============================================= || || 21st September 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.... *** Back from a good walkabout in Scotland where I met and became a fan of several Pine Martins. I was startled to see how far north both Ash die-back and Horse Chestnut leaf-mining moth has spread. an extrordinary time to be North of the border and see the build- up to the referendum. I got up early to watch the results come in. I hope I have managed to include all readers' reports - if any slipped through my net, please let me know. There was a mass of junk email to delete and I may well have missed something. I noticed two or three addresses bounced my usual thank yous, so I will repeat my thanks here. Please keep your reports coming in this unexpected Indian Summer. I've a Wildlife Watch fungus hunt on Saturday and suspect it will be a struggle to find much. I did find agaricus and lepiota species waiting in the garden on Monday and celebrated my first wild mushrooms of 2014 on toast for tea! That prompts me to add a word of warning on eating fungi - DON'T, unless you are confident you are dealing with a safe species. Even familiar-seeming fungi can mean trouble if you get things wrong. Ray Halstead will be leading several forays this year, so do try to get along to one of these. See details below. 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 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 Guests are welcome at our meetings. *** Dormouse Open Day - STOP PRESS *** Anne Goodall writes: There will be a DORMOUSE OPEN DAY at CHAMBERS FARM WOOD CENTRE, Limewoods NNR on Sunday 21st September, 11 am to 4pm, by kind permission of the Forestry Commission. We can't guarantee you'll see a dormouse - they decide that! But come along and enjoy: Displays, Nut-hunts, Dormouse walks and talks, Refreshments, including dormouse cakes and biscuits, Sales, tombola, Childrens activities - dormouse face-painting, dormouse mask-making... More information on Facebook: search for Lincolnshire Dormouse Group. *** Find the Grid Reference *** Chris Manning recommended the following website for help with find grid references. Have a look. http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm *** Horncastle & Woodhall Spa LWT area group event *** Les Binns writes: Fungus Foray - Sunday October 19, 10 am to 12 noon Venue: Woodhall Country Park (just outside Woodhall on the Stixwould road) Lead by: Colin Faulkner *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Adrian White writes: Saturday 20th September Killingholme Haven A half-day visit to this local LWT reserve Meet at Ness Farm to leave at 9am Contact Alice Nunn for further details; 01724 732262 Everybody welcome Wednesday 17th September "Blacktoft Sands" A talk on this important reserve by; Peter Short Reserve Warden Meet at Ness Farm centre 7:30pm start Everybody welcome MOTH and BAT NIGHT With North Lincs Council and Lincs Bat Group Saturday 13th September Bat Walk: meet at Water's Edge 7:15pm start Bat detectors provided Contact: Julie Ellison 07586293868 Booking essential Moth Lights: meet at Ness Farm after the walk Lights lit from dusk Contact: Adrian White 07940561907 Booking not required Enjoy a night with our nocturnal wildlife Everybody welcome Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT Carolyn Lovely writes: On Saturday 27th September 2014 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a fungus foray in Bradley Woods with expert Ray Halstead. Please park and meet in the car park at 2pm. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the trust. To book a place ring Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** Wash Cruises 2014 *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB have started their 2014 series of Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash estuary and River Welland. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire During 2013 over 105 species were seen, averaging 64 per cruise, and each cruise is manned by experienced Spotters. Apart from birds, basking seals are also regularly seen. Each cruise departs from Boston's Grand Sluice lock and lasts between four and five hours. Everybody is welcome. RSPB members £17-50 (under 16 £9-50). Non members £20 (£10-50) Booking is via The South Holland (Spalding) ticket agency and is essential. Call 01775-764777 or go online www.southhollandcentre.co.uk where full details including sailing times of those cruises which haven't sold out can be found. 