============================================= || || 15th March 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.... *** 31 members attended the AGM and, after dealing with the business of the meeting, enjoyed an excellent review of changes in the county's dragonfly and damselfly populations. The AGM of the Lincolnshire Bird Club is detailed below and takes place on March 24th. Charlie Barnes has asked us to continue the hunt for Oil Beetles. See his note below. It would be wonderful to find them this year. I can think of many examples of environmental initiatives in the county which would make good candidates for the 2015 Lincolnshire Environmental Awards. The deadline for applications is 31st March. Scroll down for details. Heads up for a partial solar eclipse this month: Friday 20th March, starting 8.27hrs, mid-eclipse 9.33hrs, finishing 10.42hrs as given in Paul Money's useful "Night Scenes 2015". BBC 1 will be covering it live on TV in a Stargazing Special - Eclipse Live starting 9am. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b019h4g8 Never view the Sun directly. You need to be properly protected when watching solar eclipses. This means proper safe solar viewers or some form of projection like a solarscope. I am told the BAA has now sold out of solar viewers. Weather permitting, I plan a breakfast of coffee & croissants in the garden, wearing my solar viewers. A big thank you to everyone who has given the LNU Bulletin a "plug". Most Bulletin readers [98%] are from the UK, of course, but it is interesting to see how widely read it is across Europe, with Spain, Holland, Portugal, France, Switzerland & Italy featuring most weeks. We usually have interest from the USA and Canada too, and this week it was also read in Australia - someone on holiday perhaps? Feel free to send this webpage link to friends who might like to join the Bulletin mailing list: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Thanks. Roger p.s. Don't forget to look at "12 ....and finally......" *** Cistercian Thought for Lent *** Amedeus of Lausanne [1110 - 1159] "...who will explain the nature of a gnat? How does it spread its wings and move its legs? What of its tiny eyes and the shape of its head? How was its body formed, and the proboscis so exceedingly fine that it is sometimes invisible to the eye, yet pierced and hollow so that it can fill with sucked blood the minute body of this speck of life? If your reasoning powers are unequal to examining the gnat, you should blush at searching out higher and harder matters to investigate." *** LNU Events - full list in section 11 - guests are welcome *** To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php 2016 Field Meetings. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Sunday, April 26, 2015 Little Haw Wood - (Courtesy of Forestry Commission) Southwest of Castle Bytham, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in turning area off track near west end of Clipsham Wood at SK9703 1705. Take minor road between Clipsham and Castle Bytham to reach Clipsham Wood. NB. There is about a 800m walk to Little Haw Wood from the parking spot. Habitats: Mixed Woodland. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Lincolnshire Bird Club *** Andrew Chick writes: The Lincolnshire Bird Club invites you to The Admiral Rodney, Horncastle at 7.30pm on Tuesday, March 24th 2015 for a talk on Man and Birds by Mark Cocker We are pleased to announce our speaker will be Mark Cocker, the well-known author, naturalist and environmental activist who writes and broadcasts on nature and wildlife in a variety of national media. He is a co-founder of New Networks for Nature, an eco-organisation that asserts the central importance of landscape and nature in British cultural life. For the last 35 years his home has been Norfolk, where his time is divided between the county's celebrated wildlife, an organic allotment and the restoration of a small wooded fen. His recent book Birds and People, is a hugely acclaimed survey of the cultural importance of birds worldwide and it is on that subject he will be speaking to LBC. The committee are all looking forward to this opportunity to listen to a top class wildlife speaker in the county and I hope you will find the evening a hugely enjoyable one. The talk will be followed by the Annual General Meeting (members only). *** Find that Grid Reference *** Chris Manning recommended the following website to help you find grid references. Really straightforward