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.

Society A.G.M

 The 52nd A.G.M. ran smoothly and all the officers were voted in for another year, thank you all for attending. The slide show which was made up of several members' best efforts showed what a talented bunch we are. We were also treated to a selection of Paul Richardson's pictures of his new birding patch since his move away for Leigh. The other contributors were:- Joan Disley, Jeff Hurst, Keith Williams, Peter Hodson, Lauren Taylor, Martyn Jones, Lesley Robb, Pauline Mellor-Greenhalgh, George Pike, and David Shallcross. Three members were awarded Honorary Membership for more than 50 years of outstanding service to L.O.S. Dave Jones, Jeff Hurst, and Joe Doherty. It was noted that once again special thanks go to Eddie King (Recorder) and Joan Disley (Editor) for the quality of the 6 bi-monthly newsletters and annual report they produce.

Best wishes to everyone David Shallcross (Chairman)

Annual General Meeting and Presentation - Friday 6th October 2023

Tonight is the Annual General Meeting or AGM of the Leigh Ornithological Society, established over 50 years ago. This is where reports about the Society's work done in the last year are explained, with the Society's finances available for perusal and members of the Committee are elected or re-elected.  This meeting will be followed by a selection of members' photographs. 

This is an important meeting as we are always on the lookout for people who are willing to serve the Society in any of its various aspects - we are currently requiring a Conservation Officer which is a very important post in the Society.

If you are interested in joining the Society as a member or even a member of the Committee, please do attend tonight and meet with our friendly group of people who all have a common interest in birds, wildlife, nature conservation and the environment.

L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - 1st September 2023

The Wildlife of Extremadura

On Friday 1st September 2023, Leigh Ornithological Society will be hosting a presentation by Mike Roberts. His presentation entitled “Wildlife of Extremadura” will be held in the Derby Room, 1st floor Leigh Library, Civic Square, Market Street, Leigh, WN7 1EB. 

The presentation will mainly about the birds of the Spanish Steppes featuring species such as Great and Little Bustards and numerous raptors but to include some botany and landscape images. Extremadura is considered one of the most important regions in Europe for birds and thus it is among the most prized destinations for birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers from all over the world and is accessible for those of us in North-West Europe.

Everyone is welcome free of charge but a small donation to our funds from non-members would be gratefully accepted. Meet at 7:15p.m. for a prompt 7:30p.m. start and finish time is usually around 9:15pm. 

(Non-members and inexperienced bird watchers are very welcome) 

L.O.S. Fieldtrip to RSPB Marshside - Sunday 17th September 2023

The L.O.S. Fieldtrip Season Resumes

The first field trip of the new season will be to RSPB Marshside in Southport.

Meet at Doctor’s Nook Car Park (opposite Leigh Library) at 8:00 am. If you are going straight there the address is Marine Drive, Southport PR9 9PJ.  

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 £3 car parking fee.

Contact L.O.S. Field Trips Officer, Paul Pennington, at leighos.trips@gmail.com if you would like to find out more about the trip - you don’t need to be an experienced bird watcher to attend and 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.

50 Years Remembered

At this exact time, fifty years ago tomorrow, Frank Horrocks and six lads in their late twenties gathered in the Britannia Inn on St. Helens Road in Leigh to talk about forming a society which would promote the case for the conservation of Pennington Flash. This was not the first attempt at forming a local conservation group, for in 1938 Tom Edmondson, although still a pupil at Leigh Boys’ Grammar School, had brought together three friends with an interest in birdwatching to consider creating a naturalists’ recording group. This ambitious move would hopefully evolve into a group with wider objectives, most notably “preserving and protecting” the countryside, but the beginning of the Second World War brought the venture to a disappointing end, and later attempts, in 1948 and 1958, to follow a similar course towards the conservation of Pennington Flash came to nothing! 

