============================================ || || 17th July 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 960 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes *** Who won the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards this year? There were many outstanding applications and at least one winner is a reader of the Bulletin! Congratulations. To find out more, visit: http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Lindum Rotary has done outstanding work on this unique local project since 1993, with the stalwart support of Professor David Bellamy. Hats off to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust for the support and encouragement it now gives to the Awards. St Swithin's Day has passed with fair weather for most of us - but will it remain so for 40 days? Seemingly not! http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/swithin.shtml Roger *** Moth Night - Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** On Friday 22nd July 2011 you are invited to join us on a Moth Night in Irby on Humber, N. E. Lincs in the garden of the Blacksmith's Cottage. This starts at 8pm and there will also be the opening of the traps at 9am the following morning. This is a free event but donations will be collected for the Trust. For further information please contact Jenny Redpath - Grimsby 502858 or Brian Adams 01472 371412 Visit to Scotton Common On Saturday 30th July 2011 you are invited to join us on a visit to Scotton Common Nature Reserve for a walk led by the warden Roly Barber. Please meet in the car park at 1pm. Grid Ref.SK873985. Please wear suitable clothing and foot wear. This is a free event but donations will be collected for the Trust. For further details please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** Red Soldier Beetle records *** Charlie Barnes writes: The common red soldier beetle, Rhagonycha fulva, will soon be putting in an appearance. There are over 200 records of this black-tipped orange soldier beetle in Lincolnshire, and it is widely distributed throughout the county. It frequents hogweeds, angelica and other umbellifers in search of food (which includes pollen and other insects) and mates. Records of Rhagonycha fulva in Lincolnshire are restricted to June - August, with most being recorded in July. I would be very interested in sightings of this beetle in 2011 to see what effect, if any, current weather is having on their emergence dates and flight times. Rhagonycha fulva is relatively easy to identify, but I would be happy to confirm any sightings or provide assistance - send photos and records to charlie.barnes@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o252-commonredsoldierbeetle.php *** Please watch out for... *** Hummingbird Hawkmoth: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1096/hummingbird_hawk_moth.html Painted Lady: http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/sightings/1097/painted_lady.html Big Butterfly Count 16-31 July 2011 http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/4448/making_butterflies_count_with_m_s.html Please keep your regular reports coming in for the Bulletin or send them directly to LNU Recorders if you prefer. http://www.lnu.org/recorders.php *** Lincolnshire BAP Consultation by 29 July *** Final reminder: You can download the document at www.lincsbiodiversity.org.uk where there is a short tick box questionnaire or a detailed response form. To speak to someone in person contact Catherine Collop at lbap@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk or 01507 528384. *** Free BTCV Wildlife Identification Courses *** Sent in by Brian Hedley BTCV will be holding the following free one-day courses at Langford Lowfields, TARMAC Langford Quarry, Newark Road, Collingham, NG23 7RF Sunday 17 July – Dragonfly and Damselfly identification Sunday 14 August – Butterfly and moth identification From 10-4pm for 12 people. Booking essential. See: http://trentvale.