to use. Have a go. http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2015 *** Do you know any environmental projects that deserve recognition? The deadline for entries in the Lincolnshire Environmental Award 2015 is 31 March 2015. To learn more, visit the website: http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** Reminder - Ray Halstead - Recorder - Fungi *** Request: No records or queries for now, please. *** Oil Beetles - Eyes Down - Records Please *** Charlie Barnes writes: Following the plea in the Wildnews Bulletin for sightings of oil beetles in 2012, it was a pleasure to confirm their existence in Lincolnshire. Adults will begin to start emerging in the coming weeks. If you would be interested in looking for oil beetles in your area you can either get in touch for more information or just take a camera with you when out walking and snap anything that's big and black! To get an idea of what you're looking for take a look at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyUmfao With the paucity of records in Lincolnshire we have no "hot-spots" to concentrate on - they could be just about anywhere! As a rule, oil beetles like firm bare ground so road verges, footpaths or tracks are ideal. If you think you've seen one, let us know! Charlie Barnes County Recorder for Beetlers charlie@cucaera.co.uk *** Wanted: Carex - the soap not the plant! *** The pump action Carex soap dispensers use the same lid fitting as most drinks bottles - I can reuse this lid fitting for entomological traps (and recycle the remainder). I am keen to acquire as many (empty) pump action dispensers as possible! If anyone uses these dispensers and would like one small part to be reused, let me know - collection & delivery can be arranged (e.g. at LNU field meetings). Other brands may also work - but are as yet untested. Charlie Barnes County Recorder for Beetles charlie@cucaera.co.uk *** Annual Bat Alert! *** Annette Faulkner writes: I think I should have sent my email a week earlier! On Saturday (7th) I decided to take my detector with me when we went into Spalding for a concert. We live by the River Welland, and walking home at 10pm had one common pipistrelle foraging over the river at TF245218. Since then I have received two more records for the same night, so do keep a look out and send your records in to the Bulletin. (And don't forget to keep your eyes open for any in trouble - we always have some at this time of year.) Thanks. Annette's piece from last week follows, in case you need a reminder: Bats will start emerging from hibernation in the next couple of weeks, so keep a look out for them over your gardens. I would be most interested in early records. Depending on the weather they will be dipping in and out of hibernation until well into April, or even early May if we have any late frosts, but we have already had four grounded bat calls in the last week, for bats out of hibernation too early. Three of these were pipistrelles, and all were 25% under- weight. Two are being fed up for return to the the wild in due course, but the third had a broken elbow and had to be euthanased. They were from Spalding, Scunthorpe and Gosberton respectively. Today (Thursday) we have had a grounded brown long-eared bat from Bucknall taken into care. If you find a bat on the ground, or one low down on a wall or other odd place, PLEASE don't assume it will sort itself out. It won't. It will either die from starvation several days later or be mangled by a cat, also to die several days later. Scoop it up with a cloth, or wear gloves to handle it, put it into an escape-proof box, phone the helpline number (ours) on 01775 766286 and we will do the rest. *** Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival launch *** Helen Gamble writes: Where Elephants once Roamed! Saturday 16th May 11am (1 ½ hours walk, approx. 1 mile) Join the Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group and the Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service to explore the geological history of this nationally important geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. We will be looking at and interpreting the impressive quarry face, explaining the process which brought the sands and gravels and why the site is important for the Ice Age story. Saturday 16th May 1.30pm (1 ½ hours walk, approx. 