============================================ || || 23rd January 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 930 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Tips for Bird Reports *** There is nothing wrong with reporting common species, but the trick is to strike the right reporting balance. Once you have reported the main info for your location, the usual number of species, you can refine what you do and focus on trends and changes. For example, most of us will see blue tits or robins in the garden. But if they disappear, or maybe double in number, that change could be significant. For the purposes of the Bulletin, most locations only require a "maximum number" weekly/monthly report, with a mention of anything unusual in terms of species or numbers. Once your expertise and confidence is sufficient, think about submitting interesting reports to the appropriate Lincs Bird Club recorder. See section 8 below. They will need to know the same kind of things we put in the Bulletin, but may well ask you for additional background information. For unusual species, photographic evidence or a sketch is very helpful. A more general point I notice one or two people are starting to use Latin names in conjunction with common ones where these exist, which is a very good thing, as recorders do need to practice these to become familiar with them. However, it is not a firm requirement for us where common names are well established, and I would not want to put anyone off by making too much of this. Try it if you like, but if you do, please make sure you get them right, as I do not know them all! I shall have to trust you to check them. Thanks. Roger p.s. Most of us started our wildlife watching with birds. But birds eat and live in/on things that can be identified too. So every birder needs to be extending their ID skills into the wider fields of botany and zoology. Hoverflies are in the food webs of many birds and there is an interesting course about Hoverflies listed below. It might open up a whole new area of interest for you! *** 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, 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 followed by the Presidential Address by Ken Rowland *** 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. *** Wetlands of the Humberhead Levels *** Tom Hayek says: Please be sure to highlight that attendees must book as we have hired minibuses so places are limited. The low-lying flatlands, at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Trent would, in times past, have been a vast wetland complex. Known as the Humberhead Levels, three Wildlife Trusts (Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire) have been working in partnership to increase and enhance wetland habitats in the area. A special event has been organised on Thursday 10 February. It will be an in-depth look at work being carried out on wetland habitats and an opportunity to learn more about two extremely interesting wetland reserves, Mission Carr and Epworth Turbary, by those who know them best. It will be a full day from 9.30am - 4.00pm and numbers are limited. Places booked in advance by contacting Tom Hayek, Humberhead Levels Living Landscape Officer, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on 01302 343556 or by email: tom.hayek@ywt.org.uk [Thanks to Brian Hedley for letting us know of the event.] *** Bat News *** Annette Faulkner writes: BATS Further to my piece at new year the casualties have continued rolling in - at the time of writing (20th) we have now reached 16 since the end of November. Compare this with none last winter and rarely more than three in any year. With two exceptions they are all pipistrelles, mostly male and mostly underweight. Some are still in care (one has a hole in his wing which will take some time to heal), but many have been released after feeding up. We suspect the explanation is the see-sawing night-time temperatures, so that the poor things don't know where they are - possibly literally. One site, a secondary school with a known roost, produced 4 bats in a week. We suspect that they had gone into the cool school building during the Christmas holidays to escape the low temperatures outside, only to be brought out of hibernation when the heating went up once the pupils were back. Things seem to have stabilised now, and unless we get any more extreme weather in the next few weeks the telephone should go quiet for a bit. *** Excellent LWT factsheet *** Care of Sick or Injured Animals: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/contacts.php Worth everyone bookmarking this factsheet in case you need it later! Roger *** LWT Lincoln Area Forum *** Denis Jones writes Thursday 20 January 7.30pm Whisby Nature Park Education Centre "The Work of Nettleham Woodland Trust" *** Grantham Area Group of the LWT *** Barkston & Syston Village Hall 7.30 p.m. January no meeting Fri. 11th February Willow Tree Fen A new LWT nature reserve which will increase Lincolnshire's remaining fenland by 200% Marcus Craythorne 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 *** Alkborough Flats Event *** Sarah Killick writes: Sunday 6th February - 4pm Winter Wonder See wildlife in a whole new light. An evening's stroll out to the Trent bank to witness the magic of the winter wildfowl coming in to feed and roost. Cost: £2/person Booking essential Call 01724 721269 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 R.S.P.B. 