And so to the early Spring meeting in the Britannia Inn! As I recall, there was no proven specific threat to the flash at that time, but an uneasy feeling that the future was unpredictable and that if we could achieve some form of protective status for the flash it would counter any unwanted “development” and prevent the adverse effects of power-boating and shooting on what the short-lived 1958 initiative had advocated - “to create an area of undisturbed natural beauty”. In those distant days, the flash was not watched on most winter days and sightings went unrecorded! The seven friends who came together were all in full-time employment, but some still managed to make brief visits. 

In the preceding 1970-71 winter, typical features of the flash were the wintering flocks of hundreds of predominantly drake Pochard, large gatherings of Common Snipe and occasional visits by Short-eared Owls to the north bank grasslands. My diary informs me that in the days following the Britannia meeting 5 Garganey arrived, 12 Wigeon passed through and, unexpectedly, Ruff and Red-necked Grebe made brief visits in the last few days. By the end of the moth, Skylark and Meadow Pipit songs dominated the north bank choruses and Spring was well under way. 

The Britannia meeting lasted for over an hour! There had been some worries about what “the proposed development of Pennington Flash”, presumably by Leigh Corporation and Lancashire County Council, would entail, though what the exact details of the “development” were eludes my memory! What is clear, and is documented in the very first Society minutes book, is that Charlie Owen suggested that our group should bear the title “Leigh Ornithological Society”; there would be an annual Leigh Bird Report; and I was to write to Leigh Corporation and Lancashire County Council expressing our concerns about plans for the flash. 

At the second get-together, Charlie was appointed Treasurer and I was appointed Secretary; the initial subscription was to be 5/-; Roy Rhodes was to design and supply headed note paper! We were on our way, uncertain and cautious of how we would proceed, but, for four of us, there was a compulsive determination to give our all to pursue rhe mission to help conserve the varied flash habitats. We were also to widen our horizons by going public and adding meetings and publications to our aims towards involving like-minded supporters in what would be a service to the general public and wildlife alike! Fifteen members contributed towards the 1971 Report, 24 to the 1973 Report and double that by 1975. 

The Derby Room in Leigh Library became almost a spiritual home. Attendances at Friday evening meetings soon exceeded 100 and twice reached 132; membership rocketed throughout the Leigh area; and individual Committee members worked tirelessly towards safeguarding important local sites - the late Raymond Yates at Low Hall Park; Tony Middlehurst at the Wigan Flashes; the late Alban Wincott at Doffcocker and Rumworth; Ken Green and Brian Derbyshire at sites in Chorley; Peter Barlow at Risley Moss; and Roy Rhodes at Astley Moss and Hope Carr. 

And so to the present! The indefatigable David Shallcross and Paul Richardson are committed to promoting the conservation cause throughout the area; Joan Disley and Eddie King continue their dedication to producing excellent publications; and, over the years, members too numerous to mention have enhanced the Society’s reputation in the fields of education, site visits and, perhaps, most of all, in extending the hands of companionship and friendship to old and young from many walks of life. In conclusion, an opportune meeting two days ago dispelled some of my worries about what has been happening at Pennington Flash, and the next half century is likely to bring long-awaited benefits for all - with a state-of-the art visitor and information centre, adequate on-site staffing and the prospect of becoming an integral part of the proposed National Nature Reserve! In the fulfilment of this vision, I trust that present Society members will be involved in deciding what should happen - as informed participants in a grand vision rather than passive onlookers at what others may deem to be appropriate! What would Tom Edmondson, Frank Horrocks and many other dear departed friends have thought of these forthcoming goings-on? 

Hopefully, I and many of my contemporaries, will be able witness the long-term benefits of this welcome initiative, grateful that the Society’s original intentions and the commitment of countless members has been rewarded. Covid restrictions prevent any form of a celebratory Britannia reunion on our anniversary date, but I am fortunate to live close to the flash and tomorrow, at half-past-seven, I intend to spend a short time by Pennington Brook and recall the events of fifty years ago. The bypass now blocks my view of the flash, but I’ll look towards Byron Hall and think of a young Tom Edmondson making his way there to meet his boyhood friend, John; I’ll allow my memory to transport me to the north bank and join Frank Horrocks, lighting his pipe, sheltered from the wind behind a cinder bank, and enjoying a conversation about what to look back on, what to look forward to, and the musical pleasures offered to us both by Beethoven, Schubert and Sibelius! 

