============================================= || || 10th December 2017 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://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..... ============================================ 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]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins back to Feb 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Bulletin is being read by over 1000 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. Please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every LNU Bulletin and invite new readers to give it a try. We will really appreciate your help with this. Please contact the Editor to contribute articles or reports. E-mail: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Editor writes... *** Donna Nook Grey Seal updates: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update Please try to avoid weekend visits if possible. Dress for cold and windy conditions. Driving around the county this week I have noted many flocks of winter thrushes hunting for food in hedges and fields. Browse videos by species. See: https://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id/bto-bird-id-redwing-and-fieldfare There are starling murmurations to be seen too. Here's one from Kirkby on Bain taken by David Robinson. Video link here. https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ai0MSdSaob1cjxPq7_eGhDh9ukzK 2017 End of year records: "If it is worth observing, it is worth recording." "Unrecorded data is just a nice day out." "The end of the year is nigh!" Recorders will be pleased to hear from you. If you prefer to send records directly to individual County Recorders rather than via the Bulletin, you need to be thinking about preparing that data now. https://lnu.org/specialists/ Please make sure that key information has been included as needed: Place Name: Location with Grid Reference. Your Name: Real names please. Date: Don't forget the year! Species details, names, numbers, observations/supporting evidence. As usual I have included a selection of topical links. Most were sent in by readers. This week's topics include the brainiest [Newton], bravest [RAF bomber crews] and, arguably, the most unpleasant [hare coursers]. Suggestions for interesting links are always welcome. See: Boston's £100m flood barrier scheme given the go-ahead http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42237965 Artists wanted for #200Fish North Sea exhibition http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42209218 Sir Isaac Newton's spending on stockings and shoelaces http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-42185391 Replica Lancaster bomber plans unveiled for gateway to Lincolnshire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42169236 Suspected hare coursers escorted out of Lincolnshire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42185346 More topical links are below in "...and finally..." - don't forget to click. A full list of LNU Recorders is on the following link and in Communiqué. http://lnu.org/ They will advise on species identification within their field of expertise. Photos for identification are often helpful, but please ask before sending. A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available on the LNU website. Thank you for all your contributions this week - very welcome. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ [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.] A joint LBC/LNU Meeting - 20th January 2018 Lincolnshire Rooks; Living in the shadow of Ash dieback by Andrew Chick The talk will look at 70 years of rook studies in Lincolnshire, starting with the 1947 LNU Transaction paper and compare the results of the 2017 Lincolnshire Bird Club survey which inspected over 250 rookeries and counted 5959 nests. During the 1980’s a detailed survey of the trees utilised by nesting rooks was undertaken to assess the likely impact of Dutch Elm Disease on Lincolnshire birds, some 30 years later we are now assessing the potential impact that Chalara dieback will have on Lincolnshire wildlife? The joint Lincolnshire Bird Club/Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union indoor meetings are held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non-members welcome to attend. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2018-01-20/ *** Occasional Bryophyte meeting - Linwood Warren *** Steven Heathcote writes: Bryophyte meeting - Hunt for Rusty Fork-moss at Linwood Warren. Saturday 9th December 2017. Meet 10am at reserve entrance (TF 133 877). We are planning to explore the reserve recording bryophytes. We hope to refind the last Midlands population of Rusty Fork-moss, an nationally rare species. There are lots of other uncommon species to be found too. All abilities welcome. Please wrap up warm and bring lunch! *** 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/ *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates *** Planning and implementation of the project continues. We will keep you informed via the Bulletin and Communiqué, and via our Twitter feed. Interesting audio clip - how plant collections can support climate research: Plants from Cook's first voyage show change in CO2 http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/345072/plants-from-cook-s-first-voyage-show-change-in-co2 Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Twitter feed https://twitter.com/lincswildlife?lang=en *** December Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Good luck with the Gemenid meteor shower - 6th to 19th Dec, peak 13th/14th? https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/geminid-meteor-shower