=========================================== || || 6th May 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 1065 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. LNU Wildnews Bulletins are also 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 *** Please don't send me back the Bulletin! By clicking on reply and including 34Kb+ of text in your e-mail to me, it soon adds up and eats into my broadband allowance! I subsidise mailings myself and appreciate 'e-conomy'. Please be kind and delete the Bulletin text before you type in your message. This can make all the difference between 56kb and 3kb and is generally regarded in the Web world as being thoughtful! I had a report of a Tawny Owl mortality this week. This probably relates to the current wet weather. We may well see many negative effects of the long wet spell, please send in any observations that link in with this. I am anxious we are careful with publicity for rare plants, such as orchids. If in any doubt about a record, please send the report to the Botany Recorder. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website has a helpful orchid photo-page. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/orchids/ Boost your botany - but take the book [or printed webpage] to the plant, not the plant to the book! Thanks. Roger *** Next LNU Event- all welcome *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. Sunday, May 27, 2012 Oxgangs House Springs, Nettleton Top (Courtesy of Rachel Gibbons) South of Caistor 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road south from Nettleton Top (road from Nettleton to Claxby) take first track on right side and park to side of track at first bend at TF113 979. NB. Steep slopes present so stout footwear recommended. Habitats: Spring, marsh, pasture and possibly some arable Leader: Richard Chadd 07990 564519 richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** WHAT ABOUT THE BATS? *** Annette Faulkner writes: Last weekend Roger e-mailed me to say how are the poor bats faring in all this terrible weather? To which I replied I didn't know, but from the lack of bat calls these last three week I suspected they had gone into torpor - a sort of mini hibernation - which is the way they deal with bad weather and shortage of food. The big question is, what happens when the weather improves and they're out and about again? When they emerged early from hibernation in late February/ early March we had a run of bat calls for a couple of weeks afterwards, all, with one exception, underweight pipistrelles that needed feeding up. Fast forward to this week, and on Tuesday, after one warm day, we had two bat calls, one a grounded pipistrelle that had been brought in by the cat, the second a brown long-eared that had decided to go exploring and got itself into the wrong place. Wednesday was the same: two more grounded bats, one definitely 'catted', the other possibly (we didn't collect it). So - bat alert! This could go on for a week or two. If you find a bat on the ground, low on a wall, or anywhere else where by rights it shouldn't be, please get ready a shoe box/large ice cream box or similar with a tight fitting lid (this is important!), with some kitchen paper in the bottom and a milk bottle lid with some water in it, scoop up the bat with a cloth, so that you don't handle it directly with bare hands, pop it in the cloth into the box, and then phone the Lincs Helpline on 01775 766286 and leave a message if necessary - it will be answered, and the bat will be OK in the meantime. Don't assume it will sort itself out. It won't. It may just be underweight and need feeding up, but equally a cat may already have found it and it is injured. Either way it can't fly. *** Sir Joseph Banks Society Lecture - 10th May 2012 *** Paul Scott sent the following information. Sir Joseph Banks, President of the Royal Society, was fascinated by all branches of science including the geology of his lands in Lincolnshire. Hugh Torrens, respected Professor of Geology at Keele University, has agreed to give this year's Sir Joseph Banks Society Lecture. The subject is "The History of Lincolnshire's Geology". The Lecture will be held at Horncastle College at 7.30pm on Thursday evening, 10th May. It will cover the formation of the landscape we know today and the fossilised evidence of the history our county. Professor Torrens, winner of the History of Geology Award in 2000, has written many books. These include not only his favourite subject, Palaeontology, but also subjects as diverse as industrial archaeology and 20th Century engineering. A man after Sir Joseph's heart. The