============================================= || || 1st January 2017 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || LNU Website: || http://www.lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Bulletin is being read by over 1000 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. If you know someone who might like to receive the Bulletin please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every Bulletin or send them this link so they can sign up for it: http://www.lnu.org/wildnews.php Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins back to Feb 2009 are available on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Please contact the Editor to contribute articles or reports. E-mail: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** From the Editor.... *** Happy New Year! Welcome to 2017. One behalf of the LNU may I thank everyone who contributed to the gathering of records in 2016. County recorders will be reporting on trends and observations at the annual Recorders' Meeting in February [11th] and you will be welcome to come along. See the LNU "Events Diary" below or visit: http://www.lnu.org/events.php Here are four New Year Resolution suggestions with links/video clips: 1. Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2017 - it is time to start thinking about making an application. It's easy to do. Why not visit the website? http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ 2. FSC Field Courses - lots of interesting subjects for everyone. See: http://www.field-studies-council.org/individuals-and-families/natural-history.aspx https://www.youtube.com/user/FieldStudiesCouncil Remember: 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 3. RSPB Wash Birdwatching Cruises 2017 - treat yourself to one of these: http://www.southhollandcentre.co.uk/whats-on/view/rspb-boat-cruises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF7UQHJu5Sg 4. Attend a Whisby Workshop and transfer some of your identification skills: Bees (David Sheppard) on the 3rd of June, Flies/ Diptera on the 15th of July, Pond Dipping on the 22nd of July (Richard Chadd) Odonata (Nick Tribe and Richard Chadd) on the 29th of July. Contact Richard Davidson on: rel.davidson@btinternet.com Striking Whisby video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvJ1ouxxKIg That's enough Resolutions! A link or two for you to click . More at the end of the Bulletin. Bumblebee numbers hit by 'unsettled decade' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38447937 Trillions of high-flying migratory insects cross over UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38406491 Britain's butterflies and bees struggle with unseasonable weather http://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-28/britains-butterflies-and-bees-struggle-with-unseasonable-weather/ If you have any 2017 Events/activities that need a 'plug', please let me know. This will be important in next week or two, as there may well be an interruption to Bulletins for 8th and 15th. We shall be moving to the village of Bardney on 12th January - at last. You can use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of each Bulletin to send a sample copy to someone who might enjoy it too. Please do. Roger rparsons@enterprise.net *** Donna Nook Seals *** Rob Scott writes: For interest, the seals at Donna Nook have increased by about 3% this year, with 1956 pups being born. Beach is now emptying fast with only a couple of dozen adults and a hundred pups on view from the viewing area at Stonebridge. Beach access and dog restrictions will stay in place until at least the end of first week in January to allow the last few pups to wean without undue disturbance. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/donna-nook-nnr Rob adds on 28th December: Donna Nook - very few seals left. Early on 28th December, only 6 adults and 32 pups visible from viewing area. Since one of the pups (the last one born) is still with mum, dog & beach access restrictions will remain for another week or so. *** Hare Coursing *** I was very concerned to read the following Hare Coursing article this week. Lincolnshire hare coursing 'out of control' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-38403704 https://www.lincs.police.uk/get-help-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ *** TWO Forecast *** http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ 'Cold for the New Year' - says Met Office http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/2016/weather-into-the-new-year *** January Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html This link will transmogrify into January 2107 data as we enter the New Year. Heads up for the Quadrantid Meteor Shower on January 3rd. *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events and "Whisby Workshops 2017 " are listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings, see: http://www.lnu.org/events.php Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Next meeting: Saturday, January 21, 2017 "Laughton Forest: a long term study of key bird and insect species" by Graham Catley Whisby Education Centre, 2pm *** Bryophyte Surveys *** Steven Heathcote writes: Bryophyte surveys around Lincolnshire. I have been carrying out some bryophyte surveys at a range of Lincolnshire sites as part of the British Bryological Society's Ecology Group project . See: http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/activities/brecog/brecog.html The survey involves a series of small quadrats in different bryophyte habitats. I'm visiting a wide range of sites across the county. I would be delighted to have company on any of these forays, for all or part of the day - no prior knowledge required and I have all the necessary equipment, so warm clothes and a hand lens are all you would need to bring. Plans are deliberately kept flexible, mainly because of the weather, but if people