============================================= || || 20th November 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 Compare Previous Years. 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. We hope everyone finds something useful, informative and entertaining. Please keep your contributions coming. Please note I shall be "Going Walkabout" shortly so this Bulletin will be the last one before December 4th. You are welcome to send in reports but I will not be able to read them right away and you will not get my usual thank you until I do. [So thank you in advance!] A tutor at university used to say "Every drive should be a transect." He was thinking of populations of livestock species, but the same applies to wildlife road kills. By reporting species like badger, fox, hedgehog etc. we can fill in gaps in our county records and spot distribution trends we might otherwise miss. Reports please - usual format including grid references where possible. 'Planet Earth II ' on BBC 1 - another stunning episode this week: Mountains. Itchy Grizzly Bears, Ibex on near-vertical cliffs, Golden Eagles, Flamingos, Snow Leopards. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08397lq/planet-earth-ii-2-mountains Would anyone like to send in comments on next episode? See: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-11-14/what-to-expect-from-planet-earth-iis-jungle-episode-tree-top-dolphins-spider-monkeys-and-fierce-glass-frogs?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=RT%20Daily%20E-mail%2014%2F11%2F2016%2012%3A59%3A47_48749_Radio%20Times_RadioTimes.com%20Newsletter BBC i-Player: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02544td 2016 'very likely' to be world's warmest year http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37949877 The Week in Wildlife - this series includes a Donna Nook photograph. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2016/nov/11/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures Donna Nook Seal News: Remember to avoid weekend visits if possible. Useful links: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/donna-nook/viewing-seals-donna-nook http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update Harlequin Ladybird Survey: have you sent in a report yet? http://www.harlequin-survey.org/ 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. Roger rparsons@enterprise.net *** Dennis Hill *** Charlie Barnes writes: Some of you may remember Dennis Hill. Dennis died at the beginning of this month. His funeral is to be held at Alford on the 23rd at 11am. Friends of Dennis are most welcome to attend. He was involved with the Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory in the early years (where he took a particular interest in bird parasites) and coordinated a survey of Wash invertebrates in the 1980s, amongst other things. John Flynn adds: His interest in the parasites of birds was especially in the Diptera family Hippoboscidae, on which he wrote several papers. His general interest was in agricultural entomology on which he wrote standard text books. He also wrote books on the insects of Borneo and of Hong Kong. *** 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/ *** 'The Growing Plot' - Help Needed *** 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 miles outside Lincoln. 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. For onward forwarding to Derek, email: rparsons@enterprise.net For more information about Worth Unlimited: http://www.worthunlimited.co.uk/branch_lincolnshire.html *** 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: 26th November 2016 Whisby Education Centre, 2pm “Riverflies” by Stuart Crofts *** The Whisby Workshops *** Richard Davidson - Programme Secretary - writes: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Lincoln Area Group is 50 years old in 2017. Brian Tear was our first secretary way back in 1967. We put on a programme of winter talks and summer walks as other area groups around the county do, but three years ago we were thinking about what else we might do to further the cause of wildlife conservation and broaden the range of our activities. None of us on the area committee had specialist knowledge of the particular subjects necessary, so we formed a partnership with the LNU - the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union - over a hundred years old and with a membership which included a number of experts with a great depth of knowledge. The method chosen was to run 'workshops' at Whisby Nature Park in the Education Building (which is very well equipped for such events) on Saturday afternoons in the summer and aimed at adults. Children nowadays have many opportunities to learn about natural history through their schools, local Watch groups, junior wardens and the like, but for adults there's hardly anything locally for them to join in with to learn in the same way. The only options really are Field Studies Council courses, often some distance away and expensive. 