============================================ || || 3rd February 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 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 1090 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 *** Some readers may recall the Lincolnshire floods of 1953. For vintage newsreel footage of the North Sea floods see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8a4UTo4bM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh012V-sY-4 I hope that readers will come along to the Recorders Meeting at Whisby this month. [16th - see below.] Everyone is welcome and it is the opportunity to tap into a huge reserve of LNU knowledge and experience. If you are of a "taxonomic" nature, you may discover the project you have been looking for, a new group of living things to learn about - a lifetime's work? Capable amateurs have made a huge contribution to identification and recording. This is your chance to meet recorders, learn what they are doing and explore possibilities for your own research. Roger *** Next LNU Event - reminder *** For LNU meetings see section 11 for full programme. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. ALL VERY WELCOME. Saturday, February 16, 2013 Recorders' Meeting & Annual Exhibition Note - watch for details of early start to give us all additional talking-time. Editor adds: a Recorders Meeting is for everyone interested, it is not just for the recorders! This is an opportunity to hear about reports from the previous year and to meet and discuss your areas of interest with LNU county experts. *** Wildlife News This Week *** European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) has issued guidance on the use of neonicotinoids. If these chemicals are bad for honeybees, what about our other insect species? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21277933 Butterfly Conservation reports UK moth numbers suffer crash. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21246322 Rescue for birds covered in 'wax' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-21275648 *** Have you seen a Snow Flea? *** Charlie Barnes writes: Winter entomological bit for the bulletin: Boreus hyemalis or the 'snow flea' as it is commonly known is actually a member of the order Mecoptera, which includes the scorpion flies. The snow flea is very similar to a scorpion fly except for one difference – they can't fly! Snow fleas can be seen from October to April - with a covering of snow making them easy to spot as they jump around on the white surface. They seem to prefer sandy, heathy areas with moss – but as not many entomologists are active in the winter months they don't usually get noticed! For more information on the snow flea see Buglife's website for some photos. http://www.buglife.org.uk/discoverbugs/bugofthemonth/snowflea or http://flic.kr/p/dGEVpy p.s. Don't forget to let us know if you have seen one! *** Grantham Group LWT *** Next meeting Fri 8th Feb 7.30 Barkston & Syston Village Hall The Wildlife of Cota Donana/Extremadura (Spain) Peter & Carole Leigh *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT On Monday 11th February 2013 we invite you to join us at our next meeting where Mark Schofield will giving an illustrated talk on gardening with wildlife in mind. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £2. All are welcome. For further details please contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858. *** FSC Biodiversity Fellows taxonomic training courses *** [This] year at least 70 taxonomic training courses will be run on a range of difficult plant and animal groups and will be led by national and regional experts. Day courses will be free of charge to those biodiversity fellows who wish to attend whilst longer residential courses within the programme may be available at a discount of 50% of the published price. To qualify for these rates and to attend FSC biodiversity fellows courses participants must first register via the website and fill in the online form. http://www.field-studies-council.org/bio.fell Editor adds: You may be eligible for an LNU bursary towards the cost of residential courses - contact a member of the Executive Committee for further information. *** WHISBY BIOBLITZ *** Charlie Barnes writes: Bioblitz = intensive survey and identification of species in an area. All welcome from beginners to experienced naturalists. Experts will be on hand to help with identification and recording. Watch the NEW Bioblitz website for updates. http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/bioblitz/national-bioblitz/midlands/lincolnshire-bioblitz.html *** S Lincs RSPB Boston *** Thursday 21st February at 7-30pm South Lincs RSPB Talk at Sam Newsam Centre, Boston The RSPB in Eastern England by Paul Forecast Members £2, non-members £3-50. All welcome. * Can I have the next details please, Jeremy? