============================================= || || 29th November 2015 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU Website: || http://www.lnu.org/ || ============================================ 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 link so they can sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Text versions of past 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.... *** Thanks to those who have given the Bulletin a 'plug'. There has been a steady trickle of new subscribers. Please keep on telling people about the Bulletin. Remind them that it's free. Suggest they give it a try. Here is the URL of the sign-up page: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php The latest LNU 'Communiqué' and 'The Lincolnshire Naturalist' should be dropping through members' letterboxes next week. We hope you find these of interest. I have had a quick preview and I know I shall. Ringtails: You will notice reports of Hen Harriers this week, some with the term "ringtail". If you have forgotten what that means, see: http://hawkandowl.org/species/birds-of-prey-a-z/hen-harrier/ Seal News Follow the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust posts of seal news on: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update If possible, try to avoid weekend visits and the larger crowds. "The Week in Wildlife - in Pictures" includes Donna Nook. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2015/nov/20/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures Starling murmurations: I saw another good display at Kirkby on Bain pits this week - countless thousands coming in. See the RSB article: 'Starling survey reveals new murmuration hot spots' http://www.rsb.org.uk/component/content/article?id=1074:starling-survey-reveals-new-murmuration-hotspots If you see a murmuration and wish to report it, go to: http://www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/biologyweek/starling-survey Also see: Drowned starlings puzzle scientists http://www.zsl.org/science/news/drowned-starlings-puzzle-scientists I recommend you read the article about the Red Footed Falcon on the Rare Bird Alert website. See Section 2. Not for the sensitive. Thanks for the many interesting contributions this week. It is always good to hear from readers. Please keep the reports and information coming. Roger p.s. Don't forget: 12. ...and finally... Your suggestions for interesting links are always very welcome. *** LNU Events - 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 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. *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2016 *** The closing date for entries is 31st March 2016. If you know of any 'projects' which deserve recognition, please encourage them to submit an entry. It is an easy application. For more information, see: http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** UK Government taken to High Court on Rivers and Wetlands *** Birdwatch: http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__16140 Freshwaterblog http://freshwaterblog.net/2015/11/19/uk-government-taken-to-court-over-freshwater-pollution-from-agriculture/ *** Burkinshaw's Covert Local Wildlife Site *** Alan Jones writes: Burkinshaw's Covert is a large, broadleaved woodland adjoining Total Linsdey Oil Refinery which has been brought into management for wildlife in recent years by the refinery in conjunction with the Humber Nature Partnership. Open public access is not normally available but a new, limited-scale, permit-based access is being considered to enable local naturalists to help to monitor and record the site's wildlife. Home to woodland birds, deer, badgers and amphibians, the site is rich in butterflies and moths as well as grassland flora on the extensive glade and ride system. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Alan at the Humber Nature Partnership on 01652 631 523 or email alan.jones@humbernature.co.uk . He says: "You can also roll your sleeves up with Humber Conservation Volunteeers who help to manage the site if you fancy!" *** Barton LWT *** Adrian White writes: Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2015 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire *** Find the Grid Reference - always useful *** Chris Manning recommended the following websites to help find grid references. Grab a Grid Reference http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ [Don't forget to scroll down to "And finally ....."] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird 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/ I recommend you read the article about the Red Footed Falcon on the Rare Bird Alert website. Not for the sensitive! A grim tale with suggestions for action. http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Crowd_out_Wildlife_Criminals.aspx?s_id=856841842 20/11 Water Pipit, 2 Twite, Tetney Marshes Black-throated Diver, 8 Snow Buntings flew south, Water Pipit on Jackson's Marsh, Spotted Redshank on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Ravens flew over Mill Hill towards Skegness, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier ringtail, Conisholme 21/11 Little Gull in roost, Thurlby 11 Little Auks flew east, 16 Pomarine Skuas, 17 