============================================ || || 22nd January 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 1050 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 *** A cracking good talk from Prof. Mark Seaward entertained and educated approx. 40 LNU members and visitors from the Joseph Banks Society last Saturday. Huge thanks to him for this. The text of his lecture, as originally presented to the Joseph Banks Society, may be read on: http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/?page_id=96 I feel sure that Banks would have approved of the mingling of members from both organisations. The next get-together is the annual "Recorders Meeting" which is emphatically not just for LNU recorders. Anyone interested is welcome and it is a grand opportunity to renew old friendships or put names to faces. It is also an important chance to deal with issues of identification and biological recording, to become involved in the process and to develop your skills. Please come along - it is always a good afternoon. As we move towards spring, please exercise care in making reports that might put anything in danger. I am thinking of breeding birds and egg collecting, but also hare coursing, badger digging and even the stealing of rare and endangered plants. If you send me a report which rings warning bells I will probably forward it to the appropriate recorder and edit what I put in the Bulletin. You can contact recorders directly if you prefer. Thanks. Roger *** Anti-virus Tip *** A reader who has suffered from the virus I described in the last Bulletin has offered the following advice. "First, the message may appear to come from a trusted friend, but this is not the case. (Mine originate from a source in Thailand and come via servers in the U.S.A.) Secondly this infection will not be picked up by most computer Internet security programmes. Therefore it is the responsibility of the individual recipient to recognise, read and delete the message. It is very important to note that as long as the link inside the message is not clicked on and opened there is no danger." *** 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. *** Mistletoe Spotting *** Paul Kirby writes: Mistletoe is very easy to spot at this time of the year. I wondered if you would put out a request in your next Bulletin for records? *** 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 Marion adds: I wonder if anyone out there can tell me how to be sure the Marsh Tits we see at the garden bird feeders regularly are not Willow Tits. The information in guide books is not totally helpful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 13/1 Great Grey Shrike. Folkingham Smew, Far Ings, Sailing pit 14/1 Rough-legged Buzzard, Claythorpe 15/1 Ring-necked duck, Great White Egret, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits 16/1 No readable reports - been a lot of crossings out recently - making messages unreadable/unusable 17/1 10 Snow Buntings, Mablethorpe Great Grey Shrike, Folkingham Smew redhead, Deeping High Bank 18/1 11 Tundra Bean Geese, 3 Bewick's Swans, male Hen Harrier, Wroot Great White Egret, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Smew redhead, 2 Bewick's Swans, Deeping High Bank 19/1 Glaucous Gull, Boston, River Witham 11 Tundra Bean Geese, 3 Bewick's Swans, male Hen Harrier, Wroot 4 Hen Harriers, Nocton Fen Sandwich Tern, Frampton Marsh Black Brant with Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 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. Starlings Phil Bryant writes: I have just remembered after reading about starlings that in the summer of 2011 we were in the garden relaxing, when I jumped up and looked to the skies, nothing! I was sure I has heard a mallard, maybe I was wrong, then again and again, until I traced the sound. To my amazement it was a starling sat midway up in a conifer, but just this one bird. Over the following months I became aware of this cheeky chappy and it even mimicked my workshop phone ring tone. Needless to say he has had me running around a bit. Can't wait for this summer to see if he's learnt anything new. Mistletoe Steve Green Paul made a request last week for mistletoe records. There's one clump at the very top of a tall lime tree on the main road through Branston at something like TF014 676. Don't have a specific date to make it 'a record', as haven't been past that way recently, but I could get one if required. [Editor adds: perhaps when you next observe it you can have a look about and see if more are visible in the area - then do a formal report for Paul with grid references and host species information. Thanks, Steve.] *** 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. BRAMPTON SK 842805 16.01.2012 Alison Brownlow A flock of 20 Pied Wagtails feeding on Winter wheat field DEEPING HIGH BANK [Grid ref removed for security reasons. Full e-mail sent to mammal recorder. Roger] Kay Heath 15.01.2012 8 hares on 2 adjoining fields chasing each other. The most I have recorded together for many years. FENTON (Ramper Lane) SK844 772 Richard Fox 17th January 2012 Dog Fox and Vixen enjoying each other's company rather than upsetting the 35 Mute Swans grazing in the Oil Seed Rape field HALLS HILL. GRANTHAM. SK 9235. David Clarke. 