And, certainly, my mind’s eye will take me through the wooded brook bank to the towering Pennington church and, just beyond it, the Britannia Inn, the cradle of some young men’s aspirations half-a-century ago. I’m pleased that I was part of the movement to conserve a special place - but even more pleased that there are so many present Society members determined to continue working towards guarding and enhancing a vital part of our cherished wild heritage!

Dave Wilson - Founder Member of the L.O.S.

'Pennington Flash Memories' by Dave Wilson

Here is Dave Wilson's original cine film entitled 'Pennington Flash Memories' which he used to give a talk about the importance of Pennington Flash as a home and nesting place for resident birds and feeding station for migrants as well as a home for wild flowers. There is currently no sound although I'm hoping be able to add some form of commentary later.

 

Memories Of 50 Years Ago by Jeff Hurst

As most if not all of you will already know the Leigh Ornithological Society is 50 years old this year. This got me thinking back to when it all started.

I had already been in contact with Dave Wilson about something and then he told me about a meeting that would take place and it was about possibly forming a bird society. I attended this meeting where a small group of people explained about this idea they had about forming a bird society and told what they were trying to achieve etc. There was some good feedback from the people that had gone to the meeting and from what was said by the end of the evening it was decided that it would be worth forming a society so I joined on that evening before a bird society had even been formed and this was to be the Leigh Ornithological Society.

Of course it took a little while to set things up and put everything in place but eventually I received Newsletter No 1 dated November 1971 which was just three side of foolscap long. For any of our younger members “foolscap” was the size of the paper we used to have before “A4” appeared on the scene. This was a little longer than A4 but slightly narrower and on it was the bird records for August, September and October 1971. At the beginning of the newsletter it started by saying that in March of 1971 it was decided to form the Leigh Ornithological Society.

At first there were no organised site trips as such but in Newsletter No 4 was printed a list of local bird watching sites with a contact name at the side so you could arrange a visit for a look round. For Pennington Flash you could contact Dave Wilson, for Borsdane Wood – Roy Yates, Chat Moss was Howard May and so on. I had never been to Chat Moss and didn’t know much about this area so eventually I wrote to Howard May saying I was interested in a visit. He wrote back to say a few other people had also shown an interest in the area so he would arrange a walk and would get back to me with the details on where and when to eet up etc. Not long after this, as good as his word, he wrote to me again to say he had arranged for a walk on 6th May and this was in 1973.

From memory Charlie Owen and Tony Middlehurst came on the walk plus a few other people but I am not sure they were. Two of these people I got to know while on the walk were Harold Theobald and Bryce Rigby. The three of us got on well together so after this we would usually sit together or near each other at the Derby Room meetings. Sometime later we started with our trips outside our area when we usually had a spring trip around the middle of May and an autumn trip in September/October and these were coach trips that were usually fully booked up. When we arrived at our final destination everyone would split up into smaller groups and again Harold, Bryce and I would normally walk round together.

In 1985 I received the shock news that Harold had died so after this Bryce and I would sit together at the Derby Room meetings until sadly Bryce died in 2019. Over all these years every now and again we would talk about one or other of the trips we had been on but one trip that came up a few times was our trip to Chat Moss with Howard May, he had “walked our legs off” that day but I think we had all really enjoyed it.

As for the birds we saw, these are as follows: - There were the more common birds such as Magpie, Blackbird, Blue Tits etc., but also Wheatear – Whitethroat – Goldfinch – Corn Bunting – Lapwing (with young) – Greenfinch – Curlew – Willow Warbler – Yellowhammer – Redpoll – Swallow – Pied Wagtail (carrying food) – Reed Bunting – Partridge – Little Owl (being mobbed by Robin and Blackbird).

