=========================================== || || 9th September 2012 [late] || || 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 *** Busy catching up with he bulletin. It will be a tad late. Thank you for keeping the information coming. As I shall be attending the Horncastle Astronomy Weekend, the next Bulletin may again come out a day or two late. Roger *** Next LNU Event *** For LNU meetings see www.lnu.org/events.php See section 11 for full programme. 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 *** Apple Days in Lincolnshire 2012 *** Take along your unknown apples for identification. It might be a lost local variety with a history. Information from the website of: East of England Apples and Orchards Project http://www.applesandorchards.org.uk/ Sat 6th October The Arts Centre, St. Mary's Street, Stamford Lincs PE9 7DL TBA A Stamford Community Orchard Group event Tel: 01780 764028 Free entry http://www.scog-web.org.uk/appleday2011.html Sun 7th October The Town Hall, Louth Road, Wragby Lincs LN8 5PH TBA Tel: 01673 818272 A Lincolnshire Organic Gardeners' Organisation event www.logo.org.uk *** Grantham Branch LWT *** Marion Ellis writes: Sunday 16 Sept 2.00pm Nature ramble in Syston Park near Grantham For further information ring John Chadwick 01476 561413 *** Gainsborough Area LWT *** Dave Stockley writes: Wed 26 September 2012: "Botswana" Malcolm Walpole takes us on an audiovisual adventure safari in the Okavango Delta and Kalahari desert, with wonderful photography of mammals, birds and landscapes. 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 *** Rocks and Fossils *** Helen Gamble writes: Saturday 22 September Newark Showground – Rock & Fossil Show 10 am to 5 p.m. Displays & Demonstrations Fun Fossil Activities Stands of local geological societies, geoconservation groups & quarry companies Talks by leading geologists about Britain's Beastly Past, Sensational Soft –Bodies Silurian Fossils, and the Geology of the East Midlands A chance to book on field trips– all being led on Sunday 23 September Field Trips to Ketton Quarry, Charnwood Forest or Ashover in Derbyshire Suitable for beginners in geology and additionally, in the case of Ketton, for families with children of secondary school age. *** 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. 1/9 Osprey, Saltfleetby Osprey, Theddlethorpe All Saints Red-necked Phalarope, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper,Frampton Marsh Pectoral Sandpiper, 6 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 7 Arctic Skuas and Bonxie [past], Gibraltar Point 2/9 Yellow-legged Gulls, Donna Nook Pectoral Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Pectoral Sandpiper, 5 Spoonbills, 4 Crossbills, Gibraltar Point Osprey, Messing Sand ponds 3/9 Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Pectoral Sandpiper, 4 Spoonbills, Red-backed Shrike, Barred Warbler, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull, Skegness Hen Harrier, fem, Grantham 4/9 Barred Warbler, 5 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point More in next week's Bulletin. 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. MUMBY Liz Fleuty 31/8/12 Dead barn owl (ringed) found east of Mumby village. This was found the morning after the very cold night last week. Could this have contributed? We suspect it was a juvenile, and did initially think it was part of the Lincolnshire Bird Club's barn owl nestbox scheme in the area. Supported by the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, the scheme started this year with all six nestboxes occupied. Early reports suggested that the boxes could result in ten barn owl chicks and seven kestrel chicks. For more information on this scheme visit http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/LCCP/index.html Andrew Chick has confirmed that the barn owl corpse we found is not from the LCCP scheme but from the Mid-Lincs Ringing Scheme, so we are now waiting for further information on where this owl was ringed. *** 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. A631 Louth to Gainsborough Chris J Manning 3rd September 2012 4 dead hedgehogs, 1 badger and 1 fox. DEEPINGS D Griffith Deeping Lakes NR 09/09/12 Cetti's warbler x2 Chiffchaff x3 Snipe Osprey- fishing (unsuccessfully) on the main lake for about an hour. All sightings by D Griffith apart from one of the Cetti's which was heard by N Littler. LINCOLN 05 Sepr 12 1400 Colin J Green Newark Road, nr. Swallowbeck, in my Garden, 1400 hrs, sunny on buddleja: Comma x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x2 (at last - first ones in garden this year) RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 01.09.12 Caterpillar of Garden Tiger moth (Arctia caja) 02.09.12 Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock butterflies Grey Heron 08.09.12 Large blue dragonfly over pond, probably Emperor Dragonfly. Misc butterflies in good numbers. A few smallish wasps (males?) - numbers still very low. Very few hoverflies. Willow warbler TATTERSHALL TF205571 8 September 2012 Chris J Manning Road Kill hedgehog, also mole hills THE WASH Geof Lee Boat trip from Fosdyke Bridge to Skull Ridge buoy in Boston Deeps Saturday, 01/09/2012 Grey wagtail - 3 Common sandpiper - 2 Turnstone - 50+ Whimbrel - 8 Heron - 8 Great crested grebe - 6 Eider - 5 Marsh harrier - 1 Kestrel - 1 Guillemot - 1 Gannet - 6 - all immature Little egret - 30+ Cormorant - 30+ Arctic skua - 30+ Bonxie - 30 + Teal - 20+ Oystercatcher - 100+ Black tailed godwit - 1,000+ Knot - 1,000+ Common tern - 100+ Sandwich tern - 100+ Greater black backed gull - 100+ Dunlin - 100+ Wigeon - 100+ House martin - 50+ Common seal - 26 Mackerel - the Wash is full of them at the moment Tope - we caught and returned a 1 year old and a 2 year old, so they are breeding successfully. This was a day when mass migration took place. Flock after flock flew south across the mouth of the Wash all day long - too far away to identify. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. 