============================================= || || 21st June 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.... *** Thank you to the stalwarts who keep sending in contributions. I am impressed that over 1/3 of our 1000+ readers open the Bulletin within 24 hours and 10% of these click on links of interest - higher than the usual charity average! Very pleasing and encouraging. This is the Bulletin for the Summer Solstice. The year is flying by. The Lincolnshire Show is next week, 24th and 25th. The LNU will have a display in the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust tent. Please drop by for a chat. http://www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk/ We hope to see some of you at the next Field Meeting on June 27th. Mark Schofield will be leading us through a range of habitats on Poplar Farm, Low Hameringham. More information below. I have been highlighting some interesting opportunities in recent LNU Bulletins. These include a free Wildflower Identification Field Class, the "Orchid Observers" project, Invertebrate Identification skills and helping with Riverfly Survey - more information on all these below. 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..... There are links to some cracking stories this week! Roger *** Advance Warning of Road Closures - Wolds area - Cadwell Park *** Message sent by Gill Finn (Police & NHWN, Community Safety Officer, Police Headquarters) We have the National Cycle Championships being held at Cadwell Park on the 25th June (Thursday) 2015. We are expecting congestion in the area as attendees arrive for the time trials as well as members of the public wishing to spectate. The cycle trials will be taking place on public roads outside Cadwell Park with road closures in place throughout the day. You are advised to avoid the area between 08:00 and 19:00 where possible. *** 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, June 27, 2015 Poplar Farm, Low Hameringham (Courtesy of Tony Smith) South of Horncastle, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 21.15. Use farmyard for parking at TF305662 Habitats: Various grassland types, marsh, chalk stream Leader: Mark Schofield 07825 970930 mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk *** Free Wildflower Identification Field Class in July *** At Water's Edge Centre, Barton-upon-Humber. Mark Schofield of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and LNU President will be running two Wildflower Identification Field Classes in support of the 'Life on the Verge' project. The class will be from 10am-1pm at the Waters' Edge Centre in Barton-upon-Humber on Saturday 4th July. Beginners and improvers are welcome. A systematic but informal approach to learning wildflowers will be taken. The aim will be to help students remember important local species as well as basic family traits to make identification quicker and more enjoyable by avoiding the frustration of 'picture flicking.' A free wildflower identification booklet will be provided. The third wave of Life on the Verge is being launched this month and hopes to recruit more volunteers to look for important wildflowers on more road verges. This time the focus is the North Lincolnshire Edge - a narrow belt of limestone that follows the A15 north of Lincoln (Ermine Street) past Scunthorpe up to the Humber and includes the rural side roads along the way. It is hoped that more wildflower-rich verges will be discovered to add to those identified south of Lincoln and across the Wolds. This continuation of Life on the Verge is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB, Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Between 2009 and 2013 over 250 volunteers helped to survey over 2,700km of road leading to the designation of 146 new Local Wildlife Sites along 233km of road. This has extended the known network of potential wildlife corridors which can help to safeguard their future management for wildlife and enable a landscape-scale approach to wildlife conservation in the county. To book a place and for more information on the classes please contact Mark Schofield on 01507 526667 / 07825970930, mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk For more information on the project visit www.lifeontheverge.org.uk Address for field class venue: Waterfront, Maltkiln Road, Barton-upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire DN18 5JR http://uk.multimap.com/p/browse.cgi?pc=DN18%205JR Main Reception 01652 631500 Directions: 1. Starting from the A15 follow signs for Barton on the A1077 continue straight ahead on the A1077 at the first roundabout 2. At the second roundabout take the first exit left onto the B1218 towards the station. 