Annual Sir Joseph Lecture will be given in the Robinson Hall. Entry is free and everybody is welcome. For more information see: Sir Joseph Banks Society – www.joseph-banks.org.uk or contact Paul.scott@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Swifts, Hedgehogs and other beasties *** Chris J Manning – Mammal recorder Hedgehogs Road Traffic Kills this week, include: 2x at Lincoln 1x at Boston and 1x at Ulceby Cross as well as sending in your Hedgehog reports to Chris Manning via the Bulletin, why not report them to the Hedgehog Street survey? http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/?dm_i=PAJ,SGT4,5RINM1,2BCP0,1 Clare Brady writes: Swifts Spotted on way home tonight (2/5/2012) at Kirkby On Bain over the gravel pits 8 swifts. *** Botanists *** Matthew Blisset writes: Saturday, May 12, 2012 Crowle Moor Botanical Survey 10.00am start. Park in car park at T junction to the moors, west of Crowle at SE758 140. Follow the duck / brown tourist signs from the M180 and through the town. NB. Botanists required to carry out survey work on this part of the Thorne Moors complex in conjunction with the Thorne and Hatfield Conservation Forum. Leader: Matthew Blissett 07717 660226 nwlincs@lincstrust.co.uk *** Entomology - The Great Oil Beetle Hunt *** Records of oil beetles will help towards their conservation under the Biodiversity Action Plan. If you think you've seen one, let us know! If you would be interested in looking for oil beetles in your area you can either get in touch for more information or just take a camera with you when out walking and snap anything that's big and black! To get an idea of what you're looking for take a look at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyUmfao Charlie Barnes County Recorder for Beetles charlie.barnes@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk Alan Phillips sent in the following excellent link: Buglife's story of the Lincolnshire record http://www.buglife.org.uk/News/Oil+beetles+rediscovered+in+Lincolnshire+after+28+years *** Botany - Butterbur Hunt - reports please *** Paul Kirby requested reports of Butterbur, Petasites hybridus, for our current "species hunt". Your reports, please. Paul wrote: See: Rogier van Vugt's Daisy family Photo gallery. http://www.pbase.com/rogiervanvugt/daisy_family_compositae In row 13 there are correctly labelled sharp close ups of both male & female flowers. Paul recommends we look at the photo of the female flower. Also: He has sent me a good picture of a male inflorescence plus a fine botanical illustration by Ross Craig that you may find useful. Please e-mail me if you would like a copy: rparsons@enterprise.net *** Cruising in the Wash *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The Wash is an incredibly important place for birds and you can get a unique close up look at them on one of the South Lincs RSPB regular cruises. Starting at the Grand Sluice bridge Lock in Boston aboard the 50 seater Boston Belle, they are designed for both avid birders and those with a more casual or general interest in nature. In 2011 more than 100 species were seen, averaging 60 per cruise (which lasts 4/5 hours). The 2012 programme runs from April to October. For more information e-mail slincsbirdcruises@btinternet.com Call the cruise hot line 07531495521 or visit www.southlincsrspb.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. 27/4 Common Crane, Kirkby Moor 28/4 Bufflehead fem Louth, Covenham Reservoir Red-rumped Swallow, Far Ings Black-winged Stilt, Frampton Marsh Bonxie, Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits Garganey drk, Frampton Marsh, also Scaup, 3 Arctic Terns, f Hen Harrier and Water Pipit 1/5 Slavonian Grebe, Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits Osprey, Little Gull, Messingham Sand Quarry 2/5 3 Arctic Terns, Hobby, east of Appleby Black Tern, 2 Arctic Terns. Little Gull, Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits 4 Little Gulls, 28 Arctic Gulls, Hobby, Covenham Reservoir Temminck's Stint, Spotted Redshank, Manby Flashes Ring Ouzel, Laughton Wood, Temple Wood 3/5 Black Tern, 2 Arctic Terns. Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits Wood Warbler singing, Appleby 4 Arctic Terns, Boultham Mere Little Tern, 2 adult Little Gulls, Whisby Nature Park Black Tern, Little Gull, Apex Pit 4/5 Black-winged Stilt, 2 Garganey, 20 Whimbrel, 4 White Wagtails, Bonxie, Frampton Marsh Garganey, Scaup, 19 Whimbrel, 2 White Wagtails, Frampton Marsh 13 Arctic Terns, 2 Short-eared owls, Trent Port, Marton 2 Arctic Terns, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Wryneck, 3 Ring Ouzels, Donna Nook 4 Arctic Terns over Bonby Carrs also Whimbrel, fem Hen Harrier, Hobby, Short-eared owl Bonxie, past Pye's Hall 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. Tortoiseshell Wood (SK 963197) Butterfly identification - help needed, please. Emilie Bonnevay observed some butterflies at Tortoiseshell Wood this week. She tried to identify them in the field and concluded that they might be a species of fritillary. She writes on 28/4/2012: It wasn't a butterfly I was familiar with and I didn't get a photo of it. It was less than 6cm in size. The primary colour was a dark brown and it had a chequered (or spotted possibly) pattern in a secondary colour, an orange-y colour. I'd say it was 50% dark brown and 50% the orange lighter colour. I didn't get a good look at the underside. It was flying around the ground flora (bluebells, lesser celandine, wood anemone and grasses). I saw three at the back end of the wood where the crab apple is near the stile and the ant field, so hopefully someone better at butterflies can find it. She also noted cuckoos in Tortoiseshell Wood (SK 963197) *** 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. BUTTERWICK 30/04/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson We did the first of this year's Breeding Bird Survey counts on our somewhat desolate square at Butterwick, between the village and the first sea bank. The presence of land workers in the area meant that our count was even more of a disappointment than usual and raises the question of the value of the counts in these circumstances, which are all too common. In fact the only bird of interest was the first Yellow Wagtail of the year, typically found outside the survey area. CALLAN'S LANE WOOD Callan's Lane Wood, near Kirkby Underwood, Bourne 30th April 2012. 1815- 2000 hours Ian Misselbrook 135 Fallow Deer 1 Brown Hare 1 Grass Snake (under corrugated sheet) Early Purple Orchids (30+ spikes) Bluebells Yellow Archangel Primroses Dog's Mercury Lesser Celandine Greater Stitchwort Red Dead Nettle Ramsons Pheasant 2 Common Buzzards 2 Kestrels (adjacent farmland) 1 Tawny Owl 1 Green Woodpecker 2 GS Woodpeckers 1 Treecreeper Wrens Dunnocks Robins Song Thrushes Blackbirds Blackcaps – 5 singing Chiffchaff – 8 singing Willow Warbler – 4 singing Goldcrests Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Marsh Tits – 1 pair Long Tailed Tits Wood pigeons Jays 2 Carrion Crows Rooks – adjacent farmland Skylarks – adjacent farmland Goldfinch Bullfinches – 2 Chaffinches CAISTOR Wendy Handford All in garden TA111026 25th April 2012 St George's mushroom 29th April 2012 Two fox cubs and one adult Scented vernal grass in bloom Pendulous sedge in bloom Red campion in bloom 1st May 2012 Long-tailed fieldmouse nest with three young in box of compost in greenhouse Greater stitchwort in bloom Hear sedge warbler 4th May 2012 Lady's smock in bloom Skylark heard Mallard nest with ten eggs in garden by stream Witnessed male sparrowhawk catching goldfinch CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson Sat 28th April - our House Martins returned, the latest I can recall. DEEPING LAKES NR 30/04/2012 David Griffith Black headed gull x100 Blackcap x3 Blue tit x6 Bullfinch x4 Buzzard x3 Canada goose x9 Carrion crow Chaffinch x5 Common tern x20 Coot x18 Cormorant Dunnock Great crested grebe x3 Great tit x6 Grey heron Greylag goose x30 plus 24 juveniles Lapwing x5 Lesser black backed gull x6 Little grebe Long tailed tit x2 Mallard x17 Moorhen x4 Mute swan x8 Oystercatcher x3 Red kite x2 Reed bunting x8 Reed warbler x7 Robin x3 Sand Martin x4 Sedge warbler Shelduck Song thrush Starling x6 Tufted duck x28 Whitethroat Willow warbler Wren x3 Garden warbler Long eared owl Cetti's warbler Arctic tern x4 Mediterranean gull x2 Kestrel FENTON SK846767 Richard Fox 30th April 2012 Brimstone Holly Blue House martin (6) FENTON SK844772 Richard Fox 30th April 2012 Chiffchaff Common Whitethroat Great Spotted W/p Yellowhammer (m) HAGANBY FEN E.A. WETLAND RESERVE TF 342597 Garry Steele Noteworthy ornithological sightings & maximums, April 2012 Black-headed Gull 29 Canada Goose 5 Common Gull 6 Curlew 91 Egyptian Goose 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Heron 1 Lapwing 2 Shelduck 3 Swallow 9 Teal 38 KETTLETHORPE Westmoor Lane SK845755 Richard Fox 4th May 2012 Cuckoo (pair) Had been heard since Monday (30th April) but first time seen flying and together LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 05/05/2012 Jayne Knight 30/04 Single Swallow 24/04 Audible squeaking from nestlings in Starling nest when adults taking in food 24/04 Hedgehog droppings on lawn LITTLE HAW WOOD, CASTLE BYTHAM SK967 178 A very wet LNU meeting led by Brian Hedley (3 people in total). 