============================================= || || 13th July 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.... *** Judging from our beekeeping tasks and early ripening of our soft fruit, I would say we are about a month ahead of where we expect to be at this time of year. If this is true for our wildife then if would be interesting to have your observations/evidence. I usually look out for the nuptial flight of black ants on 14th July, the so-called 'Black Ant Flying Day'. People have already noted some flying ants, but please let us know of any such events. If you are able to pick up a few fatailties, these make it easier to confirm or identify the species. Readers will note the reports on Trichomonosis and should refer to the RSPB website for advice on reducing the risk to garden birds: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/wildlife/f/901/p/19617/145682.aspx A big thank you to all contributors - very interesting reports. Roger *** Herbarium Project - Free Training Days 23/24/25 July *** Note added emphasis from Paul Learoyd: Wednesday 23 July Professionals/experts and those with good field botany skills. Still some room. Thursday 24 July Young persons (10-16 years old) with LWT education officers and other educators - still some room. Friday 25th July Enthusiasts/amateurs - about full. The events will be held at Whisby Education Centre. Booking will be essential. 01507 526667 or info@lincstrust.co.uk Chris Manning writes: Conservation aware collection of wild plant specimens is a great way of improving your identification skills as well as making your own contribution to natural history study and science – your specimens will be used by the people of Lincolnshire, the UK and worldwide. This short course will introduce you to the ancient art of plant pressing; you will also start to learn how to identify plants and properly document the plant you are collecting. The course will be based upon practical activities in the field, by the end of the day you will have learnt how to use a hand lens properly, gained experience of using botanical keys, prepared plant specimens for drying and learnt what makes a good quality modern herbarium specimen. These training days are being organised by the National History Museum, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and the Joseph Banks Society as part of our preparations for developing a future countywide project. For more information contact Chris Manning: chris.lincsdeer@gmail.com 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. 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 August 02, 2014 Norton Big Wood, Norton Disney (Courtesy of Hill Holt Wood Ltd) Southwest of Lincoln 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 20.30. Park in woodland car park at approx. SK880605 which down track off Wood Lane (which is off minor road between Witham St.Hughs and Norton Disney. Toilets available on site. Habitats: Broadleaved woodland, mixed woodland, glades, ponds and ditches Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Guests are welcome at our meetings. *** Butterfly Conservation Events *** Lesley Robinson writes: BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION LINCOLNSHIRE BRANCH Moth Night 26th July at Chambers Farm Wood Education Centre (Grid reference: TF147740) 9:30pm until late See & identify the amazing variety & number of Moths in the Limewoods (Please wear warm clothing & stout footwear. Bring a torch) Open Day 27th July at Chambers Farm Wood Education Centre (Grid reference: TF147740) 11am to 3pm Butterfly walk 11.00am from the Education Centre Your opportunity to see White Admiral & other butterflies at close quarters Both events are by kind permission of the Forestry Commission. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Saturday 19th July 2014 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a visit to the beautiful Messingham Sand Quarry Reserve. Grid ref SE 908032. Meet in the car park at 11am and we hope to be joined with some of the Scunthorpe group. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. For further information please contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** Low Bat Numbers *** Annette Faulkner writes: Seeing Silvia Fowler's comment about not seeing any bats since May prompts me to finally make time to write on this very subject, and I'm going to start with a comment I often make when people ask where all the bats have gone, which is this: We spend an inordinate amount of time, effort and money on conserving species, and we also spend an enormous amount of time, effort and money on wiping out what they eat. In 2012, when we had the long cold, wet spell until July, we had so many underweight pipistrelles that I started to look at where they were coming from, and found there seemed to be a distinct correlation between those that were largely dependent on terrestrial insects and being underweight; those that had access to a good supply of aquatic insects were in much better shape. This data is currently with a scientist colleague, who is looking at it in detail. This year we have also had a run of underweight bats coming into care, mostly pipistrelles (other species are too few to form any sort of opinion), even during this time of supposed plenty. For most I won’t get full data until the end of the year, but for those that I have data for, 80% of bats from terrestrial habitats were underweight. For those with easy access to aquatic habitats, the figure was approximately 45% . The sample sizes are small, but about the same (10 and 9) and and may change when all the data is in, but even allowing for disease and old age the difference appears to be remarkable. In May we spent a week in North Yorkshire, travelling backwards and forwards along the corridor between Thirsk and Pickering. During that time the winds- screen was so covered in dead insects that it had to be cleaned twice, the second time just before we left, and the front of the car was splattered with them. We travelled through East Yorkshire - largely arable - over the Humber Bridge and back down the centre of the county to Spalding, where we live. There were hardly any dead insects on the windscreen from a journey of about 150 miles. 50 years of pesticide use appears to have taken its toll. Everybody looks at what's at the top. We should be concentrating on what's at the bottom. Buglife calls it 'Conserving the small things that run the world'. At the moment we are not doing that. But there are still hotspots. One roost owner near Alford has a thriving colony of pipistrelles using the edges of her roof, which she has counted every summer for many years. She phoned me this morning to ask if she could take up the offer of help with counting them from one of our colleagues. What has her area got that others haven't? *** The Drift - Update *** A media event was organised yesterday by Lincolnshire Police, LCC and Natural England to make clear that The Drift SSSI green lane is defended against off-road vehicles by a zero tolerance policy. Mark Schofield of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust says, "The decision by Council Members last December to close the Drift to motor vehicles has thrown a lifeline to this hugely important site that was being destroyed. Lowland limestone grassland is a priority habitat for conservation and the most biodiverse habitat this part of the landscape can support. Sadly we have lost an estimated 98% of this habitat nationally in the last 80 years and the wildflower meadows of Lincolnshire are no longer characteristic of the county. Lincolnshire County Council has demonstrated that it is committed to its Biodiversity Duties and respects the views of local communities by recognising the amenity, heritage and environmental value of this site. Over two years, 1,235 people signed an online petition to "Save the Drift." More than 830 were from Lincolnshire and 309 from within 10 miles. This was a clear demonstration of the strength of local feeling about this issue and this site represents an important case study for future conservation in the county. Many readers of the Bulletin helped to make this possible by adding their names to the call for the protection of this site. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to sign the petition. Persuading the LCC Committee last December that The Drift should be protected was fundamental to putting an organised programme of protection and enforcement in place." Visit the links below for related press articles and videos from ITV and the Grantham Journal. ITV video http://www.itv.com/news/central/2014-07-08/campaign-to-stop-off-road-drivers-and-motocross-enthusiasts-from-destroying-ancient-right-of-way-in-lincolnshire/ Lincs Police Press Release http://www.lincs.police.uk/News-Centre/News-Releases-2014/Zero-Tolerance-Approach-to-Defend-the-Viking-Way-near-Grantham.html Grantham Journal article with video http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/local/video-crackdown-on-vehicles-which-are-destroying-wildlife-corridor-near-grantham-1-6165959?