============================================= || || 17th January 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 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 readers who used the "forward to a friend" button at the end of the Bulletin. Several more people have signed up this week. Great result! With a switch to real winter weather, we can hope to spot some Waxwings. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/w/waxwing/index.aspx 9th/20th you can watch a lunar occultation as the moon blocks out the bright star Aldebaran. There is a sub-set of astronomers who love to observe such events. Keen photographers might even capture a time-lapse sequence. See: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html This January is a good month for observing the planets. Paul Money writes that the 31st January is "A good night to attempt an all-night "Planet-thon"! If you have "Stellarium" on your computer, this is an opportunity to make it work for you and find Aldebaran and the planets! You can download Stellarium here. It's free. http://www.stellarium.org/en_GB/ Are you doing your bit for swifts? Searching for wall swift-boxes I have just discovered this interesting website: http://www.swift-conservation.org/Contents.htm Please keep the reports and news coming. Roger *** 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. Saturday, January 16, 2016 Bird monitoring and windfarms John Clarkson, Lincolnshire Bird Club North Lincolnshire County Recorder Non-members are very welcome to come along too. *** "Ecology is not a dirty word" *** On the importance of Observations to Ecology http://ecologyisnotadirtyword.com/2015/07/28/on-the-importance-of-observations-to-ecology/ *** Countdown to 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 process. For more information, see: http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** Scunthorpe Museum Society *** The Natural History and Geology Section, Scunthorpe Museum Society. Website to see our future programme - http://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 *** Lincoln LWT *** Lincoln Area Group Talk January 21st: Plant Immigrants - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly by Phil Porter Humans have moved many plants around the world, often as food crops and garden species. Whisby Nature Park warden Phil Porter take a light hearted look at some examples of when it's gone well and not so well! Talk at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50 which includes refreshments. *** More 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/ 8/1 2 Bewick's Swans ads, Rimac 3 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with Greylag Geese and Dark- bellied Brent Geese on wet grassland, Freiston Shore Short-eared Owl over fields at Cloot Drove, Crowland Short-eared Owl, 30 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Scaup 1w drk, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 9/1 Waxwing by reservoir, 4 Waxwings in trees by access road, Water Pipit, Scaup 1w drk, 20 E Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck flew south past, Blue Fulmar flew south past, Bonxie, Gibraltar Point Shag juv, Apex Pit, North Hykeham 10/1 Shag juv on rocks by island, Apex Pit, North Hykeham Scaup, Whisby NP Scaup 1w drk, 8 Twite, Frampton Marsh 2 Snow Buntings, Twite, Greenland White-fronted Goose 1w and 3 Eurasian White-fronted Geese at Elm House farm, Saltfleetby 5 Bewick's Swans at Alderfen, Wroot 11/1 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese with 770 Pink-footed Geese north of Garthorpe, SE of Adlingfleet, in field by Grange Road 3 Eurasian White-fronted Geese ad + 2.1w, with 1,300 Pink-footed Geese, West Halton 12/1 Bittern from Hide, Kirkby-on-Bain gravel pits 12 Twite, Donna Nook Waxwing, drk Scaup, Frampton Marsh Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Black-throated Diver, Gibraltar Point 13/1 3 Lapland Buntings, Wheatear, Donna Nook 5 Lapland Buntings, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier, 2 Pale-bellied Grent Geese, Tetney Marshes Red-breasted Merganser ad drk, West Lakes, Whisby 24 Eurasian White-fronted Geese bottom of wet grassland near Cut End, ringtail Hen Harrier, Freiston Shore Hen Harrier ringtail, Kirkby Moor Hen Harrier ad male over out marsh, Frampton Marsh Eurasian White-fronted Goose by approach road, Gibraltar Point Cattle Egret in paddock by River Welland bank near entrance to Deeping Lakes 14/1 9 Little Auks at high tids, Shag, River Witham Mouth SE of Boston 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: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their 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. European Shag. Brian Hedley found a European Shag on Apex Pit, Lincoln on the 9th Jan which went down well with local birders. A very scarce inland species and believed to be only the second ever record for the Whisby pit complex. Wheatear Jacquie Harrison and John Margetts. There have been blue tits using nest box next door in Lincoln since early this month. Sheltered blackthorn branch in leaf and flower on Donna Nook's dunes on Wednesday 13th January is not what we expected, nor