============================================ || || 26th December 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 Bardney 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 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ The Lincolnshire Naturalists Union Bulletin is being read by 925 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Wassail *** "Waes Hael" to all Bulletin readers. Many thanks to all who contributed over the past year, without whom it would be a short read indeed. Please keep your reports coming. It has been especially good to have regular news from the major LWT and RSPB reserves and LWT recorders. A big thank you to some very busy people. I wish you all the very best for the coming year. Roger *** Impact of the Big Freeze *** I have had a note from Brian Eke recommending a special effort to observe and record any detectable impact of the recent cold weather. He is promoting this via the Lincs Bird Club website, but is keen to encourage everyone to use their own network of agencies to make sure we report findings, e.g. mortalities and survival of species, changes/trends in numbers and distribution. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-238578 Even simple observations like the dead hedgehog I saw last week could add up to become significant in the big picture. Brian's point applies to far more than birds and the winter alone. We shall need to note how plants and invertebrates respond in the spring. How have the bats done? Are rabbit numbers down? What about transmission of Myxomatosis due to time spent in burrows? Did anyone spot a stoat "in ermine"? I rather hoped that last winter's cold would make ermine a more common sight this winter. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Stoat http://www.mammal.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&id=233 First and last sightings are always useful indicators, first snowdrops, primroses, bluebells, wasps, bees, butterflies. The last Waxwing/Fieldfare seen etc. The first cuckoo/Painted lady? Have Kingfishers survived? Herons? Wrens? Barn/Tawny Owls? By all means use the Bulletin as a route for recording such observations, as it is widely read by county recorders. Roger http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8575537.stm *** Solstice Lunar Eclipse *** Editor writes: I missed it due to cloud, though I did get a stunning view of the moon at 5-5.30am walking round the garden with the dogs with everything covered in hoarfrost. -7degC. p.s. If you missed it too, then visit the following link sent in by Gordon William. Excellent. http://www.maeshowe.co.uk/ Hendrina Ellis writes: Watched the eclipse this morning from about 6.30 in Stamford, Water Street by Albert Bridge, clear sky, but view sometimes obscured by trees hung with hoarfrost. (How beautiful can it get?). Luckily saw last slice disappear between two roofs. Temperature ­6.7 degC. Icicles hanging off lamp post. Failed to notice time! Wonderful start to Christmas. Dave Billmore: Splendid views from our garden in Haxey. Went out about 07.00. It was still fully dark and the moon was clearly visible with almost half of its surface a dull coppery colour. Over the next 45 minutes the shadow extended further over the face until by around 07:45 it was completely covered. However by then it was becoming increasingly difficult to see in the brightening dawn, and shortly faded from view. It was still above the horizon at this point. Binoculars brought out some surface details. Well worth getting up, and wrapping up for. The dawn was beautiful as well! Roy Harvey: Outside my Grasby home at about 06.40, thermometer recording -10degC, complete with camera on tripod. Had good views until the moon was just disappearing into the rising mist. Ian Misselbrook: Good views until about 70% coverage then it dropped too low to see properly. Very beautiful for about 40 minutes. Coupled with the spectacular hoarfrost and the solstice all rather eerie! Cliff Hillyer: We had an absolutely brilliant view of the eclipse at Stamford, with total at 7.40. However during the next five or ten minutes there must have been fog descend as we saw no reappearance. Philip Newth: I had a beautiful view from Keelby at 07:20 this morning. Crystal clear sky, temperature -10 degC. (Nearly made me late for work) Moon was about 25% in direct light and rest was dull red. Location was where the midsummer sun would set. Through binoculars I got a real three D impression. The moon actually looked like a sphere as opposed to the usual flat disk look in normal circumstances. I was not expecting anything, just looked out and saw it. William Gordon, exile, somewhat out of county!: A really splendid one here in Orkney this morning, so witnessed the whole experience from about 6.35am when the Moon took on a pinky hue for approximately half an hour, gradually 'shrinking' as the curvature of Earth was superimposed on it - until