============================================ || || 4th July 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 893 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Reminder about reports *** Readers' reports are the heart of the Bulletin. We hope to get everyone sending in something from time to time. Not every week perhaps, but a few times a year would be good. If you are not a regular contributor, you ought to be. That is the objective. Please give it a try. Thanks. Roger *** LNU Events Diary - Please Come Along *** For LNU meetings also see section 11 below and the website: www.lnu.org/events.php Next event: Sunday 18th July Willow Tree Fen, between Bourne and Spalding. New LWT Reserve. Proposed Fenland re-creation site. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Reserve located off the minor road between Pode Hole and Tongue End. Lots of parking at TF17438 22377 - access at TF18189 21280 (off the road near Bank House Farm). Habitats: Farmland, ditches, River Glen. Leader: Richard Chadd 07990 564519 richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Traditional Orchard Project *** Senmt in by Chris Manning The People’s Trust for Endangered Species are producing a Traditional Orchard Inventory on behalf of Natural England to support the traditional orchard Habitat action plan. The digital inventory is based on aerial photograph interpretation combined with existing survey data, local knowledge and ground- truthing are vital components in making this inventory an accurate and robust data set. The initial map of Lincolnshire is now complete and they are seeking volunteers to help ground-truth the county. Further information and the survey methodology can be found on our website at www.ptes.org/orchards, or you can contact Christine Oines COines@ptes.org or telephone 020 7498 4533. *** Butterfly Conservation Open Day and Moth Night *** Lesley Robinson writes: Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch’s moth night & open day at Chambers Farm Wood, Wragby - TF147740 On the 24th July there is the moth night planned from 9pm until late. Meet at the Education Centre. Open Day & AGM on 25th July. Guided walks from the Education Centre are arranged for 11am & 2pm to see the woodland butterflies e.g. White Admiral, Purple Hairstreak. AGM to start at 4:30pm There will be light refreshments available in the Education Centre, plus some of the moths caught the previous evening. A display of the Branch activities will be available to peruse plus some sales items. *** Eager for an Argir on the River Trent? *** Visit: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/timetable_2-Trent.pdf Gives dates in July through to October. Some 4-star Aegirs in August and September. *** Lincolnshire Bird Club Barn Owl Webcam *** Via: http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Vein Hope? *** Alice Nunn writes: I too have noticed a HUGE number of Mosquitoes around this summer, as you have. I also get severely chewed up and bitten by these critters every time I go out eg in the last week to Far Ings and over the border at Potteric Carr. Does anyone out there know of any effective method of repelling these, WITHOUT repelling Butterflies, Dragon/damsel flies etc, as I am looking for these & trying to photograph them? Any suggestions welcome. Yours itchily Alice Nunn *** Limewoods Soundwalk *** Liz Fleuty writes: Fancy a soundwalk in the woods? Sunday 11th July 6:00pm - 8:30pm (tbc) The Collection; Art and Archaeology (Lincoln) and Lincolnshire Limewoods Project are working together on an international artist's residency project for Chambers Farm Wood near Wragby. Acclaimed Finnish sound artist, Simo Alitalo, is working at Chambers Farm Wood throughout this year collecting and researching sounds from the forest. As part of the residency, Simo is planning to lead a sound walk on Sunday 11th July to show the woods as you may have never experienced them before. If you would like to take part, please contact Liz Fleuty on 01522 552384 or by e-mail to liz.fleuty@lincolnshire.gov.uk for further details. Places will be limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and there will be no charge for the event. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT Events *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Sunday 11th July 2010 we have a guided walk around Tetney Blow Wells Nature Reserve. The walk will be one and a half miles in an hour and a half and among other things we will be looking for water violets. Meet by Tetney Church at 2pm. The reserve is usually wet under foot so please wear wellies or boots and suitable clothing. No dogs please. All are welcome. Free event but donations to the Trust will be gratefully received. For further details please contact leader and reserve manager Clifford Jukes 01472 814887 On Thursday 15th July 2010 we have a visit to Hall Farm at Stainton le Vale between Binbrook and Tealby starting at 2pm. Grid ref. TF174943. Chris Dowse will be showing us how the Sutton Estates intregrate their farming so as to benefit the enviroment. We will be taken around the area on a comfy trailer and the visit will take several hours. All are welcome. Free event but donations to the Trust will be gratefully received. For further details please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 29/6/10 LINCS Mediterranean Gull. 1.5ml NW of Barton on Humber, W.of far Ings NR at Chowder Ness TA012229. 30/6/10 LINCS 4 Spoonbill. Gibraltar Point NNR, til 9.44am then flew S. 1/7/10 LINCS 5 Spoonbill. Gibraltar Point NNR, 9.17am on Jackson's Marsh. 2/7/10 LINCS 7 Spoonbill. Gibraltar Point NNR, 10.30am. 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. *** Unusual Butterfly - Rutland? *** Bryan King replies: This sounds just like the chimney sweeper moth that I saw at Red Hill last weekend I also spent a lot of time Googling to identify it (& I never got a photo of it either). Phil Porter adds: This is a chimney sweeper moth but I’m sure someone has beaten me to this. Toby Ludlow writes: In response to Dave Clarke's article, I wou;d suggest he has seen a Chimney Sweeper moth (Odezia atrata) *** Marsh Cinquefoil *** Stuart Britton writes: MARKET RASEN GOLF COURSE One of the big advantages of being a high handicap golfer is that you see parts of the Golf Course which Tiger Woods would never see! I am familiar with Marsh Cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) at Linwood Warren where it has a very tenuous hold. Imagine my surprise this morning when a search for a wayward shot on one of the wetter parts of the Course revealed a good number of flowering Potentilla palustris (sadly no ball!). As far as I am aware this is a previously unknown site and would like some direction from the Botanists amongst you on the best way to ensure its continued presence. *** 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. BRACEBY TF015353 Marion Ellis 27/6/10 Barn Owl is nesting in the sycamore at the bottom of our garden again. Saw 5 buzzards circling above the house at 11am today. BUTTERWICK COMMON SE847 063 27 June 2010 Sent in by Brian Hedley Joint LNU and BDS meeting led by Brian Hedley and Paul Kirby. Attended by nine people on hottest day of year so far. Plants included 50+ meadow thistles (only two sites currently known in Lincolnshire), sneezewort, great burnet, marsh arrowgrass and marsh ragwort. Red-eyed damselfly 100's Large red damslelfy 10 Azure damselfly 100's Common blue damselfly 40 Variable damselfly 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly 20 Emperor 2 Brown hawker 1 Black-tailed skimmer 30 Large skipper 50 Large white 3 Small white 1 Green-veined white 1 Brown argus 1 Small tortoiseshell 4 Red admiral 2 Speckled wood 1 Meadow Brown 50 Ringlet 10 Birds included green sandpiper, 10 snipe, buzzard, cuckoo, shelduck family and several yellow wagtails. DONINGTON [between Spalding and Boston] Joe Noble 26/6/10 Red Kite over Donington, this afternoon at about 1645hrs. KETTLETHORPE SK 851748 Rodger Brownlow 2.07.2010 Smooth, greeny yellow caterpillars with a black head and 2 rows of black dots rapidly eating Hazel leaves, possibly sawfly caterpillars. LOUTH OS 3486 C Byatt 28 June Completed House Martin nest under eaves of our (and a neighbour's) house. First year this has happened here. We have just come back from holiday so could have been here a week or two. RIPPINGALE TF094276 Pauline Warman 26/06/2010 Moths caught in MV trap left overnight Elephant Hawk-moth 12 Privet Hawk-moth 4 Poplar Hawk-moth 1 Marbled Minor 7 Heart and Dart 20 Small Magpie 4 Beautiful Hook-tip 2 Riband Wave 3 Water Ermine 1 Hebrew Character 4 Swallow-tailed Moth 3 Small creamy wave 1 Shoulder-striped Wainscot 2 Coronet 4 Cinnabar 1 Buff-tip 4 Peppered moth 3 Buff Arches 1 Blood Vein 3 Bright-line Brown-Eye 4 Flame Shoulder 4 Clouded Silver 4 Burnished Brass 1 Flame 2 Straw Dot 4 Dot Moth 2 Light Arches 8 Dark Arches 11 Small Fan-foot 3 Scorched Wing 1 Grey Dagger 2 Common Emerald 2 Light Emerald 1 Pale Prominent 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character 2 Double Square-spot 6 Buff Ermine 3 Clouded Border 2 Beautiful Golden Y 1 White Ermine 1 Common Footman 1 Lime-speck Pug 1 Small Yellow Wave 1 Green Oak Tortrix 1 STURTON BY STOW SK 874799 Week of 28th June - 2nd July2010 Alison Brownlow