============================================= || || 15th June 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.... *** I have been straining at the leash to get you details of the Natural History Museum's Botany courses at Whisby next month. Chris Manning is putting together some information on it with our partners. This is being finalised now and I will keep you informed as things develop. Some botanical knowledge is invaluable to all naturalists, but few of us have those skills of plant identification and preservation that were so familiar to our predecessors. This is a great opportunity to put that right and at the same time to help us to refine our approach to future courses of this kind. Please come to the LNU stand in the LWT tent at the Lincolnshire Show to talk a bit more about it. We would be glad to see Bulletin readers. If you are coming to the Whisby Bioblitz we should be able to tell you more by then. Meantime, Chris has provided the following update: Herbarium Project Update 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. Three days have been organised: 23rd July Professionals/experts 24th May Young persons (10-16 years old) with LWT education officers 25th July Enthusiasts/amateurs The events will be held at Whisby Education Centre, booking will be essential; 01507 526667 info@lincstrust.co.uk. 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 Friday, June 20, 2014 Willow Tree Fen LWT Reserve East of Bourne 10am til late on Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday. Evening session on Friday starting at 21.30. Park in reserve car park at TF174223 next to interpretation centre which is at end of track off Tongue End to Pode Hole road. Toilets available on site. Habitats: Pasture, scrub, ditches and ponds. Contact: Charlie Barnes 01507 526667 charlie@cucaera.co.uk Saturday, June 21, 2014 Willow Tree Fen LWT Reserve Day two - see above 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. *** Upcoming event in the Humberhead levels *** Charlie Barnes sent in this information: Humberhead Levels Partnership - Species Monitoring and Recording: Natural History, methods and landscape scale conservation The Humberhead Levels Partnership is running a one day event to explore how landscape scale conservation is asking new questions of naturalists and organisations involved in monitoring. In particular the Humberhead Levels Natural Improvement Area needs to understand how new techniques may help measure conservation delivery. The day will give you a chance to find out more about the NIA, express your opinions on what is needed to facilitate monitoring, learn new techniques and explore landscape scale aspects of natural history. It will include speakers on the Humberhead Peatlands NNR specialist invertebrates, developing effective training for the 21st centenary naturalist, multi-species site monitoring, capture-recapture and landscape scale monitoring of species. The event is taking place on Tuesday 1st July 2014 at Potteric Carr, Doncaster. To book contact Tim Graham tim.graham@ywt.org.uk 01302 853 941 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Saturday 28th June 2014 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a visit to Red Hill nature reserve and a guided walk around Coronation Meadow. Meet warden Harry Turner at Red Hill's bottom car park, Grid ref TF 264806 at 2pm. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. To book a place and for further details ring Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** Making Your Sightings Count *** Julie Ellison writes: Free 1-day courses funded by the GLNP and the LWT for everyone with an interest in wildlife, demonstrating how to turn everyday wildlife sightings into valuable wildlife records. The course will cover: - Why Wildlife Recording is important - Practical data-gathering - Practical record-submission Whisby: Sunday 22/06/14 Willow Tree Fen (date TBC) To book your place contact LWT on 01507 526667 or info@lincstrust.co.uk For more information about the course contact Julie Ellison on 01724 735349 / 07586 293860 or julie@julieellison.co.uk (County Recorders are most welcome, especially to prove how friendly and helpful you are! Please let Julie know if you would like to come.) *** Wash Cruises 2014 - updated *** 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/ 6/6 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Garganey, 2 Black-necked Grebes, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 7/6 2 Spoonbills, Tennyson's Sands, 2 Spoonbills, Jackson's Marsh Gibraltar Point 8/6 Little Stint on Wash, Gibraltar Point Taweny Pipit, Howden's Pullover Red-backed Shrike, Frampton Marsh 9/6 2 Spoonbills flew south over Donna Nook 2 Common Scoters, Cadney reservoir 2 Spoonbills, Willowtree Fen [present 3 days] 10/6 Honey Buzzard