1 mile) We will visit the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust reserve to continue with the Ice Age story and explain the crucial difference between the two sites. Saturday 16 May - Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival Launch 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Festival returns to Welton-le-Wold quarry for its launch this year. Enjoy guided walks by experts and learn about this important geological and archaeological Site of Special Scientific Interest, normally closed to the public. With lots of leg-stretching walks throughout the day and a great programme of family-friendly activities, this free event is a great day out for everyone. Look closely when you visit, you may even spot one of our prehistoric ancestors still living in this very place! Why not join a walk to the launch and get the vintage bus back? Registered assistance dogs only. To find out more about this 16 day Festival go to http://www.woldswalkingfestival.co.uk Meet: Welton le Wold disused quarry, accessible from A631 & signposted on the day. Grid ref: TF 279 882 O.S. map 282 Postcode: LN11 0QT Parking: Free parking at the event, look for signage on the day Leaders: Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival group Let me know if you need anything else - there'll be toilets etc on site and expecting 800 ish people! *** LWT Barton Group *** Adrian White writes: Wednesday 18th March "Bats in Lincolnshire" A talk by Julie Ellison Meet at Ness Farm for a 7:30 start. Contact Adrian White (01724 732152) for details. Everybody welcome, membership not required. Sunday 22nd March "East Halton Skitter" A half-day walk along the riverbank. Looking for the last of the winter visitors. Leader; Adrian White (017254 732152) Meet at Ness Farm for a 9am start and car share. *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** Members and non-members welcome. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Birds Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ 6/3 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Great Northern Diver flew south, Gibraltar Point Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 7/3 3 Shorelarks on beach north of Brickyead Lane car park, Water Pipit, Saltfleetby Black Brant with 1500 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Jackson's Marsh, Woodlark, Gibraltar Point 8/3 Firecrest in blackthorn just north of Stonebridge, Water Pipit, 70 Twite, Donna Nook 2 Firecrests in Waltham garden 3 Shorelarks on beach north ofBrickyead Lane car park, Saltfleetby 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Read's Island 9/3 Firecrest in blackthorn 300 yards north of Stonebridge car park, Donna Nook Hen Harrier male, probable Great White Egret, Frampton Marsh Black Brant with Dark-bellied Brent Geese Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 10/5 Scaup on saline lagoon, Freiston Shore 3 Shorelarks on beach north of Brickyead Lane car park, Water Pipit, Saltfleetby Firecrest in blackthorn 300 yards north of Stonebridge car park Hen Harrier ringtail, 12 Twite, Donna Nook 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 20 Twire, Frampton Marsh 11/5 3 Shorelarks on beach north ofBrickyead Lane car park, Saltfleetby Woodlark flew over WEast Dunes, Gibraltar Point 12/3 c70 Twite, Donna Nook 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. ROAD KILLS Jacquie Harrison Driving between Billingborough and Bourne Thursday 05/03/2015 early afternoon Jacquie Harrison Three dead badgers in different place 1 south of Billingborough 1 southern edge of Dunsby I south of Morton 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. Gorse in flower CONINGSBY Leagate Road TF243582 Annette Faulkner 6th March 2015 Oddly, this was just coming into flower at the south end only of a long row of bushes. A lot of flowers. *** 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 - Main Ridge West TL048380 R Parsons 12/03/2015 Worker honeybee foraging weeds along pavement - 11.30am. CAISTOR Wendy Handford (WH) Reports from contributors to Caistor records Week beginning 6.3.15 Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 WH Grey squirrels 2 on lawn 9.3.15 Rabbit, adult, skinned and gutted in wood 11.3.15 Kestrel in Oak 7.3.15 Mallards m and f in stream 10.3.15 Pheasants m and f under feeder daily Pied wagtail, first this year 11.3.15 Red-legged partridges 2 7.3.15 Redwings 6 on lawn 8.3.15 German wasp, queen, 7.3.15. New on Caistor list Winter gnats 10+ above crocuses 6.3.15 Leucojum, first flowers 9.3.15 Nettleton Lodge Game Farm TA 090 012 B Jacob Bat 7.3.15 Greylag geese 8, 9.3.15 Normanby Road TA 114 