============================================= || || 28th 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.... *** Every season brings its highlights,and several fungus forays are detailed below. Another seasonal pleasure are the 'Apple Days' There is one at Wragby Town Hall this Sunday. 28th, 11am - 4pm. See: http://www.applesandorchards.org.uk/ Wragby: http://www.logo.org.uk/Apple_day.html And Stamford on 4th October: http://scog.org.uk/ The best recruiters of new readers are those of you who already receive and enjoy the Bulletin. Why not tell someone about it and give them this simple link so they can sign up and try it? http://eepurl.com/zmFMT As the two Lancasters made their final circuit from Coningsby on 23rd, passing over our garden with a pair of Hurricanes and Spitfires, one of our local Buzzards took to the skies too. It gave the impression of being more curious than alarmed. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29325810 It is readers' contributions that keep the Bulletin interesting and useful. If you feel it is missing something, please have a go at writing a piece for us. It need not be a report, it can be a good question, or a request for information, or feedback on a wildlife event you have enjoyed. It all helps. 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. *** Birds, Butterflies and Bees *** The Natural History and Geology Section, Scunthorpe Museum Society. Keith Scarrott writes: The second meeting, on Monday, 13th October, AT OUR NEW VENUE ST BERNADETTE'S PARISH CENTRE, ASHBY ROAD, DN16 2RS, starts with a brief AGM followed by an illustrated talk entitled "Birds, Butterflies and Bees" given by Janette Merilion, who is a registered speaker of the Royal Horticultural Society. Her talk will give you all the information you need to plant up your garden to encourage wildlife to visit it. Everything from blackbirds to hoverflies and butterflies to hedgehogs. There will also be plants for sale during and after the meeting. ALL ARE WELCOME. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. There is ample free parking in the grounds of St Bernadette's Church. The entry gates are opposite The Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. Please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098 for further details. *** 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 *** 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. Friday 14th November Northern Malawi's Diverse Flora & Fauna Peter & Marianne Overton Expedition Leaders *** Hartsholme Country Park Fungus Foray *** Sunday October 5th, 10 am to 12 noon Sunday October 19th, 10 am to 12 noon Lead by: Dan Scullian Booking essential: contact the Ranger Station on 01522 873577 *** 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: Lincoln RSPB Indoor Meeting 9.10.14 On Thursday 9th October 2014 at 7.30pm we invite you to join us for a presentation by Martin Davies on All The U.K's Butterflies In A Year - By Cheating. 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. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 19.9.14 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Badger adult 2am on Trailcam 21.9.14 Common shrew in flowerbed 19.9.14 Grey squirrel 19.9.14 Chiffchaff calling daily Great spotted woodpecker calling 21.9.14 Jay 23.9.14 Toad adult in flowerbed 19.9.14 Dragonfly catching midges under Silver birch 21.9.14 Grey dagger moth caterpillar on Purple loosestrife 20.9.14 Feeding on old plums, sunny, temp 18C, 22.9.14 Peacock 1, Red admirals 2, Small white, 2 Speckled wood 1, Common wasps 20 Fungi Bay polypore 2 on Cherry stump 19.9.14 Blue roundhead 6 under Alders 21.9.14 Blue roundhead 1 on Spruce needles 21.9.14 Common bonnet 10 on spruce stump 19.9.14 Cushion bracket on Cherry stump 19.9.14 Stinking parasols 10 under Alders 23.9.14 Tawny funnel 100s on Spruce needles 21.9.14 Spectacular rustgill cluster on buried Alder stump 21.9.14 Yellow fieldcap in meadow 23.9.14 Hundon Manor Farm ponds TA 112 026 P Robinson Grey heron mobbed by 3 crows 20.9.14 Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Under Pedunculate oaks: Common earthball. New Hare's ear. New Scaly earthball. New Fly agaric under birch Other fungi Fly agaric under birch Southern bracket on Beech Sulphur tuft on dead Scots pine branch *** 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) 21/09/2014 Great Spotted Woodpecker in garden. 