Past and Present

Last updated May, 2010.

Newsletter – Spring/Summer - 2010

Jackie Kirk ~ Editor

Chairperson’s Natter

Our Spring and Summer programme has more events than ever this time round so let’s hope we have some good sunny rain free days to enjoy wildlife and ourselves. We have gone for a couple of events at some distance but also several local events for you to enjoy with our experts.

Ray Hume and John Nelson will help you improve your knowledge of birds and Clifford Jukes, Mark Tyszka and Mike Binnion will heighten your interest in Lincolnshire’s flora. Mark, as our Group’s Records Officer for the Trust, is hoping you will turn out with him to survey orchids and other wild flowers on Nettleton Hill and trees and shrubs in People’s Park here in Grimsby.

We are very happy to see Jackie Kirk; our Secretary back with us after her punctured lung was operated on. Thankfully Jackie seems to have made a good recovery and was back in time to host our fund raising quiz at St. Giles Church Hall in late January.

Paul Learoyd, the L.W.T. Chief Executive surprised us at our excellent February meeting when the Estate Manager of Sutton Estates, Chris Dowse spoke about Wildlife and Farming. Our Treasurer, Julie Wood was able to present Paul with a cheque of over £200 for the Trust. This was the profit from the quiz evening.

By the way be sure if you possibly can to be with us at Hall Farm, Stainton-le-Vale near Market Rasen to see how farming can benefit our wildlife.

Please note our annual fund raising concert is to be on Saturday 21st August at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church Hall. We would be grateful for any support before and after as well as your presence at the concert with ‘Blue Moon’.

Thank you for your support through another year.

Jennie Redpath.

December’s indoor meeting

When we arrived at Grimsby Town Hall, we were surprised to be put in the large Assembly Room with the plush chairs rather than our usual venue. Our speaker that evening was Claire Wilkinson, a local beekeeper.

Claire asked the assembled group for questions rather than giving a formal lecture and most people were happy to ask an apiarist any number of queries they had. Mrs Wilkinson passed a number of objects round the audience including raw Propolis which the bees get from the bark of trees and manufacture into a substance which is their communal immunity in the hive.

I was particularly interested as I take Propolis daily as a natural antibiotic with no known side effects. Afterwards Claire was doing a brisk trade in honey sales. Our usual festive refreshments were much enjoyed by those present. We send big thank you to all who contributed so generously, and our Thanks also to those who deputised for Jackie and her husband Dave on serving teas and coffees.

Jennie Redpath.

January 2010 indoor meeting

On January 11th, we welcomed back Phil and Gwen Phillips, local flora and photography experts. I don’t know why we had allowed so many years to tick by before we asked them to show us some of their exquisite close ups of such a variety of wild flowers and landscape views of their habitats.

This is even more remarkable when you see the isolated, wild and ragged terrain of many of these European plants. Phil Phillips and his wife have amazing knowledge and sprightliness. He is 88 years young and we didn’t ask his lady wife her age! They have already offered to come and show us a power point presentation of British Orchids in January 2011, all being well!

Jennie Redpath.

QUIZ 18^th January 2010

This was held in St. Giles large Hall. There was a very good turn out and all the tables filled. As it was only on the 12th January that I came out of hospital, the quiz was not as good as I had intended. I had done quite a bit of preparation before I became ill, but had not managed to put together a new music tape. I used one that I had done in the past for a pub quiz. It was not the right music for the audience.

Apart from that, the night went well and as well as items bought from our sales stall, we raised £206. Thank you everyone who attended. I would like to be asked in the future to do another quiz and will promise to do better! I would especially like to do a Christmas Quiz so watch this space.

Jackie Kirk

Monday 8th February

Our February meeting was entitled Farming and Wildlife and was well attended by around thirty people, including our Chief Executive, Paul Learoyd.

Chris Dowse came along to talk to us about Hall Farm, the L.E.A.F demonstration farm where he has been estate manager for around 15 years. LEAF stands for Linking Environment And Farming. The scheme was established to promote Integrated Farm Management. Hall Farm is part of Sir Richard Sutton's settled estates and is situated in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Chris told us that it is a mostly arable farm with field crops grown, a small flock of sheep and a herd of Lincoln Red cattle. He illustrated his talk with slides of the farm showing how it has developed over the years. Chris showed us how, over the years, the farm had increased its areas for wildlife, with corridors along the edges of fields.

