Cain Scrimgeour wrote:

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Hi, my names Cain Scrimgeour, I've just been down to the University of Salford for an interview today. With a couple of hours spare afterwards I had a walk along the River Irwell, highlights were 2 Kingfishers, Grey Wagtail, 4 Stock Dove and once I reached the Irwell sculpture trail at SD 822 014 , first heard, then spotted a Green Sandpiper feeding on the nearside muddy bank, we get a number through Northumberland but generally later on in the summer, I thought this may be a good record for the site?. Cheers, Cain

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Hi Cain,

Firstly, a warm welcome to the forum and many thanks for taking the time to register and post details of your sightings on your visit to GM.

Green Sandpipers are always "good birds" to find anywhere in GM, although they can usually be found in small numbers (mostly at a few preferred sites) throughout a large part of the year, with birds usually being absent from our general recording area for just a few weeks at the height of the breeding season. The largest counts are sometimes of birds on return passage (Jul - Oct) but small numbers do over-winter. The part of the River Irwell that you mention does appear to be a favoured wintering site for this species, with up 2 birds seen throughout this latest winter slightly further upstream around the Agecroft Bridge area at SD807018. But it has also been recorded down river at The Cliff, where you observed yours, as well. Birds have also been seen further upstream in earlier years on the Irwell near Clifton Country Park at SD773044. It's possible it may be the same bird(s) wandering widely along a stretch of the river looking for good feeding opportunities?

Hope your interview went well and that you might soon become an honorary Mancunian and a regular poster on the GM birding forum!

Best wishes,

Bill.

Hi, my names Cain Scrimgeour, I've just been down to the University of Salford for an interview today. With a couple of hours spare afterwards I had a walk along the River Irwell, highlights were 2 Kingfishers, Grey Wagtail, 4 Stock Dove and once I reached the Irwell sculpture trail at SD 822 014 , first heard, then spotted a Green Sandpiper feeding on the nearside muddy bank, we get a number through Northumberland but generally later on in the summer, I thought this may be a good record for the site?. Cheers, Cain

Outwood Radcliffe
Bull Chaff Green Gold finch
Mistle thrush
Whitethroat WillowWarbler Chaffchiff
Linnet
Great Blue Long tailed tits
Swifts
House Martin
Usuals

Chaffinc

Took a stroll from Philips Park to the Irwell, round Ringley and back on the Sculpture Trail on Saturday. Between the rain, hail and sunshine there were a few birds trying to celebrate Spring.

Tufted Duck 12 (Ringley), 7 (Reservoir to south of M-Way)
Goldeneye 1 female (Ringley)
Gadwall 3 (Ringley)
Teal 6 (Ringley)
Goosander - pair displaying on Irwell
Grey Wagtail (R.Irwell)
Kestrel - pair
Buzzard - pair very vocal in the woods
Chiffchaff - 8 in various places

Also had a Roe Deer on the Trail whilst stopped for a cup of tea from the flask.

I am not sure where you mean by Bank Top Lodges, Prestolle Rd. Do you mean Shore Top Lodge (belongs to a fishing club) and Little Shore Top (closer to the R Irwell)?

Shore Top Lodges Prestolee Rd AM
Top Lodge
2 Teal Moorhen
Middle lodge
14 GC Grebe 2 Mute Swan Mallard C Goose
Bottom Lodge
Heron
Fields
Lapwing
Viewng Acces is by Foot path over middle lodger dam and from road

Correct Shore Top Lodge amended.
Lasge fishing lodge, with smaller one belowe but also smaller reedy pool above the main fishing lodge.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 27th of March 2009 12:55:11 PM

The sculpture trail is a cracking place Ian. I've found nesting GS Woodpeckers there on a few occasions, while it is cracking for all common woodland birds and the meadows above the woodlands are worth a look at too. They have Whitethroat, Partridge, and Yellowhammer, while in the winter plenty of Fieldfare and Redwings. Buzzards are regularly in the woods throughout the Spring/Summer too. Worth keeping you ears peeled for Grasshopper Warbler later in the spring, as they pass through Ringley, and keep an eye out for Butterflies, had Clouded Yellow there about 4-5 years ago and Purple Hairstreak in the Oak areas of the woods.

Small puddle/pond between Outwood Rd and Stand Lane on the Sounth of Ringley Rd thios morning
4 Teal
2 Mallard
Moorhen
BH Gull

Small pond at the top of Outwood Road and south of Ringley Rd West in Radclife
4 Morehen
4 Mallard
2 tufted Duck
6 Teal
Blackheaded Gull

Thanks Alan and Judith, yes you are both correct, it is Outwood. If you follow the trail would it come to the motorway and beyond?.
Cheers Ian

I agree with Judith and know it as Outwood Trail, part of National Cycle Network.
Think the Irwell Sculpure Trail goes from Salford to Rammy, this is just part of it.
Walking/Cycling south from ASDA Radcliffe, eventually come to Ringley woods with Ringley Sewage Works in valley below. Just good for common woodland species i.e. GS Woodpecker + Yellowhammer seen in open areas.

Is this not Outwood, Ian?

Walked about 3/4 mile along this starting at Radcliffe asda this afternoon, I've not visited before and was pleasantly surprised. Lots of standard woodland birds including 5 singing Chiffchaff, 9 singing Willow Warbler, 3 Tree creeper and heard a GSWoodpecker. Definately worth another visit I think, does anyone else out there know this trail?, does it get better further on I wonder. Cheers Ian