=========================================== || || 1st July 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 1088 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 *** Lonesome George passed away, 24th June 2012, a reminder of the awful way humans sometimes treat life on our planet. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-18574279 http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/06/25/ecuador-tortoise-idINDEE85O01220120625 Very sad. I had hoped to make his acquaintance next year. The finalists for the 2012 Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have been released. Judging is on 4th July. For details, see: http://lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/press-release-popup.php?id=43 On 28th we had a spectacular electrical storm at Tattershall with significant local flooding from the cloudburst. 110,000 flashes of lightning were logged by the Met office in the UK. http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2012/June-thunderstorms-evolution See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha0zGSvDWnU More at end in "And finally......" Readership of the Bulletin has reached 1088 addresses and it would be good to see this climb to 1100+. Can you help? If you know of anyone who would appreciate receiving our blend of wildlife news and topical information, please tell them to sign up via the LNU or LWT website. Thanks. Roger *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. Sunday, July 01, 2012 Farmland at Baston Fen (Courtesy of Nicholas Watts) Southeast of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road from Baston to Pode Hole. Park at TF1433 1598 on south side of road, opposite track to Home Farm (about 1km east of road which goes through Langtoft Gravel Pits). A meeting to particularly look for arable 'weeds'. Habitats: Arable and ditches Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Editor adds: Nicholas Watts has made an outstanding contribution to county conservation and has received of several awards. See: http://fwagadmin.hubspace.co/awards.htm Also: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2011/10/20/silver-lapwing-vine-house-farm http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/about-vine-house-farm.aspx *** Glow Worms in Lincolnshire *** Charlie Barnes writes: The county dataset holds records from 10 sites across Lincolnshire in the last 10 years. There is a large cluster of recent records from sites in the south-west corner of the county, with a good number of records from Messingham Sand Quarry, Kirkby Moor and the Chambers Wood area. If anyone would be interested in looking at sites with historic records (a number of sites appear to have a single record), do get in touch. Charlie Barnes County Recorder for Beetles charlie.barnes@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk *** Butterfly Conservation Events *** Have a look at their website: http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/ See their events page. Keep those butterfly records coming in to Allan Binding: allan.binding@ntlworld.com And moth records to Colin Smith: csmith668@btinternet.com *** Bird Club Website *** The Bird Club website is outstanding and well worth a visit. http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/ Bird club recorders are: North Lincolnshire: John Clarkson recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk South Lincolnshire: John Badley recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Pigeons and other Beasties *** Jerry Gunner writes: I thought I'd share an observation of one of our multitude of Wood pigeons with you. I've got numerous old peanut feeders, some of which have been 'squirrelled' and leak nuts given any opportunity. The clever pigeon has worked out that if he flies at the feeder and gives it a bash with his body a nut or too my be dislodged. He then lands, has a look around and scarfs up any fallen nuts. Not quite up with the Corvids in terms of intelligence but a behaviour I haven't witnessed before. Jerry adds: Further to the pigeon antics, this morning there is a Chukkar doing the same thing. Learned behaviour from the Pigeon? *** Lincolnshire Grazing Marshes website *** http://www.lincsmarshes.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. 22/6 5 Spoonbills over Cherry Willingham 23/6 2 Garganey, Frampton Marsh Rose-coloured Starling, Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh 28 Crossbills over East Keal 25/6 Rose-coloured Starling, Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh 3 Quail males calling, Worlaby Top Quail male calling, SW of Grimsby east of Irby- upon-Humber Quail male calling between Hawthorn and Scrub Hill 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, east of Elsham 26/6 Curlew Sandpiper, Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Gibraltar Point 28/6 30 Crossbills, Linwood Warren 2 Roseate Terns, Freiston Shore Curlew Sandpiper, Black-necked Grebe, Little Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Frampton Marsh 28/6 