============================================ || || 17th November 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. A Sign-up Form can now be found on: http://eepurl.com/zmFMT Past LNU Wildnews Bulletins are available on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Note: Each address contains the relevant date. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. Please contact the Editor to contribute articles or reports. E-mail: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** From the Editor.... *** If you have not yet filled in Pat Tarttelin's survey about the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Woodhall Spa airfield project, please help her by doing so now. It is straightforward and will not take you long. The final date for our contributions is 20th November. Woodhall Spa Airfield consultation http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SGK5CXP Mutterings of early snow remind us to prepare cars for winter. We could see some next week. If you should decide to go to Donna Nook in snowy of freezing conditions, please drive with care. Let's do some winter Botany. Earlier work, such as the Mistletoe survey, were a great success. Paul Kirby has asked us to look out for and report locations of the following easy-to-recognise but under-recorded species: Gorse http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/gorse http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/gorse/ Lords and Ladies http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/lords-and-ladies http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/lords-and-ladies Reports may be sent in via the Bulletin. Thanks. Roger *** LNU Events *** Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. The programme of indoor meetings starts next month and final arrangements are being made. To check on the details as these fall into place, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 Title: Managing the Lincolnshire Wash Reserves for Wildlife Speaker: Toby Collett - Warden Lincolnshire Wash Reserves Everyone is welcome at LNU meetings, but it is always good to have new members sign up and become involved in our work. You can do this via the LNU website: http://lnu.org/join.php *** Donna Nook Seals *** Readers of the Bulletin are urged to respect and support the advice and policy of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in relation to access to seal breeding areas. Please stay behind the fence in the viewing area and do not venture out onto the beach. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-24872049# For the latest Seal news see LWT webpage: http://lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/index.php Rob Lidstone-Scott writes: 2nd Nov: bulls 82, cows 85, pups 30 9th Nov: Bulls 315, cows 412, pups 200 *** Gainsborough Area LWT *** Dave Stockley writes: Wed 20 November 2013: A Year at Potteric Carr NR – Allan and Susan Parker This digital presentation looks at the flora and fauna of one of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s premier sites on the outskirts of Doncaster. Superb photography from this renowned couple. For more information, please ring Joy on 01427 628457 or E-mail Linda – woodentops@darter.plus.com *** Grimsby & District RSPB Local Group*** Julie Harrison writes: On Monday 18 November 2013 we invite you to join us at Corpus Christi Community Centre, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7AE for a very special Indoor Meeting, commencing at 7-30pm, when Dr Mike Leach, Wildlife Photographer & Author will be presenting his illustrated Talk "Poles Apart" the worlds of the Arctic & Antarctic. He will also be signing copies of his latest book "The Natural History of Christmas". Admission £3. All are welcome Tea/coffee available. Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: Forthcoming dates for the 2013/2014 programme of Events. Members and non-members welcome. 12th December at 7-30pm illustrated TALK Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston COAST AND ISLAND by Paul Hobson Members £2,non-members £3-50 16th January 2014 at 7-30pm illustrated TALK Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston WILDLIFE OF THE NENE WASHES AND THE CORNCRAKE by Charlie Kitchen Sam Newsom Music Centre,Boston Members £2,non-members £3-50. S Lincs RSPB http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk *** Defra Consultation on Common Agriculture Policy Reform *** It has been suggested that readers with an interest in CAP reform might like to use the following CAP Consultation link: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/agricultural-policy/cap-consultation Attention is drawn to the following issues: 1. Should we transfer funding from Pillar 1 (income support) to Pillar 2 (rural development)? 2. If so, should we transfer the maximum 15% or less? 3. Rural Development Programme (RDP) funding can improve the rural environment, improve the competitiveness of the farming sector and productivity of the forestry sector, support growth in the rural economy, and strengthen rural communities. 