Bonxies, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Waxwing in East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl in off sea, Glaucous Gull flew south past, 8 Little Gulls, 7 Pomarine Skuas, 5 Bonxies, 2 Velvet Scoters, Mablethorpe 6 Snow Buntings on sea bank, ringtail Hen Harrier, Little Gull, Slavonian Grebe at river mouth, 3 Little Auks at River Welland mouth, 1 on river off The Cots, 14 Bonxies, Frampton Marsh 22/11 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Marston sewage Works Hen Harrier ringtail at Idle Stop, ENE of Misson unconfirmed reports of Snowy Owl over field by Common Plantation, ENE of Scunthorpe, south of Appleby 8 Little Auks off Trusthorpe Great Grey Shrike in hedge by scrapyard on Ark Road, Little Auk flew north, 2 Twite, Donna Nook Short-eared Owl in off sea, Sutton-on-Sea Scaup 1w drk, Slavonian Grebe male, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Little Auk, 33 Common Scoter, Barton-upon-Humber Long-tailed Skua flew south east past, iw Grey Phalarope north, 15 Little Auks, 6 Pomarine Skuas, juv Glaucous Gull flew south, 12+ Bonxies, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Velvet Scoter, 2 Short- eared Owls, Sutton-on-Sea 6 Little Auks flew past, 2 Velvet Scoters, Aderby Creek 2 Little Auks past Gibraltar Point Little Auk, 33 Common Scoters, Barton-upon-Humber 23/11 Arctic Skua offshore, Spotted Redshank, ringtail Hen Harrier, Little Auk, Gibraltar Point 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Marston sewage Works 24/11 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Pink-footed Geese in field beyond River Steeping, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier male, c40 Twite, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull ad, Teal Lake, Whisby Nature Park Short-eared Owl, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 25/11 2 Lapland Bunting flew south over, 2 Twite, 3 Slavonian Grebe offshore, Snow Bunting flew south along beach, Great Northern Diver, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 3 Greenland White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese, Marston sewage Works Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, 3 Hen Harriers 1 male, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler, Freiston Shore Lapland Bunting, Water Pipit, 2 Pale-belied Brent Geese, 80 Twite, Donna Nook 26/11 Long-eared Owl, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Note: I am adapting 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 flowering record(s): LEGBOURNE North east of Between TF 374854 / TF372865 Peter Crick 25.11.2015 Gorse bush, full of flower ROADKILLS - don't forget your name and date! Roadkill Wendy Handford 20.11.15 B 1225 High Street TF 132 973 Hedgehog adult HORNCASTLE TF249703 A158 22/11/15 Robert Walker Badger 1 roadkill LANGTON-BY-WRAGBY TF156770 A158 22/11/15 Robert Walker Badger 1 roadkill *** 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. CAISTOR Week beginning 19.11.15 Wendy Handford Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 In orchard, all seen at 9am 20.11.15 2 Grey squirrels, 4 Blackbirds, 7 Redwings and 2 Treecreepers Feral cat in coniferous wood 21.11.15. Trailcam Buzzard in Alder, only 25m from house 22.11.15 Grey heron flying over 19.11.15 Jay in orchard 22.11.15 Pheasants 2m 2f 21.11.15 Fungi this week Common puffball under Alders EAST RAVENDALE TF 240976 Peter Crick 21.11.2015 Cow Parsley - lots in flower along roadside verge HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden 26/11/15 Robert Walker Hedgehogs Still appearing nightly, usually 2, coming along for their cat nibbles. KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK 846754 22.11.2015 Alison Brownlow Male Holly flowers. I was surprised to see male Holly flowers open on several bushes in the wood, The female bushes are still covered in berries with no sign on flowers. LEGBOURNE VILLAGE TF 367845 Peter Crick 25.11.2015 In flower Trailing geranium Sweet William Polyanthus (various) LEGBOURNE North east of TF374854 Peter Crick 25.11.2015 Large Bumble Bee - flying fast and quite high LEGBOURNE. North of TF368863 Peter Crick 25.11.2015 Small Bumble Bee - flying LOUTH (Hubbard's Hills, r. Lud) TF315866 Silvia Fowler 26.11.2015 Black-headed Gull x 15 Kingfisher x 1 Mallards in great numbers, one pair mating while swimming Moorhens x 5 NEW WALTHAM. TA 285046 Peter Crick 22.11.2015 Hedgehog last seen - food put out since this not taken, presume now hibernating. 25.11.2015 Honeysuckle - still in flower THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 21/11/15 Fieldfare x 57 Mute Swan x 4 Starling x 120 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:15hrs 22/11/15 Barn Owl x 1 calling 06:00hrs Blackbird x 2 Heron x 1 (over Thurnholmes) Little Owl x 1 calling 06:30hrs Long Tailed Tit x 12 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 06:30hrs 25/11/15 Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 21 Golden Plover x 51 Goldfinch x 18 Lapwing x 57 Robin x 1 Starling x 175 26/11/15 Blue Tit x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Golden Plover x 25 Kestrel x 1 Lapwing x 68 Robin x 1 Tree Sparrow x 26 RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 (unless otherwise stated) Silvia Fowler 13.11.2015 36 Woodpigeons feeding on pasture (TF309848) 18.11.2015 Rabbit (the first in my garden for 3-4 months, not that welcome!) 