============================================ || || 8th May 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 945 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 *** I think I need to have one of my periodic rants about making contributions. Readers will recognise the names of regular contributors, all busy people, who send in interesting reports and news. Without this input the Bulletin would be a very dull read. A proportion of readers choose not to do this, but the aim of the Bulletin is to encourage you to have a go at recording and developing your identification skills. Every expert has been a beginner! All of us have more to learn. Why not give recording a try? If you are reluctant to stick your neck out and send in a report, why not start by sending in a question about wildlife? There is almost certainly a Bulletin reader who will give you a good answer. You can also help by mentioning the Bulletin to others and encouraging them to give it a try. If you enjoy the Bulletin, please do something to help. Roger *** LNU Events *** For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. Sunday, May 15, 2011 Priory Farm, Orford (Sir Richard Sutton Settled Estates) NW of Binbrook. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in yard of Priory Farm at TF194 945. Habitats: Waithe Beck, marsh, ponds, arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Sunday 15th May you are invited to join us on a guided walk around Tetney Blow Wells Nature Reserve with the wardens hoping to see spring migrants and wildflowers. Please meet and park by the church at 2pm. Wellington boots advised as could be damp under foot. No dogs please. Free event but donations will be collected for the Wildlife Trust. The church will be open 3pm - 4.15pm for refreshments with sales of which will go to church funds. Please Clifford Jukes - 01472 814887 for further details. On Saturday 21st May 2011 you are invited to join us on a guided walk in Roxton Woods, Keelby by kind permission of Lord Yarborough, with flower expert Mick Binnion. Please meet on the corner near the house before The Protected Roadside Verge on Roxton Lane Keelby, at 2pm. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. This is a free event but donations will be collected for the Trust. For further information contact Jenny Redpath Grimsby 502858 *** Sleaford LWT *** Sleaford Area Group of the LWT Sat 11th June. Coach trip to RSPB Titchwell on the Norfolk coast, and Castle Acre Priory (English Heritage) and Castle. Take a picnic lunch. The cost will depend upon coach numbers. Meet Eastgate Car Park (Sleaford) at 8.30am. For details & bookings please ring Anthea Ashmore on 01529 413890. *** Joseph Banks Lecture *** A note from Paul Scott The Sir Joseph Banks Society Annual Lecture is to be held on Thursday May 12th at Horncastle College. Dr. Rob Wheeler will give a talk about Banks and the draining of East, West and Wildmore Fens. Dr Wheeler is secretary of the national Charles Close Society and author of the recent volume "Maps of the Witham Fens from the thirteenth to the nineteenth century." Doors open at 7.00pm with a 7.30pm prompt start. See link to a map for those not familiar with the venue. http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/residents/leisure-culture-and-heritage/lifelong-learning/horncastle-college?tab=maps *** Beetle to Watch For *** Charlie Barnes writes: Elater ferrugineus, the Rusty Click Beetle, is classified as endangered in the UK, with records restricted to a few areas in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and London. This summer a nation-wide programme of "mark capture release" will be taking place to help establish the true distribution and status of the species. Volunteers will be required to monitor traps set to attract the beetle. If you're interested in taking part, contact Charlie Barnes charlie.barnes@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk for more information. *** Far Ings Botany Course *** Buttercups and Willowherbs Saturday 