3. Bend sharp right and stay on the B1218 now called Fleetgate and continuing to follow signs for the station. 4. Pass Lidl and take the left at the next roundabout still following signs for the station *** 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 *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Adrian White writes: Saturday 27th June Field trip to Bempton RSPB reserve. A day trip to this premier site for seabird colonies. For details contact; Adrian White (01724 732152) Meet at Ness Farm Centre for 9am start. All welcome - Trust membership not required. *** Bempton Cliffs *** Sunday BBC1 - Countryfile - 7.00pm. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b060dndw http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/ *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Lovely writes: On Sunday 28th June 2015 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a guided walk with the wardens around Tetney Blow Wells nature reserve. Please meet outside Tetney Parish church at 2pm. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. All are welcome but no dogs please. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. For further information please contact Clifford Jukes - 01472 814887. *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** Note their new website: http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Lesley Robinson, Branch Secretary, writes: Lincolnshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation Moth Night Saturday 25th July Chambers Farm Wood Education Centre (TF147740) 9:30pm to late See and identify the amazing variety of moths in the Limewoods Please wear warm clothing and bring a torch Open Day and AGM Sunday 26th July Chambers Farm Wood Education Centre (TF147740) 11am to 1pm wallk in the Limewoods. Your opportunity to see White Admirals and other butterflies at close quarters. Light refreshements 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. *** Mermaid's Purses - request for records. *** Dave Miller writes: If anyone is visiting the coast could they please look out for mermaid's purses. Take a picture and send to me, with location, at: dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** 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 ....."] Woodland Trust’s annual ‘Tree of the Year’ competition. http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/tree-of-the-year/ any ideas? The Bowthorpe Oak perhaps? Believed to be over 1000 years old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSpRBU1_8Uw *** NHM 'Orchid Observers' Project on Zooniverse *** Photograph orchids to support climate change research. Orchid Observers is a new project bringing together photography, biological recording and the online analysis of museum specimens to better understand the effects that climate change is having on flowering times of UK orchid populations. You can photograph orchids anywhere in the UK between now and September and upload your images to the website where you can also analyse flowering dates of museum specimens. http://www.orchidobservers.org Also see: Orchid spotters are helping to map climate change http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150520-orchid-spotters-help-map-climate-change *** Volunteers needed to help with Riverfly Survey *** Clare Sterling writes: Fiona McKenna, Project Officer for the Lincolnshire Rivers Trust has asked me to pass on the details of some riverfly training days they are running. Their project will follow the standardised methods set out by the national Riverfly Partnership. http://www.riverflies.org/ They are currently looking for volunteers who can dedicate one hour a month to collect invertebrate samples in a local watercourse within the Barlings Eau catchment. If you live nearby and are interested please get in touch! Full training will be provided by a very experienced Riverfly trainer and full kit will be provided free of charge. Training days will take place on Saturday 25th July and Sunday 26th July 2015 at Sudbrooke (near Nettleham) Village Hall. Please contact Project Officer Fiona McKenna: lincsrivers@gmail.com or phone 07895423983" Website: http://lincsrivers.co.uk/ *** Improve your Invertebrate Identification skills. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) 2015 Workshops, in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union are listed below in section 11. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. Scroll down for more information below in section 11. Events Diary. *** National Whale and Dolphin Watch *** 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/ You can also find out more information about the work of the charity and download species fact files too. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 14/6 Golden Oriole in plantation, 7 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Poin spotted Redshank, Parsdise Pool, Saltfleet Little Stint, 3 Garganey, Frampton Marsh 15/6 Little Gull 1s flew north past, Montagu's Harrier 1s male, 7 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 14 Crossbills in pines by Dog Kennel Wood, Market Rasen 16/6 10 Bee Eaters over Tetney Marsh 17/6 2 Garganey 1 drk, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh Montagu's Harrier 1s male, 3 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Marsh, Little Gull, 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: BILLINGHAY TF 1535 5489 Peter Morrell 17.06.15 Hedgehog road kill on the High Street. GAINSBOROUGH SK 8263 9048 18.06.15 Peter Morrell Hedgehog road kill on the Corringham Road. HABROUGH TA 1552 1413 Peter Morrell 14.06.15 Badger road kill on A180. MESSINGHAM SK 8814 0439 Peter Morrell 13.03.15 Hedgehog road kill on North Moor Lane A631. STURTON BY STOW SK 8910 7970 Peter Morrell 13.06.15 Hedgehog road kill on the B1241. WILLOUGHTON SK 9370 9307 Peter Morrell 13.06.15 Hedgehog road kill on the B1398. WILLOUGHTON SK 9395 9369 Peter Morrell 17.06.15 Badger road kill on the B1398. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BOSTON (South by A16) 16/06/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson We were in the garden today when we heard distressed cries of a Peregrine. The bird was about a quarter of a mile from us and as we watched a second Peregrine flew up to join it. Both birds then attacked a Buzzard flying south-east across the river. All three birds joined in quite spectacular aerobatics until they disappeared from view. About one hour later, one of the Peregrines appeared again and attacked a Lesser Black-backed Gull, which took evasive action and the two were still sparring when they disappeared behind some trees. BOSTON Boston garden TF 34727 42845 Julia Jaques. 17.06.15. Hummingbird hawk moth on geranium flowers. BOSTON (South by A16) 18/06/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson First Hummingbird Hawk Moth of the year in the garden. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington Huttoft TF512763 (my garden unless otherwise stated) Date11/6/15 Blue tits 3 - the chicks fledged but not sure how many there were Chaffinch 1 Dunnock 2 Song thrush 1 Date 14/6/15 Barn owl 1 TF523777 Hares 5 TF524765 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Date 15/6/15 Chaffinch 1 Red admiral butterfly 1 Robins 4 (2 fledglings) Speckled wood butterflies 2 Wrens 4 (3 fledglings) Date 16/6/15 Blackbirds 6 (4 fledglings) Frog 1 Great tits 2 Greenfinch 2 Mouse 1 Red admiral 1 Robins 5 (3 fledglings) Speckled wood 1 Date 17/6/15 Greenfinch 2 LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 20/06/2015 Jayne Knight 10/05/15 Swifts first sighted overhead. 13/06/15 Male Bullfinch has returned once more to the back garden and can be observed a number of times a day on the sunflower heart feeders. 16/06/15 Number of bumblebees noticed going in and out gap on corner of bedroom bay window belonging to house at the junction of Beaumont Fee and Park Street. Searched for a body, found one, which was Bombus hypnorum. Sorry no actual date recorded but a few weeks ago, Tawny Mining Bee feeding on Alkanet in front garden. Photograph taken by Su Colman. Spiders: Pholcus Phalangioides occupying parts of the kitchen again, plus Clubonia corticalis set up residence in gap of kitchen window frame. The Black Garden Ant, Lasius niger, has occupied one of the compost bins and the nest is almost 3ft high inside. I try to avoid disturbing the pile of fine soil if possible and I can observe the ants moving around within the bin, sometimes carrying pupae in their jaws. Next door to the compost bin is the bird bath, initially part of the black ant territory, but then was very pleased to see the Yellow Meadow Ant, Lasius flavus, moving about the runs. Then, a week or so later, very curious to note that the black and yellow ants were sharing the space. Have seen turf wars in the past between the two species, black ants usually the victors. OWMBY BY SPITAL TF 0147 8759 Peter Morrell 14.06.15 Little owls. 1 adult and 1 chick seen nesting in stone wall. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 12.06.2015 Pied Wagtail 16.06.2015 Returning from 3 days' absence, I found 2 more House Martin nests collapsed in their entirety. Not sure what caused this (no sign of any eggs among debris). The pair in the nest that was (presumably) attacked last week are roosting in it and seem to have started rebuilding. 17.06.2015 Common Newt x 6 in pond (2 seen mating) Grey Partridge x 2 feeding in pasture 21.30 hrs: Barn Owl hunting over meadow in daylight 18.06.2015 Peacock butterfly x 1 Red-tailed Bumblebee nest under steps where we had voles last year. RIVER WITHAM R.Witham, between Short Ferry and Bardney Lock John Hiscox, Monday June 15th 2015. On a piece of floating debris, Red-eared Terrapin, 20 cm. across. Heard and saw Cuckoo, not many of those about. Also, Hardy Gang Wood, NO Turtle Dove or Woodcock this year. First time since 1984. SPILSBY 09.06.15 Mick Todd I invited a local licensed bird ringer to ring kestrel chicks in a nest box in a field. There were 6 chicks, the youngest was in pin and the other 5 were just showing feather. All looked healthy though there was a noticeable size difference between them, which is normal. We then went over to Freiston to check on a barn owl nest, it contained 3 chicks but they were still too small to ring. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 12/06/15 Barn Owl x 1 hunting 7.30am SE8201, x 1 with small vole / mouse Brimstone Moth x 1 on security light 13/065 Moorhen x 1 Peregrine falcon x 1 male, High Mellwood 14/06/15 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Kestrel x 4 chicks, eyes just open Magpie x 7 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin nest with 4 eggs Starling x 7 Swallow x 6 + 2 nests with 5 eggs each Tree Sparrow 1 nest 5 eggs, 1 nest 1 egg + 4 young Whitethroat x 2 Wood Pigeon x 7 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Common Frog x 2 Large Red Damselfly in conservatory Bombus hypnorum colony in bird nest box 16/06/15 Barn Owl x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 17/06/15 Coot x 2 pr. with 4 downy young each SK8099 Brown Rat x 1 dead on road SK805997 18/06/15 Blackbird x 1 Coot x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 with grubs in bill Skylark x 1 Swallow x 2 Swift x 7 Tree Sparrow x 2 Brown Hare x 3 Rabbit x 1 Silver-ground Carpet x 1 on security light WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 12/6/2015 Painted lady. 17/6/2015 Hummingbird Hawkmoth Cuckoos still calling daily at Swintons Farm TF2153 and Canada Farm TF2253 18/6/2015 Painted Lady Red-tailed bumblebees apparently nesting in old wash house behind the "copper". Nestlings in swallow nest in outbuilding. 19/6 3 stock doves under feeder, one a juv. WRANGLE COMMON 15/06/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A BirdTrack count today gave thirty species, but waist high grass made counting on the ponds on the wet grassland difficult, so some birds were probably not recorded. The Great Spotted Woodpeckers have successfully raised young, as have the Lapwings, but the Common Terns seem to have failed. At least four broods of Tree Sparrows have fledged and they are nesting in the boxes again. A Buzzard was hunting, but no other raptors were recorded. A few summer visitors were still in song - Blackcap, Chiffchaff and both Reed and Sedge Warblers. A Kingfisher was on the lake. Butterflies were Speckled Wood, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Large White, Small White, Painted Lady, Red Admiral and Small Copper. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gibraltar Point News. Reports always welcome. 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 11th – 18th June 2015 Contributors: Peter Roworth, Janet Roworth, Nigel Lound, John Walker, Cliff Morrison 10th June Of note today were a Jay and Hobby at Rimac and a total of 7 Burnet Companion moths. Other moths recorded were: Brown Rustic, Green Carpet, Cinnabar, Common Swift, Common Marbled Carpet, Barred Straw, Common Carpet, Buff Ermine, Clouded Silver, Clouded Border, Garden Carpet, Small Square Spot, Freyer’s Pug and V Pug. 11th June A minimum of 5 Cuckoo seen at Rimac. Two Mother Shipton and a Silver Y moth were in grasses near Churchill Lane. 13th June Spotted redshank at Paradise pool, also present on 14th. 14th June A cold day and only bird of note was a summer plumage Spotted Redshank on Paradise Pool. One butterfly seen all day, no doubt due to the cold and wind. 16 Sandwich Terns feeding from outer beach over the sea. 15th June Three Common