============================================= || || 7th December 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. Please send this URL to friends who might join the Bulletin mailing list: 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.... *** Recent solar activity may treat us to the drama of the Aurora Borealis. To receive an Aurora Alert you should visit the AuroraWatch UK website and sign up for the service. http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Why not do it while you are thinking about it! There are two meteor showers due in December, the Geminids peaking on 14th, [best before moonrise says Paul Money] and the Ursids which will be at their best on 22nd December. To find out more, go to the meteor links on my "Cosmic" webpage. [More solar/aurora links on that too.] http://www.rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html We made a visit to Frampton Marsh last Sunday to be welcomed by bright sunshine, the Glossy Ibis next to the car park, and a wealth of waders thanks to the high tide just after midday. It is an exceptional site and yet again we asked ourselves why we did not get there more often. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ Reports this week of a Waxwing and a number of Snow Buntings suggest that a real winter may be approaching. The latest TWO Winter Forecast is on: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/forecast/uk-seasonal-weather-forecast We have a Pitcher plant, Sarracenia spp, red flowers, looking for a home. Surplus to requirements. Would anyone like it? These plants make useful house fly-catchers in summer. It needs watering with rainwater and we usually keep it indoors. This specimen is outside as it has been so mild. See: http://www.carnivorousplants.org/howto/GrowingGuides/Sarracenia.php email: rparsons@enterprise.net [near New York/Coningsby] I did my occasional check through and update of Bulletin URLs this week, which prompts me to ask readers if there are other links we should add in. Suggestions are very welcome. Please mention the Bulletin to anyone who might find it useful and send them this special sign-up address to use. It would be good to see reader numbers rise towards the 1250 mark. The link is on: http://eepurl.com/zmFMT If you have any unreported 2014 records for LNU recorders, please send them in, either directly or via the Bulletin. Recorder contact details: http://www.lnu.org/recorders.php Thanks. 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. To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Saturday, January 17th, 2015 - Joint meeting with Lincs Bird Club. Phil Espin, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Bird Club, will be speaking about' 'Rare Breeding Birds in Lincolnshire and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel." Guests are welcome at our meetings. *** Donna Nook Seals *** The latest numbers for the past week from Rob Scott are as follows: Rob Scott writes: Bulls 501, cows 1272, pups 1541. Animals starting to depart now - total pup count for the entire reserve this season is 1705. Seal numbers at Donna Nook expected to recover http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-30255411 If you can avoid weekends you should find Donna Nook less crowded. If you plan to make a visit, please check the LWT website first as there may be important updates as the season progresses or weather changes. See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ http://lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook http://lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/about-grey-seals Note the LWT guidelines - stay behind fence, no dogs etc. as listed on the web page. If we don't set a good example, who will? You also need to take weather conditions into account, especially if there should be icy roads or snowfalls. The local roads can be hazardous. *** Ray Halstead - Recorder - Fungi *** No records or queries for now, please. Due to illness, Ray has asked everyone to give him a bit of a break. Hopefully he will be back in the [Dryad's] saddle later in the new year. I will put a note in the Bulletin when he is again "open for business". *** Antisocial Activities at Hagnaby Lock and Sale of Bycroft Ponds *** Katie Murphy - Fisheries and Biodiversity Technical Officer - writes: As a result of anti-social behaviour, we (the Environment Agency) have reluctantly decided to remove the bird hide at Hagnaby Fen Nature Area, near Boston (Grid Ref. TF3424659483). This is with immediate effect. We are also beginning a process of trying to sell our land at Wainfleet All Saints, Bycroft Conservation Ponds. If any of your readers may be interested in this opportunity, they could contact our agents, Fisher German on 01777 860755. *** Reminder: Mistletoe Spotting with an invertebrate difference *** Charlie Barnes writes: Now is the perfect time of year to collect up fallen mistletoe twigs to try and rear out saproxylic species, e.g. the beetle Gastrallus knizeki, which are associated with mistletoe. I would be happy to receive twigs of mistletoe with details of collection date and location or you can try rearing through yourselves (get in touch for details). I am also interested in looking for mistletoe specific species during the spring and summer - this would ideally involve easily accessible (head height!) mistletoe clumps or using a