3a) What priorities should we spend RDP funding on? 3b) What proportion of RDP spend should we apply to: • Environment — agri-environment and forestry. • Farming competitiveness and forestry productivity • Growth programme The consultation closes the 28 November 2013. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 8/11 Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Covenham Reservoir Long-tailed Duck on pools, Humberston Fitties 14 Twite. Donna Nook 9/11 2 Little Stints, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Jack Snipe, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck on pools, Humberston Fitties Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Boston, Cut End, River Witham c 40 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes Coast c 40 Snow Buntings, c 100 twite, Theddlethorpe between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Glaucous Gull, juv Mediterranean Gull, North Hykeham, Apex Pit Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Blue-winged Teal drk, Boultham Mere 10/11 2 Lapland Buntings between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Bonxie,' Donna Nook c 40 Snow Buntings, c 100 Twite, Theddlethorpe between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Snow Bunting, Nocton Fen Glaucous Gull, North Hykeham, Apex Pit Lapland Bunting north over, Great Northern Diver offshore, 2 Bonxies, Gibraltar Point Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Covenham Reservoir Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Pale-bellied Brant Goose, Twite, Frampton Marsh Snow bunting, Garthorpe 11/11 Black-throated Diver, Boston, Cut End, River Witham Glaucous Gull, North Hykeham 30 Snow Buntings, Male Hen Harrier, Cleethorpes Coast Shag, Stamford, Hudd's Mill on River Welland 12/11 White-rumped Sandpiper, Little Stint, Alkborough Flats White-rumped Sandpiper, 20 Snow Buntings, Frampton Marsh Red-necked Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Covenham Reservoir Blue-winged Teal drk, Boultham Mere Richard's Pipit, Jack Snipe, Gibraltar Point Shag, Stamford, Hudd's Mill on River Welland 251 Common Scoter flew west over Alkborough Flats 13/11 16 Whooper Swans 1/2mls SW of Worlaby then appeared to go to Saxby All Saints Carrs Bewick's Swan over Worlaby Carrs Red-necked Grebe, Covenham Reservoir White-rumped Sandpiper, 16 Snow Buntings, Frampton Marsh Shag, Stamford, Hudd's Mill on River Welland 14/11 st 7 - 16 Glaucous Gull, North Hykeham, Millennium Lake 2 White-fronted Geese, Purple Sandpiper, Huttoft Pit Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point Velvet Scoter, Red-necked Grebe, Covenham Reservoir White-rumped Sandpiper, 17 Snow Buntings, Frampton Marsh Blue-winged Teal drk, Boultham Mere 2 Shorelarks, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe dunes at Brickyard Lane 15/11 White-rumped Sandpiper, m Hen Harrier, 3 Snow Buntings, Frampton Marsh 70 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes Coast 22 Snow Buntings, c 60 Twite, 2 Shorelarks, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe dunes at Brickyard Lane Glaucous Gull, North Hykeham, Millennium Lake 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. TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE? Annette Faulkner writes: A thought. This summer, as we do every year, we have been out recording Daubenton’s bats along the rivers and drains of the south Lincolnshire Fens, where we live. Each year we find the bats being outcompeted on the bat detectors by ever-increasing numbers of bush crickets, though not everywhere. Then last year our neighbours found an unfamiliar bush cricket in their garden, which I identified as a speckled bush cricket, a species totally new to me, and confirmed by the county recorder. This year I decided it was time I spent more time seeing what bats were doing in our own quite large town garden, and in the process discovered speckled bush crickets, completely inaudible without a bat detector, were all over the garden, chirping away at between 30 and 40 kHz. This gave me the idea of ‘collateral recording’ – those records we pick up incidental to what we are looking for, so that we get two records for the price of one. We really should be passing them on, and some clearly do, but I’m as guilty as the next person for not doing so. Here are my bush cricket records. DARK BUSH CRICKET. All grid references to be sent to the county recorder. August and September 2013. Along the River Welland wherever there are plenty of nettles and other dense vegetation, from Market Deeping to, but not in, Spalding. They are also present at Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve adjacent. Along some parts of the Vernatt’s Drain, but not others. ROESEL’S BUSH CRICKET. Much less frequent on the Welland and only so far recorded at Four Mile Bar, near Cowbit. Vernatt’s Drain, occasional. South Holland Main Drain, occasional. SPECKLED BUSH CRICKET. Our Spalding garden The garden of a colleague at Kirton Meeres Probably along some of the verges at Sutton St James last year, where they could have been mistaken for pipistrelle social calls – but at the wrong frequency. The speckled bush crickets have only gone in the last couple of weeks, and if readers with bat detectors would like to how to identify bush crickets next year, let me know. Be warned: Roesel’s