=========================================== || || 3rd June 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 1075 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 *** The Lincolnshire Show is looming - 20th/21st June. If you are going, please make a point of stopping by the LNU stand in the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust tent. The team will be pleased to have a chat and to advise on identification and recording. We will be hoping to to boost the Bulletin readership. Don't miss the Transit of Venus at sunrise on 6th June if the day is clear. See below. Roger p.s. I made an especially good typo this week: Wood Sandpaper! *** Venus Transit - 5/6th June 2012 *** National Schools' Observatory writes: In case you haven't heard, Venus will transit the Sun on the 5th and 6th of June - depending on where you are in the world. In the UK, we will only manage to observe (weather permitting) the final hour of the transit shortly after sunrise on the morning of the 6th June. This will be the last Venus transit for another 105 years. For more background on the transit, times, observing tips etc. and for links to live feeds from observatories around the Pacific region (who will see the whole event), please go to the following link: http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/news/2012/vt2012 Editor adds: Don't risk eye damage. Safety is important - do not try to observe the Sun without adequate filter protection. *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. Sunday, June 17, 2012 Bridge Farm, Snitterby Carr (Courtesy of Patty Phillips) Northwest of Market Rasen 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in yard of Bridge Farm at TF0187 9469 (DN21 4UU). Take minor road which connects A631 and B1205 on west side of River Ancholme. Follow Snitterby Carr Lane to end and turn right before river. Habitats: River Ancholme, ponds, ditches, pasture and arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Life on the Verge - Boost your Botany! *** Mark Schofield writes: With days lengthening and flowers opening, the survey season is now upon us! Most grassland wildflowers will be most easily recognisable from the start of June until probably the end of September. You can be a perfect novice at botany because a free Wildflower ID Guide is available and you only need to look for a shortlist of species. Now's your chance to visit the Life on the Verge website at www.lifeontheverge.org.uk and search through the survey maps which show roads near you that have yet to be explored. You can use the website to claim sections of road to survey and you will be e-mailed maps and satellite photos you can print out as well as survey forms. Results maps displaying the wildflower discoveries of the previous 3 years will help you to identify possible hotspots to aim for! Top tip: Try using Google Maps Street View (drag and drop the little yellow man on the Google Maps website) to check what roadsides look like superficially before you claim them. If the verges look wider than a metre and not just swamped in scrub or nettles, you may find more flowers. Surveys should take no longer than 1-2 hours and only a single visit is necessary. If have been beaten to it by the lawn mower or plants appear to be late flowering simply return a month later. From personal experience, you can cover much more ground once you 'have your eye in'. We are only 57% complete on the Limestone in North and South Kesteven and 29% complete on the Chalk in the Wolds. There are still some gems out there that really deserve to be discovered! Contact: mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk *** Hedgehogs and other beasties *** Buzzards: a reader sent in the following extract. saying: Claims on predation are laughable. I couldn't put it better than this extract from an article in Birdwatch magazine "Many organisations from the RSPB to the BBC and all national newspapers have reported the story, most repeating the facts from DEFRA's own document. Unfortunately, many have also reported statistics believed to originate from the Countryside Alliance which do not stand up to scrutiny. The BBC quoted 25-30 per cent of young Pheasants being taken by Common Buzzards. According to the shooting industry's own figures, at least 40 million Pheasant poults are released every year mostly during August and September. This would mean up to 12 million Pheasants are being taken annually by our native buzzard population. The BTO quote 38,000 pairs of buzzard by territories held in Britain, meaning that 76,000 buzzards are eating 12 million Pheasants in the space of two months; that is 158 Pheasants per bird, an average of 2.5 Pheasants per day based on the quoted figures. Taking into account that most buzzards don't live near a shooting estate, those that do must be rather