============================================= || || 4th December 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 over 1000 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. If you know someone who might like to receive the Bulletin please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every Bulletin or 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 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.... *** Welcome to this week's Bulletin. I am back from my Walkabout. Thank you for the many interesting emails waiting for me. I hope you find this Bulletin informative and entertaining. Please keep your contributions coming and remember to click on some links - all were chosen with readers in mind! LNU events and "Whisby Workshops 2017 " are listed below in section 11. Donna Nook Seals: Remember - avoid weekend visits if possible. Useful links: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/donna-nook/viewing-seals-donna-nook 'Planet Earth II ' on BBC 1 - yet another stunning episode. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02544td I have put a few interesting links here, with more at the end of the Bulletin. Wildlife Photographer of the Year - People's Choice: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-38083691 Earth warming to climate tipping point, warns study http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38146248 Seasonal wetlands face uncertain future: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38091006 Flood spending decisions 'perverse', Green Alliance says: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38126030 You can use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of each Bulletin to send a sample copy to someone who might enjoy it too. Please do. Roger rparsons@enterprise.net *** TWO Winter Forecast out in next few days *** http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ *** LNU Events Diary *** For LNU meetings, see: http://www.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. Next meeting: Saturday, January 21, 2017 "Laughton Forest: a long term study of key bird and insect species" by Graham Catley Whisby Education Centre, 2pm *** Field Studies Council courses 2017 *** The latest programme of the FSC lists an impressive range of interesting courses in some wonderful places. Note the partner organisations. Strongly recommended. http://www.field-studies-council.org/individuals-and-families/natural-history.aspx Editor adds: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** 'The Growing Plot' - Help Needed Please *** Derek Dear writes 'The Growing Plot' is a charity project run by 'Worth Unlimited', working with marginalized and excluded young people to improve their physical and mental health, by using plants and gardens. We are located in Cherry Willingham. A few of us (very few) have been given the use of a couple of acres of farm land. We have plans to have Vegetable, Fruit, Wildlife and Herbaceous sections, with Hens and Bees. A challenging project, made slightly harder by not knowing anything about creating a wildlife garden. The field has not been ploughed for at least 30 years but has a good 18 inches of fine topsoil lying over river sand, and is close to the River Witham. Advice and help on how to go forward with our ideas would be very much appreciated. Contact email for Derek: divingbrit@gmail.com Derek adds: We have a couple of dozen hens, and they have been on the plot for the last nine months, they moved in before anything else was done, Hens being Hens, we now have a sizeble mound of used bedding material. Now I know it can go onto a compost heap, and used as an accelerator, but as we have not got a lot of 'green waste' (due to the fact we are concentrating on the planting and hard landscape) I was wondering if you knew how long this old bedding can be kept? Related links: http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/organic_wildgardens1.shtml *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Indood Meetings *** www.scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Boston LWT *** "WILDLIFE OF THE YORKSHIRE COAST" an illustrated talk by Geof Lee on the wildlife he has photographed on his many visits to the area. The meeting is at 7.30 P.M. on Thursday, 8th December, 2016 in the schoolroom of the Centenary Methodist Church in Red Lion Street, Boston. Free - all welcome. There will be refreshments and a leaving collection. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: On Monday 12th December 2016 the Lincolnshire Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where Louth area naturalist Stewart West will give an illustrated talk: "OTTERS - THE HIDDEN COMEBACK" This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £2, Trust goods, raffle and festive refreshments donated by our members will be enjoyed at the interval. For further details contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2016 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** December Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage for December will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 28/11 Lapland Bunting flew south over, Long-tailed Duck on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 2 Long-eared Owls on island on main lake, Deeping Lakes Common Scoter fem, 2 Scaup 1w drk 1f, Thurlby Pit Lapland Bunting, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Long-tailed Ducks, 9 Velvet Scoters, 2 Hen Harriers, Short-eared Owl, 100 Twite, Snow Bunting, Tetney Marshes Scaup, Frampton Marsh 29/11 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese adults with 367 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Long-tailed Duck on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 2 Long-eared Owls on island on main lake, Deeping Lakes Long-tailed Duck offshore, 60 Twite, Donna Nook 30/11 Iceland Gull juv, Manby Flashes 14 Velvet Scoter offshore. Water Pipit in field between Rimac and Churchill Lane Long-tailed Duck on Jackson's Marsh, Long-tailed Duck south past, Gibraltar Point 25 Snow Buntings in outer dunes, Cleethorpes Coast LNR Great White Egret, Deeping High Bank Caspian Gull at Apex gravel pits, North Hykeham Note: I am adapting RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. Please visit the RBA website for updates/fuller details. Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [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. Jane Pennington writes: I was delighted to receive The Lincolnshire Naturalist today. I want to mention David Sheppard's article 'Mites and Bumblebees' particularly as I learnt so much from it. Last July, I photographed some bees on some thistles and when I looked at my pics on the computer, I noticed a Bombus lapidarius had mites. In my ignorance, I thought this must have been bad for the bee but it seems that this may not have been the case at all. Thank you! Julian Purvis writes: A friend of mine was out running last Sunday (13 Nov) and at approx 11.00 am he had a dog otter run out in front of him (under 20ft away). It was coming from Ewerby Pond (tiny Lincs Trust leased site that they have just let revert to the freeholder) and it crossed the narrow road he was running on in front of him and went into the Kyme Eau. This is the first sighting on the Kyme Eau for a while. Whilst writing about that we continue to have daily Kingfisher sightings (they have nested about 50m from our back garden fence during the last 3 years). I was at Gib Point this morning (Kev Wilson was doing an Autumn migration walk) and we came across a dead Marsh Harrier. It appeared to be a juvenile female with little body mass and was on the shoreline after a spring tide. Kev was going to go back for it and send it off for analysis. Shame. Brighter notes included waxwings and great white egret. Note from Jerry Gunner: Took the dogs out at 1530. 5°and unlimited visibility, not a cloud in the sky. Walking down to the Carr Dyke saw the usual suspects, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and the ever-present Marsh or Willow – can’t tell ‘em apart! Nothing much to see during the walk up and down the side of the Carr Dyke towards Wasps Nest and back nothing bird-wise unusual. A couple of the tiny voles that live in the grass were seen and that IS unusual. At about 1615 as it was getting dark I could see a Tawny Owl flapping slowly towards Potterhanworth wood where further on towards Potterhanworth Booths there was a minor murmuration of Starlings cavorting low above the canopy. The best thing was to come as I walked back up the little hill to the place I’d parked the car. I didn’t dare to hope that the bird that flew low out of the low clutter of darkness briefly into the afterglow of the sunset was a Woodcock. I’ve seen very few in the 20 or so years I’ve lived here but in the next five minutes or so I saw the same one, or maybe others several time including two that were behaving like dolphins posing around a tour boat so I could get good profile views of them. Wish I’d had my camera! The temperature gauge in the car was reading half a degree when I got in the car. On the short drive home I saw two Barn Owls one dark, one pale. A fantastic end to the day that had revealed a lot of snowdrop and daffodil bulbs up about an inch and a half under leaf mould in the borders. I covered them up again. Two pairs of Robins were ‘helping’ me – one in the front garden, one in the back. Definitely two pairs. ROADKILLS Road Kill: B1210 26/11/2016 Jon Drakes 1 x Badger adjacent to B1210 (grid reference TA2010) between Healing and Stallingborough villages. HAREBY TF336656 Robert Walker 19/11/16 Weasel 1 roadkill Only recently killed, the body still fresh and limp, showing only slight head injuries, it was wonderfully well marked, showing 'spot' markings on the underside. I lifted the body onto the side of the road after taking photographs before continuing on our walk. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** "If it is worth observing, it is worth recording." 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. ANDERBY TF524755 Robert Walker 5/11/16 Muntjac 1 The deer ran across the road, fortunately at a safe distance in front of the car, into the churchyard.It was late afternoon and dusk was just falling. BURGH LE MARSH TF484665 Robert Walker 27/11/16 Kestrel 1 Hunting over roadside verge. CLEETHORPES BOATING LAKE (Grid reference TA3107) 26/11/2016 Jon Drakes A brief afternoon visit to this location found the following species of bird present: Black-Headed Gull Coot Feral Pigeon Greylag Goose Herring Gull Mallard Moorhen Pochard Starling Tufted Duck DONNA NOOK (Grid reference TF4299) 26/11/2016 Jon Drakes Species noted whilst visiting Donna Nook on our annual pilgrimage to see the several thousand Seals and their pups were: Brent Goose Carrion Crow Common Gull Cormorant Curlew Dunnock Great Blackback Gull Grey Heron Herring Gull Lapwing Little Egret Magpie Meadow Pipit Pied Wagtail Redshank Redwing Shelduck Skylark Starling Turnstone Woodpigeon FAR INGS NR LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST (Grid reference TA0123) 19/11/2016 Jon Drakes A late afternoon visit to the visitor centre to watch the spectacular Starling murmuration take place also found the following species present: Blackbird Blue Tit Carrion Crow Chaffinch Cormorant Great Blackback Gull Great Tit Longtail Tit 10 Magpie Mallard Marsh Harrier 1 Moorhen Reed Bunting Robin Starling several thousand birds making for a spectacular murmuration as they flew into the Barton Reedbed to roost. Tufted Duck Woodpigeon HATTON TF183756 A158 Robert Walker 13/11/16 Kestrel 1 Hunting over roadside verge. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden unless otherwise stated) 19/11/2016 TF521766 Barn owl 1 (in flight across field - one hour into my walk) TF525777 Barn owl 1 (first spotted sitting on fence post, then swooped into field before flying off with prey in bill - amazing to watch! This could have been the same owl as previous as I saw this one on my way back from the sea) TF540785 Greylag geese 20 or so (among the cattle on the grazing marshes) 21/11/2016 Wood pigeons 12 23/11/2016 Blackbirds 12 Chaffinch 2 Tawny owl 1 (heard 5.30 a.m.) Wren 1 26/11/2016 Great tits 4 Magpie 1 Pheasant 1 28/11/2016 Rooks 6 (in oak) 29/11/2016 Blackbirds 12 (devouring the rowan berries) Collared doves 2 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 19/11/2016 Jon Drakes Species noted whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO in our back garden, on a very bright, cold and frosty Saturday morning were: Blackbird 3 House Sparrow 25 Tree Sparrow 1 Dunnock 5 Robin 1 Goldfinch 1 Starling 4 Chaffinch 2 Greenfinch 1 Collared Dove 3 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 26/11/2016 Jon Drakes Species recorded visiting our back garden whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO were: Blackbird 2 Blue Tit 1 Chaffinch 1 Collared Dove 20 Dunnock 5 Goldfinch 2 House Sparrow 30 Robin 1 Starling 10 Tree Sparrow 5 KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK 847 757 Alison Brownlow 25/10/2016 November moth to kitchen window 23/11/2016 Winter moth to kitchen window MORKERY WOOD (EAST) SK957174 Jane Ostler 18th November 20016 One hour walking a circuit on concrete path only, mainly to look for galls. GALLS On oak - Marble Gall (Andricus kollari) "Small Marble"(Trigonaspis megaptera) Cherry Gall (Cynips quercusfolia) Pea Gall (Cynips divisa) Spangle Gall (Neuroterus quercus-baccarum). On willow - Bean Gall Pontania proxima LICHENS Lepraria conizaeoides A very common granular grey crust, only noted because now there is less sulphur dioxide in the air this species which actually needs it is becoming less common. Lepraria incana - again very common, pollution tolerant a grey powder which now seems confine to dry acidic bark. Found on underside main branch of ash. FUNGI A limited list of species seen from the paths - all common Brackets - Turkey Tail, Smoky Bracket (Bjerkandera adusta), Common Maze Gill, on fallen sycamore, Birc h Polypore new growths, Shaggy bracket and Cramp Ball on ash. Coral Spot. The only gill fungus seen was Brown Roll Rim. Sycamore Leaves in Car Park area moderately infected with tar spot. PLANTS Only a single plant of Wild Basil in flower. Interestingly this was one of only three plants in flower seen on a similar walk in Morkery in December 1977. The trees are later in leaf than usual. Ash is mainly bare branched but one or two young trees have fully leaved, green branches. Red-brown beech and yellow maple, with one magnificent Norway maple with red-stemmed yellow leaves provided the main colour. Some hazel catkins were grown to their full length. ANIMALS Very few birds seen or heard. Crow, pheasant feeding. About