the flash and were seen to harass and chase the smaller Lesser Black Backs mercilessly.

Pumphouse Flash : Apart from a large flock of Wigeon and Teal the only other birds of note on the flash were a couple of Little Grebes.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

With an hour or so to kill yesterday on Sunday afternoon (13th Jan) I popped down to Elton Hall Flash. Here I carried on adding a few species to my meagre yearlist. Four Ruff were in the Lapwing flock, and showed well when the mobile flock occasionally landed. Whilst there news of an Iceland Gull over near Maw Green Tip came through, and then a short while later it dropped in to Elton Hall Flash, a pristine adult to boot, stunning. Two Whooper Swans were also on the flash as well as a Great White Egret. Four drake Pintail were also present. Not a bad little haul for a quick look in smile

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-14.00

Elton Hall Flash

1 1st winter Whooper Swan on the fringe of a group of 23 Mute Swans. A few of the Mute Swans seem to tolerate this young outsider.

However at least 1 pair of Mute Swans were displaying and pair bonding, so very soon they'll only tolerate their loved one, the young outsider may well be in for shock.

Also on EHF : 2 Snipe, 2 Redshanks, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Buzzards, whilst a flock of 14 Golden Plovers were with the mass of flushed Lapwings at one point.

A flock of 15 Fieldfares flew over heading West.

Peregrine and female Sparrowhawk were both reported during my stay, which may explain why the Lapwings spent much of the time in the air, mostly packed very tightly together.

At one point though one of the Buzzards was seen to fold back it's wings and dive into the swirling mass of Lapwings and Black Headed Gulls, but it did'nt appear to catch anything.

26 Curlew were around Hancocks Flood, one of these birds had a bright red ring on it's upper right leg.

In addition to large numbers of very anxious Lapwings, 6 Great Black Backed Gulls and a single Black Tailed Godwit were by Pumphouse Flash.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

I had an interesting text and photo sent to me yesterday (30th Nov) from patch guru Andy Goodwin. He found an adult Iceland Gull on Railway Flash in the afternoon as well as a Yellow-legged Gull and 6 Whooper Swans.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Elton Hall Flash 12.30-15.00

7 Snipe, 28 Curlew, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Treecreepers (Quite tame and seen at the viewing area), 2 Nuthatches, 2 Stock Doves, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Kestrel.

Pumphouse Flash

1 Redshank and 1 Little Grebe.

Today's visit was the first time I have been here and not managed to find a single Tree Sparrow, plenty of House Sparrows though.

A few Redwings and Fieldfares were seen around the adjoining hawthorn hedges.

John Williams · Status: Offline

17.30-19.30

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Peregrine, 4 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Chiffchaff (Amongst a flock of Long Tailed Tits), 4 Grey Herons

and 2 Little Grebes.

The Peregrine (Herring Gull size), so perhaps a female, appeared at 7.15pm after the sun had gone down, and circled the flash

several times, staying just above a very tightly packed flock of Lapwings. It did not really seem to attempt to catch anything,

but did go into several breathtaking dives, and eventually flew over the railway before disappearing after performing an even more

impressive dive. The Lapwings appeared terrified, but numerous drake Mallards (Now out of eclipse) simply ignored the large raptor

and carried on snoozing on the banks of the flash. There were impressive numbers of Mallard on the flash, and dozens of Wigeon

are now back on Elton Hall and Pumphouse Flashes.

John Williams · Status: Offline

18.00-20.00

Elton Hall Flash :

2 Ruff, 2 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 2 Buzzards and 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls.

One of the Buzzards was eating the remains of a Black Headed Gull, whilst two foolhardy Magpies tried to steal a morsel.

Large numbers of hirundines were over the flash, they were mainly Swallows but a few House and Sand Martins were there too.

John Williams · Status: Offline

13.30-15.30

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler showing well on hawthorns in front of the viewing area.

