=========================================== || || 15th 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 *** Wet weather continues, with worrying implications for farming. Your reports and comments will be helpful in putting together the overall picture as far as wildlife is concerned. Please be more than usually observant and let us know what you see. [A message for the silent majority of readers who don't usually send in anything!] There may be positive as well as negative effects to see. Slugs seem to have be having a good year and terrestrial snails too. Uncut lawns and verges may well benefit local invertebrates. You may spot unusual plants and botanical reports are always very welcome. Everything depends on the Producers, so we need to know about them too. The mantra is "More Botany Please"! Organisers of August events are welcome to give them a plug in the Bulletin where there is a policy of "All welcome". Thanks. Roger *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. 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 *** Flying ant season *** Alan Phillips writes: As flying ant season is almost upon us, which often means numbers of unwelcome or dead ant guests about the house and garden, I would welcome specimens forwarded to myself for identification and to generate records. Although they will most likely be Lasius niger, this common species (which most of us have in our garden) is woefully under- recorded. A few dead or alive specimens popped in a small tube or similar, and posted with record details is all that's needed. If you feel like you could send some, please e-mail me for a postal address: aculeates@gmail.com (They could also be handed to me at LNU field meetings - but please check with me beforehand to see if I'll be present). Thanks. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18674341 *** 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/ Next Events: SATURDAY 28TH JULY 2012 MOTH NIGHT AT CHAMBERS FARM WOOD Time: 21.30 until late... Meeting Place: Education Centre, Chambers Farm Wood, near Bardney, Lincoln Grid Reference: TF147739 Contact: Toby Ludlow Telephone: 01526 343910 Target Species: Moths SUNDAY 29TH JULY 2012 OPEN DAY AT CHAMBERS FARM WOOD (FOLLOWED BY LINCOLNSHIRE BRANCH AGM) Time: Open from 10.00 Guided Butterfly Walk at 11.00 (AGM Starts at 15.00) Meeting Place: Education Centre, Chambers Farm Wood, near Bardney, Lincoln Grid Reference: TF147739 Contact: Peter Cawdell Telephone: 01522 560646 Mobile: 07867 954770 Target Species: White Admiral, White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak & Marbled White Keep those butterfly records coming in to Allan Binding: allan.binding@ntlworld.com And moth records to Colin Smith: csmith668@btinternet.com *** Hummingbird Hawkmoths and other wildlife *** Question: Alice Nunn Writes: This is a rather late report from Chambers Wood. I visited around lunchtime on 25th June for a fairly short visit. I was hoping to see a few butterflies, but there really wasn't much about, some whites & a Peacock. However I DID see a Hummingbird Hawk moth nectaring on some Valerian, right by the gate into the Butterfly Garden. I even managed to get an almost reasonable picture of it. Is this rather early & far north for this species? Alison Brownlow writes: What is the brown slimy growth that has appeared, during this wet weather, on many hard surfaced tracks where there is an accumulation of detritus? *** Lincolnshire Grazing Marshes website *** Joe Blissett writes: There's a lot going on in our first year and you could possibly include everything in the Wildnews Bulletin. Please would you simply signpost people to the electronic copy of our newsletter: http://www.lincsmarshes.org.uk/ My events listing is at the back, entitled 'Marshes Month'. This will be each July for the next 3 years, featuring events on both the historic and natural environment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 6/7 Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Great Carlton Red-breasted Merganser, Whisby NP 7/7 Osprey, Messingham Sand Quarry 14 Little Gulls, Gibraltar Point 3 Ruddy Shelducks, Fiskerton Fen [date ambiguous] White-rumped Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Black Tern, Frampton Marsh 8/7 9/7 White-rumped Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 10/7 White-rumped Sandpiper, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Little Gull Green Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 11 Yellow-legged Gulls, Elsham Yellow-legged Gulls, North Hykeham 11/7 White-rumped Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 12/7 White-rumped Sandpiper, Black-necked Grebe, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 13/7 Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh 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. BASTON FEN TF 143 159 1st July 2012 LNU visit to private area of farmland courtesy of Nicholas Watts to particularly look for arable 'weeds' of interest. Led by Brian Hedley and attended by 11 people on a mostly overcast