3/9/2012 Holly blue 2; Speckled wood 2, Red admiral 3; Small tortoiseshell 6. Marsh harrier f, Barn owl, Tawny owls. Swallow brood still using roost. 8/9/12 Swallow brood had left their "base". 9/9/12 WRANGLE COMMON 09/09/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson Things were very quiet this morning, but there were signs that autumn is approaching with Teal, Greenshank and Snipe recorded. Three Buzzards were counted - two of them young birds - so clearly, as suspected, they have nested in or around the East Fen. A single Turtle Dove was a good record, but these birds are thought to have nested here this year. A huge patch of thistles in an organic bean field yielded 84 Goldfinches and there were 9 Linnets in the adjacent hedges, together with a single Corn Bunting. No warblers were recorded and no Skylarks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 26/08/2012 Buzzard 1 Crossbill 2 Garganey 1 Pied Flycatcher 1 Short-eared Owl 1 Spoonbill 6 Spotted Flycatcher 2 Tree Pipit 1 Wheatear 3 Whinchat 2 27/08/2012 Common Sandpiper 2 Crossbill 5 Garden Warbler 1 Goldcrest 1 Pied Flycatcher 1 Spoonbill 3 Wheatear 1 Whinchat 3 28/08/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 50 Common Sandpiper 1 Greenish Warbler 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Hen Harrier 1 Little Ringed Plover 1 Ruff 2 Spoonbill 1 Whinchat 1 29/08/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 77 Black Tern 8 Common Sandpiper 1 Crossbill 6 Green Sandpiper 1 Little Stint 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Ruff 2 Spoonbill 6 30/08/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 78 Common Sandpiper 4 Green Sandpiper 2 Greenshank 3 Short-eared Owl 1 Spoonbill 4 Wheatear 2 31/08/2012 Black-tailed Godwit 77 Chiffchaff 2 Common Sandpiper 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Marsh Harrier 1 Peregrine 1 Ruff 1 Spoonbill 4 Willow Warbler 3 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 7th September 2012. John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth High pressure became established for the week which at last gave a spell of fine weather. Temperatures rose to 25.5°C on the 3rd but there was a nip in the air on Wednesday morning (5th) when the minimum grass temperature dropped to 1.0°C. The warm, sunny days brought out good numbers of common and ruddy darters. Migrant hawker sightings have been 20+ between Brickyard and Churchill, and at least 6 in the Sea View area. Emerald damsel occurred in small numbers on the ponds between Churchill and Rimac. A good range of butterflies have been on the wing including reasonable numbers of peacocks and few red admirals. However of particular note was the sighting of many small tortoiseshells on sea aster on the saltmarsh on the 5th. The afternoon was fresh and sunny with a NE breeze and 73 were counted, scattered in an area of around 20 acres of saltmarsh with a good cover of sea aster. Day-flying moths (SilverY?) and bees were also attracted to the sea aster flowers. Other butterfly records have been speckled wood (quite a few), holly blue (2), brimstone (7), common blue (6) and wall brown (8). Around the Sea View area several Common and Lesser Whitethroats and Blackcaps have passed through. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen on the 3rd. Three Turtle Doves flew south of Crook Bank on the 7th and a couple of Wheatears were spotted during the week. There were two records of Hobby near Sea View. At the gull roost Cliff comments "Black-headed gulls seem to have peaked in the previous week at around 7,000. Last Saturday (1st), there were around 6,000 BH, 1,000 CM, 12 GB, 20 HG, 1 juv Caspian gull and 1 Arctic Skua. 30+ Sandwich Terns on 1st as well at roost, but this number built up to 65+ early morning on 7th. Note that last night, 6th Sept, I came off the beach at 8pm, by which time all the gulls should have been in. The gull roost was only about 1,200 birds, 80% of which were Common Gulls. Where are the BHs? On the 7th there were about 1,200 BHs at 0645, so they must have come in late last night to take advantage of harvest ploughing. Even so, a big drop on most mornings". Wader counts at high tide roosts have been 90+ Ringed Plover, 40 Sanderling and 40 Dunlin. Other waders included 37 Bar-tailed Godwits on 1st Sept am, 41 on 3rd, with 5 Black-tailed Godwits on 5th Sept. Other waders included 1 Little Stint on 3rd, 3 Turnstones and 20 Knot. Only 1 Oystercatcher and 50+ curlew early mornings but 37 Oystercatchers flew north on the 7th. An adult Red-throated diver in summer plumage has been seen a few times during the week out at sea and up to a dozen Gannets on most days. Muntjac deer have been seen in the Sea View area and a single water vole swam across a ditch at Rimac on the 6th. 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 07.09.12 BIRDS Max nos. bittern blackbird 6 blackcap black headed gull 30 blue tit 10 bullfinch 2 canada goose 12 carrion crow 3 chaffinch 6 collared dove 8 common buzzard common gull 10 coot 56 cormorant 6 curlew 10 dunlin 15 dunnock 4 gadwall 20 golden plover 30 goldfinch 25 GBB gull 2 GC grebe 6 GS woodpecker 2 great tit 7 greenfinch 4 grey heron 2 greylag goose 20 herring gull 6 house martin 70 house sparrow 15 jackdaw 30 kestrel lapwing 50+ long tailed tit 30 magpie 4 mallard 20 marsh harrier M moorhen 8 mute swan 6 nuthatch pheasant 2 pied wagtail 2 pochard 6 reed bunting 6 red crested pochard F ringed plover robin 3 rook 12 sand martin 200+ shelduck 2 shoveler 6 skylark 2 snipe starling 21 swallow 40+ tufted duck 21 water rail whinchat 2 whitethroat 3 willow tit 2 willow warbler wood pigeon 10 wren 5 yellow wagtail 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.....); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006846.aspx and Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk] When sending in reports please follow Bulletin layout to save editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny macalpine@doddington.demon.co.uk *** 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: none. ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/