============================================= || || 21st August 2016 || || 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. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 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 since Feb 2009 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, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. 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.... *** We have finally made the decision to move house after 30 very happy years in "Wildmore". It will be a wrench, but it makes sense to make the move now. The For Sale sign went up this week and things will now take their course. We do not intend to move far. Hopefully the flow of Bulletins will not be interrupted, so please keep contributions coming. A Bat Walk at Snipe Dales attracted some 38 people. The gusty, cool evening worked against us somewhat, but an evening walk around the reserve is always a treat. Both Common and Soprano Pipistrelles were heard at several points around the circuit. It was excellent to see a good turn out of young people, keen to learn about the life of bats. Peter Morrell writes: As part of my job as a Consultant Ecologist I recently received back from the Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre, 37 records of hedgehogs within 2 km of a site I'm currently working on ( I think the majority were ones I had sent to the bulletin over the last few years) and was able to use that data for recommendations with regards to hedgehogs at the site. With the data to back up the recommendations, hopefully these will be conditioned as part of the planning process. This highlights the importance of having recent records which could be used to the benefit potential threatened wildlife. Annette Faulkner has asked me to pass on her thanks for records received from Bulletin readers. She writes: "Many thanks to everyone who has sent in bat records this summer. They all go to the record centre at the end of the year and are never wasted, so do please keep pottering out into your gardens at dusk to see what's about. I was particularly interested in Peter Morrell's brown long-eared feeding roost in his garage - where the bats catch large bodied moths and hang up to eat them, dropping the wings. If Peter were to collect up all the wings, if he can't identify them himself they can either be sent to me to identify and forward the records, or to one of the moth recorders, and we shall then have two records for the price of one!" I was interested but sorry to read the following artlcle: Neonic pesticide link to long-term wild bee decline http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37089385 Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' for August will be found on the link below. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Roger *** STOP PRESS *** Family Funday at Rimac, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR. 10.00 - 16.00hrs Sunday 21st August Pond-dipping, bug-hunting, Nature Trail, Seashore Roadshow, Arts & Crafts. £2 per child Drop in any time during the day! *** Sad End to Owl Webcam Saga *** Bob Sheppard writes: "The web cam has been off line for five days because of a technical issue. The picture returned on Tuesday and unfortunately only three eggs remained. Soon this was reduced to two which are scattered and unlikely to be viable. This ends a very disappointing season where we have seen two clutches of eggs produce no chicks. We will leave the eggs for a few days and then remove them under licence and turn off the camera. The Len Pick Trust, although disappointed we didn't raise any chicks, has been very encouraged by the huge interest generated by the project. Viewers have tuned in from all over the world. We hope the owls will return next spring with a more positive outcome. Cameras in owl nest boxes are teaching us so much about barn owl behaviour. Certainly our pair have given us much food for thought. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Chris Manning recommends 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/ *** LNU EVENTS - list in section 11 below - guests welcome *** Section 11 now includes the LNU Field Meetings for 2016. 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. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Sunday, September 04, 2016 Burkinshaw’s Covert (A private site with access courtesy of Total Lindsey Oil Refinery) North Killingholme, North Lincolnshire 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet at the main car park (by Gate No.7), Rosper Road, North Killingholme (grid ref TA16701754 and post code DN40 3DZ will get you nearby). Assemble at security gatehouse to meet Alan Jones from Humber Nature Partnership. Alan’s mobile no. is 07905 491647 if there are any problems finding the location. NB. Gate 7 is on Rosper Road, to the east of the refinery, not on Eastfield Road which is to the west. We will all need to drive to site (under escort by security staff to unlock gates) and will all need to leave at the same time (just after 16.00). May need to car share depending on numbers. Toilets available at security gatehouse. Habitats: Broadleaved woodland, scrub, grassland and pond. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Site Contact: Alan Jones 07905 491647 alan.jones@humbernature.co.uk **** Rescheduled Diptera (Flies) Workshop *** Richard Davidson 12th November Diptera (Flies) Workshop - Whisby Nature Park, in the Lafarge Education Building.12:30pm until 4:30pm. Free of charge, refreshments 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 Interested in Invertebrates and would like to know more in particular about Flies? Come along and find out more from local experts Phil Porter and David Denman. Editor adds: When you consider how important Diptera are in food chains, it is embarrassing that we know so little about them. Most of us will at best be able to remember the house fly! Yet whole systems of organisms depend on them as a food source. Here's a quotation to reflect upon. Amadeus of Lausanne [1110 - 1159 ] wrote: "...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." *** Festival of free events celebrating Lincolnshire's chalk streams *** Will Bartle, Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Monitoring Officer, writes: "We've got a week of free events coming up as part of our Chalk Streams Festival as well as a photography competition." www.lincswolds.org.uk The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project is running a week-long festival of free events for all ages between Monday 22nd August and Friday 26th August funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and supported by the Lincolnshire County Council. All events are free and are fun for all ages and abilities, including stream dipping, pop-up theatre and guided walks along the chalk streams. The project is also launching a photography competition, open to all ages, with two categories, 'Urban Chalk Streams of Lincolnshire' and 'Rural Chalk Streams of Lincolnshire', so get snapping! For details of events during the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams festival and how to enter the photography competition please see their Facebook page: @LincolnshireChalkStreams *** Poaching and other Concerns *** Editor adds: If you have not yet registered with Lincolnshire Alert perhaps it is time to do so. This will keep you alerted of local crimes and concerns, and once you sign up you can specify he kind of information you want to receive. Visit: https://www.lincolnshirealert.co.uk/ *** Scunthorpe Museum Society *** www.scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk *** Barton LWT *** Adrian White writes: Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: On Sunday 21st August 2016 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a guided walk around Tetney Blow Wells Nature Reserve where among many things we are hoping to see water violets. Meet and park outside Tetney Parish Church in Church Lane Tetney at 2.00pm. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. No dogs please. For further details ring Clifford Jukes 01472 814887. *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2015 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 11/8 Little Gull, Norton Disney Pectoral Sandpiper on reservoir, Freiston Short Spoonbill on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Spoonbill, 3 Little Stints, Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 12/8 2 Spoonbills, Little Stint, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 13/8 3 Spoonbills, Little Stint, Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 3 Little Stints, 2 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 14/8 8 Spoonbills, 2 juv Little Stints, on Jackson's Marsh, 4 Whinchats on concrete blocks behind Visitor Centre, 2 Whinchats by Wash Viewpoint, Redstart, Gibraltar Point 2 Spoonbills, 2 Litttle Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 15/8 4 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, juv Little Stint, 2 Whinchats, 2,500 Sandwich Terns, possible White-winged Black Tern flew south, Gibraltar Point 2 Spoonbills, Little Stint, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Turtle Doves, Grey Phalarope on middle scrape, Frampton Marsh Little Stint on Paradies Pool, soith of Saltfleet Haven 2 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey, at Manby Flashes, east of Louth Osprey off Pye's Hall, Donna Nook Black Tern past Huttoft Car Terrace 16/8 Greenish Warbler trapped and ringed, released north of observatory, 8 Spoonbills, Garganey, Little Stint, Jackson's Marsh, 2 Whinchats, Gibraltar Point Osprey flew west along River Humber, Far Ings Common Crane, 2 Spoonbills, 4 Little Stints, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 14 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Manby Flashes Little Stint on reservoir, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Freiston Shore 2 Balearic Shearwaters + ad pale morph Pomarine Skua, flew north past Chapel Point 17/8 Little Stint juv, 4 Black Terns, 10 Curlew Sandpipers, Freiston Shore Pied flycatcher, Sea View Farm by canal bridge, Saltfleetby Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Paradise Pool souith of Saltfleet Haven 8 Spoonbills, Garganey, Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Redstart, Chowder Ness 4 Spoonbills, 2 Little Stints, Cullew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Pied Flycatcher, Horse Shoe Point. 18/8 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. Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of the subscription services. [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. REPORT ON TETNEY BLOW WELLS MEETING Brian Hedley Tetney Blow Wells LWT Reserve (and SSSI) TA321008 13/08/2016 LNU field meeting to this reserve, courtesy of Anglian Water and LWT, where a lot of recent habitat management work has been undertaken.  