Many moths in actinic trap this week. Named below are some of the prettiest, more colourful or oddly shaped ones. Privet Hawkmoth, Elephant Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawkmoth. Brimstone, Barred Straw, Barred Yellow. Lime-spec Pug, Clouded Border, Treble Lines. Small Emerald, Angle Shades, Burnished Brass. Silver Y, Plain Golden Y, Coronet, Swallow Prominent Flame Shoulder, The Flame, The Mouse, The Snout Buff Ermine, Smoky Wainscot, Beautiful Hook-tip Green Carpet, Willow Beauty, Dark Arches Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, Chinese Character THE WASH Boat trip from Wisbech to Old Lynn Channel and return. Geof Lee Saturday, 26th June, 2010. Highlights. Barn owl - hunting along river bank - 9.00 A.M. Little egret - 2 Marsh harrier - 1 Sheld duck - 50+ - many families. Common tern - 5 Sandwich tern - 2 Heron - 5 Common seal - many with small pups. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 A & R Parsons 27/6/10 Cuckoo calling and visible in garden 5.15am. Swallows have not nested here this year, but a pair does appear to have decided to try for a late brood. Maybe. 3/7/10 Cuckoo still calling. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 02/07/10 Spoonbill 7 Swift 500+ Greenshank 2 Ruff Spotted redshank 30/06/2010 Little Ringed Plover Osprey 1 Siskin Spoonbill 4 Spotted Redshank 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 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 May 2010 RSPB Frampton Marsh John Badley The undoubted highlight was Lincolnshire’s first Oriental Pratincole from 9th - 19th. The bird generally performed very well on and around the scrapes and was seen by over 5,000 visitors during its 11 day stay. There was a great supporting cast with up to 3 Temminck’s Stints (from 13th - 28th), 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 wood sandpipers, 6 Garganey, 11 Little Gulls, Honey Buzzard and Red Kite (16th). On 26th both Black Tern and Little Stint put in an appearance and on 29th a pair of Black- winged Stilts were in front of the Visitor Centre for an hour. RSPB Freiston Shore A Curlew Sandpiper was seen on 3rd, then a single drake Garganey showed very well from 4th - 14th. From 14th - 16th up to 3 Little Gulls were present, also on 16th there was a good count of 600 Grey Plover. A Spotted Flycatcher was by the hide on 15th – 16th. Finally two Little Stints were on the reservoir on 22nd. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 03.07.10 BIRDS Max. Numbers = avocet 9 bearded tit 10 bittern blackbird 20 blackcap 4 black headed gull 100+ black tailed godwit 2 blue tit 10 bullfinch 2 carrion crow 2 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 15 chiffchaff 2 collared dove 2 common gull 100+ common tern 6 coot 80+ cormorant 6 curlew 6 dunnock 4 gadwall 4 golden plover 25 goldfinch 3 grasshopper warbler GBB gull 4 GC grebe 2 great tit 6 greenfinch 2 grey heron 3 greylag goose 200+ herring gull 8 house martin 3 house sparrow 6 jackdaw 2 lapwing 11 LBB gull 100 lesser whitethroat 2 linnet 2 little grebe long tailed tit 6 magpie 8 mallard 14 marsh harrier M mistle thrush moorhen 20 mute swan 13 oystercatcher 2 pheasant pied wagtail 2 pochard 12 reed warbler 20+ reed bunting 8 robin 10 sand martin 6 sedge warbler 16 shelduck 17 shoveler 2 skylark 2 song thrush starling 60 sparrowhawk swallow 20 swift 30+ tufted duck 30 turtle dove 3 water rail 2 whitethroat 6 willow tit 4 willow warbler 4 wood pigeon 5 wren 8 Butterflies: speckled wood, large white, red admiral, comma, tortoiseshell, meadow brown, ringlet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 report received. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Saturdays. 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 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 *** The Lincolnshire and Rutland Limestone Grassland Project *** aka Life on the Verge! Mark Schofield writes: We need as many volunteers as possible this summer to help us survey roadside verges in your area. You will not need previous experience as wild flower ID booklets and training will be provided. Dates for free wild flower identification field days at local wildlife reserves are as follows: Grimsthorpe Estate Conference Centre and SSSI areas on Estate Grounds Wednesday 19th May ~ 10.00am to 1.00pm. Sunday 20th June ~ 10.00am to 1.00pm. Sunday 4th July ~ 10.00am to 1.00pm. Rutland Water Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre Followed by a field trip to Bloody Oaks Quarry Nature Reserve and nearby roadside verges Sunday 23rd May ~ 10.00am to 2.00pm. Friday 4th June ~ 10.00am to 2.00pm. Saturday 19th June ~ 10.00am to 2.00pm. Ancaster Village Hall and Ancaster Valley SSSI Saturday 15th May ~ 10.00am to 2.00pm. Saturday 29th May ~ 10.00am to 2.00pm. Saturday 5th June ~ 10.00am to 2.00pm. Saturday 12th June ~ 10.00am to 2.30pm. (advanced) Joining instructions are downloadable from http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/documents/LOTV_Training_Day_Joining_Instructions.pdf or available on request. To reserve your place and to take part in the surveys 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 *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** BC Lincolnshire Branch website. 