============================================= || || 5th June 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.... *** Bob Sheppard has drawn our attention to a local "Barn Owl cam". He writes: "Please would you draw your readers' attention to a new webcam based in Lincolnshire with live pictures round the clock of a barn owl on her nest in a purpose-built owl tower? "She is currently sitting three eggs which are due to hatch at the end of the first week in June." The website is at: http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/page/16/owl-tower-project Also see: http://www.barnowltrust.org.uk/barn-owl-facts/ BBC Springwatch live web-cameras can be found on this webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qgm3 A new study has shown that bumblebees use tiny vibrating hairs to sense electric fields transmitted by flowers. Static electricity causes the hairs to move and helps the bees find sources of pollen, scientists have discovered. http://phys.org/news/2016-05-hairs-bees-floral-electric-fields.html The Lincolnshire Show takes place this month. The LNU will be in the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust tent. We hope readers will come by for a chat. http://www.lincolnshireshow.co.uk/ The Show coincides with the Referendum. Many people still seem to be unsure about the issues. The BBC has a summary for the bewildered: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu_referendum Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' for June can be found on the link below. It explains a bit more about where to look and what you might see. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Epidemiology and biological recording are kindred disciplines, gathering data to build the big picture. An excellent project you might like to know about is Influenzanet's "Flusurvey". I have just registered my own recent 'lergy. https://flusurvey.org.uk/en/ Thanks. Roger *** 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. Saturday, June 04, 2016 BioBlitz Event - Cleethorpes Country Park and Cleethorpes Boating Lake Grounds All Day with evening moth/bat recording session (Courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council) Cleethorpes Country Park and Cleethorpes Boating Lake Grounds. 10.00 start with evening session starting at 21.00. Meeting point and parking at TA308066 in Country Park carpark which is free (nearest post code DN35 0PB). People can come and go as they wish. The Discovery Centre at Cleethorpes Boating Lake will be the data collection point, which is just over the road from the eastern end of the Country Park. NB. There is a parking charge in the Boating Lake grounds/Discovery Centre. Possibility of mains available for moth traps at Discovery Centre. Toilets and cafe available at the Discovery Centre. Habitats: Lake, dunes, shore, grassland and scrub. Leader: Rachel Graham Rachel.Graham@nelincs.gov.uk LNU Contact: Charlie Barnes 01507 526667 charlie@cucaera.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams - Graduate Volunteer wanted *** Will Bartle - Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project - writes: We're looking for a graduate volunteer to help us organise our next Chalk Streams Festival which will be happening in August (22nd-26th) It will be a fixed term 3 month placement and will involve helping us organise events, book venues etc. Deadline is the 19th June with interviews on 27th June. Full details can be found on environmentjobs.co.uk - http://www.environmentjob.co.uk/adverts/59554-lincolnshire-chalk-streams-graduate-v *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) Workshops - still places *** in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union All workshops will be held in the Lafarge Education Building at Whisby Nature Park from 12:30pm until 4:30pm. They are free of charge and refreshments are included. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. June 18th: Rushes and Sedges Workshop Interested in plants but would like to know more in particular about Rushes and Sedges? Come along and find out more with local expert Tim Harvey. July 9th: Riverflies Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Riverflies? (May Flies, Caddis Flies and Stone Flies) Come along and find out more with local expert Richard Chadd. July 16th Diptera (Flies) Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Flies? Come along and find out more from local experts Phil Porter and David Denman *** Reminder: A Field of Wheat *** Brian Hedley sent in an email from Anne-Marie Culhane, which I have summarised below. "A Field of Wheat" is a collaboration between artists Anne-Marie Culhane & Ruth Levene working with arable farmer Peter Lundgren. Forty people made up of members of the public, the food and finance industry, farmers, local residents, artists and academics are active stakeholders and investors in a 22 acre field of wheat. From drilling the wheat in Autumn 2015 to harvest in Autumn 2016 the community of participants are taking part in exchange, dialogue and decision-making through events on the farm and online platforms as well as eventually deciding how to trade the wheat. See: http://fieldofwheat.co.uk/ We are running an event for our collective (which will be attended by around 20 people) on 24 June which looks specifically at biodiversity and co-inhabitatants of the farm and of the farming landscape and exploring how arable farming impacts on different parts of the ecological cycle and biodiversity. As