============================================= || || 18th 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.... *** "If there's spring in winter, and winter in spring, The year won't be good for anything." Unusual number of UK flowers bloom http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30754443 Heads up for Comet Lovejoy. [I expect you can tell I am doing that OU FutureLearn course!] http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/spot-comet-lovejoy-tonight-122920141/ I had hoped to monitor the Beagle landing over Christmas 2003. It is a bit sad to learn that it did get down but seemingly did not deploy fully. Sad too that Prof Pillinger is not about to comment. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30784886 We had some new readers join up last month but we lost a couple of subscribers too. That's always sad, especially if they never had a go at making a contribution. It is reports from readers that provide the interest. Please keep these coming and please do what you can to spread the word and keep up the flow of new subscribers. 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, 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. *** Water Vole Publication Needs Your Support *** Julia Smith sent in the following information: Christine Gregory is a notable Derbyshire author (Brown Hares in the Derbyshire Dales), artist and photographer, and is now writing a new book on water voles in Derbyshire. http://cg.barefoot-hosting.com/about-christine/ The book is being funded by a new method, “crowd funding” which means that members of the public make a commitment to buy the book beforehand and, if sufficient people pledge to purchase, the publishers then go on to produce it. Crowd funding is now commonly used for things perceived to be of ‘niche’ interest. One recent crowd funding success is a company set up to collect and recycle the great islands of floating plastic waste which collect within certain areas of the oceans, thus protecting marine life. You can read more about this story here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29631332 The time period for getting all the requisite members of the public to back the project elapses on Saturday, 17th January, so if you would like to support the publication of the book, please follow this link. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1529155448/water-voles-in-the-derbyshire-dales. If sufficient backers are not found, the book may not be published. [Latest news is that they are very close to the target.] *** FutureLearn Courses *** Choose a category to explore free online courses from leading universities & cultural institutions. Or view all new & upcoming courses. https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/categories *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Sunday 18th Barrow Haven A half-day walk from Barton to Barrow Haven For details contact; Vernon Chapman 01652 66095 Meet at Far Ings Visitor Centre 09:00am start Everybody welcome *** RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch 24-25 January *** Julia Smith sent me a reminder about this. "Join thousands of others and pick an hour over the weekend to discover the wildlife in your garden." https://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/ *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** 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/ 9/01/2015 6 Bewick's Swans, 24 Whooper Swans, Candy Farm, Wroot Pomarine Skua past, 32 Snow buntings, Gibraltar Point 10/01 Bonxie, Little Gull, Gibraltar Point Rough-legged buzzard on post, viewable from Visitor centre, Frampton Marsh 2 Scaup, Freiston Shore at Witham Mouth 11/01 Rough-legged buzzard, viewable from sea wall, Water Pipit, 2 Taiga Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese, Frampton Marsh Long-eared Owl, Deeping Lakes 12/01 Bonxie north over Huttoft Bank Reed Warbler, Marston Sewage Works 38 Twite, 3 Hen Harriers, 2 males, Frampton Marsh 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Deeping Lakes 13/01 Great White Egret in ditch by Decoy Wood with Grey Herons, Friskney 2 Taiga Bean Geese, Spotted Redshank, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 14/1 Reed Warbler, Marston Sewage Works Great Northern Diver, Gibraltar Point Rough-legged Buzzard south over