============================================= || || 15th 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.... *** Reminder: the 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 noon, as there is an opportunity to meet fellow recorders before the meeting proper starts at 2pm. Thanks to everyone who has been giving the Bulletin a "plug". Please keep spreading the word - and sending in your records. Please send this sign-up link to friends who might like to join the Bulletin mailing list: http://eepurl.com/zmFMT Thanks. Roger *** 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 Environmental Awards 2015 *** The 2015 Lincolnshire Environmental Awards launched this week and it is time to reflect on whether you have a suitable project to submit. All manner of excellent initiatives have been candidates for this annual celebration to recognise and encourage the huge variety of environmental action that takes place in the county. The deadline for entries in the Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2015 is 31 March 2015. To learn more, visit the website: http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** Thanks for Bat Reports *** Annette Faulkner writes: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have sent in bat records throughout last year. I have just extracted them from the 2014 Bulletins and they make fascinating reading taken across a whole season. They appear, disappear and reappear. Where do they go? What are they doing? Their biology is so different from any other species that a great many factors have to be taken into consideration - which is why regular runs of data are so useful. Let's make 2015 a bumper year for records, and if you haven't before ventured into your garden at dusk on some balmy night in the early July please do! And let us know what you see, be it one bat foraging across your and your neigh- bour's gardens, or suddenly discovering that they're emerging from your eaves or gable apex (in which case I will be more than happy to provide you with information). One thing I would ask: PLEASE send a 6 figure grid reference with each record - it will save me hassling you later. *** Find the Grid Reference *** Chris Manning recommended the following website to help you find grid references. http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm *** 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 *** WEA Butterfly Course *** Kay Raby writes: A butterfly course which we hope to run at Sutton-on-Sea (numbers permitting) BUTTERFLIES ON MY MIND a 5 week course at the Methodist Church Rooms, Station Road, Sutton-on-Sea starting Monday March 2 ND 10 am- 12.30 pm. Organised by Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea W.E.A. with Tutor Graham Beaumont Information from Kay Raby Branch Secretary. Enrolment necessary by February 23 RD but payment not required before the first class. Some people with low household income can get it free. Contact by e-mail as below Or telephone 01507 442077 Kay Raby kay.raby@live.co.uk kay.raby@mypostoffice.co.uk *** Scunthorpe Museum Society *** Keith Scarrott writes: The Natural History and Geology Section, Scunthorpe Museum Society. At our next meeting, on Monday, 9th March, we have Imogen Wilde, who is Regional Co-ordinator and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS), coming to give us an illustrated presentation all about "Spiders". We will be introduced to the fascinating and often misunderstood world of spiders. We will be learning about the variety, behaviour, importance and, yes, THE BEAUTY OF SPIDERS. Imogen issues the challenge to COME ALONG IF YOU DARE! We meet, as usual, in: St. Bernadette's Parish Centre (DN16 2RS) which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, 7.15pm start. ALL ARE WELCOME. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are provided for a small charge during mid-talk break. The Church has ample free parking. For more details contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** LWT Alford & Mablethorpe branch events *** Natalie and George Rutter write: 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: 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. *** 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/ *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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 Water Pipit, Donna Nook Water Pipit, Freshwater Marsh, Gibraltar Point 6/2 Probable Siberian Chiffchaff, Gainsborough landfill site Bittern, Cleethorpes Coast Rough-legged buzzard, Frampton Marsh and Dennis estate Puffin, Velvet Scoter, Hen Harrier, 3 Fulmars, Cut End, River Witham, SE of Boston 9 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham 3 Shorelarks, Snow Bunting 70, Twite, Theddlethorpe St Helen north of Brickyard Lane 7/2 3 Shorelarks, Theddlethorpe St Helen north of car park Brickyard Lane 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Gibraltar Point Long-eared Owl, on island from hide, Deeping Lakes Green-winged Teal drk, South Ferriby 8/2 2 Lapland Buntings, [?] Pale-bellied Brent Geese with Dark- bellied Brent geese, Hen Harrier, 50 whooper Swans, Short- eared Owl, 30 Twite, Snow Bunting, Black Brant on saltmarsh, Donna Nook Bittern, Far Ings 10 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham 2 Long-eared Owls, from hide, on island , Deeping Lakes 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Pink-footed Goose, Deeping Lakes 2 