============================================ || || 1st January 2012 - New Year's Day! || || 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 1040 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Happy New Year to you all! *** I had hoped I might catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis this week. I did manage to catch sight of a cracking meteor "fireball" on 29th. Sadly, although there was evidence of Geomagnetic activity on the Aurorawatch magnetometer and in Space.com and SOHO data, no display was visible. You may like to sign up for the alert services on the following websites. There is nothing quite like the memorable sight of the Aurora. Aurorawatch UK http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Register for Aurora Alerts Solar Terrestrial Dispatch http://spacew.com/ Sign up for AstroAlerts I have a diary note of a meteor shower early am of 4th Jan. The Quadrantids peak, If you are up and about you may notice one or two, clouds permitting. Expected to be good. See: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Meteor-Showers-in-2012-136214528.html Roger p.s. A few people have sent me e-mails recently that somehow seemed suspicious. I deleted them right away on my mail server - unread. Better safe than sorry. They were characterised by having the following features: No individual message from the sender, only a "click on" type of link. Sometimes no heading. I know of a reader who has had a bad experience with malware from this kind of e-mail. If you are sending me an interesting link, please explain so I know it IS from you and is not a sneaky virus trying to get through. To be safe, keep your anti-virus software updated regularly and don't click on anything that seems not quite right! Thanks. *** 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, 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. If you who have not heard Prof. Seaward speak, this is an event "Not to be missed". His knowledge and zest for learning is something to be experienced. His contribution to the work of the LNU over the years has been very considerable indeed. *** Donna Nook Seals *** Rpb Lidstone-Scott writes: Friday 30 December: Bulls 9, Cows 7, Pups 93. Only a few animals left and most of the adults will have gone by mid week. *** Marine Conservation Society on Turtles *** Just caught an interesting piece on the BBC about looking out for washed up turtles. Mostly a West-coast issue? See: http://www.mcsuk.org/press/view/383 Turtle code: http://www.mcsuk.org/downloads/wildlife/turtlecode.pdf *** Boston Area Group LWT - change of program *** Geof Lee writes: " Life on the Verge " a talk by Mark Schofield, the Trust's Project Manager for the Limestone Verge Project will give an illustrated talk on the results of the survey and introduce the similar project for the Wolds in 2012. The meeting will be held in Boston Centenary Methodist Hall in Red Lion Street at 7.30 P.M. on Friday, 13th January, 2012. All are welcome. For more informationcontact Brian Redman on Tel. 01205 351406. N.B. This is a change from the published program. *** 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 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** On Monday 9th January we hold our next indoor meeting at Grimsby Town Hall, where expert wildlife photographer Geoff Trinder will be giving an illustated presentation entitled "Birds of the Wetlands." Meeting starts at 7.30. Admission £2. Trust stall, raffle, refreshments. All are welcome to join us. For further information please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 23/12 Great White Egret, Messingham Sand Quarry 12 Bewick's Swans, 10 Whooper Swans, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Nocton Fen Waxwing, Lincoln, off A15 Wragby Road, Outer Circle Road in MacDonald's car park. Mediterranean Gull, Middlemarsh Tip, Skegness 2 Hen Harriers, Nocton Fen 24/12 Waxwing, Lincoln, off A15 Wragby Road, Outer Circle 27/12 Great Grey Shrike, SW of Folkingham Rough-legged Buzzard, N or Claythorpe Great White Egret, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Eurasian White-fronted Goose with Greylags, Baston/ Langtoft gravel pits 4 Hen Harriers, Nocton Fen 28/12 4 Tundra Bean Geese, North Cotes, nr Thoresby Bridge Spoonbill, Gibraltar Point Great Grey Shrike, Folkingham Great Grey Shrike, Wroot Great White