AuroraWatch UK: action possible..... http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk http://www.spaceweather.com/ We might get lucky one of these days. *** Volunteer day with the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** Friday 15th December 2017 – Belleau – Great Eau Will Bartle writes: Practical day with the LCSP Volunteer Group and Aby Fly Fishers - The day will involve maintaining the in stream vegetation to help keep the headwaters of the beautiful chalk stream, the Great Eau, flowing. Wader sizes are needed in advance so please contact the Monitoring Officer for the Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project Will Bartle before the day: William.bartle@lincolnshire.gov.uk or 01522 555780. Full directions and details can be found in the 'Events and Shows' section on the website; www.lincolnshirechalkstreams.org *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby and district RSPB *** Martin Francis writes: The next meeting of the Grimsby RSPB Group is at 7.30pm on Monday 18th December, at Holy Trinity Parish Hall (formerly called Corpus Christi Community Centre), corner of Machray Place, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes DN35 7AE. Tom Lawson will give us an illustrated talk entitled "Travels in Australia" There will also be festive refreshments and a raffle. Entry is £4, payable at the door. All are welcome. You don't have to be a member of the RSPB to attend. For more information, contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 So take a break from the Christmas shopping and preparations and come to the meeting. You won't be disappointed! *** Local RSPB links: *** Grimsby & District RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby S Lincs RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** Alford & Mablethorpe Branch LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/LWT-Alford-Mablethorpe-Area-Group-175413729474673/ *** Barton Area Group LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Boston Area Group LWT *** 14th December, 2017 at 7.30 P.M. NATURE RESERVES IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE An illustrated talk by Geof Lee The meeting will be held in the Centenary Methodist Church in Red Lion Street, Boston. All welcome - more info from Brian Redman Tel. 01205 351406 *** Grantham Area Group LWT *** Adrian Allain writes: Indoor meeting. Friday 8th December 2017 at 07.30 pm in Barkston & Syston Village Hall. 'OTTERS' an illustrated talk by Stewart West. Stewart shares his knowledge of otters with us as he traces their re-colonisation of Lincolnshire. As usual there will be a raffle and refreshments. Non-members; a donation of £2 would be appreciated. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust – Grantham Area Group Adrian Allain 01476860641 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** South Holland Area Group LWT *** 12th December, 2017 at 7.30 P.M. WILDLIFE OF THE YORKSHIRE COAST An illustrated talk by Geof Lee The meeting will be held in the Pinchbeck Village Hall - everyone welcome. *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events *** 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/ I have adapted RBA pager data/information for the Bulletin by eliminating or consolidating repeated messages. Note - I have been leaving out late reports to save myself going back to re-do entries. From now on I shall squeeze in important ones, indicating them with a " * ". 30/11 2 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point Scaup ad drk, Deeping Lakes Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier ringtail, Deeping High Bank 5+ Hawfinches between cafe and hall, Normanby Hall Country Park Brent Goose [for 7th day], Toft Newton reservoir Greenland White-fronted Goose, with 600 Pink-footed Geese, in field behind Grange Cottages, east of Crowle 1/12 White-crowned Black Wheatear ad in garden, Scunthorpe [see below] Red-necked Phalarope juv, fem Common Scoter, Covenham reservoir 4 Velvet Scoters, Saltfleetby NNR Bittern in reeds by hide, Boultham Mere, Lincoln Bittern on Ness Pit from hide, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 2 Little Auks flew north past, Black-throated Diver flew south, Gibraltar Point 2 Snow Bunting*, Short-eared Owl, ringtail Hen Harrier, Rimac 2/12 Little Stint, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret in flight over River Ancholme, south of Toft Newton reservoir Red-necked Phalarope juv, Covenham reservoir Great White Egret on River Witham near Tattershall Escaped White-crowned Black Wheatear ad in garden, Scunthorpe has been caught 3/12 Rough-legged Buzzard viewable from Viking way SE of Bigby near Grange Farm. ESE of Brigg Red-necked Phalarope juv, Covenham reservoir Black-throated Diver flew north past, 4 Velvet Scoters offshore, Saltfleetby NNR 4/12 Scaup ad drk, Deeping Lakes Bittern at Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 5/12 Scaup ad drk, Deeping Lakes Hawfinch flew west over south end, Donna Nook Scaup, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl over Old Saltmarsh, Slavonian Grebe on sea off Mill Hill, Gibraltar Point 2 Water Pipits at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 6/12 2 Great Northern Divers flew past, Water Pipit on Jackson's Marsh, Snow Bunting, Millennium Ridge, Gibraltar Point 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. NOCTON TF052643 J.Gunner 30 November 2017 Thursday November 30, 2017 saw the first winter finch to visit our bird feeders in Nocton. A pleasant change from the oodles of goldfinches, chaffinches and various tits was a Lesser Redpoll. Bird Club recorder notified, photo provided and identification confirmed. I struggle to differentiate between the two sub-species and even linnets, so a quick blast with the long lens allowed me plenty of time to compare images on t’internet. Today also gave me a chance to take some nice images of our male sparrowhawk who has been making a nuisance of himself around the feeders at least once a day recently – seemingly unsuccessfully. ROAD KILLS? Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. BARDNEY A & R Parsons w/o 26/11/2017 Southery Wood TF131685 Badger adult on road verge CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK 909 580 Jeremy Hutchinson 5th December 2017 Female/juvenile Bullfinch, roadkill. CAT KILLS? Extend our small mammal knowledge by reporting cat-assisted records! *** 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 - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY The Green TF119694 R & A Parsons 30 November 2017 Light snow lying. Usual suspects in a small village garden: m + f Blackbird 2 Robins 2 Chaffinches 4 Goldfinches 5+ House Sparrows Dunnock Great, Blue and Coal tits 25+ Starling flock 2 Collared Dove 3+ Woodpigeon Occasional visits from magpie, jackdaws [4] and black-headed gulls. DEEPING LAKES Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Date: 28/11/2017 Time: 0900 - 1215 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny and very cold Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Cetti's Warbler Chaffinch Coot Cormorant Dunlin Fieldfare Gadwall Goldcrest Goldeneye Goldfinch Goosander Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Long-tailed Tit Herring Gull Jackdaw Lapwing Long-eared Owl Long-tailed Tit Little Grebe Magpie Mallard Mistle Thrush Moorhen Mute Swan Pheasant Pintail Redwing Robin Scaup Shoveler Teal Treecreeper Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Wren Mammals: Grey Squirrel Deeping High Bank 30/11/17 0930 - 1100 Frosty, very cold and windy Birds: Buzzard Hen Harrier Kestrel Marsh Harrier HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 1/12/2017 Long tailed tits 10 6/12/2017 Pheasant 1 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 27/11/17 and 30/11/17 Jon Drakes A Barn Owl was seen near the entrance to the village on the evenings of both 27th and 30th November. KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 02/12/2017 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO in our back garden were: Blackbird 2 Collared Dove 25 House Sparrow 30 Starling 5 Chaffinch 1 KIRKBY ON BAIN pits Hide pit TF237611 R & A Parsons 5th December 2017 approx 3.30pm. Kingfisher Party of 8+ Long-tailed Tits Many Coots 2 Mute Swans Only small flocks of starlings roosting in reeds on hide pit. Most incoming starling flocks noted heading SW towards TF229600. No murmurations observed - instead a quick decent into the roost. LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 09/12/2017 Jayne Knight 26/11 Neighbour belatedly told me he had seen two Hedgehogs eating peanuts from the tray on back lawn, around 0600hrs while walking his dog. Pleased there are two again as one was a road casualty earlier on in the summer. 04/12 Tiny specimen of Pholcus phalangiodes found, dead, on back wall of fridge. Internal back wall. Still pondering how it got in... LINCOLNSHIRE WT WHISBY NR (Grid reference SK9166) 3/12/17 Jon Drakes with Chris Knowles Species noted whilst taking a morning walk around the reserve were: Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Carrion Crow Chaffinch Coot Cormorant Fieldfare Gadwall Goldeneye Great Crested Grebe Grey Heron Greylag Goose Jay Lapwing Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Peregrine Falcon Pheasant Pochard Redwing Robin Shoveler Sparrowhawk Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Wren Muntjack Deer Grey Squirrel RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 unless otherwise stated Silvia Fowler 30.11.2017 Pheasant, 2m, foraging in heavy snow flurries (TF309848) Total precipitation for November 48mm; not especially high, but the ground seems saturated locally. 02.12.2017 Pheasant, 1m, below bird feeder 03.12.2017 Blackbirds, 10-12 on Pyracantha and Cotoneaster berries Collared Doves 5 (TF309848) 06.12.2017 Little Egret 1 flying over TF310848 Badger, medium-sized, probably young adult, dead at foot of hedgerow, no obvious injuries (TF302845) VIKING WAY, STAINBY SK890238 to SK889228 Jane Ostler 3/12/17 This stretch is on a tarmac road and so not churned up as it is northwards beyond the Water Tower. It lies on the County Boundary Line between Lincs and Leics. Bounded on the west by a continuous line of mature sycamore trees with oak and horse chestnut at the southern end. On the eastern side there is a managed hawthorn hedge, not ancient, with plantations of beech and spruce along part. Other woody plants are elder, ash suckers, wild privet, maple blackberry and dog rose. Mammals: Grey squirrel just killed by one of cars that had passed us. On our way back a kite was already inspecting it. Evidence of brown rat in holes and droppings where pheasant feed had been spilt. A fox had left the remains of a hen pheasant scattered. Molehills on the verge were concentrated in two field gateways. Birds: Redwings flying over from where we had seen them in apple trees ,field edge on adjacent road. Mistle thrush. Blackbirds  A Green Woodpecker heard. Red Kite. Insects: 7 spot ladybird. Just one in grass cuttings. Oak marble gall Andricus kolari.A bird had pecked part way in but the gall causer had exited by way of hole. Blotch mine of micro moth Tisheria marginea on blackberry leaf. Flowering Plants: Fruits on - Sycamore, wild privet, dog rose and ivy. Plants in flower - hogweed, dandelion, white deadnettle, smooth sowthistle. Non-flowering plants - Bracken - just one clump. arspot on sycamore the only fungal activity noted. Lichens - there was not the usual covering of dust lichens found locally on hedges but all along the eastern verge, on grass at the edge there were regular clumps of bearded lichens, presumably blown from the sycamores There were three kinds. The pollution tolerant Ramalina farinacea was the most frequent. there was some Ramalina calicaris and a heavily fruited one that I believe to be Ramalina fastigiata. This needs confirming. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/donna-nook-nnr http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donna Nook seal updates: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook/weekly-update [Please try to avoid weekend visits if possible.] Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Report follows. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR 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. http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article Also see: Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html LWT Lincolnshire Limewoods http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes/lincolnshire-limewoods ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Dormouse Group The Lincolnshire Dormouse Group meet monthly at Chambers Farm Woods. We always welcome visitors and new members. Dormice are legally protected and sensitive to disturbance; attending the group's meetings provides the opportunity to see dormice legally with licenced surveyors. If you are interested please email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises 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) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS - LNRs, private reserves etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports 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 goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@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.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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://lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** 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 *** Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ 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://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/issues/crime STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Weather Underground *** https://www.wunderground.com/ *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** 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. *** Botany *** 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 Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** Identifying Fungi *** App: http://rogersmushroomsapp.com/ BMS Checklist of names: http://www.fieldmycology.net/GBCHKLST/gbchklst.htm BMS Keys for Macrofungi http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/library/keys/ *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/ http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species *** How to Identify Bees *** http://www.bwars.com/ http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ 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 *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** 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. http://www.glnp.org.uk/our-publications/biodiversity/projects-and-reports.php *** 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 *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@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 USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** 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/ *** 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 Phil Hyde - Covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** RSPB local webpages *** https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/t/tetneymarshes/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk 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. For good advice for ALL nature-watchers see the RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ and BTO's pdf: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf [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://lnu.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Indoor Meetings 2017/8 Indoor meeting – 20th January 2018 Joint talk with the Lincolnshire Bird Club – Topic to be confirmed Recorders’ Meeting – 10th February 2018 Annual General Meeting – 3rd March 2018 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you recognise the owner of a 'part-address' below, please let them know that their their Bulletin has 'bounced' this week. inthu_22 - soft bounce - Requested mail action aborted quasarxxx9 - soft bounce - Requested mail action aborted If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally.....: How UK's birds are being affected by a changing climate http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42225917 Country diary: a vertical timeline is clearly visible in the cliffs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/01/country-diary-vertical-timeline-visible-cliffs-walton-on-the-naze#comment-109064461 Country diary: quieter times for Badgeropolis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/02/country-diary-quieter-times-for-badgeropolis#comment-109102799 Utopia in Lincolnshire: the pacifists who built a farm – and stayed https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/dec/05/conscientious-objectors-lincolnshire-collow-abbey-farm-play-remembrance ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/