============================================= || || 25th June 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..... ============================================ 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 Bulletin. 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: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Editor writes... *** Thank you to the many members and friends who dropped by at the Lincolnshire Show. The team had many interesting questions and discussions. New-look website: Visitors to the LNU’s website http://lnu.org/ will notice that the pages have had a makeover. Charlie Barnes has been busy redesigning the site so it is compatible with PCs, laptops, tablets and mobile telephones. The site contains details on the field trips and talks. It has downloadable and fully searchable versions of the older LNU books. It also supports the LNU Twitter account (@lincsnaturalist) and has links to the online versions of Transactions up to 1911. Further content will come online in the coming months. If you have any comments on the new website, please get in touch info@lnu.org Here are a few interesting links: Lily beetle wears a frock of frass to deter foes https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/15/lily-beetle-wears-a-frock-of-frass-to-deter-foes Realtime lightning http://meteoradar.co.uk/realtime-lightning Dogs Die in Hot Cars - The RSPCA remind us what to do. See: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health/dogsinhotcars Identify and record an unfamiliar plant. Plants and Fungi - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/species-explorer/plants-and-fungi Identify Wildflowers on-line http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/ More topical links below in "...and finally..." so don't forget to click. A full list of LNU Recorders is on the following link and in Communiqué. They will advise on species identification within their field of expertise. Photos for identification are often helpful, but please ask before sending. http://www.lnu.org/ If you have events or activities that need publicity, please let me know. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** Kingfisher News *** Bob Sheppard writes: For the next week or ten days the Netherlands kingfishers will be quite entertaining. https://www.birdfood.co.uk/kingfisher-webcam The chicks from this second brood are still quite small and it is worth watching the feeds which are most frequent at breakfast time. The nest chamber is in almost complete darkness so the fish are fed to the youngsters by touch. Each chick will open its beak as wide as possible on hearing an adult arrive in the tunnel. The fish is then waved around until it comes into contact with an open beak. Eventually the chicks grow so big they wait by the hole into the nest chamber and the action becomes blurred. So enjoy this next week or two while you can. *** "Len Pick Trust's Owl Camera" *** The saga of the 3 chicks continues. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 *** June Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events and "Whisby Workshops 2017 " are listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings, see: http://lnu.org/ 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 Field Meeting: Sunday, June 25, 2017 Field Meeting to Chapel Six Marshes Part of Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park. North of Chapel St.Leonards 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road north of Chapel St Leonards for about 1km and then track towards sea and parking at TF558741. NB. Nearest public toilets are at Chapel Point. Habitats: Dunes, shore, marsh, waterbodies, grassland, scrub and plantation. Partly a habitat creation area. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Whisby Workshops 2017 *** Richard Davidson - Programme Secretary - writes: The workshops are free to participants. [Refreshments are also provided.] There are spaces on the next 3 courses: [Timing: 12 noon - 4pm.] 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: 01522 525725 or email him on: rel.davidson@btinternet.com *** Chalk Stream volunteer days coming up *** William Bartle writes: We’ve got a Chalk Stream work party coming up soon. Tuesday 18th July – Ashby cum Fenby – Volunteer work party day at the brilliant Classroom in the Woods near Ashby cum Fenby, helping the flow on Waithe beck. Work will mostly include controlling some of the instream vegetation that quickly blocks up the chalk stream at this time of year. Starts at 10am. Details on our website: http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/volunteering/lcsp-volunteer-group  Facebook - @LincolnshireChalkStreams (check the events section) *** 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 *** Alford & Mablethorpe Branch LWT *** Alford & Mablethorpe Area Group Find us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LWT-Alford-Mablethorpe-Area-Group-175413729474673/ *** Barton Area Group LWT *** Barton Area Group of the LWT is now