sound like a very loud road drill! Dark bush crickets are audible to younger ears without a detector. But what of other groups? I’d be really pleased if the moth recorders could send in records of bats pinching moths over their MV lights – you get to places we don’t. And I can see some birders already record butterflies and other taxa. I’m forever trying to get colleagues who do barn surveys, and record brown long-eared bat feeding roosts, to collect up the moth wings they find on the barn floor so they can be identified. The list is endless. *** Other Species to look out for... *** Floating Pennywort https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/factsheet/factsheet.cfm?speciesId=1766 http://www.glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/invasive-species-id-guides.pdf http://www.ceh.ac.uk/sci_programmes/documents/hydrocotyleranunculoides.pdf Water Voles http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/water-vole Barn Owls http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/barnowl/index.aspx Willow Tits http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/willowtit/index.aspx Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/l/lesserspottedwoodpecker/index.aspx *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and We welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 8.11.13 In flower around Caistor Autumn hawkbit Broad-leaved dock Bush vetch Canadian fleabane Catmint Common cat's-ear Common chickweed Common ragwort Common storksbill Cornflower Corn marigold Creeping buttercup Daisy Dandelion Equal-leaved knotgrass Feverfew Field scabious Fox-and-cubs Good King Henry Greater celandine Groundsel Hairy bittercress Harebell Hedgerow cranesbill Herb Robert Himalayan balsam Hogweed Honeysuckle Ivy Ivy-leaved toadflax Meadowsweet Nipplewort Petty spurge Red campion Red deadnettle Red valerian Ribwort plantain Shepherd's purse Smooth sowthistle Tutsan White campion White dead nettle Yarrow Yellow corydalis Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Hedgehog 3 times nightly on Trailcam Buzzard roosting in Alder 11th Nov Peasants 2m roosting in Alder 8th Nov Pheasants 2m, 6f on Trailcam 12th Nov Sparrowhawk catches Woodpigeon 10th Nov Parent shieldbug 8th Nov 10-spot ladybird yellow/black spots 13th Nov. New on Caistor list Additional fungi. IDd by R Halstead, J Freeman Bay polypore on Willow Bearded milkcap 31st Oct. New on Caistor list Candlesnuff on Ash Coconut milkcap. New on Caistor list Common cavalier 3rd Nov. New on Caistor list Cushion bracket on Wild cherry Lemon disco 26th Oct. New on Caistor list Russet toughshank. New on Caistor list Caistor bypass verge TA 121 013 WH Kestrel hovering 14th Nov Hundon Manor Farm TA 116 024 P Robinson Pink-footed geese, skein of 40 9th Nov Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Pink-footed geese, skein of 180 9th Nov Parasol Normanby Road TA 113 097 Hedgehog m and f most nights DEEPING HIGH BANK R & K Heath 10/11/13 Of interest on this mornings WeBs count on the Welland were: Buzzard 1 plus 3 more over Deeping Lakes after finishing our count. Kerstrel 3 along Deeping High Bank HEIGHINGTON TF025696 John Nickson 8th to 12th November 2013 Angle Shades 1 Feathered Thorn 1 HOLYWELL LAKE 10th November 2013 Ian Misselbrook WeBS Holywell Lake Little Grebes 8 Mute Swans 2 Greylag Geese 41 Canada Geese 114 Mallard 108 Gadwall 40 Teal 34 Wigeon 2 Shoveler 6 Tufted Duck 32 Coot 22 Moorhen 12 Kingfisher 1 Kestrel 1 Fieldfares 100 Pied Wagtails 3 Robin Dunnock Wren Wood Pigeons Pheasants Rooks Jackdaws Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Chaffinches Goldfinches On the way to the lake and back my wife and I counted 7 Kestrels, 5 Buzzards and 2 Red Kites. HUTTOFT TF512 763 (my garden) Jane Pennington It seems like some long lost birds have returned this week! Date: 12 November 2013 Magpie 1 Robin 1 Wood pigeons 4 Wren 1 Date: 13 November 2013 Blackbirds 2 Chaffinch 3 Collared doves 2 Dunnock 1 Great tits 2 Date: 14 November 2013 Pheasant 1 Date: 15 November 2013 Blackbirds 2 Collared doves 2 Great tits 2 Magpie 1 Mistlethrush 1 Pheasant 2 (male and female) Robin 1 Siskin 1 Wrens 2 LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 16/11/2013 Jayne Knight 13/11/13 Two tiny Daddy long-legs spiders, Pholcus phalangioides, set up residence in the kitchen and what was originally an enormous Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus, has now debouched her eggs into a sac onto the kitchen ceiling and is keeping guard over it. 14/11/13 Peregrine falcon observed flying along the harbour basin at Burton Waters. THURNHOLMES (79767 98400) and surrounding area Steve Hiner and Paul Snow 09/11/13 Golden Plover x 1 Kestrel x 1 taking off with Grass Snake, Gunthorpe 12/11/13 Fieldfare x 6 Golden Plover x 39 Starling x 65 Tree Sparrow x 39 Short Tailed Field Vole x 1 under recording sheet 13/11/13 LOW MELWOOD CLAYPITS Blackbird x 2 Black Headed Gull x 14 Common Buzzard x 1 Coot x 25 Fieldfare x 6 Gadwall x 3 Little Grebe x 1 Moorhen x 1 Reed Bunting x 1 Tufted Duck x 10 Stoat x 1 14/11/13 Collared Dove x 2 Fieldfare x 10 Goldfinch x 2 Great Tit x 2 House Sparrow x 3 Magpie x 2 Moorhen x 1 Pied Wagtail x 3 Starling x 30 Wood