============================================= || || 26th July 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. If you know someone who would like to receive the Bulletin please send them this webpage link so they can sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php 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 hope some readers managed to take part in the EU Habitats Directive consultation. If not, you may still have time to do so if I get this out promptly this week. See: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/defendnature Also see: Wildlife protection laws 'at risk' http://home.bt.com/news/uk-news/wildlife-protection-laws-at-risk-11363980620469 Your response: Top tips http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/our-campaigns/woods-need-eu/your-response-top-tips/ Paul Money's invaluable book 'Night Scenes 2015' tells us that July has 2 full moons, the second on July 31st. This is sometimes referred to as a 'blue moon' but Paul reminds us that it won't actually appear blue! There is a meteor shower at about the same time, the Southern Delta Aquariids, but this will probably be spoiled by the bright moonlight. You just might get lucky if skies are clear. Let us know if you do. The next Horncastle Astronomy Weekend is fast approaching. See: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/HAW/haw.html If you are visiting reserves like Gibraltar Point, RSPB Wash reserves or Alkborough Flats, you may spot a Spoonbill. See section 2 for recent Spoonbill sightings. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/s/spoonbill/ https://www.birdguides.com/species/species.asp?sp=024026 http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob1440.htm The LNU Field Meetings are going very well. If you have never been to one of these you are more than welcome to come along and see what happens. It is an opportunity to meet members and to see LNU recorders at work in their 'natural habitat'. Thank you for the contributions - very much appreciated. Please keep them coming. Every bit of information helps to make the bulletin more interesting and useful. If you know someone who might like to receive the Bulletin, please send them this link and suggest they sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Don't forget to have a look at: 12. ...and finally..... e.g. 'Drunk' squirrel causes hundreds of pounds of damage. Roger *** LNU Events - full list in section 11 below - guests welcome *** To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php 2015 Field Meetings. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Saturday, August 8, 2015 [Changed from 15th August.] White House Farm, Branston Fen (Courtesy of Peter Lundgren) SE of Lincoln, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 20.30. Park in farmyard at TF085705 (LN3 5UP) which is at end of North Causeway found off the B1190 at Branston Booths. Habitats: Grassland, ditches, arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Reminder - Ray Halstead - Recorder - Fungi *** Request: No records or queries for now, please. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2015 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** Coastal Events with the LWT *** Dave Miller writes 1st & 2nd August I will be running sea watches at Skegness Pier and at the Round-and-Round hide at Anderby Creek. These will run from 10 - 4 both days with the hope of spotting harbour porpoise as part of this national survey in association with Sea Watch Foundation. You are more than welcome to drop in and see how we have done or help with more formal volunteering. Editor's Note: The National Whale and Dolphin Watch takes place from 25th July – 2nd August. You don’t need to have any experience to get involved. You can join organised watches or set up your own with some guidance from the team at Sea Watch Foundation. To find out more please visit: http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw Sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises can easily be submitted online at: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/sightingsform/ *** Report those Jellyfish *** Report your jellyfish sightings: http://www.mcsuk.org/sightings/jellyfish.php *** Great Eggcase Hunt *** Sharktrust Eggcase Hunt - submit your reports here. http://www.sharktrust.org/en/great_eggcase_hunt *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** Note their new website: http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Lesley Robinson, Branch Secretary, writes: Open Day and AGM Sunday 26th July Chambers Farm Wood Education Centre (TF147740) 11am to 1pm walk in the Limewoods. Your opportunity to see White Admirals and other butterflies at close quarters. Light refreshments available in the education centre. 3pm AGM of the Lincolnshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** Members and non-members welcome. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire Programme of events and booking of Wash Trips. *** Find the Grid Reference - always useful *** Chris Manning recommended the following websites to help find grid references. Grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ [Don't forget to scroll down to "And finally ....."] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 16/7 Gull-billed tern past Chapel Point 17/7 10 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Spotted Redshanks on Jackson's Marsh, 2 Montagu's Harriers, Gibraltar Point Temminck's Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 18/7 10 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 19/7 Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes 9 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Temminck's Stint, Frampton Marsh 12 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, 3 Curlew Sandpiper on Jackson's Marsh, 2 Turtle Doves, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Montagu's Harrier, Gibraltar Point Osprey by, Saltfleet Haven mouth, 7 Crossbills over Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Freiston Shore 20/7 10 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Hen Harrier, Roseate Tern, Montagu's Harrier, Black Tern, Gibraltar Point Montagu's Harrier flew over Julian's Bower maze, Alkborough 4 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Freiston