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 25/1 8 Waxwings, south of Grantham by B1174 at Spittlegate 3 Waxwings, Lincoln, Nettleham, Lodge Lane 50 Waxwings, Bottesford on St Peter's Avenue Black Redstart, Covenham Reservoir Hen Harrier, 6 Bewick's Swans, 20 Twite, Frampton Marsh 26/1 4 Waxwings, Lincoln, Nettleham, Lodge Lane 20 Waxwings, Bittern, Gibraltar Point 20 waxwings, Willingham by Stow, Cot Garth Lane 8 Waxwings, Lincoln, Redwood Drive Waxwing, Market Rasen Small Canada Goose, Freiston Shore 2 Lapland Buntings, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, Worlaby Carrs 27/1 22 Waxwings opposite pines on golf course on wires by road, Shorelark, Bearded Tit and Bittern, Gibraltar Point, c20 Waxwings, Skegness, Drummond Road Bittern, Smew, Barton-upon-Humber, Far Ings Glaucous Gull, west of Winterton, Thealby Lane, Bagmoor 28/1 6 Waxwings, Grimsby, corner of Laceby Road and Hereford Avenue Waxwing, Shorelark, 2 Bearded Tits, Gibraltar Point Smew, Barton-upon-Humber, Far Ings, Hotel pit 29/1 6 Waxwings, Market Rasen, Tesco car park Black Brant Goose, with 2500+ dark-bellied Brent Geese, Tetney Lock SE of sewage works 30/1 6 Waxwings, Tetney 5 Waxwings, Lincoln by A46 near Damon's roundabout 18 Waxwings, Bishopsthorpe north off A631 towards Waddingham c80 Waxwings, west of Scunthorpeby B1450 Burringham Road near traffic lights 10 Snow Buntings, Saltfleetby Theddlethorpe at Brickyard Lane Bittern, Boultham Mere Richardson's Canada Goose, Frampton Marsh Smew, Kirkby on Bain Riverslea pit 31/1 water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 1/2 6 Waxwings, Louth, Boar's Head car park White-tailed eagle reported over Sutton-on-Sea Glaucous Gull, Caspian gull, Gainsborough landfill site 3 Bitterns, Boultham Mere, in reedbeds 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. Know any Short-eared Owls? Bulletin Reader, Paul Ashton, is keen to photograph Short-eared Owls and would welcome a "heads up" for a likely photo-opportunity. He writes: "As I live in the extreme southern part of the county I am reluctant to drive 160 miles on a wild goose chase". If you see these regularly and would be willing to let him know when they are about, you can e-mail him to get a contact number on p.ashton49@btinternet.com *** 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. BRACEBY TF015353 M. Ellis Great Garden BirdWatch figures (snow on ground) Last year's figures in brackets Blackbird 12 (2) Blue tit 5 (5) Chaffinch 9 (6) Coal tit 1 (1) Collared dove 1 (0) Dunnock 1 (1) Fieldfare 3 (0) Great tit 2 (5) Greater Sp Woodpecker 1 (0) Greenfinch 3 (1) House Sparrow 2 (3) Tree Sparrow 0 (2) Jackdaw 2 (0) around all the time Long-tailed tit 5 (5) Marsh tit 1 (1) Robin 3 (1) Wood pigeon 2 (0) around all the time Wren 0 (1) We are concerned that our regular tree sparrows seems to be missing this winter. They nest in our garden. CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 25.1.13 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Common shrew in coniferous wood Rabbit eats lowest twigs of Holly Blackbird learns to perch and feed at feeder Buzzard eating dead grey squirrel Long-tailed tits(3) Moorhen Stockdove Moss – extensive new growth while under snow on tarmac drive False chanterelle fungus - new colony in coniferous wood Brigg Road farmland TA 106 027 Lapwings(6) in grazed field Tawny owl on post Brigg Road garden TA 114 022 Bullfinches(2) Jay Kestrel Reed buntings(3) Yellowhammers(2) Wold View verge TA 108 014 Common chickweed Daisy Shepherd's purse Westbrook Grove pond TA 117 012 Grey wagtail Lesser redpoll (new on Caistor list) Lincoln Drive TA 010 110 Pied wagtail Redwing(2) DEEPINGS Deeping Lakes NR D. Griffith 02/12 Bittern Herring gull Pied wagtail 09/12 Field fare x100 Reed bunting Redwing x30 Stock dove x5 Shoveler x30 16/12 Bittern x2 Stock dove x10 Goldcrest Bullfinch x2 Goosander Waxwing (visitor report) 24/12 Bittern Bullfinch x5 Visitor reports 26/12 Shelduck x3 30/12 Great black backed gull Lapwing x60 Mistle thrush Little egret x4 Pintail x4 06/01 Bittern Goldcrest Fieldfare x20 Treecreeper Sparrowhawk Jay Goldeneye x15 01/01 Pintail x9 Sparrowhawk x2 20/01 Snipe Goosander x7 24/01 Bittern Red crested pochard x2 Goosander x2 All visitor reports 25/01 Bittern (D Vandome) 27/01 Canada goose x28 Buzzard Greenfinch Goldcrest Treecreeper Common gull Red crested pochard x2 Little egret x2 Grey heron x3 All sightings by D Griffith unless stated Bird sightings at the reserve can now be followed on Twitter @DeepinLakebirds DEEPING LAKES Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve - TF187083 Observer: Ian Gordon Date: 31/01/2012 Time: 0845 – 1115 Weather: Very windy, early showers then sunshine. Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Canada Goose Chaffinch Collared Dove Coot Gadwall Goldeneye Great Crested Grebe Great Tit Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Little Egret Little Grebe Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Pochard Red-crested Pochard Rook Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Wood Pigeon SLOOTHBY 25/1/13 George Rutter Wrens started to appear at dusk, all entering a nestbox on a cherry tree in the garden. Singles and small flocks would arrive and dart into the box. By the end we had counted 30 birds, all snuggled up in the nestbox trying to keep warm. Fascinating. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 27/1 Common buzzard in area. Flocks of fieldfares still about. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/nr/reserve.php?mapref=22 Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory team is now doing a blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ 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 Catching up on some reports that somehow went astray: SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Week ending 4th January 2013 John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth British weather is always a topic of conversation so it seems appropriate to start off this year's notes with a few interesting snippets from 2012 extracted from our daily weather records taken near the NNR base. The weather during the year was extremely variable and sometimes very unpre- dictable which now seems to be the norm. February was a unique month when 130mm of undisturbed snowfall was measured on the 5th; it proved to be the coldest month with a ground frost of -15.75°C and air frost of -14.75°C both on the 11th and also the driest month with only 15.5mm of precipitation recorded. The highest air maximum was 30.25°C on 18th August. June was the wettest month with a total of 109.2mm of rainfall of which 30.7mm fell in 36 minutes during a torrential storm on the 28th. Winds were very variable with many days of strong breezes of force 5/6 but on the 28th and 29th April and 25th November a near gale force 7/8 north-easterly and west-south-westerly were recorded respectively. The total rainfall was 728mm, being the second wettest year during the past twenty years. The wettest year was 2000 when 752mm was recorded. The recent mild weather has encouraged a few birds including Collared Dove, Mistle Thrush, Great Tit, Robin, Blackbirds and Dunnock to utter some song. Other interesting sightings have included several flocks of up to 120 Lapwing flying west over the dunes on 25th December, a male Stonechat at Rimac marsh on 30th December, 80+ Twite remain near Brickyard, 6 Yellowhammers were perched on the edge of sea buckthorn on the dune side near Crook Bank on the 1st and 5 Whoopers were at roost on Rimac lagoon on 2nd. On the 2nd a peacock butterfly was basking in winter sunshine near Brickyard. We wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope it is a good one for recording natural history. SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Week ending 11th January 2013 John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth This week was the core count period for the BTO thrush survey and Cliff Morrison covers a statistically chosen 1km square near the NNR but it includes the Viking Gas Terminal right in the middle of it so Cliff has added a couple of voluntary squares nearby to survey. The key feature of all three squares has been the lack of thrushes… and Cliff comments "I had 3 Blackbirds around the key gas terminal square; 4 Blackbirds and a Mistle Thrush in the Crook Bank square, 3 of the Blackbirds being in the dunes; there were 7 Blackbirds and a Song Thrush in the Brickyard Lane square, with only the Song Thrush being in the dunes, the Blackbirds were in our garden taking the bird food, but they do fly into the dunes as well. This is the quietest winter for thrushes I've ever known, since some years, we can have 2000 Fieldfares, 100s Redwings and up to 50 Song Thrushes. The reason is, of course, the sea buckthorn crop failure and the fact that the Redwings that arrived in the big autumn fall took most of the hawthorn berries". One of the highest counts of Curlew 490 was on the foreshore between Brickyard and Sea View, but many of the birds have been feeding on the old rig and furrow pastures in the area which highlights the importance as a food source of the old grasslands. Other interesting counts included Sanderling 165, Oystercatcher 35, Knot 200+ on the 9th and out to sea Common Scoter 85, Wigeon 180, Red-throated Diver 5 and Great Crested Grebe 6. The Twite flock near Brickyard remains around 90 and a charm of 40 Goldfinch were seen near Rimac on the edge of the salt marsh. Several skeins of Pink-footed Geese 250, 135, 60 and 160 have been seen, all going NW, and a single Peregrine was harassing waders and the Common Gull roost of 1200 birds. A Merlin and Hen Harrier (brown and grey) have been hunting over the salt marsh and a Kingfisher flew from under the bridge at Sea View Road along the Great Eau on the 9th. SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Week ending 18th January 2013 John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth A chilly week with temperatures falling to -12.0°C (ground), -8.75°C (air) and +1.5°C (air max.) all on the 17th. A depth of 68mm of snowfall was recorded on the ground on the 15th, with a slight thaw on the following day but now week- ending another moderate fall is expected. Interesting sightings for the week in the Brickyard – Churchill area have included 450+ Curlew, 28 Sanderling, 22 Oystercatchers, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Grey Plovers, Herring