============================================ || || *** The Lincolnshire Wildlife News Bulletin *** || 31st January 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 read by 890 people each week 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events Diary - Please Come Along *** For all LNU meetings also see section 11 below and 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. Grisly Biology - an Introduction to Forensic Entomology Richard Chadd has asked us to publicise the new date. 30th January – Coot Room of Whisby Education Centre. Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln. Start at 2pm. Dr Dorothy Gennard is principal lecturer in Biological Science at Lincoln University. All welcome. Sounds very good. Please support if you can. Saturday, February 13, 2010 Recorders' Meeting The annual reports from the LNU recorders for 2009. Always very good. All welcome. Editor adds: To my exasperation I will miss the talk as I have gone down with a bug, so will have to make my apologies. Very frustrating. Roger *** Swan Information *** John Walker in answer to Anne Goodall's question regarding swans: A peak of 47 Whooper and 3 Bewicks, present Dec and to present Huttoft, peak of 92 Mute and 7 Whooper nr Theddlethorpe ditto dates and 43 Mute and 3 Bewicks near North Cotes 17/01/10, all of these swans are and have been feeding in large fields of oilseed rape. *** Link to Look At *** Ice Cover John Beswick writes: The mention of Spitzbergen reminded me that for anyone interested in Arctic/Antarctic Ice cover the University of Bremen publishes a daily satellite report at the following web-address. http://www.iup.uni-bremen.de:8084/amsr/amsre.html *** Wrecks *** John Walker writes: In reply re boat wreck Sutton on Sea This is one of several scattered along the Lincolnshire coast. Most are coastal merchant ships and some date back to the 17th century. The Sutton wreck was covered with the beach nourishment sand and used to show more frequently before this flood defence scheme. They were mainly wrecked during storms. Rimac at Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe is named after a wrecked ship carrying guano from Peru and probably took its name from the river Rimac in Lima, Donna Nook is also named after a wreck. Editor adds: Wasn't the Prussian Queen pub named after a wreck? Good paper that mentions the Acorn: http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba22/BA22NEWS.HTML *** Birdlife Malta Petition *** Mick Todd has sent in details of a petition to protect birds in Malta that may interest some readers. It says: BirdLife Malta and our BirdLife International partners are running an online petition demanding that EU law is respected and the killing of protected birds is stopped in Malta. You can support our petition by: 1. Signing the petition (click on the links below) 2. Forwarding this email to your contacts Thanks for your support Demand that Malta respects the EU law and stops the killing of protected birds Sign the petition! Wild birds migrate from Europe to Africa every autumn, travelling thousands of kilometres to spend the winter in warmer climates. Every spring, they migrate back to Europe to breed and replenish their numbers. On each way of their journey, a large number of these protected birds meet their death over Malta. Find out how you can help prevent the killing! http://www.birdlifemalta.org/petition/ *** Bird of Prey Photography Days *** I have had an email from Lewis Phillips the photographer, who says: I am running local Bird of Prey Days again. All the info is on my new website at www.wildshots.org.uk *** RSPB South Lincs February Events *** On Sunday 7th February, the R.S.P.B. South Lincs Local Group will be hosting a guided walk in Bellmount Woods, near Belton Park, Grantham, starting at 10-00 a.m. The walk will lead from the car park, up a gentle slope, passing Bellmount Tower, before entering the various rides and footpaths through the woods. The walk will be led by members of the Group who will be able to point out the various species of flora and fauna seen as the woods recover from the recent snow and winter weather. The walk will end at Bellmount Tower, which will be opened by kind permission of the National Trust to enable the Group to climb the tower and look over the magnificent views of the estate and beyond. Suitable clothing for the weather on the day is recommended as there will be little shelter from any inclement weather, stout footwear is also essential. If you have binoculars, please bring them along, although a limited number may be available for loan for the duration of the event. Spaces on this walk, for which there will be no charge, are limited. To book your place, and obtain full details of the meeting