Sandbach Flashes

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Sandbach Flashes

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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.

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

Doc,

There were actually 3 different birds there today across Pumphouse Flash and Hancocks Flood. The ringed adult (awaiting further details) and 2 juveniles. Sandbach getting a bit of a purple patch for white wingers

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 smile

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 smile

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Cheers Patrick, I will pass that on to the Sandbach Patch groups as (unbelievably) some of them aren't on here doh

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

Apparently ringed by the North Thames ringing group in March 2015

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Sorry Patrick, no info on that from Robbo. Amazing Pumphouse has had both Iceland & Glaucous Gulls in adult plumage this winter, I see adult ones so rarely too.

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Late afternoon an adult Glaucous Gull was on Pumphouse Flash before fying off in the direction of Maw Green Tip and Railway Flash (per D.Robinson).

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

A 1st winter Glaucous Gull was seen briefly on Pumphouse Flash this afternoon. Unfortunately the gulls were flushed due to noise from shooting nearby and the Glaucous did not return. A handful of patch watchers managed to catch up with it, but not all (info per D.Robinson).

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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)

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 ;) ;)

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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).

Mark Jarrett · Status: Offline

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.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Just had notification by text that the 1w drake Scaup that was found yesterday (I think!!) is still on Railway Flash this morning (per D.Robinson).

John Williams · Status: Offline

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

John Williams · Status: Offline

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.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 smile

John Williams · Status: Offline

10.00-13.00

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

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 smile

John Watson · Status: Offline

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.

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

Most of the time that I flush Snipe up (accidentally of course wink ), 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 smile

John Watson · Status: Offline

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

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

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

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 smile

PHIL GREENWOOD · Status: Offline

Rare visit to Elton Hall/Pumphouse Flashes.

Yellow-legged Gull 1ad.
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Herring Gull 1
Wigeons
Teal
Redwing 1
Shelduck 2
Lapwings
Goldcrest 1
BH/LBB/Common Gulls

etc.etc.etc.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 16th of October 2015 09:14:43 PM

Mike Duckham · Status: Offline

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

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Elton Hall Flash

2 Green Sandpiper

Pumphouse Flash

3 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 adults and 1 2nd year-type

John Williams · Status: Offline

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.

M Gannon · Status: Offline

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

John Williams · Status: Offline

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

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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.

John Williams · Status: Offline

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

Huw Lloyd · Status: Offline

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)

Huw Lloyd · Status: Offline

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?

Huw Lloyd · Status: Offline

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!

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

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!

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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.

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 smile

Jonathan Hutchins · Status: Offline

Drake Garganey still present Hancock's Flood 12:45 showing well.
Two broods of Shelduck on Elton Hall, and drake Gadwall.

J.

John Williams · Status: Offline

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.

Patrick Earith · Status: Offline

Drake Garganey still present on Hancock's Flood. Single Black-tailed Godwit on Pumphouse Flash

Doc Brewster · Status: Offline

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 smile