Egret, Messingham Sand Quarry Red-necked Grebe, Covenham Reservoir 29/12 Short-eared Owl SE of Goxhill Haven Great Grey Shrike, Folkingham 5 Bean Geese, plus 25 urasian White-fronted Geese, 3 Snow Buntings, Huttoft Bank Pit. 30/12 4 Tundra Bean Geese, plus 2 Bewick's and 10 Whooper Swans, North Cotes, nr Thoresby Bridge 46 Tundra Bean Geese, plus juv Eurasian White-fronted Goose SSW of Barton-upon-Humber Great White Egret, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Great Grey Shrike, Folkingham Great Grey Shrike, Wroot Spoonbill, Gibraltar Point, plus 4 Waxwings Syke's Farm, 31/12 Hooded Crow, Gibraltar Point 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. GIBRALTAR POINT butterfly Jill Shaw Thursday 22nd December 2011 2 20 pm at Gibraltar Point, I saw a butterfly flying past the tea room window. I am fairly sure it was a Peacock, as I saw it twice, although I didnt manage to get a photograph. *** 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. BOSTON River haven opposite Boston dock gate TF335429 Vince Hutchins 21/12/11 lapwing 1 redshank 3 cormorant 14 some on mudbank others on the powerlines CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909580 Jeremy Hutchinson I was surprised yesterday evening to find a dusty queen wasp (not sure of exact species) crawling across our dining room carpet. I can only presume that it had been hibernating up the chimney beforehand. There has been no fire in there for several weeks. I was not best pleased to find a Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus) in one of my garage mousetraps the other day. FRISKNEY Decoy wood TF464571 Vince Hutchins 26/12/11 Buzzard pair calling and circling overhead at dusk. A bat was also seen for a few minutes at about the same time seemed rather unusual for boxing day! LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 31/12/2011 Jayne Knight A couple of Robins can't decide whether to pair up or defend feeding territory from each other. Sometimes they inhabiting garden quite amicably, other times there is much chest puffing and close-quarter singing. Am assuming it the same pair, never seen 3 together. Also one is singing loudly, not usual sub-song and gives out the high-pitched little mewling cry warning when cats about. A sound I usually associate with the breeding season when hen sitting or young fledged. Have ornamental (foreign?) apple tree in front garden, assume planted when estate built 50 years ago, has very small fruits, cherry sized, deep pink in colour and usually hard as iron but this year they are somewhat larger and fruitier. The Goldfinches especially are regular morning visitors to the tree and enjoy eat the flesh. 24/12 Escorted a Wasp from kitchen. Sorry, didn't examine it for identification purposes, too busy! 25/12 Spider spun web across outside of kitchen window. Greenfly trapped within the strands. Sun on south-facing fence partially covered in ivy brought a dozen or so 7-spot ladybirds and some blue-/green-bottle flies out to bask. QUARRINGTON Churchyard Diane Maltby 26/12/11 1 grey squirrel 2 seven- spot ladybirds active on church wall 1 yellow butterfly in flight - believed to be a brimstone but not seen close enough to be 100% certain, although sure of colour. SLEAFORD Off Mareham Lane Diane Maltby 30-31/12/11 2 owls heard calling for several hours, presumed tawnies. First time I've heard them this autumn/winter. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 24/12/2011 Roy and Kath Pearson By comparison with Wrangle, a 25 minute count produced 21 species - an unusually high total here for this time of year. Whilst ducks were merely confined to Mallard, passerine species were quite varied though individual numbers were low. Black-headed Gull 1 Blue Tit 3 Chaffinch 7 Feral Pigeon 4 Great Tit 1 Grey Heron 1 Little Egret 1 Pheasant 1 Reed Bunting 2 Rook c30 Wren 4 Blackbird 3 Carrion Crow 2 Dunnock 2 Fieldfare 2 Greenfinch 9 Jackdaw c20 Mallard 27 Redwing 1 Robin 1 Woodpigeon 44 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 24/12 2 stockdoves in garden 2 Buzzards calling in area 2 Tawny owls calling in area Good sized flock of starlings. 26/12 - Temp 15 deg C. 2 Buzzards in area. Sure I spotted a large dark dragonfly hovering over a dyke near my apiary. Looked like a hawker. Bit far away to be sure. 1 hive in particular flying like a spring colony! 