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/free-wildlife-identification-courses/ *** Deer and People: Past, Present and Future *** Chris Manning sent in the following information: International Conference - Deer and People: Past, Present and Future Chris Manning sent in the following information This conference is taking place at Riseholme, Lincoln on the 8th – 11th September 2011. Themes include; Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology, Conservation, Deer Farming, Ecology, Geography, History, Landscape Management, Law, and Population Genetics. For further details http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/archaeology/research/conferences/deerandpeople/intro.aspx *** Brush Up On Bones *** Tom Collins sent in information on this interesting course: At the University of Sheffield we are running a Zooarchaeology Short Course in September (12-14th). It is ideal for anyone wanting to learn (or remind themselves of) animal bone identification and methods of analysis. For further details please use the link below: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/archaeology/research/zooarchaeology/short-course.html *** Heritage Open Days - Lincolnshire *** Heritage Lincolnshire have put up their programme for Heritage Open Days 2011 - also on the weekend of 8-11th September. See: http://www.lincsheritage.org/hod/index.php *** Order Paul Money's "Night Scenes 2011" *** Paul Money's useful "Night Scenes" series will be know to many readers. Details of his latest edition are up on his website now. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/nightscenes/nightscenes.htm *** Upcoming Events at Alkborough Flats *** Anna Moody sent in the following information: Sunday 7th August, 2pm. Butterfly and Dragonfly walk £2 per person Friday 26th August, 7.30pm. Bats and BBQ, £7 per person including BBQ Booking is essential for all events. Please call 01724 721269 to reserve a place. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 3/7 White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds Common Crane, Saxby All Saints Carrs also Osprey, Bonby Carrs. Quail, Frampton Marsh 6 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point 4/7 White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds While-tailed Eagle juv Farforth over Ostler's Lane 5 Yellow-legged gulls, Gainsborough 5 Little Gulls, Cleethorpes Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Far Ings 5/7 Little Gull Honey Buzzard, Laughton Forest Mediterranean Gull, Cleethorpes coast 3 Quail singing between Kelstern and Binbrook 6/7 White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, Whisby Nature Park Alpine Swift, Gibraltar Point 7/7 White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds 9/7 3 Crossbills, Messingham Sand Quarry 5 Wood Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh, also Little Stint and Little Gull Arctic Skua past Gibraltar Point 10/7 White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds 5 Wood Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 11/7 Yellow-legged Gull, Fiskerton Marsh Sandpiper, Alkborough Flats 12/7 Marsh Sandpiper, Alkborough Flats White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds 13/7 American Wigeon, Freiston Shore 14/7 2 Common Scoters, North Hykeham, Millennium Green 15/7 American Wigeon, Freiston Shore 13 Little Gulls, Cleethorpes White-tailed Eagle juv still 6.5 miles south of Louth 2 miles SW of A16 near Burwell, 1/2 miles south of Ruckland in tree south of ponds Little Stint, Covenham Reservoir 5 Arctic Skuas S past Gibraltar Point also Arctic Tern, 2 Spoonbills, Curlew sandpiper. 11 Crossbills. Black Tern, Freiston Shore Quail singing, Market Rasen 16/7 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. WINTERINGHAM Cheryl Leaning Sun 10 July 01.00am Strange phenomena in the Northern sky. We watched bright green, white and orange lights for well over an hour. I would like to think it was the Northern Lights. I cannot think of any other explanation. Did anyone else see it or have any idea what it was? Editor adds: The Aurora website I usually check first – where you can subscribe to alerts, is Aurorawatch. http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ *** Spotted Flycatchers *** Val Nuttall writes: thrilled with a pair of spotted flycatchers nesting in a (for many years unused) open nesting box four feet up on the side of a shed on my drive. At least I hope they're flycatchers. Editor adds: The Spotted Flycatcher is a Red List species as it has suffered a decline in recent years, so this is good news. I suggest, once you have confirmed the identification, you send a report to the bird recorder. See: http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/spotted_flycatcher.htm http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob13350.htm http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14831 *** Bumblebee Deaths *** Mick Binnion writes: Following on from Lionel's inquiry on Bumblebee deaths. There is a parasite that feeds on many species and is predated by Blue-tits. This is a learned behaviour, extracting a grub from the abdomen. Alternatively in times of limited moisture many