============================================= || || 10th August 2014 || || 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 1100 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. A Sign-up Form to join the mailing list 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.... *** Harvest is well underway now and changes are to be seen everywhere. Be prepared for the possibility of rough weather from extra-tropical storm Bertha. A Yellow warning is in place from the Met Office. The Perseid meteor shower is underway with a peak on the 12th, but a bright moon may spoil the view of any but the brightest meteors or "fireballs". But you could get lucky. Let us know if you do. For information on the visit of the Canadian Lancaster VERA to RAF Coningsby, visit: http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/ Changing your address? If you ever need to change the email address used for your Bulletin, you can do it yourself very easily. Scroll down to the end of your Bulletin and use the link that says: "update subscription preferences", which is MailChimp-speak for "change your email details". Please don't click on "unsubscribe from this list" unless you mean to. We hope you won't. Please use the "forward to a friend" link at the top of the bulletin to encourage others to subscribe. This will send a cleaned-up version of your Bulletin with all personalised working links deactivated. Don't forget - we are still interested in reports of gorse in flower. We are half expecting some to be about, so let us know if you see any. If you have autumn events coming up, Fungus Forays, Wader Watches etc. we will be pleased to give them a plug. Just send in the details. Roger *** LNU Events - guests are welcome *** 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. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the details for each event and this may vary. The 2014 LNU Field Meeting programme is listed below in section 11. To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Sunday, September 07, 2014 Frampton Marsh RSPB Reserve. (Courtesy of RSPB) Southeast of Boston. 10am to 4pm (with break for lunch back at car park). Park in main car park at TF357390. Reserve well sign-posted off A16. Toilets and snacks available in visitor centre. Habitats: Wide variety of habitats including saltmarsh, reedbeds, ponds and wader scrapes. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Guests are welcome at our meetings. *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Adrian White writes: Friday 8th August Saturday 16th August Messingham Reserve A half-day visit to this excellent wildlife place. We will be shown round by the warden, Matt Blissett. Waterproofs and stout footwear recommended. Contact Adrian White for further details Tel; 01724 732152 or 07940561907 or email adrian@awhite27.freeserve.co.uk *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Saturday 16th August 2014 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them in a pond dipping for adults session in Cleethorpes Country Park with Mick Binnion. Meet in the car park at 3pm before we head to the pond dipping platforms. If you wish to bring a folding chair you may find your afternoon more comfortable. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. To book a place ring Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** Wash Cruises 2014 *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB have started their 2014 series of Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash estuary and River Welland. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire During 2013 over 105 species were seen, averaging 64 per cruise, and each cruise is manned by experienced Spotters. Apart from birds, basking seals are also regularly seen. Each cruise departs from Boston's Grand Sluice lock and lasts between four and five hours. Everybody is welcome. RSPB members £17-50 (under 16 £9-50). Non members £20 (£10-50) Booking is via The South Holland (Spalding) ticket agency and is essential. Call 01775-764777 or go online www.southhollandcentre.co.uk where full details including sailing times of those cruises which haven't sold out can be found. 14 cruises have been arranged for 2014 which started on 25th April, with various sailing times every month, and concluding on 16th October. These cruises are once again proving very popular. *** 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. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 1/8 Spoonbill on Tennyson's Marsh [sic], Gibraltar Point Glossy Ibis, 3 Spoonbills, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Little Stints, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 ad Little Stints on realighment, 2 Wood Sandpipers at north end, Donna Nook 2/8 White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 Spoonbills, 4 Little Stints, 10 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey, Frampton Marsh Red-backed Shrike, Turtle Dove, Baston Fen Montagu's Harrier, Gibraltar Point Quail, Wood Sandpiper, Donna Nook Spoonbill on Tennyson's Marsh [sic], 9 Arctic Skuas, Gibraltar Point 3/8 Spoonbill on Tennyson's Marsh [sic], Montagu's Harrier, Gibraltar Point White-rumped Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, 2 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Osprey, Horse Shoe Point Wood sandpiper, Donna Nook Cattle Egret, Susworth on River Eau bank with cattle 4/8 White-rumped Sandpiper, Glossy