flew over Gibraltar Point 11/6 Icterine Warbler retrapped, first ringed on 30st May, Wood Warbler, Donna Nook 2 Garganey, Frampton Marsh 2 Turtle Doves, Rimac 12/6 Wood Warbler, Donna Nook Turtle Dove, Kirkby on Bain geavel pits Honey Buzzard, Gibraltar Point 13/6 2 Quail males singing, Donna Nook Honey Buzzard, Gibraltar Point Turtle Dove, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Spoonbill, Tennyson Sands, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on the Wash, Bonxie over beach, Glossy Ibis flew towards Croft, Gibraltar Point Garganey, Frampton Marsh 14/6 Glossy Ibis, Frampton Marsh 3 Spoonbills, Alkborough flats 2 Turtle Doves, 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: 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. 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. BARDNEY TF128686 Charlie Barnes 10 June 2014 Fox (dead on road) CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 6.6.14 Secret location Bee orchids 8.6.14 Brigg Road farmland TA 106 036 Kestrel hovering 6.6.14 Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 J Foster Hedgehog adult every night Brigg Road verge TA 113 020 WH Creeping cinquefoil 9.8.14 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Fox adult m on lawn 9pm 10.6.14 Grey squirrels 2 running along hedge 7.6.14 Blackcap Bullfinch on Herb Robert 9.6.14 Buzzards 2 circling 6.6.14 Chiffchaff Garden warbler Goldcrests 4 6.6.14 Pheasant f 10.6.14 Tawny owl calling nightly Treecreeper 6.6.14 Common white wave moth 8.6.14. New Double dart 11.6.14. New Speckled wood 6.6.14 First flowers Field scabious 9.6.14 Greater knapweed 9.6.14 Hedge woundwort 6.6.14 Short-fruited willowherb 9.6.14. New Fungi 7.6.14 Bitter bracket on conifer stump Fairy rings 2 in lawn Sulphur tuft 10 on conifer stump Tawny funnel 15 on pine needles Wood blewit 2 on pine needles Cherry Holt garden TA 115 015 J Rudd Hedgehogs, 2 adults Shieling farm TA 106 027 W Collins Lily beetles Small purple and gold moths on mint Salad burnet CHERRY WILLINGHAM TF033726 Margaret Roe 8/6/14 Red Kite flying over garden of my bungalow and neighbouring properties for several minutes c 9.30am. Regular visits from Goldfinch, Greenfinch and House Sparrows on feeders. Also families of hedge sparrow, blackbirds and starlings seen regularly. Not sure what has happened to the linnets. After several days of regular visits, I haven’t seen them for the past week. I don’t think they can have nested or at least not successfully. HEIGHINGTON John Nickson 12th to 14th June 2014 Moths to garden Bright-line Brown Eye 11 Brimstone Moth 8 Brown Rustic 2 Buff Arches 1 Buff Ermine 8 Burnished Brass 1 Cinnabar 3 Clouded Silver 1 Clouded-bordered Brindle 1 Common Emerald 1 Common Footman 6 Common Marbled Carpet 3 Common Pug 5 Common Whit Wave 1 Dark Arches 7 Double Square Spot 2 Elephant Hawk Moth 2 Ghost Moth 1 Green Silver Lines 1 Heart and Dart 27 Large Yellow Underwing 2 Lychins 3 Marbled Minor 7 Middle-bared Minor 3 Pale Prominent 1 Poplar Grey 1 Poplar Hawk Moth 2 Privet Hawk Moth 1 Riband Wave 4 Shoulder-striped Wainscot 2 Silver Ground Carpet 2 Snout 3 Spectacle 1 Spinach 1 The Flame 5 Uncertain 5 White Ermine 2 Willow Beauty 3 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) Date 7/6/2014 Cuckoo 1 (calling) Red admiral butterfly 2 Date 8/6/2014 Chaffinch 4 (think 2 were fledglings) Frog 1 Greenfinch 1 Orange tip butterfly 1 (male) Red admiral butterfly 2 Speckled wood butterfly 4 Date 9/6/2014 Greenfinch 2 Wren 1 Date 10/6/2014 Fieldmouse 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 (attacked by a blackbird that has a nest nearby but woodpecker soon saw off the bb and carried on up the tree) Date 11/6/2014 Frog 1 Goldfinch 1 Date 12/6/2014 Blue tits 4 or 5 (fledglings) Cardinal beetle 1 (on my peas) Chaffinch 4 Chiffchaff 2 (heard the birdsong for several days and managed to identify it; 2 birds at top of very tall beech tree) Red admiral butterfly 1 (while eating dinner outside this butterfly kept landing on my head - I kid you not!) While out walking at TF530783 Sea Lane, dead grass snake on road. KIRKBY ON BAIN PITS David Robinson writes: Jan 2013 I sent you a photo of a Swan with deformed wing feathers. I hadn't seen it about since then but the other day it was swimming on the Old Bain at Kirkby on Bain pits nature reserve. I'm fairly sure by comparing last years photos its the same bird and apart from its deformity it looked pretty healthy but it didn't ] fly up when I got near to it, which many would have done. The place I saw it the other day is less than 1/4 mile from where I saw it last year so it seems to be coming back to the same area or staying around. LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 14/06/2014 Jayne Knight 06/06/14 Male Bullfinch seen on sunflower heart feeder. 