a juvenile wheatear heading inland when there were lapland buntings around but we were surprised to see both. Wonder how they coped with Thursday's snow? Gorse locations A157 Louth to Burgh on Bain TF 307 871 Jenny and Robert Foster 8.1.16 Roadside verge, one large plant with abundant flowers on topmost branches A46 Nettleton TA 105 098 Wendy Handford 8.1.16 Open roadside verge. Three plants, 2 with many flowers A46 Holton le Moor junction TF 095 983 Wendy Handford 8.1.16 Roadside verge shaded by oaks. Three plants, all with first flowers A46 Holton le Moor TF 096 986, Wendy Handford 8.1.16 Roadside verge shaded by oaks. 20 plants, most with several flowers A46 Holton le Moor railway crossing TF 092 474 Wendy Handford 8.1.16 Disturbed ground next to railway track. One plant with sevsral flowers A46 Claxby bypass TF 090 964 Wendy Handford 8.1.16 Sandy roadside verge with mixed shrubs. 60 plants, about 40 with many flowers, 15 with abundant flowers A46 junction with A1103 TF 099 919 Wendy Handford 8.1.16 Roadside verge shaded by conifers. Four plants, 1 with abundant flowers *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY LOCK TF102702 6/1/16 Robert Walker Goosanders 9 ( 8 male + 1 female ) A little way up river from the moorings. BOSTON (South by A16) 07/01/2016 Kath Pearson A new bird feeder was erected in the garden this week, containing black sunflower seeds. it was visited for the first time today by a Grey Squirrel which was unable to work-out how to extract the food through the feeding holes. However, it was not to be beaten and was seen to lift the metal cover on the top and extract the seed in an unorthodox manner. It even managed to close the feeder afterwards. CAISTOR Week beginning 8.1.16 Wendy Handford Brigg Road wildlife garden TA 111 026 Feral cat 10.1.16 Buzzards 2 calling 8.1.16 Long-tailed tits 6 on Silver birch 12.1.16 Tawny owl calling 5pm 9.1.16 Treesparrows 20+ in Holly 14.1.16 Pulmonaria 1st flowers 9.1.16 Ailsa Wish North Kelsey Road TA 116 015 9.1.16 Blackbirds collecting nest material Gordon Askew and Molly Nafsgar Grimsby Road garden TA 120 014 9.1.16 2 Redpolls and over 20 Goldcrests feeding on sunflower hearts Ann Timson Partridge Close garden TA 113 015 10.1.16 Wagtail DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 08/01/16 Time: 1015 - 1230 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny periods, cold Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Common Gull Common Sandpiper Coot Cormorant Dunnock Fieldfare Gadwall Goldeneye Goosander Great Crested Grebe Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull Jackdaw Lapwing Little Egret Little Grebe Magpie Mallard Mediterranean Gull Moorhen Mute Swan Pheasant Redshank Redwing Reed Bunting Robin Snipe Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Crowland Cloot Drove 08/01/16 Short Eared Owl (1) 10/01/16 Short Eared Owl (2/3) DODDINGTON PARK, LINCOLN M. Scott 14/01/16 Birds In My Garden From 12 Jan -14 Jan 2016. Blackbird 3 Blue Tits 5 Coal Tit 3 Collared Dove 6 Dunnock 4 Goldfinch 4 Great Tit 4 Long tail Tit 4 Robin 3 Starlings 4 Woodpigeon 8 My two nest boxes with cameras in now have got two Blue Tits roosting overnight again. also Squirrel 1 Hedgehogs Disappeared Mid November. HORNCASTLE TF261691 My garden 13 & 14/1/16 Robert Walker Blackcaps 1m + 1f Whilst having seen a single female in the garden some years previously, it was good to see a pair on the feeders several times on the 13th, whilst the female appeared several times during the 14th, the male was absent. Hedgehogs - Pleased to say none sighted in the garden since 15/12/15 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden unless advised otherwise) 7/1/2016 Pheasants 2 (both female and at the same time) 8/1/2016 Barn owl 1 (TF515 769) 9/1/2016 Rabbit 1 10/1/2016 Fieldmouse 1 13/1/2016 Dunnocks 2 Fieldmouse 2 (on terrace together) Great tits 2 Noticed 2 primroses open. 14/1/2016 Sparrowhawk 1 (flew low through the garden) LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 17/01/2016 Jayne Knight 14/01/16 Male Sparrowhawk hunting very persistently through the gardens. Many fly-bys unsuccessful but puff of feathers either floating through the air or on the ground show he catches something. After one failed chase today he rested on the trellis about ten foot away from kitchen window. I didn't move til he flew off, great views. Also observe, from time to time, around a dozen Goldfinches feeding off the Lavender seed heads in the front garden. It isn't because no other food is available as I check the feeders in the back garden and they are playing host to even greater numbers of the finches at the same time. 12/01/16 Removed a Clubiona corticalis spider from the bathroom washbasin and released outside. Hope it wasn't too chilly! MORKERY WOOD SK956183 Jane Ostler 9/1/16 Fungi half an hour's visit to look in n-w corner of wood, for galled specimens of Southern Bracket (Ganoderma australe), first found here in 2010 on fallen birch. The galls, which look like tiny african bush huts are formed by a "flat-footed fly", the common name for the family whose specific name is Agathomnia wankoweizi. The fly leaves