============================================= || || 2nd October 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 use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every Bulletin or, if you prefer, 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 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.... *** I am pleased to include the official press release below announcing the launch of 'Lincolnshire Plants - Past and Future'. Bulletin readers will have followed the evolution of this exciting project and some of you have participated in pilot activities. I shall include further updates as they become available. Roger PRESS RELEASE Lincolnshire's botanical heritage sees a flowering of funds with National Lottery grant Plants are extremely important, they provide us with food, oxygen, energy and a wealth of resources. Botany, the study of plants, is therefore crucial in shaping our understanding of the environment. A new Heritage Lottery Fund supported project now aims to inspire young people to become the botanists of the future, helping to safeguard and improve our understanding of plants and the environment. Pioneered by Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the Sir Joseph Banks Society and the Natural History Museum, the project is called 'Lincolnshire Plants - Past and Future'. A development grant of £21,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has already been secured to begin setting up the project. Once this development phase is complete, a larger grant of £473,100 has been earmarked by HLF for a three year project. This larger grant will partly be used for a range of lifelong learning events and public engagement, a key aspect of which is to help young people connect with wildlife and develop botanical skills like plant identification, wildlife recording and the careful collection of important specimens. Lincolnshire has very few botanists and without people to further the study of plants, many important species might be lost, along with an important scientific outlook on our environment. The project will also fund the creation of a contemporary collection of Lincolnshire plant specimens, inspired by a collection created by Sir Joseph Banks, an eighteenth century Lincolnshire naturalist who famously voyaged around the world with Captain Cook. This will complement an older collection currently preserved by Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union. Over the last 150 years the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union has been compiling a huge collection of over 9000 plant specimens, including some of Lincolnshire's rarest plants. Such a special archive can provide lots of information about climate change, plant genetics and nature conservation. However, with no proper storage facilities available in Lincolnshire the collection is now at serious risk of deterioration. Fortunately, as part of the lottery funded project the Natural History Museum in London will now look after the collection, securing it safely in facilities designed specifically for the protection of plant specimens. The Natural History Museum will also professionally catalogue and document the specimens, unlocking a treasure trove of vital environmental information. These plant collections will allow scientists to study changes in our environment over the last three centuries, dramatically improving our understanding of the natural history of Lincolnshire and informing future environmental decisions. The University of Lincoln hopes to study the genetics of the specimens once they have been catalogued. Chris Manning, Chair of the Project Steering Board and from Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, said: "This project is a wonderful opportunity to inspire young people with nature and improve our knowledge of Lincolnshire's natural history. We need new botanists to help us understand the impact of climate change and to champion the knowledge we can gain about our environment from studying plants. "Once our past and present plant collections are catalogued and stored by the Natural History Museum we will have a huge resource to help botanists and scientists better understand our environment." Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: "It's great that this collection is being researched and catalogued by the Natural History Museum. Today's investment will secure the future of the collection whilst training and inspiring a new generation of botanists. I'm delighted we are able to support it with money raised by National Lottery players." Volunteers will be vital to the Lincolnshire Plants project. Creating a present day collection of plant specimens will require people to visit all parts of Greater Lincolnshire under guidance from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. This citizen-science project will not only train volunteers in plant identification, it will also find a new role for threatened traditional skills, ensuring that a group of botanists are trained in the collection, preparation and mounting of specimens. Once catalogued the contemporary plant specimens will be kept at the Natural History Museum in London and at the Joseph Banks Centre in Horncastle. Information from both the past and contemporary collections will be available online as part of the Natural History Museum's digital botanical collection of plant specimens. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/news/2016/09/29/lincolnshire%E2%80%99s-botanical-heritage-sees-flowering-funds-national-lottery-grant http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ *** October 2016 Apple Day Dates reminder *** Woolsthorpe's annual Apple Day will be on Sunday 9th October. See: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolsthorpe-manor *** 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/ *** LNU EVENTS - list in section 11 below - guests welcome *** Section 11 now includes the LNU Field Meetings for 2016. To check on the details, especially if weather suggests a possible cancellation, visit: http://lnu.org/events.php Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Sunday, October 09, 2016 LNU Annual Fungus Foray (National Fungus Day) (Access courtesy of the Forestry Commission) Temple Wood (Access courtesy of the Forestry Commission) North of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park at TF058299 at northern entrance track to wood (nearest post code NG34 0HE). Take minor road west from Aslackby, off the A15. Nearest public toilets are in Bourne. Habitat: Broadleaved woodland. Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk *** October Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage for to October can be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html *** e-bulletin to replace Wolds News *** David Rodger writes: Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service are now producing an e-bulletin to replace 'Wolds News'. To subscribe go to http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/ *** South Lincolnshire Walking Festival *** South Lincolnshire Walking Festival. 24th September to 30th October (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) 80 walks covering North and South Kesteven, Boston and South Holland. Launch and Family Fun Day at Willow Tree Fen nature reserve on 24th September from 12 noon. Details from http://www.southlincswalking.com/ *** Reminder - Water Vole Training *** Rosemarie Oliver writes: Water Vole training Date: 16/17 November 2016 – 2 days Venue: Whisby Nature Reserve, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln LN6 9BW Instructor: Derek J Gow Training to attain Natural England License – agenda for the 2 days addresses the 5 points needed to obtain the class license and operate with water voles. Includes mitigation, handling, displacement, trapping, surveying. East Lincs Rural Training and Lincoln Rural Training are 2 groups locally who are part of Rural Training Links in Lincolnshire. We are non profit making and used to be the old Agricultural Training Board and are run by a committee of farmers and one organiser per group. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are members of my group along with Natural England, National Trust, Lindsey Marsh Drainage Group etc so we do have members outside of Agriculture. If you are interested in the above course please contact me via Roger. rparsons@enterprise.net **** Rescheduled Diptera (Flies) Workshop *** Richard Davidson 12th November Diptera (Flies) Workshop - Whisby Nature Park, in the Lafarge Education Building.12:30pm until 4:30pm. Free of charge, refreshments included. In conjunction with the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union. Limited to 20 participants. Booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Interested in Invertebrates and would like to know more in particular about Flies? Come along and find out more from local experts Phil Porter and David Denman. *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Indood Meetings *** www.scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. As always our October meeting, Monday 10th this year, starts with the AGM. It will be followed by an illustrated talk by our member Keith Parker entitled "Ethiopia. The Birds and Mammals of the roof of Africa." Keith, who is an expert birder, will be telling us about his encounters in his visit to Ethiopia. Starting at 7.15pm, we meet as usual in the St Bernadette's Parish Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is almost opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. ALL ARE WELCOME. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Refreshments are provided for a small charge at the break in the meeting. For further details contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** Barton LWT *** Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Carolyn Davis writes: On Monday 10th October 2016 at our indoor meeting Lionel Grooby former warden of Far Ings National Nature Reserve, Barton will give an illustrated presentation - " Humber Nature 25 years of Change & Progress." This will take place at Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £2, all are welcome. Raffle, Trust goods stall, tea & coffee available. For further details contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858 On Sunday 16th October 2016 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a group visit to Chambers Farm Wood near Wragby TF 158743 where they are hoping to see Dormice Boxes opened. Meet at the Wood Centre at 9.30am. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2016 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Reports will resume next week. Note: I am adapting RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. When there is a lot of information I will stick to highlights. Please visit the RBA website for updates or fuller details. Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of the subscription services. [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. KIRKBY ON BAIN TF239617 Clare Brady 1/10/2016 Dead otter on side of road between gravel pits and Kirkby On Bain. How sad that the first otter I have seen is a road kill. *** 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. BASSINGHAM SK909587: Jeremy Hutchinson 17 September 2016 Weasel CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909580 Jeremy Hutchinson 8 September 2016 Burnished Brass moth in kitchen 13 September 2016 14.45: Red Kite circled over village before drifting west. 25 September 2016 Field Vole in compost bin. 26 September 2016 Hornet on rotting apples in compost bin. 27 September 2016 Snatch of Chiffchaff song heard, the latest of many in recent weeks. Swallows and House Martins seem to have departed. Still the odd Red Admiral nectaring in garden. 