=========================================== || || 2nd September 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 1096 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 *** I am away on a course next week: Zooarchaeology. I bought a book on the subject in 1972, Animal Bones in Archaeology, cost £1.85. Better late than never. This means that responses to your e-mails will be delayed, as will next week's Bulletin. Please keep the reports coming. Recent sunny days have resulted in a lot of insect activity in the garden and this has been reflected in the apiary, all hives working vigorously. There has been late honey to extract. Nectar and pollen being collected, seemingly from game-bird cover. Treatment of the colonies resulted in a heavy drop of Varroa mites, fellow beekeepers please note. The second brood of swallows are on the point of abandoning their nest site. They have been in the "education" phase of flying lessons with pit stops for feeding, returning to the washhouse for shelter in heavy rain and for night-time roosting. Apologies to anyone caught by my mobile broadband problems which relate to the blacklisting of the 3G port and IP address for spamming, a widespread issue I understand. Solutions being explored now. Roger *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. 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 *** Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership *** Biodiversity Action Plan 2011 - 2020 See: http://lincsbiodiversity.org.uk/ The LNU is closely involved in the work of the Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership, which is to become one of the first Local Nature Partnerships [LNPs]. Richard Chadd is LBP Chairman and readers will know him as an LNU Executive Committee member and Recorder. He commented: "Successive editions of Lincolnshire's Biodiversity Action Plan have delivered tangible gains for wildlife in the County. This new edition carries such action forwards in an even sharper, more efficient manner, concentrating the efforts of partners to improve biodiversity across a range of habitats." For more on Local Nature Partnerships see: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/local-nature-partnerships/ *** 4th Lincolnshire Firewood Fair *** Stock up on your winter firewood supply! 2nd September 2012 - Revesby Estate Winner of the Community section of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2012. David White writes: 4th Lincolnshire Firewood Fair 2nd September - Revesby Estate The event will start at 10 o'clock and run until 4 o'clock. This year in the auction there will be wood suitable for wood carvers and wood turners as well as firewood. This helps us make the best use of every tree that is felled. Exhibitors during the day should include Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service, Lincolnshire Tree Awareness Group, Lincs Bat Group and the Royal Forestry Society. There will be bird box building for children organised and overseen by the Horncastle Wildlife Watch Group. Aveland trees will be there for those wishing to purchase native trees many grown from local seed but if you fancy something more exotic then Mycorrhizal Systems Ltd will be there selling truffle impregnated trees. Demonstrations will include a Lincolnshire based horse logger, low impact woodland management equipment and firewood production. A beer tent will be there on the day as well as other refreshments like Lincolnshire Wild Venison. (eat a Muntjac and save a bluebell). Entry and parking free. Signs up on the day. See: www.lincolnshirefirewoodfair.co.uk *** Blow Wells *** Noel Loxley writes: Barrow has blow wells. Rear of Draytons' nurseries in Cherry Lane. I think they are under the auspices of the LWT. My next door neighbour, deceased some time ago now, aged 91, told me the story of him and some local lads in the early twentieth century, fastening a two stone weight to a very large and long, ball of farmyard twine and lowering it into a blow well in Barrow. When the twine was fully extended, the weight still hadn't reached the bottom! *** Hoverflies and Other wildlife *** Richard Dawson asks: Normally [Sleaford] in July and August we are inundated with hoverflies. But this year they are almost completely absent. Anyone else noticed a paucity? And is this weather- related? Combining is well under way all around us so it's not down to the slightly late harvest time. *** Heritage Open Days 2012 *** Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th September 2012 http://www.lincsheritage.org/hod/ *** Rural and Wildlife Crime *** If you would like to play a more active part in the fight against crime you should consider joining Farm and Country Business Watch. It is free. You get regular intelligence and information on local crimes and concerns. http://www.lincs.police.uk/News-Centre/Campaigns/Farm-And-Country-Business-Watch/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 26/8 Red-necked Phalarope, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint, 3 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier, Redstart, 2 Whinchats, Donna Nook Redstart, Lincoln, Swanpool Little Stint, Gibraltar Point Red-necked Grebe, Black Tern, Covenham Reservoir Probable Honey Buzzard over Ruckland 27/8 Pomarine Skua, 56 Arctic Skuas, Long-tailed Skua, Arctic tern, Black Tern, past Gibraltar Point Sooty Shearwater. 