============================================= || || 21st January 2018 || || 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Hope to see lots of readers at the next LNU meeting on 20th January. This is the annual joint meeting with Lincolnshire Bird Club. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2018-01-20/ If you are not yet recording your local birds, why not have a go at the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch on 27 - 29 January? https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ As usual I have included a selection of topical links. Most were sent in by readers. Suggestions for interesting links are always welcome. See: How flowering plants conquered the world http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42656306 George Boole: Bronze statue to honour Victorian coder – not before time: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42635184 Also see: http://www.rogerparsons.info/george/boole.html Stop the Ocean Plastics Crisis – sign the Marine Conservation Society petition https://www.mcsuk.org/appeal/plastic-levy Museum bee curator discovers a new solitary bee species for Britain - in his own garden! http://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/new-bee-gets-scientists-buzzing? 18 new species of spiders — and they look just like pelicans https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/pelican-spiders-new-species-0432432/? 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 - non-members very welcome. 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 1980s 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/ *** Bryophyte meeting *** Moor Farm, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire - Saturday 20th January 2018 We will be meeting to record bryophytes again, this time at Moor Farm Nature Reserve http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/Moor-Farm We will meet in the reserve car park (TF226635) at 10AM. We plan to stay out most of the day so please bring warm/dry clothes and a packed lunch. Anyone is welcome for part or all of the day. Please let me know if you plan to attend incase of last-minute changes due to weather. steven.heathcote@gmail.com *** 2018 Farmland Bird ID Days for the 2018 Big Farmland Bird Count *** Sponsored by BASF and delivered in partnership with FWAG Association and LEAF with support from the NFU and CLA. Ahead of the 2018 Big Farmland Bird Count (taking place 9-18 February) we're running several farmland bird identification days throughout the country. Book now! Each day is run by a farmland bird expert and aimed at farmers, gamekeepers and those taking part in the Big Farmland Bird Count. Refreshments are included and participants are able to go out on a farm to do some bird identification. At the end of the training we hope that participants can recognise the top 20 bird species likely to be seen on farmland over winter. A colour ID guide is provided with a focus on birds that are harder to identify. Places are very limited for each day and tickets are only £10 each. https://www.gwct.org.uk/farming/big-farmland-bird-count/farmland-bird-id-days/? *** 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 Communique and via Twitter. Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants 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/ *** January Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Note - there will be no full moon in February! The month is "stradded" by the full moons of 31st January and 2nd March. https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/uk/lincoln *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ Keith Scarrott writers: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society At our second meeting of this year, on Monday, 12th February, Chris Manning, the LNU Recorder for Mammals visits to give us his illustrated talk entitled "Deer and Deer Parks in Lincolnshire".  Chris has a particularly extensive knowledge about the deer populations and will will be telling us about the various types of deer, their distributions about the County, their behaviours, our concerns about them etc. ALL ARE INVITED TO OUR MEETINGS which start at 7.15pm and take place in the St Bernadette's Church Parish Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. There is a large, free car park at the Church. There is no entry charge to our meetings but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are provided for a small charge at the mid-talk break. For further details contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** 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/ George Rutter writes: Talk: Lincolnshire wildflowers Half Moon Hotel, West Street, Alford, LN13 9DG Monday 29th January - 7:30pm Aidan Neary will talk on this project which aims to enhance both the landscape and wildlife of the county. With the Alford and Mablethorpe Area Group *** Barton Area Group LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group Adrian White writes: Barton Area Group invite you to our next January event. All welcome, Trust membership not necessary. All our events are free although donations are welcomed! Saturday 20th January A walk from Barton to Barrow A half day looking for wintering birds along the Humber bank and lakes. Return by train from Barrow station, approximate fare £2.00. Contact Vernon Chapman for details (01652 660957) Meet in Ness End Car park for a 9.00am start Wear appropriate warm clothing and footwear. To get to Ness End Farm from Barton-upon-Humber, travel west along Far Ings Road, go past the brown signs for Far Ings visitor centre and past the turning for the hotel. The road narrows and after 300 yards Ness Farm car park is on your right (satnav post code DN18 5RG). *** Horncastle & Woodhall Spa area group LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/hwsag/ *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** 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 " * ". 