26/09/2014 Green Woodpecker in garden. This is the first time we have recorded two species of woodpecker in the same week in 38 years. Kath does a bird count every day for the BTO's Garden Birdwatch and can access previous year's results. At the moment, this year it would seem that House Sparrows, Starlings, Blue and Great Tits are all up on this time last year. A very unusual occurrence for the last few weeks in the garden has been the presence of two Coal Tits. No more than one has ever been seen at any one time previously and even singles are extremely rare here. Butterfly numbers are down this year. BRACEBRIDGE HEATH SK97890 67234 John Robinson September 23rd 2014 Hummingbird Hawk moth feeding on Linaria purpuria HEIGHINGTON TF 025695 John Nickson 1st to 19th Sept 2014 Moths to garden Angle Shades ("Phlogophora meticulosa") Beaded Chestnut ("Agrochola lychnidis") Blood-vein ("Timandra comae") Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing ("Noctua fimbriata") Burnished Brass ("Diachrysia chrysitis") Centre-barred Sallow ("Atethmia centrago") Chinese Character ("Cilix glaucata") Common Marbled Carpet ("Chloroclysta truncata") Copper Underwing ("Amphipyra pyramidea") Dusky Thorn ("Ennomos fuscantaria") Flame Shoulder ("Ochropleura plecta") Flounced Rustic ("Luperina testacea") Frosted Orange ("Gortyna flavago") Garden Carpet ("Xanthorhoe fluctuata") Green Carpet ("Colostygia pectinataria") Large Yellow Underwing ("Noctua pronuba") Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing ("Noctua janthe") Lesser Yellow Underwing ("Noctua comes") Lunar Underwing ("Omphaloscelis lunosa") Marbled Beauty ("Cryphia domestica") Old Lady ("Mormo maura") Orange Swift ("Hepialus sylvina") Peppered Moth ("Biston betularia") Rustic ("Hoplodrina blanda") Setaceous Hebrew Character ("Xestia c-nigrum") Shuttle-shaped Dart ("Agrotis puta") Small Blood-vein ("Scopula imitaria") Small Wainscot ("Chortodes pygmina") Snout ("Hypena proboscidalis") Square-spot Rustic ("Xestia xanthographa") RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 20.09.14 Chiffchaff calling 21.09.14 Grey Dagger (Acronicta psi) moth caterpillar on cotoneaster simonsii 22.09.14 The first sunny day for a week locally (sea fret!) brought out lots of butterflies including Painted Lady (1), Speckled Wood (1)(rare in my garden), Green- veined White (1), Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock and lots of Small Tortoiseshell. Buzzard Long-tailed Tits Bat (small) 25.09.14 Buzzard Wren SKEGNESS John Wilson 16-09-2014 14 Wheatear counted along waterway. 24 Common Scoter Off Pier At High Tide. 33 Sandwich Tern South. 27 Robins Round waterways gardens and Buckthorn THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow Nest totals for 2014 (excluding 1 Stock Dove with 2 eggs who is still going) Blackbird-1 nest-5 eggs-3 young-3 rung Chaffinch-1 nest-5 eggs-5 young Dunnock-1 nest-5 eggs-predated Goldfinch-1 nest-4 young Kestrel-1 nest-6 eggs-6 young-6 rung Pied Wagtail-2 nests-10 eggs-10 young-5 rung Robin-3 nests-18 eggs-18 young-11 rung Stock Dove-4 nests-8 eggs-4 young-2 rung Tree Sparrow-14 nests-73 eggs-66 young-35 rung Wren-2 nests-10 young 30/08/14 Camera Trapping 48 hours Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 7 Great Tit x 2 Magpie x 2 Stock Dove x 2 Tree Sparrow x 4 Wood Pigeon x 2 Brown Rat x 2 Weasel x 1 Wood Mouse x 3 31/08/14 Roe Deer x 1 female (SK789988) Weasel x 2 Snout x 3 Southern Hawker x 3 01/09/14 Kestrel x 1 female Stock Dove x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 11.55pm Tree Sparrow x 48 Bat sp. x 2 (larger than Pipistrelle) Common Toad x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Speckled Wood x 2 Dusky Thorn x 1 male, Security light Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2 security light 03/09/14 Blackbird x 1 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 1 Robin x 1 Tree Sparrow x 72 Wren x 1 Brimstone x 2 males Small White x 1 Speckled Wood x 3 Square-spot Rustic x 1 security light Southern Hawker x 2 06/09/14 Sparrowhawk x 1 male 07/09/14 Blackbird x 2 Common Buzzard x 2 Little Owl x 1 Robin x 2 Tree Sparrow x 39 Speckled Wood x 5 on mint flowers 11/09/14 Bat sp x 2 (small) 12/09/14 Stoat x 1 Migrant Hawker x 2 14/09/14 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Chiffchaff x 1 singing Golden Plover x 2 Great Tit x 2 Lapwing x 4 Little Owl x 1 Magpie x 2 Robin x 4 Rook x 35 Stock Dove x 1 + 2 eggs in nest box Tawny Owl x 1 calling 11.55pm Tree Sparrow x 59 Brown Rat x 3 Field Vole x 1 Weasel x 2 Wood Mouse x 3 Small White x 2 Speckled Wood x 1 Migrant Hawker x 4 17/09/14 Weasel x 2 (Clare Holmes) THURNHOLMES (Within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 19/09/14 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 11.50pm 20/09/14 Little Owl x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 11.50pm 21/09/14 Grey Squirrel x 1 SE810003 23/09/14 Rabbit x 4 SK804999 Green Cellar Slug x 11 in nest box SE813000 Swallows have left Owston Ferry 24/09/14 Barn Owl x 1 SE832019 Angle Shades x 1 SE808003 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 19-25 Sept 2014 Geese 1000+ overnighting on stubble at TF 2253. 25 Sept 2014 - 4 buzzards circling over the garden followed by a circuit by the Vulcan XH558 on its Cold War Tour 2014. See: http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/596/82/Press-Release.html WOODHALL SPA Woodhall Spa Pinewoods TF193631 Sunday, 21 Sept 2014 Coningsby Wildlife Watch Foray with Ray Halstead English name Records collected by R. Parsons - full 36 species list with Ray Halstead. Mixed woodland with Pine and oak. Tawny Grisette, Honey Fungus, Plums & Custard, Amethyst Deceiver, Rufous Milk Cap, Yellow Russula, Blackish-purple Russula, Shaggy Pholiota, Sulphur Tuft, Oyster Mushroom, Bay Boletus, Birch Polypore, Common Earth Ball, Earth Star, Common White Helvella, Orange Peel Fungus. Ganoderma – bracket fungus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 