SECOS Sightings

Details of August sightings will appear here early next month.

If you spot anything of interest in the SECOS area please note it here by adding a comment. (Click on the word "comments" above and then scroll down to "publish a comment".

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WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF	COUNT	WADERS AT EHF/PHF	COUNT
MALLARD	regular max 210 on 22nd	BLACK TAILED GODWIT	regular max 38 on 5th
TEAL	regular max 20 on 30th	LAPWING	regular max 658 on 30th
SHOVELER	singles 15th and 19th	COMMON SANDPIPER	regular throughout the month
WIGEON	singles regular	DUNLIN	regular max 3 on 16th
GOOSANDER	6 on15th & 30th	GREEN SANDPIPER	regular max 7 on 30th
SHELDUCK	regular max 23 on 4th	CURLEW	regular max, 56 – 20th
MANDARIN	2 on 22nd	SNIPE	regular max 10 on 26th
		REDSHANK	regular max 3 on 16th
		LITTLE RINGED PLOVER	regular max 17 on 3rd
		WOOD SANDPIPER	a single on 29th
		RUFF	regular max 2 on 27th
		OYSTERCATCHER	regular max 6 on2nd
		GREENSHANK	a single on 8th & 2 on 22nd

elsewhere 7 Goosander were at Byley on the 5th ~ 2 Great Crested Grebe were at WLF
on the 10th and a single on GF on the 19th ~ 2 Cape Shelduck were at Winterley Pool on the 22nd

RAPTORS AND OWLS	COUNT
SPARROWHAWK	a pair fledged 2 young from a site in Crewe Town Centre
KESTREL	a pair were feeding young in a box sited on MGT
BUZZARD	regular sightings at EHF, Rode Pool and Doddington
HOBBY	regular sightings at EHF
PEREGRINE	one at EHF on the 4th
LITTLE OWL	one regular in Clay Lane
BARN OWL	one in Groby Road, Maw Green, Crewe on the 4th

GULLS	COUNT
B H GULL	140 at EHF on the 4th
MEDITERRANEAN GULL	an adult at PHF on the 18th and a juv at EHF on the 29th
Y L GULL	regular at EHF/PHF, 6 on the 11th
LITTLE GULL	one at EHF on the 4th
LBB GULL	125 at EHF on the 18th
COMMON TERN	a single at EHF on the 14th, 2 on the 15th

OTHER SIGHTINGS

 

Kingfishers were recorded at Rode Pool, Byley, CF and EHF ~ Spotted Flycatchers bred at Wistaston (Joey the Swan) and Warmingham ~ a Wheatear was at EHF on the 4th and a Grey Wagtail on the 9th ~ 2 Willow Tits were regular at the FF feeding station ~ a pair of Blackcap were feeding 2 juvs at EHF on the 19th ~ Common and Lesser Whitethroats were regular at EHF ~ Reed and Sedge Warblers were singing at PHF throughout the month ~ at EHF/PHF Chiff Chaffs and Willow Warblers were moving around with the Long-tailed Tit flock and 60 Tree Sparrows were counted on the 31st

WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF	COUNT	WADERS AT EHF/PHF	COUNT
MALLARD	Regular max, 181 – 14th	BLACK TAILED GODWIT	Regular max , 9 – 16th
TEAL	Regular max, 14 – 29th	LAPWING	Regular max, 258 – 29th
SHOVELER	Regular max , 4 – 16th	COMMON SANDPIPER	Singles, 23rd – 27th
WIGEON	Regular max, 3 – 23rd	DUNLIN	Regular, singles 5th–20th
GADWALL	A single on the 22nd	GREEN SANDPIPER	Regular max, 3 – 19th
SHELDUCK	Regular, singles, a pair + 13 Juvs – 26th	CURLEW	Regular max, 12 – 25th
GARGANEY	Singles 1st-13th	REDSHANK	Singles, 16th,17th & 20th
		LITTLE RINGED PLOVER	Regular max 4 – 25th
		OYSTERCATCHER	Regular max, 6-26th
		RINGED PLOVER	3 – 13th
		AVOCET	2 – 3rd

Elsewhere 11 Greylag were over RF on the 29th A Mandarin Duck plus 3 young were on the new pool, MGT on the 8th. A pair of Shelduck plus 13 young were on FFF on the 5th. Oystercatchers bred at Stowford and Doddington. Little Ringed Plover were on flood water in Green Lane throughout the spring.

