Marsland Green - GC2MYNB

I found this one on a solo mission whilst on the way back from doing some birding at Pennington Flash. I'd read the description and clue beforehand, and so I didn't need to use my GPSr to find the location.

I've lived in Tyldesley for over 26 years, but I've never been down here before. The houses that back on to the canal are fantastic, some have patios on the canal bank and some have their own boats. I'd love to a house somewhere like this.

On the birding front, I've never seen so many house sparrows in one place before - in one garden next to the canal there must have been 25+ in just two trees, And in another nearby house there was a dovecote with some beautiful pure white doves in and around the garden.

Signed the tiny log - oops, I've dropped it in the canal (no I haven't, only joking!). A great little place.

Irwell Sculpture Trail no. 7 – The Lookout - GC1BGH4

I came to Clifton Country Park to do a spot of birdwatching and especially to see the red-headed Smew which is fairly rare around these parts.

The lake was largely frozen except for the part in front of the viewing platform and that's where all the birds had gathered, including the Smew. So, after half an hour of taking photos and chatting with fellow birders, I set off to find the cache.

I could soon see the 'Lookout' sculpture from the path and so headed towards it for a look round GZ. It took me longer than it should have done because I was undecided about which mass of fallen leaves to start looking under first.

Luckily I know the names of some trees and so I eventually picked the right one to investigate and soon I had the cache container in my hand.

What a great little place this is with free parking and a nice visitor's centre. I'll definitely be coming back to have a look round the Wet Earth Colliery industrial archaeology site here.