4 Arctic Skuas, past Donna Nook Spoonbill, Little Stint, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe, Little Stint, 5 Garganey, Red-necked Phalarope, Frampton Marsh Sooty Shearwater past Slatfletby-Theddlethorpe 28/8 Greenish Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, 6 Spoonbills, Little Stint, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Redstart, Hen Harrier, Whinchat, Gibraltar Point Black Tern, Covenham Reservoir Osprey, Grimsby over Scartho 2 Arctic Skuas past Huttoft Short-eared owl, Baumber Slavonian Grebe flew north, Osprey in off sea, Trusthorpe 29/8 Pectoral Sandpiper, 6 Spoonbills, Little Stint, 6 Crossbills, 8 Black Terns flew south, Gibraltar Point White Stork, Messingham Curlew Sandpiper, Cleethorpes Montagu's Harrier, Gainsborough 30/8 Redstart past Gibraltar Point, plus 3 Arctic Skuas, 21 Arctic Skuas, 2 Bonxies 6 Spoonbills, Pectoral Sandpiper, Little Stint, Short-eared Owl, Pied Flycatcher, Gibraltar Point 31/8 Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 Spoonbills, Redstart, Pied Flycatcher juv, Gibraltar Point Barred Warbler, Donna Nook 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. ELSEA PARK MEADOWS AND MATH/ELSEA WOOD SSSI, BOURNE TF09 18 LNU field meeting on a warm and sunny day led by Brian Hedley. Courtesy of Elsea Park Community Trust and Richard Adcock. 19 August 2012 Plant highlights included large amounts of orange foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis) mainly floating on the surface of a ditch plus good stands of thin-spiked wood sedge (Carex strigosa) along a woodland ride. Young frogs and toads were frequent. An adult and a young smooth newt were also found. Roe deer signs were frequent. A range of beetles were noted by Charlie Barnes including Lema cyanella (1st record for VC53) and Oulema obscura (4th record for VC53) both found in the car parking area! A good range of odonata were noted (12 species) including small red-eyed damselfly, emerald damselfly, banded demoiselle, southern hawker, brown hawker, emperor, at least 150 swarming migrant hawkers and very good numbers of both common darter and ruddy darter. Eleven species of butterfly were noted including both common and holly blues. Moths included silver Y, cinnabar and Udea lutealis. Other invertebrates included hornet and Roesel's bush-cricket. Twenty-six bird species were recorded including a close encounter with a roosting tawny owl plus marsh tit, nuthatch, buzzard and several green woodpeckers. *** 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. HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes on 25/8/2012 A few interesting sightings this week: three brown hares in a field between Saxby all Saints and Bonby; single bat flying around the house; toad in garden and, today, a privet hawkmoth caterpillar on a holly bush. MOGG's EYE Jim Fish Sea watching Mogg's Eye Monday 27 August - approx. 10.00am to 2.00pm. Significant movement south of gannets - maybe 50+ over period. Also seen - numerous Common Scoters, 3 Red throated Divers, 2 Guillimots plus various Gulls. Also, at 12.00 o clock'ish 3 large herons flew in off the sea - they appeared to have black wings and brown backs and seemed to be very large. I couldn't see any more detail although they might have had some white at the tips of their wings - not certain and they were some distance away. When they reached land they flew south along the shore towards Skegness/Wash. Has anybody else seen them at all and has anyone any idea what they were given the little i.d provided? My investigations in my many field guides suggest Purple Herons - likely (with 3 of them) RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 23.08.12 (& several days before) Great Spotted Woodpecker (juv) on peanut feeder 24.08.12 Common shrew (cat kill) 25.08.12 ca. 50 Swallows on power lines, some fledglings still begging for food. 3 tawny owls calling (2m, 1f) 28.08.12 5 juv. Goldfinches feeding on thistles Wren 29.08.12 75-80 Swallows on power lines taking a shower in rainy weather, facing south (northerly winds) RIPPINGALE Ian Misselbrook In garden at Rippingale 25/8/2012; Pond and surroundings Southern Hawker ovipositing. 2 Common Darters Smooth newt tadpoles 1 Common Frog 1 Great Diving Beetle – 2 inches long 1 smaller Diving Beetle Water Boatmen Pond Skaters Butterflies 10 Peacocks 2 Red admirals 2 Large Whites Birds 1 Red Kite very low over the garden 1 Green Woodpecker 1 GS Woodpecker 2 Linnets 4 LT Tits 2 Coal Tits 2 Blue Tits 3 Great Tits 3 Goldfinches 4 Greenfinches 4 house Sparrows 14 Starlings 2 Jackdaws 2 Robins 1 Dunnock 1 Wren 1 Willow Warbler 1 Blackcap 4 House Martins 2 Swallows 2 Woodpigeons 3 Collared Doves WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons w/e 30/8/2012 Regular sightings of marsh harrier and common buzzard. Also kestrel, tawny and barn owls. Notable increase in rabbit and mole numbers. Grey squirrel. Brown hare. Bank and Field Voles. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 No report this week. 