Also at EHF, 6 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Black Tailed Godwits, 1f Sparrowhawk, 4 Sand Martins, 2 Buzzards,

2 adult + 1 juv Little Grebes and a female Tufted Duck with a brood of 4 blackbird sized ducklings.

John Williams · Status: Offline

18.15-20.30

Elton Hall Flash : 1 part eclipse drake Garganey, 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls, 1 Little Ringed Plover,

70 Black tailed Godwits, 1m Pochard, 1 Buzzard, 1f Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat

and a pair of Wigeon.

The water level on Elton Hall Flash is noticeably down whilst Hancocks Flood has dried up completely.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Bit of a wader arrival at Sandbach Flashes today, with at least 9 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers counted across both Elton Hall Flash and Pumphouse Flash. Also the Garganey was still down the side lane as of yesterday. A Pochard present today was unusual for this time of year here.

John Williams · Status: Offline

17.45-19.45

Elton Hall Flash :

1 ad Little Gull, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Oystercatchers and a brood of 7 (Blackbird sized) Shelduck ducklings.

1m Wigeon and 1m Teal still in breeding plumage, but large numbers of drake Mallard now looking very shabby and

starting their summer moult. Gadwall drakes looking scruffy too now.

Pump House Flash

2 near full grown young Shelducks with their parents and 5 near full grown Canada goslings with their parents.

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.00-11.00

4 Buzzards climbed high together on thermals over Elton Hall Flash.

Lots of Swifts and House Martins were also over EHF, the first large movement of these birds this spring according to the local birders.

There is also some local concern here about the low numbers of Willow Warblers so far this year.

I have noticed this too in Cheshire and at Brockholes, but at Stocks Reservoir last weekend they were singing in abundance.

John Williams · Status: Offline

18.15-20.00

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Buzzards (inc a very pale bird with all white breast) and 4 Stock Doves.

A couple of Tree Sparrows were squabbling by the feeders. Brief Lesser Whitethroat song from the big hawthorn hedge by Brook Farm.

4 Teal and 3 Wigeon still remain but the Shoveler seem to have all left. 12 Swallows were the only hirundines seen.

Pumphouse Flash : 2 White Wagtails and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Reported today on the newly ploughed field between the flash and railway were 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Yellowhammers and a Wheatear.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Brief visit 15:00-16.30

Pumphouse Flash : 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Snipe, 1 Buzzard and 6 Great Black Backed Gulls.

Just the usual waterfowl on Elton hall Flash, with Wigeon, Shelduck and Teal in abundance.

16 Redwings and 5 Fieldfares on the part-flooded pasture behind the parking area.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

With a small window this afternoon I headed the short distance down the road to the flashes by Maw Green Tip, part of the Sandbach Flashes recording area.

Heading down to Railway Flash and viewing from the downslope of the tip there (this causes no disturbance to the birds on and around this flash) I soon picked up thw 1w drake Scaup (picture attached) that had been found by Andy Goodwin last Thursday. The bird was always on its own, never associating with the Tufted Ducks also on the flash. There was also a stonking great Glaucous Gull by the flash, that because of how white it is, is being aged as a 1st summer bird (picture attached). Also in the same vicinity were the two Great White Egrets that are seen regularly in the flashes recording area (1 pictured, attached).

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

I got notification from patcher Andy Goodwin that the 1w Kumlien's Gull that he had found first on Jan 23rd had returned to the flashes this morning. A good number of folk turned up to twitch the bird which luckily lingered and loafed on the sloping grass hillside to the left of the viewpoint at Elton Hall Flash. It was also confirmed that this bird is also the one seen recently in Staffs, explaining why it hasn't been seen at Sandbach in the intervening days since it was first found. I got there late morning and watched it for 45mins, but soon after I left it drifted off and wasn't seen again today.

Later in the day one of the 1w Glaucous Gulls was also seen here.

-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 11th of February 2018 10:26:28 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.00-14.00

Elton Hall Flash : 1 1st winter Iceland Gull, 4 huge "Argentatus" Herring Gulls, 50+Snipe and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Hancock's Flood : 2 Redshanks, 1 Curlew and 2 Little Grebes.