Shore Red-crested Pochard ecl. drk, Huttoft Bank Pit 21/7 12 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 4 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 22/7 2 Wood Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpiper, Manby Flashes 8 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 23/7 Spoonbill, Humberston, flew over Peaks Covert 13 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, 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. The stage of flowering is a key observation, from plants with no flowers through the range to plants in full flowering. ROAD KILLS: *** 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. BARTON ON HUMBER TA031233 to BARROW HAVEN TA062236 along Humber bank. Robert Walker 12/7/15 Butterflies:- Red Admiral 2 Speckled Wood 2 Meadow Brown 10+ Small Whites 20+ CAISTOR Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 17.7.15 Wendy Handford Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Fox adult m crossing rough grass 10pm 19.7.15. Trailcam Pheasant m after shedding tail feathers 17.7.15 Wren's nest in Clematis with 3 young 20.7.15 Grass snake's shed skin on greenhouse staging! 20.7.15 2 spot ladybird on Brambles. First 2015 sighting. 21.7.15 Black garden ants flying 23.7.15 Seen while cutting, turning and clearing one wildflower meadow 17 - 18.7.15 Field voles 3 Pigmy shrew 1 Common frog 2 Toads 3 Common hawker dragonflies 3 Meadow browns 10s Ringlets 10s Red-tailed bumble bee nest in soil The Drinker moth Brigg Road TA 110 028 Hedgehog juv roadkill 19.7.15 Gordon Askew and Molly Nafsgar Grimsby Road garden TA 120 014 Hummingbird hawkmoth on Red valerian most evenings this week Wendy Collins Shieling Farm TA 106 027 Blackbirds 4 fledge 20.7.15 Ben Jacob Caistor Sports Ground TA 115 013 Quail possibly, flying over 9.30pm 19.7.15 Friend of Ben Jacob Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 Kestrel f calling to and feeding 2 fledged young on shed roof 22.7.15 CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchonson Carlton le Moorland 16/7/2015 Grey wagtail (first seen around here) Insects seen recently: Privet Hawk Moth Hummingbird Hawk Moth Numerous Meadow Browns Emperor Dragonfly Four firsts for here: Red Damselfly Banded Demoiselle Cleg Yellow-winged Darter (new one for me, but fairly sure of ID) COLSTERWORTH ROAD VERGE RESERVE SK930250 Jane Ostler 22nd July 2015 In a one hour's visit, within a 50 yds stretch of the exposed limestone banks, there were nearly 70 species of plants in flower. The vast majority of these are plants of nutrient-poor calcareous soils. Over the last eight years colonisation after roadworks has been very slow, with negligible grass cover. This has allowed plants like lady's bedstraw, bird's foot trefoil and wild straw- berry to dominate. Wild basil, marjoram, field scabious, St John's Wort, salad burnett and bladder campion all flourish. Tiny plants like Canadian fleabane, fairy flax, eyebright and scarlet pimpernel can flourish. There are also scarcer plants like wild liquorice, kidney vetch and dwarf thistle. The most remarkable feature, especially on a dull morning , was the abundance of insects. It seemed every step disturbed grass- hoppers ( Chorthippus brunneus) and almost every flower was visited by bees (Bombus lapidarius and B.terrestris) or hover- flies( the marmalade fly and the black and white Scaeva pyrastris). There were no common blues but cabbage whites, small whites, small skipper, meadow brown and gatekeeper were all flying. Cinnabar moths were present both as adults and caterpillars on ragwort. It is a sign of the times that I was quite excited to see a single 7-spot ladybird on a plant covered in black aphids. DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 19/07/15 Time: 1400 - 1640 Weather: Sunny periods, warm Observer: Ian Gordon Birds: Black-headed Gull Buzzard Cananda Goose Carrion Crow Chaffinch Common Tern Coot Cormorant Great Tit Great Crested Grebe Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull House Martin Kestrel Lapwing Lesser Black-backed Gull Little Egret Little Grebe Long-tailed Tit Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Pochard Reed Bunting Robin Willow Warbler Rook Song Thrush Tufted Duck Woodpigeon Butterfly: Brimstone Common Blue Gatekeeper Large White Meadow Brown Peacock Ringlet Small White Dragons and Damsels: Azure Damselfly Common Blue Damselfly Common Hawker Emerald Dragonfly White-legged Damselfly FREISTON SHORE RSPB TF399424 Peter Whitcomb 5 July 2015 Avocet - 2 Common Tern - c20 Feral Geese not counted Little Egret - 4 Oystercatcher - c150 Tree Sparrow - 8 Wigeon - 1m Cherry-fruit Moth - dozens FREISTON SHORE RSPB RESERVOIR AREA TF3941 Peter Whitcomb 5 July 2015 Avocet - 27 including fledged young Black tailed Godwit - 14 Corn Bunting - 1sm Green Sandpiper - 1 fly-over Little Egret - 2 Sand Martin - 1 fly-over Teal - 4 Yellow Wagtail - 3 Meadow Brown - 40+ Ringlet - 100+ Small Skipper - 20+ plus a few whites GIBRALTAR POINT NNR Robert Walker 19/7/15 Butterflies:- Small Tortoiseshell 1 Small White 2 Speckled Wood 1 Ringlet 1 Meadow Brown numerous Essex Skipper 4 on Vipers Bugloss ( it was noted from photo taken that the ends of the antennae were black, confirming 'Essex' rather than Small Skipper.) also Cinnabar moths on ragwort all over the reserve. HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden Robert Walker 18/7/15 Butterflies:- Red Admiral 1 Small White 1 Meadow Brown 4 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden unless stated otherwise) Date 17/7/2015 Bats 4 or 6 (move too quickly to know for sure) Great tit 1 Green veined white 1 Date 18/7/2015 Green veined white 2 Meadow brown 1 Date 19/7/2015 Red legged shield bug Pentatoma rufipes 1 (seen on pea wigwam of elder wood) Date 20/7/2015 Frog 1 Great tit 1 Green veined white 1 Large white 1 Peacock butterfly 1 Speckled wood 1 Date 23/7/2015 Poplar Hawk-moth, Laothoe populi 2 (on tomato plant, willow tree close by) RAUCEBY WARREN Peter Whitcomb 6 July 2015 Basil Thyme Bee Orchid Bugloss Common Centaury Common Toadflax Corn Mint Smooth Rupturewort Tuberous Pea and more STAPLEFORD Jeremy Hutchonson Stapleford 15/7/2015 Hobby TATTERSHALL THORPE - Willow Holt Caravan Park lakes TF 199594 19/7/2015 R. Parsons and Coningsby Watch Group. Young grass snake swimming on fishing lake. Brown Frog. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 20/7/2015 Swallows are laying again in the outbuilding - 3 eggs today. 22/7/2014 - 4 eggs now. WRANGLE COMMON 23/07/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A butterfly count today was low on species with only seven recorded, perhaps owing to a lack of sunshine. Counts were :- Small Skipper (5), Large White (10), Small White (9), Speckled Wood (1), Gatekeeper (27), Meadow Brown (35) and Ringlet (15). Birds today yielded 28 species. Of particular interest were a pair of Buzzards, a Gadwall, a Linnet, four Skylarks and four Yellowhammers. The first Green Sandpiper of the autumn was present, but most of the watercourses on the wet grassland had dried-up. A single Great Black- backed Gull was an unusual record here. Surprisingly there was a lack of the more common species with only singles of Wren, Blue Tit and Blackbird being recorded. Many of the songsters are now quiet, but we did see three Reed Warblers and a single Sedge Warbler. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs and S Lincs Highlights including RSPB Wash Reserves RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx http://www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ South Lincolnshire bird sightings Pending. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point News. Reports always welcome. It would be great if a Gib "regular" could let us have a contribution from time to time. See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 and DONNA NOOK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report Week ending ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Limewoods are notable for the few reports we receive for the Bulletin, so you can help by sending in sightings if you visit. Two good links about the Limewoods are: 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 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) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 websites to help find grid references. grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! Anyone interested can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk *** Contacts List *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Website: http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/ *** National Rural Crime Network *** Call for case studies as new website to tackle rural crime is launched. http://www.lincs.police.uk/Advice/Wildlife-and-Rural-Crime/National-Rural-Crime-Network.html See: http://www.nationalruralcrimenetwork.net/ STAYING SAFE No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** EasyTide *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Local Tide Tables *** Here is a useful-looking website where you can order local tide tables. Well worth bookmarking. Everyone who uses the coast ought to have local tide tables handy. £1.50 + p&p. https://www.tidetimes.org.uk/ *** TWO - The Weather Outlook *** Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** Be warned of the possibility of severe weather. The Met Office website now offers an e-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. Worth having a look and signing up. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Care of Sick or Injured Animals - information on LWT website *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/sick-and-injured-animals SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful. http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys The LNU is now represented on the popular iSpot website. A full list of the organisations, recording schemes and societies represented is here: http://www.ispot.org.uk/representatives *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php http://butterfly-conservation.org/ What's That Caterpillar? http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species_family.php?name=all&stage=larva *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/dragonfly-and-damselfly-identification-help *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde writes: Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). I will be organising a few field meetings to hunt for spiders and other arachnids in due course, but if any LNU members wish to get in touch in the meantime then please contact me on my e-mail address: Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com or tel 07864967057 Ashley Butterfield, LNU Reptile and Amphibian Recorder, adds: The recordpool is a joint ARGUK and ARC Trust project that aims to collect herpetofauna data from the uk that might not otherwise be recorded and make it available for conservation purposes. As such you will have access to your own records at full resolution and other records at a lower resolution. You can input reptile and amphibian data at: http://www.recordpool.org.uk/ Please remember, common species are just as important as rarer species, so please give it a go. Please contact Dr Angela Julian ARGUK with any specific questions. angela.digges@clara.co.uk *** 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 *** How to Identify Bees *** BWARS - Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society http://www.bwars.com/ Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Mark Schofield writes: Always consider the provenance and sustainable sourcing of seed. Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. Bee-friendly gardeners should refer to their A-Z suppliers list which can be found here: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing Advice: www.wildlifetrusts.org/Bees-needs/growmore bumblebeeconservation.org/get-involved/managing-your-land/wildflower-seed/ *** Mammal Records *** Mammal records can reported to Chris Manning E-mail: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Identification of Non-Marine Molluscs *** John Redshaw is still available to identify specimens of non- marine shelled molluscs, including brackish marsh species. For larger and medium sized species (down to 1cm) a digital image will usually suffice. For smaller species it may be possible, in some cases, to ID specimens from digital images, but usually actual specimens will be required. If providing specimens, they may be enclosed in old film pots (which photographic shops are usually glad to get rid of). Details of location where specimen found, (with grid reference if known), date and finder's name should be provided. If specimen is provided this information should be noted on a label stuck to the outside of the pot. Please be aware that it is illegal to send live specimens through the post. For further details please contact John by e-mail on ejred7fen@tiscali.co.uk *** Mollusc Identification *** David Feld has also kindly offered to assist readers to identify molluscs, both terrestrial and aquatic. Please e-mail him a description and he will advise you whether and where to send a photograph or an actual specimen. Contact: drf@dfeld.freeserve.