============================================= || || 8th February 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. Please send this URL to friends who might join the Bulletin mailing list: 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.... *** Nick Tribe reminds me that 14th February LNU Recorders' meeting at Whisby Nature Park at 2pm will proceeded by an informal discussion on Living Record - a free, online, Google Earth-based wildlife recording package, starting at 12.30 for 30-45 minutes. LNU members and non-members can attend. Please feel free to arrive from 12 as there is an opportunity to meet fellow recorders before the meeting proper starts at 2pm. Hotlinks from last week's Bulletin: As I was unable to activiate links in last week's Bulletin, I have repeated them here to make them easier to use: BWARS is requesting records of Bombus terrestris winter activity. If you wish you can submit records via the BWARS website. http://www.bwars.com/ BTO's National Nest Box Week is 14-21 February. http://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw Nature's Calendar http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/ We may yet have some winter weather ahead of us. See: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ Heads up for a partial solar eclipse this year: Friday 20th March, starting 8.27hrs, mid-eclipse 9.33hrs, finishing 10.42hrs as given in Paul Money's useful "Night Scenes 2015". Useful eclipse links: http://www.rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html Never view the Sun directly. You need to be properly protected when watching solar eclipses. This means proper safe solar viewers or some form of projection like a solarscope. Suitable Solar Viewers can be ordered from the BAA shop from £1.75, but you will need to get your skates on! http://www.britastro.org/ There are some great FutureLearn courses coming up, including one on Ecology. They are free. See: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/categories Thanks to everyone who has been giving the Bulletin a "plug". We had five new subscribers last week and two more this week. Please keep spreading the word. Thanks. Roger *** Earthquake on 28th *** Oakham earthquake recorded at 3.8 in magnitude. Did anyone feel it? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31032930 *** Reminder - Ray Halstead - Recorder - Fungi *** Request: No records or queries for now, please. *** 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. To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Saturday, February 14, 2015 Recorders’ meeting - overview and highlights in the past year's recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon fpr a chance to catch up with recorders and view exhibits including a demonstration of online recording software, 'Living Record' and a discussion of online recording starting at 12.30. The Overview starts at 2pm. Guests are welcome at our meetings. *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project practical days *** Will Bartle writes: Have some free time and looking for a new challenge? Why not help preserve one of England's rarest natural habitats. The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project is looking for enthusiastic and willing volunteers to help maintain and improve chalk streams throughout February and March, at Laceby, Welton-le-Wold and Ashby- cum-Fenby in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Volunteers will be involved in the practical conservation of the chalk streams and their banks, helping to provide and improve the habitats of local wildlife including trout, otters and water voles. No experience is needed, but you must be physically fit and confident when working near or in water. Safety training will be provided to volunteers in the sessions. Give a helping hand to a local habitat on: Tuesday 24 February - 10.30am - 3pm - Moorhouse Farm, Barton Street, Ashby-cum-Fenby, North East Lincolnshire, DN37 0RU Saturday 7 March - 10am - 3pm - Laceby Village, North East Lincolnshire. The work will be on the footpath, near the bridge as you come into the village past the Mini garage. Please park in the pub car park (Nags Head) and walk down. Saturday 14 March 10am - 3pm - Welton-le-Wold To sign up contact: William.bartle@lincolnshire.gov.uk or phone Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service on 01507 609740. For more details/to find out more about the Chalk Streams of Lincolnshire, visit: http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnshireChalkStreams?ref=hl *** Scunthorpe Museum Society *** The Natural History and Geology Section, Scunthorpe Museum Society. Keith Scarrot writes: At our next meeting, on Monday, 9th February, we have Matthew Blissett, our local North West Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Reserves Warden, coming to give us an illustrated presentation all about "Moths". We will be learning about the moth identification skills needed for recording, monitoring and conservation purposes and also about the different techniques of moth trapping. We meet in St. Bernadette's Parish Centre (DN16 2RS) opposite the Priory Hotel, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, 7.15pm start. ALL ARE WELCOME. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided as are light refreshments, for a small charge, at "half-time". The Church car park has ample free parking. For more details contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** LWT Alford & Mablethorpe branch events *** Natalie and George Rutter write: February - Friday 13th at The Half Moon, West St, Alford at 7.30pm Quiz Evening The quiz will cover wildlife as well as other varied topics so get your thinking caps on! Teams will be limited to four. March - Monday 19th at The Half Moon, West St, Alford at 7.30pm The work of the Wildlife Police with PC Nick Willey Wildlife is under constant pressure from a variety of causes and Nick will describe the types of problems they have to deal with. *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Adrian White writes: Saturday 14th Feb "Alkborough Flats" A half day walk around this great site. Contact the leader for details; Alice Nunn 01724 732262 Meet at Ness Farm, Far Ings for 9am start. Everybody welcome Wednesday 18th Feb "Black Grouse Leks and wildlife photography" A talk by Keith Mitchell Meet at Ness Farm, Far Ings for a 7:30pm start. Admission free (voluntary collection) Everybody welcome. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 9th February 2014 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where Audrey & John Spring will give an illustrated talk on how to identify butterflies that may appear in the garden throughout the year and how to create a butterfly attractive patch in your own garden. This takes place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £2, all are welcome. Trust goods stall, raffle, tea/coffee available. *** Lincoln Area Group LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: February 19th: Langford Lowfields & Beckingham Marshes - Jennifer Wallace. Talk at Whisby Nature Park starting at 7:30pm. An illustrated talk by RSPB warden Jennifer Wallace about these exciting new nature reserves in the Trent Valley in Nottinghamshire. The event will be held at Whisby Nature Park Education Centre starting at 7:30pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments. *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ On Thursday 12th February 2015 at 7.30pm. we invite you to join us for a presentation By Santiago Bejerano on Hummingbirds. This will take place at The Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln. RSPB members and students £3.00 Non members £4.00. Editor adds: A talk not to be missed. Santiago is an exceptional naturalist with a wealth of experience. *** South Lincs RSPB *** Members and non-members welcome. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** Try some Citizen Science with Zooniverse *** https://www.zooniverse.org/projects We make citizen science websites so that everyone can be part of real research online *** Big Farmland Bird Count *** Julia Smith writes: I have spent the day on the Big Farmland Bird Count course. Why are they counting? This important initiative offers a simple means of recording the effect of any conservation schemes currently being initiated by farmers and gamekeepers on their land such as supplementary feeding or growing wild bird seed crops and game cover crops. It is also a useful way of gaining personal insight on how well their birds are faring. It runs from the 7th- 15th Feb in association with the RSPB and Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT). All they ask is that any farmland area is observed for 30 minutes and bird observations fed back to www.gwct.org.uk/bfbccountsheets. Guidelines: Select somewhere with a good view of around 2 ha of the farm would be ideal. Record the types of habitat and cropping on and adjacent to the count site to help provide us with more detail about your count location. To see the highest number of birds we would recommend that the site includes or is close to an area of game or wild seed mix or somewhere that supplementary feeding takes place.Ideally, counting should take place at first light as this is when the birds are most active. However, it is more important that you take part, so timings should suit you. The project will also be a feature of Countryfile this Sunday, 8th Feb. https://www.gwct.org.uk/farming/big-farmland-bird-count/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 1/2 20 - 23 Reed Warbler, Marston sewage works 3 Long-eared Owls, on island from hide, Deeping Lakes 3 Scaup, Frampton Marsh 2/2 Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Great Grey Shrike, along road to Swinehope. at Welton le Wold, West of Louth Iceland Gull, Aukland Road, Grimsby Fish Docks Great Grey Shrike, NE of Wold Newton Rough-legged Buzzard, in field behind Westgate Woods, Wyberton 3/2 55 Snow Buntings, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Gibraltar Point 5 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham 3 Shorelarks, 80+ Snow Buntings, 15 Twite, north of Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby Bittern, from hide, Boultham Mere Waxwing, garden on Parker Street, Cleethorpes 2 Pale-bellied Brent Goose c 40 Snow Buntings, sandbank off Meridian car park, Cleethorpes LNR Great Grey Shrike, NE of Wold Newton 4/2 9 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham 2 Long-eared Owls, on island from hide, Deeping Lakes 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Scaup 1w fem, Gainsborough landfill site 5/2 Scaup 1w drk, 16 Twite, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Long-eared Owl, on island from hide, Deeping Lakes 9 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham 15 Bewick's Swans,120 Whooper Swans, between Alderfen and Idlebank, Wroot Little Auk, Cut End, River Witham mouth 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. 