afternoon with very brief periods of sunshine. Field margins produced records of night-flowering catchfly (locally frequent), dwarf spurge, Venus's looking-glass, sharp-leaved fluellen, common fumitory, maple-leaved and fig-leaved goosefoots, cut-leaved deadnettle, flixweed, treacle mustard, small toadflax and grey field speedwell. A good range of odonata were noted comprising emperor, brown hawker, black-tailed skimmer, broad bodied chaser, red-eyed damselfly, common blue damselfly, azure damselfly and blue- tailed damselfly. Butterflies were very sparse and comprised red admiral, large white, small white and large skipper. Moths included yellowshell, silver Y and silver-ground carpet. A water beetle, Hydroglyphus geminus, was a good find by Richard Chadd amongst a selection of aquatic invertebrates including water scorpion. Charlie Barnes had a really good recording session including the following: Brachela rufipes. A fungus weevil and the 3rd record for Lincolnshire. Agonum emarginatum. A ground beetle and the 7th record for Lincolnshire. Brachypterdus linariae. A flower beetle and the 4th record for Lincolnshire. Cordlepherus viridis. A flower beetle and the 2nd record for Lincolnshire. Anaspis pulicaria. A false flower beetle and the 6th record for Lincolnshire. Mammals included stoat, brown hare and some barn owl pellets containing skulls of both bank vole and field vole. Annette and Colin Faulkner came back in the evening and had records of common pipistrelle and noctule bats over the farm. Thirty-one species of bird were noted including corn bunting, turtle dove, lapwing, yellow wagtail, oystercatcher and grey partridge (family party). *** 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. BARTON UPON HUMBER List of Wildlife Seen at Waters' Edge Reserve, Barton Week ending Friday 13/07/2012 Julie Ellison Birds: Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Cetti's Warbler Chiffchaff Common Tern Coot Dunnock Great Crested Grebe Greylag Goose House Martin House Sparrow Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Pied Wagtail Sedge Warbler Starling Stock Dove Swallow Tufted Duck Willow Warbler 30/06/12 Wood Pigeon Wild Plants in Flower: Bindweed (Hedge) Bird's-Foot-Trefoil (common) Black Medick Bramble Bristly Oxtongue Buttercup (Creeping) Buttercup (Meadow) Campion (White) Cleavers Clover (Red) Clover (White) Colt's-Foot Comfrey (sp) Common Mouse Ear Cranesbill (Dove's Foot) Dog Rose Elder Field Poppy Forget-Me-Not (sp) Groundsel Hawksbeard (smooth) Herb-Robert Hoary Cress Knapweed (Common) Loosestrife (Purple) Meadowsweet Nettle (Common) Nettle (White Dead) Oxeye Daisy Pineapple Weed Plantain (Greater) Plantain (Ribwort) Ragwort (sp) Selfheal Shepherd's Purse Speedwell (Germander) Stonecrop (Reflexed) Storksbill 30/06/12 Vetch (Common) Vetch (Tufted) Vetchling (Meadow) Viper's Bugloss Wild Carrot Yarrow Yellow Rattle Weld Willow Herb (Rosebay) Woundwort (Hedge) 30/06/12 Other Records: Cinnabar Moth 30/06/12 Grasshopper nymph 30/06/12 Soprano Pipistrelle bat Noctule bat 5-Spot Burnet moth (not a 6-Spot) CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 7.7.12 Caistor Wildlife Area TA 111 015 Chiffchaff Sedge warblers Knapweed Meadowsweet Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Hedgehog feeding on mown path at 8pm Cream-spot ladybird (new to Caistor list) Large skipper, 1st this year Meadow brown, 1st this year Fungi-Blushing wood mushroom in coniferous wood Brown puffballs under horse chestnut Dead man's fingers by cherry stump False chanterelle in coniferous wood Pale brittlestem by lime stumps Musk mallow Perforated St John's wort Selfheal Water dropwort Yellow loosestrife Brigg Road verge, disturbed, TA 111 026 Fat hen Great plantain Water Hills TA 123 017 Couch grass Field scabious Glaucous sedge Hairy sedge Lesser bindweed Quaking grass Tufted vetch North Street garden TA 118 015 Pair of Pied wagtails Red valerian Purple toadflax Caistor bypass farmland TA 115 006 Barn owl CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909 580 Jeremy Hutchinson 30/06/2012 Grass Snake (roadkill) Speckled Wood Meadow Brown Local Little Owl family feeding fledged chicks, at least two, maybe four. 7/7/2012 Bullfinch (male) Golden-coloured, slim-bodied, medium sized spider in greenhouse, carrying its egg-sack under its body. Can anyone identify it from that description? I don't recall having seen one previously. LITTLE SCRUBBS MEADOW/SOUTHERY WOOD 12 July 2012 Colin J Green Little Scrubbs meadow and the extension : Ringlet 40 and stopped counting Meadow Brown 11 Large Skipper 2 Small Skipper 10 Marbled White 3 Speckled Wood 2 Burnet Moths 15 Grass Snakes 3 Southrey Wood : Ringlet 15 Meadow Brown 3 Large White 1 Fritilliary spp seen about 3 yards from us, sun went in and we couldn't find it! Brown Hawker 5 Common Darter 1 RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 08.07.12 Lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) x 2 The first Housemartin nest under the south-facing eaves collapses for the second time. 3 broken eggs below. This one had been fully rebuilt about two weeks ago after the first collapse when 3 small chicks were lost. The 6 nests on the northern side of the building seem unaffected so far. 12 + 13.07.12 Brown Hare feeding in meadow 13.07.12 Buzzard The 2 collapsed Housemartin nests remain deserted, no further attempts at rebuilding. SOUTH THORESBY Quarry Peter Haywood 09 July 2012 About 500 bee orchids on outside of South Thoresby quarry. [In 2009 c 700 plants were recorded.] WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 4/7/2012 Hedgehog - Hurnbridge Road, Hawthorn Hill end approx. TF 217551 - 23.00 hrs approx. 