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 24th August 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth The daytime temperature on the 18th soared to 32.5°C and out came the butterflies. There was a big hatch of peacocks with around 60 seen in the Sea View area and 70 at Churchill on Saturday, with many more seen elsewhere. Also reported were a few small tortoiseshells and red admirals, two commas and a single holly blue and painted lady. There are still a few meadow browns, hedge browns, common blues, small skippers, small coppers and speckled woods. The brief spell of warm hot sunny weather brought out good numbers of common and ruddy darters; up to 4 red-eyed damsel- flies and one green emerald damselfly were seen at Rimac, small numbers of four-spotted chasers are still on the wing and there have been a couple of records of emperor dragonfly. There have also been a southern hawker and migrant hawker in the Brickyard area. The wonderful colour on the dunes is now turning a range of browns, yellows and tints of gold as plants begin to shed their seeds. Flowers of note now include autumn gentian, lesser water-plantain, gypsywort, common fleabane and water mint. It will be a poor show of berries this year on the sea buckthorn but it could be good for hawthorn. Bramble, dewberry and rowan are also in fruit. Out on the saltmarsh it looks as if there will be a fine display of sea aster. The spring tide cycle from Saturday morning through to Wednesday 22nd brought the expected peaks of Ringed Plovers at this time of year from c200, rising to 300+ by 22nd, but thereafter the birds essentially disappeared. Dunlin numbered up to 200, with Sanderling maximums at c90; only 1 Curlew Sandpiper on 19th along with 1 Little Stint, with a further 2 Little Stints on 22nd. Other waders included small parties of Knot and Oyster- catchers, with up to 4 Turnstones, but it is always the Ringed Plovers that dominate here on the high tide roosts. Whimbrel have been moving south every day, with a peak of 45 on 19th, of which 37 were in 1 party. Terns have now declined to less than 40 Sandwich Terns and around 37 Common Terns at roost, attracting Arctic Skuas on 19th and 22nd. Other birds of note for the week have included Redstart 1 and Pied Flycatcher 2 with a further 5 at the end of the week [per comms Birklands Ringing Group], Cuckoo 2, Hobby 1 on the 19th, an imm Peregrine on the 20th, Coal Tit 1 seen and heard at Sea View on the 21st, Kestrel 5 and a single Marsh Harrier hunting over the saltmarsh on the 22nd and a Short-eared Owl along the edge of the dunes and saltmarsh near Sea View that evening. Two Wheatear were seen on the beach near Brickyard on the 22nd and 3 Turtle Doves on the 24th. Cliff had a single Pectoral Sandpiper flew north and west high on the 18th. Week ending 31st August 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Bird highlights for the week include a good passage of Ringed Plovers with up to 250 seen on the beach and moving on, inland to the south west. An Osprey was seen coming in off the sea near Brickyard on the 28th and fly over the dunes, but the following day another sighting of a bird [same one?] again in the Brickyard area, caused havoc amongst 3000 Black-headed Gulls on the beach after being seen to catch a fish out at sea! Up to 12 Yellow Wagtails and 4 Little Ringed Plovers passed through mid-week. Two, possibly 3 Marsh Harriers were reported and up to 10 Kestrels have been hunting over the saltmarsh. A female Whinchat was a nice surprise, perched on the top of an elderberry bush with 8 Blackcaps and 3 Common Whitethroats in the same area at Sea View on the 29th and 2 late Swifts over the dunes at Churchill on the 30th. An emperor dragonfly was seen ovipositing in a garden pond adjacent to the NNR mid week. Several migrant hawkers are on the wing and still good numbers of ruddy and common darters. Although there have been good numbers of peacocks and fewer red admirals during any warm sunny day, butterflies in general still remain low in number. Several common blues were on the wing on the 29th and 3 brimstones were seen near Sea View on the 31st. [note – the Pectoral Sandpiper reported on the 18th was seen by Cliff Morrison, Colin crept in as a typo! Correct above.] RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for July 2012 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh The highlight was a White-rumped Sandpiper (7th to at least 25th). Other passage waders included up to two Curlew Sandpipers, three Wood Sandpipers and Little Stint. A Roseate Tern was seen on one date (1st) and a moulting adult White-Winged Black Tern for just 20 minutes (25th) while the Black-necked Grebe was more obliging and remained throughout. Up to four Little Gulls were present (15th) and Mediterranean Gulls were seen occasionally. RSPB Freiston Shore No report Gibraltar Point NNR A female King Eider (1st) was a first for the site and assuming it to be the same as one seen in the Wash in April, just the second for Lincolnshire. Up to 1700 Sanderling (31st) was a great count as was a peak of 31 Little Gulls (1st). Other waders included up to four Little Ringed Plovers (7th) and 14 Whimbrel (29th). Grasshopper Warblers were seen/heard on two dates and a Redstart on one (21st), while a Redwing on the same date was much less expected. Other sites At RSPB Freiston Shore up to two Roseate Terns were present (1st to 3rd). Caspian Gulls were seen at Kirkby Pits on two dates (13th & 26th). Quail were in short supply this year with just two reported; at Baston-Langtoft Pits (28th) and at RAF Digby (30th). A Great White Egret was at Whisby Nature Park (22nd & 23rd) and an Osprey at Deeping Lakes (29th & 31st). A Ring-necked Parakeet at Wyberton was only present for one day (13th) as was a White-rumped Sandpiper at Kirkby Pits (14th). 