16th. July 2011 A half day course looking at Ranunculus and Epilobiums. A friendly atmosphere, with tea and coffee. Suitable for the beginner or someone with an established interest. Indoor Talk Outdoor Walk Tutor: Mick Binnion Please contact Far Ings Visitor Centre to reserve a place Tel. No. 01652 637055 (You don't have to be a Brain Surgeon!) All welcome. Adult event. Price of the course £5. Includes booklet. *** Alkborough Flats Events *** Photography - 28th May 2pm, £10 per person Capture the magic of Alkborough Flats and the surrounding area with the help of local photographer Lee Beel. www.lee-beel-photography.co.uk All levels of ability and any camera welcome Landscape in Watercolour - 6th June 10am, £10 per person + lunch Develop your artistic skills with the help of a local artist. Different watercolour techniques will be covered and there will be plenty of opportunity to put these into practice. Lunch at the Paddocks tea room Booking is essential for all events, please call: 01724 721269 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 30/4 4 Dotterels, Grasby Top Collared Pratincole, NNW of Immingham 7 Dotterels, Tetney Lock 4 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey, Frampton Marsh 2 Avocets, Kirkby on Bain pits Ross's Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese, s of Sutton Bridge White-tailed Eagle juv, 6/5 miles s of Louth at Burwell 1/5 White-tailed Eagle juv, 6/5 miles s of Louth at Burwell Collared Pratincole, NNW of Immingham Garganey, Manby Flashes Hen Harrier. Donna Nook 6 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey, 4 Greenshank, 10 Ruff Black Tern, Frampton Marsh 2/5 White-tailed Eagle juv, 6/5 miles s of Louth at Burwell Collared Pratincole, NNW of Immingham 7 Dotterels, Garganey, Tetney Lock 2 Garganey, Kirkby on Bain GPs 3 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Greenshanks, Messingham Sand Quarry Hooded Crow, Donna Nook Garganey, Messingham Sand Quarry 3/5 20 Crossbills, Kirkby Moor Collared Pratincole, NNW of Immingham Garganey, Frampton Marsh White-tailed Eagle juv, 6/5 miles s of Louth at Burwell 2 Gardaney, Little Gull, Kirkby on Bain GPs Hooded Crow, Donna Nook Black Kite, Gibraltar Point Garganey, Manby Flashes Osprey south of Grantham 4/5 3 Yellow-legged gulls, Whisby Nature Park 2 Garganey, Kirkby on Bain GPs, 5 Black Terns on Riverslea pit Montagu's Harrier, Garganey, 4 Wood sandpipers, Manby Flashes 2 Black Terns, Little Gull, Barrow Haven Collared Pratincole east over Coningsby. 5/5 Wood Sandpiper at Blackmoor Bridge. 2 Bearded Tits, Manby Flashes Red-necked Phalarope, Frampton Marsh 4 Dotterel, Grasby Top Ring Ouzel, Wolla Bank Montagu's Harrier, Marston 2 Wood sandpipers, Marston sewage works Rough-legged buzzard, Anderby to Chapel Point Black Redstart, Anderby Ring Ouzel, Wolla Bank Collared Pratincole, NNW of Immingham 6/5 Red-necked Phalarope, Temminck's Stint, Wood sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Temminck's Stint, Wood sandpiper, Spotter Redshank, Manby Flashes Red-footed falcon, Tetney Lock Stone Curlew, Red-rumped swallow, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Messingham Sand Quarry 7/5 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. TETNEY Christine and Ralph May 1st 2011. What a month April has been for birds, not only have we had the usual nesting visitors of Blue tits, Great tits, House sparrows and Tree sparrows, we have also for the first time in a while, had wonderful views of a pair of Song thrushes on our lawn which has now become parent birds feeding young. The most unusual sight for us at the end of the month was a male Crossbill, we watched for 30 minutes as he took the seeds out of cones on the pine tree at the end of our garden. Usually we have to travel 450 miles to try and catch even the shortest glimpse. Wonderful, this morning, a male Marsh Harrier battling in the wind. What may we see next? *** 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 WOODS 30/04/11 Mick Binnion Blackbird Blackcap