============================================ || || 30th June 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 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 *** Organisers of events or activities should be thinking of promoting July and August events soon. If you have anything coming up you feel would be of interest to readers, please let me know. e.g. Is any organisation arranging a trip to the Rutland Bird fair this year for which non-members can apply? 12/13th July - Don't Miss the Bioblitz Please try to get along to the Bioblitz at Whisby Nature Park on the 12th/13th July - details below. Thanks to all who sent in interesting reports or news of events, courses and species to look out for. Please keep the contributions coming. 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. Reminder for 30th - a cancellation Due to various access issues, we have regrettably decided to cancel the LNU meeting on 30th June at Brampton. Next Field Event: Friday, July 12, 2013 Bioblitz Event + Saturday 13 July Whisby Nature Park Southwest of Lincoln Use main car park (£1 fee applicable, 10am-4pm period) located at SK910662. Bioblitz "nerve centre" will be the Education Centre (not main visitor centre) and will open from 10am each day. Come and go when you like and see what species you can add. A range of experts will be around the site both days. Evening moth trapping and bat recording starting from about 9pm on Friday night, depending on weather. Event includes evening moth element. Habitats: Wide variety including woodland, grassland, brownfield habitats, lakes, ditches and marsh. Contacts: Phil Porter 01522 500676 whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk and Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Look out for Wool-carder bees *** Alan Phillips writes: An interesting bee to look out for in the next couple of months is the Wool-carder bee Anthidium manicatum. Look for it in the garden on or around Lambs-ear Stachys byzantine/lanata. The male bees, which are larger than the females, set up territories around these plants and will chase any bee-like insect away. The females visit the plants to ‘card’ the fine hairs with which they line their nests. I have seen my first one of the year in the garden, on 27th June. Identification guides and further info here (note: the distribution maps are somewhat out of date): http://www.bwars.com/index.php?q=bee/megachilidae/anthidium-manicatum *** Glow Worms - Linwood Warren *** Stuart Britton writes: Last night, 27th, I went to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Reserve at Linwood Warren and checked the dry heath for Glow worms (Lampyris noctiluca). I was pleased to find 7 glowing females but had to wait till it was really dark because the abundant white flowers of heath bedstraw made them difficult to see in half light. That's the most I have seen there but there is such a large area of suitable habitat that there must be many more. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Lampyris_noctiluca Please send records to the Bulletin for Charlie Barnes *** 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 vagaries of the weather it could be earlier or later. Your reports will be welcome. Many species do this 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 County Aculeate Recorder [Ants, Bees and wasps] Alan writes: "The records I have from this year have mostly come from the Bulletin and people sending me photos to ID." *** LNU Book-sales Volunteer urgently needed *** Do you have experience of book-selling, record keeping or invoicing? you could be just the person we need. The LNU needs a volunteer Publications person to take charge of the sale of our Books. You would need space to store stock and there is scope to develop and promote this side of the LNU's scientific work. To see how this is organised at present visit the following LNU page: http://www.lnu.org/publications.php If you think you might be interested, e-mail the LNU Hon. Secretary: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk *** Whale and Dolphin Watching 27th/28th July *** Dave Miller writes: A harbour porpoise was seen of the coast on 4th June at Anderby Creek from the Cloud Bar. This is to be one of the venues for this year’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend on 27th & 28th July. I am also running a watch from Skegness Pier. I could do with some more volunteers to help man these watches if you are available. I usually split the day in two – 10–1 & 1–4. Any help is much appreciated. If you can, please contact me on: dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** Riverflies on Chalk Streams *** Ruth Snelson writes: The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project (LCSP) are currently looking for volunteers to help with monitoring riverflies on chalk streams. If you are near a chalk stream and would be able to commit to monitoring the riverfly populations on an annual basis then we need your help. Please note: it will require collection of data from within the channel. Two free training days have been organised with the help of The Riverfly Partnership and Aby Fly Fishers on Friday 30th August and Saturday 31st August 2013. A Riverfly Partnership tutor will deliver the training. Spaces are limited to 12 per day. It will be held at Aby village hall and will include a site visit to the Great Eau, food and drink will be provided. The LCSP will provide the pack of equipment to collect the relevant data and provide life jackets. To book a place or to find out more detail please contact the LCSP Project Officer Ruth Snelson on 01507 609740 or email ruth.snelson@lincolnshire.gov.uk For more information on the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative visit http://www.riverflies.org/rp-riverfly-monitoring-initiative *** Life on the Verge - Wildflower Identification *** Mark Schofield, Project Officer, writes: Life on the Verge 2013 – please help us to complete the map! This is year five and Life on the Verge is still going strong! We have a chance this summer to complete the exploration of Lincolnshire’s potentially wildflower-rich road verges. Last year’s wet summer discouraged surveys and we fell short of covering the full extent of road verges in North and South Kesteven and in the Wolds. The weather we have had so far in 2013 has delayed flowering by up to 2-3 weeks so this has delayed the launch of surveys this year. Despite these setbacks, it is still possible to cover the remaining gaps in the map so that vital corridors for wildlife can be discovered and restored. The Limestone Area is now 65% explored and we now have data for 67% of the Wolds between Spilsby and the Humber. Huge progress has been made towards the designation of new road verge Local Wildlife Sites with 54 new LWSs along 55km of roads proposed in the Wolds this spring and 29 more LWSs along a further 50km of road on the Limestone bringing the overall total to 194km of new roadside Local Wildlife Sites since Life on the Verge began. This is more than 3 times the length of road that was previously known to have wildflower-rich verges throughout the whole county. The latest results map of the Wolds can be seen here: www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/survey/results-wolds.php Wildflower ID Classes Free Wildflower Identification Field Classes are being run again in the Wolds through June and July but with very limited places this year. The 2013 field classes have been arranged primarily for particular interest groups and societies – but remaining places available to the general public can be found on the project website: http://lifeontheverge.org.uk/getinvolved-wolds.php. Previous surveyors especially are invited to top up their field ID skills. Wildflower seed collection events at Red Hill Sunday 25th August (10am-1pm) Saturday 14th September (10am-1pm) Help us to hand-collect wildflower seeds for Lincolnshire’s Coronation Meadow for community restoration projects. Seed head identification training on hand. Fill your pockets and keep a few seeds for your garden. Meet in layby opposite Badger farm entrance. Please drop me an email if you and friends would like to help on the day. Could you help us to propagate wildflowers? We are on the look-out for gardeners who could spare a little space to propagate some plug plants for public green space restoration work. Please get in touch if you would like some free seed in return for donating some plug plants to a worthy cause! Pots and compost can be provided to replace what you use. With