Attended by 10 members and led by Brian Hedley. It comprised an afternoon session followed by an evening moth and bat recording session. A dry and warm day but mostly overcast and windy. The wind dropped in the evening but it became quite cool. Over 180 plant species were noted including over 200 spikes of water-violet, soft shield-fern, blackcurrant and common spotted orchid. A large clump of blunt-flowered rush was noted just north of the reserve. Eight mammal species were recorded including frequent soprano pipistrelles and occasional common pipistrelles and a myotid bat species. Common froglets were frequent. Forty birds were identified including common buzzard, sparrowhawk, kingfisher, tawny owl, goldcrest, treecreeper and bullfinch. Butterflies comprised nine species including holly blue, gatekeeper and red admiral. Moths recording in the afternoon and evening (using 2 MV and 2 actinic lamps) did quite well with over 60 species noted including fen wainscot, southern wainscot, olive, white satin and pinion-streaked snout. Dragonflies and damselflies were surprisingly sparse with only six species noted but did include ruddy darter and bothsouthern and migrant hawkers. Beetles included cream-streaked ladybird Harmonia quadripunctata, the longhorn Leptura quadrifasciata and also Dorytomus longimanus (found by Charlie Barnes), a weevil that feeds on black poplar & hybrids with nine previous records for Lincolnshire, only five of which are post-1900. 1 male and 2 females found under bark at the base of one of the poplars on site. Hoverflies were recorded by Hugh Middleton and included Eristalis tenax, Episyrphus balteatus, Platycheirus albimanus, Helophilus pendulus, Eristalis nemorum and Syrphus ribesii. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Jeremy Hutchinson Carlton le Moorland SK 909580 Report of 11 August 2016 Our local Barn Owls raised two young, both fledged now. The pair of Little Owls across the field had three chicks (at least, the most I've seen at once) which seem to have dispersed over the last week. Hobbies seen sporadically, on 5 August there were three over the village in the late afternoon, seemed to be feeding on insects, probably flying ants, which were swarming in huge numbers at the time. Interestingly, all three were of a size, mother and two female offspring maybe? Green Woodpecker heard, but not seen, on several occasions during the last week. I'm pleased to confirm that the Bullfinches I have suspected of nesting in the hedges around my allotment have at least two young, which I saw being fed by the male bird earlier this week. I'm also pleased to report that I have heard, and also seen occasionally some Spotted Flycatchers in the same area, the first time for many years in this village. As others have noted, butterfly numbers are low, the following have been seen: Peacock, Red Admiral,, Holly Blue, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Brimstone and, unusually, the occasional Common Blue, which are unusual here. I have been growing Bird's Foot Trefoil on my allotment over the last 2-3 years in the hope of attracting these beautiful insects, but whether this is the reason I am not sure. I have been bitten twice by Clegs, which aren't usually a problem around here. Our Swifts vanished for several days on 25 July, then reappeared on 27th, but left for good on 3rd August, very odd. Then.... Mid-evening yesterday (11Aug) I heard a Swift screech, looked up to see two, (maybe three briefly) racing over the rooftops nearby. I presumed that these would would me passing through on their way south, although once our local Swifts have gone, any that I do see have always been silent, and have never to my recollection done the characteristic chasing and screaming. These however did just that, and as I watched one made several attempts to enter a neighbour's pantiled roof, but did not succeed. Swifts do nest regularly in this roof. I have never observed 'late' Swifts behave in this way before. Two sightings of Hobbies yesterday, both flying west at speed: a friend tells me that he has seen several hawking Dragon Flies over gravel pits nearby. I do not know where they have nested this year, but they are not using the tree they have used for the last two years. Wed, 17 Aug 2016 14:49:36 +0100 ....and another. Both on Monday and today, the local Hobbies have been mobbing Buzzards as they've cruised over on thermals: surprisingly aggressive. We had a Green Woodpecker in the garden on Sunday, the first for many years. Since the weather turned dry a few weeks ago I have noticed Blackbirds eating slugs, presumably because no worms are to be had. I have never seen this other than in very dry conditions. The birds spend a long time wiping off the slime on the grass before dismembering the slug and eating it. Over all the last few days there has been a noticeable increase in the numbers of Holly Blues on the wing. ROADKILLS WOODHALL SPA approx TF193625 R. Parsons 17/8/2016 pm Dead young Badger west side of road close to 30 mph sign on B1192 Tattershall Road Welton TF 01552 80385 Peter Morrell 16.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Hackthorn Lane. Nocton TF 05555 63035 Peter Morrell 16.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on B1198. Potterhanworth TF 06020 67214 Peter Morrell 16.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Moor Lane. Glentworth SK 95034 88123 Peter Morrell 16.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Middle Street MetheringhamTF 07220 61477 Peter Morrell 16.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Station Road Thorpe Tilney TF 11633 57760TF 11800 57503 TF 12221 57197 Peter Morrell 16.08.16Hedgehog roadkill x3 on B1198 Walcott TF 13196 56322 Peter Morrell 16.