eventually it looked like a New Moon. We're blessed here with absolutely no light pollution, and it had been a lovely frosty clear night, so the conditions were perfect. What a truly wonderful Winter Solstice! Other comments: Kev Wilson: Thanks for the reminder - just typical that the moon was obscured by thick cloud and the remnants of freezing fog to the west! Lovely sunrise to the east though! Mike Pickwell: Got great views here in Grimsby! Lovely clear sky! Dave Ellis: Excellent view until total. No pink surface, then moon had set below trees. John Walker: I watched the full action at 0630 hrs in clear and very cold (- 10.0oc) conditions. *** Editor adds: IMPORTANT! SOLAR ECLUPSE on 4th January 2011 *** Don't forget we have a partial solar eclipse literally coming up on 4th January, when the Sun will be rising as a crescent. You could check the time of local sunrise on the 3rd so you are ready. A misty sunrise may tempt you to look at the eclipse briefly, but please REMEMBER never to stare directly at the Sun or observe it through any optical instrument unless fitted with a proper solar filter. You could try out that time-lapse function on your camera! See Eclipse links on: http://rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html *** More Celestial Events *** The Quadrantid meteor shower falls during the first week of January, with a peak the night of the 3rd/4th January. My pupils tell me the most comfortable way to look for meteors is lying on your back on a trampoline with a blanket! See Meteor links on: http://rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html *** LNU Events Diary *** For LNU meetings and updates see www.lnu.org/events.php or section 12 below. UPDATED! New Information. 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. [Unless otherwise stated! See NOTE!] Saturday, January 15, 2011 Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna Dr Naomi Sykes, Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. This is the tile of the recently published book edited by Naomi and Terry O'Connor. Naomi Sykes is a lecturer in zooarchaeology in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. Naomi's research focuses on human-animal relationships and how they inform on the structure, ideology and practice of past societies. Recent work by Naomi, advances our understanding of Norman hunting influences and reassesses the functioning of medieval parks and the role of hunting in society. Interrupting these functions leads to an assessment of past animal populations with Naomi's work at Fishbourne in Sussex proving that Fallow NOTE: This meeting is being supported by the University of Lincoln, the venue is Riseholme, admission £3.50. http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/88116//Location/Oxbow *** Meeting Change - Barton *** Viv Rowett writes: Due to difficult weather conditions, the Barton Area Group of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust cancelled the Wednesday evening meeting booked for 8th Dec at the Far Ings Visitor centre, Far Ings Road, Barton. The members' photographic evening will now take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19th January instead of the advertised meeting for that date. Please make use of this spell of unusual weather to take interesting photographs, and bring them along on disc or memory stick or slides to show at the meeting. *** Grey Seal Twins? *** In response to a reader's question about the frequency of grey seal twins, Rob Lidstone-Scott writes: Literature I have seen suggests that twins in grey seals are almost unheard of in the wild. Literature also suggests that grey seal cows do not adopt stray pups. So this makes it quite difficult to explain the 5 sets of apparent twins I have seen over the last 13 seasons! We had a possible set of twins directly in front of the huts at Donna Nook this year (hence the question no doubt) – we didn't register a double birth, the first we knew of it the cow was being rather rough with one of two pups but was later seen to be feeding both. She continued to feed both and weaned them successfully. Overall, twins is clearly the wrong solution, one is best and indeed, the previous sets of possible twins has usually ended badly with one or both pups dying. A cow can feed two pups but they don't put on the weight like single pups. http://www.mammal.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&id=238   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Birds Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Note: I am adapting RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. 19/12 Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby 14 Waxwings, Gainsborough 20/12 21 Shorelarks,3 Waxwing, Gibraltar Point also 10 Barnacle Geese and Greenland white-fronted goose. 2 Hen Harriers, Saltfleetby also 5+ Bewick's Swans, 16 Barnacle Geese. 