============================================ || || The Lincolnshire Wildlife News Bulletin || *** 22nd February 2009 *** || || LNU Website: http://www.lnu.org/ || || "News of Lincolnshire's Wildlife" || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Readers hints, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. News from the Lincolnshire Coast NNRs 5. News from Far Ings NNR 6. News from Lincolnshire Limewoods NNR 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Roger Goy's UK Wildlife Hotline 10. Notes about these wildlife reports 11. Bulletin publicity policy 12. Events Diary ....and finally..... ============================================ The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Bulletin now goes to 860 addresses each week and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. Note: Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please make contact via the LNU Website: http://www.lnu.org/ or e-mail wildlifenews@lnu.org, or contact the Editor to join up and contribute articles or reports. [Or cancel!] E-mail: rparsons@enterprise.net ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bulletin Holdups *** Recent problems with my ISP have called for drastic action. I posted last week's Bulletin on http://rogerparsons.info/bulletin2009feb15 and will post this one on http://rogerparsons.info/bulletin2009feb22 If this works OK I will continue to do this until my email difficulties are resolved. Let me know if you like this alternative system, as it may offer a way forward. Roger *** Moths Count *** Lesley Robinson (BC Lincolnshire Branch Sec.) writes: Butterfly Conservation is repeating the year-long online survey of the migrant Humming-bird Hawk-moth and Painted Lady butterfly. This is live on the Butterfly Conservation web site now (www.butterfly-conservation.org) – accessed via the moving image in the top left corner of the homepage. There is a very simple and easy to use recording process, including zoom-in satellite images enabling members of the public to pinpoint their sightings accurately. The results of the 2008 survey are also there: despite it being a poor year for migrant Lepidoptera, Butterfly Conservation received over 1000 sightings from all over the UK. *** 3 Months Free Membership *** Butterfly Conservation is offering new members 15 months' membership subscription for the price of 12 - that's 3 months free when you join online by Direct Debit (annually or monthly). This is an opportunity to belong to the charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats. Benefits include: • A new members pack • Butterfly, our exclusive magazine three times a year • Butterfly identification guide • Local Branch membership • Access to butterfly reserves To become a member, simply go to http://www.butterfly-conservation.org and choose the Online (Direct Debit) payment method on the home page. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you encounter any problems or have any questions about this offer then *** Trent Aegir 2009 *** Karin Negoro writes: This year’s forecast includes four 3-star events, on the mornings of Saturday and Sunday, 23 and 24 August, and Sunday and Monday, 20 and 21 September. For a full printable/downloadable listing from the Environment Agency, go to: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/timetable_2-Trent.pdf *** South Lincs Local group R.S.P.B. *** South Lincs Local Group R.S.P.B. meetings: Sam Newsom Music Centre, Boston Thursday 26th February at 7-30 p.m. Illustrated Talk entitled "A new approach to Bird ID" by Terry Bond. Do you need help to identify that little brown job that flits in and out of cover before you can get your binoculars anywhere near it? Come and listen to Terry's unique method, developed over 45 years of birding and photography and improve your i/d skills. Admission - Members £2-00, non members £3-50, children at half price. Boston Cemetery, Marian Road, Boston. Saturday 28th February at 10-00 a.m. Join us in the car park at Boston Crematorium, for a stroll round the cemetery, taking in the older part and the perimeter walk round the Crematorium gardens. We shall be looking at the early spring flowers which should be blooming, and searching for birds establishing breeding territories in the very mature wooded areas. Local members will be on hand to help locate and identify the various species. If you have some binoculars, plases do bring them along. There will be no charge for this event. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Birdnews from FOCALPOINT *** UPDATED DETAILS. Sign up for local and national news for only £15 p.a. with text messaging also available, details of this and other services at www.fpoint.co.uk 15/2/09] LINCS Tundra Bean Goose btw Donna Nook & Howden's Pullover 7.45am with Whooper Swan. LINCS Dark-breasted Barn Owl. Howdens Pullover, 8.55am. 16/2/09 LINCS Tundra Bean Goose. bt Donna Nook & Howden's Pullover, 11.18pm opp highland cattle enclosure + Whooper Swan. LINCS ad Rough-legged Buzzard. 5ml S.of Louth, noon btw Farforth & Scamblesby nr Rowgate Hill crossroads in tree on L.side of valley TF296785. 17/2/09 LINCS Tundra Bean Goose. bt Donna Nook & Howden's Pullover, noon opp highland cattle enclosure + Whooper Swan. 19/2/09 LINCS 2 ringtail Hen Harrier. Rimac, noon over marsh + BTDiver S. LINCS 4 Green Sandpiper. Marston Swg Wks, 8am. We are very grateful to FOCALPOINT for allowing us to reproduce Lincolnshire Birdcall reports, and strongly encourage keen birders to sign up to receive these on a regular basis. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Roger Goy's Reports and News *** Roger Goy Wildlife Helpline National Service Tel 01522 544245 New Mobile 07880 528453 Website: www.wildlifehelpline.org.uk 17/2 Coltsfoot out Horncastle Lane Dunholme. Magpie taking nesting material into a Conifer in Scothern. Long Tailed Duck Barton-on-Humber on Boating Lake east of town. Ring Tailed Hen Harrier & Marsh Harrier Worlaby Carrs. Male Hen Harrier Pies Hall also a Greenshank. 16/2 Green Woodpecker calling Legbourne. Adult female Rough Legged Buzzard still in the Rowgate Crossroads area. 15/2 Tundra Bean Goose between Donna Nook and Howdens Pullover with Whooper Swans, also at Howdens a possible Dark Breasted Barn Owl. Song Thrush singing Woodstock Street area Lincoln. 14/2 Muntjac Deer in Canwick Road Cemetery Lincoln. Green Woodpecker & Little Owl Kirkby Moor Woodhall. 6/2 Hazel in catkin at Legbourne Primary School. Recently in Washingborough a male Sparrowhawk took a Long Tailed Tit, Robin & Blackbird. Recently in a Larne Road garden and area in Lincoln:- 5 Siskins on Nyjer feeder and upto a maxium of 29 Redpolls, Stock Dove and a Goshawk taking Rooks & J ackdaws in a Rookery. 9/2 6 Brown Hares in a field in the Rothwell area. 18/2 Pond full of croaking Frogs in Bracebridge Heath. Waxwing in Northfield Road Quarrington. 19/2 Skeins of Pink Footed Geese over:-Ingham, Coningsby,Waddington, West Rasen, Scothern & Woodhall Spa at least with a thousand seen over Woodhall. Tundra Bean Goose 2 miles north of Howdens Pullover car park with Whooper Swans, also a Ring Tailed Hen Harrier over the saltmarsh. 100 Twite Frampton Marsh near car park. Spotted Redshank Freiston Shore on lagoon also in area 2 Short Eared Owls, Merlin & Hen Harrier. 20 Waxwings in Scunthorpe by Stephen H Smith's garden centre but mobile. On River Welland between Spalding & Crowland a Black Swan with Mute Swans and a Bar Headed Goose with Grey Lag geese. *** 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 professionals. Thanks. SLEAFORD 17/02/09 Pat & Dave Hebblethwaite Skylark in full song above field to south of London Road. THE WASH Wash boat trip. Geof Lee Wash Boat Trip from Wisbech to Lynn Knock Buoy. Saturday, 14th February, 2009. Highlights. Fulmar - 1 Great crested grebe - 4 Guillemot - 6 Eider - 34 Sheld duck - 100+ Pod of 4 porpoises right alongside the boat. WILDMORE FEN - TF 216534 R & A Parsons w/e 21/2/09 Badger and fox signs in general fen area. w/e 21/2/09 Little Egret in area. Toads and newts on the move [road kills] WILLINGHAM FOREST 19/02/09 Colin Smith Moths to actinic light Chestnut 20 Dotted Border 2 March Moth 1 Pale Brindled Beauty 13 Satellite 1 Spring Usher 11 Tortricoides alternella 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. Lincolnshire Coast NNRs including RSPB Wash Reserves See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/birds/index.php http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lwt/seals/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT N.N.R. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/gib/index.php Katherine Bocock 15/02/2009 Hen Harrier 1 Snow Bunting 28 Waxwing 1 17/02/2009 Siskin 1 18/02/2009 Bullfinch 1 SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE NNR. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=41 John Walker No report this week. RSPB WASH Reserves - Frampton Marsh and Freiston Shore http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/index.asp http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/index.asp Paul French No report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. News from Far Ings NNR http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/far_ings/index.php ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR Week ending  19.2.09 BIRDS Max. Numbers = bittern 3 blackbird 50+ black headed gull 200+ blue tit  15 bullfinch 5 carrion crow 4 chaffinch 10 collared dove 6 common gull 6 coot 120+ cormorant 7 curlew 14 dunnock 6 fieldfare 8 gadwall 13 goldcrest goldeneye 11 golden plover 15 goldfinch 4 GBB gull 2 GC grebe 7 G S woodpecker great tit 7 greenfinch 2 grey heron 2 greylag goose 120+ herring gull 4 house sparrow 7 lapwing 50+ little grebe 7 long tailed tit 9 magpie 6 mallard 30+ marsh harrier  F meadow pipit 4 mistle thrush 2 moorhen 30+ mute swan 5 pheasant 2 pink footed goose 80 pochard 30 redshank 2 redwing 2 reed bunting 3 robin 12 shelduck 40 shoveler 60+ siskin 6 snipe 4 song thrush 2 sparrowhawk starling 10 tawny owl teal 8 tree sparrow 22 tufted duck 30+ water rail 2 wigeon 16 willow tit 2 woodcock 2 wood pigeon 12 wren 12 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. News from Bardney Limewoods NNR http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Limewoods/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports from the following locations will now be posted here to give an overview of Limewoods ecology. The NNR includes the following sites: Chambers Farm Wood (please detail specfic area when reporting e.g. Ivy Wood, Little Scrubbs Meadow etc); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood, Wickenby Wood Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridleway only) No report this week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire using modern Information and Communication Technology. 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 usually goes out on Sundays. Please e-mail in your contributions as early as possible to ensure they are included, 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 reediting: 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. Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let me know ASAP if any of these weblinks fail! *** 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! Anyone interested can get membership application forms via Tori Sandilands at the Lincs Wildlife Trust Horncastle office, e-mail vsandilands@lincstrust.co.uk LNU publications [listed on LNU website] may be ordered via: csmith@countrywidefarmers.co.uk *** Contacts List *** PC Nigel LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer - Community Safety Police HQ Deepdale Lane Nettleham Lincs LN57PH Tel 01522 558684 e-mail: nigel.lound@lincs.pnn.police.uk or Nige LOUND Wildlife Crime Officer County Police Station Sea Lane Ingoldmells Lincs PE24 44XX Tel: 01522 558684 *** Local Bat Helpline *** Gounded bats, bat problems, advice and information? Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: A.Faulkner@care4free.net *** Bat Recorder *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: A.Faulkner@care4free.net *** Butterfly Conservation Recorder *** Allan Binding asks contributors of butterfly records to the Bulletin to include their address or contact telephone or e-mail address and Grid Reference if possible. e-mail: allan.binding@ntlworld.com See: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/bfly/index.php *** LNU Bees and Wasps Recorder *** Dr Michael Archer 17 Elmfield Terrace, Malton Road, York YO31 1EH. [Willing to check or identify any aculeate wasp or bee specimen. Such a specimen usually has to be relaxed and mounted on a pin before it can be examined. If more than a few specimens are sent in, they must be mounted.] *** LNU Moths Gallery *** There is now a moth page on the LNU Website, to promote the recording of moths across the county. http://www.lnu.org/ Also see: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/species/hawkmoths/index.php *** LNU Plant Galls Recorder *** Graeme Clayton 2 The Dene Nettleham Lincoln LN2 2LS g.clayton@ntlworld.com Willing to check or identify any plant gall material. Recording forms www.british-galls.org.uk *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. You can telephone him on: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Lincolnshire Badger Group *** Geof White writes: If you have important information about badger activity or badger road casualties please e-mail the information to: kwibble@aol.com Alternatively telephone 01205 722355. *** Bird Club Recorder *** LBC County Bird Recorder Steve Keightley: steve.keightley@btinternet.com *** Other Useful Websites *** Key links are now being posted on the LNU website. http://www.lnu.org/ This should save space in the Bulletin, Check it out. Suggestions for other useful Websites are welcome. English Nature is now "Natural England" http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Still includes SSSI Information and "Nature on the Map" Lincolnshire Environmental Awards http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ Lincs. Wildlife Trust Website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Useful emergency numbers for wildlife crises. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/ Lincs Environmental Records Centre Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre newsletters can be downloaded from: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/ Development Officer, Margaret Haggerty's e-mail: mhaggerty@lincstrust.co.uk Tornado and Storm Research Organisation www.torro.org.uk Contact Ian Loxley on colarain@tiscali.co.uk RSPB Contact Details RSPB Website: www.rspb.org.uk www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: freistonshore@rspb.org.uk South Lincs RSPB Local group's website address: http://www.southlincsrspb.org.uk/ Bardney Limewoods www.limewoods.co.uk [New URL] limewoods@lincolnshire.gov.uk *** Harlequin Ladybird Survey *** To report your sightings: www.harlequin-survey.org/ *** Sir Joseph Banks *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society is based at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre in Horncastle and a programme of events has been arranged for both members and non-members. New members to the Society are always welcome. Contact 01507 528223 or by email: enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk. Latest newsletter and related articles are available on: www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Trent Aegirs *** Don't forget that the bore often comes up to half an hour before the expected time. www.environment-agency.gov.uk and go to Midlands link or search for 'Trent Aegir'. or try: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/timetable_2-Trent.pdf *** Before You Set Out. *** Check tide times on Admiralty EasyTide: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx Check the weather forecast for the location or postcode: http://www.theweatheroutlook.com/ *** Other Useful E-mail Addresses *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union: info@lnu.org Gibraltar Point: gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk Far Ings: farings@lincstrust.co.uk Whisby Nature Park: whisby@cix.co.uk NEW Syke's Farm: lwt@sykesfarm.org.uk Lincs. Trust HQ: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust main e-mail address: info@lincstrust.co.uk Lincolnshire FWAG: lincoln@fwag.org.uk Chambers Farm Wood NEW contact - Mary Porter Mary.porter@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Lincolnshire Bird Club Secretary - Janet Eastmead: janet.eastmead@talktalk.net Membership Secretary - Mike Harrison: michael@michaelharrison1.wanadoo.co.uk If you would like your e-mail listed here, please let me know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Roger Goy's UK Wildlife Hotline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Telephone : 01522-544245 New Mobile 07880 528453 Website: www.wildlifehelpline.org.uk E-mail: roger@wildlifehelpline.org.uk A 24 hour service covering the British Isles. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. 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 certain cases they are impossible to verify. If further information is needed on locations or reporters, or if you wish to question/confirm any of these records, contact: rparsons@enterprise.net For the more general wildlife information coming via Roger Goy: roger@wildlifehelpline.org.uk Bulletins are sent to Biological Recorders at the Lincs. Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen "in flower".] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We will not be giving precise details of the location of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. We ask that you respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report to national networks. Make a point of explaining site sensitivity and any restrictions on access. An interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly/thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12. Events Diary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Winter Meetings 2008 *** Saturday 21 March 2009 Following the AGM, the LNU's President Colin Smith will talk on the Lincolnshire's Lepidoptera. At Whisby Education Centre Moor Lane, Thorpe on the hill Start 2pm For 2009 LNU meetings also see section 12 below or www.lnu.org/events.php [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.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** The following address(es) gave an error message. I have deleted them from the mailing list. If you recognise any, please pass on a message - "Contact me if you wish to continue to receive the Bulletin." Thanks. Roger Mailfails helen.blenkharn rogerbirder ---------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons http://rogerparsons.info/