best regards and my thanks for all your help so far, Mark Schofield mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara *** RSPB Lincoln *** See: http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** S Lincs RSPB *** See: http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk *** BOSTON BELLE Wash Cruises 2013 *** The South Lincs RSPB have announced details of their Wash Birdwatching Cruises aboard The Boston Belle for 2013. Each cruise starts at Boston's Sluice Bridge Marina and lasts 4 to 5 hours. During 2012 over 100 different bird species, averaging about 60 per individual cruise, were seen. Sightings included plovers, turnstone, dunlin, knot, redshank, godwits, egret, eider, harriers, peregrine, terns, buzzard, gannet and kingfisher. Seals are also seen on most cruises. There is a programme of 12 cruises for 2013 starting 20th April and finishing 12th October. RSPB members and non-members are welcome. Full details including revised booking arrangements for 2013, can be found at: http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk Update: Jeremy Eyons says cruises have sold out this year so far, with several Bulletin readers going on The Boston Belle. He says there are still spaces on 28th August and 12th September. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 21/6 2 Mediterranean Gulls, Saltfleetby St Peter 22/6 Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Red-backed Shrike, Rimac, in hawthorns by reedbed 23/6 Montagu's Harrier, Ruckland 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 24/6 Ruddy Shelduck, Frampton Marsh 25/6 Great While Egret, Gibraltar Point, Jacksons Marsh Osprey, Anwick Fen by River Slea 26/6 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 27/6 3 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 28/6 Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 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. *** Report of LNU Meeting. *** Allington Meadows SSSI, Near Grantham Collated by Brian Hedley SK871399 8 June 2013 LNU Field Meeting to this private site courtesy of landowner Bill Cragg and involving an afternoon session and an evening moth and bat session. Led by Barry Johnson and attended by 19 people including the leaders and landowners. The weather was fairly mild but overcast which limited invertebrate records. The meadows supported a species rich mix of plants including great burnet, pepper saxifrage, dropwort, meadow saxifrage, ragged robin, pignut and adder’s- tongue fern. A few fungi species were noted: turkey-tail, cramp-balls and blushing bracket. Galls were noted on willow, nettle and ground-ivy. A total of 37 birds were noted including breeding lapwings, common buzzard, yellow wagtail, lesser whitethroat and tree sparrow. Eighteen moth species were recorded including small yellow underwing (a very local species in Lincolnshire), silver y, common swift, brimstone, treble lines, shoulder-striped wainscot and clouded border. The only butterflies noted were green-veined white (adult) and small tortoiseshell (caterpillars). Azure damselflies were frequent whilst blue-tailed damselfly and banded demoiselle were also noted. Other invertebrates included speckled bush-cricket, malachite beetle, common cardinal beetle and a good selection of spiders noted by Allan Binding. Mammals included otter spraints beneath a road bridge nearby plus common and soprano pipistrelle bats recorded in the evening. *** 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 25 June 2013 Braceby TF015353 Greater spotted woodpecker feeding fledgling with peanut from our garden peanut feeder Tree sparrows doing the same 4 house martin nests on house active Young hare just outside Braceby village Red Kite floating above A52 2 miles east of Grantham CAISTOR Wendy Handford Two corrections. Record of Black rat on Trailcam was more probably a mink. Thank you to Chris Manning. Record of Blue tit with second brood was almost certainly incorrect. Thank you to Stuart Britton. Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 21.6.13 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Badger on Trailcam 12.30am 20th & 21st June Green woodpecker foraging on lawn & between paving slabs, 2.30pm 21st June Grey heron flying over, 2pm 21st June Swallows, about 40, and small bird of prey flying over adjacent field during hay-cutting, 24th June Treesparrows in nesting box 24th June Common frog on terrace during heavy rain, 6pm 20th June Cuckoo spit on Goosegrass and other species 23rd June First flowers of: Black knapweed 21st June Greater bird’s-foot trefoil 22nd June Hedge woundwort 24th June Lesser spearwort 23rd June Long-headed poppy 25th June Tutsan 24th June Fungi: Brown mottlegill, about 100, on lawn 20th June Pale brittlestem, about 15, in glade 24th June Caistor bypass verge TA 121 013 Field bindweed 26th June Caistor Wildlife Area TA 111 015 26th June Chiffchaff Yellowhammer Cinnabar moth on stalk of Yorkshire fog grass Bittersweet Marsh thistle Canada Lane TA120 018 24th June Grey heron flying over Housemartins, 2, flying over. Very few in Caistor this year Comfrey, with many bees foraging, Raspberry Rough chervil White campion Co-op carpark verge TA 118 015 22nd June Great plantain Nipplewort Smooth tare Health Centre verge TA 120 011 Cornflower 25th June Meadow clary, introduced, 21st June Perforate St John’s wort 25th June Selfheal 25th June Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 Mink 16th June Great spotted woodpecker, juvenile, dead after hitting window Bibio anglicus flies, probably Burying beetle, N. investigator, on rabbit corpse Gooseberry sawfly larvae Bramble in flower Dog rose in flower Sandbraes footpath TA 110 019 21st June Broad-leaved dock Common ragwort Dame’s-violet. New on Caistor list Hemlock Hoary plantain Meadow cranesbill Giant puffball with Large black slugs feeding on it, 25th June Horse mushroom 25th June. New on Caistor list Shieling farm TA 106 027 Bees, possibly Tree bumblebees, nesting in box normally used by Robin DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve – TF187083 Date: 24/06/2013 Observer: Ian Gordon Time: 0930 – 1130 Weather: Cloudy, cool and breezy Birds: Blackbird Blackcap Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Buzzard Canada Goose Chaffinch Chifchaf Common Tern Collared Dove Coot Cormorant Crow Cuckoo Garden Warbler Great Black-backed Gull Great Crested Grebe Great Tit Greylag Goose Herring Gull House Martin Jackdaw Kestrel Lesser Black-backed Gull Little Grebe Magpie Mallard Meadow Pipit Mute Swan Oystercatcher Reed Bunting Reed Warbler Robin Rook Sand Martin Shelduck Swallow Swift Tufted Duck Willow Warbler Wood Pigeon also Date: 25/06/13 Time: 1530 – 1630 Weather: Warm and sunny Birds: Cetti’s Warbler Gadwall Grey Heron Little Egret Sedge Warbler Others: Grey Squirrel (1) Common Blue Damselflies (all over the reserve) GRANTHAM Great Wood, Boothby Pagnell Keith Smith Saturday, June 22, 2013 Cuckoo calling every day this week. HOLBEACH RANGE. NORTH END R & K Heath 23/06/2013 Todays WeBs count produced very few waders as was to be expected. But there was: Barn owl hunting over saltmarsh. Marsh Harrier ditto. Later a Peregrine came from Boston way. Early on there were over a 100 Swifts feeding low over the sea where the Welland meets the Wash. HORKSTOW SE498 770 Jenny Haynes 17 June 2013 There were three or four greenfinches eating the seedheads of geraniums (cranesbill) in my garden today. I've not seen this before although I do have large patches of the plants throughout the garden. Also, on Saturday, both male and female Great Spotted Woodpeckers were on my peanut feeders at the same time. They appear to be nesting several hundred yards away in a small wood but have been coming to the feeders continuously for a while now. HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden 15/6/13 Robert Walker Soldier Beetle 1 (Cantharis rustica) - rescued alive from bucket of water,dried out and off. Tree Bumblebees c30+ ( Bombus hypnorum ) - on Mountain Ash tree blossom, photo taken. HORNCASTLE TF255694 Robert Walker 17/6/13 Water Vole 1 - swimming across old canal, just south of town swimming pool area. URBAN LINCOLN 11.30am Sunday 23 June 2013 Jacquie Harrison Male bullfinch using seed feeder in small back garden - initially was on neighbour's shed roof. Very unusual, in 23 years, have not seen one in the garden before. Stayed at least 15 minutes feeding. LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 22/06/2013 Jayne Knight Only finding one set of Hedgehog droppings this year, belonging to the