We also heard Pheasant, Cuckoo and Turtle Dove but unfortunately didn’t see these and in a more wooded part of the Moss we found a Mallard’s nest with eggs in it. Not a bad list and I had seen or heard 4 new species and it was interesting to walk round a new type of area I had never seen before.

I am pretty sure I won’t be around for the next 50 years but it is possible the Leigh Ornithological Society will be to create another 50 years of memories; so for the moment this is in memory of Howard May, Harold Theobald and Bryce Rigby.

Jeff Hurst

Tribute to Charlie Owen

On Friday 10th March 2023 members of Leigh Ornithological Society and friends gathered at the former Teal Hide for its official renaming to 'The Charlie Owen Hide', to scatter his ashes and to say goodbye to Charlie, a founder member of the L.O.S. who was Chief Ranger at Pennington Flash Nature Reserve.

From Teal Hide to The Charlie Owen Hide

It’s very apt that a hide should be named for Charlie as he and the Flash were almost synonymous with each other nearly all of his life. He grew up a few streets away from here in Etherstone Street. When he was child, the area that is now the Country Park and Reserve was an abandoned dessert of rubble and left over railway embankments and was a mecca for local kids to play at, which Charlie did with his best friend Howard May. 

Photo by John Tymon

When he got into his teens, despite suffering quite badly, all of his life with asthma, he somehow persuaded his mother to let him have a dog, a springer spaniel and during those exercising dog walks – at the Flash of course – his interest in bird watching grew and grew. He was emotionally much attached to the Flash, as anyone who grows up in one place very often is. He remained involved with it, and it was his ambition to work here, which eventually he did and was responsible for planning much of the reserve and wader scrapes, even working on some parts during the reserve creation, driving JCB’s and bulldozers! 

Photo by Roy Rimmer

The Reserve and the Flash as a whole was always his ‘pet project’! You could take the man out of the Flash and make him go on holiday but I always had the suspicion that away was ok, but getting back round the Flash again was all that really mattered! Reuniting him this final time with his beloved Flash, by scattering his ashes here, will surely mean his soul has finally come home. R.I.P. Charlie. 

Article by Pauline Greenhalgh 

Photo by David Boardman

L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - 14th April 2023

Our next Derby Room speaker is Dennis Atherton who will be talking about his latest exploits from two separate birding holidays to Tenerife and Madeira. He was looking for all the usual rarities on offer on these Atlantic islands, covering both sea and land, from the common Island Canaries to the beautiful Blue Chaffinch and the holy grail bird, the hard to see Zino's Petrel.

The trip included night-time mountain climbing for nocturnal birds, weirdly getting really excited about sparrows and pigeons and three separate pelagic boats trips, one of which he has been trying to forget!

Expect Dennis' excellent photography and entertaining commentary.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Important Fieldtrip Date Change

The date of the L.O.S. Hodbarrow fieldtrip has been changed.

It will now be on Saturday 20th of May meeting at 7.30am at Doctors Nook car park in Leigh, just over the road from the Library. There is a high tide around lunchtime.

The previous date clashed with the King's coronation so we thought it best not to have it then. Of course, this wasn't known at the time that the fieldtrips were planned.

L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - 3rd March 2023

The Plight of the Humblebee!

An illustrated talk by Louise Bentley on behalf of Lancashire Wildlife Trust

At Leigh Library on Friday 3 March 2023 at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start.

A delve into the fascinating world of bees! Prepare to be humbled at their industrious nature, intelligence, sense of community and gentle nature. But it's not all about the Honeybee or even the cute Bumbles, the UK is home to a wide range of overlooked but no less important Solitary Bees. But why do we need them and how can we help keep them buzzing and save the sound of summer?

Find out what you can do in any space to help save our pollinators.

Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

The renaming of the Teal Hide to the Charlie Owen Hide

Pennington Flash

 The renaming of the Teal Hide to the Charlie Owen Hide and the scattering of Charlie's ashes will take place on the 10th of March at 11 am. Everyone is welcome to attend.