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. Initially we tried two workshops in the summer of 2014 on Hymenoptera and Beetles just to see how they went. They went very well so we ran four more in the summer of 2015 on Entomological Techniques, Grasses, Bugs and Spiders. The average attendance at all of these was 20, so very encouraging. This summer we also scheduled four workshops - Spiders (to see if repeating a subject was worthwhile), Rushes and Sedges, Riverflies and Flies (Diptera). The attendance has been a little lower on these, possibly because we did repeat something and the others being generally less studied subjects, but worthwhile and very much enjoyed by all participants. The Diptera workshop unfortunately we've twice had to cancel due to circumstances beyond our control but we'll try again next summer. The other workshops lined up for 2017 are Bees, 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 obviously 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. Now we've got the basic format established there's no shortage of potential subjects! The dates of the workshops for next year are now finalized. So we have 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 *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Indood Meetings *** www.scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk Keith Scarrott writes: *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group Sunday 20th November A full day visit to RSPB FRAMPTON MARSH Wintering wildfowl, raptors and waders. Contact for details Leader: Vernon Chapman 01652 660957 bring warm clothing and suitable footwear and a packed lunch. Leaving Ness Farm car park at 09:00 Car share available. All welcome to join us. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: MORNING BIRD WALK On Sunday 20th November 2016 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in the Pyewipe area of Grimsby. Meet leader Ray Hume at the junction of Gilbey Road and Moody Lane TA258101 at 10am. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event but donations are welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Ray Hume 01472 320878. *** Lincoln LWT *** Lincoln Area Group Talk CETACEANS OF THE WORLD Richard Davidson writes: November 17th: "Cetaceans of the World" Local naturalist Steve Lovell looks at the Whales and Dolphins of the world and describes some of his encounters with them. 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 2016 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** November Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage for November will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html This webpage will transmogrify into December data when the time comes! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 10/11 Snow Bunting, north end of beach near Links Svenue, Mablethorpe Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 25 Twite, Hen Harrier, Donna Nook Pallid Harrier juv, Grainthorpe Haven Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit, 2 Common Scoters, Covenham reservoir Pallid Harrier juv over, 9 Waxwings flew north, Donna Nook Hen Harrier male, Gibraltar Point 7 Waxwings in garden at Swallow Farm, south of Holbeach St John's 11/11 Shorelark, 2 Lapland Buntings, 5 Snow Buntings, probable Northern Bullfinch, 19 Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, 5 Velvet Scoters, 3 Short-eared Owls, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Pallid Harrier juv, Tetney Marshes Black-necked Grebe, ringtail hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck, 2 Common Scoters, Water Pipit, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Covenham reservoir Possible Siberian Chiffchaff in willows at car park, Far Ings Pallid Harrier juv between Tetney Haven and Humberston Yacht Club Great White Egret, Brough airfield - flew south over Humber to east of South Ferriby Pallid Harrier juv flew north over marsh, 2 Hen harriers 1 m, Tetney Haven 2 Waxwings flew over Morton buildings, Morton Way, Horncastle Short-eared owl, 40 Twite, Donna Nook Long-tailed duck on boating lake, Queen's Park, Mablethorpe 2 Long-tailed Dicks, Purple Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point 12/11 Scaup 1w drk, 2 Water Pipits, Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, 2 Common Scoters, Covenham reservoir 2+ Waxwings, Aquila Way, Langtoft 3 Snow Buntings, Marsh Yark car park, Huttoft Bank Green-winged Teal drk, Middlemarsh wetlands, west of Skegness Pallid Harrier juv, 1+ Water Pipits, Velvet Scoter, Short-eared Owl, Tetney Marshes 