097 Gwen Bain Barn owls 2 in barn 7.3.15 CHAPEL POINT BEACH TF562733 Jane Ostler 5 March 2015 Driftline characterised by scattered clumps of Hornwrack (Flustra foliacea) and lines of small pepples with tiny shells including tellins and variegted scallops. On a groyne, formed by concrete covering a waste pipe, extensive encrustations of the acorn barnacle Balanus crenatus with tiny mussels and periwinkles (Littorina littorea). Sea lettuce Ulva lactuca was growing in tufts amongst them at lower shore levels. Lesser black backed gulls were feeding in debris collected along the groyne. FULBECK - Washdyke Lane Fulbeck Bats Andrew Chick 07.03.2015 Common pipistrelle - Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano pipistrelle - Pipistrellus pygmaeus I put an Anabat in my garden last night and had both P.pip and P.pyg between 1900-1930hrs on 07.03.2015. Not surprisingly given the clear night, the temp dropped quickly and I recorded no further bat activity over the rest of the night. HOLYWELL LAKE 08/03/2015 0915-1030 Ian Misselbrook Little grebe 7 Black Swan 1 Mute Swan 1 - could not find its mate Canada geese 27 Hybrid Canada x Greylag 2 Greylag Goose 18 Mallard 32 Gadwall 48 Teal 4 Wigeon 6 Tufted Duck 23 Coot 12 Moorhen 19 Red Kite 1 Common Buzzard 1 Kingfisher 1 Black-headed Gulls 26 Grey Wagtail 1 Nuthatch 2 Goldcrest Mistle Thrush - pair Song Thrush 1 Fieldfares 12 Redwings 4 Blackbirds Robins Dunnocks Wren Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Long-tailed Tits -pair Wood Pigeons Stock Dove - 1 "singing" Rooks Carrion Crows Jackdaws Goldfinches Greenfinches Chaffinches HORNCASTLE TF256695 Charlie Barnes 06/03/2015 Small Tortoiseshell HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden Robert Walker 6/3/15 Frogs - first of the season heard in garden pond. 7/3/15 Brimstone butterfly - again, first of the season in garden. 12/3/15 Blackbird collecting nesting material. HUTTOFT BEACH TF542786 Jane Ostler 5 March 2015 Main drift line had no strong dominance Bladder Wrack and Egg Wrack, a few scattered pieces only Hornwrack (Flustra foliacea) also scattered as above. Sponge - there were a number of cream rubbery chunks of this notoriously difficult to identify group. They looked most like Elephants Ear Sponge (Pachymatissma johnstonia) but the literature describes these as absent from North sea coasts of Britain, though found on Atlantic coast. Acorn barnacles (Balanus crenatus) found on shore crab shells and wood piddock (Xylophaga dorsalis) holes through blackened wood. Variegated scallops were the most frequent of the shells. Other shells found werre razor,common whelk (some pitted by worm), dog whelks, spindle shell, mussels and tellins. Just one slipper limpet found. At the entrance to the car park area a gorse in full flower. Black headed gulls, a single common gull and crows feeding on lower shore KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe. SK 848758 Alison Brownlow 04.03.2015 Buff-tailed Bumblebee visiting crocuses. Honey bees also collecting pollen from snowdrops and crocuses Also Free for collection, from Kettlethorpe, 0.75 m high Tubex tree guards. ring 01427 717120 LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 14/03/2015 Jayne Knight Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Dunnock and Robin all continuing to sing throughout the day. Getting annoyed with male Blackbird who has regularly roosted in a shrub close to the back door over the winter, leaves it around 5am screaming out the alarm call as he goes. Then settles in Ash tree in neighbour's front garden and sings oh so sweetly for the next couple of hours. 10/03/15 Two neon-hued Brimstone butterflies sunning themselves on the honeysuckle in back garden. MARTIN TF157610 B1191 road Robert Walker 27/2/15 Badger 1 roadkill NOCTON Jerry Gunner Chiff Chaff Last evening [9/3/15] I saw a small bird almost up against the window in a cherry tree. in my garden in Nocton Thought it looked like a chiffchaff but thought it unlikely. This morning it was singing away at 0630 in the same garden. This is the earliest I've seen one and the first time I've seen one before hearing it. More later. PINCHBECK 8/3/2015 John Redshaw Had a male Blackcap regularly feeding on fat balls and peanuts for past two weeks. RIPPINGALE TF093277 Pauline Warman 09/03/2015 Barn Owl 1 Brown Hare 2 Red-legged Partridge 1 Reed Bunting 1 SCRIVELSBY TF268656 B1183 road Robert Walker 8/3/15 Brown Hares 3 roadkill - in close proximity of each other within 