============================================= || || 25th 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.... *** I noted what I took to be a deer on the west side of the A153 just north of Horncastle sewage works at approx TF262675. It was too much of a wreck for me to identify at speed, and a dangerous spot to stop and check. Maybe another reader got a better look at it. Each week, after sending the Bulletin out, I post a text version on the following webpage: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html This is so readers and LNU recorders can, if they wish, access a simple, easy-to-use archive of past reports. It also means if you have web access but no email, you can still get at a copy of the Bulletin. I often wonder how helpful this is and whether anyone uses it. Please tell me if you do. I have just been admiring the Mammal Society's Species Hub. Have a look. You may find it worth bookmarking. http://www.mammal.org.uk/species_hub I was trying to find a website setting out field identification of dog foxes and vixens to include in the bullein. Has anyone got one to recommend? 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. *** Bee diseases *** Commercial bees threaten wild bees, say researchers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30831257 Editor adds: Not a surprise when you consider the impact that parasites of wild bees, such Varroa, have already had on managed honeybee stocks. Bee diseases can be transferred during foraging visits between bee colonies. I have often seen wild bee species visiting my bee hives. Bee parasites can and do act as vectors of bee pathogens. Wild bee species will have been selected to cope with well-adapted parasites or diseases. However, when transferred to a "naive" species these may well act in a more virulent way. What is needed is maximum time and opportunity for natural selection and evolution to work. There will be few wild bee colonies in Britain which cannot interact with a managed domesticated colony, given a foraging radius of 3 miles. Stricter biosecurity rules are important, as is the need for individual beekeepers to act responsibly. In the early days of Varroa there was speculation about certain individuals deliberately moving infested bee stocks to hasten country-wide infestation, so movement restrictions could by discontinued. They argued that surrender to the disease was the only logical response, as that was the inevitable outcome. Changes in the dstribution the parasite was strongly supportive of this notion. For Bee pests and Maps see: http://www.nationalbeeunit.com/index.cfm? *** 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/ On Thursday 12th February 2015 at 7.30pm. we invite you to join us for a presentation By Santiago Bejerano on Hummingbirds. This will take place at The Robert Hardy Building, Bishop Grosseteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln. RSPB members and students £3.00 Non members £4.00. *** 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/ 16/1 18 Bewick's Swans, 135 Whooper Swans, east of Wroot, south of Alderfen Fisheries, viewed from Idle Bank Road. Reed Warbler, Marston sewage Works Black Brant adult with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Donna Nook 6 Whooper Swans, Denton Reservoir Lapland bunting, Hen Harrier, Donna Nook 17/1 Long-eared Owl on island from hide, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese on main lake with Greylags, Deeping Lakes 5 Bewick's Swans with 55+ Whooper Swans, Huttoft Bank 2+ Bewick's Swans 100+ Whooper Swans, Idle Bank, Wroot Reed Warbler, Marston sewage Works Great White Egret, ditch at bend of chursh Lane, Mablethorpe 32 Whooper Swans, Frampton Marsh 18/1 Water Pipit, opposite Ness Hide, Far Ings 5 Snow Buntings, 2 Taiga Bean Geese over, Glossy Ibis, Frampton Marsh 39 Snow buntings, main beach, south side, Skegness Long-eared Owl, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Deeping Lakes 19/1 Long-eared Owl, on island viewed from, main hide, Deeping Lakes Reed Warbler, Marston sewage Works Glossy Ibis, Frampton Marsh 20/1 Long-eared Owl, on island viewed from, main hide, 2 Whooper Swans on main lake, Deeping Lakes 10 Bewick's Swans 133+ Whooper Swans, Idle Bank, Wroot 2 Water Pipits, 5 Snow Buntings, 34 Twite, male Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 21/1 Hen Harrier fem, 2 Short-eared Owls, Tetney Marsh 13 Bewick's Swans 103 Whooper Swans, Idle Bank, Wroot 22/1 Black Brant with 1000 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Donna Nook Long-eared Owl, on island viewed from, main hide, Deeping Lakes 23/1 2 Water Pipits, Frampton Marsh Scaup at Witham mouth 11 Bewick's Swans 135 Whooper Swans, Idle Bank, Wroot 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. OLD BOLINGBROKE TF346656 Robert Walker 21/1/15 Gorse One small lonely bush on hillside on grass verge, but in full flower. OSPREY BOOK Jayne Knight writes: Please may I plug a friend's book? Ospreys in Wales - the First Ten Years. Written by Emyr Evans, Manager of the Dyfi Osprey Project since 2009, who prior to that managed the Glaslyn Osprey Project. The book is well written, well designed and produced with superb photography displayed in stunning colour plates. Available from either Amazon or: www.ospreysinwales.com/ *** 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. ANDERBY MARSH 21st January 2015 Dave Miller Canada Goose 57 Lapwing 53 Shelduck 1 BOSTON 17/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Approx. 