2 Long-eared Owls are still at Groby Flash and an Egyptian Goose flew over Maw Green Tip. At Elton Hall Flash sightings included 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Gadwall, 2 Goosander and 3 Little Grebe. (all per D.Robinson, many thanks)
Looks like it could be a different one, Patrick :) I remember when I used to pick up several in the huge aythya flock at Chorlton Water Park so multiples in the region are possible, just need one to relocate to Newchurch Common please ;) ;)
Yesterday the 1w drake Scaup was still on Railway Flash with 3 Long-eared Owls nearby. A Cetti's Warbler was singing at Pumphouse Flash (all per I.Barber).
Had an afternoon at the Flashes following my visit to Lapwing Hall Pool, south east of Knutsford. The Iceland Gull was nowhere to be seen despite plenty of birders around keen on finding it. A Mediterranean Gull had earlier been seen on Railway Flash but, again, proved elusive thereafter.
The first winter Scaup, however, was still on Railway Flash and giving very good views. Two Long eared Owl were relatively easy to see in dense bushes/small trees surrounding nearby Groby Flash. Two Tree Sparrow were worthy of note on the feeders at Elton Hall Flash along with a sole Ruff in the margins surrounding the Flash. Several hundred gulls were on show, nothing unusual within them, plus all the usuals, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Great spotted Woodpecker etc.
10.00-13.00. Back for another attempt at finding the Iceland Gull, and a dry day too, but with a wind chill that could kill.
I had Elton Hall Flash to myself. Large numbers of gulls were packed by the NE corner, making viewing difficult, although all the common species were there.
Also on the flash were 1 Ruff, 1 Buzzard, and a party of 7 Cormorants that were "team" fishing.
A single Redwing rummaged through the leaf litter, whilst 1m+1f Great Spotted Woodpeckers visited the feeders.
My main focus was on the Pumphouse Flash gull roost, where many more gulls were gathered than were seen a week ago.
All the common species were there, plus a few impressive "Argentatus" Herring Gulls and a single adult Yellow Legged.
A large immature gull caught my attention with its snow white "Chicken Legged" shaped head, when the bird extended it's neck it doubled it's height, being as tall as
a Little Egret. I also noticed the bird had a dark iris. I have checked the web, especially Utube since I got home and the bird fits in with the 1st winter Caspian Gulls
shown, another notable feature being that the gull appeared notably lighter than the neighbouring immature Herring and Lesser Black Backs.
Caspian Gull is a species I'll not lay claim to seeing unless I'm stood with a Committee of experts when I see it, but this bird is worth looking out for at Sandbach.
A Caspian Gull was recorded as being seen here during the week, so too was a Mediterranean, but numerous scans through the carpet of Black Headed Gulls alongside
Pumphouse Flash produced nothing uncommon. Also at Pumphouse Flash were 1 Ruff and 1 Buzzard
I was'nt too concerned about missing the Iceland Gull Doc, the sheer numbers and variety of birds around the flashes here ensure the place is always worth a visit.
Those charismatic big "Argentatus" Herring Gulls always enthral, whilst the Great Black Backs often appear docile with Teal and Starlings wandering very close by seemingly
unconcerned about the big predators. It seems these massive gulls are so stuffed with the junk food from the tip they don't bother with live prey, although I doubt a badly injured
Starling or Lapwing would last long. Compare the Great Black Backed Gull behaviour here with the ones that patrol Marshside, where they have often been seen taking adult Wigeon.
I've also noticed here that a single Carrion Crow can flush all the Lapwings and Wigeon from the edge of Elton Hall Flash, the panic caused by the medium sized corvid seems far greater
than the upset when a Buzzard appears. When a pair of crows landed by Pumphouse Flash all hell broke loose, and only the largest gulls did'nt flush. I've noticed that a crow will appear
amongst the mass of ducks, Lapwings and Starlings by Elton Hall Flash, and as the mass of birds erupt, the crow moves it's head from side to side, scanning the flocks for weaklings.
So the only thing that was a let down on Saturday was the weather, although Pumphouse Flash is the nearest thing we've got to a "Drive In" gull watch, which helps.
Mediterranean Gulls can hybridise with Black-headed Gulls to answer your first question, so who knows, seeing as Med Gulls breed at nearby Delamere maybe one couldn't find a fellow Med Gull mate?
