Debate on Facebook as to whether they were all definitely Glaucous Gulls (from photos on there). Some folk are saying that one gull IDed as a Glaucous looked more like a pale Herring Gull.

The ringed adult Glaucous Gull is being seen on & off again today, both on Pumphouse Flash and over the other side of the road on Hancocks Flood 

From Facebook I think Patrick has caught up with it so I won't steal his thunder as he has extra info gleaned from when it was rung 

Apparently ringed by the North Thames ringing group in March 2015

Looking at the photos on Birdguide, it looks like it was ringed too. Any ideas if it was read Doc?

A morning visit to Sandbach Flashes for myself & Carys today.

Started in the Maw Green Tip area. One Long-eared Owl showing well, albeit hidden inside a hawthorn, at Groby Flash in the usual spot. Possibly others deeper in but impossible to be 100% sure. A Snipe was also seen and several Water Rails heard. A Raven and two Buzzards flew over the tip, all three of them getting grief from corvids and gulls. On Railway Flash a bit further down the path the 1st winter drake Scaup showed well amongst Tufted Ducks. A few Wigeon were also present. Nothing unusual amongst the gulls with Herring, Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed, Black-headed and Common Gulls seen, a couple of argentatus Herring Gulls being the most noteworthy sightings.

Popping round to Elton Hall Flash we saw several Tree Sparrows, but these are common here, as well as getting a report that a Cetti's Warbler had been showing quite well on the Pumphouse Flash side of the road. A party of Redwings were in the hawthorns here too.

Hope it's OK to pass on Sandbach news.

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)

That's interesting Doc. So, the Scaup at Astbury is a different one? Or is it commuting between the two locations?

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

Hi John

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

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

Now 4 Long-eared Owl in the Groby Flash roost site as at 13:30 today. 2 showing quite well, the others, less so!

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

Had a text from local patcher Robbo to say that there was a Brambling today at Elton Hall Flash. It was in the gulley hawthorns late morning

A 2nd cal Yellow Legged Gull on Pumphouse Flash & a 1st cal Med Gull on Elton Hall Flash today.

09.00-12.00

Elton Hall Flash

1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 1 Redshank, 1 Garden Warbler (Fly catching), 2 Common Terns, 2 Buzzards and 1 juv Great Crested Grebe (No sign of adults).

Lapwings are back en-masse, as are Lesser Black Back Gulls.

Pumphouse Flash

1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Common Tern.

Hancocks Flood has largely dried up, although there's still lots of mud for waders. The only occupant today was a single Grey Heron.

Also 1 Banded Demoiselle by Pumphouse Flash, and Meadow Brown butterflies abundant throughout.

08.30-10.00

Elton Hall Flash

3 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Great Black Backed Gull (Imm), 1m Goosander, 1m Shoveler, 2Teal & 1 Grey Heron.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders. Large flock of mixed hirundines & Swifts over the flash.

Pumphouse Flash

1 Sedge Warbler singing by the roadside, 6 Tufted Ducks and 1 Grey Heron.

Apart from the usual Canada Geese etc, the only other bird on Hancocks Flood was a single Pied Wagtail.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of May 2015 01:02:30 PM

Elton Hall Flash

2 Common Sandpiper
2 Willow Warbler
Blackcap m
Chiffchaff
15 Black-tailed Godwit
6 Swallow
3 Sand Martin

Pump House Flash

Common Sandpiper
Green Sandpiper
Goosander m

Maw Green Tip

Sedge Warbler

-- Edited by Patrick Earith on Thursday 16th of April 2015 08:53:38 PM

AM

Pumphouse Flash

1m Goosander, 26 Wigeon & 11 Teal.

Hancocks Flood

1 Redshank, 4m Shovelers, 1 Little Grebe, 60 Wigeon, 25 Teal and 1 Snipe.

Elton Hall Flash

14 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 2 Oystercatchers and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Plenty of Tree Sparrows around the feeders, but no sign of the House Sparrows, which seemed to be increasing in numbers previously.

A single Grey Wagtail was on the flood near the parking area, and close by were 18 more Wigeon.

A single Treecreeper was on hawthornes near the railway.







-- Edited by John Williams on Sunday 29th of March 2015 07:02:14 PM

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?

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

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.

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

09.30-11.30

Drake Garganey still on Hancocks Flash, together with a pair of Little Ringed Plover.

Also there, a pair of Shoveler, the drake looking very shabby, moult time is here again.

Pumphouse Flash

A flock of 30 Black Tailed Godwits, 2 broods of Shelducks (11+5) and 2 Cormorants.

Elton Hall Flash

4 Great Crested Grebes, 1 drake Pochard plus a few Tufted Duck, Canada Geese etc.

Really quiet birdwise, with a high water level seemingly deterring waders.

On a positive note garden birds in profusion carrying food, including a pair of Tree Sparrows.