100 yards distance. THORNTON TF252672 'Woodhall Spa Trail' Robert Walker 7/3/15 Grey Partridge 2 on arable field also nearby Yellowhammer 1 on hawthorn bush THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 28/02/15 Chaffinch x 1 Fieldfare x 34 Goldfinch x 3 Great Tit x 2 Kestrel x 3 Mute Swan x 2 Robin x 2 Starling x 27 04/03/15 Kestrel x 2 Little Owl x 2 calling 11.55pm 05/03/15 Barn Owl x 2 SE814009 Blackbird x 3 Grey Partridge x 2 Kestrel x 2 displaying Skylark x 2 singing Tufted Duck x 1pr. 07/03/15 Common Buzzard x 1 SK814993 Golden Plover x 125 Goosander x 1 pr. Moorhen x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Tufted Duck x 1 pr. Wren x 1 Field Vole x 1 08/03/15 Kingfisher x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling late pm Yellowhammer x 60+ Roe Deer x 1 female 10/03/15 Common Buzzard x 1 SE814002 11/03/15 Barn Owl x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 SK805991 Goosander x 1 pr. Little Egret x 1 SK787989 Snipe x 2 SK805991 Tawny Owl x 1 calling, late pm Tufted Duck x 1 pr. 12/03/15 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 'drumming' SE804003 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 11.50pm Tree Sparrow x 7 WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 08/03/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A half-hour BirdTrack count today was very productive with twenty species seen. Of particular interest were two Goldeneye, eleven Teal, twenty-two Mallard and singles of Great Crested Grebe, Kingfisher, Cormorant and Goldfinch. WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 10/03/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson The reed beds are now full of Reed Buntings in summer plumage and in full song. The hedgerows held good numbers of small passerines, especially Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Tree Sparrows, which attracted the attention of a male Sparrowhawk. Four Little Egrets and a Heron flew over and a Buzzard circled the site. Approximately forty Golden Plovers flew around for several minutes, before flying away to the north-east. On a drain adjacent to the site, we flushed a Water Rail, a species we haven't encountered very often over the winter. Readers might be interested to know that we have now received details of the French-ringed Sedge Warbler that we caught at the site on 03/05/2014. It was ringed in the Loire Valley 619 km south on 10/08/2013. It weighed just 11.7g. WHISBY ROAD Peter Wilson Waddington My wife has an office overlooking the waste recycling plant in Whisby Road and regularly sees deer on the waste tip adjoining. She hasn't identified what deer they are and as I haven't seen them I don't know. Last week she watched two males (obviously) squaring up to one another, presumably there are some females around as well. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 7/3/2015 Tawny owl f calling in garden 7am 8/3/2015 2 buzzards over, low, approx. 10am. 9/3/2015 7+ Brown hares in March hare excitement - 9am. TF2153. Several queen Early Bumblebees, Bombus pratorum, working crocuses. a few mortalities found within crocus flowers. Skylarks singing in area 11/3/2015 4+ pairs of Robins Song thrush 2 foraging in orchard 3+ nesting pairs of Starlings 3+ wrens Stock dove feeding on ground below seed feeder Great spotted woodpecker on nut feeder 12/3/2013 Adult stoat running along hedge bottom 08.15 hrs.[RP] Tree Bee, Bombus hypnorum queen, basking in sunshine on car tyre - 13.00hrs. WILLOW TREE FEN Willow Tree Fen car park TF181213 Thursday 05/03/2015 Jacquie Harrison female stonechat on nearby sluice Wigeon - 300 plus Shelduck Mute swans WILLOWTREE FEN 9/3/2015 John Redshaw WeBS Count: Mute Swan - 3, Shelduck - 2,Wigeon - 480, Teal - 65, Mallard - 50, Gadwall - 28, Shoveler - 36, Pintail 4, Tufted Duck - 10 (on river), Coot - 32, Moorhen 27, Water Rail - 1, Heron - 1,Little Egret - 1, Lapwing - 50, Redshank - 5, Dunlin - 2, Black -headed Gull - 65, Common Gull - 2, Marsh Harrier - 1, Kestrel - 1. Also a flock of 11 Meadow Pipits.. WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK922224 Jane Ostler 1st March, 2015 First Lesser Celandine in flower Honey Bees on crocuses (they have been feeding on these and hellebores on sunny days since 6th Feb. Neigbour cut lawn (first cut 18th Feb.) Pair collared doves just fledged Pair greengfinches and pair of song thrushes regular visitors Nesting activity of blackbirds, house sparrows, blue tits, chaffinch and dunnock Frogs active