L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - Friday 7th February 2025

The Bittern Diaries

Mike Roberts

Mike’s presentation focuses on his photography of bitterns and their behaviour. 

Mike also considers the status of bitterns in the UK and attempts to bring about their recovery.

Meet upstairs in the Derby Room at Leigh Library, 
WN7 1EB on Friday 7th March 2025

7:15pm seated for 7:30pm please.  Everyone is welcome.

Friday Night 10th January Meeting Cancelled


After discussions with fellow committee members, I, as the Chairman of the L.O.S. have decided to cancel tomorrow night's meeting at Leigh Library due to sub zero temperatures. It just wouldn't be fair to our elder members, which includes myself, risking falling and the cold etc.

The meeting will be cancelled indefinitely, which means it won't be rescheduled.
The next meeting at the library will be Friday 7th February.

Can I take the chance to wish all our members, A Happy New Year.
Paul Pennington
L.O.S. Chairperson

L.O.S. Annual General Meeting and the Retirement of Chairman, David Shallcross and Treasurer, Angela Pike

Friday night's Annual General meeting brought the end of an era for Leigh Ornithological Society, (L.O.S.) as they paid tribute to their chairman of thirty years, Mr. David Shallcross.

Having steered the club for so many years, one of David’s main focal points has been conservation. It is fitting that in his final year Pennington Flash achieved the status of a National Nature Reserve, the only one in the whole of Greater Manchester. Bickershaw was also to become a recognised Country Park.

David was also heavily involved with Pennington Flash Volunteer Group who over the many years have completed over 3,900 hours of work. He continues to support their work and is as eager now as he was on day one of the project

As a stalwart of the L.O.S., Mr. David Wilson made the presentation to David, paying gratitude to his unending enthusiasm as recognised by both members past and present. As a Society all members are grateful to have been in the hands of someone so dedicated to the position. We wish him well in his retirement and know that David will continue to enjoy steering the L.O.S. in the right direction.

Our Society would also like to pay a huge tribute and say “thank you” to David’s wife Anne. We recognise, teams are built upon support and without yours our Society would not be in the position that it is now.


As those in attendance at last night’s AGM will know, we also said “farewell” to another dedicated member of our Officers in that Mrs. Angela Pike retired from her role of ten years as our secretary.

Angela’s meticulous recording of our minutes have provided direction for both past and future members of the society, her essential skills are held in high esteem. Being able to reference the minutes of our meetings is essential work and without Angela’s accurate recording our society we would be unable to function.

Along with her husband George, Angela also attended many L.O.S. Field and Annual Trips being an unstinting member of our Society.

Your presence amongst from the Officers and Committee will be greatly missed along with all members of LOS. We wish you well Angela in any projects in which you are already involved and any future projects that you may be become involved in.

Here is Joan (left) presenting a bouquet of flowers to Angela (centre) for her dedicated work and skills of ten years.

L.O.S. Friday Night Presentation - Friday 6th September 2024


On Friday 6th September 2024 Dennis Atherton is kindly showing his latest presentation 

"Birding the Outer Hebrides"


Dennis begins his journey with a ferry from Oban to south Uist looking out for seabirds. On reaching the islands he is on the look out for owls and harriers along with noisy but elusive corncrake.

There are plenty of waders on these wondertul islands and rarer divers that Dennis is hoping to see. A visit to RSPB Balranald brings skuas and the magnificent Golden Eagle 

Meet in the Derby Room at Leigh Library, WN7 1EB on Friday 6th September 2024 
7:15pm seated for 7:30pm please.  Everyone is welcome.