=========================================== || || 12th 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 *** I would very much like to establish some mistletoe in our old orchard, but what is the "right way" to go about this? I want to use a local genotype and would welcome some advice on how to go about finding a suitable local stock. A reader in the Louth area is asking for local berries too, Anyone know of some? Apart from the courtesy of asking first, what's the procedure? I did once try pressing some Christmas mistletoe berries into a nick in the bark of a tree, without results. There must be a trick to it. Sadly I am unable to attend the LNU Recorders' Meeting today, but I expect it to be a very interesting session. 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. Saturday, March 10, 2012 AGM & Presidential Address Barrie Wilkinson's eagerly awaited Presidential Address. *** 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! *** Wrens *** Garry Steele adds: Just a quick update following my last week's piece for the Bulletin re: Wrens overnight roosting in the house martin nest attached to my house here in Stickford. My best count to date has been 12 birds entering the nest........ at least 2 up on the best tally I had had up to the time of writing the article on 03/02/2012. This count of 12 was on 04/02/2012. *** Mistletoe Spotting *** Marion Ellis writes: Ropsley Mistletoe 18 & 18a High Street Hosts: Bramley Apple Tree, the other Cherry. Vin Fleming – mistletoe records: Mill Drove, Bourne TF097212 3 clumps on an ornamental Prunus sp. & three on Tilia vulgaris North Road, Bourne TF096205 Heavily infested with c20 clumps on wild cherry Prunus avium Towngate, Market Deeping TF135108 c12-15 clumps distributed between 4 Tilia vulgaris Imprecise count – done from the bus – might be more *** 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. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 13th February 2012 we invite you to join us at our next indoor meeting, where Roger Wardle, farming and wildlife consultant will be talking about "Wetlands for Wildlife and People" in a powerpoint presentation. This takes place at Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30. Admission is £2 and all are welcome. There will be a Trust goods stall, raffle and tea and coffee will be available. For further information please contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858 *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2012 *** 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 4/2 Ring-necked Duck, Great White Egret, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits 11 Tundra Bean Geese at Wroot 12 Tundra Bean Geese and 12+ Eurasian White-fronted Geese and Dark-bellied Brent at Candy Farm Iceland Gull, Grimsby Docks, at Arctic Spray, North Quay 2 Scaup, 4 White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh 5/2 White Stork south of Horncastle 1 ml Scrivelsby Smew, Deeping High Bank Smew, Baston and Langtoft gravel pits Mealy Redpoll, Park Farm 2 Iceland Gull, Grimsby Docks 7/2 Great White Egret, Manby Flashes Smew redhead, Scaup, Far Ings Mealy Redpoll, Baston Langtoft Pits Grey Plover, Deeping Lakes Caspian Gull, Gainsborough landfill site. Great White Egret, 2 Red Kites, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Smew redhead, Deeping High Bank 8/2 Possible Kumlein's Gull, Frampton Marsh White Stork, Horncastle, Wilsby Smew redhead, Deeping High Bank 9/2 Rough-legged Buzzard, Claythorpe, by Great Eau between Withern and Aby Great White Egret, Manby Flashes 10/2 White Stork, Kirkby on Bain landfill site Grey Plover, Deeping Lakes Smew redhead, Far Ings, Target Pit Smew redhead, Deeping High Bank Eurasian White-fronted Goose with Greylag Geese, Tallington Lakes 45 Tundra Bean Geese and 1 Eurasian White-fronted goose, west of South Ferriby on Read's Island 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. FOTHERBY near Louth Keith Skingle 06 February 2012 Yesterday, Sunday, we had a Snipe in the garden. It was there for about 10 minutes foraging around the edge of the conifers where there was little or no snow. This was a pleasant surprise as the Snipe is a wader and we are not close to water. I live at the foot of Wolds surrounded by farmland on the outskirts of Fotherby near Louth. Other birds in my garden today that are not regular visitors were: Snow Bunting Reed Bunting Fieldfare Yellow Hammer These probably came in