Ibis, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Montagu's Harrier, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Black Tern at River Witham mouth, Freiston Shore Little Stint on lagoon, Rimac Cattle Egret, Susworth on River Eau bank with cattle 5/8 Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh Cattle Egret, Susworth on River Eau bank with cattle Spoonbill on Tennyson's Marsh, [sic] Montagu's Harrier, Gibraltar Point 2 Wood Sandpipers, Manby Washland 6/8 Caspian Gull, 16 Yellow-legged Gulls, NE of Crowle 33 Yellow-legged Gulls north of Eastoft White-rumped Sandpiper, Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 2 Wood Sandpipers, Donna Nook Cattle Egret, Susworth on River Eau bank with cattle Glossy Ibis, 3 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Spotted Crake, Boultham Mere Yellow-legged Gulls, 5 Mediterranean Gulls, Covenham Reservoir 7/8 Glossy Ibis, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Cattle Egret, Susworth on River Eau bank with cattle Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 8/8 Glossy Ibis, 3 Spoonbills, S Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh White-rumped Sandpiper, Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Redstart, Boultham Mere Cattle Egret, Susworth on River Eau bank with cattle 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. GORSE We are still looking for evidence of unusual dates for Gorse flowering. Paul Kirby writes: Please continue to send in Gorse reports. Reports may be sent in via the Bulletin. Editor adds: It will help if you will keep these separate from any general reports you may be sending in, please, so they can be listed here. *** 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 1.8.14 Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 J Foster Swallows, 5 fledglings, second brood 4.8.14 Wrens, 4 fledglings 1.8.14 Big Butterfly Count 15mins 31.7.14 Large white 3 Small white 4 Green-veined white 2 Common blue 2 Small copper 1 Meadow brown 2 Speckled wood 1 Peacock 8 Small tortoiseshell 2 Red admiral 2 Bullace fruits Brigg Road verge TA 113 020 WH Barn owl 8am 1.8.14 Common toadflax 1.8.14 Evening primrose 1.8.14 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Badger adult digging in Spruce wood 3.8.14 Hedgehog droppings by back door 1.8.14 Rabbits, adults 2, juvs 3 on lawn daily Frog adult male on drive 3.8.14 Bullfinches pair on Honeysuckle 6.8.14 Bird of prey, possibly Osprey 2.8.14 Spotted flycatcher 1.8.14 Swallows 2 feeding above lawn daily Treecreeper 2.8.14 Thistle galls 10s on Creeping thistles 5.8.14 Upright hedge parsley 4.8.14 First fruits Honeysuckle 1.8.14 Guelder rose 5.8.14 Fungi Tutsan 1.8.14 Fairy rings 3 Tawny funnel 4.8.14 Caistor Wildlife Area TA 111 015 WH 4.8.14 While cutting meadow Voles 3 Willow warbler heard Toadlets 4 Black slugs 10s Cinnabar moth caterpillars 10s on Ragwort Common blue Meadow browns 6 Red admiral Meadow vetchling Purple loosestrife Yellow loosestrife Grimsby Road garden TA 120 014 J Gaughan Big Butterfly Count 15mins 31.7.14 Large white 2 Small white 1 Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Flesh flies 10s 3.8.14 Soft rush Blackberries ripe fruit South Street garden TA 119 012 D Cole Moth traps, additional species 25 July Codling moth Crescent Garden rose tortrix Ruby tiger Single dotted wave White line dart. New Willow beauty 26 July Clouded border Common purple and gold Common roller Ancylis badiana. New Dingy footman. New Dusky sallow Early thorn. New Gold triangle Large fruit tree tortrix Least yellow underwing. New Lunar thorn. New Red barred tortrix Red twin spot carpet. New Red underwing. New Rusty oak button Acleris ferrugana. New Small china mark. New CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland Jeremy Hutchinson 3/8/2014 Two pairs of local barn owls have nested successfully, one I'm told has had four young (now fledged), I do not know how many in the other one. Someone at the bottom of the road I live on told me this morning that he has recently had regular early morning visits to his feeders by a nuthatch: I have never seen one anywhere around here in nearly 40 years. Our local little owls have raised at least two young, and at dusk have taken to perching on the chimney pots of the nearby farmhouse, which hitherto has been unusual. On 1st August we returned from a few days away to find our local swifts had gone, even though in the northernmost part of the Yorkshire Dales they were still chasing one another and screeching that morning. About a week ago I heard the typical high-pitched "kee kee" notes of an agitated falcon; luckily I had binoculars to hand and with some difficulty found that the source was a tiny male hobby mobbing a fair- sized raptor. I could not identify the larger bird, although it was certainly not a buzzard, which was flying 'end on' at about 250-300 feet. The hobby kept flying above its 'victim' and stooping vertically at it like a tiny peregrine. It soon abandoned this behaviour and flew south in a very fast, shallow dive. The only other two hobby sightings so far this year have been of a fair-sized female, which I presume to have been the same bird. GREAT CASTERTON BANKS RESERVE. Grid Ref:- TF 006084 Max Winslow 28.6.14 Pyramidal Orchid x 43 Knapweed Broomrape x 2 Sulphur Clover numerous patches HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden Robert Walker 23.7.14 Hedgehogs 3 (2 adults + 1 juvenile) Feeding on dry cat nibbles, much to the