A bit late because my pc is palying up terribly at work, but got news a wee while earlier this morning that there was a Black Tern over Pumphouse Flash
Female Marsh Harrier at Pumphouse Flash briefly this afternoon only staying for about 20mins. One has been in the general area recently, so this could turn up again.
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
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
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"Is it a bird, is it a plane?"
probably a plane (this IS Brun Clough..)
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
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!)
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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 ?
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
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
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.
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.
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