============================================ || || 25th December 2011 - Christmas Day! || || 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 1035 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Merry Christmas to you all! *** Thank you to all who have supported our efforts this year, individual reporters, LNU recorders and organisations. It has been good to see so many contributions and the steady flow of observations and news. We have broken the 1000 reader barrier this year and the LNU shows membership growth too. Thanks also go to Rare Birds Alert for permission to report their Lincolnshire pager information. I was interested to see the fundraising initiatives by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust [Amazon] and Butterfly Conservation [Lincolnshire Echo]. Good ideas well worth supporting. I shall do all my Amazon shopping this way in future - I should make the BBCT a fortune! Hope so. Please keep your e-mails coming with records, questions, news and information on events. Have a good Christmas. Thanks to the many people who wished Anne well with her eye op this week. All went well. Roger *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. 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 14, 2012 Joseph Banks, James Edward Smith and the Linnean Society Illustrated Lecture by Prof. Mark Seaward. Emeritus Professor of Environmental Biology at Bradford University and Honorary Professor of Lincoln University. If you who have not heard Prof. Seaward speak, this is an event "Not to be missed". His knowledge and zest for learning is something to be experienced. His contribution to the work of the LNU over the years has been very considerable indeed. *** Donna Nook Seal News *** Rob Lidstone-Scott wrote on 17/12/2011 Subject: Seal numbers Bulls: 203 Cows: 161 Pups: 560 The departure is well and truly on – gaps in the colony are appearing every day. Total pups for the year: 1431 Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/index.php#380 A huge thankyou to Rob, his Trust colleagues and the "Seal Volunteers" for their work over the season. *** Seasonal Tale of Horror! *** Charlie Barnes, County Recorder for Beetles, writes: Unwanted Christmas guests? Whilst making the Christmas Pudding*, we reached for the cornflour to add a bit of thickness and just as two heaped tablespoons were about to the poured into the mix, some little brown chunks appeared amidst the white powder. At first glance it looked like some brown sugar had gone astray, but upon closer inspection under the micro- scope it turned out they were the beetle Stegobium paniceum, also known as the drugstore or biscuit beetle. At approximately 2-3mm long the beetles are fond of dry foodstuffs and actually members of the Anobiidae the same group as woodworm (they make similar holes in biscuits!). They are widespread across the country, although almost certainly under-recorded. Around a dozen or so dead specimens were found in the packet of cornflour (which had been open for around 12 months). No live adults were found, although leaving the remainder of the cornflour in a specimen pot overnight revealed at least one large larva, and no doubt many more eggs waiting to hatch. A quick investigation of the other flour packets revealed no more specimens, however the cornflour will be monitored closely for emerging adults over the next few months. So, whilst it is cold and grey outside, now is the perfect time to be looking for beetles associated with stored food stuffs and with human habitation in general. My record of Stegobium paniceum is one of only a handful of records for Lincolnshire - I would be very interested to know if anyone else has their own colonies and would be more than happy to take a look at specimens to confirm identi- fications (there are many more amazing species waiting to be discov- ered in your cupboard!). For those of you slightly more concerned about the presence of beetles in your kitchen ingredients, the best solution is keep foods well sealed and cupboards clean. Of course, this does rather spoil the fun.... Charlie adds: * The more astute reader will have realised that I used a bit of artistic license for this story - it's far too late to be making Christmas Pudding. It was actually meatloaf, but that's not very festive! *** Freebees on Amazon *** The Bumblebee Conservation Trust have an association with Amazon which helps to raise money for Bumblebee Conservation without any cost to the purchaser. If you buy anything from Amazon click onto the site via Bumblebee Conservation Trust - Support us - Easy fund raising - Amazon. If you do this Amazon will donate 8% of the price paid to Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Link: http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/fundraising.