Pigeon x 9 Rabbit x 1 15/11/13 Black Headed Gull x 151 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Golden Plover x 38 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 Wren x 1 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 10/11/2013 Roy and Kath Pearson Birds seen today were mainly Blue Tits, Greenfinches, Chaffinches and Tree Sparrows. However singles of Bearded Tit and Water Rail were interesting records. A small Reed Bunting roost is forming. No Blackbirds or winter thrushes were seen and there was an absence of ducks until a few Mallards flew in at dusk. One interesting occurrence was the catching of a ringed Robin during a ringing session. British Robins are largely sedentary and it will be interesting to see where this was ringed, though the smart money is on Gibraltar Point. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 9/11/2013 Flushed by shoot on Hurnbridge Road Glebe Farm - 09.30 approx. - Fox Great Beats Farm 1055 approx. - Brown Hare, 2 Barn owls. 10/11/2013 2+ Buzzards calling in area. 11/11/2013 Pair of Tawny Owls in pine tree in garden 16.00hrs 15/11/2013 Adult m Woodmouse - dead Adult House mouse - dead Surprising number of flies active in the sunchine. WRANGLE COMMON 12/11/2013 Roy and Kath Pearson Both a Winter Thrushes Survey and a BirdTrack count were undertaken today. The WTS was very rewarding with 50 Blackbirds, 8 Redwings and 2 Song Thrushes recorded, together with 4 Starlings. The BirdTrack count yielded 35 species, the more interesting of which were 5 Curlews, singles of Cormorant, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, Corn Bunting and Stock Dove and a large count of 29 Yellowhammers in a hedge along both sides of which seed-bearing plants had been planted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 15th November 2013John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth A week of clear, cold sunny days with frosts recorded, falling to a ground -5.5°C and air -1.5°C on the 11th. On the 11th there was a noticeable influx of thrushes with a minimum of 500 Blackbirds between Brickyard and Sea View. JR reported that at daybreak there were 6 Blackbirds in an apple tree in the garden at Sea View, but by late morning the tree was full of Blackbirds with around 20 feeding on the fruit still attached to the tree and a further 30 feeding under the tree, but by the following morning they had all moved on. Also on the 11th there were 35+ Redwing, 55+ Chaffinches and 7 Bramblings but only small numbers of Fieldfares. Pink-footed Geese skeins flying south have been 81 on the 7th, 210 on the 9th and 80 on the 13th. Fifteen Whooper Swans flew south on the 9th and 7 on the 13th. In the Brickyard area Twite numbers have reached 110, with 30+ Linnets, 35 Snow Buntings and 2 Shore Larks. Carrion Crows have been much in evidence along the whole shore line where numbers have been in excess of 170. Several Woodcocks have been disturbed from the dunes and interestingly on the 9th a single bird was seen to be flying west very high over the sea before descending quite rapidly at the sight of land, and a further bird flew in from the sea on 12th. Two summer migrants have been reported, a female Blackcap on the 11th and Chiffchaff on the 14th. RSPB RESERVES http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx SOUTH LINCS HIGHLIGHTS South Lincolnshire Monthly Bird Highlights Reports for October 2013 John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Colin Jennings Report follows. RSPB Frampton Marsh Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Report follows. Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006846.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ and Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ Colin Green has produced the following video about visiting Southrey Wood. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Sundays. Please e-mail in your contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] When sending in reports please follow this layout to save reediting: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful - especially if you are encouraging young people to have a go - e.g. Wildlife Watch group members. "They suggest the species in your area that best match what you have found." http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/275032 A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives This is a project run by The Open University as part of Open Air Laboratories (OPAL), where you can "Learn more about wildlife, share your interest with a friendly community and get help identifying what you have seen." The project is essentially in the business of helping people learn how to identify the wildlife they encounter, and encouraging them to get involved in biological recording. *** Contacts List *** *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: I have recently agreed to take on the roles of Regional Co- ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). I will be organising a few field meetings to hunt for spiders and other arachnids in due course, but if any LNU members wish to get in touch in the meantime then please contact me on my e-mail