part of the day we would love it if some members of the LNU could come and share expertise with the group either practical or sharing with us broader trends or concerns, particularly in relation to farmland. If anyone is interested in this initiative, please email Brian for more information. brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** A Pachyrhinus in your garden? Anyone found one yet? *** Charlie Barnes writes: The weevil Pachyrhinus lethierryi was first discovered in the UK in 2003, and is rapidly spreading throughout the country. A non-native species likely introduced by the horticultural trade, it was first found in Lincolnshire in Lincoln in 2013 but has yet to be found anywhere else here. The small green weevil feeds on Cypress firs, in particular Lawson Cypress and Leyland Cypress and is likely much more widespread than current records suggest. It's tricky to spot, and will drop (never to be seen again) at the slightest disturbance - the easiest way to find it is to turn your potted conifers upside down and shake vigorously over a plastic sheet. Or just look closely! They are superficially similar to other green weevils such as Phyllobius and Polydrusus, but sometimes have a brown snout which can help identification. See http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds4/insectinfocuspachyrhinuslethierryi.htm A good photo can confirm the identification and I'm happy to examine specimens in case anyone is concerned about their prize conifers! Charlie Barnes Lincolnshire recorder for beetles charlie@cucaera.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 Lovely writes: On Sunday 5th June 2016 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you on a morning bird walk in Cleethorpes Country Park with Ray Hume. Meet Ray in the car park at 8am. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Ray 01472 320878. *** 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 *** RSPB *** Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ South Lincs RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire Grimsby & District RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 27/5 Garganey drk, main LWT pit, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Garganey drk, Grebe Lake, Whisby Nature Park 2 Little Gulls, 3 Short-eared Owls, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh Turtle Dove, Dog Kennel Wood, Market Rasen Golf Course Short-eared Owl near Pye's Hall, Donna Nook 28/5 2 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh Turtle Dove, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper on South Scrape, 2 Little Gulls, 4 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 29/5 Spoonbill on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 3 Little Gulls, Knot, Short-eared Owl, 4 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh Turtle Dove, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, Barrow Haven 30/5 4 Little Gulls, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl in dunes, Donna Nook Long-eared Owl between Sedgebrook and Bottesford Turtle Dove, Gibraltar Point 31/5 3 Little Gulls, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 1/6 Red-necked Phalarope on beach at Crook Bank, Red-backed Shrike on track behind Conoco oil terminal, Saltfleetby 2 Turtle Doves, Fulbeck 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 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. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK 909580 Jeremy Hutchinson writes: 24 May 2016, 18.45 Red Kite flying slowly eastwards into the wind Generally here there have been few butterflies this Spring, less than 6 Holly Blues, few Orange Tips (none of the latter until 7 May), low numbers of Brimstones, and one Speckled Wood. Also on the insect front, for the first time I can recall I have not seen one mound of earth (looks like a miniature volcano) made by the Andrena mining bee, nor have a seen one of these attractive creatures. In the 39 years that we have lived here they have been a regular feature of one particular part of our garden, although I have never understood why they chose this area. I do hope that they will return: nothing obvious has changed, so their disappearance is a mystery. Recently a Tawny Owl has been out in the trees around my allotment in the daytime, even in bright sunshine, I have no idea why. Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs are singing around my garden regularly, and I keep hearing a Bullfinch, but haven't seen one yet. On 16 May, at about 21.15 I saw a female Hobby flying around last year's nesting tree. After a couple of circuits she flew away fast north-westwards, where she was joined by a male which as they flew along kept flying above her, then stooping towards her. I have not seen them since. I have seen several Leverets killed on the roads a few miles to the west of here recently. For as long as I can recall our Swallows have returned during the second week in April, the House Martins about 10 days later: this year it has been the other way round, I have no idea why. The Swifts turned up on 4 May, which is few days earlier than usual. Our neighbour built a car port at least 15 years ago, which the Swallows have ignored until this year. Having been shut out of a garage across the road in which they have nested for the last few years, they eventually gave up trying to get into the garage and are building under the carport where it abuts the house. 