a dozen blackbirds working their way along a hedge. Contact calls of chaffinch and dunnock. RISEHOLME LANE, LN2 SK99427 75486 Su Colman 17 November 2016 09:30 150+ Fieldfares feeding in hedges SCRAFIELD TF308697 A158 Robert Walker 27/11/16 Kestrel 1 Hunting over roadside verge. SOUTHREY John Hodgson 20/11/2016 Goldfinch - Southrey - Water Rail Trail GR 145 661 A flock of around 12 plus Goldfinch Feeding on Teasel near the river bank. SOUTHREY John Hodgson 20/11/2016 Long Tailed Tits Water Rail Trail Nr GR 145 661 A group of about 5 or more moving noisily from tree to tree. SUDBROOKE LANE, LN2 TF 02705 75636 Su Colman 13 & 16 November 2016 200+ canada geese + about 6 greylags arriving at dusk. They seem to fly over our house at about 16.35 each evening going out to this field. TEAL LAKE, Whisby around grid ref: SK 92641 66590 26/11/2016 between 11.30 - 13.30 Su Colman & Mark Townsend Blackbird 10 Blue Tit 5 Canada Goose 7 Coot 20+ Cormorant 15+ Dunnock 2 Gadwall 2 Goldfinch 1 Great Black-backed Gull 12 Great Crested Grebe 5 Great Tit 5 Grey Heron 1 Greylag Goose 12+ Lapwing 100+ Mute Swan 8 Pochard 1 Robin 8 Shelduck 2 Tufted Duck 20+ Wren 1 Squirrels 3 Gorse in flower WADDINGTON SK975 639 29.11.2016 Peter Wilson Pied Wagtail in my garden, never seen one on the garden here before. There plenty about 400 yards away on the playing field, they can always be seen there. Sparrow Hawk took blackbird in the garden in afternoon. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 28/11/2016 Tawny Owl on electricity pole in garden 7pm. 30/11/2016 Fieldfares on windfalls. Buzzard low over 11.45. WOODHALL SPA John Hodgson Home GR 201 629 20/11/2016 1 x Kingfisher. Perched on a thin plank of wood overlooking the beck at home GR. After heavy rain overnight and run-off from the fields the beck was very cloudy and I would be surprised if any potential prey were visible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 NNR Report 16th November - 23rd November 2016 Contributors: Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker, Nige Lound & Cliff Morrison 16th Kingfisher 2 at the Great Eau outfall, Hen Harrier (ringtail) hunting over salt marsh and a Little Egret with colour rings Red J // Yellow P was seen feeding with 8 other birds on the salt marsh. This bird was ringed by the Mid-Lincs Ringing group as a nestling on the 25th May 2015 in N Lincs. 18th Between Crook Bank and Brick Yard Lane were 13 Shore Lark, 14 Snow Bunting and 48 Twite. Singles of Peregrine and Buzzard were also seen and 79 Whooper Swan flew south as did 88 Pinkfeet. 1 hen harrier and 1 short eared owl, over salt marsh, a total of 376 curlews c 300 pink foot geese and 21 whooper swans roosting on foreshore, over weekend WeBS counts 18 & 19 had good movements of Whooper Swans south with over 100 on the18th, but couldn't see all the birds from the garden, only heard them. Biggest group was 68. 19th Whooper Swan three sightings of birds in the area 20, 6, 5, Shoveler 20 on Rimac lagoon, single Merlin disturbed off the outer dune ridge and Snow Bunting 15 feeding amongst sea blite on the mud flat. On nearby pasture close to the NNR at Sea View 194 Pink-footed Geese were feeding and 2 Short-eared Owls hunting over the area. Highest count for twite was 65 on 19th, with 2 groups of 45 & 20, along with 15 shore larks. 20th A small arrival of blackbirds on 20th also 5 woodcock and 2 jays 21st Strong ENE breeze all day with continual rain giving a 24hr total of 15.2mm at Sea View. Heavy rain and a force 4/5 NE wind made bird recording difficult. A minimum of 1000 Common Scoter were again on the sea south of Crook Bank 22nd Late afternoon watch over the salt marsh produced several flocks of Curlew flying over from the inland pastures to roost in an area around the Saltfleet Haven. Total of 110 birds in groups of 29, 2, 52, 5, 4, 6, 2, 5, 5 Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 23rd November - 30th November 2016 Contributors: Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker, Nige Lound & Cliff Morrison General Notes and Weather Observations for the end of November Pink footed Geese to be seen coming off Rimac roost about half an hour after dawn each morning. Apart from the odd snow buntings, skylarks and rock pipits, the feeding flocks of finches and larks now seem to have deserted the saltings. However, up to 8 yellow hammers and reed buntings are to be seen in the fore dunes in the Theddlethorpe area. The daily arrivals of continental blackbirds, over the past 3 weeks, which typically are females at this time of year, now seems to have finished and the bushes are now fairly quiet. However, there are several parties of Long-tailed Tits to be seen working their way through the bushes all along the reserve. Heavy rains over a couple of days wetted the beach, giving good feeding conditions for waders, where over 650 dunlin, 100 each of redshank, knot and sanderling, along with over 