Details of May sightings complied by Bryan Perkins from the Sandbach Flashes log book will appear here early next month.
In the meantime, if you spot anything of interest in the SECOS area, record it here by adding a comment … click on the call out bubble above to start.
Details of April sightings complied by Bryan Perkins from the Sandbach Flashes log book.
| WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Mallard | regular, no count |
| Teal | regular, max 148 on 1st |
| Pintail | 2 on 8th |
| Shoveler | regular, max 7 on 3rd |
| Wigeon | regular, max 81 on 4th |
| Gadwall | regular, max 6 on 9th |
| Goosander | regular, max 2 on 5th |
| G C Grebe | regular, max 4 on 23rd |
| Shelduck | regular, max 29 on 24th |
| Tufted Duck | regular, max 21 on 28th |
| Greylag Goose | regular, max 6 on 23rd |
| Mute Swan | regular, 15 on 13th |
| Eqyptian Goose | single on 15th |
| WADERS AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Black-tailed Godwit | regular, max 34 on 4th |
| Lapwing | regular, max 28 on 11th |
| Common Sandpiper | regular, 4 on 22nd |
| Dunlin | singles on 25th, 27th and 28th |
| Green Sandpiper | regular, max 2 on 2nd |
| Curlew | regular, max 6 on 12th |
| Snipe | regular, max 4 on 3rd |
| Redshank | regular, max 4 on 9th |
| Little Ringed Plover | regular, max 5 on 6th |
| Ruff | regular, max 5 on 1st |
| Oystercatcher | regular, max 6 on 28th |
| Avocet | 2 on 19th |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | singles 26th to 28th |
| elsewhere | |
| 3 Mandarin Duck were on RF on the 6th and a pair of Garganey on the 24th ~ a Common Sandpiper and 7 Snipe were at RF on the 15th and a Jack Snipe on the 18th ~3 Common Sandpipers were at Doddington on the 13th and a Green Sandpiper was at Rode Pool | |
| RAPTORS and OWLS |
COUNT |
| Sparrowhawk | regular in the flashes area, 1 over MGT on 24th |
| Buzzard | regular at EHF where one took an adult Lapwing, 6 on 2nd and 4 on 5th |
| Hobby | 1 was over PHF on 30th |
| Peregrine | reports of 2 birds in the Leighton Hospital area and 2 on the lighting towers at Gresty |
| Osprey | 1 over Doddington Pool on 6th and 1 over EHF / PHF on 16th |
| Tawny Owl | a pair with juvs were in an Alsager garden |
| GULLS and TERNS |
COUNT |
| Common Gull | 2 at EHF on 30th |
| Little Tern | a single at EHF on 26th |
| Iceland Gull | a first winter regular in the Flashes are until 20th |
| Y L Gull | 4 at EHF on 3rd, and a single on 15th |
| Caspian Gull | an adult was at PHF on 3rd and a 1st winter on18th |
| OTHER SIGHTINGS | |
| Migrants continued to arrive with a Yellow Wagtail at RF on 1st ~ more Wheatears on 6th and 8th plus Willow Warblers, House Martins, Swallows and Sandmartins, Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers on 18th, a Lesser Whitethroat on 19th and a Grasshopper Warbler on 20th ~ 4 Blackcaps were at MGT and 5 at FFF on 21st ~ the first Swifts were at EHF/PHF on 27th and 14 Wheatear were at MGT on the 28th ~ 207 Linnets were counted at EHF on 4th and 85 Stock Doves on 5th ~ Little Egrets were at EHF/PHF on 16th and 22nd ~ A Sacred Ibis was at MGT on the 28th and an unconfirmed report of a White Stork at Gresty on 25th | |
Details of the March sightings complied by Bryan Perkins from the Sandbach Flashes log book.
| WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Mallard | regular, no count |
| Teal | regular, max 171 on 1st |
| Pintail | regular, max 9 on 1st |
| Shoveler | regular, max 19 on 19th |
| Wigeon | regular, max 527 on 2nd |
| Gadwall | regular, max 4 on 13th |
| Goosander | regular, max 4 |
| Shelduck | regular, max 50 on 22nd |
| Tufted Duck | 10 on 12th |
| Greylag Goose | regular, max 10 on 19th |
| Pochard | single on 15th |
| Mute Swan | 30 on 2nd |
| WADERS AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Black-tailed Godwit | regular, max 24 on 30th |
| Lapwing | regular, max 200 on 1st |
| Dunlin | singles on 1st, 2nd and 23rd |
| Green Sandpiper | regular, max 2 |
| Curlew | regular, max 12 on 3rd |
| Snipe | regular, max 16 on 13th |
| Redshank | regular, max 6 on 7th |
| Little Ringed Plover | regular, max 4 on 30th |
| Ruff | regular, max 9 on 16th |
| Oystercatcher | regular, max 4 on 2nd |
| Golden Plover | singles on 25th and 31st |
| Ringed Plover | singles on 15th |
| elsewhere | |
| a Scaup was at Doddington throughout the month ~ 3 Whooper Swans were over Green Lane on 1st ~ 8 Gadwall and 2 Mandarin were at RF on 18th ~ a Jacksnipe was at MGT on 21st | |
| RAPTORS and OWLS |
COUNT |
| Sparrowhawk | just two records, both from EHF |
| Kestrel | again just one record of two birds at EHF on 30th |
| Buzzard | regular in the SECOS area, 9 over EHF on 30th |
| Red Kite | one was observed on 26th and again on 27th over EHF |
| Peregrine | a single regular at EHF |
| Tawny Owl | one at Doddington on 9th |
| Short Eared Owl | up to 3 at Stowford around 27th |
| GULLS and TERNS |
COUNT |
| YL Gull | a single was at EHF on 31st |
| Mediterranean Gull | an adult was at EHF on 17th |
| Iceland Gull | up to 3 first winter birds and 1 adult regular at EHF / PHF / RF |
| Little Gull | 2 at EHF on 17th |
| Kittiwake | an adult regular at PHF on 18th |
| Common Gull | 31 were at EHF on 16th |
| OTHER SIGHTINGS | |
| migrants started to trickle in with a Green Sandpiper on the 14th ~ Chiff Chaff on 15th ~ Little Ringed Plover and Wheatear on 18th followed by Sand Martin on the 21st ~ Blackcap on 23rd ~ Swallow on 28th and House Martin on the 30th ~~ Stonechat and Water Rail were on MGT on the 8th ~ a Raven was over EHF on the 16th ~ 30 Linnets, 6 Skylarks and 12 Meadow Pipits were on MGT on the 21st ~ a Blackcap was singing in a Shavington garden on the 21st ~ a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Rode Pool on the 27th ~ over 100 Linnets were at EHF on the 24th ~ 60 Linnets, 20 Meadow Pipits and a Brambling were at CF on the 28th and 40 Fieldfare and 62 Stock Doves were at EHF on the 29th | |
Details of the February sightings complied by Bryan Perkins from the Sandbach Flashes log book.
| WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Mallard | regular, no count |
| Teal | regular, 120 on 19th |
| Pintail | regular, max 8 on 28th |
| Shoveler | regular, max 11 on 19th |
| Wigeon | regular, max 606 on 19th |
| Gadwall | 4 on 25th |
| Goosander | regular, max 14 on 17th |
| Barnacle Goose | single on 3rd |
| Whooper Swan | 2 on 12th |
| Shelduck | regular, max 82 on 28th |
| Tufted Duck | regular, max 10 on 11th |
| Pink Footed Goose | 250 over on 8th |
| Greylag Goose | 3 on 16th |
| Pochard | Singles regular |
| WADERS AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Black-tailed Godwit | regular, max 11 |
| Lapwing | regular, max 2,000 on 15th |
| Dunlin | regular, max 4 on 3rd |
| Curlew | regular, max 45 on 20th |
| Snipe | regular, max 21 on 19th |
| Redshank | regular, max 5 on 27th |
| Ruff | regular, max 7 on 25th |
| Oystercatcher | single on 4th and 25th |
| Golden Plover | 11 over on 15th |
| Sanderling | 2 on 12th |
| elsewhere | |
| 22 Tufted Duck were on CF on 16th ~ a Scaup was at Doddington throughout the month ~ a pair of Mandarin Duck were on the River Weaver at Nantwich on 25th and 32 Pochard were at Doddington on 25th ~ 2 Golden Plover were with 23 Lapwing on pasture at Oakhanger on 20th~ 6 Oystercatchers were at Doddington on 24th
|
|
| RAPTORS and OWLS |
COUNT |
| Sparrowhawk | regular sightings from the Flashes |
| Kestrel | only a single record of one at Maw Green on 4th |
| Buzzard | regular in the SECOS area |
| Peregrine | singles regular on the pylons at RF ~2 at single at EHF on 11th |
| GULLS and TERNS |
COUNT |
| BH Gull | large roost regular at EHF |
| Mediterranean Gull | an adult was at EHF / PHF on 19th |
| GBB Gull | regular at EHF / PHF, 54 on 11th |
| Iceland Gull | At least 3 first winter birds and 2 adults at EHF / PHF / MGT throughout the month |
| Caspian Gull | an adult regular at EHF / PHF |
| YL Gull | 2 at EHF / PHF on 10th |
| OTHER SIGHTINGS | |
| The Glossy Ibis remained at EHF until the 3rd ~ a Brambling was in Crabmill Lane on the 3rd ~ a Water Rail was at PHF on 7th ~ 54 Tree Sparrows, 31 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Coaltits were at the EHF feeders on 13th ~ 30 Linnets were at EHF on 13th and 11 Stockdoves on 14th ~ a Skylark was singing over MGT on 22nd ~ 8 Siskin were at EHF on 23rd ~ 20 Fieldfare were at EHF on the 28th ~ a Little Egret was at Rode Pool on the 21st ~ a female Blackcap was again in a Shavington garden ~ 300 Fieldfare were at Hurleston on the 11th ~ 30 Skylark and 60 Linnet were at Oakhanger on 20th and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Rode Pool on the 28th
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Details of the January sightings complied by Bryan Perkins from the Sandbach Flashes log book.
| WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Mallard | regular, no count |
| Teal | regular, no count |
| Pintail | regular, max 8 on 5th |
| Shoveler | regular, max 7 on 25th |
| Wigeon | regular, max 586 on 18th |
| Gadwall | 2 regular |
| Goosander | regular, max 23 on 27th |
| Little Grebe | single regular |
| Shelduck | regular, max 60 on 19th |
| Pink Footed Goose | single on 1st and 15 over on 30th |
| White Fronted Goose | single on 1st and 4th |
| Green Winged Teal | single on 19th to 21st |
| WADERS AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Black-tailed Godwit | regular, max 17 on 30th |
| Lapwing | regular, max 2,000 on 4th |
| Dunlin | single on 31st |
| Curlew | regular, max 51 on 7th |
| Snipe | regular, max 11 on 31st |
| Redshank | regular, max 6 on 1st |
| Ruff | regular, max 4 |
| Golden Plover | regular, max 15 on 2nd |
| elsewhere | |
| At Doddington a Scaup was present throughout the month and 20 Goldeneye were counted on 6th and 2 Egyptian Geese on 14th ~~ at Rode Pool 20 Shoveler and 7 Goosander on the 10th ~~ up to 10 Woodcock were in FF woods throughout the month | |