would like to join me in the new year then please drop me an email and I will let you know when I plan a visit. steven.heathcote@gmail.com p.s. As an additional plea, arable fields are very under-sampled in the survey across the whole country. If you know of any fields with over-wintering stubble (and a known owner) where access might be arranged for a few hours of survey please do let me know! A species list and short report can be provided to the land owner" *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Indoor Meetings *** www.scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk Keith Scarrott writes: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society The first meeting for 2017 is on Monday, 9th January when our geology specialist member, Malcolm Fry, will be giving an illustrated talk entitled "The Geology of North West Scotland". He will be talking about the oldest rocks in the UK, two mountain building periods and over 3000 million years of Earth history, as well, of course, of showing us some of the most stunning scenery in the UK. We meet, as usual, in the St Bernadette's Church Parish Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. The meeting starts at 7.15pm and ALL ARE WELCOME. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Refreshments are available for a small charge at the mid-talk break. For further details contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** Barton Area Group 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 Sunday 1st January 2017 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in Cleethorpes. Meet leader Ray Hume at Cleethorpes Discovery Centre at 9am. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout boots and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Ray Hume - 01472 320878. *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2016 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 21/12 Water Pipit between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall, 155 Twite, 7 White-fronted Geese, 3 Long-tailed Ducks on sea, Donna Nook Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 2 Snow Buntings, Greenshanks Creek, male Hen Harrier, Great Northern Diver, Gibraltar Point 22/12 Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 2 Waxwings, Alford 2 Water Pipits, ad Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret, River Welland, opposite fishing lake, Deeping High Bank north of Crowland water tower 2 Scaup drks at Cove Farm gravel pits, Westwoodside 23/12 2 Shorelarks on outer ridge, Rimac 2 Eurasian White-fronted Geese both ads, with Greylag Geese, Baston/Langtoft gravel pits 2 Waxwings, Alford Black-throated Diver off Gibraltar Point 24/12 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Frampton Marsh 25/12 2 Lapland Buntings, 9 Velvet Scoters, Cleethorpe LNR Glaucous Gull flew south past Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting flew north over Lincoln 145 Twite, male Hen Harrier, Donna Nook Scaup, Cleethorpes Boating Lake 26/12 23 White-fronted Geese in field, Sloothby 5 Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese in field by approach road, Frampton Marsh Male Firecrest in Wood east of Dawson City Black-necked Grebe, 2 drk Scaup, Toft Newton reservoir 27/12 Great White Egret, by River Welland, Deeping High Bank,in field north of Crowland water tower 8+ Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese, Whaplode, by Common Road, north of Moulton Seas End 10 Twite, Kirton Marsh Short-eared Owl, 3 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Frampton Marsh 28/12 Iceland Gull juv at North Promenade, Cleethorpes 2 Velved Scoters at Tabb's Head, Shag, Frampton Marsh Note: I am adapting RBA pager information for the Bulletin by eliminating or summarising/consolidating repeated messages. Please visit the RBA website for updates/fuller details. Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. RIPPINGALE TF0962778 Pauline Warman 22/12/2016 We have been lucky enough to host hedgehogs in our garden this year - up to 5 during the summer. We now have 3 which, unusually, are living together in our hedgehog house. We have 2 trailcams and 2 feeding stations and all 3 hedgehogs are still out at night in late December. We did not know we had hedgehogs until we found one out in the daytime in June on a hot day. It was small, cold and lethargic and having taken advice from the Hegehog hospital near Louth we put it in a box with a warm "hot" water bottle and offered dog food and water. Unfortunately it did not survive. However we started leaving food around the garden at night and kept our eyes open for signs such as droppings and empty food bowls. We discovered then that we did indeed have a population in the garden, and some of our neighbours were also feeding them. We have continued to feed Spike crunch hedgehog food, mealworms, chopped peanuts and the occasional treat of dried banana - also providing plenty of water. We have many videos of them from the trailcams. It was one of the trailcams that solved a mystery for us. On some days when we went to collect the food bowls, at one particular feeding station they would be filled with stones and leaves on top of any leftover food. This was very puzzling, but the trailcam revealed that mice were carrying stones and leaves to the bowl and hiding the leftover food with them. We have put a video of this on YouTube which is about 7 minutes of hedgehogs feeding but if you zoom to the end you can see the mice at work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B7SKXeJNYc Editor adds: VERY interesting video. Thank you, Pauline. ROADKILLS - "Dead, but worth recording!" Every drive is a transect! Scunthorpe SE 88247 10167 Peter Morrell 17.12.16 Hedgehog roadkill on Kingsway. Kirton in Lindsey SK 94445 96555 Peter Morrell 17.12.16 Badger roadkill on B1205. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** "If it is worth observing, it is worth recording." Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks. DON'T FORGET Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BLYBOROUGH Blyborough SK 94158 94757 Peter Morrell 15.12.16 Barn owl hunting next to B1398. BOSTON (South by A16) 27/12/2016 Kath Pearson Jay feeding on mealworms in garden. CHERRY WILLINGHAM TF033725 Margaret Roe 27/12/16 Two waxwing feeding on the berries on the Mountain Ash in my front garden. They made two visits during the morning. Why are they attracted to the orange berries rather than the red berries on other Mountain Ash in the neighbourhood? I have not seen them here since December 2010. I hope this is not a sign of a bad winter to come. CLEETHORPES BOATING LAKE and SALTMARSH (Grid reference TA3107 and TA3207) 27/12/2016 Jon Drakes A walk on a cool but bright afternoon around the boating lake and along the sea bank found the following species present: Barnacle Goose Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Collared Dove Coot Cormorant Feral Pigeon Goldfinch Great Blackback Gull Greylag Goose Herring Gull Little Egret Magpie Mallard Moorhen Oystercatcher Pochard Redshank Reed Bunting Robin Scaup Shelduck Tufted Duck Woodpigeon DEEPINGS Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 17/12/16 Time: 1045 - 1300 Observer: Ian Gordon Weather: Sunny, misty and cold Birds: Blackbird Black-headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch Buzzard Carrion Crow Chaffinch Common Gull Coot Cormorant Gadwall Goldeneye Goldfinch Great Crested Grebe Green Woodpecker Grey Heron Greylag Goose Great Tit Herring Gull Jackdaw Lapwing Little Egret Long-eared Owl Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Redwing Reed Bunting Robin Rook Starling Stonechat Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Mammals: Grey Squirrel Deeping High Bank: Black-headed Gull Great White Egret Kestrel Lesser Black-backed Gull Little Grebe HARROWBY SETTLEMENTS SK 940344 Jane Ostler 27/12/16 See below: 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS - LNRs etc. HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 22.12.16 Birds seen in my garden this week: Blackbird, jackdaw, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch (by far the most numerous), chaffinch, greenfinch, robin, dunnock, tree sparrow, great spotted woodpecker, pheasant, wood pigeon, magpie, rook. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 15/12/2016 Chaffinch 2 Great spotted woodpecker 1 16/12/2016 Chaffinch 2 Great tits 2 Goldfinch 4 (on lavender seedheads) Sparrows 30+ (in the hedge just outside my gate - never seen any here before!) Starlings 3 17/12/2016 Goldfinch 1 (on Verbena boniariensis seedheads) Great spotted woodpecker 1 18/12/2016 Goldfinch 2 (on teasel) Tawny owl 1 (heard 5 a.m.) 19/12/2016 Goldfinch 3 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Wren 1 21/12/2016 Pheasants 5 (female) INGHAM Ingham SK 93385 82688 Peter Morrell 16.12.16 Barn owl hunting next to Stow Lane. KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 24/12/2016 Jon Drakes Species noted whilst carrying out the weekly BTO Garden Bird Watch in our back garden were: Collared Dove 6 Blackbird 3 House Sparrow 15 Dunnock 4 Tree Sparrow 2 Starling 1 Blue Tit 1 Robin 1 Woodpigeon 1 Black-headed Gull 2 Chaffinch 2 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 28/12/2016 Jon Drakes Species recorded during a morning walk around the fields and woods to the North of the village were : Blackbird 6 Black-Headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch 2 Buzzard 1 Carrion Crow Chaffinch Coal Tit Collared Dove Dunnock 16 Goldcrest 4 Goldfinch 20 Great Tit Grey Partridge 12 First observation of this species around the village. House Sparrow Jackdaw Jay 1 Longtail Tit Magpie Mistle Thrush 3 Nuthatch 1 Redwing 5 Reed Bunting 3 Robin Rook Starling Tree Sparrow Woodpigeon Wren Yellowhammer Fox Also noted that a large patch of Gorse (Grid reference TA163106) had started to flower. KIRTON IN LINDSEY Kirton in Lindsey SK 94171 96868 Peter Morrell 21.12.16Barn owl hunting next to B1398. WILDMORE FEN TF216534 unless otherwise stated. R & A Parsons 24/12/2016 Redwing with c50 Fieldfares and c25 blackbirds on orchard. Sparrowhawk m through orchard. Flush of "Blue Legs" in garden. 28/12 Tawny owl observing garden from tree top at dawn. Many fieldfares, blackbirds and chaffinches feeding in orchard. Goldcrest drinking at pond. 8 Long-tailed tits on nut feeder. Skein of estimated 100 geese spp over - very high. 2 Buzzards perched, observing farmland. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/gibraltar-point See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/donna-nook-nnr ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve Wildlife News Week ending 28th December 2016 Nige Lound and Peter & Janet Roworth 21st - velvet scoter 19 were with common scoter 200 on the sea south of CB. On Paradise were shoveler 31 and around the Haven were a kingfisher, a green woodpecker, barnacle geese 2 and an Egyptian goose. 23rd - On Rimac saltmarsh were snipe 26, jack snipe 3 and a merlin, together with linnet, goldfinch, skylark and rock pipit. Shore lark 2 on the outer ridge at Rimac. A pair of stonchat near Rimac car park. 24th – Feeding on winter rape field not far from NNR at Saltfleetby were whoopers 16, Bewick’s 6 and mute swan 31 25th – Exceptionally mild day with the daytime temperature reaching 14.0°C; single stonechat at Rimac, over saltmarsh skylark 20+, redshank 100+, goldfinch 60+, curlew 8 and snow bunting 2 on outer dunes 26th – short-eared owl hunting over dunes near SV and tawny owl calling in Paradise wood 27th – white wagtail on pasture near Sea View. Velvet scoter on the sea, red- throated diver 5 and gannet 3 flew south. 