============================================ || || 8th December 2013 || || 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 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 1094 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. A Sign-up Form can now be found on: http://eepurl.com/zmFMT Past 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. Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. Please contact the Editor to contribute articles or reports. E-mail: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** From the Editor.... *** At the time of writing a North Sea Tidal Surge is in progress. See: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx It is to be hoped that seal pups at Donna Nook will be able to cope. Visitors to the coast should bear these risks in mind and refer to tide tables and warnings. Please stay away from affected areas where urgent work may be underway. http://www.ukho.gov.uk/easytide/EasyTide/index.aspx I am constantly surprised by the worldwide readership of the Bulletin. No doubt some of these clicks come from UK readers on their travels, but some must be from residents in the USA, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Canada, Ecuador, New Zealand, China, Costa Rica, and France. Fascinating. Brian Gaze's Winter Forecast on 'The Weather Outlook' has just gone up and is well worth a look. Brian is at pains to explain that this is an imprecise exercise and mainly a bit of fun to see what the various meteorological models predict. Despite that caveat, I have been impressed with his past attempts to forecast what the months ahead will bring. Have a look at: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/forecast/uk-seasonal-weather-forecast Paul Money's "Nightscenes 2013" suggests we look out for 2 meteor showers this month, though they are far from ideal. The Geminids peak very early morning on the 14th but may be spoiled by moonlight. The Ursids peak in daytime on the 22nd, but are probably best seen at 9pm before moonrise, according to Paul. Paul's Online shop sells "Nightscenes 2014." See: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/shop/shop.html Thanks. Roger *** Flooding messages *** Pager messages for 6th December - Gibraltar Point NNR closed. Freiston Shore RSPB closed. Donna Nook NNR closed. Frampton Marsh RSPB closed. Humber Bank flooding Lionel Grooby writes on 6th December: Far Ings visitors should please stay away until the area is safe - a few days at least. See report in section 5 below. *** LNU Events *** 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. The programme of indoor meetings starts next month and final arrangements are being made. To check on the details as these fall into place, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Next Meeting: Saturday, January 11, 2014 Talk by Richard Jefferson Conserving England’s high value grasslands: a health check and future prospects. Everyone is welcome at LNU meetings, but of course it is always good to have new members sign up and become involved in our work. You can do this via the LNU website: http://lnu.org/join.php *** LNU Communique - erratum *** Charlie Barnes writes: In the article on the future of the LNU library in Communique, Nick Tribe's contact email address was incorrectly spelt. It should have read nick.tribe@ntlworld.com. If you have tried to contact Nick using the incorrect email address, please resend your details to the correct address. *** Donna Nook Seals *** Readers of the Bulletin are urged to respect and support the advice and policy of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in relation to access to seal breeding areas. Please stay behind the fence in the viewing area and do not venture out onto the beach. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-24872049# For the latest Seal news see LWT webpage: http://lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/index.php Rob Lidstone-Scott writes: 2nd Nov: Bulls 82, cows 85, pups 30 9th Nov: Bulls 315, cows 412, pups 200 16th Nov: Bulls 423, cows 960, pups 701 23rd Nov: Bulls 495, cows 1309, pups 1239 30th Nov: Bulls 432, cows 1167 pups 1414. Pup numbers beat last year's total, but adult exodus begins. *** Help! Bird Counters Needed *** Tania Davey writes: Once per month volunteers count the waterbirds using the Humber Estuary as part of the national Wetland Bird Surveys (WeBS). However, we desperately need new volunteers. We are looking for people who are interested in undertaking the monthly counts and there are also opportunities for those who can only commit to a couple of days per year. You don't need to be an experience waterbird counter, through you should be able to identify common waders and wildfowl. By participating, you can directly help the conservation of Humber waterbirds and their wetlands. If you think you can help or for more information, please contact Neil Calbrade at the British Trust for Ornithology at neil.calbrade@bto.org or call 01842 750050. *** Readers' Questions *** BUZZARD David Clarke, Grantham, asks: Over the last few years it has not become uncommon to see Buzzards soaring over the fields on the edge of Grantham. However I have began to notice them actually over the town itself sometimes quite low. I know red kites were seen over our cities in medieval times but not I think, buzzards. I would like to ask fellow bulletin readers or indeed any experts who may read it if they have seen this before or is it new hunting behavior? *** Boston Branch LWT *** Geof Lee writes: BORNEO An illustrated talk by Roger Wardle on the third largest island in the world Friday, 13th December at 7.30 P.M. Centenary Church Hall in Red Lion Street, Boston Free - there will be a leaving collection Refreshments. For further information contact Brian Redman tel. 01205 351406 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 9th December 2013 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their indoor meeting where expert photographer Geoff Trinder will give an illustrated talk - " India a Land of Contrasts." He will show slides of birds in Bharatpur an internationally recognised wetland, Agra and the Taj Mahal, the Chambral River and the endangered Gharial Crocodile and Tigers at Tadoba. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £2, all are welcome. Festive refreshments, tea/coffee, raffle and Trust goods stall. For further details please contact Jennie Redpath - Grimsby 502858. *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: Forthcoming dates for the 2013/2014 programme of Events. Members and non-members welcome. 12th December at 7-30pm illustrated TALK Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston COAST AND ISLAND by Paul Hobson Members £2,non-members £3-50 16th January 2014 at 7-30pm illustrated TALK Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston WILDLIFE OF THE NENE WASHES AND THE CORNCRAKE by Charlie Kitchen Members £2,non-members £3-50. *** S Lincs RSPB *** http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Birds Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ 30/11 3 Snow Buntings, Lapland bunting, Short-eared owl, Bonxie flew south, Gibraltar Point 150+ Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes Coast 8 Shorelarks, Snow Bunting, c80 Twite, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Dunes 2 Bewick's Swans, 3 Whooper Swans, Nocton Fen 1/12 9 Shorelarks, 20 Snow Buntings, 60+ Twite, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Dunes, off Brickyard Lane car park Common Crane, flew inland at dusk, 6 Snow Buntings, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 2/12 Snow Bunting, [Possible Hume's] Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation, Gibraltar Point Spoonbillover Tetney Marshes 200 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes 3/12 Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation, Gibraltar Point 9+ Shorelarks, 10+ Snow Buntings, 70+ Twite, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Dunes, off Brickyard Lane car park 10 Snow Buntings on north scrape, Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 4/12 Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation, Gibraltar Point 9+ Shorelarks, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, off Brickyard Lane car park 4/12 200 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes Coast Spoonbill, Tetney Marshes 14 Snow Buntings over Pyewipe Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler in plantation, Gibraltar Point 10 Shorelarks, 50 Snow buntings, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dunes, off Brickyard Lane car park 10 Snow Buntings on north scrape, 2 Hen Harriers, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 5/12 from Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, 10 snow Buntings on north scrape, Frampton Marsh Greenland White-fronted Goose with Pink-footed Geese, Read's Island 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. 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. GORSE and Lords and Ladies - reports please Gorse - Is it in flower? If it is, are there abundant flowers or just a few? http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/gorse http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/gorse/ Lords and Ladies - Are the leaves spotted or not? http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/lords-and-ladies http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/lords-and-ladies Reports may be sent in via the Bulletin. Many thanks. GORSE recordS Janet Eastmead Subject: Gorse Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2013 13:04:11 +0000 There are a few clumps and a rather longer stretch of gorse at approx TF388661. They are on the south side of a mixed hedge and could possibly be the remains of an original gorse hedge. Only one small, rather sheltered, part has a few flowers. S Smith and A Buckle Date: 1-12-13 Humber bridge viewing path TA02525 23409 Gorse 1 single flower five bushes in all. S Smith and A Buckle 4th Dec 2013 Gorse Willingham woods 8 flowers TF 13565 88592 Gorse Willingham woods 10 flowers TF 13674 88707 76 plants counted with no flowers *** 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. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BROTHERTOFT TF273463 Robert Walker 24/11/13 Kestrel 1 On roadside cables. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) More Gorse locations: A46 Swallow TF 184 040 abundant flowers A46 Riby junction TF 192 044 no flowers Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob 6 x 6year old bushes, 1 with a few flowers Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 29.11.13 Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 J Foster Siskin on niger feeder 3rd Dec Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Fox takes pheasant roadkill 3rd Dec Hedgehog adult roadkill 30th Nov Fieldfares 10 flying/calling 1st Dec Great spotted woodpecker daily Kestrel hovering 4th Dec Long-tailed tit on Birch 2nd Dec Pheasants 3m 2f 2nd Dec Bumblebee in flight 1st Dec Cluster fly in light fitting 2nd Dec Earwigs 4 active in shed 1st Dec Fungi: Blue roundhead on pine needles Candlesnuff on Ash Clouded agaric under Hawthorns Glistening inkcaps on Ash Common bonnets on Spruce stump Red-edged brittlestem on Elder chips Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Fieldfare 70-80 flying over 1st Dec Fungi 4th Nov. ID’d By Ray Halstead Artist’s bracket on Beech. New Bay bolete under Scots pine. New Blushing bracket on Silver birch. New Buttercap under Scots pine. New Common rustgill on Scots pine Hairy curtain crust on Beech Indigo pinkgill in grass. New Spotted toughshank on Scots pine. New Rothwell crossroads TA 127 003 Woodcock 12 1st Dec FRAMPTON MARSH TF352385 Robert Walker 24/11/13 Common Jellyspot fungus Growing on cow pat on top of seabank near Marsh Farm. LOUTH Chris J Manning - Mammal Recorder 28 Nov 2013 Hedgehog Road Kill, this is hopefully the last incident in 2013, but do keep eye out for any late hedgehogs especially young ones. SLEAFORD The Innings, Sleaford TF06975 45150 Our Garden To 5/12/13 A common frog is resident in a corner of the greenhouse - not always visible, but spotted again today. A small but not tiny hedgehog is still coming each night for food and eating well. Past tragic failures have deterred me from attempting to weigh it with a view to taking it in. We have a hedgehog lodge in the garden. I don't whether it's using this, but I feel it's coming from somewhere close by as it arrives soon after dark and makes repeat visits to the food station. There's been a distinct absence of sparrows, blackbirds and starlings in our garden over recent weeks. We weren't sure whether to attribute this in part to the demolition on the former Bonner House site which is not far away. Numbers do seem to be picking up again. Last year I could see a starling murmuration from my front window - it appeared to circulate around the Bass Maltings. I haven't seen it at all this autumn/winter. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 03/12/2013 Roy and Kath Pearson Water Rail WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons Tawny owl actively moving about garden 3pm. WRANGLE COMMON 01/12/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson We did the Winter Thrush Survey today and counted Mistle Thrush (2), Song Thrush (2), Redwing (2) and Blackbird (63). The latter score was queried as an unusually large count, but there are unusually large numbers around at the moment. A BirdTrack count produced 34 species, the more notable being a first record of a Pochard, plus Curlew (4), Woodcock (1), Sparrowhawk (1), Yellowhammer (8), Tawny Owl (1) and a flock of c.250 Rooks and Jackdaws in the proportion 3:2. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs including RSPB Wash Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006059.aspx Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006128.aspx Week ending RSPB RESERVES http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx SOUTH LINCS HIGHLIGHTS South Lincolnshire Monthly Bird Highlights Reports for October 2013 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh Wildfowl numbers built up steadily through the month with occasional sightings of up to 39 Whooper Swans (24th) and White-fronted Goose (2nd) with peak counts of up to 3000 Wigeon (8th) and 2094 Teal (20th). Regular raptors included both Hen and Marsh Harrier, Merlin and Peregrine. On the scrapes and grassland Buff-breasted Sandpiper (until 7th) and Pectoral Sandpiper were recorded, the latter on most days. Up to eight Spotted Redshanks, five Little Stints, four Curlew Sandpipers and Wood Sandpiper were also regular. The peak count of 7400 Black-tailed Godwits (7th) was a site record. Redstart (13th), Ring Ouzel (15th) and Lapland Bunting (26th) were all seen on a single date and a Hooded Crow was seen at the end of the month (29th). RSPB Freiston Shore The sea produced the highlights of the month with three Grey Phalaropes (10th, 12th & 13th), at least six Leach’s Petrels (11th-13th), Storm Petrel, Sabine’s Gull (13th), four Long- tailed Skuas (13th), nine Pomarine Skuas (10th-13th) and Little Auk (13th). A Ring Ouzel was also seen (16th – 17th) Gibraltar Point NNR Good onshore winds mid-month produced 15 Sooty and nine Manx Shear- waters (10th). Six Leach’s Petrels (four on 13th and two on 14th), four Storm Petrels (one on 11th and three on 13th), Long-tailed Skuas (11th & 12th) and up to nine Pomarine Skuas and up to 48 Little Gulls (12th). Spoonbill (4th), Siberian Stonechat (6th), Spotted Crake and Bluethroat (13th), Hooded Crow (20th), two Shorelarks (22nd), Alpine Swift (23rd) and Waxwing (24th) were all seen on one date. Up to three Great Grey Shrikes were seen (12th – 19th). Woodlarks w ere seen on two dates (14th & 17th) with up to two Firecrests on seven dates. A Pallas’s Warbler was also present on two dates (12th & 13th) and up to four Yellow-browed Warblers were seen (1st – 17th) along with two Wood Warblers (15th) and a Hume’s Warbler (17th). Two Red-breasted Flycatchers were seen (1st-2nd & 14th). A large arrival of thrushes included up to 88 Ring Ouzels and 3800 Redwing (12th). Up to two Richard’s Pipits were also seen (4th – 29th). Reported among the waders were Baird’s Sandpiper (6th) and White- rumped Sandpiper (14th) Fly-overs heading south included eight Cranes (5th), two Glossy Ibis (27th) and a good movement of geese and swans at the end of the month included up to 207 Whooper Swans (29th) and 250 White-fronted Geese (30th). Other sites A Hoopoe was at Skegness (1st & 4th) with a Red-breasted Flycather there later in