Can you help find us another 10 readers? ============================================= || || 30th August 2015 || || 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. If you know someone who would like to receive the Bulletin please send them this webpage link so they can sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php 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.... *** Bird of the week seems to be the distinctive Pied Flycatcher, as you will see from the Rare Bird Alerts below. It is always a treat to see one, better still 28+! See: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/p/piedflycatcher/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/European_Pied_Flycatcher http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=6512 The Autumn Equinox on September 23rd marks the official beginning of that season. The longer, darker nights lend themselves to a bit of astronomy - and if you are lucky, to a sighting of the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. There have been alerts this week. If you would like an "Aurora Alert" you can sign up for this [free] via the AuroraWatch UK website: http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/ Reminder: Total Lunar Eclipse on 28th September. See: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html Paul Money reminds readers in 'Night Scenes 2015' that as the Moon will be at Perigee - at its closest to the Earth - perhaps we also need a Poppycock Alert to prepare us for silly Supermoon stories in the media. He also mentions a meteor shower, the Taurids [southern] between September 10th to November 20th, with a peak on October 10th. Cloud permitting the Moon should not interfere with observations. If you know someone who might find the LNU Bulletin useful, please send them this link and suggest they sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Roger p.s . Don't forget: 12. ...and finally..... *** LNU Events - full list in section 11 below - guests welcome *** To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php 2015 Field Meetings. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Note: the Metheringham Delph meeting has been changed as follows: Sunday, September 06, 2015 River Slea Southeast of Ruskington, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Use the riverside North Kesteven 'Stepping Out' car park at TF105 496 which is just west of Haverholme Priory, off the minor road between Ruskington and Ewerby. Habitats: River, woodland, scrub and ditches. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Sunday 30th August 2015 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on an early morning bird walk with Ray Hume. ] Meet at 8am at the roundabout at junction of Moody Lane and Gilbey Road on the Pywipe Estate, Grimsby. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout boots and bring binoculars. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details ring Ray Hume 01472 320878. *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Indoor Meetings *** The Natural History and Geology Section of Scunthorpe Museum Society. The new indoor season for this year starts on Monday, 14th September. Trudy Norris, FNIMH, BACP, Herbalist, Lymphoedema Therapist and Counsellor, will be giving a talk on "Medicinal Plants of Lincolnshire and Their Uses". Please remember that we meet in St Bernadette's Church Parish Hall, opposite The Priory Hotel on Ashby Road, DN16 2RS. Meetings start at 7.15pm There is no entry fee but a donation bowl is provided. There is ample free parking in the church grounds. For more information ring Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** Great British Beach Clean *** Get ready for the Great British Beach Clean - 18th-21st September 2015 http://www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch/greatbritishbeachclean Dave Miller writes: I am running a beach clean at Anderby Creek on Saturday 19th September starting at 10am. Just turn up.I will provide pickers, gloves, hoops and bags. *** Spider Workshop *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) Workshops, in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union September 19th: Spider Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Spiders? Come along and find out more with local expert Imogen Wilde. All workshops will be held in the Lafarge Education Building at Whisby Nature Park from 1:30pm until 4:30pm. They are free of charge and refreshments are included. In conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. *** Apple Days 2015 *** Woolsthorpe Manor Apple Day - Sunday October 11th. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolsthorpe-manor/things-to-see-and-do/events/ Southwell Bramley Apple Festival http://www.experiencenottinghamshire.com/whats-on/bramley-apple-festival-2015-p474161 *** Identifying Hawkers *** Some identification tips are available here: http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/anisoptera-dragonflies *** Caring for God's Acre *** Sue Cooper writes: The Beautful Burial Ground Conference Monday 7th Sept, 10am to 4.30pm at St John the Baptist Church, High Toynton, Lincs Simple ways to create a haven for wildlife, for heritage and for people. Hear from specialists in the natural and historic environment, attend workshops of your choice, meet organisations who can help, claim a reduced price Burial Ground Action pack. Cost £15 to include lunch and refreshments To book contact Caring for God's Acre tel: 01588 673041, e-mail: info@cfga.org.uk http://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk *** Reminder - Ray Halstead - Recorder - Fungi *** Request: No records or queries for now, please. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2015 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ Maureen Staples writes: RSPB Indoor Meeting 10/9/15 We invite you to join us at Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln on Thursday 10th September 2015 for a presentation entitled 'From Marrakech to Massa' by Chris Ward. Start 7.30pm 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 Programme of events and booking of Wash Trips. *** Find the Grid Reference - always useful *** Chris Manning recommended the following websites to help find grid references. Grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** News from the Wildlife Trusts *** Wildlife Trusts - News page http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news News from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust https://www.nottinghamshirewildlife.org/news/ News from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust http://www.ywt.org.uk/news News from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/news News from Norfolk Wildlife Trust https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/news [Don't forget to scroll down to "And finally ....."] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 21/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen Spoonbill, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 5 Little stints, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 2 Pomarine Skuas offshore, 22 Black Terns flew south, Gibraltar Point Wood sandpiper, Little Stint, Black Tern, Donna Nook Turtle Dove, Kirkby-on Bain gravel pits 22/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen 16 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper juv, Pomarine Skua offshore, 2 Black Tern, Arctic Tern, Little Gull, Gibraltar Point Common Scoter f, Apex Pit, North Hykeham Short-eared Owl, Quail m singing, 6 Little Stints, Garganey, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Wood Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 23/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen 3 Pied Flycatchers, Red-necked Phalarope, Pomarine Skua offshore, 15 Spoonbills, 3 Pied Flycatchers, Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby 10+ Pied Flycatchers, Redstart, juv Yellow-legged gull, between Saltfleetby and Rimac Pied flycatsher, Horse Shoe Point 5 Pied Flycatchers, Balearic Shearwater south past Huttoft Bank 6 Pied Flycatchers, Redstart, Anderby Wryneck, 28 Pied Flycatchers, Donna Nook Gannet juv south of Balderton flew east over A1 4 Spotted Redshanks, Fieldfare, Gibraltar Point 3 Black Terns flew west over Humber Bridge, 3 Arctic Skuas, Barton-upon-Humber 5 Spoonbills, 10 Curlew Sandpipers, 8 Little Stints, 4 Wood Sandpipers, Black tern at Cut End, Little Gull, Frampton Marsh 24/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen Pied Flycatcher, Whinchat, Turtle Dove, Water's Edge Country Park, Barton-upon-Humber 12 Pied Flycatchers, Redstart, Whinchat, 2 Tree Pipits, Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point 21 Pied Flycatchers, 3 Redstarts,5 Whinchats, Donna Nook Wryneck in elder stand between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall, Donna Nook Wood sandpiper, 5 Little Stints, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Whinchat 1w, Trent Port wetlands, Marton 3 Wrynecks on East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Wryneck in garden, Sleaford Wryneck, Donna Nook 6 Black Terns, Baston and Langtoft Pits 4 Crossbills, 8 Little Stints, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Wood sandpipers, 4 Arctic skua, Frampton Marsh 25/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen Honey Buzzard over Wroot Acres Pomarine Skua, Gibraltar Point 26/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen Pied Flycatcher, 8 Whinchats, Horse Shoe Point Pied Flycatcher at south end, Redstart, Donna Nook Pied Flycatcher at Tabb's Head, 2 Turtle Doves, Black Tern juv, 3 Little Stints, 4 Wood Sandpipers, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Pied Flycatcher, 17 Spoonbills, 2 Black Terns, Short-eared Owl, Temminck's Stint on Tennyson's Sands, Pomarine Skua offshore, Black-throated Diver, 13 whinchats, Wood Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Redstart in hedge by cattle field, Swanpool Wryneck in Carr Lane allotements' Cleethorpes Wryneck between Rimac and Sea View, 3 Pied Flycatcher, Saltfleetby 27/8 Red-footed Falcon 1s male, Willowtree Fen 2 Pied Flycatchers, Donna Nook Red-backed Shrike near Mill hill, Honey Buzzard near Croft Marsh, 17 Spoonbills, 5 Pied Flycatchers, 5 Redstarts, Tree Pipit, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 2 juv Little Stints, 2 Wood sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Note: I am adapting my RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. Bird Alert website: 