11/1 Glaucous Gull juv on beach just north of Churchill Lane, Theddlethorpe Waxwing flew south over plantation, 2 Snow Buntings* flew north over, Bittern*, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese with 453 Dark-bellied Brent Geese on Tennyson's Sands, White-fronted Goose* flew west over Gibraltar Point Waxwing flew east over Springside, Louth 6 Shorelarks on beach at Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 12/1 Mealy Redpoll on feeder, Park Road, Willingham-by Stow 5 Lapland Buntings on saltmarsh, Saltfleetby 2 Hawfinches, Normanby Hall Scaup fem, 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Frampton Marsh 13/1 Long-eared Owl on island, ad drk Scaup, Deeping Lakes Black-necked Grebe, Toft Newton reservoir Bittern at Boultham Mere, Lincoln 2 Hawfinches, Normanby Hall Glaucous Gull juv on beach north of Churchill Lane, Theddlethorpe Hen Harrier ringtail, Scaup fem, Frampton Marsh Iceland Gill at Manby Flashes east of Louth 14/1 2 Scaup, 1 ad fem, 1w drk, North Hykeham pits 3 Great White Egrets, Tattershall Bridge Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh Glaucous Gull juv on beach north of Churchill Lane, flew north, Theddlethorpe Scaup ad drk, Deeping Lakes 3 Hawfinches, Normanby Hall Country Park Pale-bellied Brent Goose*, Gibraltar Point 15/1 Mealy Redpoll on feeder, Park Road, Willingham-by-Stow Red-crested Pochard, Frampton Marsh Bittern, Boultham Mere, Lincoln Bittern*, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 4 Russian White-fronted Geese flew south past pumping station, Torksey Lock 15 Russian White-fronted Geese (all ads) Croft Marsh near Gibraltar Point 16/1 28 Snow Buntings on beach between Churchill Lane and Brickyard Lane, 48 Twite, Jack Snipe in outer dunes, Saltfleetby Tundra Bean Goose at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 17/1 Scaup, 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, over saltmarsh, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 5 Snow Buntings at reservoir, Freiston Shore Great White Egret at Alderfen, Wroot 16 Russian White-fronted Geese at Croft Marsh, then flew west, Gibraltar Point Waxwing in Louth garden 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. 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 12/1/2018 House sparrow m with white tail feathers still with local flock. 6 Collared Doves CHAPEL PITS 10/01/18 Dave Miller Blackbird 2 Black-headed Gull 1 Blue tit 4 Cetti’s Warbler 1 Chaffinch 1 Goldcrest 3 – including a male clearly showing off his orange crown. Goldfinch 1 Great Tit 2 Magpie 3 – including a pair already defending a nest. Redwing 1 Teal 2 Water Rail 1 Woodpigeon 2 Wren 3 Roe Deer 1 EAST HALTON SKITTER TO GOXHILL HAVEN (and return) (Grid reference TA1423 to TA1225) 14/1/2018 Jon Drakes An early morning walk along the bank of the River Humber between East Halton Skitter and Goxhill Haven found the following species present: Barn Owl 1 Bearded Tit 3 Black Tailed Godwit 15 Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch 1 Buzzard 2 Carrion Crow Chaffinch Coot 1 Cormorant 2 Curlew 117 Dunlin 186 Fieldfare Goldeneye 20 Great Black Backed Gull 4 WeBS HOLYWELL LAKE 13th January 2018 10.20 -11.30 Ian Misselbrook and Dens Toomy Little grebes 15 Little Egrets 2 Black Swan 1 Canada Geese 29 Mallard 141 Wigeon 74 Gadwall 14 Teal 2 Tufted Duck 36 Moorhen 12 Coot 2 Bh Gulls 9 Nuthatch 2 Redwings 20 HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 5/1/2018 Mistlethrush 1 Wren 1 6/1/2018 Blue tits 2 Great tits 2 Long tailed tits 4 9/1/2018 Great tits 2 Song thrush 1 Wrens 2 12/1/2018 Chaffinch 2 Dunnocks 2 Pheasant 1 14/1/2018 Song thrush 1 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 13/1/18 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch f or the BTO in our back garden were: Blackbird 3 Black-headed Gull 1 Chaffinch 1 Collared Dove 12 Dunnock 4 Greenfinch 1 House Sparrow 15 Robin 1 Starling 5 Woodpigeon 1 Tree Sparrow 1 Wren 1 SPENDLUFFE MEADOWS 09/01/2018 Dave Miller Blackbird 14 Blue Tit 3 Crow 1 Chaffinch 6 Fieldfare 2 Goldfinch 1 Great Tit 2 Greenfinch 1 House Sparrow 2 Linnet 7 Pied Wagtail 1 Robin 1 Snipe 2 Starling 14 STALLINGBOROUGH – HOBSON WAY (Grid reference TA2113) Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst at work during the week included: 8/1/2018 Black-Headed Gull Carrion Crow Herring Gull Lesser Black Backed Gull 7 Mistle Thrush THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 03/01/18 Blackbird x 11 Dunnock x 3 Golden Plover x 8 Great Tit x 2 Little Egret x 1 Moorhen x 1 Starling x 38 07/01/18 Little Egret x 3 SK989788 Pink-footed Goose x 160 west over Thurnholmes 12/01/18 Blackbird x 7 Common Buzzard x 2 Dunnock x 3 Fieldfare x 17 Goldfinch x 25 Kestrel x 1 Little Egret x 1 SK989788 Red Legged Partridge x 2 Redwing x 3 Stock dove x 4 Wood Pigeon x 12 15/01/18 Little Egret x 4 SK989788 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 10th January – 17th January 2018 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Nige Lound & Matt Blissett   Daily Notes and Wildlife Sightings The past few days have been dull, cold and dismal with low cloud and mist/fog, precipitation mainly from drizzle or light rain although there has been the occasional heavy shower.   