point, please contact the organiser, Robert Townhill, on Tel 01400 230445 or e-mail at robert.townhill@btinternet.com On Thursday 25th February, the Group have arranged an Illustrated Talk at the Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston, starting at 7-30 pm. The talk, entitled "Spitzbergen" will be given by Ian Rowlands. Ian worked for the RSPB and various Wildlife Trusts before moving to Scotland in 1989, founding Speyside Wildlife. He is a proloific writer, lecturer and one of the most experience wildlife and bird guides in the country. Now based in Southern England, he is co-owner of the company Planet Whale and works on the Committee of the Whale and Dolphin Charity ORCA, but still finds time to watch wildlife for pure enjoyment. Spitzbergen is only 800 miles from the North Pole, but ocean currents make it the easiest-to-reach Arctic. Join Ian as he journeys amidst peaks, glaciers and sea ice which make up the wild ice kingdom that is Spitzbergen. See incomparable birds like the long tailed skua and king eider and watch the polar bear stalking his prey of seals and walruses. Using much of his own material, Ian will help the audience live their own Arctic dreams. Admission is £3-50 for non members, £2-00 for members, with children being admitted at half price. Light refreshments will also be available during the mid session interval. *** Alkborough Flats Events *** Sarah Pimm writes: 5th February, 4pm Winter Wonder See wildlife in a whole new light. An evening stroll out to the Trent bank to witness the magic of the winter wildfowl coming in to feed and roost. 6th February, 2pm Photography Capture the magic of the Flats and the surrounding area with the help of a local photographer. All levels and any camera welcome. Both events are free but booking is essential Call (01724) 721269 *** South Holland Area Group of the LWT *** Colin Faulkner writes with dates for your diary. Tuesday February 9th 2010 Mr. D. Bromwich will inform us about “Nature Reserves of the Woodhall Spa Area” Tuesday 9th March 2010 Mr D J Rackham will tell us of the “History of the Landscape of the River Witham” Tuesday 13th April 2010 when the Annual General Meeting followed by “The Nature Reserves of South Holland”. The wardens of these reserves will give us an overview of them. *** Whooper Swans *** Subject: Whooper Swans Those who enjoyed the spectacle of the seals at Donna Nook may also enjoy seeing the Whooper Swans at Welney in Norfolk. Another stunning experience, if a somewhat longer drive. See: http://new.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/welney ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 25/1/10 LINCS 10+ Lapland Bunting. Frampton Marsh RSPB, 11am + 30+Snow Bunting, 21 Bewick's Swan S.of reserve. 26/1/10 LINCS 2 Lapland Bunting. Horseshoe Point, + Merlin, m.Hen Harrier. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. FISKERTON to BARDNEY via Water Rail Way Jo Bramwell 23/1/10 (Cool and cloudy; river and delphs greatly swollen after snow-melt and rain) barn owl, 3 sightings, I would think 2 individuals black-headed gull numerous blackbird 31 blue tit 2 coot 9 carrion crow numerous Canada goose, flock of c. 200 chaffinch 2 gadwall 2 goosander 22 great crested grebe 4 great tit 1 grey heron 1 greylag goose 2 jackdaw 6 kestrel 1 lapwing, flock of c. 200 linnet 6 mallard 105 long-tailed tit 9 magpie 23 mistle thrush 1 moorhen 14 mute swan 13 pied wagtail 1 tufted duck 73 reed bunting 3 robin 1 teal 1 widgeon 4 woodpigeon, two flocks of c. 80 and c. 200 Plus two mixed flocks of fieldfares and starlings (and no doubt others - too far away to be sure), hundreds in each flock. *** 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. SCOTTON COMMON Matthew Blissett 25.01.10 Sparrowhawk - a female seen chasing a Green Woodpecker, just inches apart, the woodpecker narrowly escaping. Roe Deer 1 CROWLE (SE782098) Matthew Blissett 27.01.10 Barn Owl 1 CROWLE MOOR NNR Matthew Blissett 29.01.10 Marsh Harrier 1 - female hunting over north moor. Tawny Owl 1 Woodcock 1 Roe Deer 4 EPWORTH TURBARY Matthew Blissett 29.01.10 Blackbird 5 Blue Tit 10 Fieldfare 30 Green Woodpecker 1 Long-tailed Tit 15 Mallard 6 Redwing 2 Robin 2 Woodcock 1 Wren 3 Roe Deer 2 FRAMPTON MARSH 27/01/2010 Malcolm Johnson Black-tailed Godwit - 2 Canada Goose - 3 Common Gull - 6 Coot - 4 Greylag Goose - 13 Lapwing - C1000 Little Egret - 4 Magpie - 1 Marsh Harrier - 2 (On the Marsh) Mallard - 10 Mute Swan - 26 Redshank - 8 Reed Bunting - 20 Shellduck - 2 Shoveller - 8 Snow Bunting - 16 Teal - 23 Tufted Duck - 22 Twite - 10 Wigeon - 64 HIGH RISBY (SE914145) Matthew Blissett 28.01.10 Barn Owl 1 STICKFORD Garry Steele Monday evening, 18/01/10 First returning Great Crested Newts (2 adult males) noted in my garden wildlife pond, even though some of the surface remained iced over after recent big freeze. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 A & R Parsons TF 218534 approx 31/1/10 Tawny owls calling 6am. WRANGLE COMMON 23/01/2010 Roy and Kath Pearson We visited our usual site on Saturday to see if there were any changes in the wildlife now that all of the snow and almost all of the ice has gone. Blackbird numbers (12) had declined quite markedly and we recorded no redwings or fieldfares at all. Woodcock numbers were down to only three individuals and the curlew flock that had numbered over 100 birds in previous weeks was reduced to a single bird. However the farmer told us that the flock was still in being in fields outside our normal recording area. A mistle thrush was an infrequent addition to the tally and a solitary barn owl was hunting quite early in the day. As the previous day, Friday, had been exceptionally wet, I assume hunting had been very poor, or even impossible and the bird was very hungry. We took a careful look at the new area of wet grassland. Two weeks ago, excavation work on converting 28 acres of arable to wet grassland had been completed and the fields looked very raw, a mixture of bare-soil hillocks and water filled hollows and flashes. The first waterfowl are now beginning to use it and seven teal took flight from the largest wet area. George, the farmer, asked us if we had walked across it, but I replied that when we had attempted it the previous week, we had become stuck in clay up to our mid-calves and I certainly didn't fancy a second try after the torrential rain of the previous day. To my surprise, he commented that the rain would have improved matters and made it better to walk on. He said that the soil was always extremely soft immediately after the frost had left it and it improved after rain. The sceptical look on my face caused him to comment that if I had ever tried to drive tractors over the land I wouldn't doubt it and suggested we give it another try. I suppose frost can have a different effect to water on the structure of the soil. Unfortunately lack of time prevented us from gaining empirical evidence, but it's something to try on our next count. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 24/01/2010 Dartford Warbler Grey Phalarope Hen Harrier 25/01/2010 Corn Bunting 72 Smew 26/01/2010 Goosander 2 Smew 27/01/2010 Goosander 2 Smew 28/01/2010 Smew 29/01/2010 Smew SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 THEDDLETHORPE John Walker Back records some may have missed: Theddlethorpe area John Walker 16/1/10 Mute swan 87 Whooper swan 7 all in large oilseed rape crop, pink foot goose c 450 feeding in area and roosting on outer foreshore, 6 shorelark, foreshore. c 1200 mixed redwing and fieldfare feeding on sea buckthorn fruit having now cleared the hawthorns of fruit. 31/12/09 John Walker. Rainfall measured at the nnr office for 2009, 554mm, considerably less than 07 and 08. Recent sightings include, 266 cormorant, c 340 common scoter, 2 velvet scoter, 2 male and 1 female hen harriers, 2 barn owls, a tawny owl calling, 5 lapland buntings, c 180 skylarks, and 140 rock pipits, c 70 twite, c 220 curlew, 1 peregrine, 1 merlin. 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 RSPB Lincs Wash Reserves sightings December 2009 Paul French Frampton Marsh The reserves first Goosander was found on 2nd, then another joined it on 5th and both stayd until 6th. Three Bewick’s Swans on the 19th were a local rarity, and two White-fronted Geese came into roost on the 10th, with one of them staying until 16th. The Black Brant was seen on the 5th and 16th. Two Jack Snipes were seen on the 11th, and the first of several Woodcocks was seen on 20th. A total of 127 Rock Pipits were seen on the 11th. From the 360 hide, 12 Lapland Buntings were present from 12th, and increased to a possible 20 on 30th. Up to 19 Snow Buntings were also present by the months end. Freiston Shore The Black Brant was seen on the wetland on the 16th, and at least one Pale-bellied Brent was present. A Slavonian Grebe was offshore on the 5th, together with 51 Great Crested Grebes. A Long-tailed Duck was there the following day. On the wetland, at least three Jack Snipes were present on the 7th. Other sightings included a Snow Bunting and a Greta Northern Diver on the 5th, a Short-eared Owl on the 6th, a Great Skua on the 19th and a wintering Spotted Redshank on Christmas Day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 30.01.10 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bittern blackbird 50+ black headed gull 100+ blue tit 10 bullfinch carrion crow 4 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 8 collared dove common gull 40 coot 80+ cormorant curlew 26 