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. PETER WILSON. WADDINGTON VILLAGE My small garden, about 150 square meters in Waddington High Street is a wildlife haven. I have two water features, one with a waterfall which the birds adore. There are always a few of them, particularly sparrows having a bath in the running water. I feed the birds all year round with Robin/Blackbird mixture, also I feed mealworms, raisins or currants, Niger seed, fat balls, sunflower hearts and apples. I have Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blue tits, Great tits, Coal tits, Robins, Sparrows, Starlings, Song thrushes, Collared doves, Jackdaws and the inevitable Pigeons. Also male and female Bullfinches, though not every day and just in the last few days a single male Hawfinch. There are quite a lot of juvenile sparrows and starlings at present plus several juvenile robins. The water feature with the waterfall has a resident frog, quite a lot of Water boatmen have appeared in the last few months where previously there were none. Can anybody tell me how they got here? It's a mystery to me. The water feature has been in the garden now for two and a half years and they only appeared recently. Occasionally we get squirrels visiting to get the sunflower hearts, which the collared doves also love, as do the Goldfinches which prefer them to the Niger seed. Now and again a male pheasant drops in for a look around, as does a female Sparrowhawk who will come very close when she makes a swooping raid to grab a meal, she doesn't mind who is there in the garden. From time to time we get Buzzards overhead who makes their presence known by their unmistakable voice. Nighttime brings out the Tawny owls who make quite a lot of noise. There are also various Butterflies, though not as many as in previous years. On Sunday 16th August there were quite a lot of Common Blue butterflies on the Waddington playing field GORSE LOCATIONS: please give full information on each individual Gorse record: the location [with grid ref], your name, the date, and any habitat notes of interest. The stage of flowering is a key observation, from plants with no flowers through the range to plants in full flowering. ROAD KILLS: *** 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) 26/08/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A Redstart was seen in the garden today, feeding on the lawn and in the hedges. This is believed to be this first record since 1978. CAISTOR Week beginning 21.8.15 Wendy Handford Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Hedgehog droppings around garage 22.8.15 Rabbits 4 eating fallen wild plums 22.8.15 Pheasant m 22.8.15. Not seen for several weeks Toad, adult dead under waste bin 24.8.15 First ripe fruits this week Wild plum Fungi this week Bay polypore on Wild cherry stump Dead man's fingers on Wild cherry stump King Alfred's cakes on Ash stump Glistening inkcap on Ash stump Wendy Handford A46 at Fir Park TF 093 946 Badger roadkill 23.8.15 Wendy Collins Shieling farm TA 106 027 Rabbits 4 with myxomatosis 21.8.15 Black garden ants flying from 5 separate nests 21.8.15 Sue Peach North Kelsey Moor TA 060 018 A Sparrowhawk took a newly-fledged Swallow from outside the stables on 15th August. Between 20 and 30 Swallows then mobbed the Sparrowhawk. I have never seen this behaviour before. DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 19/08/15 Time: 1340 - 1600 Weather: Sunny periods, warm Observer: Ian Gordon Birds: Blue Tit Canada Goose Carrion Crow Chaffinch Coot Cormorant Gadwall Goldeneye Great Crested Grebe Green Woodpecker Greylag Goose Herring Gull Jackdaw Jay Kingfisher Lapwing Lesser Black-backed Gull Little egret Little Grebe Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Pochard Reed Bunting Rook Starling Tufted Duck Wigeon Willow Warbler Woodpigeon Wren Butterflies: Large White Small White Speckled Wood Damsels & Dragons: Commom Blue Damsel Common Hawker HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) Date 22/8/15 Ladybird 7-spot 1 Large whites 3 Small tortoiseshell 1 Date 23/8/2015 Commond darter 1 Ladybird larva 1 Speckled wood 1 Date 24/8/15 Ladybird 7-spot 1 Tawny owl 1 (Heard 3am) Date 25/8/2015 Dunnock 1 Speckled wood 1 Date 26/8/2015 Commond darter 1 Speckled wood 1 Rabbit 1 RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 22.08.2015 Brown Hare (TF308849) Southern Hawker (m) dragonfly 24.08.2015 Butterflies still in much lower numbers than last year: Gatekeeper 1, Peacock 2, Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 2, Small White 2 25-30 Swallows (mostly) with a few House Martins on wire (and again on 25th) 25.08.2015 Green Shieldbug Long-tailed Tits x 8-10 on fatball feeder 26.08.2015 50-60 Swallows and House Martins gathered on power lines Grey Wagtail Tawny Owl (heard, late morning) 27.08.2015 Collared Dove - 2 juveniles Sparrowhawk 8-10 Starlings 80+ Swallows and House Martins feeding over pasture SCOPWICK to KIRKBY GREEN Stuart Britton 22.8.15 - The highlight of a dusk walk with my wife and daughter on the green lane between Scopwick and Kirkby Green was at least 15 bats hawking for insects - small so I assume pipistrelle. SWINDERBY LN6 9LW Janet Mellor 22 August 2015 Humming Bird Hawkmoth feeding on Phlox flowers. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 21/08/15 Barn Owl x 1 (Clare Holmes) Common Pipistrelle x 1 Rabbit x 2 Canary-shouldered Thorn x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 Straw Dot x 1 22/08/15 Golden Plover x 3 Goldfinch x 5 Robin x 2 Wood Mouse x 4 (Clare Holmes) Brimstone x 6 Peacock x 5 Re Admiral x 1 Small White x 2 Mother of Pearl x 1 Ruby Tiger x 1 Riband Wave x 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character x 1 Leopard Slug x 6 23/08/15 Blackbird x 5 Stock dove x 1 on nest Tree Sparrow x 34 Common Pipistrelle x 1 Wood Mouse x 1 Peacock x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Garden Carpet x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 (Clare Holmes) Lesser Yellow Underwing x 4 Orange Swift x 1 on a leaflet on Haxey co op counter (Sam Hiner) 24/08/15 Blackbird x 5 Golden Plover x 3 Goldfinch x 8 Kestrel x 1 Rook x 54 Tree Sparrow x 34 Wood Pigeon x 3 Gold Spot x 1 26/08/15 Large White caterpillars x 4 Red Admiral x 1 Common Plume x 1 Heart and Dart x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing x 3 27/08/15 Little Owl x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 1 Noctule x 1 Soprano Pipistrelle x 2 Deep-brown Dart x 1 Garden Carpet x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing x 4 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 21/8/2015 am Marsh Harrier active off Hurnbridge Road TF2252 Buzzards calling - probably 2 juvs TF2153 5 kestrels, 2 juvs - being harried by Carrion Crow TF 2253 Good-sized swallow flock on wires at TF 239532 22/8/2015 TF216534 Green woodpecker on lawn. An estimated 100+ swallows on roof and wires across garden @ 14.00hrs. Stoat staged a 15 minute display of 'gittiness' in garden @ 15.00hrs. Marsh Harrier m hunting off Hurnbridge Road TF2252 @ 08.15 Deer at Canada Farm TF 221545 @ 08.20 TF - probably f Roe. 26/8/2015 TF216534 Speckled Wood Hummingbird Hawkmoth WRANGLE COMMON 24/08/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A BirdTrack count today produced only twenty-three species. Raptors were singles of Kestrel and Buzzard, while waders were represented by a single Green Sandpiper and a flock of eight Lapwings on a recently ploughed field. An estimated count of 150 Mallard was made on the lake, which replicates counts made at this time of year at sites in the East Fen. Sixty-two Grey- lag Geese were on the wet grassland, though this might be on the low side owing to difficulties with the height of vegetation. Twenty-four Swallows were feeding over the lake, where a single Cormorant was seen. The only other bird of interest was a single Corn Bunting. Butterflies were encountered in small numbers, especially on the area planted with high nectar plants - Common Blue (11), Large White (8), Peacock (3), Speckled Wood (6), Small White (7), Small Tortoiseshell (2), Meadow Brown (1) and Clouded Yellow (1). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx http://www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Lincolnshire bird sightings Pending. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point News. Reports always welcome. It would be great if a Gib "regular" could let us have a contribution from time to time. See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 and DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 19th – 27th August 2015 Contributors: Cliff Morrison, Janet and Peter Roworth, Nige Lound, John Walker, Ann Ward and Andy Lowe This week has seen a good August drift migration and good selection of typical species throughout the NNR. Birds On 19th August 61 Redshank, 2 Ruff, 3 Common sandpipers and 1 Green sandpiper were seen at Eau Outfall. Plus 2 Short-eared owls and 40 Swallows with a single Swift. 20 Swallows and 2 Swifts were noted over Sea View on 21st. Saturday 22nd at Crook Bank - Wheatear, Yellow Wagtails. A wind strong from east and south all day on Sunday 23rd made ideal migrant continental drift migration conditions. Peregrine 1adF, Marsh Harrier 1imm, Kestrel 1, Whinchat 1, Ruff 1,Greenshank 1,Whimbrel 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 11.south. Also reported that day were 10 Pied Flycatchers and 1 Redstart between Sea View and Rimac. Mon 24th was a good day for recording it would seem and after overnight rain, many migrants in the area, but evidence of them moving on before midmorning as the weather improved. BYL-Churchill, Pied Flycatcher 4, Redstart 1, Blackcap 5, Lesser Whitethroat 4, Whitethroat 10, Whinchat 1, Willow Warbler 2, Wood Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 10, Tree Pipit 1, Turtle Dove 2. Plenty of Small Torts and Red Admirals (these were possibly incoming migrants on weekend winds). Party of 5 Song Thrushes departing south were early thrush migrants. A large flock of terns with 250+ Sandwich and 200+ Common Terns, also a Mediterranean Gull on the beach in the afternoon. Barred Warbler 1, Turtle Dove party of 5 + 2, Ringed: Pied Flycatcher 4, Whitethroat 41, Garden Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Chiffchaff 10, Redstart 1, Blackcap 5, Yellow Wagtails were all recorded at Crook Bank. Several Common and Lesser Whitethroats, Willow Warblers, 1 Pied Flycatcher and Dunnocks all around Sea View Road area. Tue 25th bought sightings of