=========================================== || || 5th February 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 1060 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 *** From time to time I ruminate on the future of the Bulletin, and at the last LNU Exec we thought we should keep a lookout for a possible successor, although I am not aiming to give up in a hurry. However, if anyone thinks this would make an entertaining volunteer project, have a word with one of the committee, or with me, and we will explain what is involved and where we could go in the future. After 11+ years doing it I am not the least proprietorial about it, as the best thanks is to have one's efforts continued. February is a good time to start thinking of projects for the annual Lincolnshire Environmental Awards. Many Bulletin readers have been winners or runners-up over the years and the scheme is a very good thing and deserves our support. The deadline for submissions this year is 30th April 2012. The following website will remind you of what is involved. http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Roger *** Hedgehog Survey *** Pat Morris is requesting help with a survey of dates of hedgehog emergence from hibernation. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16597723 If willing to help, please register with the project on http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings also see 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. Saturday, February 11, 2012 Recorders Meeting Overview and highlights of the past year's recording provided by the county recorders. ALL welcome - meeting is not just for recorders. *** LINCOLNSHIRE BIRD CLUB - Annual General Meeting *** Andrew Chick writes: Tuesday 20th March 2012 at The Admiral Rodney Hotel, Horncastle at 7.30pm Professor Ian Newton, Chair of the British Trust for Ornithology will be talking on Bird Migration. "Ian Newton is one of the most prolific ornithologists of the last 40 years and his fifth book The Migration Ecology of Birds deservedly won the BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year in 2008 (not the first time one of his books has been awarded that accolade)....." The talk is FREE to everyone and will be followed by the Annual General Meeting (members only). Andrew tells me Prof. Newton is a speaker not to be missed! *** Mistletoe Spotting *** Paul Kirby writes: Please thank everyone who has sent in records. Yes there is still (pers. obs. Jan. 2012) plenty of Mistletoe in Langrick Park & also in the garden of Armtree Cottage at TF 26194860. There are also a few plants further east in Langrick/Langriville. A couple of queries from the replies: Ropsley, SK9934: 'tree in garden of 18a High St……' Is the tree species known? Hough on the Hill, SK9246: 'abundant on a number of species, notably lime'………….. ? Any of the others. Paul adds: Mistletoe has now been recorded from 28 hectads and has been re-found in all but 3 of those where it was recorded pre 2000. The post 2000 blanks: TF15 Billinghay TF1554, 1998, on apple TF18 Torrington, TF18, 1997 (rather vague – I have no further information). TF34 Boston, TF313435, 1984, on apple Does anyone know if there is still mistletoe at these sites? Host species, noted so far in Lincs: apple, hawthorn, hybrid poplar, lime, sycamore, ornamental Acer, field maple, horse-chestnut, false- acacia & weeping willow. Editor's Note: Paul has sent me a map summarising the distribution of the records on a 10K basis – please ask if you would like me to send you a copy. *** Dormice *** Anne Goodall writes: The Limewoods Dormouse Group holds monthly working parties through the winter, mainly the regular coppicing programme in the Ivy Wood dormouse 'heartland'. The plan is to re-coppice two coupes in the main release area, last coppiced 25 and 15 years ago, on a 15 year rotation. This will ensure that there is always ideal dormouse nesting habitat in this area. The total area is just under 3ha (7.5 acres) so we are aiming to cut about half an acre each winter. We usually get 10-15 workers turn up, but more are always welcome! The next WP date is Sunday 19 February, meet at the Wood Centre Vols Room, 10.00. The other task, beginning shortly, will be to check over and treat new dormouse nest boxes currently being made at HMP Doncaster, so that these can go up in the spring. Nut-hunts and nest-searches over the last two autumns have confirmed that the mice are moving steadily north and south, so from April on we shall be putting boxes and tubes into adjoining hedges and nearby woods. Meanwhile, an exciting find during this month has been 2 harvest mouse nests, about 200m apart, in Hatton Plantation and Minting Park. Both were found in areas where young blackthorn re-growth, coppiced by Butterfly Conservation for brown hairstreaks, is appearing among tall grass and herbs - ideal habitat, and we have thousands of square metres of it, so who knows how many there are yet to find? *** Willow Talk - sounds interesting *** Mel Banham writes: Rodney Cousins, willow historian, is giving a talk at Sturton by Stow village hall on Wednesday February 15th at 7.30. Only £1 entry. Arranged by Sturton & Stow History Society as part of their talks programme. All welcome. Rodney is an engaging speaker who knows his stuff. Should be interesting. Doors open from 7ish. Parking on roadside outside the hall (High Street) or in The Red Lion car park. Village hall is about 150 yards from both The Red Lion and The Plough. Good beer in both pubs. *** Grantham Branch LWT - Grimsthorpe Wildlife *** Marion Ellis writes: Friday 10th February 7.30pm Barkston & Syston Village Hall Wildlife of Grimsthorpe Park Chris Howes Trust Stall, Raffle & Refreshments ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 28/1 Rough-legged Buzzard, Claythorpe at Withern 29/1 49 Whooper, 4 Bewick's Swans, Wroot Iceland Gull, Grimsby Great Grey Shrike, NNE of Hemingby 2 Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owl, Nocton Fen Hen Harrier, 10 Whopper Swans, Dunsby Fen Yellow-legged Gull, Thurlby pits. Lapland Bunting over Gibraltar Point plus 4 Snow Buntings Great While Egret, Kirkby on Bain pits 30/1 Iceland Gull, Grimsby docks, roof of Arctic Breeze Glaucous Gull, Grimsby, Pywipe Tundra Bean Goose, 500+ Pink-footed Geese, 12 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 11+ Whooper, 6 Bewick's Swans, Wroot Caspian Gull, Boston landfill 31/1 Iceland Gull, Boston landfill site Smew redhead, Deeping High Bank Great While Egret, Kirkby on Bain pits Tundra Bean Goose, 12 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Wroot. 7 Bewick's, 45 Whooper Swans, 5 Pink-footed Geese, Huttoft Pit Glaucous Gull, Gainsborough Landfill site Caspian Gull, Lea Marsh 2 Iceland Gulls, Grimsby docks and Iceland Gull, Pywipe 1/2 Great While Egret, Kirkby on Bain pits Spoonbill, Hen Harrier, 9 Bewick's Swans, Frampton Marsh c100 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes Rough-legged Buzzard, Claythorpe at Withern 2/2 Smew redhead, Deeping High Bank 2 Iceland Gulls, Grimsby docks 3 Tundra Bean Geese, 14 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Wroot. Great While Egret, Kirkby on Bain pits Iceland Gull, Boston landfill Bittern, Messingham Sand Quarry Little Stint, Alkborough Flats 3/2 Tundra Bean Geese, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Candy Farm, Wroot. Rough-legged Buzzard, Claythorpe at Withern Iceland Gulls, Grimsby docks 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. Garry Steele writes on Mistletoe: As far as I can recall the mistletoe you asked for further information on in the Bulletin that grows in the garden at Armtree Cottage, Langrick is on a pear tree. For whatever reason several years ago now I remember actually stopping and talking to the occupiers of this property about it - it may well have been that I asked for permission to take a slide of it at the time when I was more into photography and use to give talks - but it was a long time ago now. However, it wasn't that long ago that I was driving past and it was still there - 2/3 magnificent clumps! I too have also previously noticed other clumps in the parkland opposite, and I seem to recall I have previously reported on these in the past in response to an appeal for sightings by someone, but again I cannot at the moment just remember to who. I think at least some of these mistletoe clumps in the parkland at Langrick are on lime trees, but I really would need to check on that first to be certain. I have also recorded mistletoe back in the 1990's in gardens at Toynton Fenside (TF 396 624), where it was growing on poplar, and in Stickney (TF 344 571), on apple. Also, with the help of a friend of mine called Andrew Pegg who lives at West Keal and is very interested in mistletoe, about 4 winters ago now we experimented to see if we could get it estab- lished by human means on trees in my own garden. After initially looking like we had had no success, later in that same year I suddenly spotted it beginning to appear as tiny leaflets in several places. Thus, I am pleased to say it should now also be recorded as growing in my garden here in Stickford (TF 357602), where I currently have 4 very nicely increasing clumps (size-wise), 3 on a Bramley apple tree and one on a red-flowering hawthorn (Paul's Scarlet). What Andrew and I tried to do was to attempt to emulate the efforts of a mistle thrush (historically known as the Mistletoe Thrush ) which regularly feed on mistletoe berries (if they can find them!) and wipe their beaks on the branches of trees to rid themselves of the sticky residue. In the process of doing so they then end up wiping the seeds into fissures in the bark. A couple of interesting asides in connection with all of this is that mistletoe berries are of course poisonous (but they don't seem to harm the birds at all), plus the Latin name for mistle thrush is Turdus viscivorus - 'viscivorus' meaning mistletoe-eater. See also www.buy.mistletoe.org.uk where you can actually purchase your own mistletoe