in pond 6th March First Coltsfoot in flower First 7 spot ladybird seen out. (A two spot ladybird landed on my coat on 21st February in Tescos car park Grantham.) Goldfinches collecting dried material at edge of pond. 8th March,2015 Bumble bee, (Bombus sylvestris) in garden. One seen briefly on 6th February, but not since. WRANGLE COMMON 08/03/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A quite outstanding day with forty-two birds recorded. Amongst the wetland birds were Canada (16) and Grey-lag Geese (41), Black-headed Gull (18), Lapwing (13), Mallard (57), Moorhen (2), Teal (22), Tufted Duck (2), Coot (1), Curlew (13) and Snipe (1). The large passerine flock has re-formed and the birds were moving from a hedge down into the seed-rich area. This enabled us to get a more accurate count of individual species and the numbers were: Chaffinch (26), Greenfinch (22), Linnet (c70), Tree Sparrow (72) and Yellowhammer (30). A single Corn Bunting was also identified. Four Skylarks were singing and a single Meadow Pipit seen. Five Reed Buntings were in song. A Jay and a Green Woodpecker were found in two copses. The raptors recorded were singles of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. Blackbird numbers are quite low now, with only twelve recorded. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 January 2014 RSPB Frampton Marsh RSPB Freiston Shore Gibraltar Point NNR Other sites John Badley [Assisted by Colin Jennings] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. NNR Week ending 05 03 15 Cliff Morrison, Janet and Peter Roworth, Nige Lound, John Walker Feb weather, measured at Seaview, total rainfall 41 mm coldest air temp minus 4.5ºC highest 11.5ºC, in general a sunny but cold month. This week recorded gusts of westerly winds at maximum 59 mph, but drying out the surface ground over recent days, remaining cold with little signs of vegetation growth, although the sunshine is now getting stronger. 2 common toads emerged on Monday with some milder weather but none seen since. Bird sightings, NL experienced the unusual sighting of a total of 339 red throated divers most passing by fairly close to shore and all over in less than 45 minutes this is possibly a mass movement in search of food. Also included was 29 great crested grebes, another fish eating species. Other bird sightings this week included, little owl 2, tawny owl 2, barn owl 1, hen harrier 1, sparrowhawk 2, common buzzard 2, snow bunting 15, shorelark 3, great spotted woodpecker 3, water rail 4, shoveler 31, gadwall 9, whooper swan a maximum of 54 roosting, pink foot geese have been heard passing over at night as they leave Norfolk and make for the north west coast in preparation for there return to Iceland where the majority breed. An adjacent grassfield of 60 acres in Higher Level Stewardship is currently being improved for wildlife with wide shallow ditches being created. On Tues 181 curlews c 150 starlings and c 250 common and black headed gulls and various rooks, jackdaws and magpies, were feeding on the field. The works will soon be completed and the site will be regularly monitored. Week ending 12/03/15 JW, NL, CM, P & J R The 7th was very mild and sunny with 13.5ºC by 1330hrs the 10th was sunny and reached 12.0ºC. Rainfall only 1.5 mm this week, and water levels now dropping and surface land drying out, but soil temperatures low (2 ground frosts this week) and little growth yet with grasses looking rather brown in places Insects appeared on the sunny days with 2 brimstones, several large bumble- bees, 2 queen wasps, and a variety of flies. On the 2 mild evenings a single pipestrelle bat was hawking insects in the Churchill Lane area, also noted 1 common frog and 3 common newts and stone- crop coming into flower. Bird sightings included, 2 little owls 2 tawny owls, 2 barn owls, 1 short- eared owl, 3 sparrowhawks, 1 common buzzard, 1 marsh harrier, 1 male hen harrier and 3 kestrels, 3 shorelarks, c 40 twite, 3 great spotted wood- peckers, 2 pairs bullfinch, c 50 whooper swans , 32 shoveler, 8 gadwall, 12 snipe and 2 jack snipe. Rooks, crows and long tailed tits all seen with nest material, and great and blue tits entering nest boxes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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: 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 to help you 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 *** 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/ 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 that common species are just as important as rarer species, so please give it a go. Please contact Dr Angela Julian ARGUK angela.digges@clara.co.uk with any specific questions. *** 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 No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** 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 *** 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 *** 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/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.