BlueTit Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Greenfinch Nuthatch Robin Treecreeper Whitethroat Wren Red Tailed Bumblebee (nest searching queens) Brimstone Comma Green-veined White Holly Blue Orange Tip Red Admiral Speckled Wood Dryad's Saddle (the devil's seat) Blue bell Bugle Lesser Celandine Cuckoo Pint Dog's Mercury Early Purple Orchid Germander Speedwell Goldilocks Greater Stitchwort Ground Ivy Herb Robert Jack-by-the-hedge Meadowsweet Pignut Red Campion Water Avens Wild Angelica Wood Anemone Wood Avens [&22 Humans.] CARLTON LE MOORLAND/BASSINGHAM Carlton le Moorland SK909 580 Jeremy Hutchinson 21/4/2011 Cuckoo calling in distance to east of village: not heard again. 1/5/2011 22.30 2 hedgehogs foraging, one quite small, but seemingly survived the arctic weather. Bassingham Jeremy Hutchinson 1/5/2011 Young Grass Snake (about 9" long) - roadkill. Carlton le Moorland SK909 580 Jeremy Hutchinson 5/5/2011 -first Swifts 7/5/2011 Cuckoo calling Weasel - roadkill CASTLE BYTHAM BLACK SPRINGS FARM, CASTLE BYTHAM SK993213. Name: Barrie Hunt Date: Easter Sunday, 24th April 2011 Species: Waxwing - 12-15 birds, Birds were flitting around mature trees feeding on insects and also the flowers of ash trees. I clearly watched the birds eating the fine flowers. I'd not seen this behaviour before. It made for an excellent Easter Sunday! FENTON (Gainsborough) SK846 767 Richard Fox 6th May 2011 Bluetit with 9 eggs in our gardenwatch camera nest box Swift (6) GMS results with 15w actinic Blood vein Chinese Character Clouded Drab (3) Common Marbled Carpet Hebrew Character (6) Lime Hawk moth Lunar Marbled brown Muslin moth (3) Pebble Hook tip Swallow prominent Waved Umber White Ermine (2) HAGANBY FEN E.A. WETLAND RESERVE TF 342597 Garry Steele Noteworthy ornithological sightings & maximums, April 2011 Black-headed Gull - 97 Common Gull - 25 Common Sandpiper - 1 (29 & 30 April) Common Snipe - 4 Curlew - 38 Dunlin - 1 (24 April) Egyptian Goose - 2 Heron - 3 Lapwing - 10 Little Egret - 1 Oystercatcher -2 Redshank - 1 Teal - 16 Waxwing - 4 (24 April 2011) Wigeon - 8 HEIGHINGTON TF027696 John Nickson 21st - 30th April 2011 Moths to Light Angle Shades Chocolate Tip Cinnabar Common Carpet Common Quaker Early Grey Flame Shoulder Grey Dagger Heart and Dart Hebrew Character Lesser Swallow Prominent Mullin Muslin (male) Rustic Shoulder Knot (Determined from photograph by Joan Gunson. Thanks very much) Shuttle shaped Dart Spectacle Streamer White Ermine HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes Sunday 1st May 2011. Spotted a Marsh Harrier flying overhead and a buzzard being harassed by crows. Monday 2nd May. Brown Hare tried to outrun my car - I let it win! SLEAFORD off Mareham Lane Diane Maltby TF 07042 45305 Grounds of Sleaford New Life Preschool 3/5/11 – 6/5/11 We located a nest box under our canopy and, to our delight, found it occupied by a robin on our return from the Easter break. We think it is either the same one that nested in the nearby air conditioning units last year, or one of its family. There are 2 robins regularly coming to our window feeder for mealworms etc., often together. One seems bolder than the other. I'm not sure whether these are the nesting birds or others. On 3/5/11 two bullfinches, a male & a female, were spotted on a fence. We have also seen blackbirds, dunnocks, a few starlings and 2 greenfinches this week, as well as the usual collared doves & woodpigeons. 6/5/11 2 orange-tipped butterflies and a cinnabar moth were seen. Most morning this week there has been a wild rabbit in the car park – had got through the fence from the Carre Arms grounds I believe. I am increasingly wondering what effect the proposed development in this part of Sleaford will have on our wildlife. SLEAFORD, also off Mareham Lane TF 06978 45147 Our garden 2/5/11 – 6/5/11 Magpie seen eating fat balls & bathing in our man-made stream. Jackdaw also eating fat balls 1, and sometimes 2, song thrushes visiting, appearing to be eating what has fallen from fat balls. I haven't seen song thrushes