30 May 2016 - all same grid reference as above. In the morning we saw a Hornet queen inspecting our eaves, looking for a nesting site no doubt: what an impressive beast! Later I found a Green Shieldbug in our conservatory, which I released into the garden. I was very pleased to see a pair of Yellow Wagtails on the edge of a field of newly- emerged potatoes, not a common sight around here. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context BOSTON (South by A16) May 2016 Kath Pearson I was able to do the BTO Garden Birdwatch on 27 days in May. Twenty-nine species were recorded in the garden during the month. The species are listed below together with the number of days in which they occurred (max 27) and - in brackets - the greatest number of that species recorded at any one time in the month. Blackbird 27 (5), Woodpigeon 26 (4), Blue Tit 26 (2), Collared Dove 27 (3), Robin 25 (3), Mistle Thrush 1 (2), Great Tit 17 (2), Wren 7 (1), Goldfinch 25 (5), House Sparrow 19 (3), Greenfinch 26 (4), Starling 26 (31), Chiffchaff 1 (1), Dunnock 14 (2), Magpie 1 (2), Sparrowhawk 1 (1), Chaffinch 10 (2), Lesser Black-backed Gull 5 (3), Black-headed Gull 5 (5), Herring Gull 5 (4), Common Gull 1 (1), Coal Tit 9 (1), Jackdaw 8 (2), Rook 5 (1), Long- tailed Tit 7 (6), Blackcap 2 (1), Jay 3 (1), Pied Wagtail 1 (1) and Song Thrush 1 (1). The most productive day was 11th May with 20 species recorded and the least productive was 5th May with 6. Non-avian species recorded were: Butterflies - Large White, Small White, Green-veined White, Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Brimstone and Holly Blue. Bees - Red-tailed BB, Buff-tailed BB and Common Carder. Azure Damselfly, Hedgehog and Grey Squirrel. DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 27/05/16 Time: 1400 - 1645 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, mild, breezy Birds: Blackbird Blackcap Black-headed GullBlue Tit Canada Goose Carrion Crow Cetti's Warbler Chaffinch Common Tern Coot Cormorant Dunnock Egyptian Goose Gadwall Garden Warbler Great Crested Grebe Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Herring Gull Hobby Jackdaw Jay Lapwing Lesser Black-backed Gull Little Egret Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Oystercatcher Pheasant Reed Bunting Reed Warbler Robin Rook Shovelor Swift Tufted Duck Wigeon Willow Warbler Woodpigeon Wren Butterflies: Brimstone Green-veined White Holly Blue Large White Orange Tip Small White Damsels and Dragons: Azure Damselfly Common Blue Damselfly Common Hawker Mammals: Grey Squirrel HUMBERSTON FITTIES POOLS (Grid reference TA3304) 29/5/2016 Jon Drakes A quick afternoon visit to see what bird life was present around the pools and on the foreshore found the following species recorded: Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Cetti's Warbler 1 Cormorant Grey Heron 1 Herring Gull House Sparrow Little Egret 4 Magpie Mallard Skylark 3 Starling Swallow Woodpigeon HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 26/5/2016 Song thrush 1 Woodmouse 1 (very tiny - a baby one) 27/5/2016 Chaffinch 1 (female) Pheasant 1 (female) Song thrush 1 28/5/2016 Greenfinch 2 Red admiral 1 29/5/2016 Blue tit 1 Great tit 1 Great spotted woodpecker 1 30/5/2016 Woodmouse 1 31/5/2016 Robin 3 (1 fledgling) 1/6/2016 Chaffinch 1 (female) Great tit 1 Rabbit 1 Robin 3 (1 fledgling) Woodmouse 1 Wren 1 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 28/5/2016 Jon Drakes Species noted whilst carrying out the weekly BTO Garden Birdwatch in our back garden were: Blackbird 4 Collared Dove 2 House Sparrow 15 Wren 1 Dunnock 2 Robin 2 Woodpigeon 1 Tree Sparrow 2 Chaffinch 1 Greefinch 1 Rook 1 Goldfinch 2 Jackdaw 1 Swallow Swift Starling 6 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 29/5/2016 Jon Drakes An early morning walk around fields and woods to the North of the village found the following species present: Blackbird Blackcap Blue Tit Buzzard Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff Collared Dove Dunnock Goldfinch Great Tit Greenfinch Herring Gull House Sparrow Jackdaw Kestrel Linnet Magpie Pheasant Robin Skylark Song Thrush Starling Swallow Woodpigeon Yellowhammer Brown Hare MABLETHORPE Ian Whitaker 27/05/16 GREEN HAIRSTREAK butterflies - pair seen by footpath south from North End car park TEMPLE WOOD Vin Fleming TF055295 29 May 16 Boletus impolitus Two fruitbodies on a clay bank under oak (likely mycorrhizal partner) and ash and field maple. TETNEY BLOW WELLS (LWT RESERVE) (Grid reference TA3200) 29/5/2016 Jon Drakes Species recorderd during my first visit to this reserve were: Blue Tit Buzzard 1 Chiffchaff Cuckoo 1 Dunnock Grasshopper Warbler 1 Greenfinch Magpie Mallard Mute Swan Pheasant Reed Bunting Sedge Warbler Starling Swallow Woodpigeon Large White Butterfly Small White Butterfly Orange Tip Butterfly Peacock Butterfly Common Blue Butterfly THEDDLETHORPE Thedllethorpe Dunes, Brickyard Lane Car Park. John Cowell 27/5/2016 10am A Buzzard flew out of trees just above the houses on North side of car park WADDINGTON SK977644 Peter Wilson My garden, High St, Waddington 27th May2016 Had an unusual visitor to my garden earlier this week which took me some time to identify. It turned out to be a Whitethroat, it perched on top of a small tree level with my bedroom window and stayed there being very vocal for a good 5 minutes. Also being invaded every morning at bird feeding time by masses of young, very vocal, starlings with their parents. This is along with all my other regulars, comprising of the usual garden birds which includes a good number of Goldfinches. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 31/5/2016 Our Jackdaw chicks have fledged and the two ringed by Garry Steele have learned to hang from seed feeders, displaying their rings clearly. A pair of adults had occupied a Little Owl nest box - and whilst the chicks may not be the target species, Jackdaws are full of character. I do not recall such a dramatic year for Hawthorn blossom. Impressive. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 NNR Report 25th May - 1st June 2016 Contributors: Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker. May weather - A high pressure system over the country during the beginning of May gave days of pleasant sunny weather where temperatures rose to the late teens, reaching a high of 18.75°C. However as the high pressure drifted away the weather along the east coast was influenced by cold on-shore winds. Temperatures picked up again from the 17th to give a brief spell of warmer weather when daytime highs reached 19.25° on the 21st. Then another high pressure system became dominant to the north, which brought about cold northerly winds when highs barely reached the mid-teens. There was noticeable cloud cover along the coastal fringe. Temperatures rose slightly around the 26th - 28th before yet another high became established, again to the north of the UK and the weather was influenced by cold strong winds from the northerly sector with rain. During the month five ground frosts were observed, of note -4.0°C (air -0.25°C) on the 1st. Fresh winds observed on the 2nd (SW5), 24th (NNE5), 30th (NNE5) and near gale force NE on the 31st (43.6mph gust recorded). Total rainfall was 30.6 mm (1.21 inches). Flowers this week include: Marsh orchid , twayblade , yellow rattle, birdsfoot trefoil, sea pink, flag iris, water crowsfoot and yet another very good show of hawthorn flower, for the 4th consecutive year on the NNR. Dragonflies and Damselflies: Four spot chaser, large red damsel, blue tail damsel, azure blue damsel, variable damsel. Mammals: 2 young badgers seen out foraging, 6 brown hares noted in an adjacent spring barley crop along with 2 roe deer. 27th Goat's-beard, sheep's sorrel, red clover, lesser trefoil, white campion and silverweed in flower, cinnabar moth on wing and natterjack toads calling in the evening. 28th On the saltmarsh thrift, sea arrow-grass, sea milkwort and sea plantain in flower with sea sandwort on the edge of the outer dunes. Red admiral, peacock and orange tip butterflies on the wing. 29th Shingle nesting birds will have been blown out as Sunday and Monday witnessed strong sand blow over the beaches and shingle ridges. Eight Canada Geese flew over the dunes and with them was a single Barnacle Goose. 31st 12mm of heavy rain was recorded on Tuesday, just as many young birds had emerged from their nests. Sadly several looking very bedraggled and unable to fly. Single Little Tern over Paradise Lagoon. The main feature of recent days has been the constant strong onshore wind with gale force northerly blowing on Monday and Tuesday accompanied by low temperatures, often in single figures during the mornings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Help needed at Chambers Farm Wood *** Anne Goodall writes: As some readers may remember, last year we held a joint Forestry Commission/ LNU/LERC Bioblitz for the Chambers woodlands, concentrating on the three SSSI woods, and some of the other blocks of ancient woodland. This produced a number of really good records, including some new county firsts and national rarities, and since there are a LOT of bottled malaise trap invertebrate specimens still being identified, we are continuing to get more. These data are proving so useful, that it has been decided to extend these surveys for a full year, with one weekend each month through 2016 set aside for making the woods available to surveyors for this purpose. On these weekends vehicle access may be arranged to visit more distant parts of the woods (useful if you need to cart equipment around), and tea/coffee/biscuits/maps should also be available. The surveys aren't public this year, but are intended to encourage all interested naturalists to come along and add what you can to what we know. The fact that the 2015 surveys added so many records is partly a reflection on the huge number of records provided to LERC and FC which just say 'Chambers Farm Wood' with no indication of which wood, or even a 6-fig grid reference. Sadly these records are of no help for planning either management or protection, and thus are of very limited, if any, use. It would therefore be a great help if anyone who has collected records in this woodland area in past years and has a record of where these records actually come from, could provide them again to LERC with their actual location. Meantime, anyone interested in coming along on any of the weekends, please contact me or Charlie at LERC for dates and arrangements. Look forward to seeing you... Anne Goodall: Anne.Goodall@esl-lincoln.