============================================ || || 15th August 2010 || || LNU Website: http://www.lnu.org/ || || News of Lincolnshire 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.. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary ....and finally..... ============================================ The Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Bulletin is being read by 898 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. LNU Wildnews Bulletins are available on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Note: Each address contains the relevant date. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor Writes *** As we tighten our financial belts, I wonder what the cost will be to Lincolnshire's wildlife. All environmental priorities are sure to be questioned and the gains made in recent years may be under threat. It is a time for all concerned to campaign and support. Where government looks like pulling out of conservation schemes we need to make a case for continued funding. Where conservation charities are feeling the pressure, members and friends need to do their bit and go the extra mile. If we are relentless in reporting wildlife crime, this will show in the statistics and will be difficult to brush under the carpet. That will move wildlife crime up the priority list for action. The rainstorms of the past week have spoiled the opportunity to enjoy the annual Perseid shower. I managed to see 3 good meteors at 1.30am on the Thursday 13th and that was it. You may still spot the occasional shooting star as we get to the end of the shower. Did anyone else see any? Can I ask ALL readers to join our regular contributors and send in a wildlife report or two, All must know by now how much we need and want to have your reports. It is the only payment we ask for the Wildnews Bulletin, but less that 5% make the effort. If you don't use it you could lose it. Please help. Thanks. Roger *** Free Course *** Brian Hedley sent in the following: Free Course Wednesday September 15th – 'Introduction to Grassland Management' Venue – Trent Port, Marton – parking at the end of Trent Port Road, DN21 5AL (folow track on left towards pumping station) Time: 10am to 4pm, bring packed lunch. To book place contact: Gill Wilde, Training Coordinator, East Midlands, BTCV, Conservation Training Centre, Chestnut Grove, Burton Joyce, NG14 5DZ, Tel: 0115 931 3316, email g.wilde@btcv.org.uk *** RSPB Coach Trip *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: COACH TRIP TO OLD MOOR RSPB RESERVE, SOUTH YORKSHIRE. Sunday 17th October. The South Lincs RSPB has organised a coach trip to this superb reserve, with excellent facilities, in the heart of The Dearne Valley. A wonderful place for wildlife with fens, reedbeds, marshland and open water which attract thousands of migrating birds. Coach leaves Boston 9am. Adults £12-50, child £6. Please book early-spaces are limited. Contact 01529-241615. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Birdnews from FOCALPOINT *** UPDATED DETAILS. Paul Brewster writes: Unfortunately I have had to leave my job at BirdCall and as the sole operative this means that the service will no longer continue. I apologise but find myself looking for a new job so I cannot do anything about this situation. All Birdcall services will cease in the next few days, and refunds will be made - see below. However, I am very pleased to have made arrangements for an alternative service for members with the kind support of RBA (Rare Bird Alert). If you sign up with them in the next two weeks* all Birdcall members can get a text alert or web access service at an identical cost to that of your current BirdCall service, as a special reduced price introductory offer. You will get the first class Rare Bird Alert service, 7 days a week, but would pay the same rate as you are currently - and seeing as we were likely to have to put up our Birdcall prices in the coming weeks, in my opinion, it's a deal not to be missed. What's more, if you stick with them, RBA commit to always keeping costs down for Birdcall members, so you will always be offered a discounted Birdcall rate when it comes to renewal. Upgrading to RBA's excellent pager service would be my personal recommendation. Again RBA have kindly offered to do you a special one-off introductory offer, and if you stick with them after that, you will always get a Birdcall discounted rate. For full details of what I have negotiated for you, simply email RBA on admin@rarebirdalert.co.uk or if you do not have email, call RBA admin on 01603 457016 Mon-Fri 10am - 4pm and mention that you are an ex-BirdCall Member and are looking to take up the introductory offer. RBA will of course check with me that you qualify. In order to speed up your enrolment for SMS I will try to provide RBA with