device similar to the telescopic fruit pickers available for apples if they're just out of reach. If you have any suitable clumps on your garden trees, let me know! Charlie Barnes: charlie@cucaera.co.uk Editor adds: We had a very successful Mistletoe recording campaign a couple of years back. If you decide to help Charlie research this new campaign please cc your botanical information to Paul Kirby, so he can pick up on any new mistletoe locations. Two records for the price of one! Don't forget to mention the host tree species too! *** Scunthorpe Museum Society. *** Keith Scarrott writes: Our next talk is in the new year on Monday, 12th January, 2015, when well known local Professional Ornithologist and Photographer, Graham Catley visits us again to give his talk entitled "Snow Birding". Graham says that his illustrated talk is on birds of the ice and snow of Northern Europe and North America. ALL ARE WELCOME. We meet in St Bernadette's Parish Centre which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, 7.15pm. start. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are available at the interval for a small charge. For any further details please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** Boston LWT *** Geof Lee writes: THE COASTAL GRAZING MARSHES PROJECT A illustrated talk by Roger Wardle, who has created several successful grazing marsh projects for breeding waders in Lincolnshire. The meeting will be held in the church hall of the Centenary Methodist Church in Red Lion Street, Boston. Free, refreshments, there will be a leaving collection. Meeting starts at 7.30 P.M. on THURSDAY, 11TH December, 2014. For more information contact Brian Redman, tel. 01205 351406 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 8th December 2014 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their indoor meeting where local member Julie Harrison will be giving an illustrated presentation "Wild about Mull and Iona." This will be held at Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £2, all are welcome. Those attending the meeting are asked to contribute to festive refreshments which will be enjoyed at the interval. Raffle and Trust goods stall, tea/coffee available. For further details contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858. *** Identification Trainers for the Future - astounding opportunity! *** Sent in by Charlie Barnes. The NHM, in partnership with the Field Studies Council and National Biodiversity Network, have received funding from the HLF's Skills for the Future programme to offer 15 early-career biological recorders or ecologists the opportunity to take part in a 12-month work-based training programme in UK wildlife identification, scientific communication and training delivery over the next 3 years. Applications are being accepted until the 12th December for the first cohort of 5 trainees who will start with us in March 2015. For further information see http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/british-natural-history/uk-biodiversity-portal/identification-trainers/index.html *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** Members and non-members welcome. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** PETITION *** Julia Smith sent this in for anyone interested: STOP PEAK DISTRICT FOOTPATHS BEING UPGRADED FOR 4X4 & MOTORBIKE USE We must make sure that the Peak District areas are left as we found them for future generations to enjoy in the same way, but once these paths are opened up to broader definitions of traffic, the effects and devastation are substantial. Read more and, if you agree, please sign and forward to others who may be willing to support the petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-peak-district-footpaths-being-upgraded-for-4x4-use ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 28/11 Rough-legged Buzzard west of Frampton Marsh Cattle Egret, Willow Tree Fen Long-tailed Duck, 2 White-fronted Geese in field, Covenham Reservoir 3 Pomarine skuas flew south past, Hen Harrier, 50 Twite, Gibraltar Point 29/11 Little Auk by, 3 Pomarine Skuas flew SW over Humber Bridge. 5 Pomarine Skuas flew west over Humber Bridge - Barton-upon-Humber 3 Velvet Scoters flew east, 92 Common Scoters east of Humber Bridge. Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Cattle Egret, Willow Tree Fen Glossy Ibis, ad Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Frampton Marsh Pomarine Skua south past Saltfleet Haven Long-tailed Duck, Covenham reservoir 3 Pomarine Skuas past, 19 Snow buntings, Gibraltar Point 30/11 Rough-legged Buzzard on pylon between reserve and village, Glossy Ibis, 3 Snow buntings, Frampton Marsh 2 Velvet Scoters, Toft Newton Reservoir 1/12 Waxwing, Grimsby by Europarc Innovation centre Glossy Ibis, Rough-legged Buzzard, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier, 3 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point c90 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes Bean Goose, Donna Nook Slavonian Grebe off Freiston Shore 2/12 2 Long-tailed Ducks south past, 81 Pomarine Skuas flew south past, 3 Little Auks flew south, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Waxwing, Grimsby by Europarc Innovation centre Rough-legged Buzzard, 2 Hen Harriers. Frampton Marsh 3/12 Little Auk south past, 2 Bonxies flew south, Gibraltar Point Arctic Skua, Slavonian