============================================ || || 30th December 2012 || || 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 1090 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 *** 2012 has seemed an odd year weatherwise. I can't recall having such relentless wet weather. The ground has been saturated much of the time, with standing water on fields and great puddles on roads. It will be interesting to see how 2012 compares with other wet years such as 2000, which remains the UK's wettest year to date, with average rainfall of 1,337.3mm. It sounds like more is on its way for the new year. Heads up for the annual Quadrantid meteor shower. 1st-6th January. Cloud permitting, as usual. Keep those contributions coming. Happy New Year to you all. Roger *** Meteor Showers *** The Quadrantid meteor shower is due 1st and 6th January 2013. This shower should peak on 3rd January. See: http://meteorshowersonline.com/ *** Starnights *** Paul Money has some 2013 Starnights coming up across the county. To find one near you, visit: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Home2.htm *** Next LNU Event - note correction *** For LNU meetings see http://www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. ALL VERY WELCOME. NOTE ALTERATION TO DATE GIVEN PREVIOUSLY. 12th, NOT 19th. Saturday, January 12, 2013 The Marsh Moth Paul Waring will talk on his work on the Marsh Moth (Athetis palustris) in Lincolnshire, as well as other work around the county including Ancaster and the Bardney Limewoods. See: http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=2392 *** End of another Seal Season *** Rob Lidstone-Scott writes: Counted from the viewing area on Friday 21st December: bulls 12, cows 8, pups 105 and even less than this by Sunday! At this rate, there will be very little left by the New Year. *** Free backup Webmail idea - mail2web *** My e-mail provider has told me of a free service that can be used should they ever have problems with their system. You can pick up your e-mail from any computer, anywhere in the world. No registration is required and it's FREE! It looks a handy thing to know about. Have a look. http://mail2web.com/ *** Fedex e-mail Scams - Beware *** If, like me, you are starting to get e-mails from Fedex that you suspect are scams - they almost certainly are. Please DO NOT open them. Instead, forward them to Fedex to help them nail the perpetrators. Forwarding address: abuse@fedex.com Then delete the offending e-mail, I repeat, unopened. *** Improve your Identification Skills *** Charlie Barnes sent in the following information: Biodiversity Fellows - Field Studies Council FSC Biodiversity Fellows taxonomic training courses. Next year at least 70 taxonomic training courses will be run on a range of difficult plant and animal groups and will be led by national and regional experts. Day courses will be free of charge to those biodiversity fellows who wish to attend whilst longer residential courses within the programme may be available at a discount of 50% of the published price. To qualify for these rates and to attend FSC biodiversity fellows courses participants must first register via the website and fill in the online form. http://www.field-studies-council.org/bio.fell The course list, which includes lichens, bryophytes, fungi, seaweeds, freshwater algae, charophytes, diptera, aculeate hymenoptera, arachnids, hemiptera, coleoptera, micro-lepidoptera and soil mesofauna such as earthworms, mites and springtails can also be found here. It is hoped that this network of biodiversity fellows made up of course participants, tutors, biological recorders, professional ecologists and site managers and others will help the FSC tackle some of the obvious problems with the provision of taxonomic training and resources in the future and be a strong and cohesive voice in championing these groups of taxa and their identification over time. Please become a biodiversity fellow with the FSC and support our work. Editor adds: You may be eligible for an LNU bursary towards the cost of residential courses - contact a member of the Executive Committee for further information. *** The British Myriapod & Isopod Group *** Imogen Wilde writes: The British Myriapod & Isopod Group (BMIG) will be having their Annual Field Meeting and AGM in Lincolnshire this year. The dates are Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th April 2013, and the group will be based at Scamblesby, Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire is relatively under-recorded for myriapods and isopods and this will be a good location for exploring under- worked areas, such as the Lincolnshire Wolds, the Limewoods, heaths near Market Rasen and Woodhall Spa and also