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed *** 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/ 4/7 Quail male singing, Donna Nook Spotted Redshank, Donna Nook 5/7 Quail male singing, Donna Nook 4 Spoonbills, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Alkborough flats Glossy Ibis, Frampton Marsh 6/7 3 Quails, male, singing, north of car park, 2 Ospreys, Donna Nook Red-veined darter dragonfly, male, Frampton Marsh Glossy Ibis, 3 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 7/7 Glossy Ibis, Bittern, Frampton Marsh 8/7 Glossy Ibis, Bittern, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull, Whisby Nature Park 9/7 Glossy Ibis, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 10/7 Glossy Ibis, Frampton Marsh 11/7 Lesser Yellowlegs, Glossy Ibis, Garganey, Frampton Marsh Note: I am adapting my RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. Strongly recommended. [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. Gorse Reports Please. Paul Kirby writes: ### Please continue to send in Gorse reports. ### So far it has been recorded in flower 29/11/2013 to 17/05/2014 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. BOSTON (South by A16) 09/07/2014 Kath Pearson Watched a Green Woodpecker 'anting' [feeding] on the lawn today. This is quite unprecedented. BRACEBY TF015353 M. Ellis Regarding last week's bulletin & tree bumblebees. We cut all our hedges last Tuesday [1st July 2014] making it easier to see some of our nestboxes. One is full of tree bumblebees. BUTTERWICK (BOSTON) 07/07/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson Today we did the first annual butterfly survey for this year on our BTO Breeding Bird Survey square. Results were:- Large White x 34 Small White x 35 Red Admiral x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 34 Gatekeeper x 1 Meadow Brown x 10 Ringlet x 41 CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 4.7.14 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Fox eating peanuts 4.7.14 Pygmy shrew in hedgebank 7.7.14. New Blackbirds' 2nd nest in Leylandii hedge Great spotted woodpecker juv on feeder daily Green woodpecker feeding on Yellow meadow ants 4+5+6.7.14 Tawny owl calling 3pm 7.7.14 Black ants flying 4.7.14 Common azure damselfly 7.7.14 Wall butterfly 7.7.14 First flowers Betony 7.7.14 Cat-mint 4.7.14 Tufted vetch 7.7.14 Fungi Bay polypore on cherry stump 7.7.14 Brown puffball under Horsechestnuts 7.7.14 Hundon Manor Farm TA 116 024 P Robinson 8.7.14 Long-tailed tits, several Skylark nests 2 in Spring Swallows, 2 nests each with 4 fledgelings Yellowhammers 2 Bee meadow-mix Alsike clover. New Birds-foot trefoil Phacelia. New Navigation Lane TA 105 011 J Rudd Yellowhammers 2 Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Cormorant 8.7.14 Brown argus several 5.7.14 Morning glory plume moth 5.7.14 Red spider mites 10s on metal surfaces 5.7.14 Skippers 10s, not sure if large or small 5.7.14 Small heath, 10s 5.7.14 Sepia bolete fungus. New South Street garden TA 119 012 D Cole Correction, Blood vein moth of 18.6.14 should be Maiden's blush 23 June Bright line brown eye Buff ermine Burnished brass Cinnabar Currant pug Dark arches Dot moth Elephant hawk moth Fan foot Flame Flame shoulder Grey dagger Heart and club Heart and dart Hebrew character Ingrailed clay Large nutmeg. New Lychnis Peppered moth Plain wave Poplar grey Privet hawk moth Rufous minor Rustic shoulder knot Small magpie Small emerald. New Snout Spectacle Swallowtail Sword grass. New Turnip moth 24th June Buff ermine Coronet Currant pug Dark arches Dot moth Garden pebble Heart and dart Heart and club Hebrew character Heart and club Large yellow underwing Light arches Peppered moth Plain wave Shoulder striped wainscot Small magpie Snout Spectacle Sword grass. New Turnip moth Vapourer White-pinion spotted. New White plume moth White satin moth Yellow spot tortrix Pseudargyrotoza conwagana FENTON SK844 772 Richard Fox 10th July 2014 Common Buzzard being mobbed by Carrion Crows Kestrel family of 2 adults and 2 young flying around Fox crossing farm track with unidentified kill HUNDLEBY TF386664 Janet Eastmead Fri, 4 Jul 2014 Bombus hypnorum We also have a small-hole bird nest-box which has been taken over by tree bumblebees. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) Date 4/7/2014 Badger 1 (caught on infra red camera overnight) Date 5/7/2014 Wrens 2 (mother feeding baby on terrace - I have a honeysuckle next to the terrace and the mother often climbs through it) Date 6/7/2014 Frog 1 Red admirals 2 Date 7/7/2014 Comma butterfly 1 Red admiral butterfly 1 Small tortoiseshell butterfly 2 Date 10/7/2014 Wren Date 11/7/2014 Frog 1 KINGERBY FORK A631 Richard Fox 9th July 2014 Red Kite circling above the wooded area near to the junction of the A631 and the A1103 LAUGHTERTON SK842 764 Richard Fox 8th July 2014 Seems to have been a good year for Brown Butterflies Along a 300 metre hedgerow I counted at least 120 Meadow Browns and 15 Ringlets LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 12/07/2014 Jayne Knight 07/07 Noted Bombus lapidarius the Red-tailed Bumblebee and Bombus hypnorum the Tree Bumblebee on various flowers in the garden. 10/07 Early morning watering of tomatoes disturbed Enoplognatha ovata, a very pretty, yellow spider. 10/07 A fresh intake of fledglings belonging to the House Sparrow, Starling and Goldfinch very noisy in the garden today. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler TF 040 222, Grimsthorpe Castle, near Bourne 30.06.14 Black-tailed Skimmer Dragonfly (Orthetrum cancellatum) - numerous males by side of lake, some expired. Dark green eyes and black "tail" very marked (photos taken). 05.07.14 Bat (not seen one since early May) 06.07.14 Swallows x 2 (adults) Chiffchaff still calling daily Blackbirds still in song Lots of Hoverflies 07.07.14 First House Martins appear to have fledged 09. & 10.07.14 36 hours of blustery NNW winds and 12+ hours of steady rain with a maximum temperature of 14C does feel quite autumnal. Not much activity around the House Martin nests. REEPHAM TF 039739 & TF 037737 Catherine Wilson 08/07/14 Is anyone else counting the swifts in their town/village? I have tried to do it in Reepham for the last few years but find it difficult as they move so 'swiftly'! However this year's numbers seem to be holding up. There are two distinct colonies in the village, one near the church and one near the school. There are at least 24 individuals at TF039739 and a further 12 at TF037737. Numbers may well increase a bit over the next few weeks. I am concerned that only about half a dozen houses, all with old pan tile roofs, are providing the nest sites. If any one of those has their roof redone it could have a serious effect on the swift numbers. Is there any move to protect swift nest sites as with bat roosts etc? Also has anyone found a good method of counting them, other than standing in the middle of the road gazing upwards and getting strange looks from the neighbours! RIPPINGALE TF09422767 03/07/2014 Pauline Warman Elephant Hawk-moth 12 Dot Moth 11 Barred Straw 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character 5 Marbled Minor agg. 2 Flame 3 Buff Ermine 6 Small Elephant Hawk-moth 1 Heart and Dart 10 Small Magpie 1 Riband Wave 2 Udea olivalis 5 Common Footman 9 Spectacle 3 Cinnabar 3 Fan-foot 5 Small Fan-foot 2 Swallow-tailed Moth 1 Dark Arches 6 Shoulder-striped Wainscot 4 Small Quaker 2 Gold Triangle 1 Clouded Silver 2 Buff Arches 5 Agapeta hamana 2 Flame Shoulder 4 Light Arches 2 Clouded Borde 1r Clay 3 Snout 3 Peppered Moth 1 Miller 1 Willow Beauty 1 Rustic 1 Coronet 1 Yellow-tai 1l Large Fruit-tree Tortrix 2 Catoptria falsella 1 Currant Pug 1 Bright-line Brown-eye 4 Clouded Silver 2 THEDDLETHORPE DUNES Report of 8th July 2014 John Cowell On the Dunes, between Brickyard & Crook Bank there have been a complete mass of Ringlet butterflies, must be thousands in the area, a good number of Skippers and the odd Meadow Brown, also an odd Red Admiral, but a few hundred yards up the lane(brickyard) the Red Admirals are very busy on the beginnings of the Buddleiea. A few linnets noted in the last few days on the top of the bushes, Whitethroats are very quiet now but foxes are howling at night. I thought some poor lady was being murdered! THURNHOLMES (all sightings 200m radius of SK797984 unless stated) and surrounding area Clare