26th September 2014 John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth The week began with north-easterly winds but on the 22nd they were from a westerly direction giving much fresher conditions after eleven days of dull weather with low cloud, sea fret, drizzle and only the occasional hint of weak sunshine. By Saturday 20th, most of the drift migrants of the previous week had moved on, other than a few Lesser Whitethroats, which stayed on until midweek. On the 19th near Sea View the following birds were seen Wood Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Spotted Flycatcher 2, Yellow-browed Warbler 1, Siskin 1, Ring Ouzel 1 and Blackbird 6, with Whinchat 2 and Wheatear 1 on 20th. However, the juvenile Red-backed Shrike has remained at Brickyard and is still present in a confined area as of Thursday 25th. There have been a few Siskins and Goldcrests moving through at Sea View and Brickyard, and on Thursday 25th there was a small fall of Wheatears, with 10 north of Churchill and 7 to the south to Brickyard Lane. A male Blackcap was at Sea View on 26th. Chiffchaffs have been increasing as a breeding species and small numbers tend to remain in the area well after the other summer visiting breeders have gone; up to 10 could be seen/ heard south of Churchill Lane to Crook Bank. The only other species that tends to hang on are juvenile Turtle Doves, which can fledge late. There are still 2 to be seen in the Brickyard Lane area, which are often feeding in the stubble fields adjoining the reserve. A charm of around 30 Goldfinch were feeding on thistle seed heads near Paradise on 25th. A Hobby flew over Brickyard on 22nd September, whilst there have been 1-2 Kestrels and Sparrowhawks on most days. A Common Buzzard was seen on 19th and 20th, with 2 on 23rd at Sea View, but they probably originate from the shelter belt around the Gas Terminal, where they breed. A covey of 6 Grey Partridges was seen in the dunes south of Brickyard Lane on 22nd September; two pairs were present early in the spring, so it was encouraging to see that one pair at least was successful. A Grey Wagtail was seen on 22nd at Brickyard, 3 Common Snipe were flushed from the saltmarsh at Rimac and a Common Sandpiper was at the Eau Outfall, all on 23rd. Skeins of Pink-footed Geese have been flying south with small skeins on the 22nd, skeins of 20-70 on the 24th, and 5, 8, 19 and 48 on the 25th. Eight Jays flew over the dunes from an easterly direction on the 26th. There has been a flock of a dozen Cormorants on the beach and about 40 Common Scoters off shore all week, along with 3 Eiders on the 21st. Also on this day, an hours sea watch yielded 17 Red-throated Divers and 3 distant Skuas south, with about 50 Wigeon north. Sandwich Terns have fluctuated from 3-10 during the week, whilst a long staying party of 50+ Great Black-backed Gulls have had good feeding on 2 dead grey seals, 1 common seal and a porpoise. The samphire and sea blite saltings have expanded considerably this year and are currently favoured by up to 40 Ringed Plover and smaller numbers of Dunlin. Migrant hawkers and darters are still present and butterflies include speckled woods, red admirals, peacocks and small tortoiseshells. Single commas were seen at Sea View on 22nd and Brickyard on 24th, plus a painted lady at Sea View on 25th. There have also been occasional Small Heaths on the dune grass- land. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 26.09.14 BIRDS Max nos: blackbird 15 black-headed gull 50+ blue tit 8 canada goose 39 carrion crow 2 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 11 chiffchaff collared dove 2 common gull 10 coot 99 cormorant 8 curlew 3 dunnock 4 gadwall 46 golden plover 50 goldfinch 10 great crested grebe great tit 6 greenfinch 2 grey heron 3 greylag goose 40 herring gull 2 house martin 6 house sparrow 20 kingfisher lapwing 33 little egret little grebe 2 long tailed tit 6 magpie 4 mallard 24 marsh harrier meadow pipit moorhen 6 mute swan 15 pheasant 2 pochard 6 redshank 20 reed bunting 2 robin 6 rock pipit shoveler 12 sparrowhawk starling 70 stonechat swallow 1 tawny owl teal 44 tufted duck 35 water rail 2 willow tit 2 wood pigeon 15 wren 6 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.] *** Find the Grid Reference *** Chris Manning recommended the following website for help with find grid references. http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** Contacts List *** 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. iangordon - mailbox unavailable n.earthy - delivery failed; will not continue trying Laura.Harpham - delivery failed. *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Lancaster bombers flypast at 'Dambusters' Derwent Dam http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29295272 Two Lancasters fly together for the last time http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29325810 Would we starve without bees? http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zg4dwmn Hedgehogs' inky paw prints point to sparse distribution http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/29208304 ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/