============================================= || || 6th December 2015 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU Website: || http://www.lnu.org/ || ============================================ 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 link so they can sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Text versions of past 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.... *** If you are organising a wildlife-related event and would like a 'plug' in the Bulletin, please send me the relevant info and I will be pleased to include it. I need it in the simplest format, short, sweet, spell-checked and ready to use, please. Past experience suggests that people quite often change their ISP arrangements around Christmas or the New Year. If you do, please use the link at the end of every Bulletin to update your email address. It says "update subscription preferences" which is MailChimp-speak for "Change your details". I am always on the lookout for interesting links to include in "and finally..." These can be scientific or entertaining, and I also try to add a scattering of general Lincolnshire things. I suspect this slot is of particular interest to people who, for one reason or another, can't get out and about as much as they would like. Your suggestions are always welcome. Please keep on telling people about the Bulletin. Remind them that it's free. Suggest they give it a try. Don't forward them the whole Bulletin. Here is the URL of the easy-to-use sign-up page: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Seal News Rob Scott writes on 29/11 Seal count at Donna Nook 27th November: bulls 650, cows 1542, pups 1754. Total pup count for the reserve this year is 1792, only 7 less than last year's total. We expect about another 100-150 pups between now and Christmas. Follow the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust posts of seal news on: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update If possible, try to avoid weekend visits and the larger crowds. Red-Footed Falcon shooting If you have not already done so, I recommend you read the article about the Red Footed Falcon on the Rare Bird Alert website. Not for the faint-hearted! http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Over £2300 was raised in a week, so a big thank yous to Bulletin readers who made a donation. Will we have snow? 7 Snow Buntings at Cleethorpes suggest we may! Keep looking at the TWO Winter forecast: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Thanks for the many interesting contributions this week. It is always good to hear from readers and it keeps the Bulletin an interesting read. Please keep the reports and information coming. Roger p.s. Don't forget: 12. ...and finally... Some good stuff this week. *** LNU Events - 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 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. Saturday, January 16, 2016 Bird monitoring and windfarms John Clarkson, Lincolnshire Bird Club North Lincolnshire County Recorder *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2016 *** The closing date for entries is 31st March 2016. If you know of any 'projects' which deserve recognition, please encourage them to submit an entry. It is an easy application. For more information, see: http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire hare coursing police make arrests *** The coursers, from outside of the county, were dealt with for various hare coursing offences at either Dowsby Fen, Rippingale or Stickney. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34917400 *** Barton LWT *** Adrian White writes: Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Grantham LWT *** M Ellis writes: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Grantham Group Friday 11th December 7.30pm America's Serengeti - the wildlife of Yellowstone & Grand Teton by David Cromack Barkston & Syston Village Hall Main Road, Barkston, NG32 2NH *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk December 17th: Birds of the 12 days of Christmas by Chris Du Feu A light hearted look at the festive period by one of our most popular speakers. Contributions of seasonal food welcome to add to the Christmas irit. Talk at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50 which includes refreshments. *** 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/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** 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/ [Don't forget to scroll down to "And finally ....."] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird 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/ If you have not already done so, I recommend you read the article about the Red Footed Falcon on the Rare Bird Alert website. Not for the faint-hearted! Over £2300 was raised in a week, so thank yous to all Bulletin readers who made a donation. Roger 26/11 Long-eared Owl, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 27/11 Great White Egret in dyke NW of Toft Newton reservoir 2 Water Pipits on Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese East of Marston, in field north of Marston sewage works 2 Hen Harriers, Frampton Marsh 28/11 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese East of Marston, in field north of Marston sewage works Snow Goose on grass by saltmarsh at Meridian, Cleethorpes 2 Bean Geese in flight, from Wash Viewpoint, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier ringtail over roadside fields at Conisholme 29/11 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese East of Marston, in field north of Marston sewage works Scaup on reservoir, Frampton Marsh Velvet Scoter fem, SE of Boston at River Witham mouth 5 Spotted Redshanks, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Alkborough Flats 30/11 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese East of Marston, in field north of Marston sewage works 1/12 Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier ringtail, Fiskerton fen 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese East of Marston, in field north of Marston sewage works Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Scaup, Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park 2/12 7 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpes 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese East of Marston, in field north of Marston sewage works Slavonian Greve, Gibraltar