============================================ || || 21st July 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 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. Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. Please 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 *** Bioblitz 2013 Thanks to those who turned out to support this year's Bioblitz at Whisby. We did not get the visitors we had hoped for but the hunt turned up a good number of species, some very interesting. The total so far is 780 with all beetles, all bees/wasps/some flies still to come. Phil Porter tells me that new species for Whisby included: Small Scabious, Purple Clay moth, Oak Bush Cricket, Large Red-belted Clearwing moth, Nathusius' Pipistrelle, and Oxycera nigricornis Soldier-fly. Roadkills The horrible carnage of wildlife roadkills provides us with sad information on species distribution which we need to record. We often hear of dead hedgehogs, deer, badgers and foxes; less often of grass snakes, weasels and stoats, or otters and mink. If you can, please make a mental note of road kills as you drive about the county and send them in to the Bulletin. Birds of prey and other birds may sometimes carry rings. These should be retrieved safely and reported as directed. Be careful when doing so. We would not want readers meeting the same fate! A small reduction in average speeds would make a huge difference to animal mortality on our roads. This is especially true a this time of year when a lot of young wildlife is on the move. St Swithin's Day 15th July, is traditionally a landmark in weather prediction. St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain For forty days it will remain St. Swithin's day, if thou be fair For forty days 'twill rain nae mair. Have a look at the long-range forecast on TWO. http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Roger *** Next LNU Event - all welcome *** For LNU meetings see section 11 for full programme. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Sunday, August 04, 2013 Field Meeting Middlemarsh Farm (Courtesy of J and S Dodsworth) Southwest of Skegness 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road southwards situated about half way between the Burgh bypass and Skegness. Private track to the farm is on left about 1.25km from main road. Keep on track for about 1km and park in farm yard at TF528632. Habitats: Pasture, wetland recreation area, ditches and some *** Map Mate *** John Nickson writes: I am getting more interested in the moths I am attracting to our garden. I have kept my records in a note book for ten years now but see there is a computerised system called Map mate. It looks good. Do you know anything about this soft ware? Editor adds: Anyone using Map Mate care to make a comment? *** 41st Horncastle Astronomy Weekend 13-15th September *** I have just received my booking form for this year's Horncastle Astronomy Weekend. This annual "beanfeast" of Cosmic Awe and Wonder is driven by Paul Money and his fellow enthusiasts. I have attended for many years and it is always a treat - with exceptional speakers such as Dr Allan Chapman. For further HAW information: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/HAW.html *** Plus for Bird Club event *** A Joint BTO and Lincolnshire Bird Club Conference Birding Round Lincolnshire To be held at Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park LN6 9BW Sunday 3rd November 2013 From 9.30 – 16.00 Conference Fee: £14 (Includes coffee, tea and lunch) Everyone is Welcome! Organised by Lincolnshire BTO Representatives Supported by The British Trust for Ornithology and Lincolnshire Bird Club BTO is a registered charity (No 216652) Download Booking Form: http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/Articles/LBC_business/Lincs_Conference_2013_prog_booking_form.pdf Birding Round Lincolnshire 3rd November 13 Tickets MUST be pre-booked; it will not be possible to accept bookings on the door. Tickets are £14 per person, which includes tea, coffee and a buffet lunch *** Gainsborough Area LWT *** Dave Stockley writes: Wed 25 September 2013: What else can you do with nestboxes? – Chris du Feu Not only do nestboxes provide the opportunity for observation of birds’ breeding activity, but other varieties of animal life might choose to call nestboxes ‘home’. Find out more in this illustrated talk by local naturalist Chris. For more information, please ring Joy on 01427 628457 or E-mail Linda – woodentops@darter.plus.com *** Grimsy Area LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT On Saturday 27th July 2013 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a visit to Crowle Moor nature reserve with Matthew Blissett the North- West Lincs. Trust Warden. Meet at 11am in car park (Grid ref.SE756137.) Follow the brown "duck" tourist signs from the main A18 road and through Crowle. At T junction turn left, parking is ahead. Bring packed lunch. We shall be following the southern marked route ( distance 1 1/4 mile) looking for bog rosemary, dune helliborine and hopefully butterflies and adders. Free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. For further details please contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858. *** Lincolnshire Firewood Fair *** Sunday, September 8th at Revesby Estate. An annual event for those who want to buy fuel wood or woodland products with environment-friendly credentials. Category Winner in Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2012. http://www.lincolnshirefirewoodfair.co.uk/ *** Black Ant Flying Days *** Black Ant Flying Days, when winged adults emerge to mate, are supposed to fall on or about 8th/9th July, but given the unpredictable weather it could be later. Your reports will be welcome. Many species do nuptial flights and so Alan Phillips will welcome observations and ant specimens for identification. Contact him on: norwegica@yahoo.co.uk See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18983219 *** Whale and Dolphin Watch - 27th/28th July *** Dave Miller writes: Finally don’t forget it is National Whale and dolphin Watch Weekend on 27th & 28th July. There will be volunteers at organised watches at Skegness Pier and the Cloud Bar, Anderby Creek from 10 – 4 on both these days. Please come along and either help scan the seas or provide moral support. Contact: dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara See link "And finally..." about Acute Oak Decline. *** RSPB Lincoln *** See: http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** S Lincs RSPB *** See: 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/ 14/7 2 Little Gulls, 3 Arctic Terns, south past Donna Nook Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point, Jackson's Marsh and 2 Scaup south of Millennium ridge, Arctic Skua flew north Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 15/7 Caspian Gull, 2 Yellow-legged Gulls, North Hykeham, Millennium Green Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Golden Oriole between Tetney and Holton Grange 16/7 4 Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Scaup, Gibraltar Point, The Wash Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 17/7 8 Yellow-legged Gulls, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, Bonby in fields opposite recycling plant Spotted Redshank, Continental Black-tailed Godwit, Frampton Marsh 18/7 2 juv Crossbills, Gibraltar Point, trapped and ringed 5 Arctic Skuas west over Freiston Shore Red-crested Pochard, Swanholme Lakes 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. CAISTOR Wendy Handford Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 12.7.13 Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 Housemartins, 6, 12th July Horse mushrooms, about 20, 12th July Greater spearwort 12th July Brigg Road verge TA 113 020 16th July Burdock Creeping cinquefoil Yarrow Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Badger 15th July Fox cub takes carcase of juvenile crow 17th July Hedgehog 14th July Whitethroat calling 16th July Common toad, adult female & 2 juveniles Leaf cutter bees collecting Laburnum 12th July First flowers of: Common