smaller animal, but does regularly visit the garden. Starlings have had a good breeding season, around 25 young can be seen together feeding on the chopped peanut. The noise is incredible! A good number of Swifts have returned to the area, can count over 20 when they scream overhead, but Swallows and House Martins very sparse. The Yellow Ants that frequented the garden and bedroom for many years have apparently disappeared this season. No spoilheap yet on the carpet in the bedroom from their tunnel excavations and brown ants have taken over the part of the nest that is observable under the birdbath. My gardening regime and my neighbours' have not changed so I cannot think it is due to human influence. The brown ants have been aggressive previous years in trying to take over the yellows' territory so am assuming they have been victorious at last. I shall not be as tolerant at sharing my bedroom with brown ants! And had a hatch of spiderlings on one of the wheelie-bins, beautiful primrose yellow abdomens with a solid black triangle at the spinner end. No idea what they are. Anyone know? LINCOLN SK972739 W/E 29/06/2013 Jayne Knight Two sets of fledgling Great Tits being fed in the garden at the start of the week, 4 babies in each, one group slightly older and now very independent, the second lot still negotiating the feeders and how to extract sunflower hearts. Most amusing. Blue Tits have likewise been bringing two young to be fed, also couple of young Blackbirds foraging independently, plus even more juv Starlings and Goldfinches. There is one young Chaffinch about but no Greenfinch offspring seen yet. There is also a Bumblebee nest under the pantiles above my backdoor. Found a couple of dead ones on the ground and have looked in a simple insect guide but not confident enough to identify them myself, they have a rufus bottom and a cream body stripe. 25/06 SK902798, estimated. Sat waiting outside Bransby Horses Visitor Centre for transport home and attention drawn to a distant line of biggish birds, dropping in to land. Around 7 of them, could not identify as no binoculars with me, except knew they weren't something I'd seen much, but then the lovely, long, bubbling call from a Curlew. So am thinking these were the birds we saw. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 Silvia Fowler 21.06.13 Buzzard over meadow. Family of Long-tailed Tits. 22.06.13 3 Swifts 23.06.13 5-6 Swallows, inc some juveniles. 2 adult and 1 young Goldfinch Chiffchaff The latest House Martin nest to be claimed seems to have been abandoned after a small amount of rebuilding, so we’re back to only 4 active nests. 24.06.13 First Bat sighting since 6 April, but in a different spot. 25.06.13 Blue Damselfly on pond plant; not sure of exact species (no photo). 26.06.13 2 small dead chicks on ground below House Martin nests. Nests undamaged, so apparently no predation, but chicks may have died and been removed by adults. Weather has remained quite cold and dull with limited insect activity. 14-spot Ladybird (Unusual form in that the spots weren’t fused as is more common in this species. Comment and ID by Charlie Barnes, Recorder) TF2985 – TF2986 Silvia Fowler 27.06.13 At least 7 Skylark in song over fields (mostly barley) in a 1 square mile area. Yellow Wagtail - 1 Chiffchaff - 2 Small baby rabbit on verge. RIPPINGALE My garden pond Rippingale Ian Misselbrook 20 June 2013 1 Large Red damselfly 10 Pond Skaters 4 Smooth newts 300+ Common Frog Tadpoles - good to see as we had none last year when spawn was hit by late frosts. RIPPINGALE TF09422767 Pauline Warman 25/06/2013 Moths (MV trap left overnight) Green Carpet 1 Spectacle 1 Rustic 1 Heart and Dart 15 Treble Lines 3 Shoulder-striped Wainscot 3 Clouded Border 1 Cinnabar 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character 1 Large Nutmeg 2 Common Wainscot 1 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana 1 Least Minor 1 Helcystogramma rufescens 1 Plum Tortrix 1 Tawny Marbled Minor 1 Marbled Minor 3 www.blipfoto.com/paulinew WEST ASHBY TF266737 25/6/13 Robert Walker Brown Hare 1 - in long grass in garden of farm house, nearly stepped on it ! Garden Chafer Beetles 7+ (Phyllopertha horticola ) - on damaged lawn grass, on approx 1sq. metre area. Red Kite 1 - over nearby fields to south