============================================= || || 17th 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... *** Heads up for the Geminid meteor shower: Good luck. https://astronomynow.com/2017/12/11/best-ever-geminid-meteor-shower-around-14-december/ I made my annual pilgrimage to Donna Nook last week. The tide was high and the wind exceptionally cold on a clear bright day. It was a spectacular sight, as always. Only about a dozen folks were there to enjoy the early morning. Trust staff and volunteers were on duty to share their seal knowledge and enthusiasm - very much appreciated. If you have not yet visited, there will be time before Christmas, but the advice is always: Avoid the weekend crowds if possible. 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. David Robinson writes on 11/12/2017: The starlings were fantastic this evening, in fact there were so many the last large group dropped into reeds a fair way from the obviously over populated first choice reed bed. Video link here; https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ai0MSdSaob1cjxlQY-w4rukFA-zh At the suggestion of a reader I am going to try to flag up reports of interest to aid the bulletin-scanning process. I'd appreciate your view on whether or not this is a helpful idea, please. 2017 End of year records: "If it is worth observing, it is worth recording." "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. For those readers with an interest in bird recording - don't forget to visit and admire the new-look Lincolnshire Bird Club website. I have had a quick click round and it is excellent. Congratulations to all involved in the project. See: http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/ As usual I have included a selection of topical links. Most were sent in by readers. Suggestions for interesting links are always welcome. See: The Ocean Cleanup https://www.theoceancleanup.com/about/ Sir Isaac Newton wall picture found at Woolsthorpe Manor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42279064 Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2017 - excellent https://royalsociety.org/journals/publishing-activities/photo-competition/ Botanical exploits: How British plant hunters served science http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42239463 Lincoln Christmas market cancelled due to snow http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42299497 'Worrying alarm call' for world's birds on brink of extinction http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42314289 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/ *** 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. 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 AuroraWatch UK: action possible..... http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk Spaceweather.com http://www.spaceweather.com/ *** 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 *** *** Grantham Area Group LWT *** *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** South Holland Area Group LWT *** *** 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 " * ". Before you ask me see: Mandt's Black Guillemot [form mandtii] http://birdingfrontiers.com/2015/06/29/mandts-guillemot-in-the-netherlands/ http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/9/20160275 7/12 Black Guillemot, Cut End, River Witham mouth 8/12 Slavonian Grebe off Milennium Ridge, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier*, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier ringtail, north of Crowland bridge, Deeping High Bank Red-necked Grebe, Long-eared Owl on island, Deeping Lakes Black Guillemot, Cut End, River Welland mouth, flew up River Witham mouth, then down river 9/12 2 Water Pipits, East Halton, Skitter Scaup ad drk, Red-necked Grebe, Long-eared owl on island, Deeping Lakes Black Guillemot, Cut End, River Welland mouth. 8 Snow Buntings, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 2 Hawfinches in yew by caravan park entrance, Walesby 2 Ruddy Shelducks at Whitton Sands South, Alkborough Flats Ring-necked Duck fem, Kirkby-on-Bain pits 10/12 Hawfinch, Whisby Nature Park, then flew north over railway Scaup, Deeping Lakes Mandt's Black Guillemot [form mandtii] ad at Cut End from hide, flew up river 2 Hawfinches in yew by caravan park entrance, Walesby 2 Velvet Scoters flew north past Mablethorpe 3 Snow Buntings between New Holland and Goxhill 11/12 Pomarine Skua flew north past Cut End, 2 Red-necked Grebes, 4 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Great Northern Divers, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, ad male Hen Harrier, Boston Mandt's Black Guillemot [form mandtii] ad at Cut End, River Welland mouth Turnstone, Baston and Langtoft gravel pits Scaup drk, Red-necked Grebe, Long-eared Owl, Deeping Lakes Ruddy Shelduck, in field 2 mls upstream of bridge, Great White Egret 1ml upstream of bridge, Tattershall Great White Egret 1m south of Kirkby-on-Bain gravel pits in field by road 12/12 Scaup ad drk, Long-eared Owl, Deeping Lakes Great White Egret on south west pit, Kirkby-on-Bain gravel pits 3 Shorelarks at Greenshanks Creek, Gibraltar Point 13/12 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. Starling murmuration video from Kirkby on Bain taken by David Robinson. https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ai0MSdSaob1cjxPq7_eGhDh9ukzK OSGODBY Stuart Britton writes: I undertook a bird survey at Cote Hill Farm, Osgodby (home of the excellent cheese!) as part of a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme application in 2013. Now, an area of just over an acre of wild mix is planted annually and has proved a magnet for a large number of song birds. I was invited by the owner to ring at the field so on 2nd December I went with five other members of the Mid Lincs Ringing Group and set up mist nets between the crop and an adjacent hedge. To say I was surprised at the number and variety of birds ringed in under 4 hours is an understatement:- Wren. 2 Dunnock. 