6/7/2012 Adult Weasel crossing road W to E at TF216541 8/7/2012 Male Marsh Harrier hunting in area. Fly on beehive step - TF 223538 approx. thought to be Chrysops caecutiens L [Flies of similar appearance have been described by some of my pupils as having bitten them this year.] 9/7/2012 Silver-Y moth - 11.30hrs Possible White-letter Hairstreak butterfly - not seen here before. 17.00hrs approx. Wooded part of large garden with long grass, ornamental elm tree, oak, willows, lime and other trees. 11/7 Swallows have occupied another nest in the wash house. Male on duty outside on the washing line this morning singing away, female was on the nest at 6am. So my guess is that laying is under way. They have been coming and going for a few days now. 12/7 Marsh Harrier in fen between Hawthorn Hill and Dogdyke TF215553 - 13.15hrs Large grass snake, probably adult female, on Hurnbridge Road near bridge at 17.15hrs TF 16453. Had just crossed. 13/7 Marsh Harrier hunting in area. WRANGLE COMMON 09/07/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson After several weeks, we managed to do a count today, though conditions were very difficult with chest high vegetation along some of the paths. However the permissive paths had been flailed and using these and a cut silage field we suc- ceeded in accessing all but a small plantation. Perhaps because of this, although we counted forty species, many common birds were missing. Despite very wet conditions, only three waders were counted - singles of Curlew, Oyster- catcher and Redshank, though it was reported to us that Green Sandpiper and also a Garganey were present last week. The latter if we could have confirmed it would have been a new species for the site. Skylarks, Yellowhammers, Linnets and Reed Buntings seem to be making a comeback here - perhaps due to the planting of several acres of seed rich plants and a Corn Bunting was in song close by. Seven of the eight Mute Swan cygnets have managed to survive to date, but they seem smaller than they ought to be, so the farmer is feeding them everyday with barley. Although they nest every year, they have never successfully raised a brood yet; the pit on which they nest seems to be low in suitable food and they have to run the gauntlet of foxes. Roe Deer seem to be seen with increasing frequency. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 04/07/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Little Gull 12 Little Ringed Plover 2 05/07/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 6 Little Gull 5 Whimbrel 1 06/07/2012 Little Gull 14 Sandwich Tern 200 06/07/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 3 Green Sandpiper 1 Harrier spp 1 Wood Sandpiper 1 07/07/2012 Green Sandpiper 2 Greenshank 1 Hobby 1 Little Gull 11 Siskin 1 08/07/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Greenshank 6 Little Gull 5 09/07/2012 Greenshank 9 Little Gull 9 10/07/2012 Little Gull 6 Sandwich Tern 10 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 13th July 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth The display of flowers throughout the NNR continues to be good. Sea lavender is now flowering on the saltmarsh, while on the sand dunes and freshwater marsh there is meadowsweet, marsh thistle, common and lesser meadow-rue, common valerian, perforate St John's-wort, common centaury, goat's-beard, bristly oxtongue, pyramidal orchids and marsh helleborine. Butterflies remain scarce, records include a single painted lady on the 6th nr Brickyard, several ringlets, meadow browns and small skippers on the dunes north of Sea View on the 11th when the day time temperature reached 20.0°C, a few red admirals and a single speckled wood near Sea View on the 13th. One highlight was two sightings of humming bird hawk moth in a garden near Sea View on the 8th and 12th feeding on honeysuckle. A morning high tide count off Brickyard on the 7th gave 1 Gannet flying south, Dunlin 1, Sandwich Tern 6, Black-headed Gull 20, Lesser Black-backed Gull 14, Greater Black-backed Gull 6, Common Gull 20, Herring Gull 120 and 1 Great Crested Grebe. Interestingly a high tide watch off Rimac on the evening of the 7th saw Common Scoter 30 and 75 flying north, Curlew 200+, Whimbrel 4, Knot a single bird in fine summer plumage, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Black-headed Gull 160+, Lesser Black-backed Gull 6, Sandwich Tern 16 and Common Tern 4. Other bird records of note include a newly fledged Cuckoo and young Turtle Doves (from one brood) near Brickyard on the 9th, 160+ Sandwich Terns on the beach off Brickyard including a couple of juvs and 5 Common Terns on the 11th and on the same date a summer plumage Red- throated Diver on the sea and the first Wheatear along the dunes. A male Marsh Harrier hunted over the salt marsh on the 11th. The Sea View Washlands attracted 2 Black-tailed Godwit on the 6th and 2 Common Sandpipers on the 7th. 