27/12 Tawny owl seen twice in garden at 6.30am. Fresh pellet found yesterday. 2 Short-eared Owls on Haven Bank 11.15 hrs. Probably disturbed by shooting near riverbank Also Buzzard seen twice in same area. Big flock of Fieldfares about - Castle Dyke Bank area. Brown hare in area. 28/12 Buzzard WRANGLE COMMON 24/12/2011 Roy and Kath Pearson This was one of the poorest counts of recent times with one hour's walk only producing 19 species. Nothing out of the ordinary was encountered and only two species - Blackbird (19) and Woodpigeon (c40, the lowest count for some time) exceeded double figures. The week's rain had begun to put water into the pools, but this still only represented amounts more associated with a reasonably dry August. The wader grounds were merely damp without any standing water and bereft of birds, making this the poorest autumn and early winter in memory. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Weekending 30th December 2011. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Peter & Janet Roworth Mid-week saw the high tide give a nice covering of water over the saltmarsh. As the water receded it was interesting to observe how birds used the area. Small groups of Wigeon and Teal were fairly scattered making the most of any deeper areas of water, a few Mallard and three Shoveler were also seen. Eventually the only area left would be the residual pocket of water known as Rimac lagoon which offered a place to feed, loaf and roost. When the tide peaked Black-headed Gulls were widely spread and they appeared to be quite actively feeding on anything to be disturbed by water movement. 119 Dark-bellied Brent fed on the seaward side of the saltmarsh, together with 5 Shelduck. Curlew and Redshank foraged nearer to the dune edge of the marsh. As the water level dropped, gulls moved on, Curlew and Redshank became widespread and duck remained in any deeper pockets of water. Overhead, a single Cormorant caused a minor panic with the duck but when a fine female Hen Harrier appeared over the dunes and quartered along the edge of the saltmarsh before methodically covering the whole area then general mayhem ensued. However it was an abortive hunting session from this fine raptor, which then flew off and out of side over the dunes. On the saltmarsh, water levels had well fallen taken by the pull of the tide and some sense of normality amongst the bird life had resumed. The unusual mild weather continued...of note a queen common wasp was seen active amongst the sunny side of a log pile, several blue bottles on the wing stirred by the heat from a south facing wall and ladybirds lethargically moving around their winter hide-a-ways. Near Churchill Lane 50+ Blackbirds were seen going to roost and a charm of 35 Goldfinch flitted alongside the boundary of the reserve between farmland and scrub. All cattle are now off the NNR having spent the last couple of months grazing allocated areas of the sand dunes which is part of the management programme to help maintain the important grassland vegetation. John Walker adds: Theddlethorpe beach 30.12.11 John Walker. 9 Bewick swans flying in from over sea heading sw, 4 red throated divers north over sea. Beach now levelled with recent gentle high tides post the recent surge tide. Rainfall measured at Coastguard cottage this month 54mm and the years total here now 422mm. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for NOVEMBER 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 The first ever Bittern for the reserve was seen (14th) by a dozen lucky visitors exactly 887 days after the first reeds were planted! More common was a Great White Egret (11th) and Spoonbill (13th). Swan numbers remained consistent, with up to 45 Whooper Swans and eight Bewick's Swans. Geese included up to 35 White-fronted and Barnacle Geese, and single Black Brant and Pale-bellied Brent Geese in with 1200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Single Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint were seen on two and one date respectively. Twite reached 17 and Lapland Bunting five (17th), while the only Snow Bunting was seen on the Visitor Centre roof! The Great Grey Shrike from October remained for the first week. RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp RSPB Freiston Shore Interesting goose & allies sightings included up to 10 