full; European Rabbit, Common Buzzard's main prey, can breathe easy, it seems." Ian Misselbrook adds: Defra's proposals clearly send out a message that Buzzards are vermin and in particular a danger to pheasants. In fact Buzzards eat small mammals (including rats), rabbits and surprisingly a large number of earthworms, particularly when the worms surface after overnight rain. No doubt that some young pheasants are taken but given the huge numbers released, probably insignificant numbers compared with road deaths. The problem is that the Defra "research" is likely to be carried out widely and no doubt on a number of key shooting estates and is likely to be carried out over a number of breeding seasons. No doubt they will be inundated with volunteers from the shooting fraternity and the whole campaign will lead to harassment and the disruption of buzzards breeding. With so much illegal persecution of our raptors it is terrible that the government agency responsible is now also condoning the destruction of one of our most magnificent birds of prey. Editor adds: Word is that the Government is to change direction on this issue. Hopefully the news reports will not have stimulated anyone to take the law into their own hands and take a pop at their local buzzard. I did notice someone tried to get a petition going on the epetitions website, but pitched it inadequately and it was rejected. If you do hear of a meaningful and coherent petition, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 27/5 Osprey, Black-necked Grebe, 2 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 15 Little Gulls, 2 Garganey, Temminck's Stint, 10 Wood Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Temminck's Stint, Common Crane flew east, Little Gull, Little Stint, 3 Crossbills, Gibraltar Point Temminck's Stint, Donna Nook 7 Black Terns, Sanderling, Thurlby Sand Pit Black Redstart, Saltfleetby, Sea View Farm 28/5 Black Tern, Far Ings Marsh Warbler, Cleethorpes boating lake Wood Sandpiper, 11 Little Gulls, Garganey, 3 Temminck's Stint, 8 Wood Sandpipers, Black Tern, Frampton Marsh Montagu's Harrier, Barton-upon-Humber, Horkstow Wolds 29/5 Golden Oriole, Common Rosefinch, Linnets, Redpoll, Wood Sandpiper, 4 Little Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, Gibraltar Point, Marsh Warbler, Cleethorpes boating lake Harrier spp and 3 Short-eared owls, Saltfleetby, Sea View Farm Marsh Warbler, Donna Nook 30/5 Marsh Warbler, Donna Nook Marsh Warbler, Cleethorpes Wood Sandpiper, Manby 31/5 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Gulls, 2 Crossbills, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, 5 Little Gulls, Frampton Marsh Marsh Warbler, Cleethorpes 1/6 Marsh Warbler, Cleethorpes Garganey drk, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits. 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. CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 26/05/12 Garden at TA 111 026 Azure and Common blue damselflies Soldier beetles Small purple and gold moth Birdsfoot trefoil Brooklime Cocksfoot Common catsear Crested dogstail Ox-eye daisy Pignut Red clover Sheeps sorrel Yorkshire fog Grimsby Road garden TA118 012 Fledged nests of Blackbird, Great tit, Greenfinch and Song thrush Caistor bypass farmland TA 115 006 Adult fox Juvenile roe deer Red-legged partridge nest with 7 eggs Brigg Road farmland TA 106 036 Roe deer 2 adult and 3 juvenile buzzards circling Wold View verge TA 108 014 Mouse-ear hawkweed North Street gardens TA 118 015 Hedgehog in open at midday Brambling Swifts nesting Ivy-leaved toadflax in wall *** 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. ANDERBY/Wolla Bank John Walker 31/5/2012 1 shed grass snake skin, yellow rattle beginning to flower 1 fresh painted lady 2 green hairsteak, 4 common blues, 1 wall brown and several small whites. BARTON UPON HUMBER List of Wildlife Seen at Waters' Edge Reserve, Barton Week ending Friday 01/06/12 Julie Ellison Birds: Blackbird Black-Headed Gull 4+ Canada Geese (5 at Visitor Centre pond; none at Folly pond where chicks were last week) Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff Common Tern 1 Coot (2 chicks only) Egyptian Goose 1 at Visitor Centre pond Gadwall 3 in Big Pond Goldfinch Great Tit Greylag Geese (9 at Visitor Centre pond; none at Folly pond where chicks were last week) Heron 1 House Martin House Sparrow Lesser Whitethroat (? almost certain) Magpie Mallard 72 at Visitor Centre pond Mistle Thrush 2 Moorhen (3 chicks at Visitor Centre pond) Mute Swan 3 Pied Wagtail 2 Reed Bunting 1 Reed Warbler Robin Sedge Warbler Shell Duck 2 Starling 17 (including at least 2 juvenile) Swallow (most near Visitor Centre) Swift (all over the reserve) Tufted Duck at least 3 pairs Willow Warbler Woodpigeon Plants In Flower: Black Medick Bramble Buttercup (Celery Leaved) Buttercup (Creeping) Buttercup (Meadow) Campion (Pink) Campion (Red) Campion (White) Cleavers Columbine (blue) Comfrey (Common) Common Birds-Foot Trefoil Cow Parsley Cowslip (a couple of flowers left) Daisy Dog Rose Foxglove Garlic Mustard (not much flower left now) Grounsel Guelder Rose Hoary Cress Hawthorn Mouse-Ear (Common) Nettle (Common) Nettel (White Dead) Oxeye Daisy Plantain (Ribwort) Poppy (Common) Speedwell (Germander) Vetch (Common) Wood Avens Yellow Iris Bats: Noctule 1 pass Common Pipistrelle Soprano Pipistrelle Other: Common Toad 3 Grasshopper (sp) nymph 1 BRACEBY Braceby TF015353 Marion Ellis 29/5/12 Several house martin nests on our house now occupied, and swallows working on a nest in our stone shed. BUTTERWICK 28/05/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson We did our final Breeding Bird Survey for the BTO today and had an excellent count. It was quite unusual to see Tree Sparrow on our survey section between the village and the first sea bank, but the birds that pleased us most were Yellow Wagtail and Corn Bunting. Both these birds are of high conservation concern, but Yellow Wagtails are frequently encountered on the lanes down towards the sea bank and especially on the track beyond and parallel to the first bank which gives access to the Butterwick Pullover parking place. Here they perch on the barbed wire and allow approach in a car to two or three metres. Two singing male Corn Buntings were recorded and given the numbers we have seen elsewhere in the last few weeks, raise hopes of a resurgence of this species. LINCOLN J. Farmer Garden 30/5/12 Three hedgehogs eating scraps on the lawn at 9 pm LOUTH OS 3486 C Byatt 27 May '12 several house martins looking for nesting sites around our estate + goldfinches - 2 MARTON SK842 820 Brian Hedley 22 May 2012 Moth trap (15w actinic lamp over Skinner trap) out in garden overnight. 30 moths of about 17 species. Poplar hawk 1 Waved umber 1 Cabbage 1 Campion 1 Streamer 1 Green carpet 3 Common carpet 2 Garden carpet 3 Rustic shoulder-knot 3 Angle shades 1 Common pug 2 Pug species 5 Shuttle-shaped dart 1 Hebrew character 1 Powdered quaker 1 Common plume 1 Micromoth species 2 Plus burying beetle, Nicrophorus humator. STURTON BY STOW Sturton by Stow SK 874799 27.05.2012 Alison Brownlow Tawny Mining bee Large red damselfly TORKSEY LOCK Torksey Lock SK 845782 26.05.2012 Alison Brownlow Tree bee in bird box Red Mason bee going under roof on wooden building WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 26/05/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson A first for the ponds today, was an Oystercatcher. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 26/5 Cuckoo calling - 8.30am. Sparrowhawk f being mobbed over garden by hirundines. 27/5 Buzzard calling in area. Swallows sitting. 31/5 2 Brown hares in area - 8am. Fox caught on trail camera 11.30pm. WRANGLE COMMON 26/05/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson A pair of Mute Swans had seven cygnets, but the nearby presence of a fox suggested they may not rear that total. In fact, good numbers of cygnets are produced every year, but we have never seen any of them survive the summer. The presence of a new female this year gives hope and we noticed that they had moved them to a different pond to that on which they nested. Given that the new pond seems to have fresher water, better feeding potential and less cover for foxes around the side, there may at last be hope for their success. The geese (Canada and Grey-lag) have a good crop of goslings and Mallards seem to have done well. Oystercatchers don't seem to have nested this year and there is no sign of the Lapwings having chicks. Unusually no raptors were recorded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 25th May 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Eventually the sun came out and temperatures increased to a pleasant 18.0°C and what a difference it made. By the end of the week a good number of butterflies were on the wing including green hairstreak, wall brown, orange tip, peacock, small and large whites, holly blue and small heath. Cinnabar moths have been seen and there have been quite large numbers of the micro long-horn moth in the Brickyard area. Azure blue and large red damselflies are active over sheltered ponds, and the first four-spotted chasers are on the wing. Many of the garden bird residents are now feeding young and over the dunes Kestrel and Sparrowhawk have been regularly seen carrying food. Earlier in the week 100 Dunlin and 80 Ringed Plovers occurred on the beach. At this time of year they are most typically seen on the higher sands than in the wetter areas. They are the high Arctic birds returning from Africa, feeding here and then continuing north. There have been regular flocks in the area for the past couple of weeks, although up until