============================================= || || 4th January 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.... *** Happy New Year to you all. Thank you for all the support during 2014. Some resolution/wishlist suggestions have started to come in, triggered off by my hope to see Bramblings in the garden. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/b/brambling/ http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob16380.htm The first of these, which I agree with, is to see some Waxwings. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/waxwing/ http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob10480.htm I always have snow on my wish list, so the Boxing Day blizzard was a welcome bit of excitement, not serious enough to become a problem here, but dramatic to watch. The latest TWO projection for snow highlights do not mention snow, but that could change. http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ On Boxing Day the drains of West Fen seemed very full due to the combination of melting snow and heavy rain. Surface water was a problem too. It was no surprise to receive a Flood Alert from the Environment Agency via my landline and mobile phone. If you live in an area at risk of flooding it is a wise precaution to sign up for Flood Alerts. Visit: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on 4th January but with the Moon full on 5th Jan, moonlight will probably spoil observations. Cloud permitting, you just might get lucky. For useful links see: http://www.rogerparsons.info/cosmic.html Roger *** Reminder - Ray Halstead - Recorder - Fungi *** No records or queries for now, please. Due to illness, Ray has asked everyone to give him a bit of a break. Hopefully he will be back in the [Dryad's] saddle later in the new year. I will put a note in the Bulletin when he is again "open for business". *** 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, January 17th, 2015 - Joint meeting with Lincs Bird Club. Phil Espin, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Bird Club, will be speaking about' 'Rare Breeding Birds in Lincolnshire and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel." Guests are welcome at our meetings. *** Donna Nook Seals *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update *** Free OU Short Courses with FutureLearn scheme *** Su Colman writes: I'd like to bring FutureLearn courses to the attention of readers of the LNU newsletter. I've done quite a few and they are a fantastic way of learning about something new in a structured way. Run by the Open University in conjunction with other UK universities, there are a variety of different courses lasting between three and six weeks - all FREE. The one I'm doing next is called "In the Night Sky - Orion" - starting on 5 January https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/orion *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Talk *** Keith Scarrot writes: The Natural History and Geology Section of Scunthorpe Museum Society. Our first talk for 2015 is on Monday, 12th January, when well-known local Professional Ornithologist and Photographer, Graham Catley, visits us again to give his talk entitled "Snow Birding". Graham's talk will be on birds of the ice and snow of Northern Europe and North America. ALL ARE WELCOME. We meet at St. Bernadette's Parish Centre which is opposite The Priory Hotel, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, postcode DN16 2RS. The meeting starts at 7.15pm. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are available at the interval for a small charge. For any further details please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** Boston Branch, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** 8th January, 2015 at 7.30 PM. THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK An illustrated talk by Geof Lee on the wildlife and scenery of this new national park, where he lived and was a warden for the National Conservancy Council. The talk will be held in the Boston Centenary Methodist Church Hall in Red Lion Street. Free, all are welcome, refreshments, there will be a leaving collection. For More information contact Brian Redman, tel. 01205 351406 *** Reminder: Mistletoe Spotting with an invertebrate difference *** Charlie Barnes writes: Now is the perfect time of year to collect up fallen mistletoe twigs to try and rear out saproxylic species, e.g. the beetle Gastrallus knizeki, which are associated with mistletoe. I would be happy to receive twigs of mistletoe with details of collection date and location or you can try rearing through yourselves (get in touch for details). I am also interested in looking for mistletoe specific species