07/06/14 A herd of Blue Tits flew into the garden. Upon closer observation discovered it was a family consisting of both parent birds and 6 fledglings. I knew they were all the same family as, although the parents came in with 3 babies each in tow, they were then interchangeable when feeding the youngsters. 11/06/14 Been able to identify that the ants extending their nest passages and depositing the waste on the interior front doorstep are the black ant, Lasius niger. They have taken over the former occupants' territory, Lasius flavus. Very disappointing. Some L flavus are still around as one of that species and a black ant were having a fight on the kitchen floor a day later. NETTLEHAM TF 005756 Brenda Edlington We have a 3 compartment sparrow box (which the sparrows have never used, preferring the ivy on the house walls), where great tits have nested in one part for the last 3 years. This year there is a nest of medium-sized bumble bees in the middle compartment. They have white tails with a gingery thorax so I think it is probably the tree bumble bee Bombus hypnorum, rather than Bombus lucorum but I'm no bee expert. I thought the great tits in the adjacent nest might have been put off but they have successfully fledged and we have parties of up to a dozen great tits flitting about in the trees. Last week the blue tits also fledged out of a separate box nearby. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 06.06.14 Collared Doves nesting in ash tree Buzzard soaring over pasture (TF 309 848) 07.06.14 Found one House Martin nest collapsed; 4 dead chicks on ground (only hatched 1-2 days ago) 3 dead chicks on ground, probably House Sparrows, different spots, different ages 3-5 Swifts near house and over pasture every day. 09.06.14 Common Frog, adult Tawny Owl Chrysis ignita (Ruby-tailed Wasp), probably Brimstone 13 mm of rainfall within about half an hour during a heavy thunderstorm 10.06.14 House Martins have started to re-build the collapsed nest Another House Martin pair are starting to build a new nest, attached to the first nest that was occupied this season, this makes 8 active nests this year. Nest- building has been much slower this year than previously, spread out over 3-4 weeks; probably a result of the changeable weather and heavy rain at times. 11.06.14 Wren Tawny Owl Pied Wagtail 12.06.14 Young Bluetit dead on ground, probable window strike Buzzard Large White butterfly Skylark over nearby fields 2 adult Frogs REVESBY (Shire Wood) TF289619 18 May 2014 LNU Field meeting to this private woodland courtesy of Revesby Estate. Attended by 10 members and led by Bran Hedley. 28 Bird species noted including tawny owl, buzzard, sparrowhawk, green woodpecker, garden warbler and bullfinch. Six butterfly species: Brimstone, Large white, green-veined white, orange tip, peacock and speckled wood. Moths included rivulet, yellowshell, dark twin-spot carpet and silver- ground carpet. Common blue and blue-tailed damselflies recorded along central ride ditches. Six mammals noted including brown hare and roe deer. Both common frog and common toad present in small numbers. A selection of beetles, mainly noted by Charlie Barnes, included Melasis buprestoides (a Nb species of false click beetle and 3rd record for VC54), Tetropium gabrieli (Ramson Beetle, 8th record for VC54) and Rhagium mordax. David Sheppard noted two sawfly species which are new county records: Empria pallimacula (baltica) and Metallus albipes. Over 150 plant species noted including giant bellflower, yellow pimpernel, yellow archangel, ramsons, wood anemone and wood melick. SPALDING TF245218 Annette Faulkner 23/5/14 M Bee moth Aphomia sociella at lighted window. Missed record - sorry Annette: SPALDING TF245208 (Our garden) Annette Faulkner 4/5/14 The micro moths Pyrauster aurata and P purpuralis flying together around sage and marjoram. They have been around for a week or two, though I hadn’t separated them to species until the above date. TATTERSHALL THORPE Tattershall Thorpe M & R Pocklington 14.06.2014 Southern Marsh orchids in flower (we counted 7 plants but there maybe more) THURNHOLMES (SK79767 98400) and surrounding area Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 06/06/14 Moths on security light Small Emerald x 1 White Ermine x 1 Cinnabar x 4 08/06/14 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 1 nest 5 eggs Chaffinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 male Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Skylark x 3 Swallow x 2 Swift x 4 Tree Sparrow x 5 Wren x 1 Smooth Newt x 1 female under recording sheet Roach x 4 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Hairy Dragonfly x 1 Common Blue Damselfly x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Cinnabar x 2 Common Carpet x 1 22 Spot Ladybird 10/06/14 Barn Owl x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 Snout x 1 Black Headed Gull x 8 feeding on worms in flooded paddock Mute Swan x 1pr with 5 newly hatched cygnets, Owston Ferry Warping Drain Red Admiral x 1 Speckled Wood x 1 Small Magpie moth x 1 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 12/06/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson Very few birds about today, a BirdTrack count yielding only 14 species. Among these were several Reed and Sedge Warblers, which seem to be doing well after a poor breeding season last year. Of particular note was a Little Owl perched on a nearby barn. Very few butterflies were seen except for two Small Whites and singles of Small Tortoiseshell and Common Blue. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 8/6/2014 Holly Blue Speckled Wood x 3 Painted Lady - very pale Red Admiral Small Tortioseshell 13/6/2014 Peacock Red Admiral Paibnted Lady Speckled wood Small tortoiseshell WRANGLE COMMON 12/06/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson Today's BirdTrack count produced 33 species. Of particular interest were a single Mistle Thrush (quite uncommon here nowadays), two Lapwings (it is thought that three chicks have been reared this year), and singles of Buzzard and Kestrel. Unusually no Skylarks were recorded. Butterflies included Small White 11, Red Admiral 1, Ringlet 11, Common Blue 1, Meadow Brown 6, Large White 1, Speckled Wood 1 and three Burnet Moths were also seen. We received reports of Cuckoos being heard on four occasions in the last fortnight and of two Turtle Doves feeding on seed below a bird table in a farm yard. Talking to a local farmer, we commented on the lack of Marsh Harrier records in the area this year. He reported only one record this year, when he usually would have expected to see them daily. Our own records show very few sightings. Is this an anomaly and we have simply been unlucky, or are others finding the same thing? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 13/06/14 Cliff Morrison, Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker Heavy thunderstorms with a total of 24mm of rainfall on monday bought out the natterjacks and a cacophony of chorusing animals was heard on the warm sultry evening conditions. The vegetation is verdant with many flowers now blooming or coming into bloom making a mosaic of colour, bee and pyramidal orchids are now coming into flower, along with southern marsh orchids,twayblades, trefoils, etc. Butterflies species included red admiral, small tortoiseshell, small heath, small copper, large skipper, holly blue, common blue, wall brown, meadow brown, brown argus, brimstone, and small,large and green veined whites. Odonata include, emperor, four spotted chaser broad bodied chaser, southern hawker and hairy dragonflies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Friday, June 20, 2014 Willow Tree Fen LWT Reserve East of Bourne 10am til late on Friday and 10am-4pm on Saturday. Evening session on Friday starting at 21.30. Park in reserve car park at TF174223 next to interpretation centre which is at end of track off Tongue End to Pode Hole road. Toilets available on site. Habitats: Pasture, scrub, ditches and ponds. Contact: Charlie Barnes 01507 526667 charlie@cucaera.co.uk Saturday, June 21, 2014 Willow Tree Fen LWT Reserve Day two - see above Sunday, July 06, 2014 Private farm at Sloothby (Courtesy of G and N Rutter) Southeast of Alford 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in grass field at TF50217107. The farm is at the eastern end of Sloothby village on the north side of the road (just inside village sign). A track leads to a two houses and the field entrance is immediately on the left. Habitats: Pasture, meadow and hedges with trees. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com 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. I received the following and thought some readers might find it of interest. *** Kew Gardens - Cuts to Funding - Prospect Petition *** Extract of letter from Leslie Manasseh You may be aware of a campaign our Kew Branch is running regarding the latest round of Government cuts in funding, and the impact the cuts are now having on Kew. We will shortly be delivering the petition to 10 Downing Street, and seeking a meeting with the Defra Minister, however although the petition now has over 90,000 signatures, reaching 100,000 would clearly be a line in the sand for us and Government. The Change.org petition has been set up at http://bit.ly/save_kew. If every member of Prospect signed this petition, and told their friends and family about it this would have a huge impact. Please show your support for your Prospect colleagues by signing and sharing the petition, helping us reach our goal of 100,000 signatures. http://bit.ly/save_kew ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/