Huttoft Pit 15/1 Great Northern Diver still on sea, Gibraltar Point 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 location: A157 Louth to Burgh on Bain TF 307 871 Jenny and Robert Foster 28.12.14 Roadside verge, one large plant with abundant flowers on topmost branches *** 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 (TF326426) 10/01/15 Roy and Kath Pearson This morning a Sparrowhawk (female) perched on our bird bath and was attacked by a cat. Both fell onto the lawn and the Sparrowhawk gave as good as it got and on freeing itself, flew off. Shortly afterwards we had a count of 32 Starlings one of which was carrying a metal ring on its right leg and a green plastic ring with white lettering on its left leg. Is there a ringer nearby who is doing a colour ringing survey of Starlings? We tried to read the number, but were not successful as the bird kept obscuring the ring in the grass, but it appeared that the first letter was A (or 4) and the last was O. Editor adds: I used the following website to try to track down who might have colour-ringed the bird. You might like to bookmark this site for future use. http://www.cr-birding.org/ The webpage below suggested that Adrian Slater might be the ringer. http://www.cr-birding.org/node/1793 With this information Roy was able to contact Adrian for more information. He writes: Adrian says rings AtoZ were used in his Wyberton garden between 15 & 25 May. We think the middle letter is D which would make it ringed at 15:30 on 23 May 2014. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 9.1.15 Brigg Road farmland TA 106 036 Mr Deptford Kestrel on telegraph pole 12.1.14 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Badger on path through long grass 2am 14.1.15 Trailcam Fox, 22months old, in orchard, midnight, Trailcam 12.1.15. Grey squirrels 2 running across meadow 9.1.15 Grey squirrel feeding with Blackbirds and Fieldfares on fallen fruit 12.1.15 Moles, 2 active on lawn Muntjac m on path across long grass 4am 15.1.15 Trailcam Rabbits 4 early evening in orchard, Trailcam 11.1.15 Woodmouse foraging under Elder, Trailcam 9.1.15 Long-tailed tits 4 now regular visitors since fatballs put out Sparrowhawk catches Chaffinch under feeder 14.1.15 Green caterpillar and orange/brown rove? beetle larva under Pulmonarias 13.1.15 Wild arum shoots 10s 9.1.15 First flowers Common daisy on lawn 12.1.15 Snowdrop 10.1.15 Winter aconite 9.1.15 Caistor Wildlife Area TA 111 015 Jenny Rudd Barn owl flying over at 1pm 12.1.15 DEEPINGS Venue: Vine House Farm – Deeping St. Nicholas (private visit by Peterborough Bird Club) Date: 13/01/2015 1000 to 1300 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, cold. Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Buzzard Carrion Crow Chaffinch Collared Dove Common Gull Coot Corrmorant Dunnock Gadwall Goldfinch Great Tit Greenfinch Green Sandpiper Grey Heron Grey Partrige House Sparrow Jackdaw Jay Kestrel Kingfisher Lapwing Linnet Little Egret Magpie Mallard Mute Swan Pheasant Pochard Red-crested Pochard Red-legged Partridge Reed Bunting Robin Rook Sparrowhawk Stock Dove Tree Sparrow Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Yellowhammer Mammals: Brown Hare Weasel HUTTOFT MARSH 15th January 2015 Dave Miller Lapwing 21 Reed Bunting 1 LANGRICK R. Parsons 11/01/2015 Dead adult badger at roadside by Langrick Telephomne Exchange. West side of B1192, TF262484 LINCOLN Doddington Park, Lincoln 12/1/15 John Farmer A good number of birds in our garden this morning: Great spotted woodpecker 1m 1f Blackcap 1f Treecreeper 1 Coal tit 1 Blackbird 9 Robin 2 Wood pigeon 3 Wren 1 Long-tailed tit 10 Blue tit 3 Great tit 2 Magpie 1 Crow 1 Jay 1 Dunnock 2 Chaffinch 4 Goldfinch 1 in pond Goldcrest 1 in pond Bullfinch 1m Black-headed Gull 1 Also 1 Daffodil in flower NORTH HYKEHAM Colin Green Week ending 9/1/2015 An unusual sighting so far are two Jays. Have seen them 3 times now on a tree outside the sitting room window. 06 Jan 2015 - 1 x Peacock butterfly in back garden. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 09.01.15 Starling x 1 on roof top 12.01.15 Weasel x 1. Sitting near an upstairs window, I became aware of some kind of mammal movement near the eaves and disappearing under the roof tiles, where the sparrows live. Two distressed sparrows were hovering in flight nearby. About 2 minutes later a weasel emerged (without prey), and climbed down the house wall as if it was in familiar territory. In spring, about 2 years ago, I had suspected a squirrel of such a feat, but now I've had a clear view of the intruder, I could convince myself it was the same species. We have been hearing noises in the loft this winter that sounded as if they came from something larger than our regular woodmice, so perhaps this wasn't the weasel's first visit. 13.01.15 Grey Heron 14.01.15 Female House Sparrow carrying a feather in its beak (nest building or repairs?) 3 Brown Rats (including one youngster) in vicinity of bird feeders. 15.01.15 The single Common Gull still spends several hours every day in the adjacent pasture with hardly any other birds for company, except the odd pheasant. SANDILANDS PIT 15th January 2015 Dave Miller Blackbird 1 Cormorant 1 Gadwall 2 (pair) Magpie 1 Starling 5 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner 31/12/14 Smew x 1 male SK802991 01/01/15 Blackbird x 7 Chaffinch x 1 Collared Dove x 5 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 52 Herring Gull x 6 Kestrel x 1 Lapwing x 1 Magpie x 2 Moorhen x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Redwing x 5 Robin x 2 Rook x 51 Tree Sparrow x 18 Wood Pigeon x 7 Wren x 1 03/01/15 fresh mole hills SK814991 04/01/15 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 15 Blue Tit x 2 Brambling x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 5 Fieldfare x 7 Great Crested Grebe x 1 Greenfinch x 15 Kestrel x 2 Magpie x 2 Moorhen x 3 Mute Swan x 2 Redwing x 2 Robin x 2 Tree Sparrow x 2 06/01/15 Barn Owl x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 (calling) Brown Hare x 1 Stoat x 1 07/01/15 Grey Squirrel x 1 SE804003 WADDINGTON Peter Wilson 9th January 2015 Just spotted the first aconites I've seen this year in my garden in Waddington High Street. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 11/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Only birds of interest today were a Cormorant and two Lapwings. Since the "For Sale" sign went up, many people have been onto the site and disturbance has increased. Unfortunately visitors have established new footpaths into areas we tend to leave alone. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 8/1/2015 Dead Woodmouse 9/1/2015 Dead brown rat, Dead Bank vole. 10/1/2015 Dead Common Shrew 11/1/2015 Dead bank vole also 11/1/2015 Common Buzzards seen at approx : Castle Dyke Bank TF245524 9.30am [RP] Hurnbridge Road TF231528 9.45am [RRP] 13/01.2015 Barn Owl in Hedge on Castle Dyke Bank TF245524 at about [RP] 2pm. 14/1/2015 Barn Owl near Dogdyke at 7.30am - TF214554 [RP] Fox and 2 Brown Hares seen in Hurnbridge Road at 4.30pm at TF217536 15/1/2015 Buzzard seen at TF231528 and TF 235528 at 2pm approx.[AP] WOLLA BANK CAR PARK 15th January 2015 Dave Miller Stonechat 1 Anderby Marsh is very wet and has large numbers of Lapwing, curlew and starling. WRANGLE COMMON 11/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A BirdTrack count today in very strong winds produced thirty-one species. A Buzzard was the only raptor present, but waders were well-represented by thirty-three Curlew plus 3 Snipe. Curiously only seven Mallard were seen, but seven Greylags have returned, whilst Moorhens numbered eight, an increase on recent counts. The sunflowers have now finished, but many birds are still on the thistle and seed-rich fields – Corn Bunting (1), Skylark (10), Meadow Pipit (9), Yellowhammer (20), Reed Bunting (10) Goldfinch (3) and Tree Sparrow (60 - at least). Given the difficulty of identifying small passerines carried on strong winds at distance, we regard these species as undercounted. Blackbird numbers had dropped to twenty-one and only two Redwings were present. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 December 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh The Glossy Ibis remained until the first hard frosts (7th), a stay of 177 days. Whooper Swans increased to a peak of 61 (30th), accompanying them were up to three Bewick’s Swans (31st). Pink- footed Geese also increased to a record 1226 (23rd). Two European White-fronteed Geese and a hybrid Black Brant were also present. Wigeon also reached record numbers with 4690 (5th). The locally wintering Rough-legged Buzzard was seen on occasion. Waders included up to 8000 Golden Plovers, Spotted Redshank, Woodcock and up to 85 Ruff. Just two Twite were seen. Lapland Buntings were recorded on two dates with up to eight Snow Buntings more regularly seen. RSPB Freiston Shore A Slavonian Grebe was offshore early in the month (1st & 9th), while one or two Common Scoters and two Red-throated Divers were seen offshore on two dates. A first-winter Little Gull flew past towards the end of the month (28th). A Snow Bunting was seen on one date (9th), but a pair of Stonechats were present throughout. Gibraltar Point NNR Three Bewick’s Swans were seen (2nd). Whooper Swans were seen on two dates, with a peak of four. 1500 Pink-footed Geese was the peak monthly count (5th) and one European White-fronted Goose was seen (5th). Offshore records included two Long-tailed Ducks (2nd), impressive counts of 81 Pomarine and 11 Great Skuas (2nd) and 42 Red-throated Divers (16th). Single Great Northern Divers were seen on three dates, with a Slavonian Grebe on one (16th). Little Auks were seen on two dates, with a peak of three (2nd). A Rough-legged Buzzard (28th), Cetti’s Warbler and Waxwing (16th) ere all single day visitors. Up to 55 Snow Buntings were regular on the beach (8th) with single Lapland Buntings reported on four dates. Other sites Two Bewick’s Swans were at Nocton Fen (7th). Whooper Swans were more widely reported with peak counts of 55 at Holbeach Marsh (26th) and 36 at Nocton Fen (28th). Two European White-fronted Geese were at Deeping Lakes (14th-17th). The only Bittern reported was at Whiby Nature Park (27th). A Rough-legged Buzzard was at Helpringham Fen (from 15th), while a Caspian Gull was at Croft Marsh (4th). An unusual winter record was at Turtle Dove in a Lincoln garden (from 17th). A Firecrest at Gosberton Clough was a unfortunate Christmas day cat casualty (25th). A Bearded Tit at Whisby Nature Park (6th), was the first reserve record. Cetti’s Warblers were at Marston STW (9th) and Bardney Pits (14th). 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 09.01.15 Birds Max numbers: bearded tit 6bittern 2 blackbird 40+ black-headed gull 100+ blue tit 7 canada goose 10 carrion crow 2 Cetti's warbler 2 chaffinch 5 common gull 20+ coot 90 cormorant 5 curlew 2dunlin 30 dunnock 6fieldfare 22 gadwall 14 goldeneye 6goldfinch 4 GBB gull great crested grebe 2 great spotted woodpecker great tit 6grey heron greylag goose 6 herring gull 2 house sparrow 10kestrel kingfisher 2 lapwing 100+linnet 2little grebe 2 long tailed tit 6 magpie 4 mallard 8 marsh harrier M mistle thrush 2 moorhen 6 mute swan 4pheasant 3 pochard 12 redshank 10 redwing 8 reed bunting 4 robin 10 shoveler 4 snipe 8 song thrush sparrowhawk starling 2000+ teal 8 tufted duck 12 water rail 2wigeon 30 willow tit 2 wood pigeon 5 wren 7 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/ *** 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: john.bland - hard bounce - cleaned victor.adams - hard bounce - cleaned jill.hardy - soft bounce *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Dambusters bomb shelters used for bat roosts at Tattershall Carrs http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-30828736 Fingerprints 'breakthrough' for wildlife crime investigators http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30802401 Rate of sea-level rise 'steeper' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30816143 Hercules Firing Flares At Donna Nook, While The Seals Enjoy The Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hnhYAGgpPs Chinook and Grey Seals at Donna Nook 24th November 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FijN_yiMMDg Seal pups at Donna Nook Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire Coast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuKdRQyTnf0 Turbo: Goes Bombing at RAF Donna Nook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyp_rXL3N_8 Uber-tidy bees defend their hives from disease http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26774-ubertidy-bees-defend-their-hives-from-disease.html#.VLA_Nsn568A Bats eavesdrop on feasting neighbours to find food http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26760-bats-eavesdrop-on-feasting-neighbours-to-find-food.html#.VLBAGsn568A ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/