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/ *** Coastal Grazing Marshes *** The Lincolnshire Coastal Grazing Marshes project has 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 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/ The Wonderful Witham - Lincolnshire Rivers Trust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fp9bKSwaBE#t=969 University of Lincoln plus Siren FM - "Nightingales" made possible by Grahame Hopwood at Whisby http://www.sirenonline.co.uk/archives/8926 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, March 07, 2015 AGM Followed by the Presidential address by Nick Tribe: "Aspects of Dragonfly Recording in Lincolnshire". 2016 Field Meetings. Sunday, April 26, 2015 Little Haw Wood -(Courtesy of Forestry Commission) Southwest of Castle Bytham, 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park in turning area off track near west end of Clipsham Wood at SK9703 1705. Take minor road between Clipsham and Castle Bytham to reach Clipsham Wood. NB. There is about a 800m walk to Little Haw Wood from the parking spot. Habitats: Mixed Woodland. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, May 31, 2015 Fulsby Wood SSSI - (Private) (Courtesy of Tumby Estate) South of Horncastle 10am to 4pm. Park in Tumby saw mill car park at TF254602 (PE22 7TD) which is on north side of A155 between Coningsby and Mareham le Fen. Leader will be at car park for 10am and then again for 1pm for afternoon only attendees. Habitats: Ancient woodland Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Friday, June 05, 2015 Chambers Farm Wood (Courtesy of Forestry Commission) (multi-organizational Bioblitz event with evening moth sessions) South of Wragby Evening session on Friday from 9pm, then all day recording on Saturday and Sunday. Evening session on Saturday starting at 9pm. Times TBC. Use both car parks near to Wood Centre at TF147739 (LN8 5JR) Toilets available on site. Habitats: Various woodland types, pasture, scrub and ponds. Contacts: Anne Goodall 01526 398182 anne.goodall@esl-lincoln.co.uk and Charlie Barnes 01507 526667 charlie@cucaera.co.uk Saturday, June 06, 2015 Bioblitz - Chambers Farm Wood (Courtesy of Forestry Commission) See 5 June above Sunday, June 07, 2015 Bioblitz - Chambers Farm Wood (Courtesy of Forestry Commission) See 5 June above 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 15, 2015 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. Road verge parking alongside Carr Dyke near western end of the Delph at approx.TF114 620. 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: caroline.amphlett - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying phillips.lewis - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying - address cleaned gfd1 - soft bounce - quota exceeded - undeliverable *** And finally...... Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Birds that bring gifts and do the gardening http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31795681 Should the lynx be reintroduced to Britain? http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31813207 Louth cattle market sale faces uncertainty http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-31805320 IGas signs £30m shale gas deal with Ineos to expand http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31815966 RAF Wickenby memorial plaques stolen 'for scrap' http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-31841207 Places in Lincolnshire that tell a story of World War One http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01p34j4 Churchill plan to give Magna Carta copy to US revealed http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31822545 Devon wild beavers cleared to stay on River Otter http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-31831665 First UK-farmed truffle harvested http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31826764 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/