13/11 Hen Harrier, Horseshore Point Hen Harrier male, 3 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Common Scoters, Red-throated Diver, Covenham reservoir Pallid Harrier juv, Donna Nook Pallid Harrier juv between Horseshoe Point and North Cotes Point Pallid Harrier juv, Grainthorpe sluice Short-eared Owl north of sea wall, male Hen Harrier, Snow Bunting, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh 2 Cattle Egrets in cattle field, Skidbrooke Western Purple Swamphen, Alkborough Flats Iceland Gull on beach between Mablethorpe and Crook Bank 14/11 Waxwing in tree on Portland Avenue, Grimsby 3 Lapland Bunting between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall, Rough-legged Buzzard juv at realignment, Hen Harrier, Pallid Harrier juv, Donna Nook 2 Cattle Egrets in cattle field, Skidbrooke Slavonian Grebe, Covenham reservoir Pallid Harrier juv, 6 Long-tailed Ducks, 18 Scaup, 3 Velvet Scoters, Hen Harrier, 4 Short-eared Owls, 30 Twite, Tetney Marshes Great White Egret, Kirkby-on-Bain gravel pits opposite Sand and Gravel 15/11 3 Short-eared Owls, Elm House Farm, Saltfleetby St Clements 2 Waxwings by Frederick Ward Way, opposite Home Bargain car park, Grimsby Pallid Harrier juv over shore, Grainthorpe Haven Pallid Harrier juv at Horse Shoe Point car park, Donna Nook Pallid Harrier juv at realignment on outmarsh, Rough-legged Buzzard, Donna Nook Rough-legged Buzzard at wetland north of Stonebridge car park, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Donna Nook Northern Bullfinch, Laughton Forest Iceland Gull, Manby Flashes 2 Cattle Egrets in cattle field, Skidbrooke 8 Velvet Scoters off Crook Bank, Slavonian Grebe, Saltfleetby Great White Egret flew west over scrape, far Ings 4 Short-eared Owls, ringtail Hen Harrier, Hawthorpe 2 Snow Buntings, 2+ Hen Harriers, Frampton Marsh 3 Tundra Bean Geese, Hatfield Moors 16/11 Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit, 2 Common Scoters, Red-throated Diver, Covenham reservoir 2 Waxwings, Freshney Place, Grimsby Iceland Gull juv, Manby Flashes 4 Tundra Bean Geese, SE of Candy Corner, male Hen Harrier, Wroot 2 Hen Harriers, 1m, Frampton Marsh 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. RIVER ANCHOLME - OTTER River Ancholme, Snitterby Carr. TF020943 Patty Philips 11/11/2016 at 8.30am an otter swimming in the River Ancholme just south of Harlam Lock HARLEQUIN LADYBIRDS Are Harlequin Ladybirds marching into your house? Why not record them? If you look at their distribution map there are quite a few Linconshire gaps. http://www.harlequin-survey.org/ ROADKILLS A153 14 Nov 2016 Chris J Manning Hedgehog TF245614 RTA Any more late records? Hare TF248620 RTA Also: Mole Hills TF266726, TF271738, TF273787 *** 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. EAST HALTON SKITTER to GOXHILL HAVEN (and return) (Grid reference TA1423 to TA1225) 13/11/2016 Jon Drakes Thirty eight species were recorded whilst carrying out the monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count for the BTO on a glorious Sunday morning : Black Tailed Godwit 75 Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Chaffinch Common Gull Curlew 80 Dunlin 348 Fieldfare 50 Goldfinch Great Blackback Gull 21 Grey Heron 2 Grey Plover 10 Greylag Goose 3 Herring Gull Kestrel 2 Lapwing 232 Little Egret 2 Little Grebe 1 Magpie Mallard 19 Meadow Pipit 15 Mute Swan 4 Pheasant 5 Pink-footed Goose 432 Redshank 15 Reed Bunting 8 Ringed Plover 20 Robin Rock Pipit 5 Skylark 7 Starling Stonechat 1 Teal 15 Turnstone 47 Wigeon 20 Woodpigeon Yellowhammer 20 HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook 11 Nov 2016 0945 -11.00 Little Grebes 19 - a record! Black Swan 1 - no Mutes No geese. They must all at other sites but there has been some shooting on the upper lake. A few corpses floating in the water. Mallard 138 Gadwall 6 - Where are they? Teal 4 - also low but one chap who is working at Holywell hall and shoots there says there is another lake up the valley with over 50 Teal present. Wigeon 28 - site record Tufted Duck 22 Coot 9 Moorhen 24 Black-headed Gulls 55. For years I only ever saw gulls as fly-overs now the BH Gulls are regular. Kingfisher 1 Tawny Owl - chased out of a tree at 10.15 am by a Buzzard. Buzzards 2 Red kite 1 Kestrel 1 Pheasants 2 RL Partridges 4 Woodpigeons Blackbirds Robins Dunnock Wrens Meadow Pipits 2 Pied Wagtails 4 Goldcrests 2 Treecreeper 1 Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits GS Woodpecker 1 Starlings 20 Carrion crows Rooks Jackdaws Magpies Chaffinches Goldfinches Siskins 3 Yellowhammers 2 HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 11 November 2016 Two red admiral butterflies on a neighbour's Buddleia wayeriana today in the sun. Temperature about 7 degrees C. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 13/11/2016 Dunnock 1 Wren 1 14/11/16 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Tawny owl 1 (heard very early morning) 15/11/2016 Blackbirds 6 Dunnocks 2 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Great tits 2 Magpie 1 Pheasant 1 16/11/2016 Borage in flower Oak leaves looking magnificently golden - haven't previously seen my 50-year old oak looking quite this good. I'm also sure the leaves are staying on the tree longer this year. KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 12/11/2016 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch in our back garden on a very wet and windy Saturday morning were: House Sparrow 20 Collared Dove 15 Dunnock 5 Jackdaw 2 Chaffinch 1 Tree Sparrow 1 Robin 1 RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 unless otherwise stated Silvia Fowler 02.11.2016 Buzzard (TF3084) Tawny Owl heard regularly at dusk/night 03.11.2016 30-40 Starlings 5 male pheasants foraging close together 07.11.2016 Ca. 10 Long-tailed Tits around fat-ball and peanut feeders 08.11.2016 First frost today, and the efforts of the regularly seen Common Gull were frustrated. It had picked a particularly shady spot between 8-9 a.m. and seemed perturbed that no worms came to the surface. After a brief absence it returned around 9.30 a.m., now treading the sward in a sunny spot, and was rewarded. 11.11.2016 Pied Wagtail on rooftop seen daily 13.11.2016 Mistle Thrush on cotoneaster Wren RAF WAINFLEET 9th November 2016 Dave Miller   Black-headed Gull 1 Brent Goose 300 Crow 11 Curlew 44 Golden Plover 200 Goldfinch 9 Grey Plover 20 Lapwing 100 Linnet 47 Little Egret 16 Mallard 7 Meadow Pipit 5 Redshank 31 Reed Bunting 7 Rock Pipit 22 Shelduck 5 Skylark 55 Snipe 1 Starling 583 Teal 2 Wren 4 STALLINGBOROUGH - HOBSON WAY (Grid reference TA2113) Jon Drakes Bird species noted whilst at work during the week were: 8/11/2016 Blackbird Goldfinch Wren 11/11/2016 Blackbird Kestrel Magpie Wren TORTOISESHELL WOOD AND MEADOWS SK963197 Jane Ostler Nov 13th 2016 Walked circuit of meadows and eastern section of wood. Sunny and at midday 10C LICHENS Orange shield lichen dominates the 'dust' species along the roadside sloe bushes FUNGI Pestle Puffball (Handkea utriformis) there were many of the cup shaped sterile bases remaining in the meadow. Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae) on elder Shaggy Bracket(Inonatus hispidis  In a blackened state, parasitic on several ash trees, too high up trunks to examine closely. Pleated Inkccap(Coprinus plicatilis) in meadows and on grassy rides. Scurfy Twiglet (Tubaria furfuracea) in both meadow and wood Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare) on buried wood, had been eaten in part, by a small rodent(?) Clouded Funnel (Clitocybe nebularis) in woodland Bonnets (Mycena sp.) frequent on leaf litter, of M.vitilis type all less than .5mm across cap. PLANTS IN FLOWER A single white deadnettle only. Abundant fruits of hips, haws, apples, wild service, sloes and acorns, ash and maple seeds INVERTEBRATES Noted only winter gnats dancing in sunshine BIRDS More remarkable for absence of many common birds. o blackbirds, sparrows or finches for example. l nuthatch feeding, 3 red kite circling over rough grasland, flock of fieldfare, party of long-tailed tits, 2 jackdaws,woodpigeon, l pheasant. MAMMALS A deer barking on western side of wood,fresh molehills, evidence of rabbit, stoat crossed path. Sheep are grazing meadows. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 30/10/16 Blackbird x 4 Chaffinch x 2 Fieldfare x 7 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 calling 23:00hrs Marsh Harrier x 1 male Mute Swan x 6 adults, 9 young Owston Ferry Warping Drain Redwing x 5 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Pygmy Shrew x 1 under recording sheet Rabbit x 1 Migrant Hawker 02/11/16 Pink-footed Goose x 57 North over Thurnholmes 07/11/16 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 3 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 2 Lesser Redpoll x 5 Magpie x 2 Rabbit x 2 10/11/16 Roe Deer x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain (Clare Holmes) 14/11/16 Lapwing x 58 Mute Swan x 2 adults, 3 young over Thurnholmes Pink-footed Goose x 150 east over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 in full song in my back garden all week Starling x 128 over Thurnholmes at dusk 16/11/16 Pink-footed Goose x 212 east over Thurnholmes WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 3/11/2016 Buzzard flew from tree in garden. Barn owl m in hedge and Tawny Owl in flight on Hurnbridge Road 9pm. 4/11/2016 2 Buzzards over/calling 10.30hrs WOODHALL SPA John Hodgson Home GR 201 629. 3/11/2016 30 plus flock of Fieldfare over ploughed fields near Stixwould GR 160649. 