| RAPTORS and OWLS |
COUNT |
| Sparrowhawk | regular sightings from the Flashes |
| Buzzard | regular in the SECOS area |
| Peregrine | 2 on the pylons at RF on the 8th ~ a single at EHF on 26th |
| Merlin | 1 seen attacking the Starling flock at EHF |
| Tawny Owl | 5 different birds were calling at FF on the 22nd and 3 calling and 2 perched up on 26th |
| Barn Owl | 1 at RF on the 9th and again on the 12th ~ 1 at FFF on 9th ~ one at MGT on 13th and one at EHF on 14th |
| Short Eared Owl | one at RF on the 8th |
| GULLS and TERNS |
COUNT |
| Iceland Gull | 2 1st winter birds and an adult present throughout the month at EHF / PHF / MGT |
| YL Gull | 2 at PHF on the 11th ~ a single on 25th |
| Caspian Gull | an adult was at EHF/PHF on 29th |
| GBB Gull | regular at EHF / PHF, 46 on 23rd |
| OTHER SIGHTINGS | |
| a Glossy Ibis found at PHF on the 7th and a first record for the Flashes was still present at the end of the month ~~ Raven were regular in the Flashes area ~~ Kingfisher 2 records both from FF ~~ 30 Meadow Pipits were on MGT on the 13th ~~ a flock of 30 Redpoll and up to 15 Siskin were regular in FF woods and another flock of Redpoll at CBP held 3 Mealies / Commons ~~ a female Blackcap was in the same Shavington garden as the male last month ~~ 2 RL Partridge were at EHF on the 17th ~~ 8 Yellowhammers and 12 Reed Buntings were recorded along the FFF track on the 14th and a Water Rail was at WLF on the 9th | |
Details of the December sightings complied by Bryan Perkins from the Sandbach Flashes log book.
| WILDFOWL AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Mallard | regular, no count |
| Teal | regular, max 338 on 10th |
| Pintail | regular, max 5 on 7th |
| Shoveler | regular, max 31 on 2nd |
| Wigeon | regular, max 402 on 1st |
| Gadwall | 3 on 1st, 3 on 12th and 2 on 13th |
| Goosander | regular, max 22 on 1st |
| Whooper Swan | 12 on 5th |
| Little Grebe | single on 22nd |
| Shelduck | regular, no count |
| Pochard | single on 27th |
| Pink Footed Goose | up to 7 regular. 20 over on 6th and 10 over on 22nd |
| Greylag Goose | up to 9 regular |
| White Fronted Goose | 2 regular |
| WADERS AT EHF/PHF |
COUNT |
| Black-tailed Godwit | up to 3 regular |
| Lapwing | regular, max 2000 on 10th |
| Dunlin | singles on 15th and 17th |
| Green Sandpiper | single on 9th |
| Curlew | regular, max 49 on 27th |
| Snipe | regular, max 12 on 21st |
| Redshank | regular, max 6 on 9th |
| Ruff | up to 3 regular |
| Golden Plover | regular, max 62 on 1st |
| elsewhere | |
| a Scaup was at Doddington on the 9th ~ 9 Mandarin, 18 Shoveler, 13 Goosander were at Rode Pool on the 20th ~ 16 Tufted Duck were at CF on the 21st and a Goldeneye on the 9th | |
| RAPTORS and OWLS |
COUNT |
| Sparrowhawk | regular sightings in the SECOS area |
| Kestrel | only 2 records, 1 at EHF on the 18th and 1 at Oakhanger on 5th |
| Buzzard | regular in the SECOS area |
| Tawny Owl | 2 at CF calling early morning, 1 at Green Lane and 1 at PHF |
| GULLS and TERNS |
COUNT |
| Iceland Gull | a juvenile was at EHF from the 22nd until the end of the month |
| YL Gull | regular at EHF/PHF, 4 on 10th |
| GBB Gull | a remarkable 215 were at EHF on 15th |
| OTHER SIGHTINGS | |
| a Stonechat was on MGT on the 3rd and 4th ~ Kingfishers were recorded at WLF, FF and Rode Pool ~ the Green Woodpecker was still on MGT on the 11th ~ a Little Egret was at Rode Pool on the 20th ~ a Raven was over MGT on the 4th ~ a Grey Wagtail was at EHF on the 20th & 21st ~ 42 Tree Sparrows, 19 House Sparrows, 6 Greenfinches, 20 Chaffinches, 3 Coal Tits, 3 GS Woodpeckers and a Tree Creeper were counted at EHF on the 21st and an over wintering Blackcap visited a bird table in a Shavington garden on the 28th | |