28th – Paradise lagoon shoveler 41, lapwing 19 and mute swan 2; singles of reed bunting, great spotted woodpecker and long-tailed tit 6 near Sea View and mallard 24 flying over to grassland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/far-ings See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Also see: Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html Reports always welcome. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Woods (which comprise Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS - LNRs etc. HARROWBY SETTLEMENTS SK 940344 Jane Ostler 27/12/16 A "treasure hunt" on smallholding with great grandchildren 3 p.m. after frosty night. Recent evidence of rabbit, hare and mice. Also of fox, but the chickens are being kept in. We didn't disturb the place where we believe a hedgehog is hibernating and we could find no evidence of a stoat which had been seen at the beginning of December going into some piping in yard. At the pond where male frogs hibernate at the bottom every year and toads lay their spawn there was no sign of the sticklebacks but wandering snails were grazing the algae on the concrete sides amd the duckweed (Lemna minor) still covered the surface. As always we could hear magpies cackling and two were in the grass field. Above them in the poplars was a giant magpies nest. We could also hear field- fares working their way down the hawthorn hedge in the lane. A robin was in full song but more surprisingly two were working their way amicably through the dead leaves, looking for food. Blue tits, blackbirds and house sparrows were at the bird feeders and earlier in the day a greater spotted woodpecker had visited. A buzzard was stting on a post in the lane. A kite circled overhead. Mixed flocks of roooks and jackdaws passed over. A wren's nest was discovered in the outdoor shelter for the horse. Searching under stones and the flat laths of wood we foundthe spherical woolly egg sacs of spiders, the woodlice (Ononis asellus) and various small earthworms. One of these was probably Eisenia rosea, one of the Lumbricidae. It had pink front segments and an orange clitellum. Under one piece of wood we found both a centipede (Cryptops hortensis) (able to count the 22 segments) and a flat millipede, Polydesmus angustus, a species which I had studied whilst at college. On a gravelly farm track to the field there were many small versions of 'mostly annual' weeds in flower - herb robert, shepherd's purse, scentless mayweed, mouse ear chickweed, groundsel, autumnal hawkbit, daisy, annual meadow grass and petty spurge. In some of the plantpots the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha was growing, carrying both male and female 'umbrellas' and cups holding reproductive granules. Most of the fungi were recorded on or near to a poplar stump at the edge of the vegetable plot. The Coral spot (both red raspberry and pink globule generations) and the superficially similar Common Jelly Spot were found on debarked sections, the latter only on a horizontal cut surface. At the base there was both the Orange Peel fungus and Orange cup. Turkey Tail was established on one side, but the greates number of brackets was those of Postia subcaesius, recently separated from what was called Tyromyces caesius, which is found on coniferous wood. There were the remains of Sulphur Tuft on a nearby log but this stump had a fine fruiting of the Velvet Shank which only seems to appear after the first frosts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: rparsons@enterprise.net [A backup e-mail address you can use if ever you experience problems with my "Enterprise" address is: aintree2@yahoo.co.uk ] When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] *** Find the Grid Reference *** Grab a Grid Reference: http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://www.lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org If you are not yet a member, the LNU needs good naturalists like you! You can get membership application forms from Wilma Gammon at the Lincs Wildlife Trust office, e-mail wgammon@lincstrust.co.uk or from the LNU website: http://www.lnu.org/join.php LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny. ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk http://lnu.org/publications.php LNU Mammal Atlas You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://goo.gl/XIqRZg LNU Burseries: 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 FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Related Website: http://lincs.police.uk/get-help-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/issues/crime STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** EasyTide *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** TWO - The Weather Outlook *** Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ *** Met Office E-mail Service *** E-mail notification service for severe weather and other matters which may interest readers. See: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. *** Identifying Fungi *** http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/ *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php http://butterfly-conservation.org/ *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/dragonfly-and-damselfly-identification-help *** How to Identify Bees *** http://www.bwars.com/ http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ *** iSpot Keys for computer or mobile *** If you are a beginner to identification of species, you might find the following link useful. http://www.ispot.org.uk/keys *** Mammal Recorder *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://goo.gl/XIqRZg *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further information and to submit records contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com You can input reptile and amphibian data at: http://www.recordpool.org.uk/ Please remember, common species are just as important as rarer species. *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Lincolnshire Bat