figwort 12th July Field pansy 12th July Hoary willowherb 12th July Caistor Wildlife Area TA 111 015 17th July Field vole, nest with 2 young Chiffchaff Common frogs, 2 adults Black slugs, 6 Snails, unidentified Ringlets, 6 Black horehound Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 Opium poppy 12th July North Kelsey Road TA 116 015 Hedgehog, roadkill Blackbird incubating 4 eggs, second brood Goldfinch refreshing previous nest Tadpoles leaving pond South Street garden TA 119 012 moth traps 10,11,12th July. In addition to earlier species Beautiful china mark. New on Caistor List Brimstone moth Chequered fruit tree tortrix. New Cherry bark moth. New Cloaked minor Clouded border Common emerald Coronet Crescent. New Dark fruit tree tortrix Dipleurina lacustrata. New Dot moth False veneer grass moth Fan foot. New Heart and club Ingrailed clay Large fruit tree tortrix Lychnis moth. New Marbled coronet. New Miller. New Northern spinach. New Plain wave Poplar hawk moth Rustic Sandy carpet Small magpie Swallow-tailed moth Sycamore. New Yellow shell. New Yellow-spot tortrix Other Chambers Farm Wood 12th July Marbled white butterfly White admiral butterfly Broad-bordered bee hawkmoth *** 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. ANDERBY CREEK 14th July 2013 Dave Miller Black-headed Gull 13 Blue Tit 1 Crow 12 Common Gull 1 Common Scoter 53 (2 flocks moving N) Cormorant 1 Dunlin 15 moving S Great Tit 2 Greylag Goose 3 Herring Gull 1 House Sparrow 1 Knot 14 moving S Linnet 1 Magpie 4 Marsh Harrier 4 – the pair here have produced 3 fledglings. They all look really good, one even tackled a magpie as he got hungry waiting for the mother! Did not see the male today. Redshank 1 Reed Bunting 1 Reed Warbler 2 Sandwich Tern 2 moving N Sedge Warbler 2 Shelduck 3 Starling 6 Stock Dove 1 Whitethroat 1 Woodpigeon 9 Meadow Brown 8 Peacock caterpillar 1 Ringlet 41 Small Skipper 1 Small Tortoiseshell 10 Common Seal 1 Grey Seal 1 100 or so Cinnabar moth caterpillars feeding on ragwort. There were also 2 Burnet moths but I could not see if they were 5 or 6-spotted. Blue-tailed Damselfly ca10 Common Blue Damselfly ca10 Common Darter ca50 CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson 4/7/13 Little Owl - roadkill 5/7/13 Hedgehog - roadkill 12/7/13 Hedgehog - roadkill and STAPLEFORD Stapleford 9/7/13 Little Owl - roadkill GRIMSBY 14/7/13 R Lister In my own back garden this week I have a leafcutting bee that is taking rose bush leaves and taking them to a plant pot with a hole at the bottom taking them inside. HUTTOFT TF512 763 (my garden) JANE PENNINGTON Date: 13 July 2013 Greater spotted woodpecker 1 Large white butterfly 3 Date: 14 July 2013 Clouded border moth 1 (I disturbed it during the day) Greater spotted woodpecker 1 Date: 15 July 2013 Bombus lapidarius 1 (Very large and ground level; I thought possibly a queen) Chaffinch 2 (a pair) Greenfinch 1 Large white butterfly 1 Meadow brown butterfly 1 Speckled wood butterfly 1 Date: 16 July 2013 Collared dove 2 Greenfinch 1 Meadow brown butterfly 1 Speckled wood butterfly 3 Date: 17 July 2013 Jackdaw 1 (drinking at birdbath) Magpie 1 Small tortoiseshell butterfly 1 Speckled wood butterfly 3 Greater spotted woodpecker 1 Saw an unknown brownish/greyish bird catching insects in the birch. The nearest id seemed to be one of the flycatchers. Date: 18 July 2013 Frog 1 (always a surprise as I don't have a pond but do have damp undergrowth) Green-veined white butterfly 1 Robin 1 (back after being away for a while) Small tortoiseshell butterfly 2 Small white butterfly 3 Date: 19 July 2013 Large white butterfly 1 Meadow brown butterfly 1 Speckled wood butterfly 2 HUTTOFT PIT 13th July 2013 Dave Miller Blackbird 1 Black-headed Gull 4 Coot 26 including 10 juveniles and 2 chicks House Martin 2 Magpie 2 Mallard 53 including 3 juveniles Marsh Harrier 3 – the pair and 1 fledgling Moorhen 1 Mute Swan 3 including 1 juvenile Redshank 1 Reed Bunting 5 Reed Warbler 5 Robin 1 Sand Martin 4 Sedge Warbler 2 Whitethroat 1 Woodpigeon 15 Wren 1 Green-veined White 1 Large White 1 Meadow Brown 