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 31.08.12 BIRDS Max nos. blackbird 9 black headed gull 25 black tailed godwit 3 blue tit 8 Canada goose 8 carrion crow 5 chaffinch 7 collared dove 4 common gull 20 common tern coot 45 cormorant 8 curlew 17 dunnock 4 gadwall 5 goldfinch 5 GBB gull 4 GC grebe 4 GS woodpecker great tit 4 greenfinch 2 grey heron 3 greylag goose 10 herring gull 2 house martin 2 house sparrow 8 kestrel lapwing 30 long tailed tit 5 magpie 8 mallard 15 moorhen 10 mute swan 3 pheasant 3 pochard 6 reed bunting 4 red crested pochard F (26th) robin 3 sand martin 200+ starling 11 swallow 40+ tufted duck 22 water rail whitethroat 3 wood pigeon 8 wren 10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** iSpot *** The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/275032 A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives This is a project run by The Open University as part of Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), where you can "Learn more about wildlife, share your interest with a friendly community and get help identifying what you have seen." The project is essentially in the business of helping people learn how to identify the wildlife they encounter, and encouraging them to get involved in biological recording. *** Contacts List *** *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/bfly/index.php *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** LNU Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Alan Phillips Willing to examine specimens or check photos (but bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). Aculeates only please, no parasitic wasps such as Ichneumons. If in doubt please contact for advice: aculeates@gmail.com *** Whisby's Bee and Wasp List *** Dr Michael Archer and Alan Phillips have put together an impressive list. Have a look and see how many species you recognise by name! http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/whisby/index.php?id=73 Also see: http://norwegica.wordpress.com/author/norwegica/ Could this be the year you learn to identify bees and wasps? *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Hedgehog Survey *** http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: chris@lincsdeer.info Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** New Met Office Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/corporate/pressoffice/2009/pr20090727.html *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Help BBCT with Amazon *** The Bumblebee Conservation Trust have an association with Amazon which helps to raise money for Bumblebee Conservation without any cost to the purchaser. If you buy anything from Amazon click onto the site via Bumblebee Conservation Trust - Support us - Easy fund raising - Amazon. If you do this Amazon will donate 8% of the price paid to Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Link: http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/fundraising.html or try http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk/products.html *** Other Useful Websites *** Key links are now being posted on the LNU website. http://www.lnu.org/ This should save space in the Bulletin, Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" Lincolnshire Environmental Awards http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Lincs. Wildlife Trust Website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Useful emergency numbers for wildlife crises. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/ Lincs Environmental Records Centre The Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk or for more general queries: info@lincsbiodiversity.org.uk 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 or contact Joe Blissett on 01507613132 Tornado and Storm Research Organisation www.torro.org.uk Contact Ian Loxley on colarain@tiscali.co.uk *** Interesting Weather radar website *** Noel Loxley recommends the following interesting website. http://www.raintoday.co.uk/ RSPB Contact Details RSPB Website: www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk Bardney Limewoods www.limewoods.co.uk limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. www.joseph-banks.org.uk EasyTide Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx TWO - The Weather Outlook Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Joan Gunson's Moths recorded in my garden 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Mike Binnion writes: Common Butterflies http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/otherattractions.htm http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ Youtube video of visit to Rimac NR Colin Green. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=em-share_video_user *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will sometimes withhold precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. 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: Many mailfails last week due to IP blocking on Hutchison 3G. Also: suzanne100 - mailbox full Sue.knight - not found And finally: Julia Smith sent the following extraordinary link. "The World's Biggest ant hill?" http://www.dump.com/biggestant/ Also see the link to: Bert Hölldobler. ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/