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. GORSE - THEDDLETHORPE Theddlethorpe dunes TF 476906 John Walker large gorse bush c 30m x 15m in flower Welton-le-Wold TF 283882 John Walker 3 small bushes part flower near Welton le Wold Question: as the several acres of gorse bushes on Woodhall airfield reserve and Woodhall Spa olfcourse been mentioned ? Gorse location: Field off B1203 Walesby Road TF 115897 Mary Barr 26.1.15 Large field grazed by sheep. Large central pond surrounded by Gorse and Brambles. About 50 plants, 20 of which have a few flowers. *** 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 Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 30.1.15 Brigg Road garden TA 113 020 Jenny Foster Fox in snow in paddock 30.1.15 Jays 4 3.2.15 Red-legged partridges 14 3.2.15 RSPB Bird Survey results 25.1.15 Blackbird 4, Blue tit 4, Chaffinch 4, Collared dove 4, Goldfinch 2, Great tit 2, House sparrow 3, Jackdaw 2, Jay 1, Long-tailed tit 2, Magpie 2, Pheasant 1, Robin 2, Starling 2, Tree sparrow 2, Woodpigeon 2, Wren 1 Brigg Road TA 113 023 Tricia Holford Barnowl in roadside hedgerow 2pm 29.1.15 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Bank vole under wooden bunker 31.1.15 Feral cat in brambles 2.2.15 Fox climbing snow-covered bank 4.2.15 Grey squirrel in meadow 2.2.15 House mouse outside garage 2.2.15 Woodmouse under Cupressus leylandii hedge 30.1.15 Fieldfares 30+ in Hawthorn hedgerow 30.1.15 Jay in orchard 2.2.15 Long-tailed tits 4 on fatball 5.2.15 Pheasants 4m 11f on lawn in snow 30.1.14 Songthrush, first sighting since November 3.2.15 Tawny owls 2 calling 5.2.15 HAGNABY LOCK FEN E.A. WETLAND RESERVE TF 341595 Garry Steele Maximum counts and noteworthy ornithological sightings, January 2015 Greylag Goose - 54 Wigeon - 55 Teal - 61 Mallard - 157 Shoveler - 1 Buzzard - 3 Curlew - 39 Redshank - 7 Stock Dove - 11 Magpie - 10 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) 30/1/2015 Chaffinch 1 Dunnock 1 Great tits 4 Pheasant 1 Starlings 2 TF515767 Sparrowhawk 1 3/2/2015 Chaffinch 1 Dunnock 1 Robins 3 - one chased away immediately! Starlings 2 Wren 1 5/2/2015 Mouse 1 Wren 1 IMMINGHAM 4 Feb 2015 Angela Buckle 9 Waxwings RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 31.01.15 Pheasants: 4 x male + 11 x female on pasture 02.02.15 Kestrel hovering along edge of A153 (TF 315 851) Numerous fresh Mole hills everywhere in surrounding area. Guess 2014 was a good breeding year for them. Keep finding lots of overwintering Wasp queens, too, mostly in shed and greenhouse. The large nest in my neighbour's garden seems to have been very productive. 03.02.15 Sparrowhawk 04.02.15 Song Thrush in song Barn Owl hunting over pasture at 5 pm (still quite light; nice, clear view of it) 05.02.15 Kestrel hovering near A16 (TF 321 884) Barn Owl in tree at 5 pm, edge of A153 (TF 316 854 approx.) REEPHAM TF042736 Catherine Wilson 24&25/1/15 During the Garden Bird Watch, as well as the usual goldfinches, greenfinches and chaffinches, I noticed some unusual small birds. Focussing the binoculars, i realised that they were Redpolls (had to check the bird book to make sure). I saw 7 at one time but there may have been more around. I have not seen them in the garden before. 27/1/15 'Influx' of blackbirds in the garden! At least 5, 3 male and 2 female. There have only been 2 through the winter so far. SLEAFORD Richard Dawson River Slea - Cogglesford to Evedon 31/1/15 06:30-07:30 Young adult grey Heron - very tame Kingfisher x 2 Barn Owl Kestrel hazel catkins STICKFORD TF 357602 Garry Steele 03 February 2015 1 cock Pheasant perched in a Bramley apple tree in my back garden feeding on the berries of a mistletoe plant growing on the tree. http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=21924 Also, earlier on 27 January 2015 - first returning Great Crested Newt (adult male) and one adult Common Frog in the wildlife pond in my front garden. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 29/01/15 Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 27 Moorhen x 3 Mute Swan x 2 30/01/15 Fieldfare x 55 Kestrel x 2 males Mute Swan x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Sparrowhawk x 1 male SE804023 03/02/15 Common Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 3 Little Owl x 2 calling 11.15pm Mute Swan x 2 Starling x 59 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 11.00pm WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 4/2/2015 12 Fieldfares visiting to feel on thrown out apples. Lots of competition with the resident blackbirds. WRANGLE COMMON 02/02/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A count today yielded 41 species. There were good numbers of water birds in particular, especially geese (Canada 86, Greylag 77), plus Snipe (4) and singles of Lapwing, Curlew and Green Sandpiper. Particularly large numbers of Mallard (102) were present together with eleven Teal. Mute Swans now number five, whilst there was an unusually large numbers (for this site) of six Herring Gulls, plus five Common Gulls and eleven Black-headed. Blackbirds are still featuring largely in the totals with a count of thirty-nine and two Redwings were present. Twenty Pheasants were disturbed in a field that had remained un-harvested and subsequently is seed rich. In addition thirty-three Yellowhammers were here, together with thirty-seven Tree Sparrows and thirty-one Chaffinches. Unusually we could find no Greenfinches, though they may have been in a large flock of passeries that were difficult to identify and flew out of our recording area. Magpies seem to be on the increase with a total of seventeen being counted. The only raptor was a singles Kestrel, which - referring back to last week's mention of a Buzzard being shot nearby - is worrying. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Lincolnshire bird sightings January 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh RSPB Freiston Shore Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites T John Badley [Assisted by Colin Jennings] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. Week ending 050215 John Walker, Peter and Janet Roworth, Nigel Lound, Cliff Morrison. The last 2 weeks of Jan recorded air temperatures from minus 5 oc to plus 4 oc with some very cold winds and light snowfalls, and on the last day of the month 15mm of rainfall making a monthly total of 34mm so well below average, ( 24mm in the first 5 days of Feb ) Bird song is now getting stronger with, great and blue tit, robin, dunnock, song thrush, mistle thrush and skylark singing, and great spotted woodpeckers drumming. Bird sighting include, merlin 1, little owl 1, tawny owl 1, sparrowhawk 2, common buzzard 1, shoveler 21, brent goose 450 ( including 2 pale bellied brent) snipe 45, jack snipe 3, stonechat 3, water rail 2, dunlin 325, curlew 313, redshank 190, rock pipit c 45, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 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 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 *** 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/ STAYING SAFE *** 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 *** 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: ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com tel. 07984 66 5847 *** Report Ash Dieback in Lincolnshire *** Link for Chalara fraxinea reports: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara *** 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 *** 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: 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 *** 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 *** 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 *** 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/ *** 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 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 *** 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 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 *** 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/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://www.lincolnshire-butterflies.org.uk/index.html *** 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 Lincsbirders - Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group Some great photos. http://www.lincsbirders.org/ Bardney Limewoods - the Lincolnshire Limewoods Project Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** Grow-your-own Mistletoe *** http://www.mistle.co.uk/ Readers websites and videos - superb work well worth browsing through. If anyone else is putting work like this on the web, please let us know. Joan Gunson's Moths recorded 2013: http:www.flickr.com/photos/angleshades Alan Dale's Bugs and Weeds http://www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/ Les Binns: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecoheathen/sets/ Leslie Hebden http://www.flickr.com/photos/13718295@N07/ Youtube videos by Colin Green. Little Scrubbs Meadow in July 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inqCJLrTQmg&feature=relmfu Greetwell Hollow in May 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QmzLFrbjFU&feature=plcp Rimac in June 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s02O5JJoilQ&feature=plcp Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - January 2014 - 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 *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** 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 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. 2015 Indoor meetings: Saturday, February 14, 2015 Recorders’ meeting - overview and highlights in the past year's recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon fpr a chance to catch up with recorders and view exhibits including a demonstration of online recording software, 'Living Record' and a discussion of online recording starting at 12.30. The Overview starts at 2pm. Saturday, March 07, 2015 AGM Followed by the Presidential address by Nick Tribe: "Aspects of Dragonfly Recording in Lincolnshire". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. A "hard bounce" usually results in you being automatically deleted from the mailing list. Latest Mailfails - see notes above. Bulletin bouncing from: roger.briggs - soft bounce - delivery failed *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Lincolnshire Council to hand over 30 libraries http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-31118099 Snow and ice hit parts of Lincolnshire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-31110214 Anne Glover: GM tech 'is safe' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31091821 Repeating last week's links - activated: *** Earthquake on 28th *** Oakham earthquake recorded at 3.8 in magnitude http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31032930 Funding boost for attractions on 'underused' North Sea coast http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-30982773 Badgers spotted for first time at Nottinghamshire nature reserve http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-30965245 Flower Girls Of Lincolnshire 1929 - and other vintage clips http://www.britishpathe.com/video/flower-girls-of-lincolnshire/query/daffodils Early Spring flowers in the U.K. Archive film 92751 - 1950s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDMGDFhXu1s Feral cat adoption planned to save seabirds - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-31127524 'Corkscrew' seal deaths due to cannibalism not boats http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-31146971 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/