They have fifteen Red List species of birds and their aim is to help those and others through overall management, which is consistent with profitable farming.

During the meeting our Treasurer, Julie Wood, presented a cheque for £206, which had been raised from our quiz, to Paul Learoyd for H.Q. General Fund. It was a most interesting evening and I look forward to the group visit later in the year.

Julie presents a cheque to Paul Learoyd for H.Q.

Jackie Kirk

Guided walk at Tetney Blow Wells. 14.02.10.

Nine visitors braved the weather for a walk around the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's nature reserve on Sunday afternoon 14th February, led by Clifford Jukes and Barry Whitehead. Three gadwalls were seen on one of the blow wells, along with a few mallard. Three hares were observed in a nearby field. Catkins, still tightly closed, were noticed on silver birch trees and great tits were seen and heard.

The bracing walk proved interesting and enjoyable but everyone was glad of the opportunity to have a hot drink with cake, afterwards in church.

The next Blow Wells guided walk will be held on Easter Sunday afternoon, 4th April, starting from church at 2.00pm. All welcome.

Clifford Jukes

Tetney News, 20th February 2010.

Wildlife Watch/R.S.P.B. Wildlife Explorers met at Tetney on a cold but sunny Saturday afternoon, for a visit to Tetney Blow Wells. This event proved very popular with eleven children attending, but unfortunately birds were few in number, even before the children arrived!

The children were asked to compare the temperature of blow wells overflow water with that in the beck and the air temperature. Some were surprised to discover that the blow wells water temperature was 8-9degrees Centigrade, compared to 5deg C in the beck and an air temperature of 7deg C.

However it is an established fact that the blow wells water, which flows from underground chalk, has a fairly constant temperature, winter and summer, of around
10deg C.

Later, the children tested their observation skills along a trail of small man-made objects of differing colours and shapes, illustrating the importance of camouflage. Hares were looked for on neighbouring fields but, on this occasion, were absent.

For further information on other events, please phone * .

Clifford Jukes.

* Please see NOTE: at the foot of this page.

Slug Workshop ~ 8th March 2010

It was with some trepidation, I think, that quite a few of the 25 who turned up to see and hear Mollusc expert Chris de Feu tell us all about slugs. Yellow slugs (Limax Flavus)

Chris de Feu examines a specimen

I was not the only one who had difficulty finding some for collection. The weather had been very cold and the ones I found were very small. Despite that we had a good collection.

Chris told us some very interesting facts about the 38 different species of slugs. I was surprised to learn that not all of them are garden pests. He illustrated his talk with slides and after a break he then examined the specimens brought in.

Everyone checks out the slugs

Quite a few of us surrounded him to hear about their finds. My specimens were Budapest slugs and one racing slug. It turned out to be a very interesting and informative evening and we all thanked Chris for coming to talk to us.

Jackie Kirk

Tetney News ~ 13th March 2010

Wildlife Watch & R.S.P.B. Wildlife Explorers met at Swaby on a fine sunny Saturday afternoon, for a 3-mile walk with leaders, Clifford and Eileen Jukes, Mary Orphanoudakis, Chris Hill and Barry Whitehead.

Children aged 9-12 were accompanied by parents/grandparents. The group walked through the village to Swaby Valley, originally formed as a glacial overflow channel, where they saw several common 7-spot ladybirds, then a long-tailed tit close by. They walked beside the beautifully clear Swaby Beck, passing a fine exposure of chalk scree before entering a wooded area.

Here they discovered the long fallen leaves of sweet chestnut trees and competed in trying to find the longest. As they headed towards the Belleau Road a woodcock flew up.

A woodcock in the garden by Vic Adams

After passing the old Belleau Bridge Trout Farm they headed across the fields towards South Thoresby, passing a disused wind pump and noticing a very high brick wall around what used to be South Thoresby Hall.

Many Greylag Geese were grazing in the fields, along with some Canada Geese. After going as far as Swaby Church the group turned across wet meadows, back to Swaby Valley, where the children found time for a quick game of Pooh sticks from a footbridge. After crossing the bridge over the beck, they went steeply uphill above woodland, stopping to admire views of the valley and then Swaby, before descending towards a fishing pond, before returning to Swaby village. It was a splendid walk on a lovely day and enjoyed by all. For information on future events, please phone *.