2 Ringlet 6 Small Tortoiseshell 10 Speckled Wood 5 Common Blue Damselfly 3 Common Darter 2 HUTTOFT MARSH 13th July 2013 Dave Miller Blackbird 1 Black-headed Gull 1 Blue Tit 5 including 2 fledglings Crow 7 Great Tit 2 Greenfinch 1 Herring Gull 1 Lesser Whitethroat 2 Linnet 14 Magpie 4 Meadow Pipit 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Pheasant 1 Reed Bunting 6 Sand Martin 10 Skylark 1 Swallow 70 Swift 1 Whitethroat 5 Woodpigeon 17 Wren 7 Meadow Brown 29 Ringlet 62 Small Heath 20 Small Skipper 9 Small Tortoiseshell 7 Green orb-weaver spider 1 Narrow-bordered 5-spot burnet 1 Cinnabar 4 LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 27/07/2013 Jayne Knight 05/07/13 Late morning: to the East, a pair of Buzzards circling in a thermal, one higher than the other, who, as it reached a certain height, coasted rapidly southwards. When second bird attained similar altitude it did the same. 11/07/13 Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham. Entertained during the very few lulls in a cracking Ashes Test by a very smart male Pied Wagtail catching insects on the boundary and preening on the advertising hoardings. 12/07/13 Two Garden Carpet moths, Xanthorhoe fluctuata, removed from sitting room. 13/07/13 Ringlet butterfly on the Honeysuckle. Also the yellow ants are back in residence under the birdbath and moving eggs around through the passages of the nest. LINCOLN SK996 725 Brian Hedley 16 July 2013 Giant wood wasp seen flying low over pine woodchips in flower border at the Carlton Shopping Centre. LINCOLN (East of Allenby Road Industrial Estate) TF003 714 Brian Hedley 18 July 2013 Greater knapweed, field scabious, sun spurge, fool's parsley, dwarf spurge, burnet-saxifrage, corn parsley and common rest- harrow all noted in flower. Treecreeper 2 (in hedgerow hawthorns) Meadow brown 25 Ringlet 60 Small skipper 15 Gatekeeper 20 Large white 2 Dwarf cream wave 1 LINCOLN (Greetwell Hollow LWT Reserve) TF000 721 Brian Hedley 10 July 2013 Excellent display of calcareous wildflowers including bee orchid, pyramidal orchid, common spotted orchid (going over), stemless thistle, fairy flax, musk thistle, greater knapweed, field scabious, hoary plantain and yellow-wort. Some scrub removal at this site would be very beneficial. Ringlet 250+ Meadow Brown 15 Large skipper 3 Small skipper 6 Small Tortoiseshell 3 Speckled wood 6 Small heath 3 Five-spot burnet 3 17 July 2013 Ringlet 150+ Meadow brown 50+ Gatekeeper 20 Large white 4 Small white 1 Small tortoiseshell 5 Comma 1 Small heath 2 Six-spot burnet 40+ Five-spot burnet 2 Tree bumblebee 1 Speckled wood 2 Banded Demoiselle 1 Brown hawker 1 MARTON SK842 820 Brian Hedley 15 July 2013 Moth-trapping in garden with actinic lamp over Skinner trap produced about 74 species including: Poplar hawk 1 Elephant hawk 2 Privet hawk 1 White-line dart 1 Diamond-back moth 2 Coronet 4 Scarce footman 7 Poplar grey 5 Chinese character 1 Sandy carpet 1 Short-cloaked moth 1 Beautiful hook-tip 1 Barred yellow 1 Dot moth 1 Marbled beauty 2 Dwarf cream wave 2 Plus campion caterpillars noted on potted bladder campion and a few very large mullien moth caterpillars on buddleia (all gone by 16th July). RIPPINGALE and SCOTHERN Rippingale A15 Chris J Manning? 13 July 2013 RTA ferret - some polecat features & hedgehog 14 July 2013 Scothern RTA hedgehog? RIPPINGALE TF09422767 Pauline Warman 16/07/2013 Clouded Silver, 2 Green Pug, 1 Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix, 1 Thistle Ermine, 1 Hedya salicella, 1 Swallow-tailed Moth, 7 Buff Arches, 11 Pebble Prominent, 2 Brimstone Moth, 2 Coronet, 9 Common Footman, 20 Privet Hawk-moth, 7 Light Arches, 8 Marbled Minor, 12 Willow Beauty, 1 Figure of Eighty, 1 Elephant Hawk-moth, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Double Square-spot, 10 Dot Moth, 6 Clay, 5 Blood-vein, 2 Peppered Moth, 2 Dark Arches, 15 Flame, 5 Shoulder-striped Wainscot, 4 Heart and Dart, 6 Uncertain, 7 Chinese Character, 1 Spectacle, 2 Common Wainscot, 9 Udea olivalis, 4 Scalloped Oak, 1 Buff Ermine, 11 Small Elephant Hawk-moth, 3 Light Emerald, 