22 Waxwings, Lincoln, High St behind Sony Centre 5 Waxwings, Lincoln, Carlton Centre 21/12 15 Waxwings, Lincoln, High St at Sony Centre Water Pipit, Gainsborough Landfill site 2 Water pipit, Baston Fen, Langroft gravel pits also 4 Bewick's Swans, 2 Whooper Swans 11 Bewick's Swans, 2 Whooper Swans, Deeping High Bank Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby 3 Waxwings, Skellingthorpe 23 Waxwings, Gainsborough near bus station 5 Waxwings, Gochill, Horsegate Field Road 22/12 30 Waxwings, Lincoln, High St at Sony Centre 15 Waxwings, Lincoln, Outer Circle Road 28 Shorelarks, Gibraltar Point Waxwing, Langtoft, East End 23/12 Waxwing, Long Bennington Bean Goose, with 1500 Pink-footed geese, Gibraltar Point also 10 Barnacle geese and 1 Eusasian White-fronteed goose. 4 Bewick's swans at Baston and Langtoft Pits. Also 3 Whooper swans. Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby 14 Waxwings, Lincoln, High St at Sony Centre 2 Waxwings, Barton on Humber, Far Infs Road Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Chapel St Leonard's. Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. COLSTERWORTH LANDFILL SITE SK905243 4/12/2010 Vin Fleming This site is currently playing host to good numbers of red kites with 9 present on 12th December, 8 on the 4th December, 6 on the 27th November and 10 on the 21st Nov. Several of the birds are tagged and those I have read (6 so far) are mostly of birds fledged in 2009 and 2010 from Rutland, Northants and Lincs. Birds give good close views and are best seen from the southern edge of the tip along the old Colsterworth line (an LWT reserve), 50m+ west of the crossroads (where possible to park); birds often perch (up to 5 or 6 at a time) in some of the ash trees along the southern boundary of the site. Along with the good gull numbers are large numbers of chaffinch (150), pied wagtail (57) and starling (400) with flocks of skylark (60), linnet (50) and yellowhammer (26) in a rape stubble field to the NE of the tip entrance. Red Kites at Top Lodge Visitor Centre, Fineshade Wood http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/t/toplodge/index.aspx *** 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. BELTON WOOD. SK9438. 19/12/2010. David Clarke. Blackbird 15 Blue Tit 11 Chaffinch 8 Carrion Crow 5 Fieldfare 7 Goldfinch 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Green Woodpecker 1 Jackdaw 200 Jay 2 Long Tailed Tit 9 Magpie 2 Nuthatch 1 Raven 2 Redwing 11 Rook 37 Robin 6 Song Thrush 1 Willow Tit 2 Wren 3. Mammals. Rabbit 2. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson 18/12/10 (Hare (1) 5 Long-tailed Tits on peanut feeder only 10 ft away from me, seemingly oblivious to my presence; presumably very hungry! LACEBY BECK 23/12/10 Mick Binnion There is some movement of water and the Kingfishers are back. We have a pair of Mute Swans that have taken up residence in the centre of a 30 acre oil seed rape field. I'm feeding broadcast in the water, Whitebait, which is being taken by Heron and Egret. I can't seem to get day-old-chicks, but I'm putting out frozen mice, a gamble, providing the Crows don't grab them, should help our Owl population. It's proven at least Tawny will take carrion. Weather very harsh. Surely it must ease up soon. LINCOLN Brian Eke 18/12/10 Waxwings: 12 or so on the maple tree outside Instore at the Carlton Centre, Lincoln, at 1245hrs. LINCOLN John Farmer Altham Terrace - R Witham Weir 18/12/10 Goosander 1m &7 f Doddington park 21/12/10 Little Egret - on Prial drain SPALDING WeBs count Coronation Channel, Spalding 19th December 2010 K J Seaton Despite around 90% ice cover in 3 unfrozen pools Mallard 204 Coot 369 Moorhen 9 Mute Swan 17 Tufted Duck 132 Great Crested Grebe 1 Little Grebe 3 Teal 1 Cormorant 1 Pochard 2 Grey Heron 4 Black-headed Gull 120 Common Gull 9 Heron Gull 1 River Welland from locks to A16 road bridge no ice 19th December 2010 K J Seaton Mallard 302 Teal 96 Little Grebe 3 Goldeneye 1 Goosander 1 Moorhen 3 Redshank 1 Black-headed Gull 80 Grey Heron 3 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 23/12/2010 Roy and Kath Pearson Even the nearby river which had remained open though the ponds were covered in ice, was frozen solid today and, consequently few birds were recorded. Nothing was seen in the reed-beds, though two Herons and a Mute Swan flew over. The hedge yielded four Blackbirds, one Wren and a Jackdaw, whilst a Kestrel was hunting - fruitlessly in the fifteen minutes we were there. Only Woodpigeons (c120) seemed to be unaffected by the conditions at this site. WRANGLE COMMON 23/12/2010 Roy and Kath Pearson Everywhere, apart from a short stretch of drain, is now frozen solid and many bird species are considerably down in number. Small passerines seem particularly badly hit by the weather and we counted only five Meadow Pipits, three Wrens, three Dunnocks, two Robins, two Goldfinches and one Chaffinch in one hour. This, of course, means an absence of tits and sparrows and most of the