grow-kit for the very modest price of only £14.40! On my travels outside the county the place where I have seen much more mistletoe growing than anywhere else is Herefordshire. I have never seen it on oak however, and I understand this is a very rare thing to happen - see www.watsonia.org.uk/Wats23p237.pdf With regard to the folklore about Druids cutting mistletoe from off oaks using a golden sickle, apparently this needed to be done five days after the winter solstice from a special oak tree, and the plant had to be caught before it hit the ground. It was then distributed amongst people to hang over their doors for protection against evil in the coming year. I also remember a few years ago while on holiday in the Maritime Alps in southern France being suddenly surprised to see mistletoe actually growing on a conifer tree. I later discovered that there are in fact two mistletoe sub species that do this - Viscum album. ssp abietis & V. album. ssp austricum. Finally, in connection with Chris Howes recent response in the Bulletin to Paul Kirkby's request for records of mistletoe in Lincolnshire; and he reporting there is 'lots in Grimsthorpe Park'. I happened to chance across the following fascinating quotation in a book called 'A Dictionary of Plant Lore' by Roy Vickery while digging around in my own library of natural history books. Its taken from an 1876 edition of 'Notes & Queries', an Oxford-based learned journal which is still on the go I believe..... 'Mistletoe grows very freely in the HAWTHORNS and other trees in Grimsthorpe Park, Lincolnshire, though it is not found elsewhere in the neighbourhood. People have been accustomed to come from long distances, especially from London and Manchester, in order to gather the mistletoe, and have brought with them carts to carry off the spoil. Besides thus committing a trespass, they disturbed the red deer in the park, and greatly damaged the trees. Lady Willoughby de Eresby has, therefore, been compelled to protect her property by employing additional watchers in the park during the month before Christmas, in order to prevent the mistletoe from being interfered with and stolen. During this past December 14 extra watchers were engaged. (N & Q, 5 ser. 5: 126,1876). *** 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. DEEPING LAKES NR David Griffith 29/01/2012 10.30am Egyptian goose Goldeneye x12 Goosander 2 + 2 on river Lapwing Greylag goose x6 Mute swan x13 Wigeon c50 Mallard c80 Pochard c20 Gadwall x6 Tufted duck c50 Coot c60 Great spotted woodpecker Green woodpecker x2 Blue tit x10 Great tit x6 Blackbird x10 Chaffinch x12 Grey heron x3 Reed bunting Wren Magpie x6 Pheasant x2 Robin x5 Goldfinch x12 Kestrel Carrion crow x6 Jackdaw x11 Moorhen x5 Great crested grebe Cormorant x17 Water rail Black headed gull x30 Teal x14 Visitor report same date Snipe HAGNABY FEN E.A. WETLAND RESERVE TF 342597 Garry Steele Noteworthy ornithological sightings and maximums, January 2012 Curlew - 98 Greylag Goose - 45 Mallard - 80 Redshank - 12 Snipe - 22 Teal - 233 Wigeon - 42 LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 04/02/2012 Jayne Knight Male Blackbird that was singing in top of fir tree last week, 25th, has ceased since this icy spell commenced. The two Robins have also split up, one driving the other away from the food sources if they happen to visit the garden at the same time. When there has been a sharp frost overnight followed by clear, blue sky and bright sunshine, like today, 3rd, a mixed flock of Goldfinches and Chaffinches roam over an adjacent house roof. It faces South so the surface has thawed and dried by mid-morning. I think they are gritting, picking up the small grains of sand that will have eroded off the concrete(?) roof tiles. And, just now, a Magpie entered a Leylandii in the same place a pair of Collared Doves have regularly nested and, after a short interlude was driven out by one of the Doves. Is it too early for egg-robbing? MIDDLE RASEN Ray Halstead 29th January 2012 Results from Big Garden Birdwatch House Sparrow 15 Dunnock 3 Blackbird 4 Bluetit 1 Great Tit 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Starling 7 Jackdaw 2 STICKFORD TF 357602 Garry Steele 03 February 2012 Just popping outside for a moment around dusk tonight on a bitterly cold evening to retrieve something from my car, my attention was drawn to the distinctive, harsh 'tick' calls of several Wrens in the front garden. A moment later 3 wrens all flew at the same time to the top of the gable wall of my bungalow, briefly clinging on the brickwork together before quickly disappearing one after the other inside one of the two House Martin nests tucked behind the fascia board at the wall apex. These individuals were shortly followed in quick succession by at least 7 more wrens which all entered the same nest. I then noticed quite a collection of fresh-looking small bird droppings (not old house martin deposits) on the roof of the conservatory directly below the nest, which suggests that - unbeknown to me - the