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 my 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. 16/12 Rough-legged Buzzard, Withern 6 Lapland Buntings, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 17/12 Black Brant Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Lapland Buntings, Donna Nook 9 Snow Buntings, Twite, Hooded Crow, Hen Harrier, Ruddy Shelduck, Huttoft Bank Pit Rough-legged Buzzard, Withern 50 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Huttoft Bank pit. 2 Hen Harriers, 3 Short-eared Owls, Nocton Fen 18/12 Rough-legged Buzzard, Withern Short-eared Owl, Goxhill Haven Rough-legged Buzzard, north of Claythorpe, Toot Hill 2 Hen Harriers, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe All Saints 4 Hen Harriers, 4 Short-eared Owls, 7 Bewick's and 4 Whooper Swans, Nocton Fen 6 Tundra Bean Geese, 50 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 5 Barnacle Geese, 56 Whooper, 4 Bewick's Swans in off sea, Huttoft Pit 2 Smew, Hen Harrier, 15 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh Black Brant Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Lapland Buntings, Snow bunting, Donna Nook 4 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Dunsby Fen Bewick's Swan, Thurlby sand pit. Little Auk past Gibraltar Point 19/12 Rough-legged Buzzard, north of Claythorpe Lapland Bunting, redhead Smew, 22 Eurasian White- fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh 20/12 3 Hen Harriers, 3 Short-eared Owls, Nocton Fen 4 Tundra Bean Geese, North Cotes near Thoresby Bridge Rough-legged Buzzard, north of Claythorpe Great White Egret, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Great Grey Shrike, Hemingby by Green Lane junction Black Brant Goose with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Donna Nook 21/12 Rough-legged Buzzard, north of Claythorpe 4 Tundra Bean Geese, 6 Whooper Swans, 2 Barnacle Geese, North Cotes near Thoresby Bridge 22/12 3 Hen Harriers, Short-eared owl, Nocton Fen 3 Tundra Bean Goose west of Wroot Rough-legged Buzzard, north of Claythorpe Great Grey Shrike, Hemingby by Green Lane junction Hen Harrier, Woodhall Spa near River Witham Great Grey Shrike, east of Grantham Richard's Pipit, Spoonbill, 9 Lapland Bunting, Hooded Crow, 70 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Gibraltar Point Bewick's Swan, Thurlby Sand Pit Waxwing, Lincoln, off A15 Wragby Road, Outer Circle Road in MacDonald's car park. 8 Tundra Bean Goose, with 38 White-fronted Geese and 5 Barnacle Geese, Huttoft Pit 23/12 Great White Egret, Messingham Sand Quarry 12 Bewick's Swans, 10 Whooper Swans, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Nocton Fen Waxwing, Lincoln, off A15 Wragby Road, Outer Circle Road in MacDonald's car park. Mediterranean Gull, Middlemarsh Tip, Skegness 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. Strongly recommended. [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. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909580 Jeremy Hutchinson Recently there has been a large flock of Lapwings on a recently-ploughed field near to us, the largest I have seen for years around here, estimate up to 350-400 birds. They have been accompanied by 20 approx. Golden Plover. I have observed that when they take to the air because a predator is about, the Goldens wait until the Lapwings have settled before coming in to land themselves. In the last few days I have found 3 specimens of the Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis wandering around our lounge. This puzzled me: I see maybe one most summers, but never at this time of year. It was only when I read up on this species that I discovered that it is a member of the Longhorn family of beetles, and thus the larvae are woodborers. A quick check of the logs around the stove revealed some fresh flight-holes in some bits of elm that had blown over recently, mystery solved it seems. I have examined these specimens more closely than any previously, and have been struck by how the mimicry goes much further than superficial colouring: the head is similar, though smaller, to the heart- shaped face of the wasp, and the antennae are remarkably similar. Clever stuff! *** 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. BARDNEY GARDEN Mary Porter 20th and 21st December Buzzard roosting in very tall Leylandii at the bottom of the garden and hanging around the fields behind and in front of the garden during the day 22nd December Honey bees on viburnum tinus flowers and searching the garden. Unidentified fly sp. too, but husband out at the time, so can't confirm species! 