============================================ || || The Lincolnshire Wildlife News Bulletin || *** 1st March 2009 *** || || LNU Website: http://www.lnu.org/ || || "News of Lincolnshire's Wildlife" || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Readers hints, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. News from the Lincolnshire Coast NNRs 5. News from Far Ings NNR 6. News from Lincolnshire Limewoods NNR 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Roger Goy's UK Wildlife Hotline 10. Notes about these wildlife reports 11. Bulletin publicity policy 12. Events Diary ....and finally..... ============================================ The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Bulletin now goes to 860 addresses each week and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. Note: Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please make contact via the LNU Website: http://www.lnu.org/ or e-mail wildlifenews@lnu.org, or contact the Editor to join up and contribute articles or reports. [Or cancel!] E-mail: rparsons@enterprise.net ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU AGM *** Saturday 21 March 2009 Following the AGM, the LNU's President Colin Smith will talk on the Lincolnshire's Lepidoptera. At Whisby Education Centre Moor Lane, Thorpe on the hill Start 2pm For 2009 LNU meetings also see section 12 below or www.lnu.org/events.php *** Lincoln Area Mute Swan Census *** Anne Goodall writes: The next swan census is planned for the weekend of 14-15 March 2009. The survey area comprises the area between North Hykeham and Bardney on the River Witham, up to Langworth on the Barlings Eau, out to Odda on the Fossdyke and up the Main Drain from Fossdyke to Burton Pits, and includes all the rivers, delphs, drains, ponds, pools, pits and akes in this area. This includes the Witham Fens between the river/ South Delph, Nocton Delph and the Car Dyke. In addition to a count, with location, for any swans or groups found, this count will start the breeding survey. So we also need to identify any territorial pairs, and then follow them up to determine a) whether (and where) they nest; b) how many eggs are laid; and c) whether the eggs are incubated through to hatching (and if so, how many cygnets are hatched) or whether they are predated/taken etc. As for the last census, any offers of help will be very gratefully accepted, either to check a waterbody or stretch of water on the day, or to follow up and monitor a particular pair of swans. Basically, every sighting of swans between now and the end of April in the survey area is needed. Please help! Offers of help to me please: anne.goodall@esl-lincoln.co.uk records can be sent to the same address, or posted in the Bulletin. As for the last census, a short report will be posted in the Bulletin as soon as we have the results in. *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Talk *** Keith Scarrott writes Monday, 9th March, 2009. John Hounslow, Head of Licensing and Enforcement at the UK CITES Management Authority, Bristol, will give a brief history of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and its implementation in the EU. As well as the species included in the Convention his illustrated talk covers some of the main threats in international trade and some local problems in Lincolnshire. Non-members are welcome and that meetings are held at the Scunthorpe Museum, starting at 7.15pm. *** Early Bats *** Annette Faulkner writes: I was interested to read of the early bat report - in fact the first of several in the last few days - and all, I imagine, associated with the warmer night time temperatures. But I would be interested to hear of any others. Bats are not generally out before mid March, and if the temperatures drop again, as they surely will, they'll soon nip back for a few more weeks' hibernation. We also had our first casualty on 22 Feb, a brown long-eared from Belton (Grantham), which is so small it has to have been one of last year's juveniles that was born late in the season, but which has miraculously got through hibernation this far, though he was very underweight when he came in and wouldn't have survived much longer if he hadn't been found. He now appears to be on the mend. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 9th March the speaker of the indoor meeting will be Eddie Gaunt, chairman of the Scunthorpe & Brigg group. He will be giving an illustrated talk about Messingham Sand Quarry, a beautiful reserve with large areas of open water as well as woodland, heathlands and reed beds. The meeting will be held in the Banqueting Room of Grimsby Town Hall at 7.30 pm. There will be a Trust sales stall, raffle and refreshments. Admission £2.00. All are welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Birdnews from FOCALPOINT *** UPDATED DETAILS. Sign up for local and national news for only £15 p.a. with text messaging also available, details of this and other services at www.fpoint.co.uk 20/2/09 LINCS 20 Waxwing. Scunthorpe, 8am by Stephen H Smith's Garden Centre. 25/2/08 LINCS Great White Egret. Thurlby Fen, 10.20am on River Glen. LINCS 2w Glaucous Gull. Freiston Shore RSPB, 8am flew S.past. LINCS 2 Waxwing. North Hykeham, 1pm at Millenium Gren Lakes. LINCS ad Rough-legged Buzzard. 5ml S.of Louth, noon btw Farforth & Scamblesby nr Rowgate Hill crossroads TF296785. We are very grateful to FOCALPOINT for allowing us to reproduce Lincolnshire Birdcall reports, and strongly encourage keen birders to sign up to receive these on a regular basis. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Roger Goy's Reports and News *** Roger Goy Wildlife Helpline National Service Tel 01522 544245 New Mobile 07880 528453 Website: www.wildlifehelpline.org.uk 11/2 Bittern at Grebe Lake and in the reeds at Whisby Nature Park. 21/2 4 Corn Buntings singing on bushes on Horncastle Lane Dunholme. Male Marsh Harrier & Bittern Far Ings Barton-on-Humber. 