Point Note: I am adapting 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. Fin Whale Cliff Morrison writes: When I was typing the report last week on 26th, as friend phoned to say that he could see a beached whale off the Cleethorpes leisure centre and was going to check it out. He identified it as a 5m juvenile Fin Whale, freshly dead. The photos he sent me showed it to be very emaciated. When I was at the Humber Nature Forum yesterday, I mentioned it and apparently it had floated out on the next tide, reappearing on the beach at Spurn on 30th, before floating off again. Very unusual to have a Fin Whale in the southern North Sea. Gorse location Wendy Handford 3.12.15 Near Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, TA 269 096. Carpark flowerbed. One heavily pruned plant now with many flowers Roadkill Wendy Handford 30.11.15 B1225, Caistor High Street, near Tealby crossroads TF 172 923 Brown hare *** 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. CAISTOR Week beginning 26.11.15 Wendy Handford Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Fox roaming up and down hedgebank 9am 28.11.15 Grey squirrels 2 chasing about under trees 2.12.15 Blackbirds 6 repeatedly feeding on new molehills all week Grey heron at side of stream 2.12.15 Jay in orchard 30.11.15 Pheasants 2m displaying for 30 mins on lawn 2.12.15 7-spot ladybirds 10+ in base of fern 26.11.15 Winter moth on outside of window, Temp 8C. 29.11.15 DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 23rd November 12015 Time: 1415 - 1615 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny periods, very cold. Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Buzzard Carrion Crow Chaffinch Cormorant Gadwall Goldeneye Coot Green Woodpecker Fieldfare Grey Heron Great Crested Grebe Herring Gull Jackdaw Kestrel Little Grebe Little Egret Magpie Mallard Mistle Thrush Moorhen Mute Swan Pheasant Pochard Reed Bunting Robin Rook Sparrowhawk Starling Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Wren Mammals: Grey Squirrel(5) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF512763 (my garden unless otherwise stated) Date 20/11/2015 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Date 21/11/2015 Blackbird 1 Fieldmouse 1 Pheasants 3 (all male, wandering around together) Date 22/11/2015 Blackbirds 3 Date 23/11/2015 Blackbirds 6 Chaffinch 1 Great tits 2 Long tailed tits 2 Mistle thrush 1 (guarding rowan berries from blackbirds) Date 25/11/2015 Blackbirds 8 Crows 5 (in oak) Great tits 2 Magpie 1 Mistle thrush 1 (guarding rowan berries from blackbirds) Wood pigeons 6 Wren 1 Date 26/11/2015 Blackbirds 6 Great spotted woodpecker 1 (in oak - managed a blurred picture of it on a branch with something in its mouth from the trunk) Mistle thrush 1 MARTON SK843821 Brian Hedley 27 November 2015 White-tailed bumblebee: 1 on winter-flowering honeysuckle. Common plume moth: 2 disturbed whilst weeding borders. Male sparrowhawk eating house sparrow on front lawn but then almost got caught by neighbour's cat. NETTLEHAM David Smith 13.00 02/12/2015 Red Admiral butterfly x1 flying in greenhouse (with numerous glass panels missing!) WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 02/12/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A brief visit produced one of the best BirdTrack counts for some time with 19 species recorded. The full list was:- Black-headed Gull 1, Blackbird 8, Chaffinch 10, Feral Pigeon 16, Fieldfare 18, Golden Plover 500, Great Tit 2, Greenfinch 1, Kestrel 1, Lapwing 300, Magpie 1, Mute Swan 7, Redwing 1, Reed Bunting 5, Robin 1, Rook 60, Sparrowhawk 1, Woodpigeon 30 and Wren 7. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 27/11/2015 Bombus lucorum queen in flight 2pm. Tawny owl calling in orchard 5.30pm. 28/11/2015 Noted fieldfare flocks at TF 222535 and TF 237547 Little Egret at TF 233542 male Marsh Harrier at TF 230530 2/12/2015 Bombus lucorum queen in flight 3pm. WRANGLE COMMON 02/12/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A BirdTrack count today produced only 21 species. Water levels are very low for this time of year despite recent heavy rain and no waders were recorded. Several ducks were present however, with 3 Teal and 2 Mallard on a small pond with a Coot and 5 Moorhens. Blackbirds numbered 39, along with 2 Fieldfares and 2 Redwings. A Meadow Pipit was the only other bird of interest. The Roe Deer have now increased to 6. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 and DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/donna-nook/viewing-seals-donna-nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. WILDLIFE NEWS Week ending 26th November to 2nd December 2015. Contributors: Nigel Lound, Janet and Peter Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison The weather for November was extremely variable but on the whole mild when day time temperatures regularly reached the mid-teens. A high of 18.0°C was recorded on the 10th. The continual wave of Atlantic fronts giving the mild weather also brought spells of rain driven through by strong south westerly winds. These were quite a feature for the month as they rose to gusts of f7 and above. A SW gust of 54.6mph was recorded on the 18th. On the 21st the wind direction veered to the N giving a bitterly cold day, strong wind direction, near gale force at times with squally showers of rain, sleet and snow grains. For the remainder of the month the winds returned to the SW. A keen ground frost of -5.0°C (air -2.25°) was on the 22nd. Ground frosts during the month occurred on seven days and there were two air frosts. Fog observed on the 2nd, 4th and 8th. Total rainfall was 48.9 mm (1.93 inches). The inclement weather during the week limited observations, but a quiet time anyway, with settled wintering birds. The near constant wind and rain is never good for hunting Barn Owls and so up to 4 birds have been seen during the day between Saltfleet Haven and Brickyard Lane. Tawny Owls can be heard calling at night from the village and Little Owls from the Brickyard Lane and Churchill Lane pasture field areas. Several Kestrels and a Sparrow Hawk are to be seen along the reserve, whilst a brown Hen Harrier can be seen hunting the salt marsh. Only a couple of Fieldfares were observed in the Rimac area and whilst many Blackbirds have now moved on, there were 40, along with 11 Redwings, between Brickyard Lane and Churchill on 1st December. Fieldfare flocks of over 2000 were a common site on the reserve in the 1980s and 90s, when they fed on the buckthorn berries, but for some reason, they have changed their habits and are no longer attracted to this crop. However, corvids, particularly up to 150 Carrion Crows, are now to be seen taking advantage of the berries. 