coastal dunes. The AGM will be held on the evening of Friday 12 April. If you would like further information and a booking form for accommodation then please contact Imogen Wilde: imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk. All LNU members are very welcome, whether staying with the group in Scamblesby or making their own accommodation arrangements. *** Rural and Wildlife Crime *** Lincolnshire Police operate a network for rural areas in order to combat rural crime. This is known as Farm and Country Business watch. Join up and you will be kept up to date on a range of dodgy goings on. Visit: http://lincs.police.uk/News-Centre/Campaigns/Farm-And-Country-Business-Watch/ *** EA Floodline - More rain on the Way? *** The Environment Agency website gives information on flooding. You can register for the Floodline Warnings Direct service so you receive alerts and warnings. Visit: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 21/12 11 Waxwings, Whisby, Redland's old yard 22 Waxwings, Torksey, Marton Road 5 Scaup, 2 drks, SE of Fishtoft, Cut End 22/12 2 Waxwings, Pride of Lincoln car park 2 Waxwings, Cleethorpes 23/12 30 Waxwings, Stamford, West Street at Waitrose 35 Waxwings, Bourne, South road by Elsea Park 49 Waxwings, 29 @ Sykes Farm plantation, 20 over flew south, 16,000 Golden Plovers few into The Wash, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull, west of Skegness near Middlemarsh landfill site Long-billed Dowitcher, Alkborough Flats 24/12 35 Waxwings, Stamford, West Street at Waitrose 8 Waxwings, Gibraltar Point 25/12 c 30 Waxwings, Stamford, West Street at Waitrose 7 Waxwings, Grimsby, Littlecoates Road c 40 Waxwings north of Lincoln, on A1500 nr A15 junction 53+ Waxwings, Far Ings NR 26/12 c60 Waxwings Wyberton off A46 in field at end of Saundersgate c 60 Waxwings on A46 between Riseholme and Nettleham roundabouts Waxwing at Marston sewage works in car park 31 Waxwings and Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 10 Waxwings Boston on Rowley Road near Boston Grammar School 12 Waxwings, North Somercotes, Churchill Road by fire station 300 Waxwings. Thorpe-on-the-Hill, A46 near Witham St Hughs turning Black Redstart, Covenham Reservoir 27/12 3 Whooper Swan, Anwick Fen Caspian Gull, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Yellow-legged Gull, 21 Whooper Swans, Blankney Fen 4 Scaup, 5 Mealy Redpolls, Messingham Sand Quarry 89 Waxwings, Smew, Far Ings 14 Whooper Swans, Short-eared Owl, Wainfleet St Mary Fen 21 Waxwings, Rough-legged buzzard, Gibraltar Point Glaucous Gull, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits c20 Waxwings, North Hykeham A46 beyond Pennel's roundabout 28/12 Great Northern Diver, Ashbyville Lake 27 Waxwings, 23 Snow Buntings, Rough-legged Buzzard, Gibraltar Point Iceland Gull, Caspian Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Barton-upon-Humber 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. Stockdoves Colin Smale replies: Re Max Winslow's question: ".commonest birds was the Stock Dove. I also notice in your bulletin they are only reported infrequently. Are they in decline or is it just me?" I see plenty of stock doves in the Donna Nook/Marshchapel area and when I flushed a flock of about 20 the other day. As I drove past them I had the same thoughts, why are they never included in sightings lists? They fall in between wood pigeons which we tend to ignore and feral pigeons and so they get missed out. It would be quite interesting to know how the stock dove populations are getting on year by year but we have no idea it seems. Stuart Britton writes: In response to Max Winslow's query re Stock Doves. I suspect the average bird watcher tends to overlook Stock Doves because of the large number of feral pigeons to be found throughout the County. At the last count it was estimated there were 309,000 territories in the UK (per BTO). In addition, they are a migratory species with populations from north east and central Europe going to the Mediterranean area, particularly Spain, in autumn. They are hole/cliff nesting birds and the absence of dead trees is a problem in some areas. They are adaptable because in the 25 Barn Owl boxes I have been monitoring in the Binbrook area for the past 10 years, at least three are occupied by Stock Doves annually and often two or three more. Stock Doves have nested in a "tray" put up in a wartime bunker at Donna Nook annually since 1990!! In essence, I think they are doing reasonably well in this part of the world. *** 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 experts. Thanks. BRACEBY Braceby TF015353 M. Ellis 22 Dec 2012 On 14th December my neighbour photographed a red kite flying above Braceby. It was labelled with the number