14 cruises have been arranged for 2014 which started on 25th April, with various sailing times every month, and concluding on 16th October. These cruises are once again proving very popular. *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ Maureen Staples writes: On Thursday 11th September at 7.30pm we invite you to join us for the 'RSPB Regional Review and Update' talk. This will take place in The Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grossteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln RSPB members and Students £3.00. Non Members £4.00. Free Parking. *** South Lincs RSPB *** 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/ Reports resume next week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. FRAMPTON MARSH RSPB RESERVE TF367387 7 September 2014 LNU field meeting led by Brian Hedley and attended by six members. A sunny, fairly warm and dry day. Birds, as you'd expect, were a key feature of the meeting with about 72 species seen between us including barred warbler, little stint, Temminck's stint, spoonbill, curlew sandpiper, spotted redshank, whimbrel, greenshank, marsh harrier, turtle dove, yellow wagtail (50+), wheatear and peregrine. Plants included a good selection of saltmarsh species including slender hare's-ear, sea wormwood, sea arrow-grass, sea plantain, sea milkwort and sea purslane. Mammals included weasel and signs of water vole. Eight butterfly species were seen including painted lady, small heath and red admiral. Dragonflies included many migrant hawkers plus southern hawker and ruddy darter. A selection of beetles were noted by Charlie Barnes (awaiting list). *** 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) 14/09/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson A young Green Woodpecker was feeding on the lawn this morning. BRACEBY TF015353 Thur. 11 Sept 2014 M.Ellis One housemartin's nest still occupied by noisy offspring. 6 martins flying nearby Family of 6 goldfinches at water fountain Tree creeper on birch tree Fallen victoria plums attracting lots of bees, but no wasps despite a wasp nest at bottom of our garden where wasps seen earlier in the summer, but not now BUTTERWICK (TF3944) 31/08/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson We did our final Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey today with the following results:- Large White x 22 Small White x 69 Small Tortoiseshell x 50 Peacock x 1 CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Brigg Road garden TA 110 023 T Holford Rabbits with myxomatosis Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 J Foster 29.8.14 Grass snake basking by pond Black bryony Bullace fruits Crab apples Dwarf mallow Lesser spearwort Horse chestnut fruits Giant puffball 30cms Fairy rings 4 Brigg Road verge TA 113 020 WH Garland roundhead fungus in grass 31.8.14. New Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Bat 8pm most evenings Bank vole under feeder 10.9.14 Common shrew 15.9.14 Grey squirrel, adult, roadkill 11.9.14 Muntjac on Trailcam 2am 30.8.14 Stoat 14.9.14 Blackbird nest with 4 eggs in Honeysuckle 2.9.14 Jay 8.9.14 Tawny owl calling most afternoons/evenings Woodpigeons building new nest 2.9.14 Black garden ants, winged 7.9.14 Common hawkers several days Lime hawkmoth caterpillar 30.8.14. New Old lady moth in shed 31.8.14 Pale tussock caterpillar 11.9.14 Red admirals still flying Speckled woods still flying Yellow meadow ants, winged 8.9.14 Fungi Bearded milkcap in meadow 10.9.14 Cellar cup in gravel 5.9.14. New Common puffball in mown grass 29.8.14 Field mushrooms 6 under Pear tree 29.8.14 Giant puffball now 33cms Pestle puffball under Holly 8.9.14 Plums and custard in Spruce wood 5.9.14. New Scaly rustgill on Spruce stump 2.9.14 Southern bracket on dead Ash stump 5.9.14. Willow shield on Crack willow stump 29.8.14 Wood mushrooms 10 in Spruce wood Eating fallen fruit in orchard: Fox cubs 2 nightly Grey squirrel juv occasionally Rabbits 5 dawn and dusk Pheasant m, f Woodpigeons 2 daily Seen when cutting/clearing wildflower meadow 10-15.9.14 Field voles 14 Long-tailed fieldmouse 1 Long-tailed