Gulls 2000+, along with 28 Great Black-backed Gulls and a few Common and Black- headed Gulls. However the evening roost of Common Gulls has been around 1,200 recently. Whooper Swans 24 flew out to roost on the sands at dusk on the 16th. Redwing 2, Fieldfare 1 and Song Thrush are worthy of note simply because of their low numbers but towards the end of the week numbers of Fieldfare have increased with birds being observed flying over the saltmarsh. The vegetated areas of the outer dunes and samphire beds have attracted up to feeding 55 Yellowhammers, 14 Reed Buntings, 55 Twite, 35 Skylark and 2 Snow Buntings over. The saltmarsh has had its fair share of hunting raptors with Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Hen Harrier (up to 4 birds), 3 Kestrels and Barn Owl. Interestingly in a small area of sheltered saltmarsh near the outer dunes from Rimac there was a mixed group of 52 Lapwing, 30 Golden Plover and 35 Redshank. On the 18th 3 Water Rails were heard squealing south of Rimac. SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Week ending 25th January 2013 John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth A slight and steady thaw set in during the week helped by a daytime max. of 4.0°C on the 22nd and the wind direction has at last veered around to the SW sector. On the foreshore near Theddlethorpe Twite numbers reached 138, Dunlin 136, 34 Teal, 14 Cormorant and c600 Common Gulls. The large number of Herring Gulls seen last week had dropped to only 38 with the thaw. A single Red-throated Diver was observed on the sea after a 40 min scan. While nearby fields were snow-covered the saltmarsh attracted feeding Fieldfare c70, Lapwing 26, Golden Plover 9 and Starling 45+, while Redwing 30+ were feeding under trees around Sea View. Other bird sightings have been few and far between, but of note a female Brambling very briefly showed itself near Sea View on the 22nd, a male Stonechat near Rimac and two brown Hen Harriers over the saltmarsh on the 24th, 86 Fieldfare flew over near Theddlethorpe on the 24th. Garden feeding stations have attracted the usual mix of finches, robins and thrushes, with Blackbirds reaching 11 at Sea View and 8 at Churchill. Collared Doves, Dunnocks, Blue Tits and Great Tits are beginning to exert some song and a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have been occasionally drumming during the week. Gorse in flower has been affected by the harsh frosts but this week it was noticed that there were some fresh flowers appearing from new buds. SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Week ending 1st February 2013 John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth The lying snow soon thawed, helped by a rapid rise in daytime temperatures from 1.5°C on the 25th to 9.0°C on the 26th and 27th then reaching an amazing 14.5°C on the 29th. No frosts have been recorded since the 26th. Towards the end of the week very strong SW/W winds were reported with gusts up to 62mph causing minor damage to tree boughs. There has been a noticeable increase in wader numbers between Churchill and Mablethorpe North End with interesting counts including Sanderling 300+, Bar-tailed Godwits 41, Oystercatchers 37, Grey Plover 17 and Dunlin 30+. The pre-dawn flight of Curlew on the 30th, off the beach near Brickyard was 550+, the highest number ever recorded at this time. The wash-out of razor clams early in the week attracted over 3000 Herring Gulls (many adults in summer plumage) but fewer Greater-black Backs 50+. A day or so later numbers of gulls had fallen to a few hundred. Twite numbers remain at 100+ near Brickyard but on the 30th 10 Snow Buntings were reported with them. Out on the saltmarsh on the 26th Meadow Pipits 30+, Skylark 25+ (some song), Goldfinch 25+, Common Snipe 5, Lapwing 2 and Fieldfare 7 were seen. Little Egrets, which had been feeding on the saltmarsh, moved away during the snowy fortnight, only to return from the 28th. Occasionally one or two Woodcock have been disturbed from the dunes. On the 26th 5 Whooper Swans and 3 Pink-feet were seen off the beach from the roost, and on the 29th 23 adult and 8 imm Whoopers were observed feeding in a rape field near Theddlethorpe. There have been two roosts of Magpies totalling 84 birds, and the recent mild temperatures have encouraged some bird song including Great and Blue Tits, Robin, Mistle Thrush and Dunnock. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for December 2012. [Not November as wrongly posted previously!] John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh A record 2,500 Wigeon were present (20th), along with 800 Teal (21st), a peak of six Scaup (28th) and two Goosanders (9th). Two European White-fronted Geese (20th) joined regular flocks of 600 Pink-footed and 1,500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. A Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on just one date (5th), but up to four Merlins and three Peregrines were more regular. Waxwings were seen on several dates with a peak of 30 (17th), while up to 1,500 Fieldfares (5th) and 8,000 Golden Plovers (23rd) created quite a spectacle. Two Bearded Tits remained from November (until 3rd) and up to 32 Twite and 30 Lesser Redpolls were also seen. RSPB Freiston Shore A Black Brant (5th) was seen with two Pale-bellied Brent Geese among up to 820 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Other waterbirds included up to 1,700 Wigeon (12th), 5,500 Knots, 1,800 Black-tailed Godwits and 1,650 Oyster- catchers (16th) with 7,000 Golden Plovers (21st). In contrast just one Spotted Redshank was recorded (9th). Up to 20 Waxwings were also seen (9th). Gibraltar Point NNR Single Bittern and Shag (2nd) got the New Year off to a nice start. Offshore 250 Common and two Velvet Scoter were seen (9th). Wader numbers were generally good with up to 16,000 Golden Plovers (23rd), 8,000 Knot (16th) and 5,500 Oystercatchers (16th). Diversity was provided by a Grey Phalarope (9th), Purple Sandpiper (16th – 17th) and up to four Woodcock (16th). A Cetti's Warbler present throughout could be heard, but not always seen. A Shore Lark was also seen, but only on one date (16th). Waxwings continued to feature with up to 124 recorded (16th). Snow Buntings were also in good numbers with up to 58 (2nd), along with up to two Lapland Buntings (16th). A single Water Pipit was in residence, a Chiffchaff, seen on two dates, may also have been, but two Bearded Tits were only seen on one date (4th). At the year's end a Rough-legged Buzzard gave good views on the saltmarsh (from 27th). Other sites A Black Brant was at Friskney (10th) and a Ring-necked Duck re-appeared at Kirkby Pits (21st). Up to 22 Goosanders took up residence at Swanholme Lakes (7th), joining the resident two Red-crested Pochard there. A Bittern was seen at Blackmore Bridge briefly (21st). Kirkby Pits hosted a gull convention with Caspian, Glaucous and Yellow-legged Gulls (27th). A Caspian Gull was also seen at Skegness (21st). Four Cetti's Warblers look set for the winter at Marston STW. Waxwings increased further with sightings from many widespread locations, the highest counts were 300 at Witham St Hughs (26th), 110 in Lincoln (3rd) and 60 in Boston (26th). 60 Lesser Redpolls at Swanpool (30th & 31st) high- lighted it's been quite a good winter for this species too. John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=67 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News W/E 01.02.13 BIRDS Max nos. bittern 3 blackbird 30+ black-headed gull 24 blue tit 5 carrion crow 3 chaffinch 6 common gull 3 coot 60+ cormorant 3 curlew 4 dunnock 4 fieldfare 5 gadwall 10 goldeneye 6 golden plover 13 GBB gull GC grebe 2 great tit 4 greylag goose 100+ herring gull house sparrow 12 kestrel lapwing 6 long tailed tit 2 magpie 4 mallard 16 marsh harrier M moorhen 5 mute swan 4 pheasant 2 pochard 92 red crested pochard F redshank 6 reed bunting 2 robin 7 shelduck 12 shoveler 4 smew F song thrush sparrowhawk starling C.3,000 teal 4 tufted duck 30 water rail wigeon 15 willow tit wood pigeon 3 wren 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006846.aspx and Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ Colin Green has produced the following video about visiting Southrey Wood. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 No report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** iSpot *** The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/275032 A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives This is a project run by The Open University as part of Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), where you can "Learn more about wildlife, share your interest with a friendly community and get help identifying what you have seen." The project is essentially in the business of helping people learn how to identify the wildlife they encounter, and encouraging them to get involved in biological recording. *** Contacts List *** *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: I have recently agreed to take on the roles of Regional Co- ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). I will be organising a few field meetings to hunt for spiders and other arachnids in due course, but if any LNU members wish to get in touch in the meantime then please contact me on my e-mail address: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** The British Myriapod & Isopod Group *** Imogen Wilde writes: The British Myriapod & Isopod Group (BMIG) will be having their Annual Field Meeting and AGM in Lincolnshire this year. The dates are Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th April 2013, and the group will be based at Scamblesby, Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire is relatively under-recorded for myriapods and isopods and this will be a good location for exploring under- worked areas, such as the Lincolnshire Wolds, the Limewoods, heaths near Market Rasen and Woodhall Spa and also coastal dunes. The AGM will be held on the evening of Friday 12 April. If you would like further information and a booking form for accommodation then please contact Imogen Wilde: imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk. All LNU members are very