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. *** Goldcrest *** Ian Misslebrook writes: I was interested in Denis Jones' account of the tame Goldcrest that foraged around the conservation volunteers. On last autumn's Wash Pelagic organised by Steve Keightley two Goldcrests landed on the boat and foraged around the coiled ropes successfully for spiders. They were so confiding that they even perched on our cameras and binoculars. For a full account and photographs Denis and other readers of the bulletin should log on to my website; www.countryeye.org.uk and look at the autumn edition. *** Yellow-browed Warbler *** Stuart Britton writes: S Foster's report of a Yellow-browed Warbler at Friskney in January is a superb record.  Although they are becoming more common as a drift migrant on the East Coast in autumn, a winter record in Lincolnshire may be unprecedented.  Having said that, in the winter of 2006/7 there were over-wintering birds along the south coast from Sussex to West Cornwall. I'm sure the County Recorder, John Badley, would welcome a full description and/or a photograph of the bird to confirm the record. *** Common Butterflies *** Have a look at Mick Binnion's photos of common butterflies on the Grimsby Wildlife Website http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ *** Know Any Other Bulletins, Anyone? *** Hilary Bourne asks: Could you tell me if there's a Cambridgeshire Wildlife Bulletin I can also receive as I work in Peterborough (Ferry Meadows is marvellous for bird watching) and live in South Lincs. *** Vius Hoaxes *** From time to time we get bombarded by dodgy emails warning us of formidable new threats to our computers. Most are hoaxes and can be ignored. Keeping anti-virus software up to data should be your first priority. If you add on useful anti-spyware and use a good firewall you should be protected against most of the threats. How can you tell if a threat is a hoax or not? See: http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/threatexplorer/risks/hoaxes.jsp ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 15/1 5 Snow Buntings, Skegness 50 Waxwings, Immingham, Pelham Road 65 Lapland Buntings, 4 Waxwings, Frampton Marsh RSPB also 28 Eurasian White-fronted geese, Hen harrier, 2 Bewick's, 14 Whooper Swans and 40 Twite. Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby 21 Shorelarks, Gibraltar Point Greenland White-fronted Goose, Barton upon Humber 16/1 Caspian Gull, Sleaford, Leadenham Tip Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby 2 Waxwings, Barton upon Humber Taiga Bean Goose, West Halton 3 Waxwing, Frampton Marsh RSPB 2 Waxwings, Nocton Fen 21 Shorelarks, Gibraltar Point 17/1 Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby Ring-necked parakeet, Grimsby 6 Bewick's Swans, River Welland, Deeping St Nicholas 18 Shorelarks, Gibraltar Point 3 Shorelarks. Theddlethorpe 18/1 Taiga Bean goose, 2000 Pink-footed geese, 1 Greenland white-fronted goose, West Halton 2 Smew, west of Winterton Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby Short-eared owl, Worlaby Carrs 19/1 40+ Waxwings, Grimsby swimming pool 14 Waxwings, Skegness 6 Waxwings, North Hykeham waxwing, Mablethorpe 20/1 80+ Waxwings, Grimsby swimming pool Rough-legged Buzzard, South Ferriby 21/1 14 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Barton-upon-Himber Rough-legged Buzzard, Red Hill 21 Shorelarks, Gibraltar Point 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. GARTHORPE, Nth Lincs Paul Gee Friday 14/1/11 Early afternoon 20-30 Fieldfares, (Turdus pilaris) - a rare sight round here, in tree at bottom of garden, Neighbours garden. Stayed on and off all afternoon. Roughly same time in a tree opposite side of road in front of house a similar number of Long Tailed Tits, (Aegithalos caudatus), more regularly seen but not in quite so many numbers. This year we appear to have an above average of Blackbirds within the garden, particularly ones with White Patches on heads, necks and wings. Not Leucistic but showing signs. Also at least 3 separate ones with only