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, North Hykeham, Lincoln Tip. 2 Quail both males singing, Misterton 29/6 Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, North Hykeham, Lincoln Tip 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. TATTERSHALL Geoff Annibal writes: Regarding your comments on trends this year, I have noted a significant reduction in barn swallow sightings around my garden in Tattershall. I do regular timed observation periods and in previous years swallows have been present in 100% of the timed periods during May. This year they were present in only 70% of the timed periods. In addition the results for June so far show an even bigger decline in sightings. *** 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. BRACEBY TF015353 Marion Ellis Spotted flycatchers nesting in the wisteria next door Swallow nesting in our shed House Martins feeding young in several nests on our house CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 23.6.12 Hundon Farm ponds TA 113 022 Pair of Coots with two chicks Moorhen Compact rush Brigg Road Wildlife Garden TA 111 026 Pipistrelle bat in house overnight Barn owl pellets found in coniferous wood Female feeding juvenile Great spotted woodpecker Two jackdaws learn to feed at bird feeder Pair of swallows regularly flying over 'lawn' Leopard slugs under stone slab Speckled wood butterfly Broad-leaved bellflower Curled dock Lesser spearwort 7 very large (15cm) wood mushrooms in coniferous wood Brigg Road verge, disturbed, TA 111 026 Common poppy Flixweed (new to Caistor list) Fox-and-cubs, Pilosella aurantiaca Churchyard TA 116 012 Creeping cinquefoil Water Hills stream bank TA 111 018 Gipsywort Hedge woundwort Water forget-me-not Sandbraes footpath TA 109 018 Bramble Broom Common storksbill Hemlock (new to Caistor list) Nipplewort Spear thistle Weld Giant puffball (35cm across) North Kelsey Road verge TA 110 013 Biting stonecrop Common mallow LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 30/05/2012 Jayne Knight Have counted a maximum of 14 juv Goldfinch around the feeders at one time. Also a couple of juv Blue Tit, a single juv Great Tit and a single juv Coal Tit. Numbers still very down on the Swifts, Swallows and House Martins. A neighbour walking his dog in nearby fields early one morning, around a fortnight ago, had his attention drawn to a large bird flying overhead by a fellow walker who said it was an Osprey. Yellow ants seem to have ceased their tunnel extensions in the bedroom, thank goodness. MARTON SK842 820 Brian Hedley 27 June 2012 Moth-trapping in garden overnight with 15w actinic lamp over Skinner trap produced the best catch of the year so far with least 105 moths of about 45 species including: Silver Y 2 Poplar hawk 1 Elephant hawk 1 Clouded border 2 Bee Moth 2 Barred Yellow 2 Turnip moth 1 Knot grass 1 Pale Prominent 1 Shark 1 Fan-foot 2 Foxglove Pug 2 Freyer's Pug 1 And also the burying beetle, Nicrophorus humator. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 18.06.12 A rare spell of fine weather and there are signs that chicks have hatched in the first Housemartin nest as adults now making regular visits. Sometimes 3-4 birds have been seen attending the same nest; possibly last year's offspring helping with the feeding and brooding. There have also been some late arrivals and we're now up to 8 active nests with lots of rebuilding in progress. 20.06.12 One Housemartin nest has been taken over by sparrows, but the evicted housemartins are already rebuilding another one of last year's nests. 21.06.12 The 2 Housemartin nests under the southern eaves have collapsed in heavy rain. The one to go first had been the best preserved nest from last year needing only minimal repairs. 3 dead chicks on roof of bow window below, only a few days old (soon picked up by a scavenger). Clearly the inclement weather isn't only delaying the onset of breeding but also affecting brood sizes. 26.06.12 First collapsed Housemartin nest has been fully rebuilt and laying/ brooding restarted. 29.06.12 The second collapsed Housemartin nest still only consists of a ledge where the pair roost at night, but they are rebuilding when the weather allows. The 6 active sites on the northern side of the building are intact and there are signs that some chicks may have hatched. Heavy rain and gales still making insects scarce. General Comments re the unusual weather: I too have noticed large numbers of ant nests (though I thought ants do better in dry weather) and more hares than in previous years. Another surprise is the absence of pollen beetles. With the enormous increase of oilseed rape crops in the vicinity, I expected a plague of the little creatures in my flower borders, but I haven't seen a single one so far. Have they died off or not even developed due to the cold, wet weather? SLEAFORD Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve Zoë Watson 25/6/12 Bee Orchids We have bee orchids at Mareham Pastures LNR only in one small area. Any visitors to the site will find them on the opposite side of the path to the Rotary Club