Review of Bird News (SECOS) October 2026
Review of Bird News (SECOS) October 2026
A female Goshawk over Elton Hall Flash on 20 September was the bird of the month, and only the third record for the flashes. It topped a busy September of autumn passage, with Marsh Harrier, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, four new waders on 10 September alone, and the first Pink-footed Geese and Fieldfares of the autumn.
This round-up is drawn from issue 120 of The Observer, the October 2026 newsletter of the South-East Cheshire Ornithological Society (SECOS). It covers Elton Hall Flash, Pump House Flash, Railway Flash and Maw Green Tip.
The Goshawk at Elton Hall Flash
The Goshawk was first seen at 2.10 pm on 20 September, flying over the willows along the side lane at Elton Hall Flash. It came back at about 4.30 pm, and this time the other birds gave it away. Every gull, duck, Coot and Canada Goose on the flash took to the air at once.
The bird then crossed the trees at the viewpoint and headed for the willows at the back of the flash. Observers noted its barred underparts, broad wings and sheer size, all marks that separate a female Goshawk from a Sparrowhawk.
Goshawk is a county rarity. According to BTO BirdTrack, the only earlier Sandbach Flashes records were in February 2005 and July 2011, so this was the first for 15 years.
September at a glance
September was a month of change-over. Summer migrants such as Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were still passing through as the first Fieldfare and Pink-footed Geese of the autumn arrived. The table shows the first date each notable species was recorded during the month.
| Date | First seen in September |
|---|---|
| 1st | Curlew, Dipper, Great White Egret, Kingfisher, Little Egret, Ruff, Yellowhammer |
| 3rd | Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail |
| 5th | Marsh Harrier, Redshank |
| 6th | Wheatear |
| 7th | Green Woodpecker, Hobby |
| 9th | Fieldfare, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler |
| 10th | Common Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Green Sandpiper, Ringed Plover |
| 11th | Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe |
| 13th | Cattle Egret, Pink-footed Goose |
| 14th | Mandarin Duck |
| 17th | Red Kite |
| 20th | Goshawk |
| 22nd | Oystercatcher |
| 25th | Barnacle Goose, Goosander |
| 26th | Snipe |
| 27th | Common Tern |
The newsletter also lists Great Spotted Woodpecker, Raven, Cetti’s Warbler, Treecreeper and Meadow Pipit on the flashes, along with the last Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins.
Peak counts
Teal were the most numerous duck, with about 230 at peak, and up to 120 Lapwing and 15 Curlew used the flashes through the month. Ruff were present regularly, with up to five, and four Redshank dropped in on 5 September.
| Group | Species | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Waders | Lapwing | Regular, up to c120 |
| Waders | Curlew | Regular, up to 15 |
| Waders | Ruff | Regular, up to 5 |
| Waders | Green Sandpiper | Regular, up to 3 |
| Waders | Redshank | 4 on the 5th |
| Waders | Ringed Plover | 4 on the 10th |
| Waders | Oystercatcher | 3 on the 22nd |
| Waders | Snipe | 2 on the 7th |
| Waders | Golden Plover | 1 on the 10th |
| Waders | Common Sandpiper | 1 on the 10th and 11th |
| Wildfowl | Teal | Regular, up to c230 |
| Wildfowl | Mallard | Regular, up to c150 |
| Wildfowl | Canada Goose | Regular, up to 100 |
| Wildfowl | Coot | Regular, up to 80 |
| Wildfowl | Greylag Goose | Regular, up to 70 |
| Wildfowl | Shoveler | 30 on the 15th |
| Wildfowl | Wigeon | Regular, up to 23 |
| Wildfowl | Shelduck | 2 on the 26th and 28th |
| Wildfowl | Pintail | 1 on the 14th |
| Herons and egrets | Grey Heron | Regular, up to 7 |
| Herons and egrets | Cattle Egret | 1 on the 13th |
| Herons and egrets | Great White Egret | 1 on the 15th |
| Gulls and terns | Black-headed Gull | Regular, up to c270 |
| Gulls and terns | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Regular, up to c180 |
| Gulls and terns | Herring Gull | 25 on the 22nd |
| Gulls and terns | Common Tern | 5 on the 27th |
| Raptors | Goshawk | 1 on the 20th |
| Raptors | Marsh Harrier | 1 on the 5th |
| Raptors | Sparrowhawk, Buzzard | 1 each on the 26th |
Around the SECOS area
Doddington Pool had the best spread of birds elsewhere in the recording area, including Great White Egret, Red Kite, Egyptian Goose and Common Sandpiper. Hobbies were still hunting at several sites well into September.
- Doddington Pool: Egyptian Goose, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Red Kite, Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Raven, plus grebes and Grey Wagtail.
- Congleton, River Dane: Mandarin Duck, Dipper, Kingfisher, Little Egret and Grey Wagtail.
- Alsager, Fanny’s Croft: Hobby, Spotted Flycatcher, Yellow Wagtail, Skylark and Yellowhammer.
- Mow Cop: Hobby, Kestrel, Wheatear and an early Fieldfare.
- Rode Pool: Great White Egret, Little Egret and Grey Heron.
- Crewe: Barnacle Goose, Goosander and Sparrowhawk.
- Sandbach: Hobby, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Yellowhammer at Fields Farm. Pink-footed Geese and Raven over the Sandbach Wildlife Corridor.
These are only a selection. SECOS keeps the full list on its sightings page.
SECOS news
Middleton Lakes trip. Thirteen members logged 60 species at RSPB Middleton Lakes on 20 September, despite the M42 being closed. Highlights included a Bittern heard in the distance, Kingfisher, Water Rail, Great White Egret, and a juvenile Ruff feeding with Dunlin and Ringed Plover below the Lookout Hide. A group of Pheasants with several pale, leucistic birds was a curiosity. SECOS field trips have now recorded 167 species in 2026.
New members. SECOS welcomed Gail Bamford and Tim Stone this month.
Coming up. The next field trip is to RSPB Leighton Moss on Sunday 25 October, starting at 9.30 am and led by Mike Tonks. Bearded Tits, Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and winter ducks are all on the cards. See the SECOS website or Facebook page for details.
Summarised from The Observer, issue 120 (October 2026), with thanks to the South-East Cheshire Ornithological Society, Karina for leading the Middleton Lakes trip, and everyone who sent in records. The newsletter’s photographs are by Dennis Swaby. To read the full newsletter and join the society, visit secos.org.uk.