Scaup 1w drk + fem, Tallington Lakes Tundra Bean Goose with Pinkfeet, east of candy Farm, Wroot Great-grey Shrike, Wold Newton 9/2 29 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point 32 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Scaup 1w drk, Frampton Marsh Great-grey Shrike, Wold Newton Water Pipit, Donna Nook 10 Snow Buntings, 100 Twite, Saltfleetby Long-eared Owl, from hide, on island, Deeping Lakes 10/2 12 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham Long-eared Owl, from hide, on island, Deeping Lakes 11/2 Long-eared Owl, from hide, on island, Deeping Lakes 2 Pale-belleid Brant Geese, Gibraltar Point Great-grey Shrike, Wold Newton 9 Waxwings, near civic centre, Pelham Road, Immingham 12/2 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. *** 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 6.2.15 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Bank vole under alpine trough 8.2.15 Grey squirrels 2 under bird feeder 8.2.15 Rabbits 3 juveniles 10.2.15 Woodmouse nibbling rockery plants 6.2.15 Mallards 2 in stream 11.2.15 Songthrushes 2 investigating hedge 8.2.15 Sparrowhawk f catches Woodpigeon on lawn 6.2.15 Treesparrows at nesting box 8.2.15 Treesparrows 6 in Berberis bush 9.2.15 First Hazel catkins 7.2.15 First Sycamore seedling 7.2.15 Fungi 11.2.15 Bay polypore on Wild cherry stump Jelly ear 10s on Elder Tawny funnel 10s in Spruce wood Wood blewit in Spruce wood Mill Lane TA 119 012 Colin Smith Blue tits 4 bringing nesting material to two boxes 7.2.15 Normanby Road TA 114 097 Gwen Bain Barn owls 2 in barn 7.2.15 Holton le Moor Waterlane Farm, Megs Graham-Rack RSPB bird survey 25.1.15 Female blackbird, 5 blue tits, 5 chaffinches, 2 coal tits, 3 dunnocks, 3 goldfinches, a great spotted woodpecker, 4 great tits, 2 greenfinches, a jay, 1 long tailed tit, 4 robins, 14 tree sparrows DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve Date: 08/02/2015 Time: 0915 to 1150 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, mild Birds: BlackbirdBlack-headed Gull Blue Tit Buzzard Cananda Goose Chaffinch Coot Cormorant Dunnock. Fieldfare Gadwall Goldcrest Goldeneye Goosander Great-crested Grebe Great Tit Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull Jackdaw Jay Kestrel Kingfisher Lesser Black-backed Gull Little Grebe Long-eared Owl Long-tailed Tit Mallard Magpie Mistle Thrush Moorhen Mute Swan Pink-footed Goose Pochard Redwing Robin Rook Songthrush Sparrowhawk Teal Tufted Duck White-fronted Goose Wigeon Woodpigeon Mammals: Common Seal (River Welland alongside Reserve) also Crowland - North Bank Birds: Little Owl - resident in first old Willow Tree at entrance to North Bank and shows very well when sun is shining. FAR INGS Angela Buckle 10 Feb 2015 Celandine in flower, Far Ings nature reserve, also Spurge Laurel in full flower. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake 8/2/2015 0925 - 11.05 Ian Misselbrook Little grebes 12 Grey Herons 2 Black Swan 1 Mute Swans 2 (pair) Greylag Geese 89 Canada Geese 85 Hybrid greylag x Canada 2 Mallard 71 Teal 13 Gadwall 20 Tufted Duck 26 Coot 8 Moorhen 11 Kingfisher 1 Herring Gull 1 B.H. Gulls 3 Red Kite 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Stock doves 2 - singing Pheasant Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Marsh Tits 2 L.T. Tits Goldcrests 3 Nuthatch 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Fieldfares 2 Redwings 4 Blackbirds Robins Dunnocks Wren Skylark Pied Wagtail Rooks - nest building Carrion crow Jackdaw Jay Bullfinches 2 separate males Chaffinches - singing now Goldfinches HORKSTOW Monday 9 February 2015 Jenny Haynes A small flock of six curlew was spotted circling the uncultivated field opposite my house today. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) 6/2/2015 Great tits 2 Pheasant 1 Starlings 2 going in and out of hole in old apple tree 7/2/2015 Chaffinch 2 Pheasant 1 Vole 1 Woodpigeons 12 Wren 1 10/2/2015 Song thrush 1 Sparrowhawk 1 flying through garden 11/2/201 Whooper swans 7 flying in NW direction over garden - magnificent! 12/2/2015 Chaffinch 2 Great tits 2 Wren 1 LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 14/02/2015 Jayne Knight 08/02/15 0620hrs Song Thrush singing in the distance. 09/02/15 Bright sunlight illuminated the underneath of hanging corner cupboard in kitchen. There were 3 tiny spiderlings visible, of the Pholcus phalangioides species. 10/02/15 Waiting in queue for lights to change at junction of The Avenue/ Newland and stopped opposite a singing Dunnock, stood on the Copper Beech hedge which borders one of the old houses. 12/02/15 Heron flew low and slow around the back gardens between here and next street. Twice. Look out goldfish... Two pairs of Great Tit regularly visiting feeders, much displaying if their paths cross. Also getting 4 male House Sparrows on sunflower hearts, other times pairs of M & F, so at least 6 frequent the garden. And two large flocks of Wood Pigeon sized birds flew over yesterday, East to West, but tails looked longer and blunter, also short and quick wingbeats in all the birds. Wasn't happy with WP id, but cannot think what else they could've been? LOUTH Bob Mortimer 8 Feb 2015 Perhaps of interest: we had six buzzards soaring over Louth around midday today. They were drifting from west to east right across the centre of town. As they were almost out of sight to the east, one bird that had been drifting back joined another four. These birds were also drifting east, but on a line slightly to the south of the of the first group's line. Ten buzzards "at once". Certainly the most I've seen around here at one time. RIPPINGALE Ian Misselbrook TF103283 1 Small Tortoiseshell fling in my garden in the sunshine 1330. RIVER WELLAND SPALDING TO DEEPINGS. R & K Heath. 