20.11.2015 Mistle Thrush Sluggish butterfly (probably Red Admiral) on roof, pursued by Jackdaw - not sure if it got away Buff-tailed Bumblebee on Mahonia flowers (also 21.11.15) 25.11.2015 Pied Wagtail 26.11.2015 A (the?) solitary Common Gull still visits every day, spending hours in the pasture behind our house feeding on worms WAINFLEET CONSERVATION PONDS 26/11/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson Very few birds around today with the hedges largely deserted. Still a few Reed Buntings in the reed-beds and a single Water Rail was heard calling. A Kingfisher and a Little a Egret were on the drain on the north side and a female Sparrowhawk was hunting unsuccessfully along the hedges. Two Whooper Swans flew down the river and passed over and six Fieldfares flew east. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons Fox and Tawny Owl caught on trail camera 24-25th/11/2015 Fieldfares regularly visiting orchard, one occasionally feeding on the ground. In flower 25/11/2015 - honeysuckle, red campion, holly. WINCEBY TF326682 B1195 17/11/15 Robert Walker Kestrel 1 Hunting over grass verge, approx. 11.30 am. 'WOODHALL SPA TRAIL' TF250670 area 21/11/15 Robert Walker Fieldfares 100+ Between Martin bridge to Thornton Lodge farm over arable fields and feeding on hawthorn bushes along path sides. WRANGLE COMMON 23/11/2015 Roy and Kath Pearson A wander round at first light today revealed the winter Curlew flock had arrived and numbered in the region of thirty to forty birds. Four Roe Deer were around and permitted an approach to within 100 metres. They are now causing a nuisance in local gardens. Singles of Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were around. Blackbird numbers are still high, but the only winter thrush encountered was a single Fieldfare flying over. Tree Sparrows are now present in good numbers, but Chaffinches seem to have declined. Tree creeper was present, the first since 2011 and only the fifth record since 1973. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR. See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR. http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 and DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/donna-nook/viewing-seals-donna-nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. WILDLIFE NEWS Week ending 19th-25th November 2015: Contributors: Nigel Lound, Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison The continuing mild weather came to an abrupt end on the early morning of Saturday 21st November, when the accurately forecast severe northerly gale, with predicted gusts of 60-70 miles per hour off the Lincolnshire coast, arrived. Gusts of 51 and 51.8 miles per hour were recorded in the Rimac area during the morning before the winds began to ameliorate around lunch time. Despite a high 'neap' high tide at 1400 hours, the surge, accompanying the winds, pushed the sea to high tide levels by 0900 hours, but it had passed by midday, so in effect, the sea remained at a near constant height throughout the day. Good that the moon was not full, when there would have been high spring tides. There had also been a tidal surge coming down the north sea the previous week as well, which completely flooded the marshes, but this one was due to continued south westerly winds pushing waters up towards Norway, which then surged down the North Sea. The devastating surge on December 5th 2013 was the result of continuing south westerly gales and northerlies come sequentially together on a spring tide cycle. Northerly gales in November are always the time for sea-watching for the possibility of Little Auks being pushed further south as they are coming down from the Arctic Ocean to winter in the northern North Sea. Watching from the coast from within the limits of the reserve proved totally impossible, however, because it was near impossible to stand in the wind and sand blow was painfully abrasive. It was possible to watch from the protection of cars at Mablethorpe and Huttoft, where a predominantly southerly migration was observed. It has to be presumed that the birds would have passed by the coast here on the reserve; the highest number of Kittiwakes for a long time was noted at 800 south, along with 24 Great Skuas, 12 Pomarine Skuas, and 2 Little Auks, whilst 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Goosanders, 2 Velvet Scoters and over 30 Goldeneye and 5 Little Auks pushing moving north against the wind. In contrast to the Saturday gales, the Sunday was strangely calm and the sea flat, although with a large swell. A Little Auk, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Long- tailed Ducks and a Gannet were seen flying north in an hour. As reported in the previous period, the coastal areas proved to be the most interesting again this week: Whooper Swans continued to be noted migrating south on several days, with 49 in 5 groups on 20th, 3 on 23rd and 15 coming into roost on 23rd. The Pink-footed Goose roost is currently around 550 birds, but as with the swans, southerly movements of migrant geese peaked on 20th, with 510 being noted in 6 groups. Ducks and water birds on the sea included up to 200 Common Scoter, 1 female Velvet