1 Cream-bordered Green Pea, 1 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix, 2 Common Rustic, 1 Eudonia mercurella , 1 Pale Prominent, 1 Aethes rubigana, 1 Agapeta hamana, 1 Smoky Wainscot, 1 Brown-line Bright Eye, 1 Bright-line Brown-eye, 4 Burnished Brass, 2 Flame Shoulder, 1 Clouded Border, 3 Common Emerald, 1 Riband Wave, 5 Fan-foot, 3 Miller, 3 White Satin, 1 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, 1 Rustic, 2 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 SCUNTHORPE South end of green on east side of Kenilworth Rd, Scunthorpe SE 902 099 13/07/13 Magpie 2 adult, 2 juvenile Juveniles pestering parents for food. I've also seen an additional adult Magpie with damaged left wing that has been hopping about for the last 4 weeks (+ I don't know how long before that). Greenfinch (heard only) SEACROFT MARSH SSSI 17th July 2013 Dave Miller House Martin 4 Gatekeeper 1 Meadow Brown 2 Ringlet 5 Pogonus luridipennis, Yellow Drift-liner beetle, a rare species found at Seacroft – 5 individuals noted. SLEAFORD TF 063 470 Steve and Christine Jones This is our first post here. We run a 22 watt actinic moth trap in the garden and we are getting some very interesting results we would like to share. Every night there are the usual commoner moths we see in large numbers including, Dark Arches, Heart and Dart, Peppered Moth, Swallow-tailed moth, Rustic, Marbled Beauty, Riband Wave, Heart and Dart, Coronet, Grey Dagger, Green Pug, Dot Moth, Buff Ermine, Marbled Minor and Willow Beauty. In total so far this month over 1500 macro moths recorded, some of the more interesting ones are listed below. 5th July 2013 Beautiful Hook-tip Gothic Spruce Carpet Sycamore 6th July 2013 Cream-bordered Green Pea Figure of Eighty Maidens Blush Plain Golden Y Puss Moth (which left us some eggs) Scarce Footman Lime Hawkmoth x 2 7th July 2013 Privet Hawkmoth Cabbage Moth Light Emerald Small Dusty Wave Swallow Prominent 9th July 2013 Swallow Prominent 10th July 2013 Barred Straw Common Wave Scarce Footman Light Emerald 11th July 2013 Varied Coronet 12th July 2013 Bordered Pug Bordered White Coxcomb Prominent Millar Poplar Hawkmoth Small Blood-vein Scarce Silver-lines 13th July 2013 Barred Straw Common Wave Scarce Footman Bordered Pug Bordered White Coxcomb Prominent Scarce Silver-lines Peppered Moth (black form, never seen this before) Small Rivulet 14th July 2013 Muslin Footman 15th July 2013 Huge increase of Marbled Beauty Millar Yellow-tail Dusky Brocade Privet Hawkmoth Poplar Hawkmoth Poplar Grey x 3 Sycamore x 3 16th July 2013 Early Thorn Leopard Moth Broad-barred White 17th July 2013 Brown-line, Bright-eye Gothic Lesser Yellow Underwing Varied Coronet 18th July 2013 Engrailed Privet Hawkmoth x 3 Elephant Hawkmoth Leopard Moth x2 White Satin Moth WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 14/7/2103 Cuckoo still calling strongly - 5.30am Bombus lapidarius - underground colony - workers fetching very bright orange pollen. Suspect it is dandelion pollen or a similar Composite. 15/7 On observing the colony today we saw a steady traffic of workers in and out of the entrance hole - and then one "different" bee emerging with a cream/off-white end to the abdomen, of similar size to the B. lapidarium workers. Referring to the BWARS website we conclude this to be Bombus rupestris (Fabricius,1793), a social parasite of B. lapidarium, often with a red end to the abdomen, sometimes cream-tailed. Cuckoo still calling - less regular, incomplete call sometimes. Grass snake [m] caught of camera trap. 16/7 Cuckoo and Common Buzzard heard calling. 17/7 Cuckoo seen 6am. Buzzard heard. 4 Swallow chicks ringed. Large fem grass snake still about - seen basking 20/7 No cuckoo heard since 16/7. WINTERTON Julie Ellison Maresh Harriers 13/07/13 Ermine St, north-east of Winterton, north of B1207 SE 943 188 Marsh Harrier (male) 1 Flying low over the field side of the west roadside hedge, startlingly close, so I got an excellent view even though I was driving! 