29 April 2012 Good range of woodland/marsh plants noted including wood sorrel, barren strawberry, twayblade, early purple orchid, common spotted orchid, woodruff, hairy woodrush, common valerian, ragged robin, bog stitchwort, wood anemone, yellow archangel and bush vetch. 23 bird species noted including two marsh tits, buzzard, bullfinch and green woodpecker. Ten mammal species noted including muntjac, roe deer, bank vole and pygmy shrew. Expecting lists of bryophytes and some beetles to come. NOCTON Jerry Gunner 3rd and 4th April 2012 I was astonished by what landed on my bird feeder. I was looking out the window at the half a dozen goldfinches when a stunning male Brambling landed on the top and scared them off. He saw me sit up and flew to some surrounding bushes. This is the first one I've seen in the garden and I don't recall seeing one at this time of the year in the UK. Absolutely made my day and the 58th species of bird to land in the garden! RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 20.04.12 2 Housemartins – first definite sighting this year, about the same time as last year. 21.04.12 Female Blackbird collecting nesting material 3 Hares in meadow Herb Robert and Cowslips in flower Unfamiliar, loud distress calls from roof area (might have been a jackdaw, but they don't nest on our roof):- Grey Squirrel on wall near eaves, presumably predating a sparrow nest. 22.04.12 1 Swallow, a few housemartins passing Grey Heron over meadow 23.04.12 Sparrowhawk (f) hunting in garden 24.04.12 2 Buzzards mobbed by rooks 1 Housemartin 1 year-old common frog in garden Jackdaw collecting nesting material 25.04.12 1 Red-legged Partridge in meadow. Male pheasants only seen parading 1 female each; fewer than usual. Bat (pipistrelle?) along N house wall RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 01.05.12 April's rainfall was a record-breaking 5 inches here: 125 mm exactly. This compares with only 102 mm in the first three months of the year. And it's raining still ... 04.05.12 Brief sighting of a lone swallow. Our housemartins are late. STAPLEFORD Jeremy Hutchinson Mon 30th April 1 Swift (early) Bullfinch (male) Lapwing displaying TEMPLE WOOD, nr Kirkby Underwood 2nd May 2012 Ian Misselbrook A lunchtime visit coincided with a rare sunny spell, 6 Orange Tips 93 males and 3 females) 6 Peacocks 1 Speckled Wood (immaculate newly emerged individual) Hundreds of St Mark's Flys. Plants in flower:- Primrose Cowslip Bluebell Lesser celandine Coltsfoot (most seeding but some still in flower) Common Dandelion Common Daisy Greater stitchwort Stinging Nettle Red Dead nettle Selfheal Garlic Mustard (Jack by the Hedge) Lady's Smock Early Dog Violet Common Dog Violet Sweet Dog Violet Dog's Mercury Apart from Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, willow Warblers and a Swallow over, migrant birds are still very thin on the ground. VERNATTS NATURE RESERVE 30.04.12 Mick Todd A lunchtime walk around the reserve: several butterflies and a "clump" of grass snakes, at least 3. Butterfly species seen were Brimstone Orange tip Peacock Small White Speckled Wood WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 30/04/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Sedge, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat were in song and a Great Crested Grebe on the adjacent River Steeping was an uncommon sighting. A flock of c200 Golden Plovers flew over from a nearby field, which was not only a first for this site, but a very late sighting for the East Fen, as I would have expected these birds to have dispersed to their breeding areas by now. Grass snakes have never previously been recorded here, but an excellent view was obtained of one swimming across the largest pond. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. A & R Parsons 30/4/2012 1 plus 2 Common Buzzard seen in the fen. 3/5 Short-eared owl on post along Hurnbridge Road, 5pm. WRANGLE COMMON 30/04/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Reed and Sedge Warblers were all in song and Lapwings were displaying over the wet grassland, which lived up to its name for the first time in a year after the recent deluge. Four Curlews remain from the winter flock and a Common Buzzard remains in the area. Quite a tame fox was seen for the second time this month. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 22/04/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 2 Firecrest Mediterranean Gull 2 Ring Ouzel Sandwich Tern 2 Short-eared Owl 3 Swallow Treecreeper Turtle Dove White Wagtail 1 Yellow Wagtail 2 24/04/2012 Arctic Tern Little Tern Ring Ouzel 2 Whimbrel 25/04/2012 Arctic Tern 5 Black-tailed Godwit 3 Common Tern 2 Cuckoo 2 Great Skua Lesser Whitethroat Little Gull Mediterranean Gull 2 Merlin Sandwich Tern 41 Swift Tree Pipit Turtle Dove Wheatear Whimbrel 2 Yellow Wagtail 28/04/2012 Marsh Harrier 1 Short-eared Owl 1 Woodcock 1 30/04/2012 Barn Owl 1 Brambling 13 Chiffchaff 3 Common Sandpiper 2 Cuckoo 2 Fieldfare 19 Hen Harrier 1 House Martin 18 Little Ringed Plover 2 Marsh Harrier 1 Mediterranean Gull 2 Osprey 1 Red-rumped Swallow 1 Sand Martin 5 Siskin 2 Swallow 230 Swift 11 Tree Pipit 1 Wheatear 11 Whimbrel 3 Whitethroat 9 Willow Warbler 4 Yellow Wagtail 9 01/05/2012 Barn Owl 1 Brambling 3 Firecrest 1 Pied Flycatcher 1 Siskin 2 Wheatear 1 Yellow Wagtail 1 02/05/2012 Brambling 10 Mediterranean Gull 3 Short-eared Owl 1 Wheatear 1 Yellow Wagtail 9 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 4th May 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth The rainfall at Sea View for April was 100.4mm which still fell short of the much higher amounts recorded elsewhere in the county, especially around the Wolds and Lincoln area. This excessive wet period together with very strong, cold winds from the northerly sector must have had some impact on ground nesting birds and passerines/finches with nests built in bushes/scrubby areas. Much of the developing natterjack tadpoles have not survived due to the far from ideal conditions and butterfly sightings and insect life in general have been poor, with just a few peacocks, small tortoiseshells and green-veined whites on the wing whenever the conditions allow. On the plus side sand dune and saltmarsh vegetation is looking green with some obvious growth, contrasting with the blue-green colour of emerging sea buckthorn leaves. Flowering field mouse-ear and field wood rush are giving a nice display on the dunes and the tiny deep blue flowers of early forget-me-not are just beginning to show. Cowslips are looking particularly nice. Bird sightings for the week include small numbers of Swallows, House Martins, Swifts, Cuckoo, Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat. Lesser Whitethroats are holding territories in the Brickyard-Churchill area (4+) and Sea View-Paradise (3+). Up to 4 Grasshopper Warblers have been heard along with the first Sedge Warblers. A Garden Warbler was singing at Brickyard on 2nd May and at Churchill on 3rd May. Out on the saltmarsh Whimbrel have been seen most days in small flocks of up to 17 birds and there was a small movement of Wheatear (Greenland sp) passing through. Linnets, which tend to arrive by late March and stay in feeding parties of 20-40 birds, before dispersing to breed locally by mid April, are still bunched up, with flocks of up to 40 birds in the Churchill, Brickyard and Paradise areas. Other interesting birds have included 6 Little Egrets in one flock on the saltmarsh, two Bramblings at Sea View on 3rd May and two at Brickyard on the 4th. Twelve Fieldfare flew over Sea View on 30th April. The slight increase in midday temperatures on the 26th brought out a few peacock butterflies, green-veined whites and the first orange tips. Common scurvy grass is flowering on the saltmarsh and a few sea thrift flowers are beginning to show. Cuckoo flower is present in the freshwater marsh and there is a good display of cowslips at Rimac. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for March 2012 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp RSPB Frampton Marsh Whooper Swans peaked at 76 (14th) with just one Bewick's (21st). White-fronted Geese dwindled to just two, with a Black Brant being seen on one date (3rd). A single Scaup remained (until 10th). Two Goshawks were seen flying south over the reserve (28th). Avocets increased to 24 (31st) with up to 22 Ruffs (28th) and one Greenshank (6th). A 2nd winter Iceland Gull (14th) was also recorded at Boston Tip. Other sightings included Water Pipit (21st), Up to 30 Twite (14th), but just one Lapland Bunting (2nd). The first Wheatear was late this year (21st). RSPB Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp RSPB Freiston Shore No reserve report. ALSO: Gibraltar Point NNR The highlight was three Glossy Ibis reported flying south (9th). Raptors included Rough-legged Buzzard (3rd) and Red Kite (24th), the same day as a fly-over Crane. Migrants were very late to arrive, with two Wheatears and four White Wagtails (24th), followed by Chiffchaff and up to two Black Redstarts (from 25th). Lapland Buntings were seen on two dates (3rd and 28th), while Avocets peaked at 64 (29th). Two Treecreepers