Goldcrest, Pied Flycatcher, several White- throats and Blackcaps around BYL. At Churchill Lane car park area, Marsh Harrier 1imm, 2 Turtle Doves, double numbers Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, several Blackcaps and 1 Pied Flycatcher. And at Crook Bank, Buzzard 3 circling together, several Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers. 2 Pied Fly- catchers around Sea View plus several whitethroats and Willow Warblers. Around Sea View on 26th there were at least 4 Pied Flycatchers, 1 Wryneck, 2 Blackcaps, 4 Spotted Flycatchers, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Swifts, 20+ Blackbirds, 2 Mistle Thrushes and several small mixed flocks of Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits , Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Chaffinches and Robins. At the Eau Outfall 6 Common Sandpipers and 1 Greenshank were recorded along with over 70 Lapwing flying over NW. On the morning of 27th, around Sea View, Willow Warbler 3 [one in sub-song], Sedge warbler 1, Blackcap 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1, Common Whitethroat 6+, several small groups of Swallows/House Martins south with 1 Sand Martin and 5 Swifts noted. Additional records on the NNR this week of 1 cuckoo, 2 wheatears, 1 little owl, 2 barn owl, 1 marsh harrier f, 2 reed warbler 3 sedge warbler, 9 bullfinch. Insects This week has seen a good hatch of small tortoiseshell and common blue, with dozens of both species between Churchill Lane to Sea View. Also 5 brown argus, 3 small copper, 7 wall brown (best count for a number of years). Wall butter- flies, Red Admirals and good numbers of Speckled Wood, Large and Small Whites, 1 Comma. Hedge Browns still frequent, but few Meadow Browns now, 1 Small Skipper, 1 Small Heath, 1 Small Copper. Rather low numbers of common and ruddy darters with only a few dozen seen rather than the hundreds normal at this time of year. Sat 22nd pm: Migrant hawker 1, Southern Hawker 1. Flora Not many flowers now, main nectar source water mint, and fleabane with some late ragwort. The fungus, Sandy Silt Ball, recorded at Brickyard Lane. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Limewoods are notable for the few reports we receive for the Bulletin, so you can help by sending in sightings if you visit. Two good links about the Limewoods are: 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 in Oct 2012. Well worth a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1SpBvd9Ib0 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) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 to bed' on Fridays. Please e-mail in 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 re-editing: 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 websites to help find grid references. grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. FIGHTING 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 Website: http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/ *** National Rural Crime Network *** Call for case studies as new website to tackle rural crime is launched. http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/National-Rural-Crime-Network.html See: http://www.nationalruralcrimenetwork.net/ STAYING SAFE No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** EasyTide *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Local Tide Tables *** Here is a useful-looking website where you can order local tide tables. Well worth bookmarking. Everyone who uses the coast ought to have local tide tables handy. £1.50 + p&p. https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/ *** 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 *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Care of Sick or Injured Animals - information on LWT website *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/sick-and-injured-animals SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful. http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website. A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives *** 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: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com or tel 07864967057 Ashley Butterfield, LNU Reptile and Amphibian Recorder, adds: The recordpool is a joint ARGUK and ARC Trust project that aims to collect herpetofauna data from the uk that might not otherwise be recorded and make it available for conservation purposes. As such you will have access to your own records at full resolution and other records at a lower resolution. You can input reptile and amphibian data at: http://www.recordpool.org.uk/ Please remember, common species are just as important as rarer species, so please give it a go. Please contact Dr Angela Julian ARGUK with any specific questions. angela.digges@clara.co.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 *** 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 *** How to Identify Bees *** BWARS - Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society http://www.bwars.com/ Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Mark Schofield writes: Always consider the provenance and sustainable sourcing of seed. Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. Bee-friendly gardeners should refer to their A-Z suppliers list which can be found here: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing Advice: www.wildlifetrusts.org/Bees-needs/growmore bumblebeeconservation.org/get-involved/managing-your-land/wildflower-seed/ *** 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. *** 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 badger reports. USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.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 Website: http://www.gnlp.org.uk *** 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/ *** Lincs Bird Club *** 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 *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** Contact 01507 528223 or by e-mail: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Other Useful Websites/contacts *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project (LCGMP) *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes project produced two films of the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes. They are based on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) which measures topography accurately. The films reveal many historical and geomorphological features that are not always obvious to the eye. Note that the vertical perspective is exaggerated to enhance the features. Narrated by Jim Broadbent. Watch them here: Southern marshes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhVamd4j6E Northern marshes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZjqzcMFXi8 *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** A dedicated service to protect and enhance the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 01507 609740 http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** Project Officer: Ruth Craig http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering or contact the project officer ruth.craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** The South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership *** http://www.lincsfenlands.org.uk/ Contact: slincsfens@lincstrust.co.uk Amanda Jenkins - South Lincolnshire Fenlands Project Officer *** RSPB local webpages *** 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/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group http://www.lincsbirders.org/ Lincolnshire Limewoods Project Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk 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! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 some 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 Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , 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 sometimes withhold precise details 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. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. 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. 2015 Field Meetings. Note: Metheringham Delph meeting has been changed as follows: Sunday, September 06, 2015 River Slea Southeast of Ruskington, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Use the riverside North Kesteven 'Stepping Out' car park at TF105 496 which is just west of Haverholme Priory, off the minor road between Ruskington and Ewerby. Habitats: River, woodland, scrub and ditches. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, October 11, 2015 Fungus Foray - TBC TBC - see Wildnews Bulletin, website or contact a member of the Executive Committee for further details. Also see: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) Workshops, in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union September 19th: Spider Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Spiders? Come along and find out more with local expert Imogen Wilde. All workshops will be held in the Lafarge Education Building at Whisby Nature Park from 1:30pm until 4:30pm. They are free of charge and refreshments are included. In conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** A text copy of past Bulletins will be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Latest Mailfails. None this week. Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Blue whale's perfect timing to upstage TV presenter http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33992549 Lincoln bypass inquiry told there will be losers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34024309 'Horrendous' flash floods cause damage in Lincolnshire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34051183 Marine mammals thriving in Thames http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33996020 Plan to boost red squirrel numbers in Scotland http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34044818 Can the smell of the sea cool the Earth? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33690694 Humans are 'unique super-predator' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34011026 Thousands of microbes found in house dust http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34056549 Genetically modified trees are being 'strangled' by red tape http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34002866 Why do clocks like Big Ben's run slow? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34048852 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/