in the garden since the cold spell in December. Robin, chaffinch, wren also heard & occasionally seen. 2 goldfinches I haven't tried to count the numbers of blackbirds, house sparrows and starlings. STICKFORD TF 357602 Garry Steele 04 May 2011 This afternoon I stepped outside and witnessed a male Blackbird in the act of first extracting and then attempting to predate one of the Great Crested Newts that reside in my wildlife pond here in Stickford. Initially the newt (a male) ended up on the side of the pond and put up quite a fight, wriggling and writhing with gusto and repeatedly falling from the grasp of the bird's beak before it was eventually picked up by the blackbird who proceeded to fly off with it. What I assume to be a combination of the relatively heavy weight of the newt and further wriggling on its part (and perhaps myself appearing on the scene as well – albeit at a distance) caused the blackbird to only fly a few yards before dropping its victim on the lawn and then continuing on its way. Having picked up the newt (I hasten to add I have the appropriate Natural England licence to do so, working as I do as an ecological consultant!), and it appearing no worse for wear, I quickly returned it into the pond. Looking in my diaries it was way back in 1997 that I reported an almost identical incident involving another male blackbird which predated a male Smooth Newt from the same pond – on that occasion successfully flying off with it after first subduing it by grasping it in its bill and then repeatedly thrashing it back and forth on a pond-side stone in a similar way to how a Song Thrush would deal with a snail. This earlier behaviour was observed in very similar almost drought-like conditions as we have experienced of late, and one can only surmise that there are some very hungry young blackbirds out there at the moment with parents desperate to provide them with some form of sustenance following difficulties in probing the dry earth for worms and the like. SPILSBY TF407 660 Robinson trap in garden Joan Gunson Web link to my photos: www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Good Friday 22.4.11 1 x Brindled Pug 6 x Clouded Drab 1 x Garden Carpet NFY 14 x Hebrew Character 5 x Pebble Prominent (most I've had in the trap at one time) 2 x Powdered Quaker 7 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 2 x Streamer 1 x Swallow Prominent 1 x Waved Umber NFY 1 x Emmelina monodactyla Easter Saturday 23.4.11 1 x Brimstone Moth NFY 1 x Clouded Drab 2 x Common Pug 6 x Hebrew Character 1 x Pale Prominent NFY 2 x Pebble Prominent 1 x Red Chestnut 1 x Red Twin-spot Carpet 2 x Ruby Tiger 11 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 x Swallow Prominent 29.4.11 1 x Chocolate-tip NFM (Never recorded this moth before) 1 x Flame Shoulder 5 x Hebrew Character 2 x Muslin Moth NFY 4 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 x Swallow Prominent 1 x Emmelina monodactyla As you will see from my photo, the Chocolate-tip was a very worn specimen, but I was delighted to have caught a 'new for me' moth. SPILSBY TF407 66O Joan Gunson Robinson trap in garden Web link to photos: www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades New for year in bold 3.5.11 Clear and frosty, wind dropped. 20 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 2 x Hebrew Character 1 x Rustic Shoulder-knot 4.5.11 1 x Bright-line Brown-eye NFY 2 x Clouded Drab 2 x Flame Shoulder 4 x Heart and Dart 3 x Hebrew Character 1 x Iron Prominent NFY 1 x Muslin Moth 6 x Rustic Shoulder-knot 12 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 5.5.11 Mild and cloudy 1 x Bright-line Brown-eye 1 x Chinese Character NFY 1 x Chocolate Tip 1 x Clouded Drab 2 x Common Pug 1 x Early Grey 1 x Flame Shoulder 1 x Garden Carpet 7 x Heart and Dart 4 x Hebrew Character 1 x Iron Prominent 1 x Least Black Arches 1 x Lesser Swallow Prominent NFY 1 x Lime Hawk 1 x Muslin Moth 1 x Pale Prominent 3 x Pebble Prominent 2 x Powdered Quaker 1 x Red Twin-spot Quaker 1 x Ruby Tiger 14 x Rustic Shoulder-knot 22 x Shuttle-shaped Dart 1 x Spectacle 1 x Spruce Carpet NFY 3 x Swallow Prominent 1 x Waved Umber 1 x White-spotted Pug 1 x Emmelina mondactyla 1 x Endrosis sarcitrella Never had so many prominents all at once before. 