RAPTORS AND OWLS	COUNT
SPARROWHAWK	Records from EHF, Oakhanger, WLF and Crewe Town Cemtre, where a pair are nesting.
KESTREL	Records from EHF, MGT, Weston and Stowford.
BUZZARD	Regular in the Flashes/MGT area. Elsewhere, record from Oakhanger and Weston.
HOBBY	Records from EHF, WLF and Oakhanger.
RED KITE	One over Red Lane, Elton on the 11th.
TAWNY OWL	One at Wistaston on the 26th.

GULLS	COUNT
Y L GULL	One at EHF on the 27th.
COMIC TERN	A single at EHF on the 1st.

Other sightings:
Bird of the month was a Spoonbill arriving at EHF on the 16th. It stayed until the 20th mainly in the PHF/EHF area, allowing local birders excellent views. Goldcrests bred at Haslington, Valley Park Crewe and Crewe Green Churchyard. Spotted Flycatchers were recorded at Barthomley, Plant Lane, Elton and Wistaston. A pair of Willow Tits were regular at the FF feeding station. Ravens were recorded over Willaston on the 6th and EHF on the 21st. At Stowford, Mistlethrush and Nuthatch bred, 6 male Yellowhammers and a pair of Yellow Wagtails were also recorded. Lesser Whitethroats were recorded at FFF and PHF and 30 Long-tailed Tit were at EHF on the 26th.

A slight technical hitch and sorry the May sightings may have been lost

WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF	COUNT	WADERS AT EHF/PHF	COUNT
MALLARD	Regular max, 50 – 8th	BLACK TAILED GODWIT	Regular max , 117 – 18th
TEAL	Regular max, 93 – 3rd	LAPWING	Regular max, 23 – 2nd
SHOVELER	Regular max , 3 – 21st	COMMON SANDPIPER	Regular max, 2 – 19th
WIGEON	Regular max, 33 – 2nd	DUNLIN	Regular max, 5 – 27th
GADWALL	2- 15th & 30th	CURLEW	3 – 3rd & 1 – 5th
GOOSANDER	Regular, singles	SNIPE	Regular max, 14 – 2nd
SHELDUCK	Regular max, 26 – 14th	REDSHANK	Regular max, 4 – 15th
GREYLAG GOOSE	A single – 30th	LITTLE RINGED PLOVER	Regular max 3 – 26th
		RUFF	Regular
		OYSTERCATCHER	Regular max, 6 – 13th
		RINGED PLOVER	A single – 24th
		WHIMBREL	1 – 12th & 4 – 21st

Elsewhere 2 pair of Mandarin regular on MGT. A Pinkfoot was with the Canadas’ at WLF on the 12th. 3 pairs of Ruddy Duck were on RF on the 12th and a Garganey was present on the 21st.

RAPTORS AND OWLS	COUNT
SPARROWHAWK	Records from EHF and Stowford.
KESTREL	Records from EHF, MGT, Weston and Stowford.
BUZZARD	Regular in the SECOS area. 12 at Stowford on the 22nd.
HOBBY	A single at FF on the 27th.
PEREGRINE	3 sightings all from the EHF/PHF area.
OSPREY	One over PHF on the 3rd and one at Birch Pool, Watch Lane on the 5th where it attempted to take a fish.
LITTLE OWL	A pair regularly in Clay Lane.
BLACK KITE	One was seen over Stowford on the 21st.
BARN OWL	One at Wistaston Green Lane on the 4th and 9th and one at WarminghamRoad on the 16th

GULLS	COUNT
B H GULL	Regular at EHF/PHF, 119 on the 14th
CASPIAN GULL	A first and second summer birds regular at EHF/PHF/MGT throughout the month
ICELAND GULL	The usual bird regular at MGT/PHF/EHF throughout the month
Y L GULL	2 at EHF on the 25th. Singles on the 2nd and 24th.
LITTLE GULL	3 adults were at EHF on the 22nd