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on B1198 Coningsby TF 24384 57669 Peter Morrell 17.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Langrick Road Northorpe SK 90073 96521 Peter Morrell 17.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Chapel Lane  Scotton SK 88803 99274 Peter Morrell 17.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Scotter Road Scotter SE 88659 00566 Peter Morrell 17.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on High Street Sturton by Stow SK 88658 81306 Peter Morrell 17.08.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Stow Road *** 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. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 11/8/2016 Green veined whites 3 Great tit 1 12/8/2016 Common darter 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 (the woodpecker visits frequently and we have two old tree stumps he has almost completely destroyed. Nowadays he pecks at the top of a birch which seems to be dead at the top but there are a couple of branches lower down still producing leaves) Green veined whites 2 Large whites 2 Peacock 1 13/8/2016 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Green veined whites 2 Speckled wood 1 14/8/2016 Dunnock 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Frog 1 Woodmouse 1 Wren 1 HUTTOFT MARSH Painted Ladies Dave Miller 8/8/2016 I had a large fall or emergence of painted lady butterflies on Monday 8th August. I counted 77 at Huttoft Marsh mostly resting on teasel, ragwort and knapweed as it was very windy. Plus well over 30 on the dune walk at Anderby Creek. These were both definitely undercounts as I was meeting surveyors and not actually counting. KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 12/08/2016 Jon Drakes Noted in our back garden on a particularly warm and sunny afternoon were : Starling 35 Blackbird 1 Collared Dove 2 House Sparrow 20 Robin 1 Dunnock 1 A few Swallow and House Martins were also seen over head. Large White Butterfly Small White Butterfly KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 13/08/2016 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst undertaking the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO in our back garden were: Woodpigeon 1 House Sparrow 20 Tree Sparrow 2 Chaffinch 1 Robin 1 Dunnock 4 Blackbird 4 Collared Dove 6 Greenfinch 2 Starling 20 Blue Tit 3 Goldfinch 1 LANGTON BY PARTNEY Village hall car park TF39161 70444 09.45 10/8/16 John Robinson Pair of spotted flycatchers. NEW WALTHAM TA 285046 Peter Crick 03.08.2016 At last butterflies on Buddlias Red Admiral x 1 04.08.2016 Comma x 1 06.08.2016 Painted Lady x 1 Peacock x 1 08.08.2016 Painted Lady x 1 Peacock. x 1 09.08.2016 Peacock x 1 Comma x 1 Silver Y x 2 One on garage door handle, other in bramble patch 10.08.2016 Comma x 1 Painted Lady x 1 12.08.2016 Painted Lady x 1 Red Admiral x 1 13.08.2016 Painted Lady x 2 Red Admiral x 1 14.08.2016 Peacock x 1 Painted Lady x 1 Common Darter x 1 - sunbathing in garden wall 15.08.2016 Painted Lady x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Probably same butterflies every day. A very disappointing year. Very few bumbles and no Hoverflies at all, usually inundated with them. RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 unless otherwise stated Silvia Fowler 10.08.2016 Large Yellow Underwing moths hiding in Leylandii hedge (good numbers, but fewer than last year) 2 Buzzards Robin back in song (the autumnal kind) 11.08.2016 35-40 Swallows including a few House Martins on power line (the first larger gathering of the season) Robin, juv, fully grown, but still speckled Tadpoles - still quite a few legless, apparently undeveloped tadpoles in pond - seems late 13.08.2016 Common Frog Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Buzzard mewing continuously (TF309850 and adjoining squares) Ca. 12 Starlings on rain gutter, mostly juv. 11 Swallows on power line 14.08.2016 Butterflies on buddleia: 2 Large White, 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral (ca. 15% of what we normally get) 15.08.2016 Butterflies on buddleia: 6 Peacock Tawny Owl calling 17.08.2016 Buzzard(s) very vocal, but hard to see among trees/low cloud (TF3085/3185) THEDDLETHORPE John Cowell Weds August 17th, 2016. 10am. Theddlethorpe Dunes, just North of footpath from Brickyard Lane to beach. Turtle Dove calling. ULCEBY GRANGE Field of clover at TF43403 73297 John Robinson Painted Ladies - too many to count! WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons Correction. The Wildmore bat record in the Bulletin of 14th August should have been dated 8/8 and not 8/6. Thanks for spotting that, Annette. So: 8/8/2016 2+ bats echolocating at approx 55KHz. [Pipistrelle spp?] 12/8/2016 Adult Grass Snake on compost heap under black plastic cover. 13/8/2016 Marsh harrier m across field to the east of us. TF217533. 19.15 hours - 2 adult roe deer crossing same fields TF217535 to TF237533. 14/8 Holly Blue 10pm - bats echolocating at 55KHz with attenuated lower frequency, suggesting Soprano Pipistrelle. Tawny Owl on roof - flew to electricity pole - batting? 