============================================ || || 13th February 2011 || || 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 935 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events *** For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php 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, March 12, 2011 Annual General Meeting followed by the Presidential Address by Ken Rowland *** Honeybees on Nature Reserves *** Richard Davidson writes: I can confirm that the bees in the chimney at Banovallum House were there last summer. I saw them while I was doing gardening last May/June/July time. Caroline Steel adds: The bees are still going strong at Banovallum House and were out last month one (relatively) mild day. Natural Pollinators not a Honeybee Ban The Editor writes: Last week I wrote about a conversation with local beekeepers who had 'expressed bewilderment at being told by LWT staff that it is .. policy to exclude beehives from nature reserves in order to encourage what were referred to as "natural pollinators"'. Dave Bromwich has put me right on this and has said that the issue for the Lincs Wildlife Trust is actually one of public safety and that bees can present problems for visitors. This I quite understand and I have myself advised beekeepers against placing hives near Public paths or in parks. There was an inference in the account I was given that the issue also related to a possible competition between honey bees and other pollinators such as bumblebees. This is an important matter for beekeepers, most of whom would be appalled if it were proved that their bees could actually do harm to conservation work. Dave tells me that there are some specific locations where it might be a good idea to avoid placing hives in or near the reserve where a specific community might be adversely affected. But he assured me that the key issue is of a health and safety nature, where bees and visitors would be a bad mixture, and that it is more a matter of caution than policy. I think he was concerned that local press who read the Bulletin were running with the story as news when we were simply airing the issue and warming to the subject. The Echo piece has pretty much killed that off. It might be helpful for press readers to give us a bit of leeway in our discussions before using them, lest we become more reticent and less candid and therefore less interesting. Dave has sent me the following comments: "An article by Natural England invertebrate specialists in Conservation Land Management, Vol 5 No 2 (Summer 2007) had alerted the Trust to potential and hitherto unthought-of of conflicts of introduced higher numbers of pollinators on sensitive sites competing with "the locals". A cautionary approach was advised. Coupled with the visitor issue the Trust has therefore decided to not continue with the placement of hives on reserves. However there is a 'wild' colony of honey bees living in the roof of the Trust headquarters!" "The idea of keeping the nature reserves "natural" has conflicts in other many other taxa and can upset other interest groups. A reduction in blue and great tits nest boxes due to the predation of locally rare invertebrates (bird ringers); Pike being controlled in lakes having eaten their way through all the small "silver fish" (fishermen); Felling dead trees on health and safety grounds (mycologists); Too many browsing sheep (bryologists); not enough grazing sheep (bryologists). This goes on to include debates about foxes, deer, rabbits, grey squirrels, moles, magpies, sparrowhawks, etc. Then we can bring in the control of alien plants - rhododendron, Canadian pondweed, Himalayan balsam, Crassula helmsii etc - how much do the Trust spend, is it worth it, are these things here to stay...." Editor adds: Any one of these issues could keep us going for weeks, so can I ask that anyone wishing to comment keeps it pithy, please? I am pleased to say that so far our bees seem to have come through the winter OK. Similar reports have come in from many beekeepers, supporting the view that it is not cold that is the problem for the honeybee, but weak colonies, damp, shortage of stores or poor health. For helpful bee links see: http://rogerparsons.info/bees.html *** Lincolnshire Bird Club Grantham Peregrine Project *** Andrew Chick writes: The Lincs Bird Club is pleased to announce the return of the Grantham Peregrine Webcam. Images from the tower at St Wulfram's Church, Grantham can be seen at http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/pegcam.html while details of daily activity can be found at http://pegcam.blogspot.com. Birds have already been seen in the nesting tray, so fingers crossed that they breed again successfully in 2011. Details of last year's successful breeding attempt can be download at http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/Articles/2010_Peregrine_Blog.pdf *** Identifying Hoverflies *** Information from Ian Macalpine-Leny Whisby Education Centre in conjunction with Roger Morris are holding an Introduction to Hoverflies event on 26th and 27th March 2011 and 24th September 2011 (3 day course). Roger Morris describes the course as follows:- An Introduction to Hoverfly Identification This course is designed to give the