Holmes, Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 28/06/14 Barn Owl x 1 Smooth Newt x 1 female under recording sheet 29/06/14 Blackbird x 1 Black Headed Gull x 1 Greenfinch x 2 Magpie x 2 Oystercatcher x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 3 young, Sparrowhawk x 1 male Short-tailed Field Vole x 1 adult 9 young (eyes just open) under recording sheet Meadow Brown x 4 Ringlet x 5 Speckled Wood x 1 Beautiful Hook-tip x 1 Buff Ermine x 1 male Dark Arches x 1 30/06/14 Sedge Warbler x 1 night time singing Moths on security light; Barred Straw x 1 Barred Yellow x 1 Buff Ermine x 1 male Clouded Border x 1 Small Magpie x 1 Snout x 1 White Plume Moth x 1 01/07/14 Short-tailed Field Vole / Bank Vole x 1 ran across track Moths; SK813999 Riband Wave x 1 White Ermine x 1 SK797984 Cinnabar x 1 Common Carpet x 1 Common Wainscot x 1 Heart and Dart x 1 Snout x 3 02/07/14 Kestrel x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 adult, 4 fledged young Robin x 1 Common Toad x 1 Green Veined White x 1 Meadow Brown x 5 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 23 Small Tortoiseshell x 18 Buff Ermine x 1 female Cinnabar x 2 also Gunthorpe SK801970; Green Veined White x 2 Ringlet x 10+ Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Common Blue Damselfly x 1 03/07/14 Swift x 27 Security light moths; Barred Straw x 1 Dark Arches x 1 04/07/14 Little Owl x 1 Oystercatcher x 2 THURNHOLMES (SK797984) and surrounding area (within 300m unless stated) Clare Holmes, Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 05/07/14 Drinker x 1 male Lesser Cream Wave x 1 Six-spot Burnet x 1 Snout x 4 Yellow-tail x 1 female 08/07/14 Barn Owl x 1 Little Owl x 1 Owston Ferry Church (804003) Common Shrew x 1 (dead) Large White x 6 Red Admiral x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 10+ 09/07/14 Robin x 6 eggs in nest box (3rd brood) Grass Snake x 1 SK802995, 1 dead (road kill) SK799989 & x 1 dead (road kill) SK790978 Comma x 1 Meadow Brown x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 17 Barred Straw x 1 Silver Y x 1 Great Diving Beetle x 1 female 10/07/14 House Martin x 20+ SK802995 Swift x 35 Weasel x 1 TWYFORD WOOD Twyford Wood Colsterworth SK948238 Ian Misselbrook 3rd July 2014 Stoat ran out of Twyford Wood across the road. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 5/7/2014 Several active grass snakes in the garden today and of the compost bins. Cuckoos still calling. Swift over. 6/7/2014 TF216534 Anne Parsons - Ladybird: Propylea 14-punctata Photos taken and sent to C. Barnes. 7 and 8/7/2014 Two buzzards, one flying low, patrolling over the garden, one much higher, observing. Looked like team work to me, or a hunting lesson. Cuckoo still calling. 11/7 Grass snake adult on conpost bins. No cuckoos heard for 48 hours. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/22 Jane Ostler July 1-5 2014 Gardens There is a notable decline in finches and several have been found dead recently. Although hygiene advice has been followed, the disease caused by the trichonad parasite which progressively blocks the birds' throats is suspected.Several people have suspended putting food on bird tables. Another sad tale. Unfledged house martins found dead below their nest. House sparrows may be the cause. They moved into old nests last year. Returning house martins moved back in. The sparrows were making a great deal of noise round the nest at the time the dead youngsters were found. Grass snakes have hatched in a compost heap. An adult had earlier been found in the garden. Bumble bees have taken over a dustbin used to keep grass cuttings. The tree bumble bee in several bird boxes Solitary bees occupied a "bee home" within days of it being put up. Hedgehogs have reared a family in a pile of sticks and debris. 6-spot Burnets emerged from chrysalids on grass stems and fed on cultivated scabious. Cinnabar Moths flying in several gardens. The caterpillars were on groundsel. The humming bird hawk moths were feeding on red valerian although honeysuckle was also on offer. Elephant hawk moth adults in several gardens. In one caterpillars had been seen earlier on fuschsia. Tortoiseshell butterflies are back. A Comma photographed The marmalade hoverfly welcome in numbers - but not the Cabbage white. Happy to report that cuckoos have been heard regularly - unlike last year. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH Mrs Pamela Mapletoft on 8th July 2014 We normally feed the wild birds daily with good quality wild bird food from Vine House Farm. Two weeks ago 24/06/14 we had to stop feeding and watering as Greenfinches and Chaffinches were dying daily, the symptoms were those of "Trichomonosis", as detailed on RSPB website. We haven't heard of anyone else locally experiencing this illness. WRANGLE COMMON 07/07/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson We did a 'casual' butterfly count today (i.e. one that isn't on a pre- determined square as part of the national count) instead of our more usual BirdTrack count. The results were:- Ringlet x 78 Gatekeeper x 26 Small Tortoiseshell x 3 Meadow Brown x 26 Small White x 11 Large White x 2 Red Admiral x 1 Green Veined White x 1 Speckled Wood x 4 Small Copper x 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Week ending 11th July 2014 John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Early in the week the days were pleasant with good spells of sunshine, warm south westerly winds and temperatures reaching 24.75°C. By the end of the week day time temperatures were 10.0°C lower influenced by fresh northerly winds and showers or longer spells of rain. Precipitation for the 24hr period on the 10th gave 28.1mm. The earlier warm weather saw good numbers of ruddy darters hatching off and a small emerald was seen on the 5th with azure and blue-tailed damselflies. Butterflies on the wing included ringlet, small skippers (a good year for these species), large skipper, small tortoiseshell and a few gatekeepers and large whites. A comma was seen near Sea View on the 5th. Bumblebees have been in good numbers. Bird sightings have included 350+ Starlings over the salt marsh on the 7th, 1 Hobby, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and 5 Sandwich Terns on the 8th, 130+ Common Scoter on the 11th, 53 Gannets north on the 11th. Several Whimbrel have been passing through with 1 on the 7th, 3 on the 8th and 7 on the 11th. On the saltmarsh sea lavender is in full flower, and at Rimac marsh helliborines are flowering. Just like the earlier marsh orchids, there will be a reduction in numbers of marsh helliborines this year because some parts of the freshwater marsh were affected by the inundation of saltwater from last December's tidal surge. New plants on the dune grassland at Rimac include carline thistle and Hare's- foot clover. There are still fine displays of lady's bedstraw and restharrow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB RESERVES http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx South Lincolnshire bird sightings March 2014 John Badley Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1083404.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Press release from LWT 21/2/2014: Far Ings is partially open. There are no circular routes as the Humber Bank remains closed whilst repairs are carried out. Facilities including toilets and a small shop are available at Ness End Farm (the old visitor centre and now the regional management base). 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 Saturday, August 02, 2014 Norton Big Wood, Norton Disney (Courtesy of Hill Holt Wood Ltd) Southwest of Lincoln 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 20.30. Park in woodland car park at approx. SK880605 which down track off Wood Lane (which is off minor road between Witham St.Hughs and Norton Disney. Toilets available on site. Habitats: Broadleaved woodland, mixed woodland, glades, ponds and ditches Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com 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. *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Boston school uses iPhone for space photo mission http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-28153130 Turkish F16 Jet flies close to crowd at Waddington Airshow 2014 http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/VIDEO-Turkish-F16-Jet-flies-close-crowd/story-21335374-detail/story.html Dormice 'take naps to aid chances of survival' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28036330 Public asked to look out for clever rooks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28018869 Public asked to look out for woodland moths http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/28132504 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/