350 Pink-footed Geese flew north-west today. BOSTON (TF326426) 21/01/2015 Kath Pearson Bullfinch in garden today. Believed to be first since 1996. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 16.1.15 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Fox chasing rabbit 7.30am. 18.1.15. Trailcam Birds now singing: Blackbirds, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Robins, tits, Wrens. Angle shades moth larva on Aubretia 16.1.15 Micromoth unidentified, under Sowthistle 16.1.15 Buds bursting on Elder, Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, Wild plum 16.1.15 Fungi 18.1.15 Coral spot on dead Silver birch Hairy curtain crust on dead Hawthorn Turkeytail on fallen Alder White brain on dead Pear branch A46 summit near Caistor TA 130 015 Kestrel hovering over field margin 20.1.15 Cherry Holt garden TA 115 015 Jenny Rudd Blackbirds 10-17 daily. Many more than in recent years Hundon Manor Farm TA 116 024 P Robinson Brown hare 17.1.15 Hundon Manor Farm ponds TA 112 026 P Robinson Mute swans 2 pairs on separate ponds 17.1.15 Navigation Lane TA 108 013 Clive Rudd Snipe 17.1.15 CANADA FARM 19/1/2015 R & A Parsons Private poplar plantation off Canada Lane TF223539 Pair of Woodmice inside an occupied beehive - in a nest of chewed up carpet they had constructed over the crown board/ under the roof. I felt mean at evicting them, but I moved their nest under a piece of carpet on the ground so they had an alternative home. Something had left a huge pellet on top of one of the hives. I could dissect it myself. However, perhaps expert would enjoy doing it for me. It is big, and would be big for a tawny owl. I did wonder if it might be from one of the local buzzards. DEEPINGS Deeping High Bank (Crowland Bridge to Deeping Lakes) Date: 18/01/2015 Time: 0915 – 0945 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, very cold Birds: Black-headed Gull Cormorant Fieldfare Great Crested Grebe Little Grebe Mallard Mute swan Pheasant Tufted Duck DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve Date: 18/01/2015 Time: 0945 – 1200 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, cold. Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Canada Goose Chaffinch Common Gull Coot Cormorant Egyptian Gull Fieldfare Gadwall Goldeneye Goosander Great Crested Grebe Great Tit Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull Jackdaw Kestrel Little Egret Long-eared Owl Magpie Mallard Mediterranean Gull Moorhen Mute Swan Pink-footed Goose Pochard Raven Redwing Reed Bunting Robin Rook Sparrowhawk Teal Tufted Duck White-fronted Goose Wigeon HAREBY TF346656 Robert Walker 21/1/15 Kestrel 1 Over the valley toward north end of Sow Dale. also Kestrel 1 at TF339657 In tree at the churchyard in Hareby hamlet. HOLYWELL LAKE Saturday 17th January 1310 - 1440 Holywell Lake WeBS Ian Misselbrook Little grebes 12 Grey heron 1 Mute swans 2 (pair) Greylag Geese 5 Canada Geese 25 Mallard 72 Gadwall 24 Wigeon 6 Teal 2 Tufted Duck 15 Coot 5 Moorhen 20 Kingfisher 1 Black-headed Gull 1 Red Kite 1 Common Buzzard 1 Wood Pigeons Mistle Thrushes 2 Fieldfares 20 Blackbirds Robins Dunnocks Wrens GS Woodpecker Nuthatch Carrion crow Rook Jackdaw Jay 1 Starlings 3 Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Marsh Tits 4 Goldcrest Chaffinches Goldfinches A Stoat ran across the road just west of Irnham HORBLING TF115368 Jane Ostler 16/1/15 Dead badger on side of A52 HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden Robert Walker 14/1/15 Snowdrops First flowers are now appearing. also 15/1/15 Woodmouse 1 Back on the birds peanut feeder as last year, whether it's the same mouse or not, it's certainly a learned behavior how to climb up! HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden) Date 16/1/15 Blue tit 1 Great tits 2 Snowdrops actually in flower 18/1/15 Owl 1 (hooting 8.30pm) Wood pigeons 16 (roosting) 19/1/15 Dunnock 1 Starling 1 21/1/15 Great tits 2 Pheasant 1 Robins 2 (seem to be slightly friendlier towards each other) Starlings 6 22/1/15 Crows 5 (in oak pecking at the branches) Great tits 2 Magpie 1 (landed in oak but chased by one of the crows) Robins 2 Starlings 6 HUTTOFT PIT 17th January 2015 Blackbird 1 Black-headed Gull 11 Blue Tit 3 Buzzard 1 Crow 4 Common