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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Sandbach Flashes
Post Info TOPIC: Sandbach Flashes
Doc Brewster


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RE: Sandbach Flashes
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News from Sandbach Flashes : A Green Sandpiper was found and watched all afternoon on Pumphouse Flash (the first report that was put out on the grapevine erroneously had the bird as on Elton Hall Flash according to a patcher that contacted me).



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John Williams


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Around Midday.

Elton Hall Flash : 1m Goosander, 23 Curlew (On field alongside railway), 5 Great Black Backed Gulls,

18 Shelducks, 2 Common Gulls and 100+ Lapwings.

Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe and 580 Lapwings (They posed on the ground just long enough to be counted,

but otherwise were frequently flushed by an adult Great Black Gull).

Hancocks Flood : 1 Little Grebe.

The water level on Pumphouse Flash was almost high enough to cover the road.



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John Williams
John Williams


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11.00-14.00

Elton Hall Flash: 39 Curlew, 3 Snipe, 2 Black tailed Godwits, 30 Shelducks, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Great Crested Grebe,

Pumphouse Flash: 2 Pink Footed Geese (Amongst Canada Geese) and 1 Snipe.

Hancocks Flood : 4 Little Grebes.

Also 2 Barnacle Geese amongst the Canada Geese flock on the field behind the parking area.

The water level across the site was really high, however huge numbers of Lapwings rested alongside both flashes.

The nervous Lapwings flushed at the slightest threat, which was usually a crow noticeably on the lookout for a weakling amongst the flock.

High numbers of Wigeon around the site too, which is usually the norm in winter, but oddly no diving ducks were seen on either flash.

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John Williams
John Williams


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10.00-12.00

Pumphouse Flash : 1 Peregrine (On Pylon), 4 Buzzards, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe and 40 Redwings.

Hancocks Flood : 34 Curlews.

Elton Hall Flash : 1 Sparrowhawk (Zoomed through close to the feeders and 1 Little Grebe.

The water level was very high with no areas of exposed shoreline for waders.

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John Williams
John Williams


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17.00-19.00 Highlights :

Elton Hall Flash : 25 Curlew

Hancocks Flood : 1 Curlew and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Pumphouse Flash : 1 Barnacle Goose amongst a mass of Canadas.



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John Williams
John Williams


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09.00-12.00

Highlights.

Elton Hall Flash : 2 adult Yellow legged Gulls, 1 Common Tern, 3 Curlews and 2 Great Black Backed Gulls.

Pumphouse Flash : 1 Great White Egret, 7 Black tailed Godwits and 2 Green Sandpipers.

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John Williams
Doc Brewster


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News from the flash this evening has my final sentence possibly coming true sadly. The Gannet is laying on the bank and birders are currently planning on how to take it into care and get it to a wildlife centre such as Stapely Grange or Moss Wood.



-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Tuesday 7th of July 2020 09:20:04 PM

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Doc Brewster


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A sighting came out yesterday that as tempting as it was I just couldn't justify heading out again after getting home from a 538ml twitch in East Lothian!! But as it was still present today I popped down in the pouring rain to have a look.

The bird in question was a Gannet, sitting on the back pool at Elton Hall Flash, viewed from down the side lane. The bird is a second summer and on the face of it looks fine. It flapped a few times and patchers have seen it fly round the pool. But the longer it stays the worse its prospects.



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Doc Brewster


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Had a few mins late morning so popped down to Elton Hall Flash, my nearest site other than Newchurch Common!

A few large guls were loafing and washing and in the group which had mostly Lesser Black-backed Gulls with a few Herring Gulls was a near adult Yellow-legged Gull. The gulls were moving in and out to wash and soon afterwards it was gone but I never saw it actually leave. This movement was illustrated really well when after 45mins an adult Mediterranean Gull was spotted, I never saw it fly in and it definitely wasn't there earlier, amazing how gulls do this!! Not a lot else was on the flash, a Redshank and several Lapwings were the only waders present.



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John Williams


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10.30-13.00

Highlights

Elton Hall Flash : 9 Black tailed Godwits,1 Buzzard and a group of 4 fem/juv Blackcaps.

Pumphouse Flash : 2 Common Terns, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 5 almost full grown young Shelducks, perhaps the survivors of

the brood of 8 dove sized ducklings I recorded here on June 7th.







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John Williams
John Williams


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11.00-13.00

Elton Hall Flash :

2 Mediterranean Gulls (1 first summer & 1 second summer), 3 Common Terns and 1 Great Black Backed Gull.

Pumphouse Flash :

1 Buzzard, a pair of Great Crested Grebes and 8 dove size Shelduck youngsters with 4 adults.

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John Williams
John Williams


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10.00-12.00

Elton Hall Flash : 2m Pintail, 2m Goosanders, 3 Snipe, 1 Buzzard, 2 Great Crested Grebes,

2 Little Grebes and 20 Cormorants.

Pumphouse Flash : 24 Great Black Backed Gulls.

Hancocks Flood : 35 Curlew

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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

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John Williams
Doc Brewster


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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.



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John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
Doc Brewster


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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 !!



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Phil Oddy


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



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Doc Brewster


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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.



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John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
Doc Brewster


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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



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John Williams


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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).

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.


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Curt Whitby


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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!

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John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
Doc Brewster


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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



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John Williams


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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.





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John Williams
Doc Brewster


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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.



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John Williams


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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.



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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.





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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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Doc Brewster


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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.



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John Williams


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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.



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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.



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Doc Brewster


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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).



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Doc Brewster


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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

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John Williams


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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.

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Doc Brewster


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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.



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John Williams


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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.



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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams
John Williams


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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.

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John Williams


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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).



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