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reserve 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 *** *** 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 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 Copy and paste URLs as necessary, please. Not all are "live". *** Videos and photos - additions 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/ *** 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 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 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 *** 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/ 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/ *** 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 Field meetings Saturday, June 04, 2016 BioBlitz Event - Cleethorpes Country Park and Cleethorpes Boating Lake Grounds All Day with evening moth/bat recording session (Courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council) Cleethorpes Country Park and Cleethorpes Boating Lake Grounds. 10.00 start with evening session starting at 21.00. Meeting point and parking at TA308066 in Country Park carpark which is free (nearest post code DN35 0PB). People can come and go as they wish. The Discovery Centre at Cleethorpes Boating Lake will be the data collection point, which is just over the road from the eastern end of the Country Park. NB. There is a parking charge in the Boating Lake grounds/Discovery Centre. Possibility of mains available for moth traps at Discovery Centre. Toilets and cafe available at the Discovery Centre. Habitats: Lake, dunes, shore, grassland and scrub. Leader: Rachel Graham Rachel.Graham@nelincs.gov.uk LNU Contact: Charlie Barnes 01507 526667 charlie@cucaera.co.uk Sunday, July 17, 2016 Stanton’s Pit LWT Reserve Field meeting to Stanton's Pit LWT Reserve (joint meeting with British Dragonfly Society Southwest of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Use car park at TF034173 (nearest postcode PE10 0JN) which is about half-way off minor road between Little Bytham and Witham-on-the-Hill. Nearest facilities in village pubs. Habitats: Former sandpit with lake, marsh, acid grassland and scrub. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Saturday, August 13, 2016 Tetney Blow Wells LWT Reserve With evening moth/bat recording session (Courtesy of LWT and Anglian Water) South of Cleethorpes 12.00 for 13.00 start. Evening session starting at 20.15. Park alongside Church Lane in Tetney village in vicinity of church or nearby. There is a footpath which leads to the reserve just to the east. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Facilities available in local village pubs in Tetney or Tetney Lock. Stiles present. Habitats: Blow wells, marsh, woodland, grassland, streams and scrub. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com 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) 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 *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust (Lincoln Area Group) Workshops *** in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union All workshops will be held in the Lafarge Education Building at Whisby Nature Park from 12:30pm until 4:30pm. They are free of charge and refreshments are included. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com. June 18th: Rushes and Sedges Workshop Interested in plants but would like to know more in particular about Rushes and Sedges? Come along and find out more with local expert Tim Harvey. July 9th: Riverflies Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Riverflies? (May Flies, Caddis Flies and Stone Flies) Come along and find out more with local expert Richard Chadd. July 16th Diptera (Flies) Workshop Interested in Invertebrates but would like to know more in particular about Flies? Come along and find out more from local experts Phil Porter and David Denman ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. If you recognise any of these part-addresses, please let the owners know. DENNISHODGES9 - Hard Bounce - Recipient address rejected - delivery failed; will not continue trying And finally: Lincolnshire emergency services plan to combine in £15m move http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-36427176 Axed air display back at RAF Scampton in 2017 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-36391290 Grass cuttings used to produce electricity [Down our lane!] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-36390785 Timelapse video of Lincoln Castle poppies installation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-36387238 A haven for endangered water voles http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36395448 Inverness-shire osprey filmed fishing for trout http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36321317 What animals can swim up your toilet? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-36397505 Beavers released into Devon river in bid to boost gene pool http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/26/beavers-released-into-devon-river-in-bid-to-boost-gene-pool The EU referendum and freshwaters (Jeremy Biggs, Director of Freshwater Habitats Trust and President of the European Pond Conservation Network) http://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/eu-referendum-and-freshwaters/ My search for the nightingale's song http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/may/30/country-diary-search-nightingale-song Harambe the gorilla put zoo in a lose-lose situation – by being himself http://theconversation.com/harambe-the-gorilla-put-zoo-in-a-lose-lose-situation-by-being-himself-60278 Life-affirming flash of colour in the hedgerow http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/01/red-campions-hedgerow-silene-dioica-country-diary Note: If a link does not work, please look at the URL See if an extra http:// has crept in. ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/