15/1/2012 Blackbird 16 Blue Tit 6 Carrion Crow 8 Chaffinch 11 Corn Bunting 13 Fieldfare 52 Goldfinch 29 Great Tit 3 Jackdaw 6 Long Tailed Tit 9 Magpie 8 Robin 5 Rook 43 Redwing 4 Siskin 200+ Wood Pigeon 74 Wren 2 Yellowhammer 2. HOLBEACH RANGE NW end. R & K Heath 14/01/2012 Birds of prey seen on the WeBS count. Buzzard 1 Hen Harrier 2 ringtails Merlin 1 Waders included: Knot 10000 Oystercatcher 4000. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake Ian Misslebrook Little Grebes 10 Grey heron 1 Black Swan 1 Mute Swans 7 Canada Geese 12 Mallard 99 Gadwall 22 Teal 40 Tufted Duck 86 Muscovy duck 1 Coot 56 Moorhen 28 Common Buzzard 1 Fieldfares 20 Mistle Thrush Blackbird Robin Dunnock Wren Great Tits Blue tits Coal tits Marsh Tit 1 Stock Dove (singing) Wood Pigeons Rooks Jackdaws Chaffinches. Grey Squirrel HUTTOFT TF512 763 (Garden) Jane Pennington 8.30am 20/01/12 Robins - 2 - feeding together on bird table (must be spring) Magpies - 2 - feeding on ground Cock pheasant - feeding on ground RIPPINGALE TF09422 27716 19/01/2012 Pauline Warman Blackbird 8 (one male with a pure white tail feather) Blue Tit 4 Chaffinch 3 Collared Dove 2 Dunnock 2 Goldfinch 4 Great Tit 3 Greenfinch 4 House Sparrow 4 Pheasant 1 Robin 2 Starling 3 Tree Sparrow 11 (we started with a pair a few months ago – they seem to have seen off most of our house sparrows) Wood Pigeon 2 RIVER WELLAND Spalding to Deeping lakes. R & K Heath 15/01/2012 Bewick Swans 2 (on river) Goosander 20 Smew 1 redhead Mute Swans 320. - most on the rape fields. There was also a Barn Owl and 60 Linnets STURTON BY STOW SK 874799 Alison Brownlow 18.01.2012 About 50 Fieldfare, 20 Starling and 11 Blackbirds feeding on the fallen apples in our orchard. 4 Greenfinch on the Rosa rogosa hips. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 13/01/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Recent counts at the Ponds have produced low numbers of Reed Buntings, which we think of as somewhat of a speciality here. In fact the highest number in the last four counts was only three, with two singletons and one count where none were recorded at all. We therefore decided to try a ringing session with little hope of success, but were rewarded with a catch of ten Reed Buntings, one being a retrap from November and a second, a bird previously ringed elsewhere - out of a total of thirty-six birds caught, (Gibraltar Point ringed birds are quite common here, but we won't know for certain for a few months.) This illustrates how easily birds in reed beds can be overlooked. Two days earlier we counted c50 Wigeon, the highest total for some time. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 14/1 In flower: Hazel, aconite, snowdrop. Adult fox disturbed by shoot. Buzzard being mobbed by crows. 15/1 Pygmy shrew - cat-kill. 2 Buzzards in area Brown hare in area ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 08/01/2012 Bullfinch Chiffchaff Hooded Crow Marsh Harrier 1 Siskin 3 White-fronted Goose 26 10/01/2012 Great Northern Diver Lapland Bunting Puffin Scaup Siskin 4 Velvet Scoter 2 11/01/2012 Scaup 12/01/2012 Corn Bunting 64 Lapland Bunting Tawny Owl 2 Woodcock 3 14/01/2012 Water Rail 15/01/2012 Eider 200 Great Northern Diver Goldeneye Mediterranean Gull Merlin Peregrine Scaup 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 20th January 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Peter & Janet Roworth John commented a couple of issues ago on how dry 2011 had been, in fact it was the driest year since 1993 when rainfall figures stated being kept. January so far has been a dry month with only 15.0mm recorded. Frosts have been notable, the 15th was particularly keen when the ground frost was -7.5°C and air -5.25°C. Bird news is fairly quiet. From the January WeBS count the following is noteworthy: Red-throated Divers up to 6 N, Little Egret 7, two skeins of Pink-footed Geese (68 & 220) both NW, Common Scoter 16, Redshank 145, Snow Bunting 3 and Lapland Bunting 6. Bird song fluctuates as to be expected at this time of year but Dunnock and Wren were calling mid week. Rooks were seen at their nest sites doing some pair bonding and Jackdaws have been inspecting potential nest sites. Three Hen Harriers ( 2?, ?) were at roost mid week and last Sunday off the sea 4 Eider and 6 Velvet Scoter flew S. 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: 20.01.12 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bittern blackbird 30+ black headed gull 30 blue tit 7 bullfinch 12 carrion crow 3 chaffinch 8 common gull 6 coot 127 cormorant 4 curlew 2 dunnock 4 fieldfare 6 gadwall 32 goldcrest 3 goldeneye 4 goldfinch 4 GC grebe 4 great tit 6 greenfinch 4 grey heron greylag goose 6 herring gull 4 house sparrow 20 kestrel long tailed tit 6 magpie 7 mallard 18 marsh harrier F moorhen 7 mute swan 6 pheasant 2 pintail M pochard 22 redshank 8 redwing 6 reed bunting 2 robin 8 shoveler 4 sparrowhawk F starling 11 teal 4 tufted duck 24 water rail 2 wigeon 11 willow tit wood pigeon 8 wren 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 felicitybaxter - rejecting banned content barber.james - e-mail account disabled stourton-mark - local delivery failed - mark.gordon please note *** Link of the Week *** Thanks for the following: Black-box data-based simulation of Flight 1549 ditching in Hudson River after bird strike. http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tE_5eiYn0D0#t=109 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/