finches. The Grey Partridge coveys were not in evidence and even Woodpigeon numbers were down to four, while the Skylarks and both Reed and Corn Buntings that we recorded of late, seem to have moved-on. One Fieldfare and seven Redwings were seen, but Blackbirds are still high in number with a count of 51. It seems we may have solved the mystery of the dead Blackbirds we recently found. An observer reported to us that he had seen a group of Magpies attacking a Blackbird and forcing it to the ground in that area. We found eight Woodcock, but they had moved to a different area than usual, abandoning their normal hedgerow and dyke. The Snipe grounds were fully frozen and nothing was counted there, but two Redshank and a Little Egret found some feeding possibilities on a small stretch of open water. Only five Curlews were seen and we could not locate the usual flock, which has become more mobile of late. Raptors were represented by singles of Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 A & R Parsons 18/12/10 4 Redwings with many Fieldfares and Blackbirds in orchard. 2 Redwings still present 19.12/10 19/12/10 Fox hunting in TF 2254, 10.00hrs. 20/12/10 Brown hare 15.30hrs crossing Hurnbridge Road.21/12/10 Stock dove - not seen one for ages. 1 Redwing, 2 brambling [f]. Still high numbers of blackbirds plus 10+ fieldfares. 22/12/10 Tawny owl hooting in garden, 5.30am. 23/12/10 Much tawny owl calling from trees on Witham bank 5am. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/gib/index.php Katherine Bocock No report yet received. But a big thank you for everything sent in this year. SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker. w/e 22/12/10 Lowest temperature recorded this week - 11.6oc even the intertidal pools were freezing over and layers of ice piled up along the high-tide-line were a 40 to 50 cm deep in places and impossible to safely walk over. The flock of pink foot geese c 1200 now have 16 barnacles with them and continue to feed on oilseed rape and roost on the foreshore 5 bewick swans were watched arriving from well offshore, and 16 goldeneye flew north along the strand line. Other sightings include, siskin 5, fieldfare 12, brambling 3, mistle thrush 5, hen harrier 2, merlin 1, waxwing 2 (flyovers), woodcock 11, skylark c 170 (feeding on saltmarsh seeds,) crow c 210 (feeding on sea buckthorn fruit) Christmas greetings to all readers. John. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore John Badley RSPB Lincs Wash Reserves sightings November 2010. RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp Three Bewick's Swans on 12th were more unexpected than the more numerous records of Whooper Swans. A Black Brant was seen in company of the regular flock of 2500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese on several occasions. Good counts of duck on the Scrapes included 700 Teal on 6th and 650 Wigeon on 13th. Two Scaup were on the Reedbed for much of the month. A Little Stint remained until 7th and up to 53 Ruff were also seen. A Water Pipit made a brief appearance on 1st, as did Frampton's first ever Bearded Tits (3) on 15th, but Lapland Buntings were a little more obliging, with up to eight seen. The highest count of Twite on the Saltmarsh was 90 on 17th. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp October's American Golden Plover remained with up to 8000 Golden Plovers until 1st. On the sea 75 Common Scoter and two Velvet Scoters were seen on 7th when a 1st winter Glaucous Gull was watched following a shrimp trawler. Two Goosander were also present on the Lagoon. Strong onshore winds on 9th produced Grey Phalarope, Sooty Shearwater, two Manx Shearwaters, 141 Common Scoters, Little Gull and a Red-necked Grebe, which was also seen on 14th and 21st. Two Long-tailed Ducks were seen on 10th and 14th and a Black Brant on 21st. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lionel Grooby's Christmas letter: I was talking  on the telephone on the morning of the 23rd December and looking out of my first floor office window. It  took a few seconds to register with me that looking  down, framed by the window like a photograph, was a bittern stood by the edge of the tiny Newt Pond in front of the Ness End Centre.   The pond was frozen solid as are all the large pits at Far Ings and they have been for many days. Obviously, all birds which  make a living from fishing are under critical stress at present due to the severity and length of the extreme low temperatures and recent snowfalls. We have been attempting to feed the  bitterns (up to three individuals on  the reserve) with white- bait and day-old chicks, with uncertain success.   The bittern at the Newt Pond was a very striking bird, light brown with  pronounced, long, black neck stripes and I watched it for a while against good sunlight, transfixed. Then all of a sudden it stalked forward across the pond and strode over to the Pyrocanthus bush in front of the building and began to peck at it. Presumably it was after berries but, alas, these had  already all been  taken  by the  recent influx  of  hundreds  of  blackbirds, redwings and fieldfares that winter has brought in.  