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 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 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 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, 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/ *** Wash Birdwatching Cruises from the South Lincs. R.S.P.B. *** Jeremy Eyeons,South Lincs RSPB press officer writes: It's not to late to book your summer birdwatching cruise on the "Boston Belle" into the Wash and down the River Welland. These popular cruises are suitable for all age groups especially families. The cruises are managed by the South Lincs RSPB group and provide you with a unique opportunity to get close up to many of the ducks, geese, wading birds and raptors that are resident on the wash or are just passing through on migration. A local birdwatching 'expert' will be on hand to point out the birds and to answer your questions. The cruise departs from Boston Marina and the boat is well equipped with seating inside and out, hot and cold refreshments are available. Recent cruises have spotted between 40 and 60 different species of bird from the boat including marsh harrier, turtle dove, hobby, peregrine, black and bar tailed godwits, sandpipers, turnstones, eider, various terns, gannet, kingfishers and many more - not to mention the common seals! For more information about the cruises and to make a booking please call 07531 495521 or visit 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 Bird of Prey Photography Days Lewis Phillips the photographer says: I am running local Bird of Prey Days again. All the info is on my new website at www.wildshots.org.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: 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 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 18th July Willow Tree Fen, between Bourne and Spalding. New LWT Reserve. Proposed Fenland recreation site. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Reserve located off the minor road between Pode Hole and Tongue End. Lots of parking at TF17438 22377 - access at TF18189 21280 (off the road near Bank House Farm). Habitats: Farmland, ditches, River Glen. Leader: Richard Chadd 07990 564519 richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk Sunday 8th August. To be Confirmed. Thorpe Culvert area Nr Wainfleet 12.00 for 13.00 start. See LNU website for details. Habitats: Pasture, Marsh, Pond, River Leader: Chris Manning 07752 353303 chris@lincsdeer.info 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 Hopland’s Wood and Willoughby Branch Line, South of Alford. Both LWT Reserves. Fungus Foray 12.00 for 13.00 start. Hopland’s 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 I have changed my Broadband service to "3". A lot of delivery problems seem to have come from using T-mobile's 3G. Recent mailfails: catface - permanent error rosemary.stuart - disabled kateyp - permanent error jowalk - permanent error bustybeetle - permanent error bangladeshwildlife - permanent error 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. *** Boosting Bulletin Readership *** At present we have just under 900 readers. I would love to get it up to the 1000 point. If you know anyone who might enjoy receiving it, please tell them about it. They can sign up via: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php *** Adobe Phish *** Jo Bramwell writes: Today I received an email purporting to be from Adobe, offering me an update if I clicked on a link. My suspicions were aroused, as (a) in the past, Adobe has always notified me of updates by means of a dialogue box on opening the program, and (b) how would Adobe have my email address anyway? So I googled, and sure enough, it's a phishing scam. (Wot? A phishing email purporting to be from something other than a bank?!) See http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/012810-phishing-scam-adobe.html. If you receive similar emails, delete them and don't click on any links in them! ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/