14/8 2 Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral. 16/8 Badger caught on trail camera at 01.26hrs. 17/8 House mouse - dead - trapped in apple shed. WOODHALL SPA John Hodgson - Woodhall Spa, Home GR TF 201 629 unless otherwise stated. Woodhall Spa 6 August 2016 Garden Home GR 1 Tawny Owl calling from Oak tree just after dusk. 6 Peacock Butterflies on Buddleia 2 Red Admiral on Buddleia 1 Comma on Buddleia 1 Grey Heron at side of beck at Home GR Woodhall Spa 9 August Home GR 2 Green Woodpeckers on grass ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/gibraltar-point See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/donna-nook-nnr ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve Wildlife News - Week ending 17th August 2016 Cliff Morrison, Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker & David Sheppard. Birds 10th - redshank 176, common sandpiper 2, greenshank 1, curlew 5, dunlin 46, little stint 1, common snipe 1, ruff 1, little egret 1, common gull 5, black-headed gull 153 at Paradise lagoon. 3 Arctic terns mobbing terns off shore. 13th - blackcap 2 at Seaview. 14th - steady movement of birds near Seaview including blackcap 4+, goldcrest 3+, lesser whitethroat 4+, willow warbler 2+, common whitethroat 1, blackbird 12+, mistle thrush 2 and redstart. Single kingfisher and bar-tailed godwit near Great Eau at Paradise. 23 little egrets over Seaview in one flock late afternoon. 4 Arctic skuas put up a large roost of gulls (c.4,500 - mostly black-headed) and c. 200 common and Sandwich terns on the beach. 15th - blackcap 5+ and common whitethroat 8+ near Seaview and a single green woodpecker feeding on ants 16th - redshank 213 at Paradise lagoon and Great Eau plus common sandpiper 2 and dunlin 23. A single tree sparrow was seen at Seaview and a female marsh harrier was hunting over the saltmarsh. A walk from Brickyard to sea to Rimac at low tide yielded 27 teal, about 70 common scoter on sea, 24 cormorant, 100+ common tern, 180+ Sandwich tern, 93 curlew, 53 oystercatcher flying south, 2 turnstone, 1 ringed plover, 30 sanderling, 1 whimbrel, 2 little egret, 2 kestrel. Butterflies Painted lady, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, common blue, brimstone, comma, small skipper & holly blue. There was a notable increase in peacock butterfly this week. Dragonflies Migrant hawker, common & ruddy darter. Other mottled, field, lesser marsh and meadow grasshopper. Flora Much of the dunes vegetation is wilting. Very few species flowering now, except for ragwort, a vital food source for butterflies and moths at this time of year. Fruit beginning to show for sea buckthorn, bittersweet, dewberry & blackberry. Lincolnshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation visited reserve on 13th August and recorded the following: Small skipper, Essex skipper, large white, green-veined white, common blue, small copper, red admiral, painted lady, peacock, wall brown, hedge brown, # meadow brown, ringlet & small heath. Shaded Broad-bar, Silver Y, yellow shell, Udea lutealis and plenty of cinnabar larvae in evidence on the common ragwort. Emperor dragonfly, migrant hawker, ruddy darter, common darter, emerald damselfly & blue-tailed damselfly. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/far-ings See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/2014/07/07/visit-dormouse-project These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Woods (which comprise Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) Also see: Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from, LNRs always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. 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 copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** 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 or from the website: http://www.lnu.org/join.php LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny http://lnu.org/publications.php ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk Mammal Atlas Chris Manning has put the new Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire on the link below. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://goo.gl/XIqRZg *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** 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 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 Related Website: http://lincs.police.uk/get-help-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/issues/crime STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** EasyTide *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** 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 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Identifying Fungi *** http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/ *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php http://butterfly-conservation.org/ *** 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 *** Mammal Recorder *** Chris Manning E-mail: Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas Chris Manning has put the new Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire on the link below. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://goo.gl/XIqRZg *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further details please contact: Ashley Butterfield Email: ashleybutterfield@btinternet.com 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 Lincolnshire Bat Group website: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard 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). If in doubt please contact for advice: d.a.sheppard@btinternet.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 *** 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 Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** 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.glnp.