Barnacle Geese, four White-fronted Geese, a Ruddy Shelduck (3rd) and a Black Brant (6th). A Quail was an unseasonal find mid-month (17th). Offshore single Slavonian Grebe and Razorbills were seen (27th). ALSO: Gibraltar Point NNR Records from the sea included Grey Phalarope (19th), 408 Little Gulls (13th), 3 Little Auks (15th), Great Northern Diver (29th), Slavonian Grebe (9th & 19th) and Velvet Scoter (17th & 29th). Both Arctic and Great Skuas were also reported. A good variety of land migrants was seen passing through including Shore Lark (4th & 8th), Siberian Chiffchaff (13th), Waxwings (10th & 12th), Black Redstart (5 dates), Hawfinch (17th), Lapland Bunting (2 on 17th) and Snow Buntings (9th and 3 on 15th). A Spoonbill was seen on four dates. White-fronted Geese were regular, with up to 37 and six Bean Geese were also seen. Whisby Nature Park and North Hykeham Pits Wildfowl records included the third record of Ring-necked Duck (22nd), a single Egyptian Goose (1st–14th) and 300 Pink-footed Geese over (5th). Waders included single Woodcock (6th and 18th) and peak counts of 13 Snipe (9th) and 170 Golden Plover nearby at Thorpe-on-the-Hill (22nd). Other notable birds included a Red Kite (17th) a Caspian Gull (14th) and up to 3 apparent Nordic Jackdaws (14th). Other sites A late Swallow was seen at Skegness (18th), while unprecedented numbers of up to 100 Bean Geese were seen at Wainfleet. Family groups were seen at Langtoft Pits and Kirkby Pits. Two Quail were flushed at Nocton Heath (4th). A Great White Egret was at Kirkby Pits (30th). Great Grey Shrikes were a feature of the month with sightings from Boston, Brothertoft, Kelby, Orby, Rauceby Warren and Wilsford. A Cetti's Warbler was at Marston STW (21st). The highlights from other sites in the south of the county included a Ring-necked Duck at Kirkby on Bain Pits, Black-necked Grebe and Mandarin at Thurlby Sand Pit, a Gannet inland over Gonerby Moor (29th), Sabine's Gull at Skegness (24th), Osprey at Fulbeck (1st), an American Golden Plover at Anwick Fen (18th), Great Grey Shrike at Haverholme Park (29th), Cetti's Warbler at Marston STW (28th), and Yellow-browed Warbler at Sutton Bridge (11th). 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 No report yet. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** From time to time we get reports for the Lincolnshire Limewoods, but far fewer than we had hoped for. It is almost as if people do not know that we have a woodland NNR on our doorstep, with its associated wildlife. 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, so 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 *** 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..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bee Photographs *** Requesting photos: Can anyone help me with photos to illustrate a paper, please? I am hoping to use readers' photos of honeybees and other pollinating species "in action", and will be grateful if you will also permit me to use them in an LNU Powerpoint presentation. This will make it much more interesting than if I use my own or "borrowed" photos. [Yours will be acknowledged.] The flower species being worked is as important as the species working it for pollen or nectar, but if you can't identify the flower or pollinator involved, please don't worry. [Best warn me if you are going to e-mail something huge.] I would also welcome observations of particular associations you may make over the course of next year, e.g. specific wild flowers and their pollinators. Comments and anecdotes are welcome too. I will also welcome reports of wild/feral honeybee colonies in trees, walls etc. Note them now and then see how they are surviving next Spring. For more bee information see: http://rogerparsons.info/bees.html Thanks. Roger. *** 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 pmrcrj - Recipient address rejected stourton-mark - local delivery failed - mark.gordon please note clare.dinham - message refused newarkwireless - rejected because it would exceed the quota. *** Link of the Week *** Thanks for the following: Christmas "Eve" - Hooded Seal story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-16327360 North Norfolk Whale http://www.northnorfolknews.co.uk/news/whale_washed_up_dead_at_old_hunstanton_beach_in_norfolk_1_1162763 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/