OTHER SIGHTINGS

The first Willow Warbler was at FF on the 3rd, 2 White Wagtails were at WLF on the 5th followed by 6 plus a Yellow Wagtail on the 8th. 3 House Martins were over EHF on the 9th and a Reed Warbler was at Red Lane Pool on the 18th. A Redstart was at MGT on the 19th and a Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler on the 22nd.  A Common Tern was at RF on the 21st and a Lesser Whitethroat was at FFF on the 24th. A mixed flock of 200 Redwing and Fieldfare were at Stowford on the 22nd and a Garden Warbler was at EHF on the 26th. The Willow Tits were still at the FF feeding Station throughout the month and the first Swifts were over PHF on the 26th. A Kingfisher was at Red lane Pool on the 14th.

2 Yellow Wagtails were at Doddington on the 18th. 2 Lesser Redpoll were in garden feeders on the 11th. 6 Yellow Hammers and 10 Tree Sparrows were at Stowford on the 22nd and 4 Skylark were at MGT on the 14th.

 A Green Sandpiper was regular on floodwater in Green Lane, Warmingham.  5 Common Sandpipers were at WLF on the 13th and a single was at Winterley Pool on the 24th

WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF	COUNT	WADERS AT EHF/PHF	COUNT
MALLARD	Regular no count	BLACK TAILED GODWIT	Regular max , 42 – 31st
TEAL	Regular max, 301 – 4th	DUNLIN	Regular max, 3 – 7th
PINTAIL	Regular max , 13 – 2nd	CURLEW	Regular max, 10 – 13th
SHOVELER	Regular max, 14 – 3rd	SNIPE	Regular max, 35 – 21st
WIGEON	Regular max, 629 – 3rd	REDSHANK	Regular max, 5 – 1st
GOOSANDER	Regular max, 15 – 24th	LITTLE RINGED PLOVER	Regular max, 2 – 19th
SHELDUCK	Regular max, 70 – 7th	RUFF	Regular max, 13 – 1st
GREYLAG GOOSE	3 – 31st	OYSTERCATCHER	Regular
GW TEAL	Singles regular	RINGED PLOVER	2 – 1st, 1 – 12th
		AVOCET	2 – 16th

Elsewhere up to 3 Ruddy Duck regular on RF. A Pochard was at WLF on the 8th, 50 Whooper Swans
were over Crewe on the 16th, A Barnacle Goose was at FFF on the 22nd and 2 pairs of Mandarin were at MGT on the 31st.  A Jack Snipe was at RF on the 29th

RAPTORS AND OWLS	COUNT
SPARROWHAWK	Regular at EHF. Elsewhere records from FF, Rode Pool and Crewe
KESTREL	Records from EHF, MGT, Crewe and Haslington By pass.
BUZZARD	Common throughout the SECOS area, 12 together over EHF on the 31st.
PEREGRINE	Only a single record of one at EHF on the 29th.
BARN OWL	A single record from Coppenhall Moss

GULLS	COUNT
MEDITTARANEAN GULL	Records of singles on several dates throughout the month
COMMON GULL	Regular at EHF/PHF building up to a remarkable 420 on the 23rd
ICELAND GULL	The regular 1st winter bird at EHF/PHF/MGT throughout the month
CASPIAN GULL	A single at EHF/PHF regular
YL GULL	Singles regular at EHF/PHF, 2 on the 25th.