Scoter, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Goldeneye, 1 Great-crested Grebe, 6 Red-throated Divers, 1 Gannet and a few auk species, whilst there were 28b Shoveler and 60 Teal on the Rimac Lagoon. Up to 100 Twite and 16 Snow Buntings have been noted on the beach, whilst 2 ring-tail Hen Harriers and 2 Short-eared Owls have been seen across the marsh/dunes, where a single Jack Snipe was noted. Fresh Woodcock arrivals were noted on 20th, when 2 landed in the dunes from the sea and up to 5 have been seen at dusk since then. Starlings were also coming in off the sea during the same time, when up to 200 have been feeding locally. Blackbirds are still common, to be found feeding on hawthorn and buckthorn berries, but there a few Redwing now and only 1 Fieldfare has been noted, although they are common inland. Other birds of note have included small parties of Siskins, single Stonechats and Water Pipit at Rimac, Barn Owl, Little Owl, Common Buzzard. The previous week, a small adult Mediterranean Gull landed briefly on the Rimac Lagoon, but given its relatively small and slender red bill and rounded head, it was thought to be a possible hybrid Med/Black-headed Gull. However, subsequent review of the photographs has confirmed it to be a definite Med. Gull. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. FAR INGS NNR See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/publications/limewoods-walks/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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) 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 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. Identifying the Fungi: http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/ *** 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 *** How to Identify Bees *** BWARS - Bees Wasps & Ants Recording Society http://www.bwars.com/ Bumblebee Conservation Trust http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ *** 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 *** 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. *** 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 *** 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 ejohnredshaw@gmail.com *** 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. 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 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 *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** Aidan Neary, Wildflower Meadow Project Officer, aneary@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825 970930, 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/ *** 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/ *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 2016 Indoor meetings saturday 16th January 2016 To be announced. Keep an eye on the LNU Website. Saturday, February 13, 2016 Recorders' Meeting & Annual Exhibition Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders and view exhibits including a demonstration of online recording software ‘Living Record’ and a discussion on online recording starting at 12.30; the overview starts at 2pm as in previous years. Saturday, March 05, 2016 AGM & Presidential Address AGM, Followed by the Presidential Address by Mark Schofield “Better Connected - Can our road networks serve as super- highways for wildlife?” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If your Bulletin did not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Latest Mailfails. sue cfga - Soft Bounce - delivery failed - Access denied. gandd - Soft Bounce - delivery failed - mailbox unavailable. Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. Enjoy the Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - the excellent 2014 video by David Robinson. http://www.flickr.com/photos/poppops/11685708555/ Why not join in the RSB survey of Starling murmurations, as reported on Autumnwatch? http://www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/biologyweek/starling-survey And finally: EPIC - Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera Images of the earth from the Deep Space Climate Observatory. http://epic.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Royal Society's inaugural photography competition - ten images http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151119-ten-incredible-images-of-the-natural-world Stark images of Shackleton's struggle http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34856379 Do we underestimate the power of plants and trees? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34849374 UK Peatland Code designed to attract private funds http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34894430 Heavy Metals Dull Bird Feathers Making Males Less Attractive To Females http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/18045/20151106/heavy-metals-affect-feather-coloration-make-male-birds-less-attractive.htm Dambusters autograph album on show in Newark http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-34878692 Lancaster bomber reunion film premieres in Lincolnshire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34903380 Flying drones over Syria from the Lincolnshire countryside http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34878402 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/