novice sufficient confidence to tackle these attractive and interesting flies. By the end of the second day most pupils can be expected to understand the critical parts of the keys that often cause trouble. The programme comprises a mixture of formal and informal sessions. Identification sessions use preserved material provided by the course tutors. Course literature has been designed to compliment the keys in Stubbs & Falk's British Hoverflies. A second session in September is scheduled to provide an opportunity for pupils to refresh their knowledge and have specimens confirmed. It will also give an opportunity to look at more challenging genera that often cause difficulties. *** Grantham Area Group of the LWT *** Barkston & Syston Village Hall 7.30 p.m. Fri 11th March Nature Reserves in NE Leicestershire & Rutland Fri 8th April Churchyard Nature Reserves God's Acre Project at St. Swithun's Long Bennington Gordon Scott *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 14th February 2011 you are invited to join us for an illustrated talk on The Highlands and Islands of Scotland presented by expert speaker and photographer Geoff Trinder who is sure will dazzle us with his pictures and knowledge. This will be held in the banqueting room of Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30 p.m.. Admission £2. There will be Trust goods stall, raffle and refreshments. All are welcome to join us. For further information contact Jenny Redpath Grimsby 502858 On Sunday 20th February 2011 we invite you to us on a guided walk around Tetney Blow Wells Nature Reserve. Grid reference TA316009. This is a 1.5 mile walk in about 1.5 hours. Please park and meet at Tetney Church at 10am. Wellies or boots may be necessary if there has been recent rain. No dogs please. Free event but donations to the Trust will be gratefully received. The church will be open to visitors 3.00 - 4.15 p.m. with light refreshments on sale for church funds. For further details please contact walk leader and reserve manager Clifford Jukes 01472 814887 *** LWT Lincoln Area Forum *** Denis Jones writes Thursday 17 February 7.30pm Whisby Nature Park Education Centre The Farming and Wildlife of Poland Illustrated talk by Roger Wardle *** Alkborough Flats Event *** Sarah Killick writes: 20th March - 9.30am & 11.30 am Minibus tours Join the site staff on a drive around the Flats visiting different parts of the site including the breach. Find out how the site has developed since it was breached and what our plans are. Cost: £2 12th April - 10am Family fun on the farm A brilliant morning out for all the family. See the newly born spring lambs, cows and calves. Learn what farm life is all about! Please wear suitable clothing and wellies. Cost: £2/child *** Wash Cruises *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB group have released details of their 2011 Wash Birdwatching Cruises programme. Each Cruise lasts about 4/5 hours and after boarding the boat at Sluice Bridge, Boston the trip follows the river Witham into the Wash, along the river Welland with views over the saltmarsh bordering the RSPB reserve before returning to Boston. During 2010 over 100 bird species were seen and seals are also seen on most cruises. There are 15 cruises starting 13th April and continuing until 22nd October. RSPB members £14 (children under 16 £8) and non-members £16-50 (£9). Further details on www.southlincsrspb.org.uk or call 07531495521. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Birds Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Note: I am adapting RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. 9/2 27 Snow Buntings, Humberston 18 Wawing, Lincoln, Witham St Hugh's Rough-legged buzzard, South Ferriby 10/2 Red-necked grebe, Westwoodside. 11/2 Rough-legged buzzard, South Ferriby 12/2 Rough-legged buzzard, South Ferriby Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. Daniel Preston writes: I'm amazed to tell you I have seen two Ladybirds over the last two days! One yesterday on a shrub and one just flew into my living-room and landed on a curtain! Sandra Bensley needs some insect ID help. Today I found an insect that I could not identify. It was emerging into the weak sunshine from a crack in the shed door. It was just less than a centimetre in length, heart-shaped, light ochre coloured with tiny flecks of white on its wing cases. My first thought was that it was a tiny shield bug type of insect, but I don't think it was. I released it into the garden and I'm just hoping that it isn't a pest, but it was so pretty. [Could it be a Valentine Beetle being heart- shaped and it is almost Valentine's Day?] *** 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. BISHOP'S BRIDGE (Lincoln bypass) Richard Fox 8th February 2011 4pm Barn Owl hunting along dykes BRANSTON, VALLEY ESTATE Janis Wright 11/2/11 A male pheasant joined the usual birds near our bird table this week.  He was also seen walking along the fence and feeding on the rose hips on our Rosa rugosa hedge. A group of 4 starlings continues to feed on our hanging feeders.  At least one appears to have developed a taste for nyjer seeds. A dead hedgehog was found in one of the borders earlier in the week.  