during the spring and summer - this would ideally involve easily accessible (head height!) mistletoe clumps or using a device similar to the telescopic fruit pickers available for apples if they're just out of reach. If you have any suitable clumps on your garden trees, let me know! Charlie Barnes: charlie@cucaera.co.uk http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/viscum-album-mistletoe *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ Maureen Staples writes: On Thursday 8th January 2015 at 7.30pm we invite you to join us for a presentation by Paul Hobson for a look at Scotland's amazing wildlife. This will take place in The Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grossteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln RSPB members and Students £3.00. Non Members £4.00. Free Parking. *** South Lincs RSPB *** Members and non-members welcome. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Birds Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ 26/12 Bittern, Boultham Mere 2 Lapland Bunting, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Pye's Hall with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Donna Nook Black Brant on marsh by Stonebridge car park with Dark- bellied Brent Geese, Donna Nook 34 Snow Buntings south of skegness on beach tho mobile 15 Twite at Anderson's Creek outfall, Holbeach Marsh 4 Bewick's Swans with 90 Whooper swans, Wroot Acres 27/12 Snow Bunting, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 8 Bewick's Swans with c80 Whooper swans, Wroot Acres Black Brant with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, in front of wreck, between Stonebridge car park and Pye's Hall Donna Nook 28/12 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Lapland bunting over, 3+ Eurasian White-fronted Geese, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 35 Snow Buntings, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point c90 Snow Buntings, Cleethorpe Coast Rough-legged Buzzard in fields by North Drove east of Helpringham, SSE of Heckington 3 Lapland Bunting, Grainthorpe Marsh Black Brant adult with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Pye's Hall, Donna Nook, then flushed and flew to Grainthorpe Haven 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Deeping Lakes Little Gull, River Witham Mouth, Freiston Shore Glaucous gull juv, Crook bank, Saltfleetby 29/12 Waxwing at Far Ings in hawthorns along Humber bank 4 Bewick's swans flew north past Gibraltar Point Bewick's Swan still at Wroot with 100+ Whooper Swans Rough-legged Buzzard in fields by North Drove east of Helpringham, SSE of Heckington Great Grey Shrike, NE of Gainsborough, SW of Blyton along Carr Lane by railway embankment 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Deeping Lakes Black Brant adult with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Water Pipits, at Pye's Hall, Donna Nook, 30/12 Hen Harrier ringtail north or Spilsby flew over A16 between Dalby and Ulceby Cross Great Grey Shrike, NE of Gainsborough, SW of Blyton along Carr Lane by railway embankment near bridge 2 Water Pipits, Chowder Ness, Barton-upon-Humber 2 Short-eared Owls, Hawthorpe 2 Lapland Buntings, Donna Nook 31/12 Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier male, South Kyme Fen south of Kyme Eau opposite golf course, Short-eared Owl north of Kyme Eau. Great Grey Shrike, NE of Gainsborough, SW of Blyton along Carr Lane by railway embankment near bridge Reed Warbler, Marston Sewage Works 6 Snow Buntings near Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby 3 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 2 Twite, 3 Bewick's Swans, Frampton Marsh 1/1/2015 Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Note: I am adapting my RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. Bird Alert website: Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. Strongly recommended. [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. 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. GORSE LOCATIONS: Gorse R & A Parsons 28/12/2014 2 gorse bushes well in flower noted east side on B1192 Tattershall to Woodhall Spa road at approx TF195615. WOOLSTHORPE LINE SK917245 Jane Ostler 31/12/15 Walk in snow - western section. Gorse - 3 bushes in full flower, one with no flowers [Extracted from report below.] *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BOSTON (South by A16) 30/12/2014 Kath Pearson Two Blackcaps in garden - male and female. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Readers may have noticed the word "New" is sometimes added after a sighting. This shows that the species is new on "The Caistor Wildlife List of Species" This is a list of the species seen in and around Caistor. The list was started in May 2009. Over 60 local residents have contributed. 