recently the proportion of Ringed Plovers has been much higher. Other interesting bird sightings have included a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Common Sandpipers on Paradise Ponds, 34 Oyster- catchers along the tide edge mid-week, Hobby over the dunes and 7 Whimbrel flying north on the 19th. On the dunes hawthorn, mouse-ear hawkweed, ribwort plantain, common stork's-bill, germander speedwell, common sheep sorrel, white campion and common vetch are all in flower. Field mouse-ear continues to flower and is said to be giving the best show for some years. In the damper areas yellow flag and southern marsh orchids are coming into flower. Week ending 1st June 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Daytime temperatures crept up to a respectable 22.75°C on the 28th but dipped to late teens for the rest of the week. A short heavy shower on the 30th was the first rainfall recorded for 10 days and the longer spell of rain next day gave 4.5mm of ppt. There has been a good range of butterflies observed; interesting species include common blue, small heath, small white, small copper, brimstone (1), comma (1), holly blue, large skipper, green hairstreak and orange tip. A few hairy and emperor dragon- flies are on the wing over the ditches at Rimac, whilst azure blue, blue tailed and large red damselflies are plentiful. Cuckoos are vocal with 4 pairs on the NNR, Turtle Doves [up to 5 pairs] have been singing in the southern area of the reserve which is reassuring for this declining species, 3 pairs of Pied Wagtails regularly occur in the Brickyard area and there are at least two pairs around Sea View. Other birds of note for the week include regular sightings of Hobby hunting over the dunes, 3 Grasshopper warblers remain in song, 32 Curlew roosting on the lagoon at Rimac, single Greenshank over the saltmarsh, a single Whimbrel with 10 Curlew flying inland, a pair of Siskin at the feeding station near Sea View, and a fine male Black Redstart was seen near Sea View on 27th. Along the shoreline 22 Sanderling, 20+ Dunlin, 5 Oystercatchers, 20+ Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew, 80 Herring Gulls, 2 Black-headed Gulls, and 7 Shelduck were recently seen, and lots of empty whelk egg cases lie on the tide line. On the saltmarsh and foredunes sea thrift, sea milkwort, sea arrow- grass, sea rocket and sea sandwort are all beginning to flower. And a last bit: One, possibly two Quail calling on the 1st from the freshwater marsh at Rimac and another bird from the edge of the saltmarsh. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for May 2012 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings 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 01.06.12 BIRDS Max nos. avocet 30+ blackbird 15 blackcap 8 black headed gull 20 black tern blue tit 10 Canada goose 6 carrion crow 3 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 10 chiffchaff 8 collared dove 2 common buzzard common gull 4 common tern 8 cuckoo coot 30+ curlew dunnock 5 goldfinch 4 GC grebe 3 prs with young GS woodpecker great tit 6 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 30+ hobby house martin 26 house sparrow 10 kestrel lapwing lesser whitethroat 2 linnet 2 long - tailed tit 4 magpie 4 mallard 15 marsh harrier M+F moorhen 6 mute swan 6 oystercatcher 2 pheasant 3 pied wagtail 2 pochard 7 reed bunting 6 reed warbler 12 robin 6 sand martin 5 sedge warbler 9 shelduck 3 shoveler 2 F with broods sparrowhawk F starling 10 swallow 40+ swift 30+ tufted duck 10 turtle dove water rail wheatear whitethroat 15 willow warbler 8 wood pigeon 6 wren 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** 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 or try http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/products.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. Sunday, June 17, 2012 Bridge Farm, Snitterby Carr (Courtesy of Patty Phillips) Northwest of Market Rasen 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in yard of Bridge Farm at TF0187 9469 (DN21 4UU). Take minor road which connects A631 and B1205 on west side of River Ancholme. Follow Snitterby Carr Lane to end and turn right before river. Habitats: River Ancholme, ponds, ditches, pasture and arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com 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: Skutter - mailbox unavailable *** Link(s) of the Week *** Springwatch Webcams http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18035848 Wildlife Trusts webcams http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/webcams Lincs Bird Club Peregrine webcam http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/pegcam.html and Barn Owl cam http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/owlcam.html ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/