2 Stonechat continue to be seen in the Rimac area, a single Coal Tit at Sea View, a Kingfisher in the drains at Brickyard and up to 3 Bramblings in the Crook Bank area. The Twite and Linnet flocks on the beach have now reduced to around 100 and 20 respectively, whilst the small flock of 14 Snow Buntings are to be seen on the beach south of Crook Bank, with 7 further north on 1st December. Whilst the samphire beds were more extensive than ever this year, the strong winds, sand blow and tides seem to have scoured the plants, reducing this important food source for the finches, hence the reduction in flock sizes. A long staying flock of around 100 Common Scoter are to be seen on the sea and what is presumably the same female/immature Velvet Scoter was noted again on 1st December. 5 drake Eiders and 30 Common Scoter flew north on 27th November. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. FAR INGS NNR See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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) 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Identifying the Fungi: http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/ *** 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 *** How to Identify Bees *** BWARS - Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society http://www.bwars.com/ Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ *** 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 *** 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. *** 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 *** 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 ejohnredshaw@gmail.com *** 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. 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 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 *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** Aidan Neary, Wildflower Meadow Project Officer, aneary@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825 970930, 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/ *** 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/ *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 2016 Indoor meetings Saturday, January 16, 2016 Bird monitoring and windfarms John Clarkson, Lincolnshire Bird Club North Lincolnshire County Recorder Saturday, February 13, 2016 Recorders' Meeting & Annual Exhibition Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders and view exhibits including a demonstration of online recording software ‘Living Record’ and a discussion on online recording starting at 12.30; the overview starts at 2pm as in previous years. Saturday, March 05, 2016 AGM & Presidential Address AGM, Followed by the Presidential Address by Mark Schofield “Better Connected - Can our road networks serve as super- highways for wildlife?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If your Bulletin did not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Latest Mailfails. sue cfga - Soft Bounce - delivery failed - Access denied. gandd - Soft Bounce - delivery failed - mailbox unavailable. jandjgill - Soft Bounce - retry timeout exceeded Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Enjoy the Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - the excellent 2014 video by David Robinson. http://www.flickr.com/photos/poppops/11685708555/ Why not join in the RSB survey of Starling murmurations, as reported on Autumnwatch? http://www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/biologyweek/starling-survey And finally: Ten reasons to love Winter http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151120-ten-reasons-to-love-winter Dambuster airfield: Wildlife trust hopes to open to public next year http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34948717 Tower of London poppies tour: Lincoln Castle named as venue http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34950255 Mount Pleasant windmill damaged by 'exceptional' winds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34961701 Men in panda onesies carry out armed robbery in Lincolnshire http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/30/men-in-panda-onesies-carry-out-armed-robbery-in-lincolnshire Legendary trees to celebrate National Tree Week http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151118-11-legendary-trees-to-celebrate-national-tree-week Lead poisons '100,000 birds annually' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34861602 Curlew should be UK's top conservation concern says RSPB Scotland http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/410756-curlew-should-be-uks-top-conservation-concern-says-rspb-scotland Is there a danger to environmental jargon? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34858199 Why do two degrees matter? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34920941 'If we don't look after Vanuatu there will be no future' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34967873 Drone to monitor rubbish dump gases http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34938893 Jurassic footprints found on Skye http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34976857 Jurassic Island http://www.bbc.com/earth/bespoke/story/journey-to-jurassic-island/index.html Does the Royal Institution have a future? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34699008 337 whales dead in Chile in one of history's biggest beachings http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/01/chile-337-whales-beached-stranding Japan to resume whaling in Antarctic despite court ruling http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34952538 Japanese whaling ships depart for Antarctic hunt http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34971637 Tarantulas evolved blue colour 'at least eight times' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34944735 Stormtroopers surf the Severn Bore in Gloucestershire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-34945402 Electro swing pond life [Speakers on!] https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=KPKy2Hx3KnU&app=desktop ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/