wrens have been in overnight residence here for several days beforehand. I recall once seeing several wrens congregating at dusk during a wintry cold snap before entering together into a crack in a natural rock face in my native Derbyshire. I have also read several times of communal overnight roosting for warmth by often quite large numbers of wrens in tit nest boxes. But seeing wrens enter into a house martin nest was certainly a first for me. I guess it makes a good deal of sense for the wrens to target such a place to roost in cold weather, for in addition to the feather-lining left by the martins inside the nest, the heat transfer through the wall from my house's central heating system must be reasonably significant. The wall supporting the nest is also south-facing, so should additionally receive a modicum of warmth from any available winter sunshine when compared with the other walls. With this harsh wintry weather forecast to continue over the next few days, I will certainly be watching again late tomorrow afternoon to hopefully witness a repeat of this fascinating little spectacle and to gain a better idea of exactly just how many wrens are roosting together. Garry adds: have any other readers have either in the past, or are currently, witnessing similar behaviour? Since sending the article to you I have just trawled the Internet on this subject and apparently this same phenomena of wrens using house martins has been recorded several times before. But as I say it was a new one on me. Someone on the Internet had counted 17 wrens leaving one house martin's nest! Another report claims an overnight wintering roost of wrens below the eaves of a house peaked at 96!!!!! If my count of wrens increases here I will certainly let you know! WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 28/01/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Buzzard 1 Barn Owl 1 Water Rail 1 WAINFLEET FLATS 30/01/12 Dave Miller Brent Goose 1609 Shelduck 66 Little Egret 1 Peregrine 1 Oystercatcher 300 Golden Plover 8 Knot at least 3000 Curlew 417 Redshank 23 Skylark 59 Rock Pipit 6 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 2/212 Brown hare in area Tawny owl hunting along roadside 10pm. 3/2/12 Fieldfare - 100+ in orchard Tawny owl calling in garden. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 No report yet SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006128.aspx No report yet RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for December 2011 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp RSPB Frampton Marsh A juvenile Spoonbill seen at the beginning and end of the month w as the same as had been at Gibraltar Point in between times. Whooper Swans roosting on the Reedbed declined from November to a peak of 14 birds. Good numbers of geese persisted with up to 100 Pink-footed, 25 White-fronted, 3000 Dark-bellied Brent, one Pale- bellied Brent and one Black Brant. The numbers of ducks was also very high with up to 1000 Wigeon and record counts of 1090 Teal and 242 Pintail. A redhead Smew (13th to 31st) was a first for the reserve, it was joined by a second bird for one day (18th). Birds of prey included up to two Hen Harriers, two Marsh Harriers and three Peregrines, which were seen to take ducks on several occasions. Waders included up to 3000 Golden Plovers, a Little Stint (6th), up to 23 Ruff and two Spotted Redshanks. Up to eight Lapland Buntings were seen, but they were generally quite elusive. Water Pipits were reported on two dates. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp RSPB Freiston Shore Up to seven White-fronted Geese were on the grassland with 1000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, eight Whooper Swans and 3300 Golden Plovers. A late Sandwich Tern (1st) would not have appreciated the attentions of a Pomarine Skua on the same date. An Arctic Skua (29th) was very unseasonal. A good variety of birds offshore throughout the month also included up to five Little Auks, 35 Guillemots and 53 Razorbills. Single Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and Slavonian Grebe were also seen, while six Snow Buntings were on the lagoon islands. ALSO: Gibraltar Point NNR Forty Tundra Bean Geese (6th) were presumably part of the flock of 100 or so nearby at Wainfleet. An excellent count of 70 White-fronted Geese was also made (22nd). Three Velvet Scoter were offshore (8th). Other records from the sea included single Great Northern Diver (8th – 15th) , up to two Little Auks (two 11th and one on 18th), Shag (12th), both Pomarine and Great Skuas (on 11th and 12th respectively) and Red- necked Grebe (8th). A Spoonbill for much of the month was also seen at Frampton Marsh. Wader highlights were 4000 Golden Plovers and a lone Avocet. A Hooded Crow was seen on two dates (22nd and 31st), Waxwings were also seen on two dates (22nd and five on 30th) while a late Swallow (3rd) was more unexpected. A Black Redstart (1st) was a good winter find, as was presumably the same Richard's Pipit seen