one leg. We also, regularly see 3/4 Robins, (Erithacus rubecula), within the garden at the same time, particularly when the weather was bad, with the obvious result of a lot of fighting. No real sightings of Wrens, (Troglodytes troglodytes), this year to date. *** 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. BRADLEY & DIXON'S WOOD 16/01/11 Mick Binnion Plenty of Blue, Great, Coal and Long Tailed Tit. Great Spotted Woodpecker Chaffinch Bullfinch Treecreeper Yellowhammer (to hedgerows) Nuthatch (one of the few places in our area to have the right balance for all year round sightings) CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson 416/1/2011 Snipe (1) 2 more dead frogs in garden pond. Compared the month-long freeze in 1995-96 casualties in our pond are light: we must have lost 40+ then, but they bounced back regardless, to my pleasant surprise. The pond was only 3-4 years old then and I feared I'd lost our newly-established population, but not so! CHAPEL PITS Dave Miller Fri 21st Jan 2011 Mallard 21 Tufted Duck 13 Pheasant 7 Moorhen 2 Woodpigeon 8 Magpie 1 Blue Tit 15 Great Tit 2 Long-tailed Tit 12 Blackbird 4 Robin 3 Chaffinch 1 CORONATION CHANNEL Coronation Channel & Welland River WeBs Count 16-01-2011 K J Seaton Totals for both sites Mallard 367 Teal 105 Tufted Duck 225 Pochard 1 Great Crested Grebe 4 Goosander 4 Greylag Geese 4 Mute Swan 15 Coot 355 Moorhen 6 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 2 Black-headed Gull 32 Redshank 2 FENTON (Ramper Lane) SK844 772 Richard Fox 22nd January 2011 Great Tit claiming territory Mixed flock of c.50 Chaffinch/Goldfinch/Greenfinch Mute swan 72 FULLETBY Paul Learoyd 15 January 2011 9:30am Crossing B road near Brook Farm, Fulletby TF285734 (Fulletby West Ashby Roadside Nature Reserve) Stoat in ermine, well nearly. A stoat hopped across the road in front of the car half dressed in its winter robes. Its legs and body up to shoulder level were a clean white with head, back and most of its tail still very rich brown. I suggest for maximum camouflage effect it must slide in the snow on its back! I presume it was loosing its coat of ermine after the sustained cold and snow of December. Sorry, no photograph it was far too quick. GRIMSBY, Alexandra Dock Paul Preston 15 January 2011 2 dozen coot. Never seen so many together since freeze in December. Plus Regular robin since cold snap, never before have had regular visits. GRIMSBY Michael Pickwell 20/1/2011 we have had large numbers of waxwings in Grimsby this week. On Sunday and Monday there were 100+ by the college. They then moved to the area around Scartho Baths and there were 50+ there today and yesterday. HOLYWELL LAKE Ian Misslebrook 16 January 2011 9.30 – 10.30 Little Grebes 4 Black Swan Mute Swan 2 Canada Geese 88 Greylag Geese 7 Mallard 178 Gadwall 10 Teal 37 Tufted Duck 14 Coot 33 Moorhen 18 Grey Heron 1 Stock Dove Woodpigeons Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Long-tailed Tits 12 Goldcrest Mistle Thrush Blackbird Robin Wren Rooks Carrion crows Jackdaws Goldfinch Chaffinch Nearby; 2 Red Kites at Creeton and 1 at Irnham. 1 Common Buzzard at Holywell Wood and another at Callan's Lane Wood. KETTLETHORPE Richard Fox 17th January 2011 Barn owl hunting along roadside ditch 3.30pm LAUGHTERTON (Golf Course) Richard Fox 17th January 2011 Gold Crest foraging in hedgerow by Main course 5th Tee LOUTH OS 3486 C Byatt 21 Jan '11 Long tailed tits - 4 (attacking a fat ball!) NORMANTON Paul Gee Normanton 18/1/111 Trees in field next to M62 - 2 Magpies, (Pica pica), actively building a nest, sat and watched for nearly 15 minutes. Both birds very active taking twigs and laying them in place. I don't have a real concept of when they 'should' be doing this but certainly NOT in January. At least 2 months early I would have thought? Anyone any more ideas on this? PINCHBECK SLIPE NR 16.01.2011 E.J.Redshaw Mute Swan - 5; Gadwall - 4;  Mallard - 14;  Wigeon - 52; Tufted Duck - 36; Coot - 2. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 15-21.01.2011 Tits, robin and song thrush very vocal in the recent mild spell. A pair of collared doves gathering nesting material. First few yellow buds of winter aconites. Fortunately no dead frogs in our pond even though its surface was frozen for much longer than last year. Having found 5 dead frogs after last year's freeze, I cleared out a lot of surplus vegetation in October to help keep the water fresh. I also used warm water every few days to make a hole in the ice to enable gas exchange. It seems to me that frogs are more sensitive to water quality than goldfish. RIVER WELLAND - SPALDING TO THE DEEPINGS. R & K Heath 16/01/11 The duck are back in good numbers now the river has thawed Goosander 5 Kestrel 3 Mallard 236 Moorhen 63 on