bench and slightly further along closer to the rear of the recycling centre, in front of a wooden stump on which should be mounted our Christmas Wood Plaque, but it has unfortunately been vandalised! Zoë adds: Easiest access onto the site, until our new car park (Yippee!) opens very soon is via Lavender Close, Sleaford NG34 7GT WATERS EDGE, BARTON List of Wildlife Seen at Waters' Edge Reserve, Barton 28/06/12 Julie Ellison Birds: Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff Common Tern Coot (parents with 1 very new chick & parents with 3 much older chicks) Dunnock Gadwall Goldfinch Great Crested Grebe (pair building nest) Greylag Goose House Martin House Sparrow Lesser Black-Backed Gull Long-Tailed Tit (flock of 8+ including at least 4 juveniles) Magpie Mallard Moorhen (including 1 juvenile) Mute Swan Pied Wagtail Reed Bunting Reed Warbler Robin Sedge Warbler Song Thrush Starling (including 4 or 5 juveniles) Swift Tufted Duck Willow Warbler Wood Pigeon Butterflies: 1 Brown Argus ? (90% certain) 1 Small white Wild Plants in Flower: Bindweed (Hedge) Bird's-Foot-Trefoil (common) Black Medick Bramble Buttercup (Celery-Leaved) Buttercup (Creeping) Buttercup (Meadow) Campion (Red) Campion (White) Cleavers Clover (Red) Clover (White) Comfrey (Common) Common Mouse Ear WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 25/6/2012 Hummingbird Hawkmoth working Valerian - 13.25hrs. 2 hares - adult and a juv leveret - on road in area. First of our 4 wash-house swallow chicks fledged. 26/6 - Cuckoo calling 5am from Witham bank. Whitethroat in area [AP] [Not yet heard quail calling, though reported in area.] 27/6 Remaining 3 swallow chicks had left the nest. Rafter-hopping in wash-house at 5.30am. Great! 2 cuckoos calling at 9pm approx. 28/6 Hummingbird Hawkmoth [AP] 29/6 Cuckoo calling from Witham bank - 5am. All 4 Swallow chicks using wash-house for overnight roosting - all have survived the deluge. WITHAM BANK E Witham Bank between Tattershall bridge and Kirkstead Bridge 27/6/2012 A & R Parsons 3 barn owls, one flying, 2 perched. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 02/06/2012 Curlew Sandpiper 1 Montagu's Harrier 1 Little Gull 6 Manx Shearwater 4 Spoonbill 1 03/06/2012 Hobby 1 Little Gull 1 Little Ringed Plover 2 Montagu's Harrier 1 Yellow Wagtail 1 04/06/2012 Hawfinch 1 Little Gull 4 Little Stint 1 Mediterranean Gull 1 Montagu's Harrier 1 Red Kite 1 Short-eared Owl 2 05/06/2012 Crossbill 100 Greenshank 1 Little Gull 5 Little Ringed Plover 2 06/06/2012 Crossbill 17 Little Gull 23 07/06/2012 Crossbill 44 Little Gull 5 Marsh Harrier 1 08/06/2012 Crossbill 10 Great Skua 1 Little Gull 1 09/06/2012 Red Kite 1 17/06/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Hobby 1 Little Gull 3 Marsh Harrier 1 18/06/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Little Gull 18 19/06/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 5 Little Gull 10 20/06/2012 Common Rosefinch 1 Little Gull 11 29/06/2012 Green Sandpiper 1 Little Gull 16 Little Ringed Plover 2 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 29th June 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth The weather remains a talking point with a week of variable tempera- tures giving a max of 25.5°C on the 27th and a minimum of 15.5°C on the 28th, high humidity and a band of storms passing NE through the county on the 28th. Torrential rain fell during that storm and at Sea View 30.7mm was recorded in 36 minutes. Orchids remain a good show amongst the dunes, slacks and marshy areas. The marsh orchids have been a fine show, pyramidals are now in flower, and a survey from Rimac to Paradise revealed 87 flowering stems of bee orchid. Viper’s-bugloss and bird’s foot trefoil have been particularly good. Other plants of note now coming into flower are lady’s bedstraw, skull cap, mullein, common spotted orchid and common centaury. Several common lizards have been seen basking and natterjack toads remain vocal on the hot, humid evenings. John comments upon the very low number of insects throughout the NNR. Notable dragonfly sightings include black-tailed skimmer, four spotted chasers and common darters. Butterflies include large skippers, speckled woods, meadow browns, common blues and a single red admiral. Ground nesting birds have had a poor breeding season producing low numbers of fledglings. The WeBS section of the NNR produced 2 Gannets, 2 Sanderling, 15 Common Terns and 51 Sandwich Terns as well as the usual species. Other observations of interest during the week have been several small flocks of Curlew, Barn Owl hunting over the dunes, a Lesser Whitethroat in song amongst buckthorn at 21.30hrs and a Quail calling from the saltmarsh on the 27th. A starling flock, in excess of 1200 birds, including a leucistic bird, was frequently seen over the saltmarsh during the beginning of the week. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s grassland between Rimac and Sea View that has recently been scraped and a new roadside bank created is now holding water in the lowest areas and along the river edge where the recent heavy rains have caused some over-topping by the river. This is exactly as planned and bird species that have found the area to their liking include 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 of which was colour ringed, 4 Curlew, 63 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Lapwings and 2 Pied Wagtails on the 29th. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for June 2012 - awaited John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh RSPB Freiston Shore Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending 29.06.12 BIRDS Max nos. avocet 6 barn owl blackbird 10 blackcap 5 black headed gull 26 blue tit 8 Canada goose 25 carrion crow 5 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 10 chiffchaff 3 collared dove 2 common gull 4 common tern 8 coot 20+ cormorant dunnock 6 gadwall 2 goldfinch 3 GC grebe 5 great tit 6 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 153 herring gull house martin 8 house sparrow 10 kestrel 2 LBB gull 4 lesser whitethroat linnet 6 long - tailed tit 4 magpie 4 mallard 25 marsh harrier M moorhen 5 mute swan 9 oystercatcher 2 pheasant 2 pochard 4 redstart F (29.06.12) reed bunting 10 reed warbler 12 robin 3 sedge warbler 7 shelduck 11 sparrowhawk F starling 11 swallow 40+ swift 20+ tawny owl 3 tufted duck 9 turtle dove water rail whitethroat 10 willow warbler 4 wood pigeon 6 wren 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.....); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006846.aspx and Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. *** Hedgehog Survey *** http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** 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. *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** 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 *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: 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 or try http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/products.html *** 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/ Youtube video of visit to Rimac NR Colin Green. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=em-share_video_user *** 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. Sunday, July 01, 2012 Farmland at Baston Fen (Courtesy of Nicholas Watts) Southeast of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road from Baston to Pode Hole. Park at TF1433 1598 on south side of road, opposite track to Home Farm (about 1km east of road which goes through Langtoft Gravel Pits). A meeting to particularly look for arable 'weeds'. Habitats: Arable and ditches Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, July 15, 2012 Joint Meeting with British Dragonfly Society Private Blow well site at Holton Grange (Courtesy of Mike Jex) South of Holton le Clay 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park near lake at TA298 009. Take Station Road off A16 towards Tetney, then take track on right just past dismantled railway crossing. Follow track for about 500m then take track on left towards lake. Habitats: Wooded blow well, lake, ponds, ditches, pasture and arable. Waithe Beck nearby. Leader(s): Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com and Chris Manning chris@lincsdeer.info Sunday, August 19, 2012 Elsea Park Meadows (Courtesy of Elsea Park Community Trust) South of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet in small car parking area at TF0968 1876 which is just off the A151 south of Bourne (about 400m west of junction with A15). Habitats: Meadows, woodland edge, ponds and ditches Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Saturday, September 08, 2012 Mayflower Woods (Courtesy of ConocoPhillips) This event is on Saturday. Northwest of Immingham 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening moth/bat session starting at 7.30pm. Meet in car park at TA1593 1579. Take A160 off from A180, straight on past roundabout and then right turn at crossroads (with petrol station). Follow lane for about 450m, car park on left side. Habitats: Woodlands, grassland, ponds and stream. Leaders: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, October 21, 2012 Fungus Foray Rigsby Wood LWT Reserve. West of Alford 12.00 for 13.00 start. Turn north towards South Thoresby at the Miles Cross Hill crossroads on the A1104 road half way between Ulceby Cross and Alford. After 2 km, the wood will be seen set back from the road on the right. Park along roadside at TF419 761. 150m walk along field edge to wood. Habitats: Mixed Woodland Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: *** And finally *** Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year http://www.thegrandpavilion.co.uk/exhibition.html More on the thunderstorms: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-18637844 And tornado: http://www.sleafordstandard.co.uk/news/local/breaking-news-tornado-hits-sleaford-area-video-1-4001325 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdLrmtKdqW8 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/