1253 different species have been identified so far, 122 of them in 2014. The list includes 29 different mammals, over 100 birds, 5 reptiles, 3 amphibians, 7 fish, over 400 arthropods, 9 crustaceans, 4 worms, 20 molluscs, over 400 flowering plants, 16 non-flowering plants, over 150 fungi and 15 lichens. Amongst the insects there are 23 different butterflies (this is over a third of all the species in the UK) and over 240 different moths. Some of the most interesting sightings are of Roe Deer, Water voles, 6 types of bat, Ospreys, Red Kites, Whimbrel, Hobbys, Sand martins, Adders, Great Crested Newts, Eels, Emperor Dragonflies, 3 rare insects (Alder sawfly, Western Conifer Seed Bug, and a rare type of firebug), Meadow Saxifrage, Southern Marsh Orchids and the fungi Fenugreek stalkball and Sowerbyella radiculata. Many residents are interested in wildlife and Caistor has an extensive range of habitats including the Wolds, chalk streams, woodland, hedge- rows, fields, fishing ponds and sandy, chalky and clayey land, not to mention gardens. A small number of Caistor residents are keen amateurs. Difficult specimens are sometimes photographed and sent to the ever helpful LNU recorders for identification. There are many more species to be identified, especially insects, mosses, lichens and aquatic organisms. Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week 25.12.14 to 31.12.14 Jupiter, wonderful sight on recent clear nights Brigg Road farmland TA 106 036 R Wish Fieldfares 50+ in a tree, all facing north 30.12.14 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH On Trailcam near a path cut through long grass: Rabbits 2 every morning and evening Fox 2.30am 25.12.14 Grey squirrel 11am 23.12.14 Muntjac f 11pm 22.12.14 Muntjac m 3am 26.12.14 Other sightings: Bullfinch on Honeysuckle 30.12.14 Fieldfare 3 behaving aggressively to blackbirds 20+ in orchard daily Great spotted woodpecker f on nut feeder daily Grey heron flying over 25.12.14 Jays 2 in meadow 28.12.14 Long-tailed tits 4 on fat ball 25.12.14. These are infrequent visitors to our garden Pheasants 8m 2f in adjacent field 27.12.14 Treecreeper on Alders 29.12.14 Winter gnats 100+ in shaft of sunlight over flowerbed 26.12.14 Winter moth on window, temp 1C 26.12.14 Caistor Town Hall car park TA 118 015 WH House sparrows 20+ in bushes 31.12.14 Starlings 10+ in trees 31.12.14 A46 Claxby bypass A Wish Kestrels 2 perched in hedgerow tree observing verge 30.12.14 DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve Date: 29/12/2014 0940 to 1215 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, cold. Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Canada Goose Chaffinch Common Gull Coot Cormorant Corn Bunting Fieldfare Gadwall Goldeneye Goldfinch Great Crested Grebe Great Spotted Woodpecker (reported by another observer) Great Tit Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Kestrel Kingfisher Little Egret Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Pheasant Pochard Redshank Redwing Reed Bunting Robin Rook Shoveler Teal Tree Sparrow White-fronted Goose Wigeon Woodpigeon Wren Mammals: Grey Squirrel (1) Rabbit (1) HUTTOFT Jane PenningtonHuttoft TF512763 (my garden) 19/12/2014 Owl 1 (hooting very close to or in garden 5.30a.m.) Sparrowhawk 1 TF521765 (I see this bird around here quite often now) 21/12/2014 Great tits 6 (at least) Robins 2 (up to their usual chasing antics) 26/12/2014 Blackbirds 9 Collared dove 1 Pheasant 1 Wren 1 (found a fat green caterpillar on the honeysuckle next to the terrace and ate it while I was watching through the window) RUSKINGTON FEN 29/12/2014 TF1252 5442 Norman Osborne Little Egret - 2. We had quite a surprise at lunchtime to look out of our kitchen window to see this pair? of Little Egrets sunning themselves in my oilseed rape only 25 metres from our house, adjacent to a Witham 1st IDB Drain. We occasionally see single birds around around a local Clay Pit but have not seen a pair in Ruskington Fen before. SALTFLEET Richard Fox 31.12.2014 A walk from Saltfleet Haven northwards for approx 1 mile Brent geese c. 1750 around pond in field adjacent to access track Shelduck 12 on same pond but c 150 on brackish pond on foreshore Teal 20 on The Haven Grey Seal 5 on/in brackish pond (approx 1 mile north) plus 1 dead and partly eaten on the foreshore between the Haven and said pond. Bar-tailed Godwit 6 Cormorant 16 Curlew 4 Linnet flock of c. 150 on foreshore Little Egret Redshank 15 Skylark 6 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 20/12/14 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 8 Dunnock x 2 Little Owl x 1 Wren x 1 