L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - 3rd May 2024

Our final Derby Room presentation for the 2023/24 season is on Friday 3rd May 2024 at Leigh Library.

This illustrated talk will be presented by Alan Bedford whose subject is:

How the Estuary Works for Birds!

In his presentation Alan will explain the ecology of estuaries and why they are so productive (with an emphasis on saltmarshes).

"The UK is Internationally important for its coastal birds. Any bird watcher knows that our estuaries offer a real spectacle during the winter months and the NW estuaries together can support over 700 000 birds during this period. This talk looks at what the sandflats, mudflats and saltmarshes have to offer birds at these peak times and throughout the year."

We meet at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start upstairs in the Derby Room at Leigh Library. Admission is free although it would be nice if you would buy a raffle ticket to support further presentations like this one. 

Everyone is welcome, so why not come and join us.

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.

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.