on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events 2016 *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on *** Poetry Competition *** Will Bartle writes: The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project are running a poetry competition for all ages thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. If you're feeling inspired by the wonderfully rare chalk streams found in Lincolnshire why not enter, you could win £250!! Deadline is Friday 14th July. Full terms and conditions, and instructions on how to enter are on their website. http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/poetrycompetition2017 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 summarising/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 " * ". Note: 15/6 3 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 2 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 16/6 2 Wood Sandpipers on Middle Scrape, 2 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Great White Egret on Jackson's Marsh, flew south, Gibraltar Point 17/6 Quail male singing, Alderfen, Wroot Spoonbill, Alkborough Flats 2 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Little Gull, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly, Frampton Marsh Scaup drk, Turtle Dove, Kirkby-on-Bain gravel pits 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Wood Sandpiper flew north along beach, Common Crane flew over Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 18/6 Quail males singing at Alderfen, Wroot* 2 Spoonbills, Cattle Egret. 2 Turtle Doves, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Lesser Emperor Dragonfly, Alkborough Flats 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 19/6 2 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Spotted Redshank, Lesser Emperor dragonfly, Red-veined Darter dragonfly, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 20/6 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 4 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point 21/6 2 Spoonbills, Common Crane flew NW over, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 22/6 9 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 2 Little Gulls from Mere Hide, Gibraltar Point 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier between Brigg and Caistor on fields south of road between garden centre and Cadney 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. REDPOLLS Stuart Britton writes: I thought the readers might be interested in some interesting ringing results: Redpolls are now a very scarce breeding bird in Lincolnshire but large numbers appear periodically during the winter. On March 30th. I went to a site in Willingham Forest where I have been ringing since 1982 and found a large number of Redpolls (Carduelis flammea) in the birch trees. I made several visits in the next 8 days and caught a total of 105 Lesser Redpolls (Sub-species cabaret), four of which were already ringed, and 1 Common Redpoll. I have now received information on the four ringed birds which were all ringed in 2016: 1. Ringed on 18/4/ at Peebles, Scottish Borders some 311km north west. 2. Ringed on 10/8 at Hawgill, Cumbria some 225km north west. 3. Ringed on 7/10 at Peterculter, Aberdeenshire some 429km north west. 4. Ringed on 30/3 at Trimble zings, N. Yorks some 114km north west. The Breeding Bird Atlas shows that the species breeds fairly widely throughout Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Northern England and I suspect these birds were returning to their natal area. I hope that some of the 105 birds ringed are re-trapped elsewhere to provide more information on their movements." ROAD KILLS Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909580 Jeremy Hutchinson 20 June 2017 Grass Snake (roadkill: female) *** 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. BARDNEY The Green TF119694 R. Parsons 18/6/2017 Small Magpie moth Anania hortulata in house - released into garden. CANDLESBY QUARRY TF 460682 C Byatt 20 June 2017 Bee Orchid – 6 Common Figwort - 3 CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909580 Jeremy Hutchinson 20 June 2017 Juvenile Goldfinch COLSTERWORTH NATURE TRAIL SK92/24 Jane Ostler 19th June 2017 This site, known in the past as the Woolsthorpe Line, is now in the care of the Parish council and managed by volunteers with advice from LWT. On a very hot afternoon they organised a walk to identify plants. Where bays have been cleared of dense scrub herbs like foxglove and wood sage and newly flowering honeysuckle were being visited by bumble bees. Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown butterflies and the Chimney Sweep Moths favoured these places. Dozens of Long Horned Moths were swarming here in front of the backdrop of tall hawthorn. Young trees in one area have been encouraged to form a tunnel and this is the best area to find passerines all year. We saw robin, blackbird, house sparrow and heard chiffchaff and song thrush. An overgrown plot of land alongside the line has been cleared. The ironstone comes near the surface in this once-quarried area. Ragwort, St John's Worts, Fairy flax, Mouse-eared Hawkweed, Blue Fleabane and Trefoils of all kinds are beginning to colonise and a previously small patch of Wild Strawberry has spread quite dramatically. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 15/6/2017 Greenfinch 1 Kestrel 1 (over the field next to my house, first sighting of one here) 16/6/2017 Long tailed tits 4 Magpies 5 (think 3 must have been fledglings) Nemophora degeerella 2 Red admiral 1 (I only ever see these in the early evening for some reason - do you know why?) 18/6/2017 Speckled woods 2 20/6/2017 Ladybird larvae 3 21/6/2017 Great tits 2 Song thrush 1 Wren 1 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 10/6/2017 Jon Drakes Whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Birdwatch for the BTO in our back garden the following species were recorded: Collared Dove 8 House Sparrow 15 Starling 6 Dunnock 2 Greenfinch 2 Blackbird 6 Chaffinch 2 Tree Sparrow 1 Swallow Swift House Martin Woodpigeon 2 Common Frog KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 17/6/2017 Jon Drakes An evening walk around woodland and fields to the North of the village found the following species present: Swift Swallow Collared Dove Starling Woodpigeon Blackbird House Sparrow Buzzard Yellowhammer Cuckoo (heard calling) Linnet Lesser Black Backed Gull House Martin Goldfinch Pheasant Chiffchaff Nuthatch Blue Tit Kestrel Song Thrush Carrion Crow Magpie Chaffinch Herring Gull Badger An adult with cub emerged from a wheat field approximately 3 feet in front of where I was standing. The cub even took the time to stop and stare at me before running into the woods. A real privilege indeed! LONG BENNINGTON (CO-OP STORE) SK834 448 Barry Johnson Monday 19/06/2017 White-letter Hairstreak 1 male Barry adds: there are two Elms directly opposite the Co-op and a couple more just along the main street. I think they are Witch Elms and around 25 - 30 years old. STALLINGBOROUGH – HOBSON WAY (Grid reference TA2113) Jon Drakes Wildlife noted whilst at work during the week was as follows: 12/6/2017 Kestrel 5 (2 adult and 3 chicks) Carrion Crow Woodpigeon Goldfinch Chaffinch Magpie Swallow Speckled Wood Butterfly 13/6/2017 Kestrel 4 (1 adult and 3 chicks) Goldfinch Chaffinch Blackbird 14/6/2017 Kestrel 5 (2 adults and 3 chicks) Magpie Woodpigeon Speckled Wood Butterfly Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly Meadow Brown Butterfly RAITHBY-CUM-MALTBY, rural garden near LOUTH TF309847 unless otherwise stated Silvia Fowler 14.06.2017 Woundwort Shieldbug (Eysarcoris venustissimus) Common Frog in pond Family of Long-tailed Tits calling daily Chiffchaff still calling frequently 15.06.2017 Green Shieldbug 3 (2 were mating) Small Tortoiseshell 1, Red Admiral 1 16.06.2017 Ladybird larva Small Tortoiseshell 1, Red Admiral 1 18.06.2017 Broad-bodied Chaser (m) on pondside plants Blue-tailed Damselfly 2 Brimstone 1, Red Admiral 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1 Numerous Common Newts in pond and in shady cracks in garden Tiniest (no more than 1 cm with all limbs stretched out), fully-formed Froglet or Toadlet (probably the latter) in fish pond, clearly freshly metamorphosed. There was no frog spawn in this pond this year (frogs now use the nearby wildlife pond) though there were some tadpoles visible in late autumn, and definitely fresh toad spawn this spring. 19.06.2017 Meadow Brown 2 21.06.2017 Buzzard (fewer sightings than usual this year) SLEAFORD THE NETTLES, SLEAFORD TF072459 Diane Maltby Monday June 12th [Regular meeting of Volunteers Group] Many ladybird larvae noticed on stinging nettles. Hard to be sure which type. Song thrush Blackbird x 2 Starling x 2 Goldfinch Robin MAREHAM LANE, SLEAFORD TF070453 Diane Maltby Wednesday June 14th Swift dead on footpath – presumed hit by vehicle. THE INNINGS, SLEAFORD TF069451 [My Garden] Diane Maltby Wednesday June 21st Many froglets now emerging from pond. Small ladybird larvae feeding on black aphids on lemon verbena Chaffinch male & female on sunflower seed hearts Goldfinch about 4 on sunflower seed hearts Blackbirds [numerous, including juveniles] Robin, adult Many house sparrows feeding mainly on fat balls Occasional starlings Blue tits including at least one juvenile. SOUTH THORESBY South Thoresby Warren TF 392762 C Byatt 20 June 2017 Bee Orchid - 3 TOFT NEWTON Toft Newton Reservoir TF0387 19 June 2017 08:00 - 09.45 Su Colman and Mark Townsend BTO breeding bird survey - late visit Blackbird 5 Blue Tit 2 Buzzard 1 Carrion Crow 20 Chaffinch 4 Coot 2 Great Tit 5 Grey Heron 2 Grey Partridge 1 Jackdaw 4 Little Egret 1 Magpie 1 Mallard 7 Meadow Pipit 7 Mute Swan 10 Pheasant 1 Pied/White Wagtail 10 Reed Bunting 1 Robin 1 Rook 1 Skylark 15 Starling 5 Swallow 7 Swift 2 Woodpigeon 7 Wren 4 Yellow Wagtail 1 Yellowhammer 1 WOOLSTHORPE-BY- COLSTERWORTH SK922244 Pam and John Mapletoft 17/06/17 Hedgehogs have been feeding on dried mealworms, sunflower seeds and cat food regularly, on the 16th June 2017 at 22.45 hrs there were six adults feeding together on our patio. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 See: Far Ings NNR on Facebook: 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 14th –21st June 2017 Contributors: - John Walker, Peter & Janet Roworth, Nige Lound, Gary Cooper, Rob Lidstone-Scott, Cliff Morrison & Neil Pike General Notes and Weather Observations A week of warm and later very hot weather with increasing amount of humidity; day-time temperatures soared to 29.25°C on the 17th and again on the 19th. Night-time temperatures were warm and humid; the minimum air temperature on the 19th was 16.25°C. How the weather can change though with a weak front moving south on the 20th giving a maximum of only 17.5°C. Flowering plants now include fairy flax, carline thistle, meadow rue and wild onion. Natterjack tadpoles hatching off over past week and c 400 to 500 toad lets around breeding pools and another c1500 tadpoles remaining in various pools some from later laid spawn, so still small and may not survive unless the area receives some substantial rainfall to top up the now very shallow pools, due to the water table having lowered by 15 cm over the past 9 days. Daily Notes and Wildlife Sightings 14th A moth trapping night at Churchill Lane revealed 525 moth of 89 different species, most noteworthy were Peach Blossom, Dark Barred Twin Spot Carpet, Dotted Fan foot, Pinion Streaked Snout, Black neck, Reddish White Arches, Light Brocade, Double Dart & Cream Bordered Green Pea. 15th Male Marsh Harrier flew low over the salt marsh and suddenly entered an area of rising hot air. The bird took advantage and rapidly rose, soaring high on the thermals, wings outstretched and legs dangling down. Gaining quite a height he then drifted leisurely in a south-westerly direction. Around Churchill Lane were a Little Owl, 2 Red-legged Partridge and singing Reed and Grasshopper Warbler. On the wing were Common Blue, Speckled Wood, Small Heath, Large Skipper, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Ringlet whilst an Emperor Dragonfly was over the pond near the MOD track. 16th Bee Orchid 5, Wild Leek 30, both at Rimac 17th During the morning at Sea View there was quite an activity of turnip sawfly with several hundred on the wing sourcing nectar. 18th Broad bordered chaser on the wing near Paradise and on the lagoon two Avocets plus six Mute Swans, At Rimac were 2 Cuckoo and 2 singing Grasshopper Warblers. A moth trapping night revealed 82 different species, most notable included Crescent Plume, White Spotted Plume, Peach Blossom, Eyed Hawk Moth, Small Elephant Hawk Moth, Round Winged Muslin, Shark, Reddish White Arches and Colon 19th Single Spoonbill at Paradise lagoon plus 1 Green Sandpiper and 30+ House Martins feeding over the area; Quail calling in adjacent pasture field and small flocks of Starlings beginning to be seen over the salt marsh. 21st Around 25 fresh Red Admirals Churchill Car Park to Rimac Butterflies on the wing at Sea View include Common Blue, Ringlet, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHAMBERS FARM WOOD (Grid reference TF1574) 18/6/2017 Jon Drakes A walk around Chambers Farm Wood on a very hot, Sunday afternoon resulted in the following species being recorded: Chiffchaff Blackbird Jackdaw Carrion Crow Woodpigeon Song Thrush Coal Tit Willow Tit Robin Garden Warbler Butterflies: Speckled Wood Small White Small Tortoiseshell Red Admiral White Admiral Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Meeting - May Report for 20/5/2017 Found in the Dormouse boxes: 13 Dormice (7 males and 6 females) Also found making use of the Dormouse boxes: 2 woodmice several bee and wasp nests A large number of birds' nests (mainly Wren, Great Tit and Blue Tit) 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 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reserve reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin 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 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. LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: Ian Macalpine-Leny. ian@macalpine-leny.co.uk LNU 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 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 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 *** 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. 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 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 Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 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 Phil Hyde - 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's Back Garden : Might your project qualify? *** The HLF want to encourage applications for funding from all champions of natural heritage, particularly small, local and community groups with projects that help raise awareness of the wildlife and nature to be found close to home. See: https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/news-features/lincolnshires-back-garden *** 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: 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. 