species of Lime/Tilia become toxic, not chemically, but they glue up the mouthparts and digestion of bees. *** 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. BURTON GORDON HICKMORE Burton by Lincoln 956746 2011 3 buzzards circling over pasture land. Probably a family group with the smaller bird practising intercepts on one of the parents. First of a brood of 5 swallows fledged on 24th June with others following over the next 2 days. However one remained in the nest and continued to be fed for a further 3 days before it flew. All the birds returned to the nest to roost overnight ands in bad weather until 1st July. 5th, probably the original pair as they received visits from younger birds. Female now sitting on a second brood with male in attendance on the telephone wire. Very poor butterfly count. Complete absence of small tortoise- shell, red admiral and peacocks just a couple of whites and a meadow brown observed over a half mile stretch of the lane which normally has a wide variety of butterflies. No caterpillars seen on any clumps of nettles on the verges so prospects look poor for late summer. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK 893 575 Jeremy Hutchinson 10/7/2011 First sighting of Hobby this year: female soaring on thermal a.m., climbed very high. male dashed over garden c 14.00. Turtle Dove heard around the village today, first this year (no sightings), almost given up on them. Holly Blue (2) Meadow Brown (numerous) Skipper (not sure of type) in conservatory Buzzard (2) The Song Thrush brood referred to recently fledged on 7th July. Carlton le Moorland SK909580 3rd July 2011 15.00 Jeremy Hutchinson I was watching five falcons displaying (USAF F-16s at Waddington Air Show) from my garden when what I though was a Buzzard flew across my binoculars field of view in the foreground. I switched my attention from aircraft to bird and noticed that it was unusually dark and buoyant, and in fact a female Marsh Harrier. Have seen them around here on occasion, but very seldom. Also Red Admiral 4th July, 18.50 I witnessed something I would have been hard put to believe had I not seen it. Alerted by various alarm calls I looked up to see a male Sparrowhawk flying over the neighbours' garden at about 5-6m, pursued by half a dozen Swallows. One of these was slightly below and behind it; the hawk turned through 180 degrees and lunged at the Swallow, which took violent evading zigzag turns, but the hawk took it on the fourth and flew away with it. It's aerial agility was worthy of a Hobby and beyond anything I've seen from one of its own kind in the past. Also a female Ghost Swift Moth, (Hepialus humuli), I suspect newly-emerged, very beautiful and bigger than shown in the books I've consulted, which say that it's common, but I don't recall having seen one before. Diggings in our lawn and split hazelnut shells suggest a hungry Grey Squirrel, but not seen. KIRKBY MOOR Kirkby Moor LWT Reserve TF223 620 Brian Hedley 15 July 2011 13.30 - 14.45 A tour of the visitors' route produced the following sightings: Brown hawker 2 Emperor 3 Black-tailed skimmer 3 Four-spot chaser 2 Common darter 9 Ruddy darter 1 Common blue damselfly 100's Blue-tailed damselfly 1! Large red damselfly 5 White admiral 3 Red Admiral 6 Peacock 4 Comma 1 Gatekeeper 5 Speckled wood 9 Meadow Brown 60+ Ringlet 12 Large skipper 4 Small white 4 Large white 14 Green-veined white 3 Brown argus 1 Small copper 1 Common lizard 8 Jay, treecreeper (3), green woodpecker, bullfinch. LACEBY 10/07/2011 Mick Binnion Hummingbird Hawk Moth/Macroglossum stellatarum. TA214 064. Is it a good migrant year? MARTON SK842 813 Brian Hedley 14 July 2011 Moth-trap out in garden overnight produced about 60 species including: White satin moth 1 V-pug 1 Rush Veneer 1 Dwarf cream wave 1 Lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing 1 Scarce footman 4 Coxcomb prominent 1 Polar grey 1 Small dotted buff 1 Endotricha flammealis 2 Monopis weaverella 1 Timothy tortrix 1 Orchard ermine 1 Water veneer 15 and masses of greenflies!! NORTON BIG WOOD Ian Misselbrook 11 July 2011 Nr Norton Disney, Lincoln 1 Southern Hawker 2 Brown Hawkers RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler Our House martins started fledging on 14 July, 3-4 days earlier than last year. The fledglings are practising their flying skills near the house, clinging to the walls at intervals, while the younger chicks look on, tempted, it seems, but not quite ready to go yet. A second nest has been taken over by sparrows this year, and the late "semi" that was attached to it, appears