the gall as a larva to pupate in the ground. It was first described less than fifteen years ago in this country. Galls on fungi are unusual and all observations are therefore valuable. Unfortunately much of the birch has been removed. No galled brackets were found. However on fallen birch:- Southern Bracket, Birch Polypore, Hoof Fungus, Turkey Tail and Hairy Curtain Crust were all found on fallen birch. Lichens: Some ash trees had a hheavy covering of the rust lichen. Good to see plenty of the nitrogen sensitive Evernia prunastri. Mosses: At their best at the moment and Thuidium tamariscinum, which indeed does look like the tamarisk, particularly beautiful. Flowering Plants: Hazel. Included some female flowers. Primrose. Many buds, one flower open. Wild Angelica. A single flower head. Birds: A party of long-tailed tits. Tree Creeper Mammals: Badger. Plenty of signs of activity. SAUSTHORPE TF377694 10/1/16 Robert Walker Buzzard 1 On tree branch side of A158 9.50am SKIDBROKE near SALTFLEET Gill Kennett Friday, January 8, 2016 Short-eared Owl In the bulletin you asked for short-eared owl sightings.There is one around St.Botoph's church Skidbrooke nr Saltfleet which I have seen daily for the last few weeks. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 08/01/16 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:15hrs 09/01/16 Kestrel x 2 SK805998 Starling x 200+ murmuration SE745078 11/01/16 Fieldfare x 26 Mute Swan x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:15hrs 12/01/16 Short Eared Owl x 1 hunting along rough grassland on drain side SK803992 14/01/16 Blackbird x 5 Common Gull x 2 Fieldfare x 17 Kestrel x 2 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Roe Deer x 1male, 2 females SK802985 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 8/01/2016 Buzzard over approx 2pm. Little Egret at Glebe Farm, Hurnbridge Road, TF217549 approx. 10/01/2015 Little Egret at Glebe Farm, Hurnbridge Road, approx TF217549 Little Egret at Great Beats Farm, Hurnbridge Road, TF222533/228529 Buzzard at Canada Farm TF222548 approx. 11/01/2016 Barn Owl in oak tree at TF 216540 at 18.15hrs. 12/01/2016 Barn Owl perched in hedge at TF 216538 at 06.30hrs. 13/01/2016 Buzzard on electricity pole TF 216538 at 14.00 hrs. WRANGLE COMMON 13/01/2016 Roy and Kath Pearson The wet grassland is now flooded and many birds have now moved in. We counted approximately fifty Mallard, fourteen Teal, three Snipe and one Green Sandpiper. In a nearby hedge was a flock of forty-eight Fieldfares. I cannot ever remember a greater number here. The wood was empty except for a flock of tits, prominent amongst which were Long-tails, a single Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Woodcock, a species that has been largely absent this winter. Two Jays were eating peanuts on a nearby bird-table. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DONNA NOOK - TF42665 995548 - mainly along path to West of dunes. 13/01/2016 Jacquie Harrison and John Margetts Blackbirds Black-headed gulls Blackthorn - sheltered branch in both leaf and flower! Blue tits Brent Geese on large flock on saltmarsh Carrion crows Cormorant Curlew Dunlin Godwits in flight over beach Goldfinches Great black-backed gull Kestrel Lapland buntings -3 Lapwings - both on scrape and in flock over Little egret on saltmarsh Magpies Mallards Meadow pipit Pied wagtail Redshank Robin Stonechats - pair Yellow hammers Wheatear - juvenile flying in off dunes - we were shocked and checked we couldn't have mistaken for anything else but there have been others on north-east coast already this year. Wrens. SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR Observations 7th-13th January 2016 Contributors: Nigel Lound, Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison A week of mainly heavy cloud and rain, but today, Wednesday bright and sunny making a pleasant change. Each winter, after strong winds and often when beam trawlers are fishing close to shore, large heavy chunks of fine consolidated mud, containing submerged forest materials can be seen washed up on the shore in the Theddlethorpe area. There are currently several chunks to be seen on the beach, measuring around a 1mx0.5mx13cm thick, with clam shells and holes visible where clams had been present. There must be extensive mud areas here offshore and no doubt provide excellent feeding areas for the flocks of Common Scoter often seen in this region. There has also been a washout of Razor Clams, with extensive build-ups of the shells on the shore, providing good feeding for gulls. Gulls on the beach have included an adult Little Gull at Crook Bank on 8th, an adult Herring Gull, with bright yellow legs, assumed to be variety "ommisions" on13th. The gull roost has been building recently and currently includes 1,300+ Common Gulls, 200+ Black-headed Gulls and 90+ Herring Gulls, along with around 20 Great-blacked Gulls. Red-throated Divers are often to be seen flying north on falling spring tides in the winter, presumably repositioning after drifting south. On 8th, 33 were noted, along with 22 and 3 Great-crested on 13th. The high tide wader count on the morning of 13th was quite