search of food due to the snow. Regular visitors also in the garden today included: Great Spotted Woodpecker Greenfinch Goldfinch Chaffinch Blackbird Starling Wren Robin Pheasant Dunnock I also saw Black-backed Gulls and a Kittiwake flying over the fields. When I moved here last spring I had virtually no birds visiting the garden and despite putting out several feeders with different feeds this continued through the Summer. I presumed this to be because of the food readily available from the crops in the fields. Once the fields were harvested the number of bird visitors increased starting with the Goldfinches and the Greenfinches who now come in large numbers. As my garden is now an established feeding place it will be interesting to see what happens this Summer. *** 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. AUBOURN SK913628 Peter Wilson 7th Feb 2012 1515hrs Barn owl hunting along river bank Peter Wilson adds: I can't lay claim to having 96 wrens unfortunately, but I do have one resident wren in my garden who seems to live in a pile of stones adjacent to my bird feeders. I put mealworms down around the stones and it always pops out to grab a few. BOSTON to CUT END 31/01/12 Mel Thorn/John Farmer 45 species including Common Eider - 2 males Ringed Plover Oyster catcher Sanderling Dunlin Turnstone Redshank Black-tailed Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit Curlew Snipe Golden Plover Lapwing Marsh Harrier - Female CHERRY WILLINGHAM TF033725 Margaret Roe 5/2/12 and following three days. Redwing and fieldfare in ones and twos feeding on orange- berried Mountain Ash on front lawn, the same tree that attracted five waxwings last winter (not seen this winter). By the third day one fieldfare has claimed it as his territory and saw off any other birds. Up to 8 fieldfare have been seen on surrounding trees in the neighbourhood. Three weeks ago there was a mixed flock of 30-40 redwing and fieldfare on the outskirts of the village (junction of Fiskerton Road and Church Lane). Perhaps they have now dispersed into the village. COLSTERWORTH LANDFILL Vin Fleming SK905243 4th February 2012 14 red kites over the tip – 4 tagged birds of which 2 read – all East Midlands birds Also 1 buzzard, 1 sparrowhawk and numerous gulls, starlings etc. COVENHAM RES 01/02/12 Mel Thorn - AM 34 species including Slavonian Grebe - 1 Pintail Duck - 1 female Dunlin - 1 FRAMPTON MARSH 03/02/12 Mel Thorn 55 species including Whooper Swan - 22 Bewick Swan - 6 (on field on left as approaching reserve) White-fronted Goose - 5 Barnacle Goose - 1 Brent Goose - 800-1000 including at least 3 Pale-bellied Brents Scaup - 2 male Pintail - 100+ Goldeneye - 5 female Barn Owl (at Dusk) Marsh Harrier - 3 individual female Peregrine - 1 pair Merlin - 1 FRAMPTON MARSH Mel Thorn 10/02/2012 Mute Swan Whooper Swan Bewick Swan Canada Goose Brent Goose White-fronted Goose Barnacle Goose Greylag Goose Mallard Tufted Duck Pintail Teal Wigeon Gadwall Shoveler Pochard Scaup Goldeneye Shelduck Black-tailed Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit Curlew Lapwing redshank Snipe Coot Moorhen Little Egret Little Grebe Greenfinch Goldfinch Chaffinch Reed Bunting Meadow Pipit Tree Sparrow Dunnock Wren Linnet Twite Blue Tit Great Tit Herring Gull Black-headed Gull Common Gull Greater Black-backed Gull Iceland/Kumlien's Gull Starling Magpie Crow Fieldfare Redwing Blackbird Hen Harrier Marsh Harrier peregrine Kestrel Barn Owl Pheasant HEIGHINGTON John Nickson 5,6,7 Feb 2012 Song Thrush In the garden. Not seen one for many months. Being bullied by the Blackbirds. HEMINGBY Mel Thorn 06/02/2012 A walk North East of the village along Green Lane and Bridlepath produced the following: - Kestrel 3 Crow Rook Jackdaw Starling Collared Dove Wood Pigeon Bullfinch Chaffinch Greenfinch Blue Tit Great Tit Blackbird Fieldfare Dunnock Wren Robin Great Grey Shrike Siskin Linnet Red-legged Partridge Pheasant HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 7th February Black-billed male blackbird spotted in my garden. I understand this is a first year migrant from Europe. Quite striking and a first for me. KIRKBY-ON-BAIN 01/02/12 Mel Thorn PM 26 species including Great White Egret - nice fly past while sat in hide (Thats me not the Egret) Egyptian Geese - 2 Red Kite - 1 LINCOLN John Farmer Hartsholme Park 8/2/12 1 Kingfisher near Black bridge 1 Jay 8 Redwing KIRKBY-ON-BAIN Mel Thorn 09/02/2012 White Stork Great White Egret Cormorant