5.5.11 Warm and muggy, cloud cover 2 x Bright-line Brown-eye 1 x Brimstone Moth 1 x Cabbage Moth NFY 1 x Chinese Character 1 x Chocolate-tip 1 x Cinnabar 3 x Common Pug 5 x Clouded-bordered Brindle NFY 8 x Flame Shoulder 19 x Heart and Dart 2 x Hebrew Character 1 x Knot Grass NFY 1 x Lime Hawk (not the same one as previous night) 2 x Mottled Pug NFY 2 x Muslin Moth 1 x Nutmeg NFY 1 x Pale Tussock NFY & NFG (don't think I've recorded this one before) 1 x Rivulet NFY 12 x Rustic Shoulder-knot 1 x Sallow Kitten NFY 1 x Setaceous Hebrew Character NFY 2 x Swallow Prominent 2 x Waved Umber 1 x White Ermine 2 x Endrosis sarcitrella 1 x Myelelois circumvoluta (Thistle Ermine) NFY 10 New for year moths and 1 new for garden. It was interesting to see that there were not too many repeats from the previous night but lots of new ones. (What happened to all those Prominents!) Also had 3 Burying Beetles, 5 Cockchafers and 1 Caddis fly. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 30/4 Butterflies Holly blue 8, 2 a pair mating. Orange tip m, 4-5 Red Admiral 4/5/10 7.30hrs Barn owl hunting in area. 2 brown hares on road in area. Adult and young Collared dove. Stockdove 6/5 Cuckoo back and vocal 7.30pm. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 27/04/2011 Avocet 50 Golden Plover 30 Grasshopper Warbler 2 Little Ringed Plover 2 Marsh Harrier 2 28/04/2011 Avocet Lesser Whitethroat Reed Warbler Sedge Warbler Wheatear Whitethroat 30/04/2011 Black-tailed Godwit 8 Brent Goose 3 Garden Warbler Pink-footed Goose Whimbrel 30 01/05/2011 Garden Warbler Ring Ouzel 2 Wheatear 2 Whimbrel 12 03/05/2011 Black Kite Red Kite Redstart 04/05/2011 Red Kite Redstart Ring Ouzel Spotted Flycatcher Willow Tit 05/05/2011 Avocet 50 Black-tailed Godwit 4 Buzzard 2 Hobby 1 Little Tern 5 Red Kite 2 Red-rumped Swallow Ruff 4 Spotted Redshank Stone Curlew Swift 15 Whimbrel 6 Wood Sandpiper Bethan Leather Gibraltar Point Dawn Chorus lst May 2011 Red Shank Canada Geese Avocet Dunnock Black Headed Gull Blackbird Robin Wood Pigeon Black Cap Pheasant Wren Garden Warbler Blue Tit Yellow Wagtail Tree Creeper Swallow Jackdaw Coot Swift Chaffinch Great Tit Crow Rook Brent Geese Shell Duck Common Gull Black Backed Gull Herring Gull Gold Finch Greylag Geese Willow Warbler White Throat Sedge Warbler Cuckoo Lapwing Chiff Chaff Green Finch Gr Spotted Woodpecker Reed Warbler Skylark Ring Ouzel Whimbrel Barn Owl Mistle Thrush Linnet Pied Wagtail Meadow Pipit Magpie Stonechat 50 TOTAL Also heard - MUNTJAC SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker. 6/5/11 The severe drought continues and much of the dune vegetation is stressed. Hope the forecast of heavy showers over the weekend proves correct. Many of the frog tadpoles have died due to the shallow water where spawn was laid having dried up. Flowers include: early and southern marsh orchids, birds foot trefoil, cowslip, storksbill, field mouse-ear, skullcap, marsh marigold, scurvy grass, whitlow grass, lots of mayflower. Butterflies: small copper, common blue, brown argus, wall brown, small heath, small white, green veined white, orange tip, red admiral, peacock, green hairstreak, speckled wood, holly blue. Moderate hatch of saint marks fly, several species of bees and wasps. Dragonflies: Four spotted chaser, hairy, large red damsel, azure blue damsel. Birds include: whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, grasshopper warbler, sedge warbler, willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, ring ouzel, linnet, cuckoo, wheatear, sanderling, garganey, common sandpiper, greenshank, ruff, spotted redshank, little ringed plover, whimbrel, curlew, snipe, grey partridge. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore John Badley April 2011. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings NNR Week ending 07.05.11 BIRDS Max. Numbers = avocet 21 blackbird 20 blackcap 7 black headed gull 30+ blue tit 14 bullfinch 2 Canada goose 10 carrion crow 5 chaffinch 13 chiffchaff 6 collared dove 2 common gull 20 common tern 5 coot 60+ cormorant 4 curlew 6 dunnock 6 gadwall 4 garden warbler 2 goldfinch 4 grasshopper warbler 3 greenfinch 2 GC grebe 4 great tit 5 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 60+ herring gull house martin 20+ house sparrow 8 kestrel lesser whitethroat linnet 6 little grebe 2 little tern long tailed tit 2 magpie 6 mallard 18 marsh harrier M+F moorhen 20 mute swan 4 oystercatcher 3 pheasant 3 pochard 16 reed bunting 6 reed warbler 12 robin 8 sand martin 50+ sedge warbler 10 shelduck 10 shoveler 2 song thrush 2 sparrowhawk starling 5 swallow 50+ swift 4 tree sparrow 2 tufted duck 23 turtle dove water rail 3 whitethroat 12 willow tit 2 willow warbler 10 wood pigeon 12 wren 7 Butterflies: green-veined white, orange tip, speckled wood, peacock, red admiral ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Farm Wood 22.4.11 Adrian Royle Crossbills x6 Orange Tip x4 Woundwort Shieldbug x1 Dark Bush Cricket nymph x1 Slender Groundhopper Speckled Wood 1 Cuckoo x2 Haxel Leaf Roller x6 Sloe Bug x19 Common Lizard x6 Hawthorn Shieldbug x1 Grass Snake x2 23.4.11 Sloe Bugs x8 Rhagium mordax x2 Dingy Skipper x3 24.4.11 Sloe Bugs x13 Blue Shieldbug x1 Green Tortoise Beetle x20 Orange Tip x5 Cuckoo x1 Burnet Moth larva x1 Speckled Wood x5 Woundwort Shieldbug x4 Green Shieldbug x1 Stoat x1 Longhorn Beetle - Phytoecia cylindrica x1 Comma x1 Birch Shieldbugs x3 30.4.11 Sloe Bug x23 Trachys minuta x1 Speckled Wood x9 Green Shieldbug x3 Scorpion Fly x5 Rhagium mordax x2 Haxel Leaf Rollers x9 Dingy Skipper x1 Red headed Soldier Beetles x3 Horned Treehopper - Centrotus cornutus x1 Green Tortoise Beetles x13 Kidney Spot Ladybird x1 Orange Tip x7 Phytoecia cylindrica x1 Large Red Damselfly x1 Red Admiral x1 Red Headed Cardinal Beetle x1 Red & Black Froghopper x1 1.5.11 Red & Black Froghopper x5 Orange Tip x13 Turtle Dove x1 Large Red Damselfly x10 Red Headed Soldier Beetle x3 Blue Damselfly sp x2 Comma x4 Green Shieldbug x2 Red Admiral x1 Rhagium mordax x7 Platystomus albinus x1 Hazel Leaf Roller x5 Sloe Bug x3 Grammoptera ruficornis x2 Horned Treehopper - Centrotus cornutus x1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 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. *** 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. Sunday, May 15, 2011 Priory Farm, Orford (Sir Richard Sutton Settled Estates) NW of Binbrook. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in yard of Priory Farm at TF194 945. Habitats: Waithe Beck, marsh, ponds, arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, June 19, 2011 Great Eau - Theddlethorpe 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet at TF454857 Healey Land, park on side of Road - note cattle may be grazing. Habitats: River, Marsh, Ditches. Leader: Chris Manning 07752 353303 chris@lincsdeer.info Sunday, July 03, 2011 South Farm, Thurlby. SW of Lincoln. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet in yard of South Farm at SK907 614. Habitats: River Witham, ponds, grassland and arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Saturday, July 16, 2011 Hatfield/Thorne Moor NNR Joint Meeting withYorkshire 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: redpoll - does not like recipient. r.jaggs-fowler - does not like recipient. maremma - does not like recipient. lnu@stoy - does not like recipient. Karen.Trigg - doesn't have a btopenworld.com account. jsharratt - Denied by policy johnth@ckery - sender was rejected. Imogen@ - sender was rejected. CAROLINE.GILL - sender was rejected. apeel - does not like recipient. That's enough rejection for one day! *** Link of the Week *** http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newsvideo/6583941/Water-Buffalo-survives-lion-and-crocodile-attack.html ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/