8/02/15 . Most interesting sightings on our WeBs count were: Goosander 25 Fieldfare 320 .Spread along the bank mainly before 4 mile bar. Wildfowl numbers still low compared with previous years. SALTFLEET Clare Brady 8/2/15t Brent Geese, a good couple of hundred in field next to the road going down the river to the parking for the beach. Lots of Skylarks on the beach and quite a few singing as well. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 09/02/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Very little about today. Approx. 70 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west over the site. Footprint of a deer “believed Roe“ found here for the first time. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 7/2/2015 Great spotted woodpecker on nut feeder after a long absence. 9/2/15 3-6 Buzzards noted in area. 10/2/2015 12 Fieldfares in garden. 11/2 Flock of 100+ Fieldfares on wires along Hurnbridge Road. WOOLSTHORPE - BY - COLSTERWORTH SK92/22 Jane Ostler - Week beginning 8/1/15 Earliest signs of spring? Female flowers on hazel Pollen shed from alder Lesser Celandine flower Red Admiral flying in shed Bumble bee in garden on 8th (Bombus terrestris) Honey bees on crocus flowers and hellebores on 9th The following birds in full song:- Song thrush, mistle thrush, blackbird,blue tit, robin. + gt spotted woodpecker drilling, wren collecting moss from lawn and robin pair in garden unusually a pair of goldcrests is regularly seen in one garden. WRANGLE COMMON 07/02/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A BTO BirdTrack count today yielded 35 species. Waterbirds were once again dominant with Mallard numbers estimated in excess of one hundred and there were also high counts of at least fifty for both Canada and Greylag Geese. Other ducks seen were twelve Teal and two Gadwall. Amongst the waders were thirteen Curlew and singles of Snipe and Green Sandpiper. Two raptors were seen – Kestrel and a welcome sight of a Buzzard. The large passerine flock continues to diminish and once again was difficult to count due to fragmentation and movement in and out of our counting area, but we recorded twenty-two Yellowhammers, six Tree Sparrows, nine Chaffinches, four Goldfinches and five Reed Buntings. Blackbirds - at nineteen - were well down on numbers a week ago and may have moved into gardens in the inclement weather. Skylarks were also difficult to find and only one bird was recorded and, unusually, no Meadow Pipits were present, whilst three of last week’s Mute Swans had left. Magpies had decreased from a count of seventeen last week to nine. Other birds of interest were three Grey Partridges, two Goldcrests, a Stock Dove and a Little Egret. Two foxes were seen circling a water-course on which were several ducks which followed them, being careful to keep well out of reach on the water. This was reminiscent of the behaviour of ducks in the old decoys in the East Fen which would follow the decoyman's small dog into the pipe where they were caught. Two Roe Deer walked casually across the road less than fifty metres from us. WRANGLE COMMON 08/02/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A few interesting birds about on Sunday that we didn't find on Saturday:- Woodcock 2 Green Woodpecker 1 Jay 1 Coal Tit 1 - very uncommon here. Sparrowhawk 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 January 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh RSPB Freiston Shore Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites T John Badley [Assisted by Colin Jennings] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 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 to help you 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 *** 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/ 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: 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 No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** 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 *** 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 *** 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/ 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 - hard bounce - delivery failed caroline.amphlett - soft bounce - delivery failed *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Barn owls back from the brink after baby boom http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31236408 Frontline teams 'unaware' of wildlife smuggler tactics http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31162726 Wild birds may spread flu virus http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31139263 Galapagos emergency over stranded ship http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-31142280 Flock co-operation: Birds take it in turns to lead http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31060155 Red squirrel breeding hope for Mersea Island - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31172820 Urban habitats 'provide haven' for bees http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31359984 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/