When I saw the Iceland Gull in the week there were a few Common Gulls but not many, several were at Newchurch Common today too. Also last Saturday (30thJan) the Iceland Gull was on Pumphouse Flash, so not always missing on a Saturday, although like most tips or sites close to them the weekdays are best and Sundays definitely the worst day for sightings
Watched Pumphouse Flash from the comfort of the car, mainly as it did'nt stop raining, for almost two hours, with no sign of the Iceland Gull.
Local birders advised me that the white wing rarely appears at weekends when Maw Green tip is shut.
Plenty of activity on the flash though with dozens of Great Black Backed Gulls amongst the Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls.
4 awesome looking adult "Argentatus" Herring Gulls were amongst the throng, with 2 adult Yellow Legged Gulls alongside the Lesser Black Backs.
Strangely there were no Common Gulls at all on either flash. A good scan through the mass of Black Headed Gulls revealed none of their Mediterranean cousins.
One noticeably larger Black Headed Gull on Elton Hall Flash looked intriguing though, it had a much stouter blood red beak than the others, and it continually harassed the other
gulls, but it's newly appearing hood and wing pattern were pure Black Head, do these two species sometimes interbreed?.
At one point even the largest gulls flushed en-masse from Pumphouse Flash, I scanned the perimeter for a prowling fox, but then noticed a huge Buzzard, probably female,
perched on top of an unfortunate Lapwing. The plover's wings weakly flapped a few times, but the raptor simply ripped it's prey to pieces, ate it's fill, and left the scraps
to a waiting Magpie and a few Jackdaws. A single Snipe was also on Pumphouse.
Hancocks Flood held Wigeon, Lapwing and Teal as expected, and also a single Shelduck.
Alongside the mass of Lapwings gathered along the edge of Elton Hall Flash were 1 Curlew, 2 Ruff, 2 Redshanks and 8 Snipe.
2 drake Pochards and a single Great Crested Grebe were on the Flash, whilst a single Great Spotted Woodpecker joined the Tree and House Sparrows on the feeders.
** Just noticed on Birdguides that an Iceland Gull has been reported this afternoon on Oakmere, could this be the Sandbach bird on its "weekend away"?.
-- Edited by John Williams on Saturday 6th of February 2016 05:16:01 PM
Popped down to Elton Hall/Pumphouse this afternoon.
Started by watching Pumphouse Flash from the car, painstakingly searching through the assembled throng of gulls. With pass after pass through them I was finding Great & Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls including some brutish argentatus, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls. All the time though some gulls remained hidden and eventually as they shuffled around I picked up the adult/near-adult Iceland Gull. This had been here all the time but had been hidden, showing that not giving up is the best policy! I pointed it out to other observers and then soon after the gulls lifted and many of the larger ones, including the Iceland Gull, headed off back towards Maw Green Tip.
Next I checked out the Elton Hall Flash area where the first good bird was a Ruff very close to the road on the flooded fields by the stream bridge opposite Elton Hall Flash, right by where you park the cars (not Hancock's Flood). A Redshank and Curlew were also on these floods/pools. Around the feeders were several Tree Sparrows, one of the specialities and common here I know but always nice to see.
All in all a very enjoyable afternoon just a few miles from home
That's my experience too, Doc. Flushing at short distance & unable to confirm a long bill increased my optimism, but I think the obvious facts & jizz really state it was Common Snipe.
Most of the time that I flush Snipe up (accidentally of course ), I find that Jack Snipe are silent, I have never had one call yet and if a Snipe doesn't call that rings bells to suggest Jack. Also, but not always this time, I find Jack Snipe flush only a short distance whereas Common Snipe head off on a lengthy flight around the houses so to speak!! As with always these are very general rules but repeated in most field guides and can help in some circumstances
1 Long-Eared Owl, Groby Flash in pouring rain. The owl was sensibly hiding in a bush; I wasn't. Very hard to spot it, esp since I couldn't see the top half. Took 30 mins to be absolutely sure it was owl rather than bark !
From the smaller, southerly pool of the 3 pools, there's a gap in the hedge near the SE corner. Go through there, and the owls favour 1/3 up the far (west) side of the pool. Water Rail(s) calling, too.