Large numbers of Lapwings were on Pumphouse Flash, but little else of note.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

I popped down the road the short distance to Sandbach Flashes late afternoon to check out the gull roost.

Just before I arrived a 1w Glaucous Gull that had been present on Elton Hall Flash ahd drifted off, but as I had seen one here a week or so ago I wasn't unduly worried! An adult Iceland Gull was on the flash when I arrived, giving excellent views in the growing gull roost and this was joined later by a 1w Iceland Gull as well. Despite a good search in the company of expert gull-finder, Andy Goodwin, nothing else unusual was found in the roost. Unforunately a 1w Kumlien's Gull which Andy had found yesterday never returned tonight. A single Great White Egret was also on Elton Hall Flash. A Treecreeper showed well on the trees by the viewpoint too.

John Williams · Status: Offline

09.30-12.00

Elton Hall Flash : 1 first-winter Glaucous Gull, 1m Pintail, 1m+1f Goosander, 1 Buzzard and 1 Little Grebe.

The part flooded pasture below Railway Farm : 3 Ruff, 1 Redshank and 29 Curlews

Pumphouse Flash : 1 adult Iceland Gull and 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls.

The Glaucous Gull moved across to Pumphouse Flash and posed just a few feet away from the Iceland.

The Iceland Gull has a badly injured leg, so was lying down for most of the time.

The dry pasture around Hancock's Flood was covered with foraging Fieldfares and Redwings.

Several Tree Sparrows were on the feeders together with House Sparrows.

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.00-14.30

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Ruff, 2 Redshanks, 36 Curlew, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Buzzards, 4m+1f Goosanders, 1m Pintail and 3 Grey Herons.

Pumphouse Flash : 2 adult Yellow Legged and 6 Great Black Backed Gulls amongst a huge gull roost.

Lots of Redwings moving between the hawthorns across the site.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Elton Hall Flash ( 11.30-14.00)

1 Ruff, 1 Peregrine, 2(adult)Yellow Legged Gulls, 4 Great Black Gulls, 2 Buzzards, 1 Raven, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Little Grebe and 6 Grey Herons.

John Williams · Status: Offline

11.30-14.30

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Ruff, 1 Redshank, 1 Snipe, 2 Buzzards and 1 Little Grebe.

6 Chiffchaffs were in the hawthorne hedges near the railway embankment, with 1 giving a brief burst of song.

Amongst a group of Lesser Black Back Gulls on Pumphouse Flash was an huge adult "Argentatus" Herring Gull and 1 adult Great Black Back.

A pair of Stonechats were noticed sat on the motorway fence by Junction 17 of the M6 (Being in stationary traffic does have some benefit).

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Doc Brewster wrote:
A Cattle Egret was found amongst the gulls at Pumphouse Flash at 7.57pm. Several record shots were taken and then the bird flew off towrds Elton Hall Flash and then carried on towards Watch Lane Flash at 8.30pm. The bird will be looked for in the morning.

Still there this morning, in a dead tree on Elton Hall Flash at 10.27am.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A Cattle Egret was found amongst the gulls at Pumphouse Flash at 7.57pm. Several record shots were taken and then the bird flew off towrds Elton Hall Flash and then carried on towards Watch Lane Flash at 8.30pm. The bird will be looked for in the morning.

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

First ever visit to the flashes today, birds of note:

2 Yellow legged gulls
2 Green Sanpipers
1 Juv. Shellduck
Sever Great Black backed Gulls inc. Juveniles
Lapwings
1 Cormorant
1 Buzzard
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Great crested grebe
1 Teal
1 Grey Heron

Eugene.

John Williams · Status: Offline

14.00-17.00

Elton Hall Flash :

1 imm Peregrine, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Snipe, 1 Little Egret, 2 juv Shelducks, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Buzzards.

