Sandbach Flashes: Locations and Directions
Locations & Directions
Where to watch
North area
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Crabmill Flash
A deep, fairly secluded flash with reeds and rushes along one side.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Little Grebe
- Winter
- Pochard, Scaup, Goldeneye, Green Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Brambling
- Summer
- Green Woodpecker
- On passage
- Quail, Cuckoo, Whimbrel, Wheatear
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Fodens Flash
A small flash known as The Moat, with a reedbed and waterlogged woodland, beside Fodens Wood and the canal.
18 records 10 species Latest: Siskin, 19/01/2026
Most recorded here Siskin, Redpoll, Woodcock, Tawny Owl, Kestrel
Access and parking
Small roadside viewpoint and parking at the flash. A muddy footpath runs through the wood to the north. For the canal, park at the Red Shale car park where the road crosses it, then walk north under the bridge for raised views.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Goosander, Tawny Owl, Redpoll, Siskin
- Winter
- Little Grebe, Woodcock, Snipe, Kingfisher
- Summer
- Barn Owl
- Autumn
- Water Rail
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Green Lane Set-aside
Stubble fields that can hold big winter flocks of sparrows, finches and buntings.
Access and parking
Take the footpath heading north beside Ryecroft Cottage on Green Lane.
Birds to look for
- Winter
- Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
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Rookery Bridge
The Trent and Mersey Canal towpath at Rookery Bridge, with farmland on either side.
Access and parking
Turn off Hall Lane near the road bridge over the canal and drive under the height barrier to the car park. Popular with dog walkers and factory staff on breaks.
Birds to look for
- Winter
- Red-legged Partridge, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, finch flocks with Tree Sparrow, Brambling and Yellowhammer
- On passage
- Willow Warbler, White Wagtail
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Warmingham Flash
A long, heavily fished flash, also called Moston Flash or Moston Long Flash, with marsh and fields along its edges.
Access and parking
Three lanes give views: a small pull-in on Tetton Lane (SJ715632), a layby on Dragons Lane looking both ways along the flash (SJ718623), and a pull-in on Green Lane (SJ719614), where summer growth can block the view.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Reed Bunting
- Winter
- Goosander, Golden Plover, Snipe, Barn Owl, Merlin, Brambling, Tree Sparrow
- Summer
- Water Rail, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart
- On passage
- Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Grasshopper Warbler
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Watch Lane Flash
A larger fished water with reedbeds and nesting Common Terns in summer.
11 records 9 species Latest: Sedge Warbler, 08/04/2026
Most recorded here Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Great Crested Grebe, Common Scoter, Linnet
Access and parking
View from the north and south sides; access is limited because of fishing. The gated car park is for anglers only, so park considerately where allowed. The footpath to the north is also worth walking.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler
- Winter
- Pochard, Goldeneye, Water Rail, Woodcock, Crossbill, Siskin
- Summer
- nesting Common Tern, warblers
- On passage
- Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Osprey, Yellow Wagtail, Tree Pipit
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Central area
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Elton Hall Flash
The most watched water on the patch, including the Salt Pan and the back pool. Location pin is for the viewing point.
657 records 162 species Latest: Cattle Egret, 04/10/2026
Most recorded here Common Tern, Blackcap, Oystercatcher, Stock Dove, Pintail
Access and parking
View from the sheltered viewing platform by the road bridge on Clay Lane, from the roadside, or from the side lane towards the railway for the back pool. Pull-in parking at the roadside (SJ725596). The road is busy, potholed and can flood after heavy rain, so cross with care. A scope is recommended.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Snipe, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Peregrine, (Tree Sparrow, sadly no longer).
- Winter
- Pintail, Goldeneye, Golden Plover, Water Rail, Merlin, white-winged gulls
- Spring and summer
- Garganey, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Hobby, Yellow Wagtail
- On passage
- Osprey, Cuckoo, Redstart, Whinchat, Wheatear, passage waders
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Fields Farm Flash
Two small pools on the east side of the railway line, just south of Elton Hall Flash.
8 records 7 species Latest: Barn Owl, 17/01/2025
Most recorded here Tree Sparrow, Barn Owl, Ring-necked Parakeet, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat
Access and parking
Follow the track beside the railway embankment.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Yellowhammer
- Winter
- Goosander, Black-tailed Godwit, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting
- Spring and summer
- Skylark, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Kingfisher
- On passage
- Common Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail
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Hancock's Flood
One of the floods beside Pump House Flash on Clay Lane.
2 records 2 species Latest: Green Sandpiper, 16/01/2026
Most recorded here Green Sandpiper, Wheatear
Access and parking
View from Clay Lane.
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Pump House Flash
A short walk along Clay Lane from Elton Hall Flash, with Rosemary's and Hancock's Floods alongside.
60 records 42 species Latest: Marsh Harrier, 05/09/2026
Most recorded here Little Ringed Plover, Marsh Harrier, Yellow Wagtail, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper
Access and parking
View from the roadside on Clay Lane. The road is busy and can flood after heavy rain, so take care.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Snipe, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Peregrine, Tree Sparrow
- Winter
- Pintail, Goldeneye, Golden Plover, Water Rail, Merlin, white-winged gulls
- Spring and summer
- Garganey, Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Hobby, Yellow Wagtail
- On passage
- Osprey, Cuckoo, Redstart, Whinchat, Wheatear, passage waders
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Railway Embankment
The railway embankment by Fields Farm Flash, with a track running north to the canal.
Access and parking
Follow the track beside the embankment.
Birds to look for
- All year
- Yellowhammer
- Winter
- Goosander, Black-tailed Godwit, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting
- Spring and summer
- Skylark, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Kingfisher
- On passage
- Common Sandpiper, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail
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Rosemary's Flood
One of the floods beside Pump House Flash on Clay Lane.
17 records 16 species Latest: Short-eared Owl, 31/08/2026
Most recorded here Sedge Warbler, Short-eared Owl, Reed Warbler, Little Owl, Whimbrel
Access and parking
View from Clay Lane.
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South area
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Groby Flash
Part of Railway Flash.
2 records 2 species Latest: Garden Warbler, 28/04/2022
Most recorded here Garden Warbler, Hawfinch
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Maw Green Tip
The former landfill on the southern edge of the flashes, long a draw for large gull flocks; numbers are expected to fall now the tip is closing. The plateau is a good spot for autumn migration watches.
93 records 48 species Latest: Whinchat, 31/08/2026
Most recorded here Whinchat, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Wheatear, Stonechat
Access and parking
Best reached from Groby Road. The footpath is often very muddy.
Birds to look for
- Winter
- big gull flocks, sometimes with Yellow-legged, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls
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Oaktree Flash
Part of Railway Flash.
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Railway Flash
Also covers Groby and Oaktree Flashes.
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Railway Flash 2
1 record 1 species Latest: Jack Snipe, 05/03/2026
Most recorded here Jack Snipe
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Site details adapted from the SECOS and CAWOS site guides.