were seen at the end of the month (29th). Whisby Nature Park March traditionally brought the first summer migrants with Chiffchaff (13th), Sand Martin (19th), Blackcap (26th and early this year) and two Willow Warblers (29th). Gull sightings included up to four Yellow-legged Gulls, three Mediterranean Gulls and a single Caspian Gull (21st). Other birds of note included 45 Whooper Swans west (25th) and a single Peregrine (26th). Other sites A Garganey was at Denton Reservoir (19th), further South Lincs first migrants sightings included a Little Ringed Plover at Blackmoor Bridge (20th) and Swallow at Sloothby (28th). Red- crested Pochards were seen at Swanholme Lakes and up to four at Baston Fen. Bittern (23rd) and Crane (28th) were good finds at this site. The White Stork at Kirkby Pits remained until the beginning of the month (3rd), while the two Smew stayed a little longer (until 19th). Two Caspian Gulls were at Kirkby Pits (1st) and Iceland and Kumlien's Gulls were seen at Boston Tip (14th and 16th). A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Sloothby (27th). 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 04.05.12 BIRDS Max. Numbers = avocet 88 blackbird 16 blackcap 3 black headed gull 15 blue tit 12 Canada goose 12 carrion crow 2 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 12 chiffchaff 8 collared dove 2 common buzzard common gull 6 common tern 5 cuckoo (1st: 28.o4.12 coot 50+ cormorant 2 curlew 2 dunnock 6 gadwall 4 goldfinch 4 grasshopper warbler GC grebe 5 GS woodpecker great tit 6 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 50+ house martin 25 house sparrow 22 kestrel linnet 2 long - tailed tit 2 magpie 4 mallard 12 marsh harrier M+F mistle thrush moorhen 7 mute swan 4 oystercatcher 2 pheasant 2 pied wagtail 2 pochard 8 reed warbler 20 red-rumped swallow (28th & 29th April) redshank 2 reed bunting 6 ring ouzel (28th April) robin 10 sand martin 10 sedge warbler 10 shelduck 4 shoveler 2 sparrowhawk F starling 4 swallow 50+ swift 40+ tawny owl tufted duck 18 water rail willow warbler 9 wood pigeon 6 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) Adrian Royle's website for photos of species from the Limewoods. Photo site update :- Bardney Limewoods 2008 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157604757394558/ Bardney Limewoods 2009 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157616635241942/ Bardney Limewoods 2010 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157623488040369/ Bardney Limewoods 2011 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/sets/72157626361531988/ For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006846.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk] When sending in reports please follow Bulletin layout to save editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny macalpine@doddington.demon.co.uk *** Contacts List *** *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/bfly/index.php *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** LNU Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Alan Phillips Willing to examine specimens or check photos (but bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). Aculeates only please, no parasitic wasps such as Ichneumons. If in doubt please contact for advice: aculeates@gmail.com *** Whisby's Bee and Wasp List *** Dr Michael Archer and Alan Phillips have put together an impressive list. Have a look and see how many species you recognise by name! http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/whisby/index.php?id=73 Also see: http://norwegica.wordpress.com/author/norwegica/ Could this be the year you learn to identify bees and wasps? *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** 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 *** 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, May 27, 2012 Oxgangs House Springs, Nettleton Top (Courtesy of Rachel Gibbons) South of Caistor 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road south from Nettleton Top (road from Nettleton to Claxby) take first track on right side and park to side of track at first bend at TF113 979. NB. Steep slopes present so stout footwear recommended. Habitats: Spring, marsh, pasture and possibly some arable Leader: Richard Chadd 07990 564519 richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk 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: *** Link(s) of the Week *** Awful story - More biological than taxonomic.... Give me your Kidney? http://uk.news.yahoo.com/kidney-donor-betrayed-boss-firing-000105980.html ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/