=========================================== || || 28th October 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 *** Don't forget to reset your clocks to GMT this weekend! I hope the Mailchimp mailings are reaching everyone. Please let me know if you experience any problems. Autumn 2012 is turning out to be very beautiful, with a good display of colour in the trees and a lot of interesting fungi. Ray Halstead welcomes fungus reports. Please remember to provide him with full habitat data in reports, as this often contains clues to eliminate or confirm a particular species. ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk May I make a plea for MORE THAN bird reports? Most of us started off with an interest in ornithology, but the LNU focuses on more than birds. Other animals deserve reporting. Birding skills do transfer well to other groups. The autumn is a time when you may still notice a wide range of insects and other invertebrates. Mammals may be seen, alive or as road kills. You may be able to identify animal tracks in mud or snow. Late bat records are always welcome. As we enter the grey seal breeding season it will be good to have updates on that, please. For seal news see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/index.php This is not to say you should neglect bird reports, for there is nothing quite like the arrival of winter visitors. There are reports of redwings in their 1000s arriving in Lincolnshire this week. This is a good time to collect a few boxes of windfall apples ready to put out for winter thrushes when the snow arrives! Try to remember hedgehogs when you consider lighting bonfires. A newly-built bonfire is far less likely to incinerate a prickly and useful garden friend! Please keep those comments and reports coming. We really need your contributions. Roger *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Saturday, November 24, 2012 Buglife's 'Stepping Stones' Project Buglife's (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) 'Stepping Stones' project on brownfield sites in Lincolnshire and beyond, plus a review of other work by the Trust. By Clare Dinham of Buglife *** BMS Fungus-collecting Code *** Responsible collecting is key to fungus protection and conservation. If you intend collecting fungi, please do your very best to follow the advice given on this website: http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-of-picking/ *** Have We Got Chalara In Lincolnshire Yet? *** Chalara dieback, caused by a fungus called Chalara fraxinea, has been confirmed at two sites in East Anglia. If you think you have seen it, please report it. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely On Saturday 3rd November 2012 you are invited you to join us on an autumn morning bird walk on the Cleethorpes foreshore with bird expert Ray Hume. Please meet outside the Cleethorpes Discovery Centre at 9am. All are welcome. ** Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. ** This is a free event but donations will be taken for The Trust. For more information please contact Ray Hume - 01472 320878. *** LWT Grantham Group *** Marion Ellis writes: Friday 9th November Birds of the West Indies Steve Keightley brings us the sights of Caribbean Birds, a reminder of warmer times during our cold winter nights. 7.30pm Barkstone & Syston Village Hall Members Free, Visitors suggested donation £2 *** Gainsborough Area LWT *** Dave Stockley writes: Wed 21 November 2012: A Digital Year – Geoff Trinder From the garden to Japan and orchids to owls, come and see what one of our favourite speakers and photographers has been up to recently! Indoor meetings are held at Morton Village Hall (just north of Gainsborough), and begin at 7.30 p.m.. A (minimum) donation of £1.00 includes refreshments, and there is usually a raffle, bird food available if pre- ordered (tel: 01427 613128) and other items for fundraising. People of all ages, Wildlife Trust members or not, are welcome. For more information, please ring Joy on 01427 628457 or e-mail Linda – L.Woodward@virgin.net *** Report those Harlequin Ladybirds *** This is a good time of year for trying to "spot" these! For help distinguishing and identifying Harlequins and other ladybirds, or submitting a Harlequin report, see: http://www.harlequin-survey.org/ *** Police and Crime Commissioner Elections *** You will have received information about the forthcoming PCC election and may have an opportunity to speak with candidates before then. It will be interesting to see how seriously wildlife and rural crime issues are being addressed. Why not ask? More information: www.choosemypcc.org.uk *** Possible WATCH Club, Coningsby/Tattershall