7 spot ladybird awake in ivy. Blue tit calling and inspecting bird box Great tit calling Wren singing Robin singing Mistle thrush singing Very spring-like! BASTON FEN NR 20.12.2011 John Redshaw Gadwall 4 Little Egret 2 Mallard 135 Mute Swan 9 Wigeon 9 HAILLE FORT 17th Dec 2011 Dick Lorand Harbour Porpoise 1 LINCOLN John Farmer Back garden 23/12/11 2 Lesser Redpoll feeding in silver birch joined by 2 Great spotted Woodpeckers. One of the redpoll has also been on the niger seed-feeder. MARTON SK839 817 Brian Hedley 17.12.2011 Hedgehog noted feeding on discarded dog/cat food on edge of village playground at 2pm. Large leaf piles nearby. MARTON SK842 820 Brian Hedley 18.12.2011 Pink-footed geese, about 95 low west over garden at 10.20. Pair of sparrowhawks patrolling garden area. PINCHBECK SLIPE NR 20.12.2011 John Redshaw Fieldfare c.650 gorging on hawthorn berries. Mute Swans 59 Wigeon 106 RIVER WELLAND - Spalding to Deepings R & K Heath 18/12/2011 Wildfowl numbers building up: Goosanders 29 Mallard 150 Tufted Duck 266 Wigeon 50 SEACROFT MARSH SSSI 17th Dec 2011 J Nicholson Stonechat pair Reed Bunting 16 18th Dec J Nicholson Shorelark 1 Bullfinch 1 23rd Dec D Miller & D Norfolk Cormorant 3 Merlin 1 Sanderling 1 Curlew 2 Redshank 1 Goldcrest 1 Skylark 2 Long-tailed Tit 4 Linnet 80 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 17/12/2011 Roy and Kath Pearson The ponds were almost deserted today and only nine species were recorded. The highest count was of Mallard (15) and the only bird of particular interest was a single Common Snipe, a species that is very unusual here nowadays. We had gone in the late afternoon as this tends to be a roost site in winter, but nothing came in to roost. The Water Rails that have been such a feature of this site in the past seem to have disappeared. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 17/12/2011 Stock dove feeding below seed feeder. 19/12/11 Bank vole 20/12/11 2 Tawny owls calling 5.15am. 3 Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier in area. WILLOWTREE FEN NR (incl R. Glen) 20.12.2011 John Redshaw Gadwall 2 Goldfinch 140 in two flocks Goosander 2 Mallard 135 Merlin 1 Mute Swan 8 Redshank 9 Rooks 250 Teal 60 Wigeon 150 WRANGLE COMMON 17/12/2011 Roy and Kath Pearson At long last, the watercourses seem to be filling-up, but no waders - except a single Curlew - and very few ducks were about. Blackbirds are very common at the moment with thirty recorded, but of the other thrushes only singles of Redwing and Song Thrush were seen. Two Goldcrests were with a flock of six Long-tailed Tits. Tree Sparrow numbers are increasing with six recorded, but only one raptor was seen, a Sparrowhawk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 18/12/2011 Common Scoter 20 Goldcrest 5 Goosander Little Auk Red-throated Diver 6 Snow Bunting White-fronted Goose 56 Whooper Swan 22/12/2011 Hooded Crow Lapland Bunting Richard's Pipit Waxwing 23/12/2011 Scaup SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006128.aspx Week ending 23nd December 2011. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Peter & Janet Roworth Fairly quiet for birds – highlights include 100+ Twite, 9 Snow Buntings, 5 Lapland Buntings and 85 Rock Pipits. Teal and Wigeon numbers remain around 250 and 400 respectively. Singles of ringtail Hen Harrier and Sparrowhawk been seen hunting over the saltmarsh. Over the dunes and scrub have been the usual numbers of Starling, Magpies and Wood Pigeon. Tawny Owls been very vocal near Sea View. The main observation this week has been the weather and range in temperatures. On the 19th min ground, min air and air max were -6.5°C, -4.5°C and 4.5°C yet by the 23rd it was 5.0°C, 7.5°C and 13.5°C. Looks like being a far from seasonal Christmas! RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for NOVEMBER 2011 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp RSPB Frampton Marsh The first ever Bittern for the reserve was seen (14th) by a dozen lucky visitors exactly 887 days after the first reeds were planted! More common was a Great White Egret (11th) and Spoonbill (13th). Swan numbers remained consistent, with up to 45 Whooper Swans and eight Bewick's Swans. Geese included up to 35 White-fronted and Barnacle Geese, and single Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Geese in with 1200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Single Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were seen on two and one date respectively. Twite reached 17 and Lapland Bunting five (17th), while the only Snow Bunting was seen on the Visitor Centre roof! The Great Grey Shrike from October remained for the first week. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp RSPB Freiston Shore Interesting goose & allies sightings included up to 10 Barnacle Geese, four White-fronted Geese, a Ruddy Shelduck (3rd) and a Black Brant (6th). A Quail was an unseasonal find mid-month (17th). Offshore single Slavonian Grebe and Razorbills were seen (27th). ALSO: Gibraltar Point NNR Records from the sea included Grey Phalarope (19th), 408 Little Gulls (13th), 3 Little Auks (15th), Great Northern Diver (29th), Slavonian Grebe (9th & 19th) and Velvet Scoter (17th & 29th). Both Arctic and Great Skuas were also reported. A good variety of land migrants was seen passing through including Shore Lark (4th & 8th), Siberian Chiffchaff (13th), Waxwings (10th & 12th), Black Redstart (5 dates), Hawfinch (17th), Lapland Bunting (2 on 17th) and Snow Buntings (9th and 3 on 15th). A Spoonbill was seen on four dates. White-fronted Geese were regular, with up to 37 and six Bean Geese were also seen. Whisby Nature Park and North Hykeham Pits Wildfowl records included the third record of Ring-necked Duck (22nd), a single Egyptian Goose (1st–14th) and 300 Pink-footed Geese over (5th). Waders included single Woodcock (6th and 18th) and peak counts of 13 Snipe (9th) and 170 Golden Plover nearby at Thorpe-on-the-Hill (22nd). Other notable birds included a Red Kite (17th) a Caspian Gull (14th) and up to 3 apparent Nordic Jackdaws (14th). Other sites A late Swallow was seen at Skegness (18th), while unprecedented numbers of up to 100 Bean Geese were seen at Wainfleet. Family groups were seen at Langtoft Pits and Kirkby Pits. Two Quail were flushed at Nocton Heath (4th). A Great White Egret was at Kirkby Pits (30th). Great Grey Shrikes were a feature of the month with sightings from Boston, Brothertoft, Kelby, Orby, Rauceby Warren and Wilsford. A Cetti's Warbler was at Marston STW (21st). The highlights from other sites in the south of the county included a Ring-necked Duck at Kirkby on Bain Pits, Black-necked Grebe and Mandarin at Thurlby Sand Pit, a Gannet inland over Gonerby Moor (29th), Sabine's Gull at Skegness (24th), Osprey at Fulbeck (1st), an American Golden Plover at Anwick Fen (18th), Great Grey Shrike at Haverholme Park (29th), Cetti's Warbler at Marston STW (28th), and Yellow-browed Warbler at Sutton Bridge (11th). John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 23.12.11 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bittern 2 blackbird 40+ black headed gull 20 blue tit 6 carrion crow 2 chaffinch 5 common gull 30+ coot 100+ cormorant 2 curlew 4 dunnock 3 fieldfare 21 gadwall 30 goldeneye 3 goldfinch 7 GC grebe 4 great tit 5 greenfinch 2 grey heron 2 greylag goose 15 grey plover house sparrow 15 kestrel lapwing 10 long tailed tit 10 magpie 4 mallard 20 marsh harrier 2M moorhen 9 mute swan 4 pheasant 2 pochard 30+ redshank 4 redwing 60+ reed bunting 2 robin 7 short eared owl shoveler 10 sparrowhawk F starling 60+ teal 15 tufted duck 15 water rail whooper swan 6 wigeon 22 willow tit wood pigeon 12 wren 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Photo site update :- Bardney Limewoods 2008 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157604757394558/ Bardney Limewoods 2009 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157616635241942/ Bardney Limewoods 2010 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157623488040369/ Bardney Limewoods 2011 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157626361531988/ *** Call for LIMEWOODS Reports *** From time to time we get reports for the Lincolnshire Limewoods, but far fewer than we had hoped for. It is almost as if people do not know that we have a woodland NNR on our doorstep, with its associated wildlife. Take a look at the following links and see if you can boost our records with a visit. Don't forget: tracks and signs are important records, so examine muddy patches and if we get some snow look out for deer slots and paw prints etc. A good website about this is: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/field_guides/ For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006846.