fieldmice nests 6 Frogs adults 3 juv 8 Toads adults 6 juv 26 Caistor High Street TA 127 002 Badger juv roadkill 31.8.14 Cherry Holt garden TA 115 015 J Rudd 10.9.14 Commas 2 Hummingbird hawkmoth Red admirals 2 Health Centre verge TA 120 011 WH Heath bedstraw Hundon Manor Farm ponds TA 112 026 P Robinson Mute swans 4, 13.9.14 Swallows, 100s massing to depart 11.9.14 Rainbow trout Common figwort Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Lesser spotted woodpecker probably 16.7.14 Kingfisher 16.9.14 Swallows 10s gathering for migration 31.8.14 Common lizard 31.8.14 Grass snake 30.8.14 Speckled woods 20, 30.8.14 Artichoke galls on Oak Common polypody Black bulgar fungus on Oak. New Southern bracket on Beech 14.9.14 Shieling farm TA 106 027 W Collins Bats, prob Common pipistrelles turning outside lights on South Street garden TA 119 012 D Cole Moth trap 24.8.14 Clouded drab. New Copper underwing. New Hebrew character Lesser swallow prominent Lesser broad bordered yellow underwing Lesser yellow underwing Light brown apple moth Lychnis Mouse moth. New Setaceous hebrew character Strawberry tortrix. New Willow beauty A46 over woodland TF 192 044 B&S Overy Red kites 2 seen weekly DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve Date: 15/09/2014 1400 – 1700 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Warm, sunny periods Birds: Blackbird Blackcap Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Chaffinch Chiffchaf Collared Dove Coot Cormorant Egyptian Goose Goldeneye (early winter visitor) Great-crested Grebe Great Tit Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull Jay Kestrel Lapwing Lesser Black-backed Gull Little Egret Little Grebe Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Mute Swan Pheasant Pied Wagtail Pochard Robin Sand Martin Shoveler Sparrowhawk Starling Teal Tufted duck Woodpigeon Dragonflies: Migrant Hawker Common Hawker Butterflies: Peacock Small White Mammals: Grey Squirrel Rabbit HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) Date 15/8/2014 Peacock butterfly 1 Wren 2 (parent feeding baby) Date 16/8/2014 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Wren 3 (parent feeding 2 babies) Date 18/9/2014 Blue tits 6 Date 25/8/2014 Chiff chaff 1 Date 3/9/2014 Owl 1 (screeching late evening) Date 5/9/2014 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Date 6/9/2014 Fox (on webcam 6am) Date 7/9/2014 Hare 1 (Jolly Common Lane TF515276) Date 8/9/2014 Great tits 2 Goldfinch 4 (feeding on thistles) Owl 1 (screeching 9pm) Peacock butterfly 1 (caught in spider's web - but I rescued it) Date 11/9/2014 Chiffchaff 1 Goldfinch 4 (feeding on thistles) Red admiral butterfly 1 Starlings 6 (they were back - checking the hole in the apple tree where they nest) Wrens 2 Date 12/9/2014 Flycatcher 1 (98% positive this was what was sitting on the side of the bird bath) Date 16/9/2014 Sparrowhawk 1 RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler August Rainfall 114 mm - a record for August in my books. 01.09.14 Tawny Owl (heard) 02.09.14 Toad x 2 (about 2 cm body size) Frog croaking in pond Investigated (now inactive) Bombus hypnorum nest in tit box and found queen still in residence, plus a few dead workers, spiders and woodlice. The bluetit nest was about half-built, so it seems the bees may have displaced the tits. Dead mature Horse Chestnut tree in hedgerow, only a few small leaves with brown edges on some lower shoots. (TF 300 844 approx) 03.09.14 Found the only still active House Martin nest on the ground first thing in the morning. This contained a second brood which was close to fledging. No victims found on the ground. Suspect another tawny owl attack. A few martins still hunting in the air a.m. on our first sunny and calm day for weeks. Canada Geese (ca. 20) flying over NNW to SSE a.m., opposite direction at dusk, and subsequent days. 04.09.14 Lots of butterflies active in fine weather, including Brimstone, Large White, Peacock, Red Admiral (lots this year) and Small Tortoiseshell 06.09.14 Little Owl perched on fence post (TF 305 846) – the first one I've seen since moving here 5 years ago, though having checked its call, I now realise I heard one from the garden about a week ago. 07.09.14 Chiffchaff calling Bank Vole 08.09.14 Chiffchaff calling, again Juv. Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler in conservatory - escaped before I could make a full ID. Common Blue (x1), Green-veined White (x1) butterflies Flesh Fly (Sarcophaga sp.) Green Shield Bug (5th instar nymph, confirmed by Annette Binding) 09.09.14 Long-tailed Tits (family) Still some House Martins in the air every day. 10.09.14 Water Boatman in pond Common Darter (m) (probably) 11.09.14 Last House Martins seen Common Green Capsid Bug (x4 at least) on dahlias 12.09.14, 19.50 hrs (dusk) 2 small Bats (Pipistrelle?) flying along hedgerow, TF 305 846 15.09.14 Small Tortoiseshell again very numerous. Mistle Thrushes x 3 (family?) feeding on yew berries 16.09.14 Painted Lady butterfly - a first in my garden; spent considerable time on single dahlia flowers (very popular with all butterflies). Hawthorn Shield Bug THEDDLETHORPE Brickyard Lane John Cowell Wednesday 17th Sept 2014, 3pm Pair of Wheatear were migrating down the beach. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 02/09/2104 Roy and Kath Pearson Peregrine WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 31/8/2014 Comma - a spp rarely seen this year. [RP] 15/9/2014 Agaricus spp and Lepiota rhacodes [var hortensis] 18/09/2014 Painted lady Many large and small whites and small tortoiseshells. Buzzard over. WRANGLE COMMON 07/09/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson A BirdTrack count yielded 28 species. Raptors included two Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk. There was a steady passage of hirundines with three House Martins and thirty-four Swallows counted. A few birds were feeding on land specially planted with seed bearing flowers - twenty Goldfinches, five Yellowhammers, three Linnets, two Chaffinches and singles of Corn Bunting and Greenfinch. Butterflies included twenty-five Small Whites, fifteen Large Whites, four Green-veined Whites, ten Speckled Woods and eight Small Tortoiseshells. WRANGLE COMMON 13/09/2014 Roy and Kath Pearson Very little about today and a count wasn't attempted. Of interest however were a minimum of three Buzzards a single Goldcrest with a flock of Long- tailed Tits, three Snipe and three Grey Partridge, which are quite uncommon nowadays. The hirundine movement was still occurring. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves South Lincolnshire bird sightings August 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh The Glossy Ibis remained all month. Also seen on and off throughout were Spoonbills, with a peak of six (27th) and a Garganey. Merlin and Hobby were both seen occasionally and a Water Rail was recorded on four occasions. A good variety of waders included highlights of White-rumped Sandpiper (2nd-4th), Pectoral Sandpiper (from 19th) and Red-necked Phalarope (10th – 11th & 15th). Also present were up to six Little Stints (22nd), 10 Curlew Sandpipers (2nd), six Spotted Redshanks (24th) and five Wood Sandpipers (4th). Little Gull (6th), Red-crested Pochard (10th) and Yellow-legged Gull (26th) were all present on one date, with Whinchat seen on five dates and Short-eared Owl on two. Gibraltar Point NNR The sea was generally quiet, but Sooty Shearwater were recorded on four dates and there were peaks of 168 Manx Shearwaters (18th) and 65 Arctic Skuas (26th). Up to five Spoonbills were seen (27th). Raptor sightings included Honey Buzzard (27th), Montagu’s Harriers (3rd & 11th), but rarest of all a Short-toed Eagle reported in off the sea (22nd). A White-rumped Sandpiper (6th, 8th & 12th) could have been the same bird as at Frampton Marsh. Both Pectoral Sandpiper (12th) and Purple Sandpiper (25th) were seen on one date. There were also two each of Curlew Sandpiper and Wood Sandpiper and three Spotted Redshanks. Two Wood Warblers were recorded (12th and 28th-30th) with Wryneck (26th-30th) and Icterine Warbler (28th) towards the end of the month. Other sites Great White Egrets were reported at Grimsthorpe Lake (12th) and Wrangle Brickpits (27th). A Spoonbill was at Freiston Shore (23rd). On the same date a Glossy Ibis popped into Whisby NP. A Black-necked Grebe was at Baston-Langtoft Pits (9th). The Pectoral Sandpiper at Frampton Marsh commuted to Freiston Shore (from 23rd). A Wryneck was a lucky find in a Spalding garden (31st), and a Red-backed Shrike was reported at Baston Fen (2nd), while two or three redstarts were seen at Swanpool, Lincoln. John Badley Assisted by Colin Jennings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006059.