picnic whilst scanning for raptors. We have seen Kestrel and Buzzard regularly here, and Hobby occasionally hunting the hirundines over the sand quarry. Sand Martins formerly bred here in good numbers and still breed nearby. This mound also acts as a good vantage point for witnessing diurnal migration in spring and autumn with species such as hirundines, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Redwings, Fieldfares and Starlings moving through.
We often combine a visit here with several other sites to produce a good selection of birds. In winter we try Astbury Water Park at dawn to avoid disturbance, then call in at this site on our way to Sandbach Flashes. In spring and autumn we try Mow Cop at dawn followed by the Flashes, and then an evening stint at this site.
As an added incentive for you to visit this site, a well known local birder has covered this area for many years and a few of the mouth-watering local rarities he has seen include Nightingale, Ospreys and Long-eared Owls! Good hunting and don’t forget to enter your sightings in the SECOS logbook at Sandbach Flashes.
Andrew and Angela Goodwin