* Please see NOTE: at the foot of this page.

Wildlife Watch and Pooh sticks at Swaby

Clifford Jukes

Taking a walk on the Wild Side ~ 20th March 2010

On Saturday afternoon, nine people ventured out, eager to discover more about a medieval village in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Clifford Jukes was our guide on a four-mile circular walk in Wold Newton. He pointed out the Worker's Cottages, which were named after the job that the person did, including Gardener's Cottage and Cowman's Cottage now named Garth Cottage since becoming privately owned (I didn't realise that a Garth Man looked after cows).

Snowdrops in the wood

Thousands of snowdrops were heralding the coming of spring as our walk took us past some woodland. By this time three more ladies had joined our group. While crossing the road before going up the valley we noticed lots of poor frogs had not been fortunate in their crossing, trying to reach a large pond. Their squashed remains were very visible and not a pleasant sight, but on passing a field of cows there was a baby calf standing next to its mother. New life evident there and Nature had come full circle.

Clifford pointed out the chalk in the farm buildings and the labour intensive hedges and described the medieval strip system of the fields. As we continued walking up the uncultivated valley that had sprung up naturally, the green arrow-shaped leaves of the wild arum could be seen coming through which thrives in ancient woodland. Beginnings of enchanter's nightshade were also spotted, as was the dog mercury, which in itself is an indication of old woodland.

These plants with their wonderful names created a medieval atmosphere on an overcast afternoon, with the imminent threat of heavy rainfall. Further along we passed a large house with a beautiful lake. As we passed through a farm gate, we disturbed a flock of 30 plus yellowhammers, who flew from the trees on to the dull land, where their bright little yellow heads were like nuggets of gold.

Around a dozen chaffinches were also seen, with their cheerful song filling the air. Clifford's knowledge is endless and he pointed out some fungi called King Alfred's cakes, which were well and truly burnt, growing on an Ash Tree; a hazel coppice with male catkins on the twigs, and only the female buds have little red hairs which are a good indication of the coming of spring.

Clifford shows the catkins

Some of the group ventured into the woodland to see the first signs of wood anemones and bluebells coming through. I spotted a woodpecker's nesting hole in one of the trees, which I recognised because one had been pointed out to me on a previous walk in Legbourne Woods.

Our walk took us along the Wanderlust Way and between the grey clouds we gazed on the panorama sprawling out below of Tetney Oil Drums to the right and Spurn Point, Bull and Haile Sands Fort, the boats on the River Humber, and even the multi-storey flats in Grimsby, just visible on the grey landscape, to the left.

Clifford said that we were standing on what used to be chalk cliffs, rather like Flamborough Head, with the frozen sea below. Our walk took us past badger's setts and made me long to return at nightfall to try to catch a glimpse of these wonderful nocturnal animals.

Hedges of early blackthorn with a hint of the blossom to follow were seen. Mixed among was ivy still covered in purplish-black fruits, so providing valuable food for the birds?

Ivy berries – food for the birds?

It was only when we were almost back at the start of our walk that the heavens well and truly opened! We all thanked Clifford for a most informative and enjoyable walk, and I for one, cannot wait for the next one.

Julie Harrison

Snippets from various places
by Mark Tyszka Wildlife Records Officer

For gardeners [and everyone else]:

Summer is here and we need to sow, re-pot, and transplant - all in new compost.

The Yorkshire Post trumpets: "Gardeners are to face new official pressure to try to stop them buying peat-based compost, because they have failed to hit a government target."

The target was 90% reduction. In 1999 the digging of peat on Hatfield Moors was stopped, there was massive publicity, and our Trust joined in the effort. But we only reached 55% reduction, so this time we have to try harder. Where once they mined peat for gardeners, there is now the vast, new Humber Peat lands NNR, recovering its wildlife (slowly) - we had a trip there last year.

"The government campaign is directed at the bagged products used by amateur gardeners (I know none of you are 'amateurs!'), who account for two thirds of our peat consumption" ~ Yorkshire Post.