Over recent days’ robin, great tit and song thrush have been singing and a tawny owl calling strongly in the Churchill Lane area. Over the past week an increase of fieldfares with c120 on the NNR and another 130 on various local grass fields. Blackbirds have also increased with c50 in the Churchill Lane to Brickyard lane area, and currently 9 feeding on my home lawn when the bird food is put out. Also 12 chaffinches and 1 great spotted woodpecker which takes a fair lot of peanuts but is a delight to see, along with blue, great and long tail tits, dunnocks, robins, woodpigeon and pheasant, so should have a good total for the big garden birdwatch on 27/28 Jan.   Interesting to note from John the sightings of thrushes in the Churchill lane area. Between Sea View and Paradise nothing noted possibly due to lack of food source with berries now depleted. 100118 - Thick fog and low cloud hampered viewing today! 2 stonechat and 2 jack snipe were seen at Rimac. A weasel seen hunting around the workbase at Sea View.   120118 - 5 Lapland bunting were on the saltmarsh at Rimac. A juvenile glaucous gull and 34 barnacle geese flew north. 300 pinkfeet flew south. 120 common scoter, 24 red-throated diver and 14 great-crested grebe were offshore.   140118 – Robin and blue tit in song and in flower aconites and snowdrops all near Sea View, 18 lapwing seen to fly off the saltmarsh area from Rimac and fly inland.   150118 – 13 Little egrets feeding together in wet pasture near Sea View. 2 stonechat still at Rimac.   160118 – 2 Mistle thrushes near Sea View plus occasional long-tailed tits, great and blue tits, robins and chaffinches … otherwise fairly quiet. Over the sea were 24 red-throated diver, 3 great-crested grebe and 200 common scoter. Between BYL and CL were 28 snow bunting and 48 twite. A jack snipe was flushed from the outer dune here also ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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. 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 Webpages: Hare coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ Wildlife Crime 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 Lincolnshire Rooks; Living in the shadow of Ash dieback by Andrew Chick 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. uptonvilla - hard bounce - Recipient Undeliverable lynn nocton – soft bounce - recipient failed permanently 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..... Last British Dambuster: 'I'd do it again' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-42713742/last-british-dambuster-i-d-do-it-again Lincolnshire Police issue drone safety warning http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-42647691/lincolnshire-police-issue-drone-safety-warning Lincolnshire landowner says cow 'could have choked' on beer can ring http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42665117 Bayeux Tapestry to be displayed in UK for the first time http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42713552 Black Death 'spread by humans not rats' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-4269057 Country diary: midwinter has its own discreet beauties https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/06/country-diary-gwynedd-midwinter-discreet-beauties Country diary: the thatch is buzzing with sleepy flies https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/05/country-diary-devon-thatch-sleepy-flies Country diary: we have reached an arrangement with our mole https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/04/country-diary-claxton-norfolk-moles Country diary: limestone heath is a piece of ecological magic https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/08/country-diary-limestone-heath-calcicoles-calcifuges-somerset#comment-110544874 Insect declines: new alarm over mayfly is ‘tip of iceberg’, warn experts https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/11/insect-declines-new-alarm-over-mayfly-is-tip-of-iceberg-warn-experts Scientists have accidentally found the oldest ever butterfly or moth fossils https://theconversation.com/scientists-have-accidentally-found-the-oldest-ever-butterfly-or-moth-fossils-90029 Country diary: a marsh harrier causes havoc among the wildfowl https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/12/country-diary-farlington-marshes-hampshire-return-hunting-harrier Country diary: the deadly beauty of spider silk https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jan/16/country-diary-deadly-beauty-of-spider-silk ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/