1 x Cormorant over River Witham at Stixwould. 10/11/2016 6 plus Shoveler Duck overhead home GR headed SE 11/11/2016 2 x Moorhens scavenging around the bird feeders at home GR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9th November - 16th November 2016 Contributors: Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker, Nige Lound & Cliff Morrison General notes for this week This week has seen the arrival of the first significant flocks of wintering Snow Buntings, with up to 25 being counted, along with variable numbers of Shore Larks from 10 to 15. The group of 10 have kept close together and could be the same group of 10 frequenting Donna Nook further north, since they are often absent. A Sparrow Hawk is frequenting the Brick Yard Lane area, where there are a few Brambling, 2-3 Bullfinches, up to 10 Yellow Hammers and a Goldcrest. 10th Common Snipe 6 off the salt marsh and Teal 100+ on Rimac lagoon 12th Churchill lane area 12/13/14th great spotted woodpecker 2, little owl 2, tawny owl 1, water rail 2, Mistle thrush 3, Single Tree Sparrow and Goldcrest 2 near Sea View 13th A 1W Iceland Gull was on the beach south of Crook Bank (pers Graham Hopwood) Theddlethorpe Foreshore hen harrier 1, jack snipe 1, snipe 7, 14th curlew 276, dunlin 488, bar tail godwit 38, snow bunting 3, crow 66 Tree Sparrow 4 and a single Brambling 1 near Sea View, observations from the Theddle thorpe to Saltfleetby WeBS section included Whooper Swan 32, Little Egret 40, Teal 123, Shelduck 140, Wigeon 223, Common Snipe 11, Jack Snipe 1, Oystercatcher 96, Redshank 77, Peregrine Falcon 1, Short-eared Owl 1, Hen Harrier (single ringtail) and Snow Bunting 29 14th A flock of at least 2000 Common Scoter were on the sea south of Crook Bank though they remained too distant to grill or obtain a more accurate count and continued to drift south. There could well have been over 2000. An immature Gannet flew north along the tide line. 60 Pinkfeet and 2 Redpoll sp flew south. On the beach between Crook Bank and Brick Yard Lane were 2 Snow Bunting, 150 Linnet, 15 Twite, 25 Skylark and a minimum count of 12 Shore Lark. 15th The flock of at least 2000 Common Scoter were on still the sea south of Crook Bank and included 8 Velvet Scoter as well as a Slavonian Grebe on the sea nearby. 3 Red-throated Diver flew north and 2 Red-breasted Merganser flew south. In the Rimac area were a Barn Owl, 4 Stonechat, a Peregrine with prey and 13 Snow Bunting on the outer ridge Rimac stonechat 2, great spotted woodpecker 1. An unseasonably mild day with the daytime temperature reaching 14.75°C Single Stonechat and Great Spotted Woodpecker at Rimac and Goldfinches, a regular chime of 60+ birds, feeding on sea aster seed heads on the salt marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Reports welcomed. HAGNABY LOCK FEN E.A. WETLAND RESERVE TF 331595 Garry Steele Noteworthy ornithological sightings and monthly maximums - October 2016:- Black-headed Gull - 600+ Common Gull - 4 Cormorant - 4 Lapwing - 10 Mallard - 36 Teal - 37 Wigeon - 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 2016/17 Indoor Meetings - in preparation. Next meeting: 26th November 2016 Whisby Education Centre, 2pm “Riverflies” by Stuart Crofts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. johnth@ckery - soft bounce - SMTP error from remote mail server: Spam content found Christine Patten - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying -address cleaned If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally..... Note: If a link below does not work, please look at the URL. See if an extra http:// has crept in, and make the correction. Best advert this year? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6lr_VRsEo&feature=youtu.be Database helps plant 'right tree for the right place' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37980832 Skegness homeless resorting to camping on sand dunes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-37949146 UK red squirrels carry 'a form of leprosy' - scientists http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37949557 Great Ryburgh dig finds 81 'rare' Anglo-Saxon coffins http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-37940012 Beetles stem elms' lofty wartime canopy https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/10/beetles-stem-elms-lofty-wartime-canopy The redwings are too busy eating to sing https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/12/redwings-too-busy-eating-sing-country-diary How Planet Earth's ice-skating flamingos collectively get 'in the mood' for sex https://theconversation.com/how-planet-earths-ice-skating-flamingos-collectively-get-in-the-mood-for-sex-68784 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next month!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/