Grebe on sea, 12 Pomarine Skuas flew south past Mablethorpe 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 5 Whooper Swans, Glossy Ibis, Frampton Marsh 2 Velvet Scoters, Toft Newton Reservoir Waxwing, Grimsby by Europarc Innovation centre 4/12 Glossy Ibis, 5 Snow Buntings, Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull, Pywipe caspian Gull, Croft Marsh 5/12 Glossy Ibis, male Hen Harrier, Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Snow Bunting, Rough-legged Buzzard west of, Frampton Marsh Lapland Bunting, 52 Snow Buntings, Hen Harrier, White-fronted Goose, Gibraltar Point 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: 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 LOCATIONS: please give full information on each individual Gorse record: the location [with grid ref], your name, the date, and any habitat notes of interest. GORSE LOCATIONS: Middle Rasen Plantation (Forestry Commission woodland) TF107913 (nominal) Richard Fox 01.12.14 Bushes occur throughout this plantation with approx 30% having flowers varying from 75% covering to 10% covering. Gorse locations: A46 junction with A18 TA 206 058 Wendy Handford 3.12.14 Roadside verge by hedge. One plant, first flowers A46 Swallow TF 184 040 Wendy Handford 3.12.14 Open roadside verge. Two plants, both with many flowers A46 Irby junction TA 192 044 Wendy Handford 3.12.14 Roadside verge close to hedge. One plant, with a few flowers A46 Holton le Moor junction TF 095 983 Wendy Handford 3.12.14 Roadside verge shaded by oaks. Three plants, all with first flowers Correction to last week's bulletin A46 junction with A1103 TF 099 919 Wendy Handford 22.11.14 Roadside verge shaded by conifers. Four plants, 1 with abundant flowers Correction to last week's bulletin C road between Ludborough and Fulstow TF 314 965 Wendy Handford 26.11.14 Roadside verge. Three plants, one with abundant flowers *** 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 28.11.14 Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 J Foster Jays 2 Red-legged partridges 2 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Grey squirrel in meadow 3.12.14 Blackbirds about 20 feeding on Hawthorn berries 4.12.14 Buzzard in orchard 29.11.14 Closer to house than ever seen before Great spotted woodpeckers m and f on separate nut feeders 3.12.14 Mistlethrushes 2 calling 3.12.14 Common frog, adult m active by stream 1.12.14 Common wasp on fallen apple 30.11.14 Woodlice 100s under board in shed 30.11.14 Zebra spider in kitchen 28.11.14. New Glistening inkcaps 10s on fallen Willow branch 1.12.14 Turkeytail, splendid specimens, on fallen Alder 3.12.14 Trailcam video clips Rabbits, up to 3 daily! 25.11.14 Jay 2pm Muntjacs m and f separately 6-11pm 26.11.14 Jay 10am Pheasants 3f 3-4pm Fox 8pm 27.11.14 Moths 3, 7am Blackbirds 3, 7am Pheasant m 3pm 28.11.14 Fox lame 2am 29.11.14 Blackbird 7am Pheasants 2m 7am Muntjac f 10pm 30.11.14 Pheasant m, 1.30-3.30pm 1.12.14 Fox 6am Pheasants 5m, 2.30pm Feeding on Pheasant carcase Carrion crow 11am-4pm Magpies 2 12noon-1pm Buzzard 1,30pm Foxes 2 or possibly 3, 7-8pm 2.12.14 Badger 5am Fox 6am A46 summit near Caistor TA 130 015 Kestrel hovering over field margin 3.12.14 Canada Lane TA 114 018 Ferret roadkill 29.11.14 Mill Lane TA 119 012 C Brant Stinking iris, split fruits with red seeds 29.11.14 Navigation Lane sports ground TA 105 011 29.11.14 Annual meadow grass, Canadian fleabane, Common cat's ear, Common poppy, Creeping buttercup, Daisy, Hedgerow cranesbill, Selfheal, Yarrow Westbrook Grove spring-fed pond TA 117 012 Marsh marigolds in flower 29.11.14 HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden Robert Walker 29/11/14 Hedgehog 1 Young, well sized, hedgehog out in the garden mid afternoon with the mild weather. Quite happy to eat the cat food I put down for it. also Common Funnel (Clitocybe gibba) Small group growing on bare soil with leaf litter around under beech tree. 2/12/14 Sparrowhawk 1 female This bird seems to be increasingly visiting our garden. The latest incursion saw it sat on a stone mortar, used as a bird water trough, on the patio wall only about 10 feet from our backdoor. Viewed from the kitchen window, it sat for some 30-40 seconds before flying off empty 'handed' (or beak). The local sparrows and blackbirds having sensibly disappeared into the thick hedgerow nearby. HUTTOFT Huttoft TF512763 Date 29/11/2014Great spotted woodpecker 1 (heard in garden, not seen) Great tits 6 Date: 30/11/2014 Sparrowhawk 1 TF521765 Weasel 1 (Roadkill) Sea Lane TF524777 Date: 3/12/2014 Kestrel 1 TF527768 Collared dove 1 Robin 1 The robin has had the bits I put out on the table for himself for months as there really is plenty of food for the birds. Today the collared dove landed on the table and the robin flew at it - he'd obviously been keeping an eye on the garden! The cd flew up and came back down to the table but the robin was back in a flash fluttering right in front of the cd's face. Collared dove flew off rather startled, I think! Date: 4/12/2014 Bee 1 LEGBOURNE Legbourne to Haugham Pastures wood 30 11 14 John Walker, Peter Childs Bullfinch 3, nuthatch 2 ,great spotted woodpecker 2, tawny owl 1 common buzzard 1, sparrowhawk 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 29/11/14 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 4 Fieldfare x 37 Kestrel x 1 female with Field/Bank Vole prey Moorhen x 4 Mute Swan x 2 Redwing x 12 30/11/14 Kestrel x 1 SK804999 Brown Hare x 1 Owston Ferry 01/12/14 Fieldfare x 25 Kestrel x 2 03/12/14 Field/Bank Vole x 1 04/12/14 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 3 Fieldfare x 39 Redwing x 125 Starling x 72 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 29/11/2014 2 bumblebees [sp] in flight this afternoon. 