Heron Mute Swan Egyptian Goose Greylag Goose Kestrel Buzzard Red Kite Peregrine Black-headed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Herring Gull Common Gull Crow Rook Jackdaw Magpie Starling Wood Pigeon Collared Dove Blackbird Dunnock Robin Wren Red-legged Partridge Pheasant Chaffinch Goldfinch Greenfinch Siskin Blue Tit Great Tit Long-tailed Tit NOCTON FEN/WASPS NEST AREA Mel Thorn/John Farmer 07/02/2012 Mallard Wigeon Kestrel Buzzard Barn owl Crow Rook Jackdaw Magpie Jay Collared Dove Wood Pigeon Blackbird Fieldfare Redwing Starling Mistle Thrush Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Dunnock Robin Wren Great Tit Reed Bunting Linnet Pheasant Red-legged Partridge Great Spotted Woodpecker PINCHBECK GARDEN Kay Heath 5-01-2012 The lavender hedge I planted 2 years ago for bees have proved a bonus for the flock of goldfinches feeding on the seed heads today during this cold spell when most other food was buried beneath the snow. RUFFORD ABBEY & CLUMBER PARK (over the border) 02/02/12 Mel Thorn 45 species including at Rufford Abbbey Lesser-spotted Woodpecker - 2 Goldcrests galore At Clumber Park Mandarin Duck - 7 (5 males 2 females) At both sites Tree Creepers Nuthatches Coal Tits Marsh Tits WADDINGTON Lowfields SK957645 Peter Wilson 6th Feb. 2012 50+ swans WADDINGTON Village, Malt Kiln Kane SK976641 Peter Wilson 6th Feb 2012 90+ Fieldfares WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 07/02/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Lying snow and a severe drop in temperature from mid-afternoon ensured the fish ponds remained firmly frozen all day and with the nearby River Steeping also frozen there was nowhere for the usual ducks to feed and they seem to have left the area, probably for the marshes of the Wash. A flock of c150 Pink-footed Geese flew low over the site in the late afternoon and several of them settled on an adjacent field. This was a new record for the site. A Corn Bunting was seen in the hedgerow in the late afternoon, a quite unusual species here. As dusk settled, a Water Rail was caught, only the third to be ringed here. A Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were hunting over the site, apparently unsuccessfully. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 4/2/12 Fieldfare - 100+ with 30+ Blackbirds in orchard being subjected to sustained attack runs by Sparrowhawk. 5/2/12 4+ inches of snow with drifting. Estimated 50 blackbirds and 50 fieldfares in orchard. Turmoil! Sparrowhawk still having a go at them. Turmoil continuing up to 11th Feb - over 100 Fieldfares. Temperature on night of 10/11 was minus 12 deg C. WRANGLE COMMON 04/02/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Lying snow and an overnight low of -7C, meant there was little open water for our count today. Nevertheless a total of 40 species was recorded, the highest for some time. Black-headed Gull 2 Blackbird 13 Blue Tit 13 Bullfinch 1 Canada Goose 31 Carrion Crow 1 Chaffinch 6 Coot 3 Curlew 25 Dunnock 2 Feral Pigeon c15 Great Black-backed Gull 3 Great Tit 4 Heron 1 Grey Partridge 1 Jackdaw 2 Kestrel 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 Long-tailed Tit 3 Magpie 4 Mallard 2 Marsh Harrier 1 Meadow Pipit 3 Mistle Thrush 1 Moorhen 2 Mute Swan 2 Pheasant 6 Pied Wagtail 1 Redwing 2 Reed Bunting 2 Robin 2 Rook 3 Snipe 3 (Disturbed on ploughed field) Sparrowhawk 1 Starling 3 Tree Sparrow 4 Treecreeper 1 Woodcock 3 Woodpigeon 100+ Wren 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Week ending 3rd Febuary. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Peter & Janet Roworth. Very few observations for the week, in fact the dunes and scrub have almost been devoid of birdlife except for the occasional Magpie, Great Tit and Reed Bunting. As to be expected, particularly with the recent cold weather, numbers of birds has been most around garden feeding stations and it is always interesting to watch bird behaviour. The tit sp are bold and go straight on to the feeders. Robins wait their turn and will feed off the table or occasionally hover at a seed feeder in the hope of getting a beakful of food. More than a couple of Robins at a table then battle commences and the dominant one drives off the intruders. As seed is spilt onto the ground Dunnocks timidly appear, Blackbirds busily peck up as much as they can swallow. Of the finches, both Gold and Green are adept at hanging onto seed feeders as well as foraging on the