address: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** LNU Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Alan Phillips Willing to examine specimens or check photos (but bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). Aculeates only please, no parasitic wasps such as Ichneumons. If in doubt please contact for advice: aculeates@gmail.com *** Hedgehog Survey *** Not yet sure if this will extend the next year. Have a look. http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in reports. *** Lincs Bird Club *** Secretary - Robert Carr secretary@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders County Bird Recorder, covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Badley recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk for John Clarkson Bird Club Website: http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** Other Useful Websites *** Key links are now being posted on the LNU website. http://www.lnu.org/ This should save space in the Bulletin, Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. Natural England http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" Lincolnshire Environmental Awards http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Lincs Environmental Records Centre Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project (LCGMP) To learn more about the project or to find out how to get involved, please visit http://www.lincsmarshes.org.uk/ Hartsholme Country park. To learn more about the park or to get in involved at the park please visit http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/hartsholmecp contact Park Rangers at hartsholmecp@lincoln.gov.uk Tornado and Storm Research Organisation http://www.torro.org.uk Contact Ian Loxley on colarain@tiscali.co.uk *** Interesting Weather radar website *** Noel Loxley recommends the following interesting website. http://www.raintoday.co.uk/ RSPB Contact Details RSPB Website: http://www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk S Lincs RSPB http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ Bardney Limewoods Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk The Sir Joseph Banks Society Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk EasyTide Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx TWO - The Weather Outlook Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Chef cooks up recipes for Japanese Knotweed http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sussex/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8634000/8634285.stm Joan Gunson's Moths recorded 2013: http:www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p015pqyz Les Binns: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecoheathen/sets/ Leslie Hebden http://www.flickr.com/photos/13718295@N07/ Mike Binnion writes: Common Butterflies http://www.grimsbywildlife.co.uk/ Youtube videos by Colin Green. Little Scrubbs Meadon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqCJLrTQmg&feature=relmfu Greetwell Hollow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmzLFrbjFU&feature=plcp Rimac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=plcp BBC Radio 4 Tweet of the day: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s6xyk *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisbynp@lincstrust.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk Hartsholme Country Park: hartsholmecp@lincoln.gov.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will sometimes withhold precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Indoor Winter Meetings: Saturday, November 23rd, 2013 Title: Managing the Lincolnshire Wash Reserves for Wildlife Speaker: Toby Collett - Warden Lincolnshire Wash Reserves Saturday, January 11, 2014 Talk by Richard Jefferson Conserving England’s high value grasslands: a health check and future prospects. Saturday, February 15, 2014 Recorders’ Meeting Saturday, March 08, 2014 AGM and Presidential Address by Ian Macalpine-Leny ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you hear of anyone bemoaning the lack of a Bulletin, please refer them to the Bulletin Portal where they will find a copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html If you are having difficulties with spam folders etc. please make sure you "Whitelist" my address as given in the Bulletin. Latest Mailfails - see notes above. Soft Bounces: Eileen Emberlin - email account that you tried to reach is disabled. Andrew Wright - email account that you tried to reach is disabled. Fletcher - email account that you tried to reach is disabled. Taylors - email account that you tried to reach is disabled. Pool - email account that you tried to reach is disabled. Hard Bounce Webster- recipient over qouta. All these users have the same ISP and a mailing from my Yahoo address also failed. This therefore looks like an ISP issue and no further action will be taken by me in the hope it will resolve itself. *** And finally...... Waders in the Wash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntaWOM8gcI Pink Footed Geese and Knot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tVrUmP8UwE Whooper Swans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYyTpn3b0tM ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/