of above location at about 1.15pm. Buzzards 4 - over nearby fields to the north of above location at about 2.00pm WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 21/6 Cuckoo still calling - somewhat "altered tune" 25/6 2 Common Buzzards active in area. 26/6 Marsh Harrier hunting through fen Cuckoo heard at Canada Farm Butterflies: Orange tip, Small tortoiseshell, Peacock and Large White 27/6 Cuckoo and Common Buzzard heard calling 9am. Buzzard also seen. Butterflies: 28/6 Cuckoos still calling. WOODHALL SPA Ladybird - Cream-spotted Ladybird - Calvia 14-guttata 16th June 2013. Reporter: A. Teasdale - Wildlife Watch. Location: Woodhall Spa - route of old railway Grid reference TF 200635 approx. In understory in mixed woodland, mainly sycamore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 28th June 2013 John Walker, Roger Briggs, Steve Hall, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Any hot, sunny spells during the week encouraged a variety of butterflies to be on the wing but in relatively small numbers. Species included large skipper (quite active on the 25th), common blue, small heath, wall brown, meadow brown, small copper, orange tip, red admiral and speckled wood. The small amount of rainfall from the previous week kept the vegetation looking fresh with good clumps of birds-foot trefoil in flower, yellow rattle now beginning to go into seed but still a nice colour particularly amidst any areas of red clover along the path edges. Lesser trefoil, viper’s-bugloss, hound’s tongue, lesser meadow rue, quaking grass and scarlet pimpernel are now showing and the fen has a good scattering of yellow flag. Some southern marsh orchids are going over yet others are coming into a good flower spike. They have been well scattered in distribution with only one small area having a dense covering of 3000+ plants. Pyramidal orchids are now just beginning to break bud and the first bee orchids and common twayblade have been seen. Sea thrift, sea milkwort, sea plantain and sea arrowgrass remain in flower on the saltmarsh. Highlights of the WeBS included Sandwich Tern 6, Common Tern 5, Comic Tern 3, Little Tern 1, Dunlin 20, Ring Plover 9 and Sanderling 1. There was a noticeable Swift movement south on the 22nd with 2,600 birds seen in under an hour near Brickyard and several flocks of around 100 passing south on the 25th. A Whimbrel was heard over Churchill on the 24th and 38 Curlew were seen off Rimac at high tide on the 27th. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx Note - I have a copy of John's report for April 2013 if anyone would like me to send them a copy. I was away when it arrived. Roger Reports for May 2013 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Grahame Hopwood and Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh Two Spoonbills were seen during the month, one of which was ringed in Holland. A Black Brant remained with the Dark-bellied Brent (until 20th). Just two Garganey were seen (8th & 28th). Montagu’s Harrier (19th) and Red Kite (31st) also didn’t hang around for long. A Black-winged Stilt (7th) was present for just one day. Temminck’s Stints were more obliging with up to six present (9th-25th). Although generally a poor month for waders there were up to three Curlew Sandpipers (30th), one Little Stint (25th-31st) and two Wood Sandpipers (6th & 16th-18th). Up to four Mediterranean Gulls were seen (30th) with three Little Gulls regularly and one Yellow-legged Gull (30th). Turtle Doves were regular with up to four. There were single sightings of Black Redstart (14th) and Whinchat (18th). RSPB Freiston Shore - see "Other sites" Gibraltar Point NNR On the sea both Black-throated (17th) and Great Northern Divers were seen (25th) with Pomarine Skua (17th) and two Puffins (10th & 17th). On land migration was in full swing with plenty of birds passing through. A Great White Egret was seen on a couple of dates (20th & 21st) as were Spoonbill (16th & 19th), Iceland Gull (2nd & 28th), Montagu’s Harrier (22nd & 31st), Osprey (6th & 26th), Red-rumped Swallow (9th & 11th), Red-breasted Flycatcher (20th & 27th), Hawfinch (6th & 26th), Black Redstart (6th & 31st) and Greenish Warbler ( 29th & 31st). While Crane (1st), Woodlark (1st), Caspian Gull (2nd), Pallas’s Warbler (7th), Red-spotted