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny macalpine@doddington.demon.co.uk *** Contacts List *** *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 *** 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. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** 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, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Alan Phillips Willing to examine specimens or check photos (but bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). Aculeates only please, no parasitic wasps such as Ichneumons. If in doubt please contact for advice: aculeates@gmail.com *** Whisby's Bee and Wasp List *** Dr Michael Archer and Alan Phillips have put together an impressive list. Have a look and see how many species you recognise by name! http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/whisby/index.php?id=73 Also see: http://norwegica.wordpress.com/author/norwegica/ Could this be the year you learn to identify bees and wasps? *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning Email: 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 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 *** 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 *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.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. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Wash Estuary Project Contacts *** Jeff Goodley - Wash Estuary Project Officer jeff.goodley@washestuary.org.uk Vivien Hartwell - Wash Biodiversity viv.hartwell@washestuary.org.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, charlie.barnes@lincsbiodiversity.org.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 *** Interesting Weather radar website *** Noel Loxley recommends the following interesting website. http://www.raintoday.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: john.badley@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 recorded in my garden 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Mike Binnion writes: Common Butterflies 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 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 14, 2012 Joseph Banks, James Edward Smith and the Linnean Society Illustrated Lecture by Prof. Mark Seaward. Emeritus Professor of Environmental Biology at Bradford University and Honorary Professor of Lincoln University. Saturday, February 11, 2012 Recorders Meeting Overview and highlights of the past year's recording provided by the county recorders. Saturday, March 10, 2012 AGM & Presidential Address Barrie Wilkinson's eagerly awaited Presidential Address. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bee Photographs *** Requesting photos: Can anyone help me with photos to illustrate a paper, please? I am hoping to use readers' photos of honeybees and other pollinating species "in action", and will be grateful if you will also permit me to use them in an LNU Powerpoint presentation. This will make it much more interesting than if I use my own or "borrowed" photos. [Yours will be acknowledged.] The flower species being worked is as important as the species working it for pollen or nectar, but if you can't identify the flower or pollinator involved, please don't worry. [Best warn me if you are going to e-mail something huge.] I would also welcome observations of particular associations you may make over the course of next year, e.g. specific wild flowers and their pollinators. Comments and anecdotes are welcome too. I will also welcome reports of wild/feral honeybee colonies in trees, walls etc. Note them now and then see how they are surviving next Spring. For more bee information see: http://rogerparsons.info/bees.html Thanks. Roger. *** 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: included clare.dinham - message refused newarkwireless - rejected because it would exceed the quota. stourton-mark - local delivery failed - mark.gordon please note. *** Link of the Week *** Thanks for the following: David Robinson for Daffy Duck Parachute Jump - Very Addictive! http://www.bassfiles.net/parachute.swf Charlie Barne, for Sexton Beetles from George McGavin's BBC series After Life - the Strange Science of Decay. Stunning programmes. The actors here were provided by Bulletin reader Alan Dale, by the way. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00mdk3b ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/