23/2 Blackbirds making a nest in Rigsby. Grey Wagtail near Maidenwell old school. Adult Black Brant Goose and a Pale Bellied Brent Goose with approx. 1500 Dark Bellied Brent Geese in the Gibraltar Point area. 24/2 Spring Crocus out in Midville Close Lincoln. Male Black Redstart Lincoln Cathedral also pair of Peregrines. 2 Red Crested Pochards Hartsholme Country Park Lincoln. 25/2 Coot on old nest Boultham Park Lincoln and a Little Grebe seen. 2 Waxwings feeding on berries at Millenium Lakes North Hykeham. 4 Waxwings on Lidgard Road Humberston. 2nd winter Glaucous Gull past Freiston Shore. Great White Egret Thurlby Fen on the River Glen. A pair of Marsh Harriers have spent the winter at Dorrington Fen. Recently Honey Bees out in Rigsby collecting pollen from Snowdrops. Smooth Newts at Withern. Tawny Owl on the end of a garage in Nettleham Road Lincoln near Newport Cemetery. 6 Goosanders and 4 Tufted Ducks on the Upper Witham River in Lincoln near Russell Street Bridge. Smooth Newts in Old Bolingbroke. 21/2 Snowdrops showing well in Edlington off the main road near Crowders Nurseries and also on the top road at Cadwell. About 20 Cabbage Moth caterpillars in a Savoy Cabbage at Fossdyke near Boston. Lesser Black Backed Gulls over Hartsholme Country Park Lincoln and at Swanholme Lakes:- 5 Cormorants, 14+ Goosanders both males and females, Teal, 2 Shoveler, Common Gull and 2 Gadwall in area. Adult Rough Legged Buzzard just right of Rowgate Crossroads by tin hut at grid ref. 296785. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming, We rely on you to send in your observations and We welcome information from all readers, be they beginners or professionals. Thanks. ACRE GAP TF 525811 Chris J Manning 25/2/2008 Common Frog - 1st I have seen this year. CHAPEL ST LEONARDS Willoughby High drain Chapel St Leonards Sandra Smith 25th Feb 2009 Sunny day, pottering around in garden, I was startled by a very large Bumble Bee. It flitted around most of the day between our winter flowering Prunus and our winter honeysuckle. This is the earliest I have seen a Bumble Bee. Even more astounding, a pipistrelle bat was flying along the dyke (drain) in the daylight at 4 pm. We have had bats roosting behind our cladding since we moved here in 2001, but have never seen one this early nor at that time of day. The Drain was dredged this week and as last time. the Heron enjoyed going through the reeds that had been placed onto the verge. Thrush in full song over last five mornings, 3 Robins singing loudly and then chasing each other, presumably territorial. 2 Wrens, 5 Long tailed tits. Owl heard calling 2pm. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Count Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook 21 February 2009 14:29 Little Grebes 3 Black swan 1 Greylag geese 35 Canada geese 55 Mallard 61 Gadwall 9 Teal 13 Tufted Duck 8 Coot 21 Moorhen 21 Buzzard 1 Red Kite 1 Green woodpecker 1 Goldcrest singing Lesser Celandines now in bloom as well as abundant Snowdrops. HORNCASTLE LANE, DUNHOLME Jo Bramwell, Grahame Foster et al. 21 Feb. 2009 Corn buntings – 5 KIRTON WOOD SK 980330 Chris J Manning 27/2/2008 At least 10 frogs croaking in a water filled wheeling HOLBEACH RANGE R & K Heath 28/02/09 Selection from our WeBS count: Hen Harrier 1 male Kingfisher 1 Shorteared Owl 2 Stonechat 3 LOUTH OS 3486 C Byatt 26 February '09 Mistle thrush 1 - singing very loudly from top of old oak tree! PINCHBECK R & K Heath 27/02/09 A Buzzard flew over the rookery in Pinchbeck as was mobbed until it went out of sight. SPALDING TF245218 Annette Faulkner Blackbird in full song in our garden on Tuesday 24 Feb, and being answered by another. And again at dawn on 27th. A tad early? R.WELLAND - SPALDING TO DEEPING LAKES R & K Heath 22/02/09 Goosander 6 Mute Swans 129 on rape field Skylark singing Wigeon 60 Bumble bee in our garden on Saturday WHISBY Whisby Education Centre Alison Brownlow 21.02.2009 Brimstone butterfly Elm tree in flower WOODHALL SPA – OSTLER’S PLANTATION Rachel Scopes 22 February 2009 Ostler's Plantation, Woodhall Spa Adde WILDMORE FEN - TF 216534 R & A Parsons 21/2 Queen bumblebee over garden. Little egret in area. Barn owls hunting. No amphibians yet seen in pond, but toads and newts seen on road. Stockdove – pair 26/2 Tawny owls calling 27/2 Yellowhammer m on bird table ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs including RSPB Wash Reserves See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/birds/index.php http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lwt/seals/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT N.N.R. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/gib/index.php Katherine Bocock No report this week. SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker No report this week. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp Paul French No report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 28.2.09 BIRDS Max. Numbers = barn owl bittern 2 blackbird 50+ black headed gull 100+ blue tit 15 bullfinch 2 carrion crow 4 chaffinch 11 collared dove 4 common gull 6 coot 120+ cormorant 5 curlew 8 dunnock 6 gadwall 10 goldcrest goldeneye 9 golden plover 15 goldfinch 6 GBB gull 2 GC grebe 4 G S woodpecker 2 great tit 7 greenfinch 2 grey heron 2 greylag goose 120+ herring gull house sparrow 8 little grebe 7 long tailed tit 8 magpie 6 mallard 40+ marsh harrier M+F meadow pipit 2 mistle thrush 2 moorhen 30+ mute swan 8 pheasant 2 pochard 30 redshank reed bunting 3 robin 12 shelduck 32 short eared owl shoveler 20+ smew M snipe song thrush 4 sparrowhawk starling 50 tawny owl teal 6 tree sparrow 22 tufted duck 30+ water rail 4 willow tit 5 wood pigeon 12 wren 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specfic area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridleway only) No report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Sundays. Please e-mail in your contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] When sending in reports please follow this layout to save reediting: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms via Tori Sandilands at the Lincs Wildlife Trust Horncastle office, e-mail vsandilands@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: csmith@countrywidefarmers.co.uk *** Contacts List *** PC Nigel LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer - Community Safety Police HQ Deepdale Lane Nettleham Lincs LN57PH Tel 01522 558684 e-mail: nigel.lound@lincs.pnn.police.uk or Nige LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer County Police Station Sea Lane Ingoldmells Lincs PE24 44XX Tel: 01522 558684 *** Local Bat Helpline *** Gounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: A.Faulkner@care4free.net *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: A.Faulkner@care4free.net *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/bfly/index.php *** LNU Bees and Wasps Recorder *** Dr Michael Archer 17 Elmfield Terrace, Malton Road, York YO31 1EH. [Willing to check or identify any aculeate wasp or bee specimen. Such a specimen usually has to be relaxed and mounted on a pin before it can be examined. If more than a few specimens are sent in, they must be mounted.] *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is now a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** LNU Plant Galls Recorder *** Graeme Clayton 2 The Dene Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2LS g.clayton@ntlworld.com Willing to check or identify any plant gall material. Recording forms www.british-galls.org.uk *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group *** Geof White writes: If you have important information about badger activity or badger road casualties please e-mail the information to: kwibble@aol.com Alternatively telephone 01205 722355. *** Bird Club Recorder *** LBC County Bird Recorder Steve Keightley: steve.keightley@btinternet.com *** Other Useful Websites *** Key links are now being posted on the LNU website. http://www.lnu.org/ This should save space in the Bulletin, Check it out. Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. English Nature is now "Natural England" http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" Lincolnshire Environmental Awards http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Lincs. Wildlife Trust Website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Useful emergency numbers for wildlife crises. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/ Lincs Environmental Records Centre Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre newsletters can be downloaded from: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/ Development Officer, Margaret Haggerty's e-mail: mhaggerty@lincstrust.co.uk Tornado and Storm Research Organisation www.torro.org.uk Contact Ian Loxley on colarain@tiscali.co.uk RSPB Contact Details RSPB Website: www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: freistonshore@rspb.org.uk South Lincs RSPB Local group's website address: http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk/ Bardney Limewoods www.limewoods.co.uk [New URL] limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** Harlequin Ladybird Survey *** To report your sightings: www.harlequin-survey.org/ *** Sir Joseph Banks *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society is based at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre in Horncastle and a programme of events has been arranged for both members and non-members. New members to the Society are always welcome. Contact 01507 528223 or by email: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. Latest newsletter and related articles are available on: www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Trent Aegirs *** Don't forget that the bore often comes up to half an hour before the expected time. www.environment-agency.gov.uk and go to Midlands link or search for 'Trent Aegir'. or try: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/timetable_2-Trent.pdf *** Before You Set Out. *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisby@cix.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk Chambers Farm Wood NEW contact - Mary Porter Mary.porter@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Lincolnshire Bird Club Secretary - Janet Eastmead: janet.eastmead@talktalk.net Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Roger Goy's UK Wildlife Hotline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Telephone : 01522-544245 New Mobile 07880 528453 Website: www.wildlifehelpline.org.uk E-mail: roger@wildlifehelpline.org.uk A 24 hour service covering the British Isles. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net For the more general wildlife information coming via Roger Goy: roger@wildlifehelpline.org.uk Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen "in flower".] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will not be giving precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12. Events Diary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Winter Meetings 2008 *** Saturday 21 March 2009 Following the AGM, the LNU's President Colin Smith will talk on the Lincolnshire's Lepidoptera. At Whisby Education Centre Moor Lane, Thorpe on the hill Start 2pm For 2009 LNU meetings also see section 12 below or www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** The following address(es) gave an error message. I have deleted them from the mailing list. If you recognise any, please pass on a message - "Contact me if you wish to continue to receive the Bulletin." Thanks. Roger Mailfails helen.blenkharn rogerbirder ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/