28 September: juvenile Grass Snake (roadkill). This is the only snake that I can recall having seen this summer, alive or otherwise. House Martins: although the five nests on our house are now abandoned, I have seen 20+ most evenings on the western side of the village. During the daytime there are none to be seen, so presumably they are feeding elsewhere. I have seen no Swallows here during this week though. GRANTHAM SK918356 M. Ellis 24.09.16 Kingfisher flying along the River Witham from St. Catherine's Road Bridge north towards Avenue Road 9.00am HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 25/9/2016 Dunnock 1 Robin 1 (goes away for a few days and appears again) Small tortoiseshell 1 26/9/2016 Dunnocks 2 28/9/2016 Ladybird 7-spot 1 (amongst my beetroot - very few seen this year) Woodmouse 1 (dead on grass) NORTON DISNEY Scotwater Bridge SK883587 Jeremy Hutchinson 8 September 2016 12.30: Pair of Hobbies feeding above river, presumably on Dragonflies. Big Wood SK880605 Nuthatch RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 unless otherwise stated Silvia Fowler 21.09.2016 Great Spotted Woodpecker f 22.09.2016 Butterflies: Comma 2, Large White 1, Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 16, Small White 1 7-Spot Ladybird Green Lacewing Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) sunbathing on fence (though apparently common, its striking colours made me take a photo to help with identification) Brown Hawker (f) or Migrant Hawker (f), just a fleeting glimpse 23.09.2016 Butterflies: Brimstone 1, Comma 1, Red Admiral 2, Small Tortoiseshell 10-15 7-Spot Ladybird Common Frog dead in pond, clear bite wound, probably cat kill 4 very young Swallows on power line (looked like recent fledglings) 2 Grey Wagtails Still a few House Martins feeding overhead 24.09.2016 Butterflies: Brimstone 1, Comma 2, Large White 2, Painted Lady 1, Red Admiral 4, Small Tortoiseshell 5, Small White 1 27.09.2016 Mallard (f) with a late brood of 5 remaining, now almost fully grown, offspring still forming a daily procession to a feeding site. 30.09.2016 7-Spot Ladybird Rainfall: Another fairly dry month with 40 mm, though not as dry as Sep 2015, when we only had 22 mm. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 17/09/16 Little Owl x 1 calling 23:00hrs Merlin x 1 female Swallow x 4 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:30hrs Tree Sparrow x 39 Red Admiral x 1 22/09/16 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 3 Tree Sparrow x 17 Pygmy Shrew x 1 Great Crested Newt x 1 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Leopard Slug x 3 under paving slabs with Great Crested Newt 27/09/16 Swallow x 4 SK8099 28/09/16 House Martin x 6 SK813994 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Small White x 3 Common Darter x 5 Migrant Hawker x 7 29/09/16 Linnet x 6 Mute Swan x 2 adults 5 young SK804993 Starling x 4 Tree Sparrow x 21 Brown Rat x 1 (dead) Rabbit x 2 WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons No reports this week. WOODHALL SPA John Hodgson - Woodhall Spa, Home GR TF 201 629 unless otherwise stated. !8 Sept 2016 1 x Kingfisher perched on small branch overlooking beck. This could possibly be the same bird I have seen around this spot over the last few weeks. Managed to take a, not very good, photograph. 1 x Muntjac crossing B1191 at GR 205 634. 20 Sept 2016 1 x Barn Owl flying low over the tall rough grass outside Home GR at dusk. 25 Sept 2016 3 x or more Pipistrelle bats overhead the garden on a mild clear evening. 1 x Tawny Owl calling from Oak tree. WRANGLE COMMON 24/09/2016 Roy and Kath Pearson A BirdTrack count today produced 26 species. A species new for the site was Black-tailed Godwit. Others of interest were singles of Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrow hawk, Kingfisher, Snipe, Green Sandpiper, Stock Dove and Meadow Pipit. Several hirundines were feeding over the wet grassland and three Swallows and eight House Martins were counted. A pond held seven Teal. Six Tree Sparrows were present. Butterflies were:- singles of Comma, Large White and Red Admiral, whilst a small copse yielded eight Speckled Woods. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 21st – 28th September 2016 Contributors: Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker, Nige Lound 2 Yellow Browed Warblers heard on several days over past week also 4 Whinchats seen and 1 or 2 Lapland Buntings heard over foreshore, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Common Buzzards seen, also Tawny and Little Owls heard. 21st 19 Pinkfeet flew south and a group of 10 Bonxie flew south at sea off Rimac. A Garden warbler was at Sea View whilst a Grey wagtail and a Common sandpiper were around the haven. 22nd Singles of Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Great Spotted Woodpecker near Sea View. 23rd A single Tree Sparrow was with a flock of 9 House Sparrows near Sea View. Single S potted Flycatcher seen later in the day. Swallow 7 and a skein of 55 Pink-footed Geese flew over the dunes heading SE. 70 Pinkfeet flew south, a Wheatear was on the beach near the MoD track and 4 Chiffchaff were around Churchill Lane car park together with a vocal Yellow-browed Warbler. 24th Single male Blackcap at Sea View and Swallows 14 over. 2 Whinchat on Crook Bank track at rear of Conoco, 195 Pinkfeet flew south, 2 Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest were in song at CB and a Wheatear was on the beach. Yellow-browed Warbler around Churchill Lane Car Park again. 25th Swallow 9 over, some movement of Skylark flying west with 14+ in ones and twos. Blackcap and male Sparrowhawk near Rimac, late afternoon 25+ Swallows flying low over saltmarsh through beds of sea aster for several passes before moving on and a late Swift over the dunes near Sea View. 26th Common Sandpiper 2, 13 Redshank and Dunlin 35 on Paradise lagoon and a single Kingfisher along the Great Eau. Singles of Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest 2, Blackcap 2 (B and imm. Great Spotted Woodpecker all near Sea View, plus 4 Swallows over. 27th 3 Whinchat on CB track at rear of Conoco. Insects At least 20 migrant hawkers and c.150 common darters seen along sheltered areas. A single painted lady and a scattering of small whites, red admirals and small tortoiseshells. 23rd was a good day for butterflies with the following seen near Sea View - red admiral 4, small tortoiseshell 10+, comma 10, painted lady 1, green-veined white 1, small white 1 and speckled wood 4. A warm, sunny afternoon on 24th attracted comma 6, red admiral 4 and small tortoiseshell 9 butterflies at Sea View. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/far-ings See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events/2014/07/07/visit-dormouse-project These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Woods (which comprise Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) Also see: Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from, LNRs always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually 'goes to bed' on Fridays. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] *** Find the Grid Reference *** 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 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 *** The Met Office website now offers an 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 Chris Manning has put the new Atlas of the terrestrial and semi-aquatic Mammals of Lincolnshire on the link below. You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://goo.gl/XIqRZg *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further 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, so please give it a go. *** 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). 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: Contact us on 01522 530428 a member of staff will record the sighting or RTA. Or use the Weirfield website where 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, whether experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) Contact: Charlie Barnes, charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk Website: http://www.glnp.org.uk/ *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** Contact: Aidan Neary, Wildflower Meadow Project Officer, aneary@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825 970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. 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. See: 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 *** School of Life Sciences - University of Lincoln *** http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/lifesciences/ *** Natural History Museum *** http://www.nhm.ac.uk/ *** Lincoln - The Collection *** https://www.thecollectionmuseum.com/ *** 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 *** 01507 609740 http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** Project Officer: Jonathan Gahan: jonathan.gahan@lincolnshire.gov.uk http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering *** 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 on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold precise details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. [Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm.] 2016 Field meetings Sunday, October 09, 2016 LNU Annual Fungus Foray (National Fungus Day) (Access courtesy of the Forestry Commission) Temple Wood (Access courtesy of the Forestry Commission) North of Bourne 12.00 for 13.00 start. Park at TF058299 at northern entrance track to wood (nearest post code NG34 0HE). Take minor road west from Aslackby, off the A15. Nearest public toilets are in Bourne. Habitat: Broadleaved woodland. Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk *** October 2016 Apple Day Diary Dates *** Stamford Community Orchard Group's Apple Day is on Saturday 1st October this year. See: http://scog.org.uk/ Wragby's Apple Day is on Sunday 2nd October. See:: http://www.applesandorchards.org.uk/images/Apple_Days_2016.pdf Woolsthorpe's annual Apple Day will be on Sunday 9th October. See: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolsthorpe-manor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you recognise the owner of a 'part-address', please let them know their Bulletin has 'bounced/ this week. car.thwaite - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying clox - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying dusti - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying Greg.Meech - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying hendrina - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying johnth@ckery - soft bounce - permanent error julieparnhamv - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying kathcrockett - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying sandra-campbell - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying triumph64 - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying Wendy.Stanley - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying philward1946 - hard bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally..... Note: If a link does not work, please look at the URL. See if an extra http:// has crept in. Long https addresses seem to cause occasional problems, so I have started posting these as "hotlinks" and also as text that you can copy and paste into your browser should you need to. I hope this helps. Search on for the Asian hornet queen http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37430375 Vote for Tree of the Year 2016 by 9th October. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37405684 Hen harrier nest study reveals findings http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37456759 2016 is the 5th year of Biology Week, organised by the Royal Society of Biology, 8-16th October. An event to pick up on in 2017, perhaps? https://www.rsb.org.uk/get-involved/biologyweek Don't forget the Harlequin Ladybird story: lots of gaps in Lincolnshire. http://www.harlequin-survey.org/ Fears for future of Sutterton green burial site http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-37418331 Lincolnshire Police to mount global search for chief http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-37417194 DNA hints at earlier human exodus from Africa http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37408014 Survival secret of 'Earth's hardiest animal' revealed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37384466 Bouncing deer spotted by walker on beach in Poole http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37423254 An exuberance of life on the undrained fen https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/26/exuberance-wildlife-undrained-fen-country-diary-cambridgeshire https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/26/exuberance-wildlife-undrained-fen-country-diary-cambridgeshire Red squirrels with a taste for antlers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/24/red-squirrels-with-taste-antlers-country-diary https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/24/red-squirrels-with-taste-antlers-country-diary In the service of the queen, hornets hunt day and night https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/23/in-the-service-of-the-queen-hornets-hunt-day-and-night https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/23/in-the-service-of-the-queen-hornets-hunt-day-and-night ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/