annoyance of the cat, and drinking water from a plastic tray. Since this date we see one or other of the hedgehogs nightly, with the juvenile appearing earlier in the evening and growing in size. Best sighting so far, 7/8/14 6.00pm whilst having a cup of tea out on the patio, the juvenile was busy eating its food whilst only about 18" from my chair! NORTON BIG WOOD (Norton Disney)SK881605 2 August 2014 LNU field meeting with afternoon and evening bat/moth element. Access courtesy of the Hill Holt Wood organisation. Attended by 11 people over the course of the afternoon and evening and led by Brian Hedley. A few light showers in the afternoon but otherwise mainly sunny and dry. Plant-wise, there was a mixture of woodland, acid grassland and marsh species including water-purslane, skullcap, greater stitchwort, tormentil, bog stitchwort, bugle, common valerian, wavy hair-grass, wood sorrel and hairy wood-rush. Fungi included hoof fungus, turkeytail, common earthball and stinkhorn. Fifteen mammal species were noted from sightings, signs or from bat detector recordings including Noctule bat, Leisler's bat, Barbastelle bat, brown long-eared bat, muntjac deer, common shrew and hedgehog. A immature grass snake was noted beneath a log and both common toad and common frog were also seen on site. Thirty bird species were noted including nuthatch, tawny owls (up to three males calling), green and great spotted woodpeckers, treecreeper, jay, bullfinch, buzzard and a willow warbler still in song. The evening moth trapping session produced at least 54 species including angle-striped sallow, maiden's blush, black arches, pebble hook-tip, oak hook-tip, canary-shouldered thorn, dusky thorn, antler moth and the colourful micro Rhyacionia pinicolana. Additionally, the caterpillar of a possible red-necked footman was found by Charlie Barnes. Butterflies comprised only six species but did include two purple hairstreaks. Dragonflies/damselflies fared slightly better with seven species including southern hawker, brown hawker, ruddy darter and small swarms of migrant hawkers. Charlie Barnes recorded 35 species of beetle in total, including 15 ground beetle and 7 weevil species. 2 new vice-county records and more beside that are better than 10th. Lots of common species not recorded due to time of year - another visit would definitely be recommended. Particular highlightsinclude the weevil Cionus tuberculosus which in Lincolnshire is restricted to 'nice' woodlands (e.g. Limewoods) and the ground beetle Pterostichus quadrifoveolatus, which is a relatively recent arrival in Britain. The very large click beetle Stenagastus rhombeus was attracted to a sugar solution near the car park and was known only from Grimsthorpe Park in Lincolnshire. Other invertebrates included horntail (giant wood wasp), many hornets, dark bush-cricket and various shield-bugs. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler JULY Rainfall = 63 mm, quite wet for July. Indeed, year-to-date we've had 443 mm against 272 mm last year and 426 mm in 2012, so this looks like it might turn into another wet year. As the rain has been quite evenly distributed, plants still look nice and fresh, even on our well-drained soil. 01.08.14 Wren, juv. 2-3 Collared Doves seen regularly around the garden Tawny Owl Hornet 7-Spot Ladybird Large Wasp nest in neighbour’s garden Frog croaking in pond 02.08.14 Robin back in song - about a week earlier than usual and nearly 3 weeks earlier than last year. Rabbits x 4 in garden, eating sedum flower buds that were meant for bees and butterflies (ouch!). Tawny Owl in flight 9.45 pm. Starling - head only, found on ground after thunderstorm 03.08.14 Toad, medium-sized 2-Spot Ladybird Pseudoscorpion x 1 (after an extensive search I could only find one individual on the boards of my compost bin) 04.08.14 Buzzard soaring on thermals Wren The last of the 3 remaining House Martin nests started fledging today, while the first pair appear to have started a second brood. 40-50 House Martins and 2 Swifts flying NE to SW. 05.08.14 Butterflies: Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell in good numbers, also Large White, Small White, Green-Veined White, Brimstone, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown Southern Hawker Dragonfly (m) over pond 06.08.14 and 07.08.14 Southern Hawker (m) again Buzzard SPALDING TF 243218 07/08/2014 Colin Faulkner Hover fly; Volucella inani Found in our garden today. I identified it through the Rutland and Leicestershire Nature Spot wildlife recording site from which I learnt that it is a hornet mimic and a parasite of wasps and hornets. A magnificent beast. STAMFORD - QUARRY FARM Grid Ref:- TF 015083 Max Winslow 19.6.14 Bee Orchids x 38 Common Spotted Orchid x 22 Sulphur Clover numerous patches. 30.6.14 Marbled White. First ever record ? 2.7.14 Marbled White x 3 possibly 4 This site straddles Lincs/Rutland border. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 01/08/14 Moth Trapping; Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Common Rustic Dark Arches Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Flame Shoulder Lesser Yellow Underwing Light Brown Apple Moth Middle-barred Minor Mother of Pearl Pale Mottled Willow Pebble Prominent Rustic Shoulder-knot Smoky Wainscot Spectacle Suspected Uncertain 02/08/14 Yellow-tail x 1 SK813999 03/08/14 Wren x 1 adult + 3 fledged young Bat sp. (large) Weasel Common Toad x 1 toadlet (Clare Holmes) 04/08/14 Bat sp. x 2 (small) Roe Deer x 1 SK807993 Marbled Beauty SK813999 Swifts disappeared over Owston Ferry by today 05/08/14 Gatekeeper x 1 SK811993 THE WASH Geof Lee Boat Trip from Fosdyke to the Boston Deeps in the Wash. Monday, 4Th August, 2014. Common seals - 100+ Little egret - 75 Heron - 8 Oystercatcher - huge flock - 1000+ Redshank - 2 Black tailed godwit - huge flock - 500+ Curlew - 4 Whimbrel - 4 Shelduck - 14 Cormorant - 10 Peewit - 2 Dunlin - 10 Turnstone - 7 Arctic skua - pale phase - 1 - chasing terns making them regurgitate food. Common tern - 5 Sandwich tern - 3 Pied wagtail - 2 Grey wagtail2 Swallow - 100+ House martin - 100+ Aurelia jellyfish - many Compass jellyfish - many I did a plankton haul and found :- Ctenophores - sea gooseberries Bolinopsisi infundibulum Pleurobrachia pileus Hormiphora plumose and a large number of jellyfish medusa WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 2/8/2014 Garden snails active after heavy rain. 3/8 2 Field Voles in nest, Red Admiral - TF 224545 4/8 Common Toad adult in garden. Many flying ants on road in the evening plus a great gathering of swallows on the wires which may well have been connected! 6/8 - dead adult swallow in outbuilding - one of the nesting pair? Checked for rings - none. 7/8 Swallows: the brood failed and 4 nestlings were found today, dead of the floor of the outbuilding. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves South Lincolnshire bird sightings June 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh A Glossy Ibis arrived mid-month (16th) to be joined by a second bird towards the end of the month. They were seen courting and built a nest but did not lay any eggs. This represents the first breeding record in the UK in modern times. A single Spoonbill was seen intermittently during the month. Up to four Garganey were also present throughout. A single Osprey was seen (8th). Wader passage from the end of the month included single Little Stint (28th - 29th), up to six Spotted Redshanks (25th) and Wood Sandpiper (29th-30th). Little Gulls were present all month with a peak of 11 (18th), while up to four Turtle Doves proved popular with visitors. A Red-backed Shrike was reported but wasn’t as co-operative (8th). Gibraltar Point NNR On the sea two Storm Petrels (20th) and three Manx Shearwaters (25rd) provided unseasonal interest. A Glossy Ibis was a brief visitor (13th), but up to two Spoonbills were regularly reported. A good passage of up to six Honey Buzzards passed through at the beginning of the month. Montagu’s Harrier and Osprey were also seen on two dates each. Passage waders were generally thin on the ground, but included single Little Stint (8th) and Curlew Sandpiper (13th). A possible 1st summer Ross’s Gull was seen briefly (18th), but unfortunately not subsequently. A female Red-backed Shrike spent was also a relatively brief visitor (1st). Other sites The Glossy Ibis at Willow Tree Fen was reported on one date (21st) but could conceivably have been present throughout. Two Spoonbills were also seen there (7th-9th), as was a Greenshank (20th-21st). John Badley Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006059.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Press release from LWT 21/2/2014: Paths and hides are open at Gibraltar Point (except to Fenland Lagoon and a section of the West Dunes). Refreshments and temporary toilets are now available in the main car park. Please show your support for our volunteers and staff by visiting. 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 SALTFLEETBY-THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Week ending 8th August 2014 John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth It has been a week of sunshine and showers, the most notable "shower™ being a torrential thunderstorm on the afternoon of the 2nd when 23.3mm (approx. 1 inch) fell in around an hour. Butterflies seem to have peaked in numbers and species last weekend. A good second batch of common blues was evident on the 3rd and several brown argus were still on the wing. A holly blue was seen on the same day at Sea View along with 3 small coppers, small tortoiseshell, red admirals, peacocks, wall, meadow and hedge browns. A painted lady was seen on the 1st, and a comma on 4th, both at Sea View. Several migrant hawkers and emerald damselflies have been seen during the week and an emperor dragonfly was hawking over the pond at Rimac on the 3rd along with four-spot chasers. Bird sightings have included 3 Swifts over Sea View on the 3rd, a peak count for gulls on the beach was 6000+ from Brickyard southwards, with probably a ratio of 4:2 Black-headed: Common, Sandwich Terns 210+ and 2 adult Little Terns on 2nd. There were 250+ Common Scoters on the sea early in the week, but now less than 20. A fine female Marsh Harrier has been over the saltmarsh all week and 11 Common Snipe were flushed from the freshwater marsh at Rimac on the 6th. Turtle Doves have been displaying on the beach with 3 pairs still around between Churchill and Brickyard. The sea lavender is now going over on the saltmarsh. Greater water-parsnip has been in flower in the freshwater marsh, and autumn gentian is now flowering on the dunes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB RESERVES http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1083404.