area *** I am looking into starting a WATCH club in my local area and would be pleased to hear from anyone local with the relevant enthusiasms. In case you don't know, Watch Clubs are the junior wing of the Wildlife Trusts. Watch meetings typically last 2 hours on a weekend, once a month. As a first step I need to find at least one other, preferably 2 other adult Watch leaders. If you can think of anyone who might enjoy setting up and helping to run a Watch club, please ask them to contact me for further information by e-mail on rparsons@enterprise.net For background information see: http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/ http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/watch/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 20/10 Long-billed Dowitcher, Alhborough Flats 6 Short-eared Owls, Worlaby Carrs Woodlark, 4 Twite, Donna Nook Short-eared Owl, 4 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Spotted Redshank, 2 Ring Ouzels, Black Redstart, Gibraltar Point 21/10 2 Ring Ouzels, Firecrest, Long-eared Owl, 2 Short- eared owls, Snow Bunting, Hawfinch, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Black-throated diver offshore, 221 Little Gulls, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting, Donna Nook 2 Black-necked Grebes, Thurlby Pits 22/10 Short-eared Owl, Worlaby Carrs 8 Ring Ouzels, 7 Black Redstarts, Gibraltar Point 2 Ring Ouzels, Freiston Shore Firecrest, 15 Ring Ouzels, Black Redstart, Jack Snipe, 3 Twite, Redstart, 40 Bramblng, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Ring Ouzel, Cleethorpes, Pleasure Island 6500+ Redwings, 700+ Blackbirds, Lapland Bunting, 8 Ring Ouzels, Redstart, Donna Nook 20 Ring Ouzels, Snow Bunting, Gibraltar Point 23/10 Mealy Redpoll, Firecrest, Gibrtaltar Point Richard's Pipit, 2 Black Redstarts, Willow Warbler Donna Nook 4 Caspian Gulls, 7 Yellow-legged Gulls, North Hykeham 8+ Ring Ouzels, Black Redstart, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 15 Ring Ouzels, Whinchat, Tree Pipit, 5 Black Redstarts, Jack Snipe, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting, 4 Ring Ouzels, Donna Nook 2 Black-necked Grebes, Thurlby Pits Red-breasted Flycatcher, Ring Ouzel, Black Redstart, Chapel St Leonards Probable Mealy Redpoll with 80+ Lesser Redpolls, North Hykeham 24/10 Unconfirmed American Herring Gull, 3 Caspian Gulls, Gainsborough Landfill site. 36 Ring Ouzels, 8 Black Redstarts, 2 Redstarts, Lapland Bunting, Firecrest, 5 Bearded Tits, 6.000 Redwings, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting, 7 Ring Ouzels, Black Redstart, Donna Nook 7 Ring Ouzels, Horseshoe Point 3 Swallows, 5+ Ring Ousels, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 25/10 Red-necked Grebe, Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits 6 Ring Ouzels, 2 Black Redstarts, Pallas' Warbler,] Gibraltar Point 2 Black-necked Grebes, Thurlby Pits Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 4 Ring Ouzels, Freison Shore 2 Ring Ouzels, Saxby Wolds Adult Caspian Gull, 4 Yellow-legged Gulls, Gainsborough Landfill site. 26/10 2 Adult Caspian Gull, 6 Yellow-legged Gulls, 1 Mediterranean Gull, Gainsborough Landfill site. Red-necked Grebe, Kirkby on Bain Gravel Pits Siberian Chiffchaff, Donna nook, Pye's Hall 3 Ring Ouzels, 2 Waxwings, Donna Nook Hen Harrier, Short-eared owl, 2 Bearded Tits, 3 Black Redstarts, 18 Ring Ouzels, 36 Little Gull, 12 Bonxies, Pomarine Skua past Gibraltar Point 22 Whooper Swan SE of Messingham 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. RIGSBY WOOD LWT Reserve, Nr Alford TF424 764 LNU annual fungi foray led by Ray Halstead and attended by 16 people. Overcast and cool. 21 October 2012 Brian Hedley A very good range of fungi noted, especially on the decaying log piles, with my personal favourite being the swarms of slender club fungus Macrotyphula juncea. Over 90 plant species recorded including water avens, yellow pimpernel, hairy brome, woodruff and greater stitchwort. 17 bird species recorded including tawny owl, jay, buzzard and about 30 pink-footed geese southeast. Other records (mainly noted by Charlie Barnes) include brown hare, dark bush-cricket, crampball fungus weevil, hawthorn shieldbug and Dasineura ulmaria - a dipteran gall on meadowsweet. *** Jays - a note - see reports below *** Alice Nunn writes: I note a comment from David Griffith in latest LNU bulletin about seeing an increase of Jays. By chance I was down at RSPB HQ the Lodge Sandy on Tues 16th Oct and commented I'd seen a few Jays as I walked around the Reserve. I was told by an RSPB person that there are a lot over here at the moment from the Continent, due to a poor acorn crop across the Channel. I noticed some happily tucking into peanuts out of a feeder. *** 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 experts. Thanks. BASTON FEN NR 25.10.2012 John Redhsaw Pinkfooted Goose 45 over in morning heading east Large numbers of thrushes arriving after 1100 hours, mostly only Redwings calling up to 1300hrs then Fieldfares arriving and settling in drainside poplars before moving on. In region of 2500-3000 Redwings and 1000-1500 Fieldfares, the Redwings swirling like a flock of starlings - amazing. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson 20/21st October. Further to David Griffiths' report re Jays, there have been some very vocal ones around the north end of Carlton le Moorland this weekend. I can recall neither having seen nor heard Jays around the north end of the village before. All I can attribute it to might be a lack of acorns, thus making them forage further afield than usual maybe? DEEPING LAKES Nature Reserve Ian Gordon Site: Deeping Lakes Date: 09/10/12 Time: 1015 – 1145 Weather: Cloudy, breezy and cold Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Collared Dove Coot Cormorant Crow Fieldfare (several small flocks (10 – 50 per flock) flying over or adjacent to reserve) Gadwall Goldeneye Goldfinch Great Crested Grebe Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull Lapwing Little Grebe Magpie Mallard Meadow Pipit Moorhen Mute Swan Pochard Redwing Robin Rook Shoveler Starling Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Wood Pigeon HOLBEACH RANGE NW end. R & K Heath 20/10/12 We did well for birds of prey when the fog cleared on the WeBS count. Kestrel 1 Marsh Harriers 2 Merlin 1 Peregrine 1 Shorteared Owl 1 HUTTOFT TF512 763 (my garden) JANE PENNINGTON Date: 21/10 Greater spotted woodpecker 1 Jay 1 Date: 23/10 Jay 1 Chaffinch 1 Date: 25/10 Jay 1 Mistle Thrush 2 Grey squirrel 1 (picking an apple of a tree!) The robin's also back and there is a large family of blackbirds. TRENT PORT AREA, MARTON SK834 813 Brian Hedley 18 October 2012 Comma 1 Common darter 18 Migrant hawker 8 Hornet 1 Nettle-tap moth 10 Curlew 3 Lesser Redpoll 2 Reed bunting 10 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 20/10/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson The site has been very low on birds for several weeks now, but although total numbers weren't high today several species of interest were recorded. The first Water Rail of the winter was calling in the reeds and a Kingfisher was present. Kingfishers have rarely been seen in the last two years, perhaps a result of the hard winter two years ago. A Green Sandpiper flew over calling. These used to be very common when the site was simply a wet field before the ponds were dug and numbers used to run into double figures. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was a very rare visitor plus a Song Thrush, which is so infrequently encountered here that it is not listed on the BirdTrack list of the 80 most frequently counted species. In fact, both these birds were ringed here for the first time. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 20/10/2012 2 Tawny owls and barn owl heard 6.30pm. 23/10 Barn owl hunting in area 8am. 24/10 Buzzards calling 4.30pm, one seemingly in garden! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 18/10/2012 Avocet 18 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Firecrest 1 Hawfinch 2 Jay 1 Merlin 1 Redwing 2 SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES 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: 26th October 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Daytime temperatures had remained in their mid-teens for most of the month and minimums were low with several ground frosts recorded, all influenced by a SW-SE air flow. However on the 21st winds veered from the west and by the 22nd north easterlies had set in. The minimum ground temperatures rose sharply to 10.0°C on the 22nd, 11.25°C on 23-24th and 9.25°C on the 25th resulting in dense fog and combined with a north-easterly air flow gave us a short spell of autumn migration. On the morning of the 22nd large flocks of Redwing, Fieldfare and Woodpigeon were observed flying over the NNR. Goldcrests, Robins, Chaffinches, Bramblings, Song Thrushes and Blackbirds were also evident in good numbers. The main movement was during Monday and Tuesday morning, then as the week progressed and the fog lifted birds dispersed to surrounding areas and beyond but there seemed to be an increase in Blackbirds. The very poor weather conditions early in the week plus the fact that flocks of birds were flying over, some settled, some moved on etc. made it very difficult to try and establish any