A minute later the bittern moved to the centre of the lawn and raised and flapped its wings and then shook itself. I was amazed at how good a condition it was in.  I had heard a report of two skinny-looking bitterns on Hotel Pit a week ago but the thing is they are ectomorphic herons after  all.  I once held a bittern in  my hands to treat it for an injury and it was all feathers and carried not even enough  meat for a sandwich!   The bittern then moved over to the corner of the lawn, withim a couple of metres of the body of a dead redwing which had, no doubt, hit a window in a desperate flight from a pursuing sparrowhawk. Would the bittern resort to eating this carrion? It seemed  not  to  notice  the redwing. So I  carefully opened the  front door and lobbed onto the lawn a couple of chicks. No response. Finally, knowing that there were moorhens lurking about awaiting a random gift, I opened a window and threw out a slice of bread hoping that they would run in and attract the bittern's attention to the nearby chicks or even  the  bread. But the opening of the window was enough to disturb the bittern and off it flew, quite strongly, to the "New  Pits" across the road.   I was heartened to see this bittern looking so well.  And yesterday a kingfisher was spotted on the reserve - a real surprise in such conditions. Such species must have more survival strategies and resilience than we know of. But let us all hope  for a  thaw very, very  soon. With all these dramas going on daily  it is intolerably  difficult to  concentrate on  office  work... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 specific 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 bridle way only) Adrian Royle's website for photos of species from the Limewoods. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157616635241942/ No report yet. A massively under-reporeted area worth attention. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Grounded 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 Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** New Met Office Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail 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 *** LBC County Bird Recorder Steve Keightley: steve.keightley@btinternet.com Bird Club Website: www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** 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 e-mail: 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 TWO - The Weather Outlook Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Joan Gunson's moths: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/jsylvester/Moths%20in%20my%20garden%202010/ Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Mike Binnion writes: I've put all my decent photos of common butterflies on the Grimsby website: See http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/otherattractions.htm http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ *** 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 sometimes withhold precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, 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. Saturday, January 15, 2011 Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna Dr Naomi Sykes, Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. This is the tile of the recently published book edited by Naomi and Terry O'Connor. Naomi Sykes is a lecturer in zooarchaeology in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. Naomi's research focuses on human-animal relationships and how they inform on the structure, ideology and practice of past societies. Recent work by Naomi, advances our understanding of Norman hunting influences and reassesses the functioning of medieval parks and the role of hunting in society. Interrupting these functions leads to an assessment of past animal populations with Naomi's work at Fishbourne in Sussex proving that Fallow Deer were kept and bred by the Romans in Great Britain. *** The meeting is being supported by the University of Lincoln, the venue is Riseholme, admission £3.50. http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/88116//Location/Oxbow Saturday, February 12, 2011 Recorders meeting The annual meeting, detailing the highlights of Lincolnshire's flora and fauna for 2010. Saturday, March 12, 2011 Annual General Meeting AGM, followed by the Presidential Address by Ken Rowland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....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: rhicklingcms - permanent error philjs63b - permanent error john.rhoades2 - permanent error pcbhammond - permanent error nigegenie - mailbox full 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/