A Supplement to the Birds of Sandbach Flashes (2000–2009) is the definitive ornithological archive documenting a decade of avian activity at one of Cheshire’s most vital wetland ecosystems. Authored by veteran county bird recorder Colin Lythgoe with contributions from Andrew Goodwin, this work serves as the vital decadal companion and appendix to the acclaimed historical volume, The Birds of Sandbach Flashes 1935–1999.
Published by the South East Cheshire Ornithological Society (SECOS), the book marks the culmination of Lythgoe’s 25-year tenure as the society’s official Recorder. It provides an unbroken continuation of regional wildlife monitoring, making it an indispensable resource for local birdwatchers, conservationists, and environmental historians.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Systematic List: Features a meticulously compiled checklist of all bird species observed at the reserve from the turn of the millennium through December 2009.
- Population Dynamics: Charts significant shifts in local biodiversity, documenting the decline of vulnerable species alongside the dramatic rise of others—such as the regional expansion of the Raven (Corvus corax).
- Habitat Insights: Highlights the unique ecological importance of the Sandbach Flashes, a network of industrial subsidence pools formed by salt extraction that is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
- Historical Continuity: Blends decades of amateur sightings and professional field data into a unified timeline, bridging the gap between 20th-century baselines and modern conservation efforts.