21/12/14 Common Buzzard x 2 Roe Deer x 3 SK782999 22/12/14 Little Egret x 1 Little Owl x 1 23/12/14 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 7 Fieldfare x 29 Kestrel x 2 Robin x 1 24/12/14 Fieldfare x 59 Kestrel x 2 Moorhen x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Robin x 1 Brown Hare x 2 SK789993 Brown Rat x 2 (dead) 25/12/14 Blackbird x 7 Golden Plover x 127 Grey Partridge x 1 Kestrel x 2 Little Owl x 1 Peregrine Falcon x 1 female Robin x 1 Field Vole x 1 under recording sheet Brown Rat x 1 (dead) Mole - fresh molehills SK801990 26/12/14 Golden Plover x 520 over fields SK785994 Weasel x 1 SK788998 29/12/14 Blackbird x 15 Blue Tit x 2 Bullfinch x 1 male Common Gull x 3 Cormorant x 1 SK814995 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 27 Grey Heron x 1 SK814995 Little Owl x 1 (calling) Redwing x 4 Robin x 2 Siskin x 3 Tawny Owl x 2 (calling) Wren x 1 30/12/14 Blackbird x 15 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 80 Grey Partridge x 2 Kestrel x 2 Little Egret x 1 SK799976 Mute Swan x 2 Redwing x 7 Robin x 2 Sparrowhawk x 1 female Tawny Owl x 1 Tree Sparrow x 36 Brown Hare x 1 SK789993 Field Vole x 1 under recording sheet Wood / Y N Mouse x 1 WADDINGTON (St Michaels Churchyard) Peter Wilson 26th December 2014 Two patches of snowdrops in flower WADDINGTON (Somertongate Lane) Peter Wilson 22nd December 2014 Driving down Somertongate Lane a bird flew across in front of me which I was unable to identify. As I was driving I couldn't spend to much time looking at it, but it was gone in a flash anyway. My best description of it is that it was dark in colour, it seemed to be bluey-black. Trying to identify it later from my book I would have said it was a cross between a hobby and a snipe, I have seen snipe down there before but this was not the right colour for a snipe. Anybody got any suggestions? WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 02/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Very few birds about today and many of the paths were under water, so a count was not attempted. Only birds of particular interest present were a Mistle Thrush and a Little Owl. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 26/12/2014 Flock of 40+ fieldfares on windfall apples plus 1 redwing. Goldfinch with ring seen, 14.30hrs [AP] - Roy P please note! 30/12/2014 Fieldfare flock now 100+ with maybe 16 blackbirds. 20/12/2014 3 Buzzards at TF212536 21/12/2014 Buzzard on corner post of RAF Coningsby permimeter fence TF213560 9.15hrs Buzzard flew into hedge on Hurnbridge Road at TF216540 at 11.30hrs. Little Egret west to east across Hurnbridge Road at TF218548 9.20hrs and another? at TF216548 at 11.30hrs. 2 Buzzards at TF212536 at 14.00 hrs. Birds ringed today were :- Blackbird 17, Robin 1, Dunnock 5 and House Sparrow 5. 1/1/2015 10.20hrs. I was pottering in the garden when a large adult tawny owl was disturbed and made a loop by me on its way to a new tree. A fantastic sight. Noted fresh catkins on the coppiced hazel in the garden. http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/learn/british-trees/native-trees/hazel/?gclid=CPWBh_L98sICFW3MtAodFUgAAQ Snowdrops also noted in flower. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Galanthus_nivalis WOOLSTHORPE LINE SK917245 Jane Ostler 31/12/15 Walk in snow - western section. Lichens - Caloplaca ferruginea the rust lichen, covering western side of ash tree trunk. In Flower - White deadnettle Gorse - 3 bushes in full flower, one with no flowers Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa). This was a surprise. The only other plant in flower, it was on a south facing bank, beneath trees and so in a patch with no snow. A tall well-formed specimen with a dozen umbels of both tiny yellow flowers and developing fruits. Birds - Fieldfares, dozens feeding mainly on rose hips, piles of pink droppings on snow Blackbirds - one or two feeding with fieldfares. Sparrowhawk, being mobbed by jackdaws Kite, just one flew over from direction of tip. Blue tits, mainly in leaf litter where clear of snow Great Tit. Just one pecking in wall moss, Cow Pass Bridge Wood Pigeon. Just one but several nests now revealed in trees Bullfinch - one on ivy covered tree Goldfinch - one in hawthorn Mammal footprints in snow. Rabbits -numerous Fox - one set with brush marks of tail. Looked like it had removed roadkill pigeon from adjacent road. Muntjak deer - one set of prints from field adjacent to tip. WRANGLE COMMON 02/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Water levels are now very high, but Mallard (104), Teal (20) Snipe (3) and Mute Swan (2) were the only waterbirds seen, the geese now seeming to have deserted us. Similarly, with the exhaustion of the seed stocks, most finches and buntings have moved on. Exceptions were Yellowhammer (5), Reed Bunting (4) and Corn Bunting (1). However, Tree Sparrows (38) remain in high numbers, but have moved to a new feeding area. A single Bullfinch was seen in the plantation where it has occurred on previous occasions and there were seven Skylarks and five Meadow Pipits present. No raptors were recorded and, amazingly, no tits. The hedgerows have now been stripped of berries, but thirty-six Blackbirds were counted along with six Redwings and a single Fieldfare. Six Roe Deer were grazing in a grass field. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 November 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh A Bittern was a brief visitor (27th), while the Glossy Ibis, present since June remained throughout. Up to 15 Whooper Swans (5th) roosted overnight on the scrapes. A European White-fronted Goose joined the mobile goose flocks (27th) with single Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Black Brant hybrid also in residence. Over 3800 Wigeon (20th) was a record count, as was 2192 Teal (9th). The Rough-legged Buzzard, mainly present on fields adjacent to the reserve, was present all month. Golden Plover numbers gradually built up to a peak of 8000 (30th). Single Little Stint (1st & 2nd) and Jack Snipe (25th) were also recorded. A Little Auk (5th) flew inland to a fate unknown. A Great Grey Shrike (4th) didn’t linger either, but the reserve’s first Cetti’s Warbler (20th – 25th) remained for a few days. One or two Lapland Buntings were seen on three dates with Snow Buntings on four. RSPB Freiston Shore The highlights were mainly offshore with four Little Auks (7th) and Velvet Scoter, Pomarine Skua and a single Little Auk (26th). A new arrival was a woodcock by the reservoir (7th). Gibraltar Point NNR Awaited Other sites Awaited. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News 26.12.14 Birds Max numbers: bittern 4 blackbird 40+ black-headed gull 100+ blue tit 10 canada goose 20 carrion crow 4 Cetti's warbler chaffinch 7 common gull 50+ coot 163 cormorant 3 curlew 15dunnock 6fieldfare 50+ gadwall 21 goldeneye 2 GBB gull great crested grebe 3 great spotted woodpecker 2 great tit 6grey heron greylag goose 100+ herring gull 10 house sparrow 12kestrel kingfisher 2 lapwing 150 LBB gull 4 linnet 2 little grebe 2 long tailed tit 12 magpie 4 mallard 6 marsh harrier M mistle thrush 2 moorhen 6 mute swan 4peregrine pheasant 2 pochard 16 redshank 10 redwing 30 reed bunting 4 robin 10 shoveler 13 snipe 4 song thrush sparrowhawk starling 4000+ tawny owl teal 18 tufted duck 31 water rail 2wigeon 20 willow tit 2 wood pigeon 4 wren 9 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/ *** 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 *** Key links are now being posted on the LNU website. http://www.lnu.org/ This should save space in the Bulletin, Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** 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/ Lincsbirders - Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group http://www.lincsbirders.org/ *** 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. 2014 Indoor meetings: Saturday, January 17th, 2015 Phil Espin, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Bird Club, will be speaking about' 'Rare Breeding Birds in Lincolnshire and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel." 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: bacavanagh - hard bounce - address cleaned john.bland - delivery failed; will not continue trying Roger.Briggs - soft bounce - delivery failed victor.adams - delivery failed; will not continue trying *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Unexplained evidcence of Bigfoot? Mysterious figure lurking in Lincolnshire woods COULD be mystery beast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhx4GpNcSXE Total rubbish? Environment Agency: 7,000 properties to be lost to sea http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30627285 Cinderella wildlife refuges at risk http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2014/12/22/cinderella-wildlife-refuges-risk-new-report-shows-vulnerable-status-england%E2%80%99s-local- Our Living Seas http://www.northseawildlife.org.uk/ Underwater video of animals in the North Sea produced on behalf of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns-jZAZDh3w White-beaked dolphin in the North Sea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haLihv66wFE North Sea clip - seabed: Hermit Crab, Edible Crab, young Cod, Brittle star, seastar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwAesQmNMlo ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/