the month (14th). Ospreys were at Deeping Lakes (from 5th) and Mavis Enderby (5th). Great White Egrets were seen at Deeping Lakes (5th), Wingland Marsh (16th) and Sutton Bridge (22nd). A Richard’s Pipit was a Sutton Bridge (12th). Yellow-browed Warblers were at Whisby area (14th & 15th) and Marston STW (17th). Great Grey Shrikes were seen at Seacroft (17th & 19th), Blackmoor Bridge and Burton-le-Coggles (20th). A Long-tailed Skua was reported to fly over Whisby Nature Park (14th), with two Ring-necked Parakeets seen over North Hykeham Pits (25th). John Badley Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1083404.aspx http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News Humber Bank flooding Lionel Grooby writes on 6th December: Far Ings visitors should please stay away until the area is safe - a few days at least. Long sections of the Humber Bank behind Reeds hotel have been eroded by over-topping and a large hitherto unknown of culvert has appeared. The next tide will be a foot lower. but if the integrity of the bank is done for then we'll be in real trouble. Two feet of water still cover the hotel road between Pursuit and Bridge Pits several hours after the high tide. Same with our access road to the NNR Centre. It is bound to be flooded as the tileworks are also. Not safe to go there yet. Ness Farm is Fine - so far. All of the Far Ings Pits have been inundated with brackish Humber water except the 5 New Pits. The sheep grazing around them are safe. Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006846.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Sundays. Please e-mail in your contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [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 this layout to save reediting: 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. Species 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 http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful - especially if you are encouraging young people to have a go - e.g. Wildlife Watch group members. "They suggest the species in your area that best match what you have found." http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys 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 *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara *** 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 *** 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 *** Hedgehog Survey *** Not yet sure if this will extend the next year. Have a look. http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are 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 *** 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: http://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 Environmental Records Centre Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.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 http://www.lincsmarshes.org.uk/ Hartsholme Country park. To learn more about the park or to get in involved at the park please visit http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/hartsholmecp contact Park Rangers at hartsholmecp@lincoln.gov.uk Tornado and Storm Research Organisation http://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: http://www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk S Lincs RSPB http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ Bardney Limewoods Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. http://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/ Chef cooks up recipes for Japanese Knotweed http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8634000/8634285.stm Joan Gunson's Moths recorded 2013: http:www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p015pqyz Les Binns: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecoheathen/sets/ Leslie Hebden http://www.flickr.com/photos/13718295@N07/ Mike Binnion writes: Common Butterflies 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 BBC Radio 4 Tweet of the day: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s6xyk *** 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 Hartsholme Country Park: hartsholmecp@lincoln.gov.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 http://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 Winter Meetings: Saturday, January 11, 2014 Talk by Richard Jefferson Conserving England’s high value grasslands: a health check and future prospects. Saturday, February 15, 2014 Recorders’ Meeting Saturday, March 08, 2014 AGM and Presidential Address by Ian Macalpine-Leny ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 If you are having difficulties with spam folders etc. please make sure you "Whitelist" my address as given in the Bulletin. Latest Mailfails - see notes above. The following emails have failed this week and I will send you a report you can refer to your ISP should you wish to do so. Andrew Wright - soft bounce Eileen Emberlin - soft bounce Ian Heidi - soft bounce Puttick - soft bounce R W Pool - soft bounce Taylors - soft bounce Note: If you do not contact me your address will be "automatically cleaned" by Mailchimp. Roger *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally" are always welcome. Amazing Ice Tsunami https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/Wbs8tN8xlxA Bird Steals Camera http://uk.news.yahoo.com/sea-eagle-steals-camera-films-flight-124408449.html?vp=1 Discover Wildlife Christmas Quiz http://www.discoverwildlife.com/webform/christmas-quiz-2013-can-you-identify-these-animal-noses ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/