30/12/2014 2 Tawny owls calling 10.30pm approx. 1/12/2014 Barn Owl calling 05/30am approx. Several large Fieldfare flocks moving about the fen. Caught on trailcam 4/12/2014 Fox - 2 individuals Brown rat Vole spp WILLOWTREE FEN 19/11/2014 John Redshaw Gadwall - 10 Mallard - 20 Shoveler - 16 Teal - 400 Wigeon - 650 I wasn't able to carry out a complete count using the Counter Drain bank. Consequently, from the hides, much of the open water and marginal areas were hidden behind rushes and this count is incomplete and under-counted. Reports also received of a Cattle Egret on 28th and 29th, and a fly-over Snow Bunting on the 29th. (per J.Oliver & K.K.Harrison) WRANGLE COMMON 30/11/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson Thirty-eight species were counted today. Pick of the crop were no fewer than fifty-six Yellowhammers, whilst a minimum of six Skylarks were feeding on a field where the crop has gone to seed. Tree Sparrows have declined in numbers with only eighteen being counted. Wading birds included three Curlew and a single Woodcock, whilst a Little Egret was present. Raptors were well-represented with singles of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel and two Little Owls. Thirty Mallard were present and twelve Teal, but the geese tend to have deserted us. Among the winter visitors were a single Redwing and a flock of approximately fifty Fieldfares. Other birds of interest were singles of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Stock Dove. Nine Magpies were present. Whilst no deer were seen, there was evidence in the footprints in the soft mud of Roe Deer. WRANGLE COMMON 04/12/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson A walk around the site this afternoon produced some interesting birds. Pride of place goes to a Green Woodpecker (extremely uncommon here). The Jay that has been here for week was still present and a very vocal Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the wood. There are still large numbers of seed-eating birds on the stubble and the specially planted seed areas and we counted a flock of over a hundred birds including Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows. A group of twenty Curlew was feeding on the wet grassland and a skein of approximately fifty Pink-footed Geese flew south eastwards. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Lincolnshire bird sightings November 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh RSPB Freiston Shore Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites John Badley Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Nige Lound, Peter and Janet Roworth 4/12/2014 November weather notes - Despite being slightly milder than expected there were many days which were cloudy giving dull and sometimes raw weather. Showers were frequent, light, with only the occasional longer spell of rain. The total rainfall was 54.1mm. However there were some spells of clear, sunny weather causing daytime temperatures to rise to the late teens. A high of 17.5°C was recorded on the 1st. There were seven ground frosts falling to -5.5°C on the 23rd. Of the three air frosts a low of -1.25°C was noted on the 25th and 26th. Blustery f5 winds from the south-east were observed on the 7th and 14th. Fog occurred on the 4th, 15th and 20th. The last day of Nov was sunny until into the afternoon and in sheltered areas of ivy red admirals peacocks and various species of flies were seen. Novembers rainfall total measured at Coastguard Cottage near Churchill Lane is 54mm. Bird sightings this week have included c 600 pink foot geese feeding on HLS ( higher level stewardship) grassland adjacent to NNR and roosting on the foreshore Tawny owl and little owl calling after dusk also up to 4 screaming water rails, barn owl seen with prey. c 180 Twite and 54 snow buntings feeding on samphire seeds illustrating the importance of this plant for the winter food it provides, 2 colour- ringed twite recorded by NL are from the Pennines breeding population. A colour-ringed black headed gull also recorded by NL was ringed as a juvenile in Germany 2010, A single brown hen harrier, 3 sparrowhawks and a merlin seen this week, c260 curlews roosting on the foreshore. A flock of 130 fieldfares on Monday was the largest single flock seen so far this winter, blackbirds have also continued to arrive in small numbers and their is still a lot of hawthorn berries although rather wizened now. The strong northerly winds brought passing pomarine, arctic, and great skuas, kittiwakes, and various wildfowl, and a notable drop in temperatures. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 in Oct 2012. 