15/06/13 (sorry I forgot to submit this one earlier) Winterton Rd (into Winteringham) SE 932 211 Marsh Harrier 1 Flying low over field side of east hedge, near the trees WOOLSTHORPE VERGE NR SK91/24 Jane Ostler June lst -July 13th 2013 Plants in flower (until lst week in July flowering still late for most species) Bee Orchids have spread and increased in number Wild Parsnip also spreading Rest Harrow,Yellow Rattle Cowslips were still in flower on 1st June, and abundant Elder 1st flowers on June 5th Wild mignonette " " Ladies Bedstraw " " Hege Bedstraw is abundant this year as is mouse ear hawkweed and other composites Bladder Campion, Salad Burnet, Fairy flax all doing well on July 1st by which time over 80 kinds of flowers had been recorded. Field Scabious, Greater Knapweed were providing most colour as the heatwave took effect. Invertebrates The pill millipede Glonmeris marginata is a new addition to the list Common blue damselfly presumably from pond to the west, a new addition to the list Beetle Cantharis lateralis (to be confirmed by Charlie Barnes) Butterflies - Grizzled Skipper has not been seen this year and Dingy Skippers and Green Hairstreak numbers are down as are Orange Tips and Speckled Wood. Only one Common Blue was seen. Gatekeepers and Ringlets were not abundant but it has been a good year for Small and Large Skippers and Small Heath. By the first week in July there were clouds of Meadow Browns. Moths - Latticed Heath Moths were flying in May and are still abundant on 17th July. Chimney Sweep in good numbers as are Cinnabar and Six spot Burnett. Spiders - Earlier in the year the grass was covered in sheet webs. In July there are the tents of Pisaura mirabilis with the hatched spiderlings inside and the female guarding her young near the base. Vertebrates A Blackcap heard singing from the bushes. Grass Snake, fully grown female, a road casualty Fox and Rabbit, evidence of Field Voles nest. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler Garden SK 922224 Invertebrates Garden Orb Spider Araneus diadematus Spiderlings in webbing at centre of flower 1/7/13 Harvestman Spider Pholcuis phalangioides In House l7/7/13 Leaf cutter bee Megachile maritima has worked steadily through one rose bush Mason bee Osmia ?rufa in mortar of house. Humming bird hawk moth in evening on honeysuckle l7/713 Gothic Moth - through open window at night 18/7/13 Gooseberry sawfly has stripped one gooseberry bush Lily beetle adults and larvae in recently bought pot plant ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 20/7 No report received yet. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx Reports for June 2013 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh A Spoonbill was seen at the beginning of the month (1st & 2nd), with a Ruddy Shelduck putting in a briefer appearance later (24th). Rather unseasonal were three Whooper Swans (12th). In stark contract to the previous year only one Garganey was seen (8th). Raptors included Red Kite and Hobby, both reported on three dates, but it was waders that provided the real draw. 27 species were recorded with two Black-winged Stilts (3rd), Pectoral Sandpiper (3rd-7th) and Temminck’s Stint (7th) the highlights. The supporting cast included Little Stint (6th), Curlew Sandpiper (6th-9th & 14th-18th), Wood Sandpiper (20th) and up to four each of Ruff and Spotted Redshank. Two Little and two Mediterranean Gulls were regular and up to three Black Terns were also seen. A Redstart was seen on one date (14th). RSPB Freiston Shore - see "Other sites" Gibraltar Point NNR Two Common Cranes (2nd) and a Great White Egret (25th) paid brief visits, as did a Montagu’s Harrier (18th). Spring was still in full flow early in the month with both male and female Red-backed Shrikes (1st &7th), 13 Turtle Doves and Crossbill (1st), singling Icterine Warbler and Hooded Crow (2nd), Serin (3rd), two Common Rosefinches (3rd-9th), Garganey (6th) and Black Redstart (7th). Golden Orioles were recorded on a couple of dates later in the month (15th & 30th) and a Marsh Warbler was trapped and ringed (20th). Little, Mediterranean and Yellow-legged Gulls were all