============================================ || || 5th January 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 1096 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.... *** I shall put out this mailing early so I can remind you that the Quadrantid meteors peak on 3rd January. Heads up! If skies are clear you could be in luck between 1st and 6th. Sad to say, current weather forecasts do not sound promising. Please tell us if you manage see some. Paul Money says in his Night Scenes 2014, that in the last week of January and first week of February it is possible [in theory] to observe all the major planets in the course of one night. Warning! Remember to be suspicious about any emails that seem not quite right. Anything odd or unusual emails containing a link should be deleted - do not click on the link by mistake. It could lead you into trouble. Holidays like Christmas seem to step up the frequency of this unwelcome activity. "Constant vigilance!" Ten New Year Resolution suggestions: places to visit, things to do, mostly out of county for a change. 1. The Bowthorpe Oak http://homepages.which.net/~rex/bourne/bowthorpeoak.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSpRBU1_8Uw 2. Whooper Swans at Welney http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/welney/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYyTpn3b0tM 3. Bempton Cliffs http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OtJsST2uVo 4. Norfolk WT Reserves http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/Home.aspx http://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/Wildlife-in-Norfolk/Reserves.aspx 5. Snettisham http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/s/snettisham/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tVrUmP8UwE 6. Titchwell http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/t/titchwellmarsh/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II6DPK1bYRI 7. Trent Aegir 2014 dates http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/37905.aspx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DoT5R0e8G4 8. Joseph Banks Exhibition: http://www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/SirJosephBanksexhibition.aspx#.UsG-_9ruMdU http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/science-of-natural-history/biographies/joseph-banks/index.html 9. Flag Fen http://www.fensmuseums.org.uk/page_id__86_path__0p2p.aspx http://www.arkive.org/fen-ragwort/senecio-paludosus/video-00.html 10. River Witham and Maritime Cruises http://www.maritimecruises.co.uk/our%20boats.html http://www.maritimecruises.co.uk/mystere.html Please keep your contributions coming, including Gorse and Lords & Ladies records. Also "And finally..." suggestions. We hope to see you at Richard Jefferson's talk on January 11th. 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. To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Next Meeting: Saturday, January 11, 2014 Talk by Richard Jefferson Conserving England’s high value grasslands: a health check and future prospects. Everyone is welcome at LNU meetings, but of course 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 *** Coastal Reserve Closures *** Please refer to the relevant blogs or websites to make sure that coastal reserves are open for business. Most are, at least partly. Check the LWT website and blogs for updates on reserve restrictions: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Should there be any hint of further flooding problems on any reserve please stay away and allow the staff and volunteers to deal with any remedial work. *** Alkborough Flats - no change reported *** North Lincolnshire Council has closed Alkborough Flats after it was badly affected by the severe floods on the 5th December and it was found to be unsafe for people to visit the site. The site will remain closed for the foreseeable future while essential work to make the site safe and accessible is carried out. *** Pick up A Polecat *** Chris Manning writes: For the next two years the Vincent Wildlife Trust are repeating their polecat distribution surveys previously undertaken in the 1990s and early 2000s. Previously I have written on the occurrence of the feral polecat/fummard to use its colloquial name (Transactions Volume 27 Part 2) and copies of the article are available on request. See: http://www.lnu.org/transactions.php As always photographs of the animal are a great help in verification, but more importantly during this survey they are seeking the carcases for genetic and rodenticide analysis. Genetic analysis should enable us to confirm the status of this mammal within Lincolnshire. Further I am happy to coordinate carcase storage and packing. Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com *** Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project *** Rachael Clark, Project Support Officer, writes: We have amended our photography competition slightly and have now extended the competition closing date until 20 June 2014. Those entries already submitted previously will still be counted, but you are now able to submit as many entries as you wish! Good luck and happy snapping! http://www.lincsmarshes.org.uk *** Boston Branch of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** WILDLIFE OF THE ISLE OF PURBECK by Geof Lee This part of Dorset is one of the richest wildlife sites in Britain, particularly for plants. Geof visits the area regularly and will give an illustrated talk on it. Meetings are held in the hall of the Centenary Methodist Church in Boston. The meeting starts at 7.30 P.M. on Friday, 10th January, 2014. There will be refreshments and a leaving collection. For more information contact Brian Redman, tel. 01205 351406 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely On Sunday 5th January 2014 why not join the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust on a morning bird walk in Cleethorpes with Ray Hume? The walk will start from the Cleethorpes Discovery Centre at 9 am. Please wear stout shoes or boots and bring binoculars. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for The Trust. For further details contact Ray Hume - 01472 320878. *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section. *** Keith Scarrott writes: First meeting for 2014 on Monday, 13th January, starting at 7.15pm. Reverend Dr Tim Astin will be giving an illustrated talk entitled "When the fishes first came onto the land". A Geologist, Reverend Astin will talk about the missing link between fish and land animals. The talk will take place in the upper room of the North Lincolnshire Museum on Oswald Road in Scunthorpe. ALL ARE WELCOME. There is no admission charge but a donation bowl is provided. There is free parking behind the museum and on Oswald Road. For further details please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** 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. 16th January 2014 at 7-30pm illustrated TALK Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston WILDLIFE OF THE NENE WASHES AND THE CORNCRAKE by Charlie Kitchen Members £2,non-members £3-50. *** S Lincs RSPB *** http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Birds Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ 27/12 Great Grey Shrike, south of Culverthorpe Lake 28/12 Bittern, Far Ings, Ness Hide 2 Scaup, Frampton Marsh 4 Short-eared Owls, Dunsby Fen Iceland Gull, Grimsby Fish Docks 66+ Snow Buntings, Huttoft car terrace 29/12 Mealy Redpoll with Goldfinches, Baston/Langtoft gravel pits 7 Snow Buntings, Frampton Marsh 4 Long-tailed Ducks, Barton-upon-Humber gravel pits Bittern, Far Ings, Ness hide 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Covenham Reservoir 2 Short-eared Owls, m Hen Harrier, 2 Ravens over, Hawthorpe 30/12 Glacous Gull juv, Cleethorpes, end of north promenade, on Chapman's Pond Possible American Herring Gull, juv Iceland Gull, 2 Caspian Gulls, NE of Brigg, E of Eltham in field west of A15 31/12/2013 Juv Iceland Gull, E of Eltham in field west of A15 Glossy Ibis, Deeping St James, Deeping Lakes 1/1/2014 Spoonbill, Humberston Fitties on saltmarsh at rear of lagoons Glossy Ibis, Deeping St James, Deeping Lakes Slavonian Grebe off, Snow Bunting, Gibraltar Point Juv Iceland Gull, E of Eltham in field west of A15 8 Shorelarks, 2 Scaup flew south, Ad Litte Gull flew north, Gibraltar Point 2/1/2014 Hen Harrier ringtail, Marston sewage Works 8 Shorelarks, Millennium Ridge, Gibraltar Point Long-eared Owl, Glossy Ibis, Deeping Lakes c84 Snow Buntings, Short-eared Owl, Cleethorpes Coast Long-tailed Duck, Barton-upon-Humber pits, Sailing Pit Great Grey Shrike, Bassingham, east end of Fen Lane 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 and Lords and Ladies - reports please Gorse - Is it in flower? If it is, are there abundant flowers or just a few? http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/gorse http://www.plantlife.org.uk/wild_plants/plant_species/gorse/ Lords and Ladies - reports please. Are the leaves spotted or not? 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. Please separate them from your main report so I can include them here. Many thanks. *** 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 27.12.13 Various Caistor sites, a few flowers of: Canadian fleabane Common cat's-ear Common chickweed Daisy Dandelion Feverfew Groundsel Hairy bittercress Hogweed Ivy Ivy-leaved toadflax Ragwort Red campion Red dead-nettle Shepherd's purse White campion White dead-nettle Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 J Foster Jay Lesser redpoll Seen when clearing nestboxes: Blue tit skeletons 2 Earwigs Lacewings 7-spot ladybirds Various spiders Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Muntjac eating brambles 4pm 26th Dec Muntjac on Trailcam 27th Dec Rooks 2 27th Dec Tawny owl Trailcam 21st Dec Daddy long-legs spider in porch 27th Dec Varied carpet beetle in house 1stJan Pestle puffball id Ray Halstead. New Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Grey squirrels 2 28th Dec Buzzard circling 28th Dec Cormorants 4 25th Dec Curlew 14 26th Dec Greylag geese 25 flying over 28th Dec Moorhens approx 6 28th Dec Whooper swans 8 26th Dec Woodcock 1 28th Dec Fish scales-evidence of Mink kill 28th Dec Ivory mushroom id Ray Halstead. New Oak barkspot. New FAR INGS A Buckle - S Smith Sunday 29th Dec 2013 Winter Heliotrope in flower Far Ings 00605 23112 GRANTHAM - Spinney estate adjacent to Belton Park. David George Female Blackcap feeding on Bramley apple tree midday on Christmas Day 2013. This is a repetition of a sighting of a male Blackcap on 26th December 2011 feeding again on an apple on the same tree. HABROUGH to BROCKLESBY road A Buckle, S Smith 31st Dec 2013 Winter Heliotrope 8 flowers Habrough to Brocklesby road verge HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 21 December On opening my back door there was a goldcrest on the mat looking up at me. It flew off as I bent down to pick it up. I presume it had flown into the glass and been momentarily stunned. It was interesting to see close up just how small they are. HUTTOFT TF512 763 (my garden) Jane Pennington Date : 13 December 2013 Collared doves 2 Great tits 3 Pheasant 1 Wren 1 Date : 14 December 2013 Collared doves 2 Pheasants 2 Date : 17 December 2013 Tree sparrow 1 Date : 18 December 2013 Sparrowhawk 1 Date : 19 December 2013 Chaffinch 2 Dunnock 2 Magpie 2 Date : 20 December 2013 Chaffinch 1 Wren 1 Date 23 December 2013 Great tits 6 Magpies 2 Mistlethrush 1 Sparrowhawk 1 (beautiful male stopped briefly on the birdtable - not looking for crumbs though!) Date: 24 December 2013 Blackbirds 8 Great