Also, walking back towards Maw Green I sneaked over the stile towards the tip. There's a small reedy patch to walk past, and a Snipe (sp) flew out only when I got close. Instinct told me it was Jack Snipe, but it flew a long way out & around me towards Groby Flash. The alarm call doesn't help because the 2 species are so similar. I only saw the bill when it was far away, and it looked shorter than Common Snipe; the flight was more reminiscent of Common Snipe. The one that got away, I suppose.
~20 Redwing flying around & calling 1+ Yellowhammer calling
Wellies far better than stilettoes along the footpath
-- Edited by John Watson on Sunday 31st of January 2016 09:17:53 PM
Long eared Owl (3) Ruff (1) Having been to Newchurch Common for the Smew I headed for Pumphouse Flash for the reported Iceland Gull. Good numbers of large gulls were on the flash when I arrived around 1:30 ...but no Iceland Gull. With directions and help from a local birder I headed to Groby Flashes and picked up 3 x Long Eared Owl. Finding the site was tricky - as was finding the owls. I headed back to Pumphouse Flash to find all the large gulls had moved on. A single ruff and redshank were present. No Iceland Gull though - apparently it has been around for much of the week (adult) - some local birder said it usually pitched up around 3:30 each day, others said it was around throughout the day. Chris
A 2nd cal Yellow Legged Gull on Pumphouse Flash & a 1st cal Med Gull on Elton Hall Flash today.
__________________
Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Rushed over here from risley moss to have a quick look at the red necked phalarophe found on the flashes this afternoon. The bird was on elton hall flash when I arrived, and spent all it's time either picking insects off the surface of the water or trying to avoid a female mallard who didn't seem to appreciate its prescense. Watched the bird for 5 minutes, there was still a large crowd gathering when I left at about 5:15
Elton Hall Flash
2 Wheatear in ploughed fields plus a White Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Common Sandpiper
Blue-headed Wagtail reported earlier
Hancocks Flood
2 Dunlin
3 Ringed Plover
2 Little Ringed Plover
Pump House Flash
3 Little Ringed Plover
1 Dunlin
Quick visit to a very flooded flashes this evening. Hancocks Flood has merged with Elton Hall Flash across the farm track!
Sat on broken branches in the middle of Hancocks Flood 2 Sand Martins, looking very forlorn in the rain. Also around were 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Redshank, 2 oystercatchers, 5 tree sparrow amongst the usual fare.
The several thousand strong Starling flocks appeared again this morning over Sandbach train station (heading from and to the same direction as previous mornings), although they appeared a little earlier than previous mornings (07.45-07.52am)
Thousands of Starlings passed right over the tops of the trees and buildings at Sandbach Train Station at 07.50-07.55am this morning, at least 6 - 7 flocks (I probably missed a few whilst buying my ticket). All coming from the NE'ish and heading in the same SW'ish direction, toward the flashes. Anyone have any idea where they roost?
Has anyone else noticed the thousands of birds (presumed all Starlings) heading SW over Sandbach train station toward (probably passed) the flashes (from a NE direction) each morning around 07.55-08.00am for the past week? Last week there appeared to be two huge flocks (few hundred in each) each morning. However this morning (again without my bins) a third flock contained thousands of birds 'murmering'. I think I was the only one at Sandbach train station who saw them!
Elton Hall Flash:
2 Green Sandpiper
2 juvenile Ruff
Hancock's Flood:
Common Sandpiper
Pumphouse Flash:
Barnacle Goose in the Canada flock.
2 juvenile Willow Warbler
On Hancock's Flood (more of a puddle now tbh) 2 juvenile Yellow Wagtail and a Green Sandpiper. Over on Pumphouse Flash, 2 more Green Sandpiper with another over on Elton Hall Flash along with around 50 Curlew. In berry bushes on Pumphouse side of the road were at least 5 Chiffchaff, one of which was in full song!
Drake Lesser Scaup still at Elton Hall Flash at 8am this morning, and when I left at 8.15am. The bird is on the back pool from the farm track off Clay Lane.
Having seen the bird and photographed it after work this evening, looking at the pics the back looks in less advanced moult than the Frodsham bird. Since getting home the Frodsham drake Lesser Scaup has now been reported on the pager, so two Lesser Scaups in Cheshire?