Bluethroat (17th), Ring Ouzel (18th),Temminck’s Stint (21st) and Golden Oriole (31st) were all seen on single dates. One or two Common Rosefinches were seen and heard singing on at least three dates towards the end of the month and a Red-backed Shrike was present in the same period. Firecrests were seen on three dates, while Jays were still unusually numerous with up to 50 present. Other sites A Honey Buzzard was reported over Sutton Bridge (11th) with Ospreys reported at Deeping Lakes (7th) and Market Deeping (16th). Three Black Terns were at North Hykeham Pits (7th). The only Garganey reported inland was at Crowland (23rd). The wader highlight was a trip of 11 Dotterel at Wainfleet Marsh (4th) with up to three Wood Sandpipers (6th) and a Curlew Sandpiper (26th) at RSPB Freiston Shore. Cetti’s Warblers were on territory on at least three sites in the south of the county. A Nightjar sitting on a wooden crate at Dunsby Fen (28th) was an unexpected find and even more so was Lincolnshire’s third White-throated Sparrow in a garden in Spalding on this date. Finally a White-winged Black Tern was seen briefly at Kirkby Pits (31st). Note - I have a copy of John's report for April 2013 if anyone would like me to send them a copy. I was away when it arrived. 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 W/E 28.06.13 BIRDS Max nos. Avocet 6 barn owl blackbird 12 blackcap 3 black-headed gull 40 blue tit 6 bullfinch 2 canada goose 16 carrion crow 4 Cetti's warbler 3 chaffinch 12 chiffchaff 4 collared dove 2 common buzzard common gull 10 common tern 9 coot 30 cormorant curlew dunnock 6 goldfinch 2 grasshopper warbler GC grebe 4 great tit 5 grey heron greylag goose 130 herring gull hobby house martin 10 house sparrow 10 jackdaw 2 kestrel kingfisher LBB gull lesser whitethroat little gull 2 long tailed tit 2 magpie 4 mallard 15 marsh harrier 2 moorhen 6 mute swan 12 oystercatcher 5 pheasant 2 pied wagtail pochard 15 red - crested pochard reed bunting 7 reed warbler 20 robin 4 sedge warbler 10 shelduck 12 song thrush 2 sparrowhawk starling 12 swallow 20+ swift 40+ tufted duck 20 whitethroat 10 willow warbler 6 wood pigeon 6 wren 7 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, June 30, 2013 - CANCELLED Field Meeting Brampton Farmland (Courtesy of R and A Brownlow) Friday, July 12, 2013 Bioblitz Event + Saturday 13 July Whisby Nature Park Southwest of Lincoln Use main car park (£1 fee applicable, 10am-4pm period) located at SK910662. Bioblitz "nerve centre" will be the Education Centre (not main visitor centre) and will open from 10am each day. Come and go when you like and see what species you can add. A range of experts will be around the site both days. Evening moth trapping and bat recording starting from about 9pm on Friday night, depending on weather. Event includes evening moth element. Habitats: Wide variety including woodland, grassland, brownfield habitats, lakes, ditches and marsh. Contacts: Phil Porter 01522 500676 whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk and Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.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. Emails from Enterprise to Hotmail are being blocked. My thank-yous to various folks have been returned. Sorry about this. Beyond my control. The following subscribes suffered "Hard bounces" from the last mailing and will be deleted from the mailing list. Please contact me with an alternative email address. anderpop.chuff - unable to deliver derek2fisherman - no account jo-dixon1 - no account teri.garrett - account disabled "Soft bounces" were as follows. alandale - 552 Spam Message Rejected ben.gmiller - mailbox unavailable chrisjpotts - 552 Spam Message Rejected furniconsult - delivery failed geoff@muscroft - 552 Spam Message Rejected hartsholmecp or Lisa.Blezzard - delivery failed hendrina - delivery failed mail@robmartyr - bad destination system: no such domain *** And finally..... ** Badger bites seal? Seal contracts TB.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23060148 Review of Bee Decline http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23090339 Cold Spring impact on Insects http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/23054039 ---------- ~ 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.