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group Update *** Ally Townsend of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital, writes: If you would like to give people the Lincoln number 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website: http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ where a reporting page can be used to send in badger reports. USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk Website: http://www.gnlp.org.uk *** Limestone Grassland Project *** Mark Schofield, Limestone Grassland Project Officer, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. To find out more and to become involved with the survey and management of Lincolnshire's limestone grassland on road verges see: See: http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club *** 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/contacts *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes Project (LCGMP) *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes project produced two films of the Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes. They are based on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) which measures topography accurately. The films reveal many historical and geomorphological features that are not always obvious to the eye. Note that the vertical perspective is exaggerated to enhance the features. Narrated by Jim Broadbent. Watch them here: Southern marshes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhVamd4j6E Northern marshes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZjqzcMFXi8 *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** A dedicated service to protect and enhance the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 01507 609740 http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** Project Officer: Ruth Craig http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering or contact the project officer ruth.craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** The South Lincolnshire Fenlands Partnership *** http://www.lincsfenlands.org.uk/ Contact: slincsfens@lincstrust.co.uk Amanda Jenkins - South Lincolnshire Fenlands Project Officer *** RSPB local webpages *** 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://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group http://www.lincsbirders.org/ Lincolnshire Limewoods Project Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk 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! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 some 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 Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , 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 sometimes withhold precise details 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. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. 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 Field Meetings. Saturday, August 8, 2015 [Changed from 15th August.] White House Farm, Branston Fen (Courtesy of Peter Lundgren) SE of Lincoln, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 20.30. Park in farmyard at TF085705 (LN3 5UP) which is at end of North Causeway found off the B1190 at Branston Booths. Habitats: Grassland, ditches, arable. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, September 06, 2015 Metheringham Delph East of Metheringham, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Parking arrangements still to be finalised. Take minor road off B1189 between Metheringham Habitats: Grassland, river, ditches. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, October 11, 2015 Fungus Foray - TBC TBC - see Wildnews Bulletin, website or contact a member of the Executive Committee for further details. Also see: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) Workshops, in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union July 4th: Grasses Workshop Interested in Plants but would like to know more in particular about Grasses? Come along and find out more with local expert Tim Harvey. August 1st: Bug Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Bugs? Come along and find out more with local expert David Sheppard. September 19th: Spider Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Spiders? Come along and find out more with local expert Imogen Wilde. All workshops will be held in the Lafarge Education Building at Whisby Nature Park from 1:30pm until 4:30pm. They are free of charge and refreshments are included. In conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** A text copy of past Bulletins will be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Latest Mailfails. redpoll dircon - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying bumptydiddle - recipient is not accepting e-mail that contains specific words or phrases. Contact Editor for more information about this. *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Ospreys feeding now! http://www.ospreys.org.uk/webcam/ 'Drunk' squirrel causes hundreds of pounds of damage http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-33541502 Seal rescued from field of cows in Lincolnshire after being separated from mum http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/33613525/seal-rescued-from-field-of-cows-in-lincolnshire-after-being-separated-from-mum Kestrel trapped in car grille in Norfolk http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-33554975 What does rosemary do to your brain? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33519453 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/