to have been abandoned. We're back to 7 active nest sites at present. RED HILL N.R AND VERGE LWT Kay Heath 11.07.11 Butterflies: Marbled White 25 Meadow Brown 50+ Ringlet 5 Small Heath 7 Small White 10 Large White 8 Small Skipper 7 Large Skipper 3 Peacock 3 Brimstone 1 6 spot burnet 15 Quail Calling in meadow. SPILSBY Joan Gunson Moths recorded in our garden, using a 125W MV Robinson & 40W actinic Skinner traps. Here is a link to some of my moths pics: www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades 2nd July 502 moths of 58 species with 6 new for year as follows: Common Rustic Dun-bar Yellow Shell Shark Yponomeuta padella (Orchard Ermine) Parapoynx stratiotata (Ringed China-mark) 4th July 559 moths of 84 species with 10 new for year as follows: Brown-tail V Pug Buff Footman Cream-bordered Green Pea (New for me) Treble Brown Spot (New for me) Hypsopygia costalis (Gold Triangle) Acleris forsskaleana Ancylis achatana Yponomeuta cagnagella (Spindle Ermine) Udea lutealis (New for me) 7th July 355 moths of 55 species with 2 new for year as follows: Rosy Rustic Lozotaeniodes formosanus 9th July 398 moths of 79 species with 5 new for year as follows: Blue-bordered Carpet Common White Wave Pempelia Formosa Endotricha flammealis Hedya ochroleucana 14th July Not ideal conditions, cool and clear with nearly full moon. 225 moths of 47 species with 2 new for year as follows: Dusky Sallow Cloaked Minor WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 9/7/11 7 Long-tailed tits. 10/7 Brown hares in area. 15/7 Hummingbird Hawkmoth 7.30am. Swallows. 5 wash-house swallow chicks hatched around 13th June and were ringed on 20th June. One died on 1st July, a fall probably followed by cat predation. The ring was retrieved. The swallows were reusing an old nest this year. It was very crowded for 5 chicks. The chick that fell out and met its end was well developed and clearly not a runt! Fledging of the brood commenced on 2nd July. One very precocious fledgling got out and about almost immediately. 3 remained on the rafters for much longer, 2 for some days, perhaps a week or more before they started spending time on the wing. All four returned to base each evening. Now, 16th July, they are still roosting up together, using a roomier prefab nest - not their breeding nest. Phasing of fledging has obvious survival advantages, but we have never before noted such a marked differential in chick development. Very interesting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 09/07/2011 Arctic Skua Avocet Black-tailed Godwit 38 Common Sandpiper Green Sandpiper Greenshank 16 Little Egret Little Ringed Plover Mediterranean Gull 1 Ruff Sandwich Tern Spotted Redshank Turtle Dove 8 11/07/2011 Green Woodpecker 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Treecreeper 1 White-letter Hairstreak 3 Muntjac 14/07/2011 Black-tailed Godwit 15/07/2011 Avocet Common Sandpiper Crossbill Green Sandpiper 2 Greenshank Hobby Little Egret Little Ringed Plover Little Tern Marsh Harrier Marsh Tit Mediterranean Gull 1 Peregrine Ruff Sandwich Tern Spoonbill 2 Spotted Redshank Turtle Dove Red-veined Darter White-letter Hairstreak SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker. w/e 15/7/11 Flowers include: scabious, harebell, lady's bedstraw, restharrow, meadowsweet, pyramidal orchid, marsh helleborine, lesser meadowrue, sea lavender, marsh thistle, carline thistle, nodding thistle, Butterflies include: meadow brown, hedge brown, ringlet, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, small heath, small skipper, comma, Dragonflies include: emperor, ruddy darter, common darter, broad bodied chaser, four spotted chaser, emerald green damsel. Birds include: greenshank, green sandpiper, common sandpiper, knot, sandwich tern, gannet. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore John Badley June 2011 report awaited. RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp No report for Freiston. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings NNR Week ending 16.06.11 BIRDS Max. Numbers = avocet 2 blackbird 10 blackcap black headed gull 25+ blue tit 10 bullfinch 2 carrion crow 2 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 10 chiffchaff collared dove 2 common gull 20+ common tern 4 coot 45 cormorant 5 curlew dunnock 2 gadwall 2 goldfinch 3 GC grebe 3 great tit 4 greenfinch 5 grey heron greylag goose 50+ herring gull 2 house martin 2 house sparrow 8 linnet 2 little grebe little gull 3 long tailed tit 8 magpie 2 mallard 24 marsh harrier 4 mistle thrush 2 moorhen 20 mute swan 6 pheasant 2 pied wagtail 2 pochard 8 reed bunting 3 reed warbler 10 robin 6 sand martin 6 sedge warbler 5 shelduck 20 shoveler 2 song thrush 2 sparrowhawk starling 2 swallow 10 swift 6 tufted duck 32 water rail 2 whitethroat 6 willow tit 2 willow warbler 5 wood pigeon 3 wren 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Lincolnshire Limewoods Dormouse Project - ESL Webpage http://www.ecologicalservicesltd.com/research/about/the_lincolnshire_limewoods_dormouse_project/ *** Limewoods - Help Needed *** Liz Fleurty writes: News from the Limewoods – Lincolnshire and further afield! I am in contact with the "Limewoods Working Group", a group of experts and enthusiasts from across the UK who have high- lighted two current research projects that I hope we in Lincolnshire can contribute to: 1) Collecting Tilia leaf samples for genetical analysis, action required now! 2) Collecting Tilia cordata fruits (from the ground) for research into seed fertility, linking it with climate data We obviously have a good number of woodlands to choose from; if anybody is interested in taking part please e-mail limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk with an idea of where you would like to collect from, and I will send you further information and liaise with woodland owners and Natural England (for permission to collect from SSSIs). With our tradition of involvement in pioneering woodland research (George Peterken's work in the 1970s) wouldn't it be great to keep our Lincolnshire woodlands in the spotlight? http://herbariaunited.org/specimen/283080/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Wildlife Crime Officer, Nigel Lound, is retiring. For the time being, Wildlife Crime related issues should be sent to PWCO Nick WILLEY who many of you will know already. Nick can be contacted on Nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk or 01522 805746. *** 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 *** 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 *** Lincolnshire Bird Club Grantham Peregrine Project *** 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 *** Wash Estuary Project Contacts *** Jeff Goodley - Wash Estuary Project Officer jeff.goodley@washestuary.org.uk Maria Phipps - Wash Estuary Project Assistant maria.phipps@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: 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Identifying Hoverflies - have you registered yet? *** 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. 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, July 16, 2011 Hatfield/Thorne Moor NNR Joint Meeting with Yorkshire Naturalists' Union Botanical Survey Habitats: Moorland and Heath Contact Ian McDonald at iannutwell@talktalk.net if interested Saturday, August 13, 2011 Alkborough Flats (North Lincs Council and Environment Agency) 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet in car park at SE879 221. Take lane on left just pass church (if coming from south) and continue downhill. Evening moth/bat session starting at 8.30pm Habitats should be Saltmarsh, marsh, lagoons, ditches, pasture. Leaders: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com and Colin Smith (evening) 07595 414318 Saturday, September 24, 2011 Riseholme College, N of Lincoln, off A15 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet in car park next to Conference Hall at SK981 756 Evening moth/bat session starting at 7pm. Includes an opportunity to investigate the LNU Collection and encourage students to use them. Habitats: Parkland, woodland, lake. Leaders: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com (afternoon) and Colin Smith (evening) 07595 414318 Sunday, October 23, 2011 Fungus Foray, Callan's Lane Wood (Forestry Commission site) Kirkby Underwood. North of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet at car park TF061 270 Habitats: Mixed Woodland Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, with reason: Substantial mail failure of Sky mail customers. Another epidemic of anti-spam misidentification. Spamassassin strikes again. As bad as the spammers! You may need to Whitelist my address. Error message includes: permanent error. yeved - does not like recipient tony.frith does not like recipient steve.french - Message rejected as spam merries61 - does not like recipient joylaidlaw - does not like recipient *** Links of the week *** Walking in Lincolnshire - a selection of websites. http://www.lincswalkinggroup.org.uk/ http://www.walkinginlincs.co.uk/ http://www.lincscoastwalk.paygi.co.uk/ ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/