Gull 7 Cormorant 1 Greylag Goose 4 Herring Gull 32 Magpie 2 Mallard 1 male Teal 4 Wigeon 37 Wren 1 KIRKSTEAD TF196617 R parsons 22/01/2015 Buzzard on electricity post - 3pm. LINCOLN SK924677 Richard Fox 20.01.2015 Roe Buck and Doe in field on east side of A46 Lincoln Bypass (opposite Whisby Animal Park) LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 24/01/2015 Jayne Knight 20/01/15 Wren foraging through the Honeysuckle and Bay tree. 22/01/15 Noted on several occasions now over the past couple of weeks, a large number of small flying insects which "dance" a foot or so from the wooden shed whenever the temperature rises a little. Tiny little things, but the mass is the size of a football. Assuming they must shelter either in the honeysuckle a few yards away, or if closer, under the roofing felt of the shed. 22/02/15 Song Thrush singing a distance away. Heard around 4.30pm when going to the compost bin. PARTNEY TF404682 Robert Walker 18/1/15 Buzzard 1 On post by A158 roadside near roundabout with A16 late afternoon. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF 309 847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 16.01.15 Faint Robin song. Wren x 2 at dusk 18.01.15 1 Stock Dove feeding among Woodpigeons Mistle Thrush still defending my largest cotoneaster with still about 50% berries left on. The other 2 cotoneasters had been cleared by blackbirds by the end of December. 20.01.15 Starling x 2 Pheasant (m) under bird feeders 22.01.15 Great Tits and Blue Tits calling Long-tailed Tits (heard) SANDILANDS PIT 22nd January 2015 Dave Miller Blackbird 7 Magpie 3 Redwing 20 Muntjac 1 Song thrush 1 Wolla Bank Reedbed WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 17/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Very little present today other than seven Redshank, a Heron and a small whisp of Teal. RIVER WELLAND SPALDING TO BOROUGH FEN R & K Heath 18/1/2015 Buzzard 3 Fieldfare 282 Goosanders 9 Golden Plover 215 Lapwing 292 Coot and wildfowl numbers still low. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 15/1/2015 2 foxes caught on trail camera in garden. 16/1/2015 Buzzard seen at Willow Farm, TF212567 19/1/2015 Buzzard seen in field near Hurnbridge Road TF225532 2pm and 2.45pm. 22/01/2015 Starling singing by next box. 2 seen. WRANGLE COMMON 17/01/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A good BirdTrack count today yielded 34 species. Once again the large field of weeds yielded good numbers of Tree Sparrows (c60), Yellowhammers (46) and Reed Buntings (13). Amongst the wetland birds were Canada Goose (6 , Greylag Goose (16), Mallard (44), Teal (4), Tufted Duck (1), Curlew (30), Mute Swan (2), Heron (1) and Snipe (5). No winter thrushes were seen, but Blackbirds totalled thirty-three. Other birds of interest were Skylark (9) and singles of Sparrowhawk and Great Spotted Woodpecker. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Peter and Janet Roworth, Nige Lound, Cliff Morrison and John Walker. The first snowdrops and aconites are coming into flower after a cold week with several frosts and the coldest air frost of minus 3.5C recorded on the 18th and 20th. Bird sightings this week include Common snipe 43 on saltmarsh,and 12 in Paradise lagoon field, 78 mallard, c 180 wigeon, 20 Shoveler, 58 teal,c 120 rock pipits, 2 stonechats, c 220 twite, 19 snow buntings, 1 short eared owl , 2 barn owl, 1 little owl, 1 tawny owl calling, 2 peregrines, 1 merlin, 4 water rails (heard screaming at dusk) The international swan survey carried out over last weekend along the Lincolnshire coastal strip up to 5 kms inland from Ingoldmells to North Cotes found, whooper swan 152, Bewick swan 6, mute swan 9, all feeding on oilseed rape crops. It's likely a few mute swans in the large drains will have been hidden from view and not counted. A WeBS count last week by Cliff and John covering Pyes Hall to Horseshoe point foreshore found c 1900 oystercatchers - an impressive sight as they roosted at high tide in the bright afternoon sunshine various other species of waders were also feeding along the tide edge and several hundreds of shelduck and dark bellied brents were in the saltmarsh along with dozens of skylarks and rock pipits, illustrating the importance of saltmarshes for winter birds as well as a natural flood defence and a long term carbon sink. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NEWS 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. Bar-headed geese: Highest bird migration tracked http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30799436 Wild seal spotted near Market Deeping http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-30898538 Seal spotted in River Welland in Deeping St James http://www.bournelocal.co.uk/news/local/seal-spotted-in-river-welland-in-deeping-st-james-1-6531573 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/