total counts. Conservatively it would seem the following main influx of birds on the Monday was Fieldfare 1000+, Redwing 3500+, Blackbird 350+, Song Thrush 160+, Robin 200+, Brambling 80+ and Goldcrest 400+. On Tuesday birds were still passing through but in smaller numbers and there was movement along the reserve, birds feeding on elder and hawthorn, and on the ground on the adjoining LWT meadows. By Friday the numbers of winter thrushes are down to a few hundred. Other birds observed with this passage included Firecrest 1, Mistle Thrush 6, Ring Ouzel 20+, Black Redstart 1, Redstart 2, Chiffchaff 9+, Stonechat 2, Bullfinch 2, Twite 3, Redpoll 2, Jay 2 and Swallow 7+. On the 25th several large flocks of Starlings totalling 900+ birds were seen flying over Rimac and the saltmarsh. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for September 2012 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh A good month for waders with peak counts of six Little Stints, Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News W/E 26.10.12 BIRDS Max. nos. bearded tit 11 bittern blackbird 15 black headed gull 50 blue tit 8 Canada goose 10 carrion crow 6 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 8 collared dove 4 common gull 6 coot 55 cormorant 3 curlew 10 dunnock 2 fieldfare 13 gadwall 10 goldfinch 20 GC grebe 4 GS woodpecker great tit 6 greenfinch 4 grey heron greylag goose 70 herring gull house sparrow 8 kestrel kingfisher lapwing 10 little grebe 3 long tailed tit 6 magpie 4 mallard 18 moorhen 6 mute swan 6 pheasant pink footed goose 2500+ pochard 6 red-crested pochard F redshank 12 redwing 120 reed bunting 2 robin 6 shoveler 8 snipe sparrowhawk starling 300+ swallow 2 (24th) teal 100+ tufted duck 14 water rail wigeon 100+ willow tit 2 wood pigeon 16 wren 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Colin Green has produced the following video about visiting Southrey Wood. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 Can we have some reports, please? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: I have recently agreed to take on the roles of Regional Co- ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). I will be organising a few field meetings to hunt for spiders and other arachnids in due course, but if any LNU members wish to get in touch in the meantime then please contact me on my e-mail address: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** 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/ *** 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/ *** Met Office E-mail 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/about-us/guide-to-emails *** 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 *** 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 The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project (LCGMP) To learn more about the project or to find out how to get involved, please visit www.lincsmarshes.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 videos by Colin Green. Little Scrubbs Meadon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqCJLrTQmg&feature=relmfu Greetwell Hollow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmzLFrbjFU&feature=plcp Rimac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=plcp *** 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. Indoor meetings: Saturday, November 24, 2012 Buglife's 'Stepping Stones' Project Buglife's (The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) 'Stepping Stones' project on brownfield sites in Lincolnshire and beyond, plus a review of other work by the Trust. By Clare Dinham of Buglife Saturday, January 19, 2013 Talk - details to follow Saturday, February 16, 2013 Recorders' Meeting & Annual Exhibition Note - watch for details of early start to give us all additional talking-time. Saturday, March 09, 2013 AGM & Presidential Address by Roger Parsons Subject: The Ecology of Pollination and Pollinators ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Enterprise mailfails: Mostly due to bad reputation of "3" IP address? Mainly affects my thankyous/replies to e-mails. If I have not replied or said thank you - I did - but my reply was blocked! This issue should not affect the Mailchimp mailing. maryporter norwegica csmith668 brianhull52 dgriff lionelgrooby iangordon brian_hedley jeremy hutchinson *** And Finally ... Walden by Thoreau - audiobook on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfxyfnoQ4_4 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/ Note: the links below allow you to unsubscribe, send a copy of the Bulletin to a friend or modify your profile/change your e-mail address. N.B. Each reader sees only their own address.