Trip reports

Field Trip To Sandbach Flashes and Marbury Country Park

Sunday, 17 January 2010

The first North Cheshire Group field trip of 2010 was on Sunday 17th January, starting at Sandbach Flashes. Despite the previous weeks' cold weather the main flashes were free of ice which meant there was a good variety of waterfowl and waders present. Of the ducks, commonest was the Wigeon, with Shelduck, Teal, Shoveler, Pintail, Tufted Duck and Goosander present in small numbers, a single Pink-footed Goose was noted with the large Canada Goose flock. Little Grebe, Grey Heron and Cormorant were also noted. Lapwing was the commonest wader, otherwise there were a few Ruff, Snipe, Curlew and Redshank present. Good numbers of gulls were noted roosting on the flashes, highlight of which was a single Caspian Gull, a rare visitor from Eastern Europe and a single Yellow-legged Gull. Other birds of note in the area were three Buzzard, Skylark, Fieldfare, Redwing and Tree Sparrow.

The afternoon was spent at Marbury Country Park, unlike Sandbach the main mere was almost totally frozen with a small area of open water on the far side. Over a dozen Grey Heron were present, including several in nearby woodland, Gadwall, Shoveler and Goldeneye were amongst the small flock of duck present. There woodlands were very productive, Coal Tit, Nuthatch and Bullfinch were present at the feeding station with Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Redwing, Treecreeper, Jay and Siskin also seen. The group also managed to get good views of a Tawny Owl roosting at the top of a lakeside pine tree.

A very productive day out with a total of 68 species recorded.
Tony Parker.