Birding Group Visit To Neumann’s Flash and Haydn’s Pool 21st May 2013
The birding group visit to Neumann’s Flash and environs was notable for the fact that, apart from the three of us, there were only two others, Richard and David Hulse, in attendance whichwas a shame but it was an interesting dynamic being such as small group and we could not have picked a better day for. Although the weather wasn’t brialliant, it wasn’t too cold and it was dry and their were some signs of blue in the sky. Moreover, the birds seem to have fed up of waiting for Spring and they were in full voice all together. As we took the long path to the right side of the Flash there was a constant sound of Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Chiffchaff’s singing and calling. For once it felt like it might be Spring after all.Even from the entrance to the sight we could hear birds singing and we immediately caught sight of a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler. In amonst the brambles we could hear Whitethroat calling and managed to see a couple of the many that must have been hidden there. As for the Chiffchaffs, Ido not think we have seen so many so easily in the space of an hour.
The Flash itself was quite quiet and the best part was trying to spot the Reed Warblers before they had jumped back down into the bottom of the reeds before starting to sing again. Even with their evasiveness we managed to see three of the Reed Warblers and we could hear a Sedge Warbler even if we could not see it. On an island were a single Little Ringed Plover. A few Shelduck, a few Gadwalls and a pair of Great Crested Grebes, one on a nest, were all that were there really. Apart , that is from the usual Black-headed Gulls, Coots and Mallards.
We walked around the Flash and up the steps to the hide overlooking Haydn’s Pool and there we managed to see four Sand Martins who were entering and leaving the artificial sandbank but that was all; quite a modest showing. On the water was a Black Swan and a pair of Mute Swans and there were lots of Mallard ducklings pottering about. Again we could hear at least one Reed Warbler and on an island there were a couple of Oystercatchers. A few Lapwings fluttered about and a couple of the group fancied they saw a Common Tern but I didn’t see it for long enough to be convinced personally – although I am sure they were right.
Ase walked back towards the Flash we went past the clearing where some trees have been chopped down and one of them looks like it has been sawn in a way that is meant to cultivate Woodpeckers and we did, indeed, see a Grater Spotted Woodpecker going into a hole it had made at the bottom of what looks like a square box emerging fromt he trunk of the tree. We continued on and took the high road that runs parallel to Marbury Lane before coming back to the lay-by where we had parked and as we came down there were more more Song Thrushes and and as we got in the cars we left a Willow Warbler singing in the bushes near to us.
It had been a remarkable morning, not so much for the birding as for the
Bird Sightings : Neumann’s Flash Environs
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Kestrel | 1 |
| Swift | 10 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Chiffchaff | 5 |
| Willow Warbler | 2 |
| Whitethroat | 2 |
| Song Thrush | 3 |
Bird Sightings : Neumann’s Flash
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Canada Goose | 4 |
| Shelduck | 6 |
| Gadwall | 4 |
| Mallard | 6 |
| Tufted Duck | 6 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 2 |
| Coot | 4 |
| Little Ringed Plover | 1 |
| Black-headed Gull | 10 |
| Reed Warbler | 3 |
Bird Sightings : Haydn’s Pool
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Mute Swan | 2 |
| Black Swan | 1 |
| Oystercatcher | 2 |
| Lapwing | 2 |
| Sand Martin | 4 |
| Reed Warbler | 1 |
How we got there
There are a couple of ways to get to the lay-by on New Warrington Lane where we usually park. In this instance we took the M56 and got off at junction 7, then taking the A556 A56 exit to B’ham/M6/Northwich/Lymm. As you come off the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Chester Rd/A556 (Pickmere Lane) and then drive straight all the way down to the bottom where you turn left and you can see the parking immediately on the opposite side of the road.
Alternately you can take the motorway all the way to junction 10.At junction 10 you take the A49 exit to Northwich/Warrington and then take the first exit onto the A559 to Northwich. After about five miles you turn right ontoht onto Ollershaw Lane (the B5075) this turns into New Warrington Road
The latter is a bit longer but is probably a bit quicker because the former takes you through a few villages with slow speed limits.