Group website: http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ Contact: Aidan Neary, aneary@lincstrust.co.uk Mobile: 07825 970930, Switchboard: 01507 526667. *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. See: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing *** Lincs Bird Club *** LBC County Bird Recorders John Clarkson - Covering the north of the county recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk John Badley - Covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Bird Club Website: http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Other Useful Websites/contacts *** Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk Contact: 01522 555780 [New Number} *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams Contact: Ruth Craig Ruth.Craig@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** RSPB local webpages *** https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk S Lincs RSPB http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ Grimsby & District RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire link *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed contact: rparsons@enterprise.net Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://www.lnu.org/events.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. 2017 Indoor Meetings Saturday, January 21, 2017 "Laughton Forest: a long term study of key bird and insect species" by Graham Catley Whisby Education Centre, 2pm Saturday, February 11, 2017 Recorders’ Meeting & Annual Exhibition Whisby Education Centre, 12 noon Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders; the overview starts at 2pm as in previous years. Saturday, March 04, 2017 AGM & Presidential Address by Annette Faulkner “The Fens revisited. An update” Whisby Education Centre, 2pm *** The Whisby Workshops 2017 *** Richard Davidson - Programme Secretary - writes: The workshops are free to participants as all overhead costs are split between the Lincoln Area Group and the LNU. [Refreshments are also provided.] The aim is not to turn people into experts in an afternoon, but to cascade knowledge and enthusiasm for particular subjects so that participants can go away better equipped to follow them up on their own and also to encourage interest in a broader range of subjects both entomological and botanical. On most of them there has been time inside learning generally about the subject and looking at specimens followed by time outside in the field following this up. The workshops lined up for 2017 are Bees, Flies/ Diptera, Pond Dipping and Odonata. We're very grateful to the various experts who've fronted the workshops for being willing to give up their time and share their knowledge. We couldn't do all this without them. Also to the LNU for being willing to enter into this partnership. In the future we could broaden things to include mammals, birds and many other natural history topics. The dates of the workshops for next year are now finalized. Bees (David Sheppard) on the 3rd of June, Flies/ Diptera on the 15th of July, Pond Dipping on the 22nd of July (Richard Chadd) Odonata (Nick Tribe and Richard Chadd) on the 29th of July. Contact Richard Davidson on: rel.davidson@btinternet.com *** Field Studies Council courses 2017 *** The latest programme of the FSC lists an impressive range of interesting courses in some wonderful places. Note the partner organisations. Strongly recommended. http://www.field-studies-council.org/individuals-and-families/natural-history.aspx 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. imogen wilde - hard bounce - over quota - address cleaned If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally..... Mostly local/national:In pictures: Scunthorpe actress Liz Smith dies aged 95 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38440648 The 12 walks of Christmas http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-38378169 First case of wild bird flu in England confirmed in Leicestershire.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-38421337 Lincolnshire hare coursing 'out of control' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-38403704 £60m 'to tackle second homes problem' in England http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38406536 Ash tree genome sequenced for first time http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38416116 Moss spores seize the day under bare trees https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/15/moss-spores-seize-the-day-under-bare-trees#comment-89508857 The endless joy of logs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/20/endless-joy-logs-country-diary#comment-89806551 Mostly global/international: The funniest and most unusual animal photos of 2016 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2016/dec/27/the-funniest-and-most-unusual-animal-photos-of-2016 Arctic heatwave could break records http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38417198 Australia flood: Uluru national park closed after huge rainfall http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-38435586 Bat chat: machine learning algorithms provide translations for bat squeaks https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/dec/22/bat-chat-machine-learning-algorithms-provide-translations-for-bat-squeaks When will our electricity come from the sea? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38426389 Obama bans oil drilling 'permanently' in millions of acres of ocean http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38387525 Japan cancels failed $9bn Monju nuclear reactor http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38390504 Note: If a link below does not work, please look at the URL. See if an extra http:// has crept in, and make the correction. ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next month!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/