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Press release from LWT 18/7/2014: The Humber Bank has been repaired and is now open. Repairs to the visitor centre are underway and it is hoped that it will re-open mid-August 2014. Facilities including toilets and a small shop are available at Ness End Farm (the old visitor centre and now the regional management base). Events, children's activities and school visits will continue from Ness End Farm until the visitor centre is re-opened. Please show your support for our volunteers and staff by visiting. See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. 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 *** Contacts List *** WILDLIFE CRIME *** 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 http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/ *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara STAYING SAFE *** 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/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. 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. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Care of Sick or Injured Animals - information on LWT website *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/sick-and-injured-animals SPECIES IDENTIFICATION *** 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. *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php http://butterfly-conservation.org/ What's That Caterpillar? http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_family.php?name=all&stage=larva *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/dragonfly-and-damselfly-identification-help *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: 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 *** 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. *** New Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Sarah Lambert writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, whether experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! If anybody would like to join us, please get in touch with me at sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com *** Grow-you-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ *** 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 John Clarkson - Covering the north of the county recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk John Badley - Covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk 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/ Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project Project Officer: Ruth Craig ruth.craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk 01507 609740 For help with chalk stream management, volunteering opportunities and educational activities on the chalk stream please visit the website http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering or contact the project officer ruth.craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** The South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership *** South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership is working to promote enhancement and re-creation of an iconic fenland landscape and its wildlife within our highly productive and important Lincolnshire farmlands. To learn more about the partnership please visit our website at http://www.lincsfenlands.org.uk/ or contact the project officer at slincsfens@lincstrust.co.uk Amanda Jenkins - South Lincolnshire Fenlands Project Officer 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/ Hedgehog Street survey http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ for 2014 survey, see: http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html 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/ Lincsbirders - Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group http://www.lincsbirders.org/ 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 Readers websites and videos: 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 Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - excellent video by David Robinson http://www.flickr.com/photos/poppops/11685708555/ BBC Radio 4 Tweet of the day: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s6xyk Helen Mark did an excellent "Open Country" on 25th January with a good interview of LWT's Dave Bromwich. You can hear this on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03qflhk *** 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. 2014 Field Meetings Sunday, September 07, 2014 Frampton Marsh RSPB Reserve. (Courtesy of RSPB) Southeast of Boston. 10am to 4pm (with break for lunch back at car park). Park in main car park at TF357390. Reserve well sign-posted off A16. Toilets and snacks available in visitor centre. Habitats: Wide variety of habitats including saltmarsh, reedbeds, ponds and wader scrapes. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, October 12, 2014 Fungus Foray High Wood, North Rauceby. (Courtesy of Woodland Trust) West of Sleaford. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in the wood car park at TF010463 The wood is located on the north side of Church Lane which runs between North Rauceby and High Dike/Ermine Street (B6403). Habitat: Broadleaved 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 text copy. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html If you are having difficulties with spam folders et. please make sure you "Whitelist" my address as given in the Bulletin. Latest Mailfails - see notes above. Michelle Cooper - soft bounce Ruth Simons - soft bounce *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/