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 to bed' on Fridays. Please e-mail in 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 re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] *** Find the Grid Reference *** Chris Manning recommended the following website for help with find grid references. http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** FIGHTING 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 Website: http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/ STAYING SAFE *** EasyTide *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Local Tide Tables *** Here is a useful-looking website where you can order local tide tables. Well worth bookmarking. Everyone who uses the coast ought to have local tide tables handy. £1.50 + p&p. https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/ *** 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 *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Care of Sick or Injured Animals - information on LWT website *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/sick-and-injured-animals SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful. http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website. A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives *** 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 *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara *** 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 *** 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. *** 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 badger reports. USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** 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/ *** 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 *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. http://www.joseph-banks.org.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 Wolds Countryside Service *** A dedicated service to protect and enhance the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 01507 609740 www.lincswolds.org.uk http://www.lincswolds.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 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 *** 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/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** 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 Lincsbirders - Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group Some great photos. http://www.lincsbirders.org/ Bardney Limewoods - the Lincolnshire Limewoods Project Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** Grow-your-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ Readers websites and videos - superb work well worth browsing through. If anyone else is putting work like this on the web, please let us know. Joan Gunson's Moths recorded 2013: http:www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Les Binns: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecoheathen/sets/ Leslie Hebden http://www.flickr.com/photos/13718295@N07/ Youtube videos by Colin Green. Little Scrubbs Meadow in July 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqCJLrTQmg&feature=relmfu Greetwell Hollow in May 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmzLFrbjFU&feature=plcp Rimac in June 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=plcp Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - January 2014 - 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 *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** 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 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 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 Indoor meetings: Saturday, January 17th, 2015 Phil Espin, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Bird Club, will be speaking about' 'Rare Breeding Birds in Lincolnshire and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel." 2015 Indoor meetings: Saturday, February 14, 2015 Recorders’ meeting - overview and highlights in the past year's recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon fpr a chance to catch up with recorders and view exhibits including a demonstration of online recording software, 'Living Record' and a discussion of online recording starting at 12.30. The Overview starts at 2pm. Saturday, March 07, 2015 AGM Followed by the Presidential address by Nick Tribe: "Aspects of Dragonfly Recording in Lincolnshire". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A "hard bounce" usually results in you being automatically deleted from the mailing list. Latest Mailfails - see notes above. Bulletin still bouncing from: dawnwilson - soft bounce - delivery failed db.goddard - soft bounce - delivery failed Geoff Cool - soft bounce - delivery failed ian.wilson - soft bounce - delivery failed peter.wood - soft bounce - delivery failed Roger Briggs - soft bounce - delivery failed uniomystic - soft bounce - delivery failed victor.andams - soft bounce - delivery failed rattyphiljs - soft bounce - delivery failed *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Stone age axe found with wood handle http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30197084 Brown bears return to Chernobyl after a century away http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30197341 South Downs National Park in dark sky status bid [Maybe we should do the same in Lincolnshire?] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30176339 Comet landing: UK team's data bonanza from Philae http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30209533 Extinct giant penguin found in shed [as you do....] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-30244190 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/