Quite near the road so not sure if it was injured and crawled into the garden to die or chose a poor spot for hibernation. BROADHOLME SK880735 R A Brownlow Friday 10th February 2011 Female otter sadly dead, looks to be a road kill. (Environment Agency been informed and will collect it.) CHAPEL PITS Dave Miller Tues 8th Feb 2011 Pheasant 5 Little Egret 4 Grey Heron 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Coot 2 Herring Gull 4 Magpie 1 Long-tailed Tit 4 Wren 1 Reed Bunting 1 FENTON (Ramper Lane) SK844 772 Richard Fox 12th February 2011 Chaffinch in sub song Mute swan 66 Robin pair nest prospecting on Ivy covered tree stump Yellow Hammer singing HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Ian Misselbrook 12/02/2011 0920 – 1030 Little Grebes 5 Mute swans 2 Greylag Geese 32 Canada Geese 113 Mallard 72 Gadwall 16 Teal 36 Tufted Duck 14 Red Crested Pochard 1 female – new bird for this site Coot 24 Moorhen 14 B.H. Gulls 4 Mistle Thrush Fieldfares Song Thrush Blackbird Robin Dunnock Wren Goldcrest (singing) Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Long-tailed Tits Woodpigeons Stock Doves Rooks Carrion Crows Jackdaw Kestrel Chaffinches IRBY DALE 06/02/11 Mick Binnion Buzzard This species is getting much commoner in the Northern Wolds, wherever there are rabbits on grassland and mature trees. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 7.2.2011, 4.30pm (sunny and mild all day) 7 Brown Hares (3 pairs and one singleton) in fields nearby, apparently feeding on wheat stubble. A closer inspection revealed plentiful weed seedlings including Chickweed and Hairy Bittercress, as well as oil-seed rape. Hazel coming into flower, Snowdrops in full bloom along the verges and Lords & Ladies as well as Cow Parsley starting into growth. 8.2.2011 Small Tortoiseshell emerging in garage and the first 7-spot Ladybird of the season. RAND WOOD TF082779 C Smith 10/2/2011 Moths to Actinic light 1 Pale Brindled Beauty 1 Spring Usher 3 Tortricodes alternella SALTFLEETBY/THEDDLETHORPE North of Rimac entrance Richard Fox 8th February 2011 2pm Barn Owl hunting (successfully) SEACROFT MARSH SSSI Dave Miller Mon 7th Feb 2011 Hen Harrier 1 female seen at 7.50am and 10am Kestrel 1 Lapwing 40 flying NE Curlew 35 15 flying S 20 flying N Siskin 1 flying N Linnet 3 Thurs 10th Feb 2011 Little Egret 1 Oystercatcher 2 Redshank 6 Rock Pipit 4 Linnet 26 SWINDERBY Janet Mellor 7 February 2011 No frog orgy this year! Anticipating the forthcoming frog mating season I inspected my pond this weekend and realised it was completely choked with vegetation. The first forkful of vegetation revealed the distressing sight of 6 dead frogs. I have now removed approx. 30 dead frogs in various states of decomposition and associated vegetation - not a pleasant task. If anyone else needs to tackle a similar job I advise very strong peppermints! Presumably the mortality is a result of the pond being totally frozen for 6 weeks or so. Can I expect any frogs this spring or will they give my pond a wide berth? If this is the pattern nation-wide its not good news for our amphibians. WALTHAM~Scartho edge 06/02/11 Tim Mason We have had a regular congregation/daily throughout the Autumn and Winter of Yellowhammers 12~20. On a tall hedgerow and Ash tree. Gardens one side rough grassland the other. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 7th Feb 2011 Picked up several Tawny Owl pellets in garden. 11/2 Tawny owl calling in garden 5pm. 12/2 Barn owl hunting in area. WOODHALL SPA TF194 633 5th Feb Steve Green Pale Brindled Beauty moth (resting in the public loos) WRANGLE COMMON 12/02/2011 Roy and Kath Pearson We did a BirdTrack count today and it was noticeable how the level of bird song had increased from our last count some weeks ago. Robin, Song Thrush, Chaffinch and Dunnock were all in full song. Despite the land being waterlogged, wader numbers were low with single counts of Redshank, Green Sandpiper and Lapwing around the pools, though a flock of thirteen Lapwings flew over without landing. We succeeded at the end of our count in finding the elusive Curlew flock which numbered twenty-three birds, but there was no sign of either Snipe or Woodcock, which is quite surprising. Whilst the Canada Goose flock has returned with thirty-nine birds present, the ducks that were so numerous before the freeze have not yet reappeared, the only birds recorded being Mallard (11) and Teal (6). A new species for the tetrad was White-fronted Goose, with two birds being seen. A single Jay was present and a Linnet flew over, this species not being particularly common in the tetrad nowadays. A Little Owl was, I think, the first winter record here. Starlings were unusually numerous with a flock of 120 being recorded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 04/02/2011 Iceland Gull 1 Slavonian Grebe 2 06/02/2011 Barn Owl Goldcrest 1 Hen Harrier 2 Merlin 1 Snow Bunting SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker. 11/2/11 3 large bumblebees Friday afternoon also several ladybirds crawling over sun warmed fence posts. Fairly quite on the bird scene. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore John Badley January 2011. RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp RSPB Frampton Marsh European white-fronted Geese continued to show all month, with a peak of 28 (15th), but a Black Brant was seen on only one date (29th). Whooper Swans were regular, with up to 21, along with up to nine Bewick's Swans. A Yellow-legged Gull was unseasonal on 23rd. A wintering Spotted Redshank was seen on several dates, but up to six Ruff were regular. Four Waxwings were seen from 14th- 16th and a Water Pipit on 24th. Lapland Buntings and Twite peaked at 24 (19th) and 110 (23rd) respectively. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp The year started off nicely with two Waxwings (1st), when there was also a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. A good count of 75 Common Scoter was made (23rd) and single Velvet Scoter, plus three Red- throated Divers were on the sea (28th). Raptors included up to two Marsh Harriers, Hen Harrier, two Peregrines, Merlin, Barn Owl and rarest of all a Little Owl (5th). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 12.02.11 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bar tailed godwit 2 bittern blackbird 20+ black headed gull 30+ blue tit 11 bullfinch carrion crow 3 chaffinch 7 collared dove 2 common gull 100+ coot 50+ cormorant 2 curlew 11 dunnock 5 gadwall 3 goldcrest goldeneye 7 goldfinch 16 greenfinch 12 GC grebe 2 great tit 10 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 100+ herring gull 2 house sparrow 12 LBB gull 3 linnet 2 long tailed tit 8 magpie 12 mallard 20 marsh harrier M+F mistle thrush moorhen 12 mute swan 4 pheasant 5 pink footed goose 110 pochard 15 redshank 2 redwing 2 reed bunting 2 robin 8 shelduck 25 song thrush sparrowhawk starling 25 teal 5 tufted duck 18 water rail 2 willow tit 3 wood pigeon 8 wren 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) Adrian Royle's website for photos of species from the Limewoods. http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157616635241942/ CHAMBERS WOOD 2nd Feb Steve Green Sparrowhawk 2 buzzards Muntjac ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk] When sending in reports please follow Bulletin layout to save editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms via Tori Sandilands at the Lincs Wildlife Trust Horncastle office, e-mail vsandilands@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny macalpine@doddington.demon.co.uk *** Contacts List *** PC Nigel LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer - Community Safety Police HQ Deepdale Lane Nettleham Lincs LN57PH Tel 01522 558684 e-mail: nigel.lound@lincs.pnn.police.uk or Nige LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer County Police Station Sea Lane Ingoldmells Lincs PE24 44XX Tel: 01522 558684 e-mail: nigelound@btinternet.com *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: 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 and Wasps Recorder *** Dr Michael Archer 17 Elmfield Terrace, Malton Road, York YO31 1EH. [Willing to check or identify any aculeate wasp or bee specimen. Such a specimen usually has to be relaxed and mounted on a pin before it can be examined. If more than a few specimens are sent in, they must be mounted.] *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** New Met Office Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090727.html *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** LNU Plant Galls Recorder *** Graeme Clayton Please note my new addresses for plant gall id etc:- 46 Sibthorp Street Lincoln LN5 7SH gclayton54@o2.co.uk 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. *** Lincs Bird Club *** 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 *** 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: freistonshore@rspb.org.uk Bardney Limewoods www.limewoods.co.uk limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. www.joseph-banks.org.uk EasyTide Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx TWO - The Weather Outlook Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Joan Gunson's moths: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/jsylvester/Moths%20in%20my%20garden%202010/ Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Mike Binnion writes: I've put all my decent photos of common butterflies on the Grimsby website: See http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/otherattractions.htm http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk Chambers Farm Wood NEW contact - Mary Porter Mary.porter@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Lincolnshire Bird Club Secretary - Janet Eastmead: janet.eastmead@talktalk.net Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will sometimes withhold precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Saturday, February 12, 2011 Recorders meeting The annual meeting, detailing the highlights of Lincolnshire's flora and fauna for 2010. Saturday, March 12, 2011 Annual General Meeting AGM, followed by the Presidential Address by Ken Rowland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find a copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Recent mailfails: keith-warner- mail transport unavailable If you recognise any failed address, please ask them to contact me with a new address if they wish to continue to receive the Bulletin. Thanks. Roger ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/