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Press release from LWT 21/2/2014: Paths and hides are open at Gibraltar Point (except to Fenland Lagoon and a section of the West Dunes). Refreshments and temporary toilets are now available in the main car park. Please show your support for our volunteers and staff by visiting. Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designatedareas/nnr/1006128.aspx John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth Week ending 6th September 2014 The weather for August was changeable but predominately cool with below average day time temperatures and showers or longer spells of light rain. It was the range of weather which is worthy of comment. There were highs of mid 20°C during the first week (25.25°C on the 1st) down to 14.75°C on the 18th. A near ground frost of 1.0°C was recorded on the 24th (frost observed in sheltered hollows of the dunes) yet on the 6th the ground minimum was 14.25°C. Although there were several days with light showers there were three occasions when very heavy rainfall fell in a short space of time giving a high volume of rain (23.4mm on 2nd, 22.4mm on 8th and 22.1mm on 10th). Very strong winds were observed from the 9th-18th, generally f5 from a S-SW sector. A gust of 43.7mph was recorded on the 11th and 48.4mph on the 17th. Sightings for the week have included - a Goldcrest and Coal Tit nr Sea View and 4 Ruff at Paradise Ponds on the 31st. Whinchat 19, Common Redstart 1 and Pied Flycatcher 2 on 3rd. A Short-toed Lark was also reported on the 3rd, seen and heard as it flew over the dunes near Rimac. Whinchats 4 were seen feeding amongst a stand of teasels nr Paradise on 4thand several have been seen most days during the week. A female Pied Flycatcher was at Sea View on the 5th. WeBS along the two sections of the NNR were carried out by PR and JW on the 6th and 7th. Although it was a quiet survey the counts included Common Snipe 1, Curlew 71, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Turnstone 1, Whimbrel 4, Black-headed Gull 2100, Common Gull 113, Great Black-backed Gull 38, Herring Gull 117, Common Tern 4, Sandwich tern 11 and Teal 38. Several speckled woods and red admirals were on the wing on 31st plus a few small tortoiseshells, and these have been seen whenever there is sunshine. There was a brimstone nr Sea View on 3rd. Three migrant hawkers nr Paradise on 31st. Sea aster does not seem as prolific as in previous years but the flowering plants give a mix of colour from mauve to pale yellow on the saltmarsh and provide a valuable late nectar source for insects. Week ending 12th September 2014 A 40 minute watch of the morning spring tide, off Churchill, on the 11th included Teal 134, Common Scoter 140, Mallard 32, Shelduck 11, Gannet 8, Sandwich Tern 13, Knot 14 and Pied Wagtail 7. Further north over the saltmarsh there were 400+ Black-headed Gulls, Teal 80 and Wigeon 35. On 12th a single Goldeneye and 6 Pintail were seen flying south, a Little Stint and 2 Arctic Skuas also seen. Other reports for the week have included Wheatear 5 on the foreshore, Whinchat 5 in the freshwater marsh, Common Buzzard 1 south and Marsh Harrier over, all on the 8th. Pink-footed Geese were heard calling on the 8th but not seen, but on the 10th a skein of 48 flew over the reserve going south. A Wryneck and Wood Warbler were reported between Rimac and Sea View on the 10th. Tawny Owls have been calling near Sea View and a Little Owl was seen near Churchill on the 11th and on the same day at Rimac there was a Pied Flycatcher and 10 Whinchats reported. There have been few sightings of migrant birds through the dunes during the week with just the occasional Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common and Lesser Whitethroat. Four Avocets and a Black-tailed Godwit were on the lagoon on the evening of 8th, 3 Common Snipe flushed from the saltmarsh on 8th and 10 Little Egrets were on the saltmarsh on 11th. Butterfly numbers and species have now dropped to a few peacocks, small tortoise- shells, large and green-veined whites. Of note ivy flowers have attracted several red admirals, and speckled woods are still relatively common with at least 30 