productive, with 670 Dunlin, 56 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 Grey Plover, 35 Oystercatchers and 40 Sanderling and 51 Cormorants. There were also about 90 Redshanks, 29 Little Egrets and 7 Shoveler on Rimac saltmarsh, where 2 Bewicks Swans and 24 Snipe and 272 Wigeon were noted there 8th. Rimac on 13th was excellent for wildfowl on 13th, when around 600 Pink-footed Geese flew low over the carpark at midday and there were over 150 each of Wigeon and Teal on the river close to the bridge. The geese roost out on the shore, but are currently feeding close by on flooded fields, where they are accompanied by 4 White-fronted Geese, 2 Barnacle Geese, 50+ Brent Geese, 60+ Canada Geese and 8 Greylag Geese. Ducks include 90+Wigeon, 170+ Teal, 40+ Mallard and 8 Shoveler. Following the very heavy rain, 1,400 Lapwing, 40 Golden Plover, 160 Curlew and 500+ Common Gulls were present. A Peregrine over the area had good hunting. Other birds of particular note have included a male Marsh Harrier at Rimac on 13th, which could have been the same bird as a distant harrier on 11th, several Woodcocks along the length of the dunes, a male Blackcap on 9th at Seaview and 4 Stonechats at Rimac on 8th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NR 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 Reports always welcome. 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 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 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 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 *** Contacts List *** No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** 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 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 SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING No hotlinks in this section, just copy and paste URLs, please. *** Videos and photos - suggestions welcome *** Starlings at Kirkby on Bain - the excellent 2014 video by David Robinson. http://www.flickr.com/photos/poppops/11685708555/ David sent in another fine video of a starling murmuration in January [2016] at Kirkby on Bain gravel pits - LWT's Hide Pit. https://flic.kr/p/BT6HMp 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 *** Identifying 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 *** 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). 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 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 *** 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: Jonathan Gahan http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering or contact the project officer jonathan.gahan@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 *** 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/ *** 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://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes/lincolnshire-limewoods 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, January 16, 2016 Bird monitoring and windfarms John Clarkson, Lincolnshire Bird Club North Lincolnshire County Recorder 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 ever your Bulletin does not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Latest Mailfails. gandd - Soft Bounce - Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable And finally: Endangered: the police unit that protects wildlife from human cruelty http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/08/national-wildlife-crime-unit-endangered? Bill Bryson publishers allowed to keep Jolly Fisherman cover image http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-35260867 Horsey beach seal births top 1,000 for first time http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-35262254 Nottingham otter road death 'a good sign' say wildlife experts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-35266803 Bronze Age houses uncovered in Cambridgeshire are Britain's 'Pompeii' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-35280290 'James Bond' car model sought to recreate photo http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-35252296 White sky at night not a city bird's delight http://www.theguardian.com/science/grrlscientist/2015/aug/26/urban-songbirds-stress-hormones-light-pollution 'Case is made' for Anthropocene Epoch http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35259194 Trees can help UK farming cut emissions, says study http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35225838 The Mountain of-Butterflies- four things you didn't know http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-mountain-of-butterflies-four-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-phenomenon-behind-todays-google-a6803641.html Pregnant Deadly Snake Found Under Fridge http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/13/heavily-pregnant-deadly-snake-found-under-fridge-by-australian-woman Why we should learn to love al -insects https://theconversation.com/why-we-should-learn-to-love-all-insects-not-just-the-ones-that-work-for-us-49925 Contributions to "And finally......" are always welcome. ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/