your previous requirements. The BirdCall landline and mobile numbers will no longer operate on, or soon after, July 31st. All text credits outstanding will be refunded at cost as will any time owed on the BirdCall service. Please call 01925 730399 or email focalpoint@dial.pipex.com to claim a refund and I will advise Focalpoint of the amount due to each member. I hope that you are able to take up RBA's kind offer and apologise again for this premature cessation of service. Thanks for all your support over the years. Paul Brewster We are very grateful to FOCALPOINT for allowing us to reproduce Lincolnshire Birdcall reports, and strongly encourage keen birders to visit the company website to keep up with developments. www.fpoint.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. No articles this week. *** 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. BOSTON 12/08/10 Roy and Kath Pearson We had a Treecreeper in our garden today. This is a most unusual bird here. THORPE CULVERT AREA, NR WAINFLEET TF469 608 (central point for area covered) LNU Meeting led by Chris Manning and attended by 12 people. 8 August 2010 Via Brian Hedley. Mammals: included Brown Hare and Brown Rat Birds: 27 species noted including two kingfishers, yellow wagtail, green sandpiper and barn owl Dragonflies: Nine species noted including small red-eyed damselfly (a new site with breeding activity noted), emerald damselfly, banded demoiselle, emperor and ruddy darter. Butterflies: Ten species noted including wall brown, small copper, comma and speckled wood. Plants: A good variety of wetland and aquatic species noted including soft hornwort (possibly only third site in county), fan-leaved water crowfoot, flat-stalked pondweed and flowering-rush. Additional species information yet to be fowarded. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 A & R Parsons w/e 14/8/10 Buzzard and Tawny owl over garden mobbed by local Carrion crows. Sparrow hawk - mobbed by hirundines. Butterflies: Holly blue, hedge brown. peacock, red admiral, comma. 12/8/10 Kingfiosher along Hurnbridge Drain by bridge. 9.30am approx. Also - Marsh harrier in distance. Weasel crossing Hurnbridge Road asspox TF 218545. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Details from Gibraltar Point: 08/08/2010 White-rumped Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper 2 09/08/2010 Arctic Skua 5 Black-tailed Godwit Common Tern 90 Gannet 15 Green Sandpiper Lesser Whitethroat 10 Little Egret 30 Little Ringed Plover Little Tern 11 Marsh Harrier Montagu’s Harrier Sandwich Tern 600 Spoonbill 7 Spotted Redshank Turtle Dove Whimbrel 20 Willow Warbler 30 Wood Sandpiper 10/08/2010 Little Egret 32 Spoonbill 9 11/08/2010 Arctic Skua Avocet Black-tailed Godwit Common Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Grey Wagtail Little Egret Little Ringed Plover Little Tern Marsh Harrier Sandwich Tern Snipe Spoonbill 11 Spotted Redshank Wood Sandpiper Yellow Wagtail 12/08/2010 Arctic Skua Avocet Black-tailed Godwit Common Sandpiper Common Scoter Common Tern Cuckoo Gannet Garden Warbler Green Sandpiper Greenshank Lesser Whitethroat Little Egret Little Tern Marsh Harrier 3 Peregrine 2 Sandwich Tern Spoonbill 11 Spotted Redshank Tree Pipit Wood Sandpiper Yellow Wagtail 13/08/2010 Arctic Skua 4 Black-tailed Godwit 60 Common Sandpiper 4 Common Scoter 50 Dunlin 2000 Fulmar Gannet 10 Green Sandpiper 3 Greenshank 30 Grey Plover 400 Knot 40,000 Little Egret 20 Little Tern 5 Oystercatcher 200 Redshank 150 Ringed Plover 160 Sanderling 2300 Spoonbill 13 Spotted Redshank Swift Whimbrel Wood Sandpiper SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker No report yet. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore John Badley RSPB Lincs Wash Reserves sightings July 2010 RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp The unseasonal Whooper Swan remained until 10th, while two Egyptian Geese appeared from 23rd and two Garganey from 31st. A Spoonbill made quite an impression on the stickleback population from 14th to 16th, when feeding it ate one every three seconds! Seven birds were seen on 26th. Waders included up to 1000 each of Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper on 15th and 22nd/23rd, Wood Sandpiper on 2nd/3rd and 22nd, along with up to 30 Greenshank and 20 Green Sandpiper and 15 Little Ringed Plover. A Red Kite on 5th and Merlin from 9th were the bird of prey highlights. A third-summer Caspian Gull on 15th was a reserve first, with an adult Yellow-legged Gull seen on 17th. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp Wader numbers started in increase from mid-month, with peak counts of 6000 Knot and 3500 Dunlin on 27th and 1141 Oystercatchers on 21st. A record count of 120 Avocets were present on 8th.Up to four Common Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank and a Curlew Sandpiper (30th) were also seen. Two Black Terns were offshore on 27th, but the rarest bird of the month, a first for the reserve, was a Green Woodpecker on 28th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 14.08.10 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bearded tit 3 blackbird 10 blackcap 2 black headed gull 200+ black - tailed godwit 3 blue tit 9 bullfinch 2 carrion crow 4 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 6 collared dove 2 common gull 30+ common tern 6 coot 100+ cormorant 2 curlew 8 dunnock 4 golden plover 100+ goldfinch 21 GBB gull GC grebe 5 GS woodpecker great tit 4 greenfinch 4 grey heron 2 greylag goose 13 herring gull 4 house martin 3 house sparrow 15 kingfisher 3 lapwing 90 linnet 5 little grebe magpie 4 mallard 32 moorhen 15 mute swan 8 pheasant 2 pied wagtail 3 pochard 12 redshank 2 reed warbler 3 reed bunting 4 robin 10 sand martin 22 sedge warbler 2 shoveler 18 song thrush starling 8 sparrowhawk 2 swallow 21 tawny owl tufted duck 60 turtle dove water rail 4 whitethroat 2 willow tit 2 willow warbler 3 wood pigeon 7 wren 14 yellow wagtail ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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) Adrian Royle's website for photos of species from the Limewoods. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157616635241942/ No reports yet. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. [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 Bulletin layout to save editing: 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: csmith668@btinternet.com *** 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 e-mail: nigelound@btinternet.com *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel.07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk, Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. *** 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 *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** 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.] *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to chris@lincsdeer.info Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** New Met Office Service *** The Met Office website now offers an email notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090727.html *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is 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 Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** 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, Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. 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 The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, cbarnes@lincstrust.co.uk or for more general queries: info@lincsbiodiversity.org.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 Bardney Limewoods www.limewoods.co.uk limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society Contact 01507 528223 or by email: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. www.joseph-banks.org.uk EasyTide Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx The Weatherb Outlook 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: whisbynp@lincstrust.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. 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 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 and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. 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.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Sunday 12th September Sailors Home area, Wrangle, NE of Boston 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take Sea Lane off of A52 south of Wrangle and follow towards coast. Park on minor road verge at approx TF444 492. Take care to avoid blocking field entrances. Habitats: Saltmarsh, rough grassland and ditches. Leaders: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com and Paul Kirby. Sunday 10th October Hoplands Wood and Willoughby Branch Line, South of Alford. Both LWT Reserves. Fungus Foray 12.00 for 13.00 start. Hoplands Wood site first. This wood is found on the Willoughby-Claxby road, about 4 km (2.5 miles) south of Alford and 1 km (0.6 miles) west of the B1196 road. Park on verge at TF459 718. Willoughby Branch Line located at TF474 736. Habitats: Mixed Woodland, grassland, scrub, disused railway. Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find a copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Recent mailfails: bangladeshwildlife kateyp alex@parker tubd rummery pipnix@me.co If you recognise any failed address, please ask them to contact me with a new address if they wish to continue to receive the Bulletin. Thanks. Roger ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/ Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/No Spam, Please!