tits 4 Mistlethrush 1 Date: 26 December 2013 Chaffinch 2 Great tits 4 Long tailed tits 8 (I think) Sparrowhawk 1 LOUTH - Town Garden Richard Harland 29/12/13 Tree Creeper - 1 Blue Tit - 4 Green Finch - 2 Great Tit - 2 House Sparrow - 2 Tree Sparrow - 1 Robin - 1 PINCHBECK 29.12.13 Mick Todd Otter While sitting in my car, at the side of the Vernatts river, I was surprised by the sight of an otter sniffing at the vegetation just a few feet below me. I reached for my camera but unfortunately before I could take a photo it was back in the water, rolled over and disapeared. WEST ASHBY Peter White Hares boxing in a field at West Ashby on 28th December. The mild weather is obviously confusing them. Chris Manning comments: Hares typically breed Feb - Oct so mating activity needs to be 42 days before giving birth. March is when we see more of this activity perhaps as the days lengthen, we now think hares can carry two pregnancies at once. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100921174210.htm WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 29/12/2013 Large flock of Fieldfare feeding on windfall apples. No sign of the white bird recorded last week. Albino Blackbird or Fieldfare? is the question. Garry Steele writes: "Fascinating image of the albino bird in your orchard. Tricky to be fully certain on species ID, but based purely on the picture you attached my personal thought is to err more towards male blackbird rather than fieldfare given the bird’s less ‘rakish’ pose and possibly slightly thicker bill and seemingly no hint of curving as is slightly detectable in fieldfare and the absence of any dark tip to either mandible. But there again I could be wrong as I haven’t had the advantage of seeing this creature ‘in the flesh’, moving around etc. I would be interested to know if you have any feedback from anyone else?" Editor adds: Julia Smith was kind enough to ask about the bird on an i-spot bulletin board and the view there was "probably a blackbird". What fascinates me is that IF it is, then it has eschewed real Blackbird company for that of Fieldfares, which are normally very aggressive to foreigners. I am also struck that the albino's bill is yellow but no other local blackbirds are currently showing yellow bills. If anyone would like to look at a copy of Anne's photo, let me know. 02/01/2013 3 Peacock butterflies hibernating within a fry log pile - 2 in near-perfect condition, one with slightly worn wings. Relocated to a similar refuge. I noted that they opened wings as a display when found - they reverted to closed winggs when they settled. Small tortoiseshell butterfly in house at window, had been hibernating in a wardrobe. Buzzards calling. RIVER WITHAM Margaret Roe 29th December 2013 River Witham, Water Rail Way Walk between Five Mile Bridge TF 058715 and Fiskerton Fen TF 083716. Bullfinch 1m near Five Mile Bridge (possibly female as well) Redwing - Small flock, about 6, near Five Mile Bridge Goosander 1m, 1f near 10 km post Fieldfare - Flock of about 20 between 10 km and 11 km posts WRANGLE COMMON (TF4253) 28/12/2012 Roy and Kath Pearson A BTO Winter Thrush Survey (Core Count) to the north-west of our usual recording area produced little. No thrushes other than Blackbirds (16) were recorded, though Starlings, which are also counted, yielded over 70 records. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs including RSPB Wash Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006059.aspx Reserve partly open at time of writing. 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 Report follows. RSPB RESERVES http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx SOUTH LINCS HIGHLIGHTS South Lincolnshire Monthly Bird Highlights Reports for November 2013 - report follows. John Badley Recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Assisted by Colin Jennings RSPB Frampton Marsh RSPB Freiston Shore Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites John Badley Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1083404.aspx http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News Report follows. See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006846.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specific area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc.); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) For the Limewoods, see: http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/about/conservation/bardney-limewoods-nnr/ and Adrian Royle's superb Flickr photo-site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adiroyle/collections/72157624803742908/ Colin Green has produced the following video about visiting Southrey Wood. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Sundays. Please e-mail in your contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] When sending in reports please follow this layout to save reediting: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** iSpot 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, 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. The following emails have failed this week and I will send you a report you can refer to your ISP should you wish to do so. Roger *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally" are always welcome. Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - excellent video by David Robinson http://www.flickr.com/photos/poppops/11685708555/ Managing Fragile Environments http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QsyB0eVV8s and a couple of vintage films of Boston: Country Town - Britain - Boston, Lincolnshire - 1943 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpSgqa92ylk Archive film of Boston, Lincolnshire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAdQXQDp3oY ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/