57 + 1 re-trap from 2015 Robin. 6 Blackbird. 1 Song Thrush.* 2 Blue Tit. 24 Great Tit. 9 House Sparrow.* 1 Tree Sparrow.*. 56 Chaffinch. 16 Greenfinch. 91 Linnet.* 6 Lesser Redpoll.* 2 Bullfinch. 10 Yellowhammer.*. 3 Reed Bunting. 35 TOTAL. 321. * - BOCC Red Data listed species The number of Dunnocks has to be one of the highest ever recorded in a day at any site in the county. This surely highlights the value of land owners being part of Stewardship Schemes. Our thanks to Michael and Mary Davenport. ROAD KILLS? Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. 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 to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. 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 11/12/2017 Pied Wagtail 1 Chaffinch 3m 2f Goldfinch ? Dunnock 2 House Sparrow 6+ Robin Blackbird 2 Starling 12+ [Flock of 30+ in area] Jackdaw 4+ Collared dove 2 Woodpigeon 1 Black-headed gull BOSTON (South by A16) 07/12/2017 Kathleen and Roy Pearson A female Sparrowhawk visited the garden and spent some ten minutes sitting in the silver birch giving more than the usual casual glimpse as it passes through the garden. The feeding area was completely empty during this time. The number of visits to the garden by both Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker that were frequent in summer have now been much reduced. Also Magpies are rarely seen at present, possibly because there aren’t the nests they visited. Two Coal Tits are around and we have the occasional visit by Goldcrests, but no winter visitors are yet here. A large number of Blackbirds that were here recently are now much reduced. BOSTON (South by A16) 09/12/2017 Kath Pearson Four Mistle Thrushes eating berries in a holly bush in the garden today. Mistle Thrush is a species rarely seen in the garden in recent years and four is the highest number ever. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK 909 580 Jeremy Hutchinson 8/12/2017 Flock of 20-30 small finches (too far away to indentify) feeding on Fat Hen seeds growing among sugar beet. 9/12/2017 Single Redwing eyeing up berries on Pyracantha in garden. (Not often visited by Redwings). DEEPING LAKES Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Date: 08/12/2017 Time: 1430 - 1600 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, windy and very cold Birds: Blackbird Blue T Bullfinch Carrion Crow Chaffinch Coot Cormorant Dunnock Gadwall Goldcrest Goldeneye Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Great Tit Jackdaw Kestrel Little Egret Long-eared Owl Long-tailed Tit Magpie Magpie Moorhen Mute Swan Pintail Red-necked Grebe Rook Scaup Shovelor Sparrowhawk Teal Treecreeper Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Wren Mammals: Grey Squirrel Deeping High Bank: Hen Harrier Little Grebe EAST HALTON SKITTER TO GOXHILL HAVEN (and return) (Grid reference TA1423 to TA1225) 10/12/2017 Jon Drakes An early morning walk along the bank of the River Humber between East Halton Skitter and Goxhill Haven in what can only be described as a “fresh” conditions found the following species present whilst undertaking the monthly WeBS count for the BTO: Bearded Tit 1 Black Tailed Godwit 26 Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Buzzard 1 Carrion Crow Chaffinch Cormorant 1 Curlew 124 Dunlin 70 Fieldfare 50 Golden Plover 2 Goldfinch Great Black Backed Gull 4 Grey Heron 1 Herring Gull HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake 08/12/2017 0950 -10.30 Ian Misselbrook and Denis Toomy Little Grebes 26 a site record! Little Egrets 2 Mute Swans 2 Canada Geese 34 Mallard 70 Wigeon 45 Teal 15 Gadwall 14 Tufted Duck 13 Moorhen 17 Coot 2 Black-headed Gulls 28 Kingfisher 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Red kite 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Nuthatch 1Blackbirds Fieldfares 30 Robin Dunnock Wren Great Tits Blue Tits Coal Tits Chaffinches Goldfinches 1 Grey Squirrel 11 December 2017 HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes SE98509 Large flock of Lapwings on a field near my house today. KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 9/12/2017 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO in our back garden were: Blackbird 3 Black-headed Gull 10 Blue Tit 1 Chaffinch 1 Collared Dove 12 Dunnock 4 Goldfinch 1 Greenfinch 1 House Sparrow 30 Robin 1 Starling 14 Woodpigeon 1 STALLINGBOROUGH – HOBSON WAY (Grid reference TA2113) Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst at work during the week included: 6/12/2017 Herring Gull Magpie Pink-footed Goose 15 flying in a Southeasterly direction WORLABY John and Georgie Richardson Worlaby TF339764 9/12/2017 One red kite feeding on road kill on The Bluestone Heath Road. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.....: Warmer Arctic is the 'new normal' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42330771 Narwhal escape: Whales freeze and flee when frightened http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42259289 When the world sang with whales http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/stories-42267618/when-the-world-sang-with-whales Dracula ticks in amber tell ancient blood-sucking tale http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42327784 Researchers find 'oldest ever eye' in fossil http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-42264946 Australian town driven batty by flying foxes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-australia-42298288/australian-town-driven-batty-by-flying-foxes Rodent droppings found in kitchen on Virgin Trains East Coast service http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42280404 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/