individuals seen flying around warm sheltered edges to trees and hedgerows near Sea View on the 10th. A single comma occurred at Sea View on the 11th. Eleven migrant hawkers were seen on the wing between Churchill and Brickyard on the 10th and singles have been seen at Sea View. Week ending 19th September 2014 High pressure over the country all week has fed in a light north easterly air flow with low cloud, drizzle and a persistent sea fret. These weather conditions have caused a number of migrating birds to be grounded amongst the scrub and localised tree cover of the reserve. Several of the more common species have been seen in low numbers but there have also been a few of the more unusual birds occurring in ones and twos. The following have been reported or seen during the week. Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap have been reported daily, all in a few numbers. Red-breasted Flycatcher, one possibly two, at Sea View on 14th and 15th, Spotted Flycatcher on 15th to 18th, Common Redstart 2 on the 15th and several Wheatear during the week. Icterine Warbler 1 on the 16th, Yellow Browed Warbler 1(2?), Garden Warbler 2 at Sea View on the 17thand 1 on the 18th plus Wood Warbler on the 18th. A single Firecrest was reported north of Sea View on the 17th. Cliff Morrison had an unusual experience on the 17th when he had a single Red- backed Shrike, a Hobby fly over, plus a Brambling and an early Fieldfare came in off the sea, also Wryneck on 13thand 15th. Eight Lesser Redpolls and 2 Siskin flew over the reserve on the 16th. A flock of 14 Siskin was at Sea View on the 18th. lso, apart from this interesting list of birds there have been good numbers of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Chaffinches and the occasional party of Long-tailed Tits. Tawny Owls have been heard calling near Sea View and one was seen hunting over the dunes near Churchill on the 17th where a male and female Sparrowhawk occurred on the 18th. A female Marsh Harrier has frequented the saltmarsh and surrounding area most days. A Hobby flew over Sea View on the 18th. Most butterfly sightings were made earlier in the week when there was more sunshine. A few small tortoiseshells, speckled woods, peacocks, small heath and large white were noted but in particular red admirals have been giving a fine show with bright coloured specimens feeding on nectar from buddleia bushes (10 on the 15th) and ivy flowers (18 also on 15th). Again earlier in the week small numbers of migrant hawkers, ruddy and common darters have been quite active. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB RESERVES http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1083404.aspx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News W/E 05.09.14 BIRDS Max nos. bearded tit 2 blackbird 20 blackcap black-headed gull 100+ blue tit 20 bullfinch 2 canada goose 30 carrion crow 4 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 6 chiffchaff collared dove 3 common gull 30 coot 74 cormorant 10 curlew 6 curlew sandpiper dunnock 4 gadwall 6 golden plover 120 goldfinch 60 great tit 7 greenfinch 2 grey heron 2 greylag goose 60 herring gull 6 house martin 6 house sparrow 15 kingfisher lapwing 100+ LBB gull 2 linnet 6 little grebe 2 little ringed plover 4 long tailed tit 6 magpie 4 mallard 26 marsh harrier 2 moorhen 4 mute swan 16 pheasant 2 pochard 6 redshank 3 reed bunting 4 robin 8 sand martin 500+ shoveler 4 song thrush sparrowhawk starling 30 swallow 30+ tufted duck 52 water rail 2 willow tit 2 willow warbler wood pigeon 10 wren 6 yellow wagtail 2 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 Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service A dedicated service to protect and enhance the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 01507 609740 www.lincswolds.org.uk http://www.lincswolds.org.uk 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 Hartsholme Country Park: hartsholmecp@lincoln.gov.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will sometimes withhold precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. 2014 Field Meetings Sunday, 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. Dambuster airfield bought by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-29012438 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/