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Monday 16th of June 2014 08:02:52 PM
Had news that Frodsham's drake Lesser Scaup has relocated to Elton Hall Flash, Sandbach today. The state of moult of the Sandbach bird and the lack of sightings today at Frodsham makes it a pretty safe bet that it's the same bird
Hi Patrick, spot on with the name for the now permanent flooded fields opposite Pumphouse, a nice addition to the site!! I have started to send out Sandbach news on the email feed, so I hope that you got the Common Scoter sighting yesterday on it
My regular weekly drop in produced drake Garganey on Hancocks Flood (on other side of road, opposite Pumphouse Flash - think that's what it's called?) along with a Little Ringed Plover. Over on Elton Hall Flash there was a Common Tern, constantly calling and displaying, with a small fish in it's beak. There was no sign of another bird nearby, but, it definitely appeared to be courtship type behaviour. They have bred at nearby Watch Lane Flash in previous years. No sign of yesterday's Scoter sadly.
Drake Common Scoter all day on the Elton Hall Flash/Pumphouse Flash complex. Originaly found by Ian Barber. Also the 2 drake Garganey still present along with the drake Mandarin
I agree, there is a small group that text each other but that tends to be the regular, core, patch-watchers. If I get any good stuff from them I could always put it out on the Marbury email group, as the 2 sites are pretty close & news from Sandbach would probably be of interest to many folk who get the Marbury news. I will ask folk from the Sandbach text group if they would be kind enough to do this.
Ah, typical! I toyed with going over to the tip but the weather was pretty poor so gave it a miss. I visit Sandbach pretty much weekly, every Thursday, as my mum lives there. Have had some good birds up at the tip in previous years (including Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler but, never Tree Pipit!). Shame there isn't a Patch email group like the one you do for Marbury etc Paul!
An amazing day down at Sandbach Flashes yesterday with several scarce patch birds turning up. The list included Whinchat and 2 Tree Pipits at Maw Green Tip. the Tree Pipits being particularly elusive but the Whinchat was succesfully twitched by patchers. Back at Elton Hall Flash & Pumphouse Flash in the afternoon and things were looking better with 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 drake Gadwall and a drake Mandarin. Swift is on the Sandbach list this year but as Patrick says it is by no mean as common as just up the road at the Marbury CP/Neumann's/Ashton's area (sightings per D.Robinson & the Focalpoint Bird Leagues).
Visit yesterday evening produced 8 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin on the flood to the left of Pumphouse Flash. Also of note, a very vocal Willow Warbler and, over Elton Hall Flash well over a hundred hirundines, mainly Sand Martin, but including Swallow and House Martin. No sign of any Swift yet
Visit to Elton Hall Flash yesterday evening produced:
Common Sandpiper 26 Black-tailed Godwit 2 Redshank Goosander m & f Tree Sparrow (at least 4) Buzzard Stock Dove (at least 8) Wigeon (still at least 10) Teal (at least 5) Shoveler Tufted Duck Great Crested Grebe (4) Great Spotted Woodpecker m Lapwing (lots)
3 Black tailed Godits, including a resplendent adult male in breeding plumage. This male attracted the attention of 30+ Black Headed Gulls that chased & harassed it relentlessly.
After a minutes of being chased around the flash, the godwit found shelter behind a bank at the northern end, and a long way from his comrades.
Masses of Black Headed Gulls on the flash, most of these arriving in two huge flocks from the West. A large group of Lesser Black Backed Gulls were resting on the adjoining field,
together with lesser numbers of Herring & Common, but no sign of any Great Black Backs.
2 Buzzards were in display flight over the flash, these raptors did'nt seem to bother the Black Headed Gull throng, but every time a Carrion Crow approached the flock there was mass panic.
Also, 3 Great Crested Grebes & 2 Redshanks. Still lots of Wigeon around, with lesser numbers of Teal & Shoveler, however very few Lapwing still remain.
Pumphouse Flash
3 Pied Wagtails, plus a few Coot, Moorhen etc,. THe usual big gull roost appears to have moved over to EHF.
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming at various spots around the flashes.
Some of the big trees on the south side of EHF have been downed by recent storms, and 3 Wrens were flitting amongst the tangled mess.