============================================ || || 13th January 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 *** Thanks for the reports for this week, all very welcome. News of any events and activities is welcome too, so thanks for those. If you know of anyone who might like to receive the LNU Bulletin, why not use the special link at the end of your Bulletin to e-mail it to a friend? We seem to be hovering at about 1080 subscribers. Mailchimp tells me that only relatively few subscribers are actually regular readers. That's a bit puzzling, but does help to explain why I never hear from a proportion of the list. New recruits might be a bit more active, so please help me find a few more. Biodiversity Fellows - Field Studies Council. I signed up for information on this scheme and have just received a list of 73 very interesting-sounding courses. I am not at all sure which to try for. Has anyone else registered and found themselves in a similar dilemma? Would any Recorders like to suggest a particular LNU need? I must say I am quite tempted to revisit the Bryophytes. I enjoyed studying these as an undergraduate in about 1970. I have been struck by the amount of birdsong I have heard in the past week; notably starlings, blackbirds, robins and great tits. I have also noted a marked increase in the size of the Tawny Owl pellets I pick up under roosts in the garden. Could the owls be feeding more or pelleting in the garden more than usual? A different individual perhaps? Hope to see you at Paul Waring's Marsh Moth talk. Should be fascinating. I am still fishing for a couple of adults who would like to help to start up a Wildlife Watch club in the Coningsby area. Pease contact me if you might consider it. I have had a few nibbles, but no bites yet! Will we have snow soon? Looks increasingly like it. 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. NOTE ALTERATION TO DATE GIVEN PREVIOUSLY. It's on 12th January. Saturday, January 12, 2013 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. *** Stargazing Live *** I hope you have all enjoyed the BBC Stargazing Live programmes and make it to a Starnight or two. I dropped in on the Starnight at Tattershall Castle but cloud was a problem and I did not stay long. I intended to get out my telescope at home, but there was no improvement in seeing. Su Coleman has sent me an interesting link about Mars. Have a look. http://planetfour.org/#/home *** Starnights 2013 *** Paul Money has some 2013 Starnights coming up across the county. To find one near you, visit: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Home2.htm *** Interesting AONB Job *** I have been sent information about a Lincolnshire Wolds Heritage Officer job opportunity based in the AONB office in Louth and employed by Heritage Lincolnshire. The advert has gone live this week amd the link is: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4562870/lincolnshire-wolds-heritage-officer/ *** Gainsborough Area LWT *** Wed 23 January 2013 (extra meeting): The Wildlife Trust - 100 years of Nature Conservation A specially commissioned DVD celebrating The Wildlife Trusts, their formation and work. Sir David Attenborough and others take us on the journey, featuring an interview with Lincolnshire's own Ted Smith OBE. 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 woodentops@darter.plus.com *** 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 *** On Monday 14th January 2013 you are invited to join us at our indoor meeting entitled "On Safari with a paint brush and sketch book" where local artist Mags Bradley will illustrate her trip to the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls in Botswana. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall 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 *** 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. Outline/provisional programme Whisby Whisby, based at Education Centre and covering the reserve. Friday 12th July 10.00am start 5.00pm a lull, or shut down 9.00pm mothing/bats etc. until whenever depending on conditions Saturday 13th July 10.00am start 4.00pm finish Groups we hope to cover: Birds Freshwater Inverts/plants Botany Cryptogams Fungi Spiders etc Molluscs Flies Soil Fauna Mammals Reptiles Odonata Aculeates Moths Beetles Parasitica, Galls Woodlice, Lacewings Pencil this in your new diary and watch this space for updates. *** S Lincs RSPB Boston *** Thursday 17th January at 7-30pm South Lincs RSPB Talk at Sam Newsam Centre, Boston Birds and birding in the Mediterranean by Steve Cale Members £2, non-members £3-50. All welcome. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 5/1/2013 70 Waxwings Far Ings on wires by old cement works also f Red-crested Pochard on pond by Visitor Centre 7 Waxwings 1/4 ml wst of Great Limber just S of A18 7 Waxwings, Lincoln on Allenby Industrial Estate behind ATS 4 Crossbills, Purple Heron, Gibraltar Point 2 Scaup, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Frampton Marsh Smew drk, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Kumlien's Gull, Lea Marsh 6/1/2013 55 Waxwings, Far Ings, c20 Waxwings, Scunthorpe, in trees by retail park 11 Waxwings, Lincoln, Crofton Road/Wavell Drive Long-billed Dowitcher, 8 Spotted Redshanks, Hen Harrier, Alkborough Flats Smew drk, Norton Disney Lake Smew drk, Far Ings, Hotel Pit Great Northern Diver, Ashbyville Lake Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Snow Buntings on beach, Great Northern Diver offshore, Gibraltar Point Kumlien's Gull, Glaucous Gull, Lea Marsh Black Redstart, Covenham reservior 2 Bewick's Swans with 26 Whooper Swans, Saltfleetby St Clements 7/1/2013 3 Waxwings ESE of Woodhall Spa at Haltham on rosehips on road at Wood Enderby 70 Waxwings, Far Ings from Ness Hide Long-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Redshank 2 males, Hen Harrier, Alkborough Flats Smew drk, Norton Disney Lake Smew drk, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Rough-legged Buzzard, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull, Gainsborough landfill site Scaup drk, Sanderling, Covenham reservoir 8/1/2013 2 Waxwings, Gibraltar Point near "Beware of Bend" sign! 51 Waxwings, Thurlby, near Swinderby Airfield entrance 2 Waxwings, Cleethorpes Country Park 84 Waxwings, Great Limber along A18 to Kirmington Junction 3 Waxwings, Barton-upon Humber near footbridge over A15 4 Waxwings, Barton-upon Humber, Waters Edge Great Northern Diver, Ashbyville Lake Long-billed Dowitcher, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 3 f Scaup, Messingham Sand Quarry Smew drk, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Bearded Tits, Gibraltar Point 9/1/2013 18 Waxwings west of South Thoresby near Swaby on Long Hedge Lane 35 Waxwings, near hotel. Bittern near visitor centre car park Far Ings c30 Waxwings, Nocton by B1188 12 Waxwings, Thurlby 16 Waxwings, Thorpe-on-the-Hill, Witham St Hugh's, Oak Tree Drive Spoonbill, 5 Scaup, Red-crested Pichard, 10 Bewick's Swans, Frampton Marsh Long-billed Dowitcher, Alkborough Flats Bittern, Cleethorpes Country Park Ring-necked Duck, West Ashby, Shearman's Wath, view from road Great Northern Diver, Ashbyville Lake 5 Short-eared Owls, Worlaby Carrs Smew, Kirkby on Bain, Riverslea Pit 10/1 40 Waxwings Far Ings at Reeds Hotel entrance, 25 Waxwings flew west 8 Waxwings, Nocton by B1188 12 Waxwings, RAF Coningsby 75 Waxwings 1ml NNE of Sandtoft - flew east Ring-necked Duck, West Ashby, Shearman's Wath, view from road Smew, Kirkby on Bain, Riverslea Pit Great Northern Diver, Ashbyville Lake 11/1 2 Waxwings, Rough-legged Buzzard, Gibraltar Point Spoonbill, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 2 male hen Harriers, Frampton Marsh 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. CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 4.1.13 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Moles(3) active in lawn Blackbird singing and nestbuilding in honeysuckle Buzzard and Carrion crow feeding on squirrel roadkill Territorial behaviour between Robin and Dunnock Jays(2) calling for 30mins Tawny owl In flower - Annual meadow grass Betony Dandelion Hairy bitter cress Caistor Wildlife Area TA 111 015 Redpoll *** 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 Marion Ellis 5/1/2013 A large black bumblebee with an orange tail had to be rescued from our birdbath today (a warm sunny day). It was seen later wandering around the lawn. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson 6th January 2013 You may recall that a few weeks ago I reported a dearth of garden birds? I am glad to report that things seem to have returned to normal. On a general note (I see someone has mentioned this in the current Report), there are no longer any Fieldfares or Redwings around here, but all of the berries have been eaten, so presumably they've moved on. A1077 COCKTHORN LANE SE 940 204 Julie Ellison 30/12/12 Barn Owl 1 Flying along the edge of the field by the road, at about the same height as the car, at dusk. Got a fantastic view of it. HORNCASTLE TF261691 Robert Walker 8/1/13 SPARROWHAWK 1 female 1st. sighting in my town garden approx. 9.30 am. Bird was chasing blue tits in and around trellis/honeysuckle only 12' away from our Study window ! Then perched on trellis rail for moments before flying off - without success. MARTON SK842820 4 January 2013 Brian Hedley Due to relatively mild and dry weather put moth trap out in garden overnight with actinic lamp on top. Acleris hastiana 1 (a very strkingly marked form of this micro moth with go-faster stripes). Pale brindled beauty 2 Mottled umber 1 RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler Rainfall: We had 770 mm in 2012 against 400 mm in 2011. 05.01.13 3 Robins in mild, hazy sunshine loudly proclaiming their territories. Brief visit of 400-500 seagulls, mostly black-headed, in meadow. Jackdaws working sheeps’ backs in search of parasites. 07.01.13 Robins singing regularly, Great tit calling tentatively, house sparrows very vocal. Winter aconites coming into flower. Wren foraging. Rabbit eating aucuba. Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) bracket fungi on dead log in garden (ID by Ray Halstead, Fungi Recorder) 09.01.13 Sunny but colder, so bird song more subdued. Hazel catkins shedding pollen in nearby hedgerow. 10.01.13 Barn owl along local lane. (TF297859) READ'S ISLAND East end of READ'S ISLAND, THE HUMBER at about SE 965 215 Julie Ellison 31/12/12 Fallow Deer 6 SEACROFT MARSH SSSI DAVE MILLER 9TH Jan BTO Winter Thrush survey Blackbird 2 Black-headed Gull 23 Crow 24 Chaffinch 2 Common Gull 2 Cormorant 4 Great Black-backed Gull 6 Great Tit 1 Herring Gull 333 either already resting on the sea or flying out to sea from inland to roost. Magpie 5 Oystercatcher 1 Pheasant 4 Pink-footed Goose 18 flying SE overhead. Reed Bunting 1 Robin 1 Sanderling 13 Skylark 1 Woodpigeon 2 WADDINGTON Peter Wilson Monday 7th January 2013 . First aconites in flower in my garden at High Street, Waddington today. Wednesday 9th January 2013. First snowdrops in flower in Waddington churchyard today. WATERS' EDGE, BARTON TA 032 231 30 & 31/12/2012 & 01/01/2013 Julie Ellison Birds: Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Blue Tit Brambling 1 stretching and preening in hawthorn bush (01/01/13 in woodland area TA 031 230) Bullfinch 4+ (all three days, around TA 030 230 & TA 031 230) Canada Goose Carrion Crow 2 Chaffinch Coal Tit Collared Dove Coot Curlew 1 Dunnock Feral Pigeon Gadwall 6 Gold Crest 2 chasing each other (30/12/12 TA 031 230) Goldfinch Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (30/12/12 TA 030 228) Great Tit Grey Heron 1 on mudbank at outfall (TA 028 235) Greylag Goose House Sparrow Jay 1 (31/12/12 TA 030 229) Lesser Black-Backed Gull Lesser Redpoll 6+ (30, 31/12/12 & 01/01/13 with Goldfinch, feeding in Alder in Woodland area around TA 031 230) Long-Tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Mealy Redpoll 6-12 (01/01/13 with Goldfinch, feeding in Alder near the Humber bank at TA 032 234) Moorhen Mute Swan 2 Pochard 1 female Redshank 15+ (TA 028 235) Reed Bunting 2 (in woodland area TA 031 230) Robin Siskin 5-7 (30/12/12 & 1 on 01/01/13 with Goldfinch and L Redpoll, feeding in Alder in Woodland area around TA 031 230) Tufted Duck Wood Pigeon Other Grey Squirrel 1 (in Viewing Area) WATERS' EDGE, BARTON TA 033 231 04, 05, & 10/01/13 Julie Ellison Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Canada Geese Carrion Crow Coal Tit Chaffinch Chiffchaff Collared Dove Coot Dunnock Feral Pigeon Gadwall (4 on 04/01/13; 13 on 10/01/13) Goldcrest Goldfinch Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (05/01/13) Great Tit Greylag House Sparrow Kestrel (05/01/13) Lesser Redpoll (6+ TA 030 231 05/01/13; 4+ TA 032 230 10/01/13) Long-Tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Mealy Redpoll (with Goldfinch, combined flock of about 30 birds 10/01/13 at TA 033 234) Moorhen Mute Swan Pochard Redshank (30 05/01/13; 60+ 10/01/13) Reed Bunting Robin Shoveller Siskin (05/01/13) Sparrow Hawk (04/01/13) Tufted Duck Wood Pigeon Other: Hazel (10/01/13) a few flowers and catkins opening Grey Squirrel 1 (05/01/13) WHAPLODE FEN TF 323208 Simon Rummery 05.01.13 Siskin x10 (on common alder) Green Woodpecker Brambling x 2 Whooper Swan x 7 heading North Buzzard WIGTOFT, BOSTON Alan Barker 3.1.13 Peacock butterfly in garden at Wigtoft, Boston. Probably disturbed - but never seen one quite so early in the year. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 9/1/2013 Buzzard in tree east of Hurnbridge Road - 13.30hrs. 10/1/2013 Woodmouse confirmed as "sqatter" in a Honda Jazz. Clues were gnawed tops of dog-water-bottles and an attack on a bag of pumpkin seeds left in the car overnight by mistake. The culprit, a very active adult mouse, was caught in action with the help of a trail camera. Further investigation revealed a nest of shredded newspaper under the back seat. A pitfall trap made from a bucket did not catch the beast, who managed to remove some of the bait and escape. WINTERTON SIMON'S WOOD, SE 935 187 Julie Ellison 26/12/12 Blackbird (numerous in both hedges and across the wooded areas, one eating rose hips) Blue Tit (several along both east and west side hedges) Bullfinch pair (in eastern edge hedge) Carrion Crow 2 Chaffinch 1 male (near the gardens at the south of the wood) Great Tit 4 (near gardens at entrance of the wood) House Sparrows (heard around the gardens at the south of the wood) Long-Tailed Tit 3 seen, more heard Reed Bunting 1 (in eastern edge hedge) Robin 1 (near houses near entrance) Starling 7 (overflew west to east) Wood Pigeon 2 Yellowhammer 6+ (in eastern edge hedge) SIMON'S WOOD, WINTERTON SE 935 187 09/01/13 Julie Ellison Hazel bushes in flower WINTERTON SE 932 186 (my garden) Julie Ellison Reed Bunting 1 male Regularly arrives between 09:25 and 09:35 and stays for between 5-10 mins., although he stays longer when it's icy. Yellowhammer 1- 6 also becoming regular. (When the snow was very bad last year 30+ regularly came into the garden.) WRANGLE COMMON 08/01/2013 Roy and Kath Pearson A count today produced 29 species. Raptors were absent apart from a Buzzard that was being mobbed by a Jackdaw. Goose numbers were good with 37 Canada, 43 Greylag and 12 Pink Feet that were flying south-west towards the Wash. By contrast only three ducks were recorded - Mallard. Numbers of finches and tits were very disappointing with only 2 Linnets, 4 Chaffinches, 1 Blue Tit and 1 Great Tit beeing seen. No Dunnocks were seen. Is anyone else finding these birds in low numbers? There was a large flock of Woodpigeons which we estimated at 100 and up to 40 Feral Pigeons mainly seen on a barn roof. Working out Stock Doves from the pigeons is not easy and we were only confident on the identification of one. The Curlew flock numbered only 8 birds, considerably down on previous years and no other waders were recorded. Blackbirds were quite numerous with a count of 17, but the only other thrush recorded was a single Redwing. A Goldcrest was seen flitting along the bottom of a hedge; normally we encounter these birds in the tree tops in the main wood. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Katherine Bocock's report follows Kev Wilson writes: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory team is now doing a blog. Have a look and see what you think. I like it. Worth a bookmark if you are a regular visitor. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ No report this week. 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 No report this week. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore Reports for November 2012 follow. 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 BIRDS Max nos. No report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.info Mink reports also of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: 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. *** And Finally ... Scunthorpe Gamekeeper guilty of poisoning buzzards http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-20978207 Dog theft - Market Rasen An awful and heart-wrenching story came in by e-mail from Farm and Country Watch. A silver Transit van, registration WGO7 XZO was stolen from Market Rasen along with its occupant, vintage labrador, Tank. If you can bear to watch it, click on the link. If you spot the van, contact the Police ASAP. http://lincs.police.uk/News-Centre/News-Releases-2013/Pet-Dog-Taken-in-Stolen-Van-Market-Rasen.html ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/