There was a huge gull roost, 90% of which were Lesser Black Backs.

Amongst the dozen or so Herring Gulls was an impressive "Argentatus" that dwarfed the surrounding Lesser Black Backs, there was no sign of any Yellow Legged Gulls though.

Pumphouse Flash :

Surprisingly there were no gulls resting here at all, the meadow area though was crowded with Lapwings and Starlings, I soon found out why, there was a huge hatch of winged ants.

John Williams · Status: Offline

06/06/2017 (18.00-20-00)

Elton Hall Flash

A noisy family of 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers entertained by the viewing area. With a parent bird catching worms on the field below and feeding them to a newly fledged youngster.

2 families of Shelduck were on the flash, both with 8 youngsters. Also a family of Mute Swans with 5 half grown cygnets.

Lots of Sand and House Martins were feeding over the flash, with lesser numbers of Swallows and Swifts.

In the strong winds a Buzzard tried to catch a House Martin, but stood little chance, then a whole gang of hirundines mobbed the raptor and it make a quick exit.

A single resplendent drake Wigeon stood out alongside a mass of moulting drake Mallards. Also on the flash was a pair of Great crested Grebes.

A small group of Lesser Black Gulls plus a couple of adult Herring Gulls settled for a while, and with them a slightly larger immature gull with a pure white head that

may of been the reported "Cachinnas", but I could'nt be sure as the bird moved off quickly.

The water level is high, with no exposed banking, so little chance of any waders.

Apart from a few Coots and crows the only other bird on Pumphouse Flash was a single Great Crested Grebe.

Whilst Hancocks Flood has almost dried out, and contained no waders, just a single Pied Wagtail.

John Williams · Status: Offline

Evening Visit 18.15-20.00

Elton Hall Flash

8 Great Crested Grebes. The only wader seen here though was a single Lapwing.

A group of around 40 immature Lesser Black Back and Herring Gulls, plus a couple of Great Black Backs settled on a muddy spit.

Also there was a golf ball which a Lesser Black Back Gull thought was an egg. The gull attacked the ball, pecking it with real fury, as did a couple of it's companions.

However not to be outdone by these underlings a young Great Black Back attacked the smaller gulls, then turned it's attention to the hard shelled egg, which did'nt crack.

The gull looked bemused, and must of had a sore beak.

Pumphouse Flash

2 Buzzards, one of which hovered for long periods. A brood of 10 tiny Shelduck ducklings with 2 adults.

Also a couple of broods of Mallards, plus a tiny Mallard duckling in the middle of the flash alone, with no broods nearby.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 16th of May 2017 11:42:11 PM

John Williams · Status: Offline

12.00-14.00

Elton Halll Flash

2 Common Sandpipers, 3 Goosanders and unusual for here, 1 Treecreeper.

Pumphouse Hall Flash

2 White Wagtails and 1 Little Ringed Plover.

Quiet birdwise here today, although there are still a few Wigeon and Teal around, but many ducks, particularly drakes seemed lethargic and ready for an early moult.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

News from the Sandbach Flashes Grapevine:

Short-eared Owl Maw Green Tip.

Iceland Gull on Elton Hall Flash early am.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Being busy up to late morning I had an hour and a half before lunch so I nipped down to Elton Hall Flash which is still only a few minutes from my house. On the 'salt pan' were two Green Sandpipers, new for me for the year and a few Redshanks. The gloomy weather brought lots of hirundines down low over the pool, all Sand Martins, 100 or so, except for one Swallow but this was only seen by one observer present, I'll have to wait for my first of 2017! Also on the flash was a Great White Egret which showed really well. Up the road on Hancock's Flood the three Little Ringed Plovers still showed well (see picture).

Over on Railway Flash Andy Goodwin found 2 different first-winter Iceland Gulls.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

The Avocet flew off after being harassed by gulls.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

No sign as yet of the Snow Goose this morning but there is an Avocet on Pumphouse Flash (per Ian Barber, thanks smile )