70 oystercatchers, 30 bar-tailed godwits, and 8 grey plovers were regularly counted, whilst over 300 Curlews and 1400 gulls, predominantly Common, were coming into roost each evening. The constant winds from the north east earlier in the period contributed to a wash out of many razor clams, along with several 100 Dungeness edible crabs, which resulted in very good feeding opportunities for herring and great black-backed gulls. To see so many edible crabs of all age structures washed out is quite unusual. In an adjoining garden to the reserve, there have been up to a dozen tree sparrows and 3 Siskins, which regularly utilise the car park trees at Brick Yard Lane. Daily Notes and Bird Sightings 23rd Flying south at sea were 4 Pomarine Skua, an Arctic Skua and 30 Barnacle Geese. 4 Velvet Scoter were on the sea and a drake Eider flew south. 24th Short-eared Owl hunting near Paradise, around 10 Blackbirds feeding on fallen apples in the Sea View area, late afternoon at 16.35hrs Whooper Swans heard flying over Sea View towards Rimac lagoon area and in the failing light up to 37 birds counted and at 16.40hrs Pink-feet heard calling and flying over from the marshland towards the coast beyond Rimac. 25th 3 Velvet Scoter were on the sea at Crook Bank. 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 22 Eider flew north whilst a Black-throated Diver flew south. In the Rimac area were a Hen Harrier, a Jack Snipe, 10 Twite and 3 Stonechat. A lone Barnacle Goose was at the haven lagoon. 26th At dawn, pink foot goose c 250 and whooper swan 52 seen leaving the foreshore roost. Pair of Yellowhammers with 2 Reed Buntings near Paradise 27th Up to 10 Blackbirds between Sea View and Paradise, single Green Woodpecker foraging on salt marsh before flying off into Paradise Wood, Great-spotted Woodpecker at Sea View and Tawny Owl hooting nearby late afternoon 4 male snow buntings on Theddle- thorpe foreshore and 1 short eared owl over salt marsh 28th Rather quiet today with 350 Common Scoter on the sea, 6 Red Throated Diver and 4 Eider north. 21 Yellowhammer and 5 Tree Sparrow between Crook Bank and Churchill Lane Car Park were the only passerines of any note. 2 Chiffchaffs in Churchill lane area 29th Sharp frost with a ground minimum of -8.5°C and air minimum of -4.0°C,Fieldfare 2, Blackbird 12+, Siskin 6 and Green Woodpecker at Sea View, late afternoon single Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl hunting over dunes and salt marsh near Sea View. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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. Reports always welcome. 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 - LNRs etc. Reports welcomed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, 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 *** 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! You can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk or from the LNU website: http://www.lnu.org/join.php LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny. ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk http://lnu.org/publications.php LNU Mammal Atlas 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 *** E-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. 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. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. *** 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 *** http://www.bwars.com/ 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, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas 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 information and to submit records contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@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. *** 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/ *** Confidential Bat Records *** 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 (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group *** of the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital:, writes: Contact 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. On the Weirfield website a reporting page can be used to send in badger reports. http://www.weirfield.co.uk/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, 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 http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ Contact: Aidan Neary, aneary@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825 970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. See: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing *** 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 *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@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 *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk Contact: 01507 609740 *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams Contact: 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 *** 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 a few cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed 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 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. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or 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. 2017 Indoor Meetings Saturday, January 21, 2017 "Laughton Forest: a long term study of key bird and insect species" by Graham Catley Whisby Education Centre, 2pm Saturday, February 11, 2017 Recorders’ Meeting & Annual Exhibition Whisby Education Centre, 12 noon 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; the overview starts at 2pm as in previous years. Saturday, March 04, 2017 AGM & Presidential Address by Annette Binding “The Fens revisited. An update” Whisby Education Centre, 2pm *** The Whisby Workshops 2017 *** Richard Davidson - Programme Secretary - writes: The workshops are free to participants as all overhead costs are split between the Lincoln Area Group and the LNU. [Refreshments are also provided.] The aim is not to turn people into experts in an afternoon, but to cascade knowledge and enthusiasm for particular subjects so that participants can go away better equipped to follow them up on their own and also to encourage interest in a broader range of subjects both entomological and botanical. On most of them there has been time inside learning generally about the subject and looking at specimens followed by time outside in the field following this up. The workshops lined up for 2017 are Bees, Flies/ Diptera, Pond Dipping and Odonata. We're very grateful to the various experts who've fronted the workshops for being willing to give up their time and share their knowledge. We couldn't do all this without them. Also to the LNU for being willing to enter into this partnership. In the future we could broaden things to include mammals, birds and many other natural history topics. The dates of the workshops for next year are now finalized. Bees (David Sheppard) on the 3rd of June, Flies/ Diptera on the 15th of July, Pond Dipping on the 22nd of July (Richard Chadd) Odonata (Nick Tribe and Richard Chadd) on the 29th of July. Contact Richard Davidson on: rel.davidson@btinternet.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you recognise the owner of a 'part-address', please let them know their Bulletin has 'bounced' this week. None reported. If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally..... Note: If a link below does not work, please look at the URL. See if an extra http:// has crept in, and make the correction. All you need to know about nature deficit disorder: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38094186 Louth flood scheme completed on River Lud http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-38141742 Badger gets stuck in empty swimming pool in Amber Hill http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-38080482 RSPB hails 'remarkable' recovery of threatened cirl bunting http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38008471 Coins buried during English Civil War found on farm http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-38003071 Spectacular bronze age gold torc unearthed in Cambridgeshire field https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/28/spectacular-bronze-age-gold-torc-unearthed-cambridgeshire-field Plans for Skegness area traveller site refused http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-38018906 Rare Antarctic beetle find delights http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38145258 Sydney zoo celebrates first puggle births in decades http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-38027485 Seawater's DNA secrets to life in the deep http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37989260 Bumper load of new viruses identified http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38095585 Mars probe returns first pictures http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38147682 Snow leopard 'rape': what was really going on? https://theconversation.com/snow-leopard-rape-what-was-really-going-on-68776 In a Lilliputian world of leaf litter https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/19/lilliputian-world-leaf-litter-new-forest-country-diary These bizarre creatures defy what we think we know about plants and animals https://theconversation.com/these-bizarre-creatures-defy-what-we-think-we-know-about-plants-and-animals-69316 Lincolnshire: Climber's view of a horse chestnut tree https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/28/climbers-view-horse-chestnut-tree-country-diary Berries festoon the quarry reserve https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/25/berries-festoon-the-quarry-reserve ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next month!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/