Buzzards circling high on thermals over the NNE and a male Marsh Harrier over. At least 12 red admirals on wing around Sea View plus single painted lady. 16th June Butterflies seen today were large skipper, red admiral, painted lady, common blue, meadow brown, speckled wood, large skipper and peacock. Most were very fresh. Male Bullfinch and a Lesser Whitethroat seen and heard near Sea View. 17th June Moths recorded today were: Cinnabar, Middle-barred Minor, Barred Straw, Common Wainscot, White Ermine, Brown Rustic, Mottled Beauty, Yellow Shell and Clouded Silver. A Quail was in song at Crook Bank just after first light and 4 Turtle Dove between Brickyard and Mablethorpe North End. Pretty quiet day on the whole, the only sign of any visible migration was 137 Swift heading south in small groups. Plants in flower on the reserve include: Elder, bittersweet, yellow rattle, lady’s bedstraw, sea pink, marsh bedstraw, cotton grass, common meadow rue, germander speedwell, self heal, hemlock, hogweed and common sorrel. The first of the bee orchids are also now coming into flower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Far Ings News W/E 19.06.15 Birds: avocet 10 barn owl bearded tit 2 bittern blackbird 12 blackcap 8 black headed gull 50+ blue tit 20 canada goose 35 carrion crow 2 cetti's warbler 4 chaffinch 10 chiffchaff 8 common gull common tern 8 coot 35 dunnock 6 gadwall 2 goldfinch 6 GS grebe 2 GS woodpecker great tit 12 greenfinch 2 grey heron greylag goose 150 house martin 20 house sparrow 6 kestrel kingfisher LBB gull lesser whitethroat 4 little ringed plover 2 long tailed tit 8 magpie 4 mallard 25 marsh harrier 2 mistle thrush moorhen 4 mute swan 5 oystercatcher 2 peregrine pochard 6 reed bunting 5 reed warbler 30+ robin 8 sand martin 6 sedge warbler 12 shelduck 2 song thrush sparrowhawk starling 4 swallow 100+ swift 200+ tufted duck 11 water rail 3 whitethroat 10 willow warbler 8 wood pigeon 4 Wren 9 See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The 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, June 27, 2015 Poplar Farm, Low Hameringham (Courtesy of Tony Smith) South of Horncastle, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 21.15. Use farmyard for parking at TF305662 Habitats: Various grassland types, marsh, chalk stream Leader: Mark Schofield 07825 970930 mschofield@lincstrust.co.uk Saturday, July 11, 2015 Thorne (Beehives) Ltd Rand West of Wragby 12.00 for 13.00 start. Use car park at TF106787 (LN8 5NJ) which is off minor lane northwards off A158 (about 500m on right past Rand Farm Park entrance). Habitats: Broadleaved woodland, wildflower meadows, gardens, ponds and lakes. Leader: Charlie Barnes 01507 526667 charlie@cucaera.co.uk 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 - see notes above. jeff goodley - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying maria phipps - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying viv hartwell - soft bounce - Over quota - permanent fatal errors k.skingles - soft bounce - Over quota - permanent fatal errors redpoll dircon - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Bitterns breed for first time at Attenborough Nature Reserve http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-33052628 Twyford Wood set to reopen after rave clean-up http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-33114511 Numbers show threatened bittern is booming again - RSPB http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33167904 Hen Harrier Day - Saturday 8th August 2015 in Buxton http://henharrierday.org/ Robin announced as nation's favourite bird http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tf58r Protect more bee species to safeguard crops, say scientists http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33148362 Nocturnal hawkmoths can track and feed from wind-blown flowers thanks to a perfect adaptation to their movement http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150610-hawkmoth-slows-brain-to-hover-and-see-in-the-dark Juvenile camels 'key source' of Mers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33096263 Rosetta's lander Philae has woken up after seven months in hibernation http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_s_lander_Philae_wakes_up_from_hibernation WW2 Lancaster bomber returns from Germany to home base http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-33153337 Peterborough Nene toad in toilet rescue http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-33139729 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/