L.O.S. Fieldtrip to St. Aidan's RSPB - Sunday 14th April 2024

Our next fieldtrip is on Sunday 14th April to St. Aidan's RSPB. Please note that this is a change to the destination originally advertised as there is extensive flooding at Blacktoft Sands RSPB and the site is temporarily closed.

Meet at Doctor’s Nook Car Park (over the road from Leigh Library) at 7:30 am. If you are going straight there the address is St Aidan's Nature Park, Astley Lane, West Yorkshire, LS26 8AL

Please come prepared for wet/cold weather and bring sufficient food and hot beverages  to last the day. Non-RSPB members may have to pay a car parking fee.

The trip will be led by Keith Williams and you don’t need to be an experienced bird watcher to attend - we are a very friendly and welcoming group. 

Information about all our forthcoming field trips can be found here:

http://www.leighos.org.uk/p/fieldtrips.html

 

Please also note that whilst all reasonable care will be taken, the officers, committee and field trips’ leaders accept no responsibility for loss, damage, injury or fatality, howsoever suffered while on any field trips. Our public liability insurance does not cover non-members.

L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - 1st March 2024

' Walk in the Woods'

A talk by Dr. Kevin Briggs

Kevin’s presentation will focus on the nesting behaviour of four species; Pied Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Blue Tit and Great Tit. Based on many seasons of his in-the-field monitoring and shot through with over fifty years of the speaker’s ornithological nous, the talk will give us an intimate look at their breeding habits within a number of woodland study sites in our area.

Please meet in the Derby Room upstairs at Leigh Library at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start.  

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Greenheart Landscape Recovery Scheme Workshop

Join us to share your thoughts about local green spaces, and learn more about the Wigan Greenheart Landscape Recovery Scheme 

 

Book your FREE place on a 'Your Greenheart Landscape' Community Workshop (hosted by Lancashire Wildlife Trust) here: 

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/your-greenheart-landscape-community-workshops-tickets-781335534617

L.O.S. Fieldtrip to Burton Mere Wetlands and Parkgate RSPB - Sunday 11th February 2024

Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB is a reserve on the Wirral and Dee Estuary. As there is a very high spring tide due on Sunday 11th February at around 11.50am, we will meet on the Old Baths car park at Parkgate first in the hope of seeing some birds of prey such as Hen Harriers and perhaps even Owls. 

Anyone who wishes to make their own way should meet us there at 9.00am. The car park is situated behind the The Boathouse public house at the end of the North Parade, CH64 6RL. It's likely to be busy so the earlier to arrive the better really. 

The high tide depends a lot on the weather, the wind being in the right direction and air pressure all being in our favour. After this we can move on the Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. Warm waterproof clothing is recommended and stout footwear. A packed lunch and a flask is the norm, although there is a brand new cafe at Burton Mere.

Please leave any further questions in the comments below and I will gladly reply. Or even inbox me via Facebook. Looking forward to meeting you all this Sunday.

Thanks Paul (leighos.trips@gmail.com)

L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - 5th January 2024

The Ken and Jean Gallimore Memorial Lecture

'The Isle of May'

 by Michael Pettifer

Friday 5th January 2024 in the Derby Room upstairs at Leigh Library

Meet at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start - Admission Free and Everyone is Welcome

The Isle of May is a small island in the Firth of Forth in Scotland. The location means that for hundreds of years it has been of great importance for shipping (to avoid), so has housed various lighthouses and foghorns. The island is also of great importance in a natural history context. 

The sea cliffs and freedom from mammal predators has resulted in very large numbers of breeding sea birds. In addition the isolation on the East Coast often provides a haven for migrating birds. Flora and other fauna also provide much interest, but this talk will focus mostly on the birds of the Isle of May.

Michael has a keen interest in natural history, mountain activities and photography, and takes great delight in visiting new places and trying to combine all three interests. He been visiting the Isle of May annually since 2015 and hopes to continue visiting for many more years. He has been an active member of the Altrincham and District Natural History Society for many years.