dunlin 10 dunnock 6 fieldfare 2 gadwall 30 goldfinch 10 GBB gull 5 GC grebe 3 great tit 8 greenfinch 6 grey heron greylag goose 10 herring gull 6 house sparrow 15 lapwing 22 linnet 2 little grebe 2 long tailed tit 8 magpie 6 mallard 25 marsh harrier 1M, 1F mistle thrush moorhen 28 mute swan 4 pheasant pochard 15 redshank 3 reed bunting 6 robin 12 shelduck 10 shoveler 3 smew M (Hotel Pit) snipe 6 song thrush sparrowhawk starling 6 tawny owl 2 teal 50 tree sparrow 15 tufted duck 10 water rail 3 willow tit 2 wood pigeon 6 wren 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Anne Goodall writes: Limewoods NNR volunteer working days this month: the Butterfly Garden working day planned for Jan 10th was cancelled. Next date is Feb 9th. Sunday Jan 31st, Southrey Wood, Coppicing for butterflies. Contact Steve Green, 07928 053335 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 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 *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) has assembled a committee in order to access funding sources, develop training courses and survey for reptiles and amphibians in Lincolnshire. For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel.07984 66 5847 *** The Lincolnshire and Rutland Limestone Grassland Project *** We need as many volunteers as possible over the next two summers to help us survey roadside verges in your area. You will not need previous experience as a wild flower ID guide and training will be provided. Contact: Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Banovallum House, Manor House Street, Horncastle, LN9 5HF, 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 *** 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 can reported to chris_j_manning@hotmail.com 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 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 *** If you have important information about badger activity or badger road casualties please e-mail the information to: Ian Frudd, e-mail address Fruddfolk@tiscali.net *** 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. 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 South Lincs RSPB Local group's website address: http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk/ Sub Regional Country Park North Kesteven District Council Contact: Project Officer, Luisa McIntosh Sub Regional Country Park North Kesteven District Council Tel: 01529 414155 ext 2469 Direct Line: 01529 308069 www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/subregionalcountrypark 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 EasyTide 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: 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 "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. As shown on LNU Website: LNU Events Programme Saturday, February 13, 2010 Recorders' Meeting The annual reports from the LNU recorders for 2009. Saturday, February 27, 2010 Dragonflies Steve Brooks Dr. Stephen Brooks has worked in the Department of Entomology at the Natural History Museum in London for over 30 years. He specialises in research on a range of aquatic insects, but is perhaps best known for his extensive publishing on dragonflies, most recently Volume 106 (Dragonflies) in the Collins New Naturalist series, in collaboration with the late Philip Corbet. He is also the author of the Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland published by British Wildlife Publishing and a leading member of the British Dragonfly Society. He has researched aquatic insects, including dragonflies, in all corners of the World. Saturday, March 13, 2010 Annual General Meeting & Presidential Address Mammal review, atlas update. A century of recording, progress and opportunities Saturday, May 22, 2010 SW corner of Laughton Forest (woodland area known as Peacocks) More details to follow ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Some readers may need to change their anti-bulk-mail settings to flag my address as safe so the Bulletin is not blocked. Affected are Hotmail, also msn and Live. Meanwhile, if you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find it. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Permanent errors: now deleted from list. julie.moore jean.childs sands frobaz If you recognise any of these, please ask them to contact me with a new address if they wish to continue to recenve the Bulletin. Thanks. ... and finally.... *** Two more links to review *** David Clarke suggest rural magazine link might be of interest. http://www.your-country.co.uk John Laws says: http://wave.google.com/ and the looooong video might be of interest. A new interactive messaging tool ideal for LNU? ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/