N6 on a red and white tag, easily visible. I was able to learn that it was ringed and tagged at Boothby Pagnell on the 19th of June 2012, along with two more young in a local woodland nest by Alan Ball, a local bird ringer. Long tailed tits are now regular visitors to the bird feeders twice a day. Along with the usual small tits - blue great marsh and coal, sparrows and g.s. woodpeckers, and squirrels. Barn owl also regularly around the village. When did squirrels become so prolific in Lincolnshire? I have lived here 40 years and for at least 25 of those squirrels were a very rare sight to be noted carefully. CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Fortnight beginning 14.12.12 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Fieldmice eat crocus bulbs from bowls in shed Fox Grey squirrel without a tail Rabbits(3) Bullfinches(2) Goldcrests(3) in Norway spruce Jays(2) Sparrowhawk catches Coal tit on feeder Tree sparrows(10) sheltering in leylandii hedge Craneflies(2) mating, temp 4C Hundon Manor Farm ponds TA 113 022 Mute swans(2) Tufted ducks(4) Wold View TA 108 014 Still with flowers Common chickweed Ivy Ivy-leaved toadflax Petty spurge Shepherd's purse CASTLE CARLTON/AUTHORPE TF 397834 C Byatt 21 Dec. '12 brown hare – 2 HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 20.12.12 While talking on the phone and absently gazing out of the window I was lucky enough to see a tree creeper not 12 feet away. I think this is a first for my garden. We're also having regular visits from great spotted woodpeckers, three in number, who attend my peanut feeders several times a day. SPILSBY A16 north of town Chris J Manning – Mammal Recorder 24 Dec 2012 Dog otter dead on carriageway, That's 30 otter records so far for 2012, 14 of which are road causalities which as a surrogate for assessing the population suggests the Lincolnshire otter population is thriving. STIXWOULD Near Witham Third DB Pumping Station 26/12/12 10am R & A Parsons Single Waxwing at TF156653 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 26/12/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson The water continues to rise and has now flooded areas that have never previously held water, whilst our path through the reedbed that last year we could use dry-shod, now requires thigh boots and wasn't attempted. For the second time this winter we recorded Snipe, a single bird flushed from wet, tussocky grass, but the only other wetland birds were fifty Mallard and a single Little Egret. Few tits or finches were recorded and only two Reed Buntings counted. No raptors were present. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 22/12/2012 Brown Hare WRANGLE COMMON 26/12/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson We did what are probably our last BirdWatch counts of the year for the BTO today in bright sunshine, though the land was very badly flooded. Even most small patches of woodland were flooded and the ditches were full of water, denying the wintering Woodcock that we normally record, any place to lie-up during the day. However, recourse to a relatively dry wood produced a single bird. The winter Curlew flock was around, though we made no sightings and had to rely on a call to record this species. Despite very soft soil, the Snipe grounds were empty, which has sadly become the norm of late, though we managed to flush a Jack Snipe. The family party of eight Mute Swans is still with us, but Woodpigeons and Rooks - usually quite numerous - were recorded in very small numbers. A single Jay was spotted with a few Magpies and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was calling in the main wood. The only raptors seen were singles of Kestrel and Sparrowhawk - a female. Two Cormorants were on the ponds and are being recorded more frequently nowadays. Tits and finches were in very small numbers and no winter thrushes were recorded, though twenty-five Blackbirds were counted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/nr/reserve.php?mapref=22 Katherine Bocock's report follows Kev Wilson writes: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory team is now doing a blog. Have a look and see what you think. I like it. Worth a bookmark if you are a regular visitor. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006128.aspx Week ending: reports follows RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for November 2012 follow. John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=67 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News W/E W/E 28.12.12 BIRDS Max nos. bittern 2 blackbird 30+ black-headed gull 30 blue tit 5 carrion crow 6 chaffinch 6 collared dove 2 common gull 12 coot 100+ cormorant 8 curlew 45 dunnock 3 fieldfare 12 gadwall 11 goldeneye 4 goldeneye 9 goldfinch 4 GC grebe 5 great tit 6 grey heron 2 greylag goose 80 herring gull 2 house sparrow 12 kestrel LBB gull 2 little grebe long-tailed tit 9 magpie 4 mallard 17 marsh harrier 2 M moorhen 4 mute swan 4 pheasant 2 pochard 6 red-crested pochard F redshank 6 redwing 6 reed bunting 4 robin 6 shoveler 17 smew M sparrowhawk 2 starling C.10,000 teal 5 treecreeper tufted duck 17 water rail 2 waxwing 63 (26th) wigeon 8 willow tit 2 wood pigeon 100+ wren 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006846.aspx and Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ Colin Green has produced the following video about visiting Southrey Wood. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** iSpot *** The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/275032 A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives This is a project run by The Open University as part of Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), where you can "Learn more about wildlife, share your interest with a friendly community and get help identifying what you have seen." The project is essentially in the business of helping people learn how to identify the wildlife they encounter, and encouraging them to get involved in biological recording. *** Contacts List *** *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: I have recently agreed to take on the roles of Regional Co- ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). I will be organising a few field meetings to hunt for spiders and other arachnids in due course, but if any LNU members wish to get in touch in the meantime then please contact me on my e-mail address: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** 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/ *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Hedgehog Survey *** Not yet sure if this will extend to the current autumn/winter. http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: chris@lincsdeer.info Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** Met Office E-mail 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/about-us/guide-to-emails *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: http://www.lnu.org/ 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 Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project (LCGMP) To learn more about the project or to find out how to get involved, please visit http://www.lincsmarshes.org.uk/ Tornado and Storm Research Organisation http://www.lnu.org/ 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: http://www.lnu.org/ www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.lnu.org/ www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrsp.org.uk./ Bardney Limewoods http://www.lnu.org/ 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. http://www.lnu.org/ www.joseph-banks.org.uk EasyTide Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx TWO - The Weather Outlook Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Joan Gunson's Moths recorded in my garden 2011: http://www.lnu.org/ www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Mike Binnion writes: Common Butterflies http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/otherattractions.htm http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ Youtube videos by Colin Green. Little Scrubbs Meadon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqCJLrTQmg&feature=relmfu Greetwell Hollow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmzLFrbjFU&feature=plcp Rimac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=plcp *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will sometimes withhold precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Indoor meetings: Saturday, January 12, 2013 NOTE ALTERATION TO DATE GIVEN PREVIOUSLY. 12th, NOT 19th. The Marsh Moth Paul Waring will talk on his work on the Marsh Moth (Athetis palustris) in Lincolnshire, as well as other work around the county including Ancaster and the Bardney Limewoods. Saturday, February 16, 2013 Recorders' Meeting & Annual Exhibition Note - watch for details of early start to give us all additional talking-time. Saturday, March 09, 2013 AGM & Presidential Address by Roger Parsons Subject: The Ecology of Pollination and Pollinators ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 If you are having difficulties with spam folders etc. please make sure you "Whitelist" my address as given in the Bulletin. *** And Finally ... Lincoln University's Dr Franck Peron on Parrots' musical taste: http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_why-african-grey-parrots-will-enjoy-the-nutcracker-suite_1780703 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/