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 The highlight was undoubtedly Lincolnshire's first Black-eared Wheatear (12th), a first-summer female, seen and photographed by just one fortunate observer. An adult Rose-coloured Starling (20th onwards) was a reserve first and also rather elusive during its stay. The Black-necked Grebe first seen in April showed better all month and up to two Garganey were seen. Raptors were well represented with Red Kite (2nd, 23rd and 24th), Montagu's Harrier (12th & 16th), Hobby, Peregrine and up to five Marsh Harriers. Waders were still passing through with up to two Little Stints (1st), up to two Curlew Sandpipers, up to four Ruff (16th), single Spotted Redshank and Wood Sandpipers (4th & 15th). Two Mediterranean Gulls (10th) popped in to the Black-headed Gull colony and up to 11 Little Gulls were also present. A Roseate Tern on the Reedbed (30th) was the third first for the reserve in June. RSPB Freiston Shore A pair of Roseate Terns on the lagoon (28th) were both ringed on both legs suggesting they originated from Coquet Island, Northumberland. Little Tern and several Sandwich Terns and 200 Common Terns were also present at the same time. A different Roseate Tern was seen two days later. Mediterranean Gulls were seen on a few dates. One Short-eared Owl (10th) was seen, but Barn Owls were more regular. Two Pink-footed and four Dark-bellied Brent Geese (24th) were rather unseasonal. Gibraltar Point NNR A Spoonbill was in residence for most of the month. Among the gulls were up to 23 Little Gulls (30th), a Mediterranean Gull on several dates and a Baltic Gull was reported (9th). Waders included single Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint at the start of the month and Green Sandpiper nearer the end of the month. Sanderlings are always among the last waders to head north, but 1700 (6th) was an excellent count. The sea was generally quiet, but four Manx Shearwaters (4th) were the highlight. Birds of prey seen included Red Kite (4th), Hobby and both Short-eared Owl and Montagu's Harrier at the start of the month. Migrants included 17 Turtle Doves (2nd), a Hawfinch (4rd), up to 117 Crossbills (5th), and the highlight, a less than co-operative Common Rosefinch (20th). Other sites A Garganey was at Kirkby Pits (until 4th). Quail were reported calling from North Rauceby, Langtoft and RAF Coningsby. A Montagu's Harrier passed through Metheringham Airfield (7th) with an Osprey there two days later. An Osprey was also seen at Deeping Lakes (1st). Two Caspian Gulls were at North Hykeham Pits with up to 14 Yellow-legged Gulls (21st). John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Week Ending: 13.07.12 BIRDS Max nos. avocet 4 blackbird 10 blackcap 2 black headed gull 39 blue tit 6 Canada goose 24 carrion crow 5 chaffinch 9 chiffchaff 3 collared dove 2 common gull 4 common tern 6 coot 25 cormorant 4 curlew 5 dunnock 5 goldfinch 7 GC grebe 4 great tit 6 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 159 hobby house martin 5 house sparrow 10 kestrel lapwing 6 lesser whitethroat linnet 2 long - tailed tit 4 magpie 4 mallard 39 moorhen 5 mute swan 5 oystercatcher 2 pheasant 2 pied wagtail pochard 4 reed bunting 5 reed warbler 10 robin 3 sedge warbler 5 shelduck 2 song thrush sparrowhawk F starling 7 swallow 30+ swift 20+ tawny owl tufted duck 25 water rail whitethroat 7 willow warbler 5 wood pigeon 12 wren 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.....); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) 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/ Reports please. I can't believe readers never visit these wonderful woods. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** iSpot *** The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/275032 A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives This is a project run by The Open University as part of Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), where you can "Learn more about wildlife, share your interest with a friendly community and get help identifying what you have seen." The project is essentially in the business of helping people learn how to identify the wildlife they encounter, and encouraging them to get involved in biological recording. *** 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 E-mail: 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 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: Jasmine.Atkinson *** And finally *** Rutland Water Osprey Webcam http://www.ospreys.org.uk/webcam/ ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/