ground. Occasionally Long-tailed Tits appear in threes and fours as they 'pass through' and they will attempt food from a seeder, table or fat balls. The star can be a Great-spotted Woodpecker, who once knows that food is available can be a regular for peanuts or fat balls. On one occasion during the week the activity at the bird table changed apace. Without any warning all birds just flew off... no warning calls...just went. The reason, a fine male Sparrowhawk sat in a nearby cherry tree just watching and waiting. After several minutes nothing materialised in the way of avian food and off he flew. Then, by almost silent command, the garden birds appeared. First the tits, and the rest followed, albeit a bit warily. On the edge of the saltmarsh not far from Sea View a group of mixed birds were feeding amongst an open area of sparse vegetation. There were 160 Redshank, 12 Golden Plover, 30 Dunlin, 6 Curlew, 35 Starling and a single Knot. Here there was a sense of togetherness. The majority of birds were all moving and feeding in the same direction to an invisible boundary then most flew up, landed and began to feed again in the same area but in a different direction. The Starlings and Dunlin were quickly moving amongst the Redshank who methodically worked the 'patch'. Three or four Redshank stood around, not feeding, obviously on guard. The Golden Plover remained together but within the main group of birds, the Curlew foraged in a scattered group and the single Knot just made the best of a lonely job. 10th February 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Peter & Janet Roworth After the cold easterlies last Thursday (2nd) a wash out of starfish and razor-fish on the outer shore in the c600m wide tide wash strip. By the 5th a good number of gulls present - Herring Gull c3200 (with all winter age plumages present), c2100 Common Gull, 132 Greater Black- back and only 5 Black Headed, no scarce gulls and no leg rings seen; also seen 7 and 4 Red-throated Divers [and 17 on the 10th] all north. Roosting birds included 58 Cormorant, 246 Curlew, 2 Mute Swans (unusual) and 134 Carrion Crows. From the 3rd the winds had veered around to the SW/SE sector giving us a fair share of snowfall. At Sea View a depth (level on a hard surface) of 130mm was recorded on the 5th and a further 55mm on the 10th, even though a very slight thaw had occurred in between. Frosts were pretty keen falling to a ground min of -9.75°C on the 4th and min air of -9.0°C on the 3rd. The air max did rise to a staggering +4.25°C but never reached beyond +1.0°C on the 9th. Apart from 2 hunting Barn Owls, c15 Woodcock flushed from the dunes (inc a single bird from a garden), c40 Fieldfare around Churchill and c15 Redwing in Sycamores at Sea View other bird records have been interesting sightings from garden feeders including 12 Blackbirds, 15+ Greenfinch and Chaffinch, 4 Dunnocks, 8 House Sparrows, 8+ Great Tits and Blue Tits, 3 Tree Sparrows and single Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting and Fieldfare. The Saltmarsh too has provided a valuable food source for a range of birds such as Starlings (120+), Redshank (100+), Golden Plover (9), Dunlin (110+), Knot (14), Lapwing (35)... all working together as a group foraging for whatever they can find. In scattered flocks there have been Curlew (18), Rock Pipit (25+), Sky Lark (50+), Linnet (70+) and Fieldfare (9). As always there is the inevitable raptor on the lookout for a prey item, sightings have included Hen Harrier (both male and ringtail), a female Peregrine and imm Merlin. 8 Mute Swans flew NE low over the salt marsh on the 10th. 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: 10.02.12 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bittern 2 blackbird 30+ black headed gull 20 blue tit 8 bullfinch carrion crow 2 chaffinch 9 common gull 15 coot 100+ curlew 2 dunnock 4 fieldfare 20 gadwall 6 goldeneye 2 golden plover 35 GC grebe great tit 6 greenfinch 4 grey heron greylag goose 30 herring gull 2 house sparrow 8 kestrel lapwing 150+ long - tailed tit 4 magpie 3 mallard 12 marsh harrier M moorhen 6 mute swan 2 pheasant 2 pochard 4 redshank 2 redwing 15 reed bunting 2 robin 10 scaup M shelduck 10 shoveler 2 smew F sparrowhawk F starling 6 teal 2 tufted duck 8 water rail wigeon 4 willow tit wood pigeon 4 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 emma@baxters - Invalid recipient ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/