Photos:
Adult Mediterranean Gull, Pennington Flash
Black-tailed Godwit and juvenile and adult Iceland Gulls at Sandbach Flashes
22nd February
No birding today
23rd February
Late afternoon today I was travelling back from Birmingham and getting stuck in the usual mire of traffic – yet another accident had caused a queue from J22 to J15. When I reached the Sandbach turn off I was so fed up I decided to head over to the flashes and wait for the traffic to die down.
It was a nice pleasant afternoon when I arrived – just one other birder present and he soon left so I stood overlooking Elton Hall Flash (no gulls on Pumphouse) and watched the birds. Around 25 Tree Sparrows were flitting around the feeders while on the water three Pintail were counted in amongst the several hundreds of Wigeon and Teal. Four Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in the water’s edge on the far side.
There were several hundred gulls on the water but nearly all were Black-headed. As light started to fade a bit, a few large gulls started to drop in and then a sustained influx for around 20 minutes. Near the end of this period I spotted an adult Iceland Gull in flight and quickly picked it up on the pool – cracking bird! Equally as good was the nearby juvenile Iceland Gull which I hadn’t seen arrive. I also later found an adult Yellow-legged Gull but was quite content to just stand and watch the two Icelands and the general throng of gulls! Felt like spring today.
24th February
Three Yellowhammers were feeding in the garden first thing this morning and a little later 5 were seen at the feeding station with around 20 Tree Sparrows.
After work I took Bill for a walk to Pennington Flash. Lots of gulls but the only interesting one was an adult Med Gull with a partially moulted hood. I got kicked out of Horrocks Hide by the Ranger who was locking up and thus lost the Med.
No birding today
23rd February
Late afternoon today I was travelling back from Birmingham and getting stuck in the usual mire of traffic – yet another accident had caused a queue from J22 to J15. When I reached the Sandbach turn off I was so fed up I decided to head over to the flashes and wait for the traffic to die down.
It was a nice pleasant afternoon when I arrived – just one other birder present and he soon left so I stood overlooking Elton Hall Flash (no gulls on Pumphouse) and watched the birds. Around 25 Tree Sparrows were flitting around the feeders while on the water three Pintail were counted in amongst the several hundreds of Wigeon and Teal. Four Black-tailed Godwits were feeding in the water’s edge on the far side.
There were several hundred gulls on the water but nearly all were Black-headed. As light started to fade a bit, a few large gulls started to drop in and then a sustained influx for around 20 minutes. Near the end of this period I spotted an adult Iceland Gull in flight and quickly picked it up on the pool – cracking bird! Equally as good was the nearby juvenile Iceland Gull which I hadn’t seen arrive. I also later found an adult Yellow-legged Gull but was quite content to just stand and watch the two Icelands and the general throng of gulls! Felt like spring today.
24th February
Three Yellowhammers were feeding in the garden first thing this morning and a little later 5 were seen at the feeding station with around 20 Tree Sparrows.
After work I took Bill for a walk to Pennington Flash. Lots of gulls but the only interesting one was an adult Med Gull with a partially moulted hood. I got kicked out of Horrocks Hide by the Ranger who was locking up and thus lost the Med.
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