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 *** Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** 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: Jonathan Gahan http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering or contact the project officer jonathan.gahan@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** RSPB local webpages *** https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/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/ Grimsby & District RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincsbirders *** Lincolnshire's Alternative Birding Group http://www.lincsbirders.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Field meetings Sunday, September 04, 2016 Burkinshaw’s Covert (A private site with access courtesy of Total Lindsey Oil Refinery) North Killingholme, North Lincolnshire 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet at the main car park (by Gate No.7), Rosper Road, North Killingholme (grid ref TA16701754 and post code DN40 3DZ will get you nearby). Assemble at security gatehouse to meet Alan Jones from Humber Nature Partnership. Alan’s mobile no. is 07905 491647 if there are any problems finding the location. NB. Gate 7 is on Rosper Road, to the east of the refinery, not on Eastfield Road which is to the west. We will all need to drive to site (under escort by security staff to unlock gates) and will all need to leave at the same time (just after 16.00). May need to car share depending on numbers. Toilets available at security gatehouse. Habitats: Broadleaved woodland, scrub, grassland and pond. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Site Contact: Alan Jones 07905 491647 alan.jones@humbernature.co.uk Sunday, October 09, 2016 LNU Annual Fungus Foray (National Fungus Day) (Access courtesy of the Forestry Commission) Temple Wood (Access courtesy of the Forestry Commission) North of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park at TF058299 at northern entrance track to wood (nearest post code NG34 0HE). Take minor road west from Aslackby, off the A15. Nearest public toilets are in Bourne. Habitat: Broadleaved woodland. Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk *** Heritage Open Days September 2016 *** Heritage Open Days in Sept which this year's theme is Natural Heritage, Welton le Wold on the Friday and a Geological walk on the Sunday. Friday 9 September - Where Elephants once Roamed 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. Discover more about this disused gravel and sand quarry as the experts explain about this important geological and archaeological Site of Special Scientific Interest, normally closed to the public. By kind permission of the landowners, this 3 mile walk forms part of the Heritage Open Days. 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 Geodiversity Group & Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service Sunday 11 September - Claxby Ironstone Mine Geology Walk 10:00 am to 1:00pm pm. The walk traverses the Lower Cretaceous sediments within which the Claxby Ironstone Formation is found. The site of the original Claxby Ironstone Mine will be visited and its relationship with the surrounding geology explored, led by Paul Hildreth. BOOKING essential contact John Esser on 01472 851105 or jesser@yahoo.com Full event listing https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/heritage-open-days *** October 2016 Apple Day Diary Dates *** Visiting the website of the Stamford Community Orchard Group, I noted that their Apple Day is on Saturday 1st October this year. This is a great event and well worth a visit. See: http://scog.org.uk/ Wragby's Apple Day is on Sunday 2nd October. For details, see: http://www.applesandorchards.org.uk/images/Apple_Days_2016.pdf Woolsthorpe's annual Apple Day will be on Sunday 9th October. See: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolsthorpe-manor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** deox - soft bounce - permanent fatal errors - Sender Domain Invalid johnthackery - soft bounce - permanent error - Spam content found [sic] If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally..... Note: If a link does not work, please look at the URL. See if an extra http:// has crept in. Why do so many birds lay blue eggs? http://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/why-do-so-many-birds-lay-blue-eggs? 6 kingfisher facts you need to know http://www.discoverwildlife.com/blog/6-kingfisher-facts-you-need-know? Six hen harrier chicks fledge in Northumberland http://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/six-hen-harrier-chicks-fledge-northumberland? Brown bear in Finland’s Arctic taiga - photo https://media.guim.co.uk/8f36be3a56607bdc1412ded2016868ab80bae8bd/0_0_4390_2939/500.jpg Blackbird fledging in a crushed creche bleats and beats the odds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/11/blackbird-fledging-in-a-crushed-creche-bleats-and-beats-the-odds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/11/blackbird-fledging-in-a-crushed-creche-bleats-and-beats-the-odds Purple emperor is the jewel of the wildland https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/12/purple-emperor-jewel-wildland-butterfly-country-diary https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/12/purple-emperor-jewel-wildland-butterfly-country-diary A 400-year-old shark is the latest animal discovery to reveal the secrets of long life https://theconversation.com/a-400-year-old-shark-is-the-latest-animal-discovery-to-reveal-the-secrets-of-long-life-63784 https://theconversation.com/a-400-year-old-shark-is-the-latest-animal-discovery-to-reveal-the-secrets-of-long-life-63784 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/