welcome, whether staying with the group in Scamblesby or making their own accommodation arrangements. *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/bfly/index.php *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** LNU Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Alan Phillips Willing to examine specimens or check photos (but bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). Aculeates only please, no parasitic wasps such as Ichneumons. If in doubt please contact for advice: aculeates@gmail.com *** Whisby's Bee and Wasp List *** Dr Michael Archer and Alan Phillips have put together an impressive list. Have a look and see how many species you recognise by name! http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/whisby/index.php?id=73 Also see: http://norwegica.wordpress.com/author/norwegica/ *** OTTERS *** Readers are reminded that all dead Otters should be reported to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060. *** Hedgehog Survey *** Not yet sure if this will extend to the current autumn/winter. http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: http://www.lnu.org/ www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Other Useful Websites *** Key links are now being posted on the LNU website. http://www.lnu.org/ This should save space in the Bulletin, Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" Lincolnshire Environmental Awards http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Lincs. Wildlife Trust Website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Useful emergency numbers for wildlife crises. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/ Lincs Environmental Records Centre 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/visitor-and-leisure/parks-and-open-spaces/hartsholme-country-park/ contact Park Rangers at hartsholmecp@lincoln.gov.uk Tornado and Storm Research Organisation http://www.lnu.org/ 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.lnu.org/ www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.lnu.org/ www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrsp.org.uk./ Bardney Limewoods http://www.lnu.org/ 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. http://www.lnu.org/ 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: http://www.lnu.org/ www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Mike Binnion writes: Common Butterflies http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/otherattractions.htm http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ Youtube videos by Colin Green. Little Scrubbs Meadon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqCJLrTQmg&feature=relmfu Greetwell Hollow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmzLFrbjFU&feature=plcp Rimac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=plcp *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk 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 www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Indoor meetings: Saturday, January 12, 2013 NOTE ALTERATION TO DATE GIVEN PREVIOUSLY. 12th, NOT 19th. The Marsh Moth Paul Waring will talk on his work on the Marsh Moth (Athetis palustris) in Lincolnshire, as well as other work around the county including Ancaster and the Bardney Limewoods. Saturday, February 16, 2013 Recorders' Meeting & Annual Exhibition Note - watch for details of early start to give us all additional talking-time. Saturday, March 09, 2013 AGM & Presidential Address by Roger Parsons Subject: The Ecology of Pollination and Pollinators ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find a copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html If you are having difficulties with spam folders etc. please make sure you "Whitelist" my address as given in the Bulletin. Latest Mailfails. Please update your profile if necessary or you could be deleted from the mailing list. david.brooke Delivery failed; will not continue trying filsmiff Delivery failed; will not continue trying S.Keightley Delivery failed; will not continue trying I have not yet deleted these as it looks like a server problem. Will see what happened this week. *** And Finally ... Julia Smith sent these two links: WWT Martinmere Beavers and Birds webcam http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/dont-miss-at-wwt-wetland-centres/wwt-webcams/martin-mere-beavers/ Starlings in the skies above Israel: http://video.uk.msn.com/watch/video/rare-phenomenon-starlings-in-the-skies-above-israel/2gqsy0ji?from=gallery_en-gb E. Cowell this extraordinary piece: The most successful execution / construction of Living Bridges with a life span of many centuries in one of the most remote parts of the World. http://www.snotr.com/video/7331/The_Living_Bridge I found John Cox's You Tube clip of Fieldfares raiding his garden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wztHGJOTkF0 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/ Note: the links below allow you to unsubscribe, send a copy of the Bulletin to a friend or modify your profile/change your e-mail address. N.B. Each reader sees only their own address.