grass fields Mute Swan 358 All on the rape fields except for 20 Redshank 14 A high number for a river that does not have muddy edges. Sparrowhawk 1 Tufted duck 186 Not back to our usual numbers yet. Widgeon 560 A very high number for this site. Woodpigeon 200+ Very few small birds RUSINGTON 076511 NOEL HERBERT 21-1-11 Long Tailed Tit 1 eating fat ball SEACROFT MARSH SSSI Dave Miller Mon 17th Jan 2011 Great Crested Grebe 1 on sea Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Woodcock 1 Curlew 25 flying S Redshank 5 Goldcrest 1 Blackbird 5 Song Thrush 1 Meadow Pipit 15 Rock Pipit 2 Reed Bunting 4 SPALDING Annette Faulkner TF245218 20/1/2011 Mistle thrush in full song in the trees along the Welland through Spalding. Heard from our garden. A welcome sign the year is progressing! STURTON BY STOW Rodge Brownlow, Sturton by Stow 19/1/2011 Since the ice has gone from our garden pond I have taken out 2 dead frogs and 4 dead common newts. On a more optimistic note I have seen the first white of snowdrops peeping through in our orchard, the soil is heavy and wet but that seems to make little difference. Also today saw the little red female flowers on our hazel bushes, the male catkins have been obvious since before Christmas. WHItGIFT Paul Gee Whitgift/Reedness 19/1/11 Early am, 5 flights, (totalling approx 200 birds), Shelducks flying over, (typical of their 'heavy look and slow wing beat when in flight'), following the route of the Ouse in the direction of Goole. We see these regularly at Alkborough but have never seen so many at one sighting, particularly around this site even though a short distance away from Alkborough in a straight line. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 16/1/2011 Stockdove - pair Goldfinch - pair Long-tailed tit - 12 Winter aconite in flower - just showing Snowdrop in flower - just showing 22/1/2001 In living room, a sub-adult individual garden snail (Helix aspersa) has managed to overwinter, feeding on the spine of The Cloudspotters Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. It had just moved over to start eating The Rough Guide To Climate Change. Is this an omen? w/o 3/1/2011 A. Parsons identified scat on road as from Weasel. Location: TF 216540 approx. WILLOWTREE FEN NR, GUTHRAM 16.01.2011 E.J.Redshaw R.Glen: Mute Swan - 18; Gadwall - 2; Mallard - 10; Wigeon - 120 (480 on 10th Jan); Teal - 8;  Tufted Duck -16; Goldeneye - 2; Dabchick - 2; Coot - 4; Cormorant 2.   Flooded fields and plantations: Lapwing - 250; Curlew - 3; Redshank - 4; Woodcock - 2; Snipe - 3; Black-headed Gull - 80; Greater Black-backed Gull - 2; Buzzard - 1 (2 on 10th Jan); Kestrel - 1. WRANGLE COMMON 16/01/2011 Roy and Kath Pearson This morning we went to do a BirdTrack count and encountered a very large incident of fish mortality. Approaching the largest pool, we were assailed by an almost overwhelming smell. Arriving at the side of the pool, we found the water and the sides of the pool littered with the bodies of Carp, Tench, Roach and a few Perch. Speaking to a fisherman who was walking past, we were told that he had counted over two hundred dead fish earlier in the week. I assume that there must be a small, constant leak of methane from the bottom that disperses into the air, but with the thick ice cover of the past few weeks it had been trapped in the water and had reached a very high concentration, affecting availability of oxygen. Regarding the bird life, there was little of note apart from the first Green Sandpiper record for several weeks and a flock of forty-eight Curlews. Blackbird numbers have declined substantially now that the hedges have lost their berries and only seven were 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 16/01/2011 Hen Harrier 6 Shorelark 21 18/1/2011 Shorelark 21 19/01/2011 Barn Owl 1 Blackcap Brambling 15 Brent Goose 450 Eider 50 Hen Harrier 1 Merlin 1 Red-breasted Merganser 6 Red-throated Diver 90 Woodcock 3 Water Pipit 2 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 John Badley RSPB Lincs Wash Reserves sightings Decemnber 2010. RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp Several species of goose made appearances during the month, including 46 Barnacle Geese on 2nd, four European White-fronted Geese on 13th, 30 on 29th and a peak count of Dark-bellied Brent Goose of 3250 on 11th. Up to 16 Whooper Swans were also present on 11th. The cold conditions brought counts of 800 Fieldfares on 19th, Woodcock on several dates, up to 22 Tree Sparrows and a record 83 Lapland Buntings on 26th. Up to three Hen Harriers were seen on the saltmarsh, along with up to two Marsh Harriers, two Merlin and Peregrine. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp The month started off with two Bewick's Swans on 3rd. A good count of 11 Pale-bellied Brent Geese were feeding with the Dark-bellied birds on 18th and a Black Brant was seen on 24th. On the sea a Black-throated Diver was the highlight on 23rd. Eight Brambling were present on 11th, a Woodcock was seen on 27th, with Jack Snipe and eight European White-fronted Geese on 31st. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 22.01.11 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bittern (1 seen daily) blackbird 40+ black headed gull 30+ blue tit 8 brent goose 16 bullfinch 8 carrion crow 2 chaffinch 7 collared dove 2 common buzzard common gull 6 coot 15 cormorant 2 curlew 2 dunnock 3 gadwall 11 goldcrest 3 goldeneye 4 goldfinch 6 greenfinch 2 GC grebe 3 GS woodpecker great tit 4 grey heron 2 house sparrow 20 lapwing 11 LBB gull 2 long tailed tit 9 magpie 6 mallard 20 marsh harrier 3 mistle thrush moorhen 12 mute swan 4 pheasant 2 pink footed goose 115 pochard 30+ redpoll 2 reed bunting 2 robin 8 shelduck 4 shoveler 8 snipe 3 sparrowhawk starling 10 teal 55 tree sparrow 6 tufted duck 24 water rail 2 willow tit 2 wood pigeon 6 wren 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Nowt. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk] When sending in reports please follow Bulletin layout to save editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms via Tori Sandilands at the Lincs Wildlife Trust Horncastle office, e-mail vsandilands@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: csmith668@btinternet.com *** Contacts List *** PC Nigel LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer - Community Safety Police HQ Deepdale Lane Nettleham Lincs LN57PH Tel 01522 558684 e-mail: nigel.lound@lincs.pnn.police.uk or Nige LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer County Police Station Sea Lane Ingoldmells Lincs PE24 44XX Tel: 01522 558684 e-mail: nigelound@btinternet.com *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: A.Faulkner@care4free.net *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: A.Faulkner@care4free.net *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/bfly/index.php *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** LNU Bees and Wasps Recorder *** Dr Michael Archer 17 Elmfield Terrace, Malton Road, York YO31 1EH. [Willing to check or identify any aculeate wasp or bee specimen. Such a specimen usually has to be relaxed and mounted on a pin before it can be examined. If more than a few specimens are sent in, they must be mounted.] *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** New Met Office Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090727.html *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** LNU Plant Galls Recorder *** Graeme Clayton 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, January 15, 2011 Extinctions and Invasions: A Social History of British Fauna Dr Naomi Sykes, Lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. This is the tile of the recently published book edited by Naomi and Terry O'Connor. Naomi Sykes is a lecturer in zooarchaeology in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. Naomi's research focuses on human-animal relationships and how they inform on the structure, ideology and practice of past societies. Recent work by Naomi, advances our understanding of Norman hunting influences and reassesses the functioning of medieval parks and the role of hunting in society. Interrupting these functions leads to an assessment of past animal populations with Naomi's work at Fishbourne in Sussex proving that Fallow Deer were kept and bred by the Romans in Great Britain. *** The meeting is being supported by the University of Lincoln, the venue is Riseholme, admission £3.50. http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/88116//Location/Oxbow Saturday, February 12, 2011 Recorders meeting The annual meeting, detailing the highlights of Lincolnshire's flora and fauna for 2010. Saturday, March 12, 2011 Annual General Meeting AGM, followed by the Presidential Address by Ken Rowland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find a copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Recent mailfails: michael.sinclair - no account 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 *** John Rae *** Joan Gunson writes: I read article about Sir John Franklin and thought your readers might be interested in this one about Dr. John Rae. http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/historicalfigures/johnrae/ *** Amazing Clock *** Try it! http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf *** NanoSail-D Deploys *** You may spot this new orbiting object in the night sky. You can look up real time tracking or predictions for visible passes on: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/