seen on two or three dates. Other sites The highlight was a Gull-billed Tern at Kirkby Pits (18th). Odd June records were Whooper Swan was at Willow Tree Fen (7th) and Goldeneye at Kirkby Pits (20th). A Crane flew over Bracebridge Heath (5th), while a White Stork flew over Whisby Nature Park (19th). A Great White Egret was reported at Thurlby Fen (20th). Five Sanderlings were Baston-Langtoft Pits (5th), with Little Tern and Little Gull there too (10th). A Black Tern was at Freiston Shore (8th) shortly followed by a Wood Sandpiper there (10th). Interestingly more Red Kites were reported than Hobbies, while the late spring possibly accounted for three Osprey sightings, at Marston STW (4th), Anwick Fen (25th) and Stoke Rochford (27th). John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk 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 No report yet. Meantime, see: 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 *** 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 *** 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.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 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 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/ 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 *** 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. Saturday, June 08, 2013 Field Meeting - With evening moth/bat element Allington Meadows SSSI (Courtesy of Bill Cragg) Northwest of Grantham 12.00 for 13.00 start and then 9pm start for evening session. Car parking at SK871399 about half way along minor road between Allington and Gonerby Moor junction of A1. Habitats: Hay meadows, hedges, ponds and Foston Beck. Leader: Barry Johnson barryjohnson131@gmail.com Sunday, August 04, 2013 Field Meeting Middlemarsh Farm (Courtesy of J and S Dodsworth) Southwest of Skegness 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road southwards situated about half way between the Burgh bypass and Skegness. Private track to the farm is on left about 1.25km from main road. Keep on track for about 1km and park in farm yard at TF528632. Habitats: Pasture, wetland recreation area, ditches and some arable. Leaders: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Saturday, September 07, 2013 Field Visit - With evening moth/bat element Byrons Lodge and Farm, North Somercotes, (Courtesy of B and L Libell) 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening moth/bat session starting at 7.30pm. Park along driveway to Byrons Lodge at TF415973 (postcode LN11 7LL) or on minor road verge nearby. Take Jubilee Road off the A1031 and then turn left onto Bank End road. Then take first right and Byrons Lodge is about 150m along on right. NB. Owner has stipulated no children for this one. Habitats: Pasture, pond, young woodland and various drains. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, October 13, 2013 Fungus Foray Snipe Dales Country Park - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust East of Horncastle, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Use the Country Park car park (£1 fee) TF330 682 which is well signposted from the A158 Skegness- -Lincoln road and from the B1195 Horncastle--Spilsby road. Some steep slopes present. Habitats: Grassland, marsh and mixed woodland. Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find a copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html 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 subscribes suffered "bounces" from the last mailing "Soft bounces" were as follows. chrisjpotts Clox @rspb - all users of this RSPB ISP *** And finally...... Acute Oak Decline Deadly oak disease 'spreading' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23288620 Bumblebees imported from Europe carry pathogens that pose a threat to UK native honeybees and bumblebees... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22893619 Banned pesticides may be having wider environmental impacts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23347867 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/