2017 Field Meetings Sunday, June 25, 2017 Field Meeting to Chapel Six Marshes Part of Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park. North of Chapel St.Leonards 12.00 for 13.00 start. Take minor road north of Chapel St Leonards for about 1km and then track towards sea and parking at TF558741. NB. Nearest public toilets are at Chapel Point. Habitats: Dunes, shore, marsh, waterbodies, grassland, scrub and plantation. Partly a habitat creation area. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, July 30, 2017 Field Meeting to Thurlby Fen Slipe Thurlby Fen Slipe LWT Reserve Access courtesy of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Southeast of Bourne. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Car parking on Baston Edge Drove (unmade track) at TF119164. Turn onto Long Drove eastwards from the A15 at Thurlby and look for the LNU sign for the car park. Possibility of evening bat walk here with members of the Lincolnshire Bat Group. Best to confirm nearer the time. NB. Access restrictions may apply to the eastern half of the reserve due to the presence of sensitive wildlife. Nearest public toilets in Bourne town centre. Habitats: Borrow pits, hedgerows, wet woodland, grassland and the north bank of the River Glen. Leader: Nick Tribe 07733 073989 nick.tribe@ntlworld.com Saturday, August 05, 2017 Field Meeting to Mareham Pastures LNR with evening moth/bat recording session Mareham Pastures Local Nature Reserve. South of Sleaford. All day Bioblitz event with evening moth/bat recording session. Joint meeting with Friends of Mareham Pastures. Meeting times: 10am, 1pm and 8.15pm at reserve car park at TF072 447 (NG34 8ST). Follow Mareham Lane south out of Sleaford and turn right towards recycling centre then turn right again into car park. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Sleaford town centre. Habitats: Meadows and woodland over restored landfill site. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Sunday, September 03, 2017 Field Meeting to Gunby Hall (National Trust) Specifically to explore the parkland area with access courtesy of the National Trust. West of Burgh le Marsh. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet at the main car park near to Gunby Hall entrance at TF466669 found at end of access track off the roundabout where the A158 and A1028 meet. NB. Toilets and cafe available on site. Habitats: Parkland with various waterbodies. Leader: Dr. David Sheppard 07880 986923 d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Sunday, October 08, 2017 Field Meeting to Bloxholm Wood LWT Reserve (Fungi Foray) Access courtesy of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. North of Sleaford. 12.00 for 13.00 start. The reserve entrance and parking spot is situated at the south end of the B1191 (southwest of Ashby de la Launde) close to the junction with the A15 at TF037533. NB. There is a 1km walk to the main woodland area. Some verge parking probably needed. Nearest public toilets in Sleaford town centre. Habitat: Broadleaved and mixed woodland habitats. Leader: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk *** 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 this year are. Bees (David Sheppard) on the 3rd of June - fully booked. Spaces still available on: 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. beckside - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying dave.jackson - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying lizritson - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying sperkins - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying clilley - soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Meantime text copies of past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally.....: Can you spot these camouflaged animals? http://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/photos/can-you-spot-these-camouflaged-animals/ss-BBCQU3m? Global hotspots for alien invasions revealed http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40251000 The oldest living thing on Earth http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40224991 Rare water vole colony filmed by a Tesco supermarket http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-shropshire-40249096/rare-water-vole-colony-filmed-by-a-tesco-supermarket 'Oldest Homo sapiens' found http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-40196629/oldest-homo-sapiens-found Fungus creates zombie beetles that crave flowers before death https://www.newscientist.com/article/2134134-fungus-creates-zombie-beetles-that-crave-flowers-before-death/ Is the Convention on Biodiversity killing collection-based research? https://thebiologist.rsb.org.uk/biologist-opinion/159-biologist/opinion/1757-is-the-convention-on-biodiversity-killing-collection-based-research Dogs and wolves share sense of fair play [Yes - there does seem to be someone called RoooBert Bayer!] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40205808 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/