on two dates (9th and 22nd). Water Pipits were reported on two dates and there was a peak of nine Lapland Buntings (22nd), but there have been no Shorelarks so far this winter and only one Snow Bunting was seen in December (12th). Whisby Nature Park and North Hykeham Pits Two Ravens over (23rd) would be only the second record if confirmed, otherwise two Common Scoter (15th) were the rarest birds during the month. Other wildfowl included eight Goosanders (8th-20th) and a single Red-crested Pochard (20th). Gulls included three Caspian Gulls (3rd- 14th) and a single Mediterranean Gull (12th). Peak counts during the month included 30 Lesser Redpolls (9th), 24 Tree Sparrows (25th) and 17 Siskins (25th). Other notable birds included wintering Little Egrets (two) Water Rails (two) and Chiffchaff (one). Other sites Nocton Fen held both Bewick's and Whooper Swans, with up to 12 of the former and 14 of the latter. Forty eight White-fronted Geese and four Hen Harriers were also seen here. A Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Goose joined the Dark-bellied Brents at Nene Mouth (14th). 107 Twite there (14th) was an excellent count of now uncommon passerine. Eight Red-crested Pochards at Thurlby Sand Pit was a good county count. A single Black-necked Grebe was also present there. A Great White Egret at Kirkby Pits is becoming an increasingly regular occurrence at this site and 17 Red Kites at Colsterworth Landfill also shows the change in fortune for this species in the county. A Rough-legged Buzzard was reported at Stainby, near Colsterworth (10th), while a 1st winter Glaucous Gull at Skegness (28th) was also only seen on one date. Six Short-eared Owls were at Dunsby Fen during the month with an impressive 11 at Nocton Fen. Great Grey Shrikes were seen at Folkingham and Braceby and a single Waxwing was at Lincoln (23rd & 24th). John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending: 03.02.12 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bar - tailed godwit bittern blackbird 30+ black headed gull 25 blue tit 7 bullfinch 2 carrion crow 2 chaffinch 8 common gull 7 coot 101 cormorant 2 curlew 4 dunnock 4 fieldfare 8 gadwall 14 goldcrest goldeneye 5 golden plover 150 goldfinch 4 GC grebe 4 great tit 5 greenfinch 4 grey heron greylag goose 12 herring gull 2 house sparrow 8 kestrel lapwing 200 long - tailed tit 6 magpie 5 mallard 16 moorhen 7 mute swan 4 pheasant 2 pied wagtail 9 pochard 12 redshank 8 redwing 6 reed bunting 2 ringed plover 15 robin 8 shelduck 53 shoveler 14 sparrowhawk F starling 11 teal 4 tufted duck 20 water rail 2 wigeon 10 willow tit wood pigeon 10 wren 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ *** Call for LIMEWOODS Reports *** Take a look at the following links and see if you can boost our records with a visit. Don't forget: tracks and signs are important records. Examine muddy patches and if we get some snow look out for deer slots and paw prints etc. A good website about this is: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/field_guides/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** *** 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 *** 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 *** 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 *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has 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: www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Help BBCT with Amazon *** The Bumblebee Conservation Trust have an association with Amazon which helps to raise money for Bumblebee Conservation without any cost to the purchaser. If you buy anything from Amazon click onto the site via Bumblebee Conservation Trust - Support us - Easy fund raising - Amazon. If you do this Amazon will donate 8% of the price paid to Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Link: http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/fundraising.html *** Wash Estuary Project Contacts *** Jeff Goodley - Wash Estuary Project Officer jeff.goodley@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: john.badley@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 recorded in my garden 2011: 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/ *** 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. Saturday, January 14, 2012 Joseph Banks, James Edward Smith and the Linnean Society Illustrated Lecture by Prof. Mark Seaward. Emeritus Professor of Environmental Biology at Bradford University and Honorary Professor of Lincoln University. Saturday, February 11, 2012 Recorders Meeting Overview and highlights of the past year's recording provided by the county recorders. Saturday, March 10, 2012 AGM & Presidential Address Barrie Wilkinson's eagerly awaited Presidential Address. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: included barber.james - e-mail account disabled stourton-mark - local delivery failed - mark.gordon please note twaccie- e-mail account disabled ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/