Other Sightings

The first Sandmartin at AWP-11th, & one at EHF – 18th. A Chiff Chaff at EHF – 18th & a Wheatear – 21st. A Swallow at RF – 22nd & a Blackcap – 29th. 5 Wheatear at MGT – 31st Kingfishers recorded at EHF, Wychwood Park and FFF. A pair of Stonechat at MGT – 2nd & 2 Willow Tits were regular at FF feeding station. Ravens were recorded over EHF – 5th & 13th. A Little Egret was at Rode Pool 8 -11th. Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were recorded at Haslington and Green Lane Wistaston. Water Rails were regular at FF. 25 Field Fare were at EHF – 25th and Yellowhammers were recorded at MGT – 24th and FFF – 31st

 

WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF	COUNT	WADERS AT EHF/PHF	COUNT
MALLARD	Regular, no count	BLACK TAILED GODWIT	Regular max , 10 - 26th
TEAL	Regular max, 265 – 3rd	LAPWING	Regular max, 1000 –12th
PINTAIL	Regular max , 34 – 14th	CURLEW	Regular max, 43 – 12th
SHOVELER	Regular max, 17 –26th	SNIPE	Regular max 31 – 25th
WIGEON	Regular max,380 – 12th	REDSHANK	Regular max – 5 – 11th
GADWALL	2 – 11th & 4 – 14th	RUFF	Regular max, 11 – 8th
GOOSANDER	Regular max, 16 – 8th
LITTLE GREBE	Regular - 2
SHELDUCK	Regular max, 78 – 18th
TUFTED DUCK	Regular, 4 – 8th  & 3 – 11th
POCHARD	2 – 3rd and singles 11th & 13th
GREEN-WINGED TEAL	Singles 27th -29th

  Elsewhere 2 Goosander were on the River Dane at Byley on the 9^th, 2 Ruddy Duck and a female Mandarin were at RF on the 10^th and 3 Gadwall were at FF on the 23^rd. A Green Sandpiper was at Stowford on the 6^th and an Oystercatcher was at WLF on the 20^th.

  

RAPTORS AND OWLS	COUNT
SPARROWHAWK	Regular at EHF. Records from Crewe where 2 were hunting the Starling roost & Rode Pool.
KESTREL	Records from Rode Pool, Swettenham, Leighton &  Weston.
BUZZARD	Regular in the SECOS area and 4 at EHF on the 27th
PEREGRINE	One on the tower at Leighton Hospital and the usual one on the pylons at PHF
MERLIN	A male was at EHF on the 29th
TAWNY OWL	One calling at Wistaston on the 21st.
LITTLE OWL	One in Clay Lane on the 8th and one in Groby Road on the 12th
BARN OWL	One seen at Pyms Lane/Middlewich Rd Junction on the 2nd and 1 found dead on the Haslington by pass – 9th

  

GULLS	COUNT
B H GULL	Regular at EHF, 1800 on the 9th
MEDITERRANEAN GULL	Probably up to 4 different birds on several dates throughout the month at EHF/PHF
Y L GULL	One at PHF on 21st and at EHF on the 29th
ICELAND GULL	A 1st Winter  regular at EHF/PHF
GLAUCOUS GULL	One 1st winter at EHF on the 17th
RINGED BILL GULL	An adult at PHF on the 23rd and at RF on the 27th
CASPIAN GULL	One at EHF/PHF 22nd-24th.

OTHER SIGHTINGS

Over wintering Water Rail were recorded at FF – regular- and WLF.  2 Willow Tits regular at the FF feeders.  Kingfishers were recorded at WLF and Congleton.  50 Linnets and 15 Tree Sparrows were at EHF on the 6^th.  The Starling roost in Crewe now holds around 50,000 birds and 38 Magpies were in a roost at FF.  Ravens were recorded at Byley, Doddington and MGT.  Overwintering Blackcaps were in Crewe and Sandbach gardens.  Yellowhammers were recorded at MGT and Stowford.  A Stonechat was at Stowford, a Dipper at Congleton, a Woodcock at Wheelock and a Green Woodpecker at Sweteenham.

 

 

 

WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF	COUNT	WADERS AT EHF/PHF	COUNT
MALLARD	Regular max, 125 – 28th	BLACK TAILED GODWIT	Regular max , 51 - 27th
TEAL	Regular max, 211 – 27th	LAPWING	Regular max, 1200 –27th
PINTAIL	Regular max , 18 – 29th	CURLEW	Regular max, 57 – 6th
SHOVELER	Regular max, 21 –29th	SNIPE	Regular max 16 – 15th
WIGEON