There are at least twenty alternatives on the market so we need to check the labels on the bag before we buy (and don’t be sidetracked by imported peat – that only destroys rare peat lands in Poland).

So help to save the wild marsh pimpernel and water spider!

For walkers [and nearly everyone else]:

Rex Russell, the great Barton historian, taught us so many things. One of the first was counting flowers on a walk; just for fun and to make any walk interesting.

When we first started, on Barnetby Green Lane, we managed only twelve different flowers: daisy, buttercup, and elder. Next time we managed fifteen. (I still have these lists, some on envelopes].

When you come across a strange one, don’t pick it, carry a flower book instead to help you identify. (Collins Gem Guide "Wild Flowers" ~ 3"x 4" – Amazon.co.uk second hand - 1penny + £2.75 p&p.) Get the one by Marjorie Blamey 1980, the finest British illustrator; it also has a key to the flower shapes.

You will have a book of art in your pocket. I think counting flowers is easier than birds, but if you are good on birds already, try flowers in July and August when birds are hiding. And of course send me a list, (with your name, place, date by e-mail or phone or using a stamp)

For Rabbit lovers?

In spring I had an urgent telephone call. "I think it is a pine martin on the A18"

I shot out, thinking, "How did it get here from Scotland?"

After photographs, measurements, e-mails, and reports, the answer came from Edinburgh: it was a fiendish 'feral ferret with polecat characteristics,' a polecat-ferret or a fummard to any true Lincolnshire yellow-belly, a rare record.

Polecat? Ferret? Fummard?

There have been 25 Lincolnshire sightings in 2008 of Polecat-ferrets. Chris Manning in Lincolnshire Naturalist 2009: "Nationally, the polecat is re-colonising the U.K. from its Welsh stronghold."

So, in between walking, spotting flowers, (and while driving), keep an eye out for a brown, ferrety, weasly animal, with a black and white face like a panda, sprinting across your path. It could be a polecat. Ring Chris Manning: 01507 357070 L.N.U. Mammal recorder for help.

Tetney News 4th April

The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust held a guided walk around its Tetney Blow Wells reserve on Easter Sunday afternoon, with wardens, Clifford Jukes and Barry Whitehead as guides.

In spite of black clouds overhead, the weather kept fine and 36 people, including six children, came. Firstly they were taken into Tetney Churchyard to see the primrose flowers, where Clifford explained the difference between the two types of flower, the pin-eyed and thrum-eyed.

They also admired a large patch of violets in flower. On arrival at the Blow Wells, the visitors were divided into two groups to be taken around the reserve in opposite directions. They were shown the brick-red catkins of black Italian poplar, blackthorn blossom, just starting to appear, and an early clump of cowslip flowers.

Most people heard chiffchaff calling and some saw a green woodpecker and a great spotted woodpecker, also a kestrel. After the walk, many from the group enjoyed a hot drink and piece of cake in church where they viewed the Easter flowers and paper sculptures.

Past and Present

Last updated January, 2010.

Newsletter – Winter – 2009/10

December 2008 - December 2009 has been a momentous year for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust celebrating 60 years, and President Ted Smith, who was so instrumental in setting up the Trust in our county of Lincolnshire is still with us at almost 90 years of age.

Your Area Committee and I thank you for supporting so many events that we have put on this year. Your entrance fees and donations have enabled Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Area Group to send £1,000 to the Trust's General fund during this year - much more than we have done for many years, so thank you. You are to be congratulated. Please do try and renew your subscriptions and recruit others to our cause if you can; the Trust has lost around 1,000 members across the County this past year and unfortunately this means a loss in revenue. Keep up the work of conservation for every one to enjoy.

Jennie Redpath, chairperson.

From our Records Officer November 2009:

It has been a fantastic year for wildlife in Northern Lincolnshire. I know this from all the reports I have received. So many eyes looking does make a big difference – we gain by learning from observing wildlife on our own patch and the Trust gains more data to give all of us the wider picture.

Let me try to give you a glimpse of the highlights:

Painted Ladies. Who could have predicted the billion strong (some reports say) migration of this beautiful migrant from N. Africa? What a surprise! I hope everyone saw at least some of them.

Harlequin Bugs. Another surprise was to see hundreds of these ‘super-predators’ on tombstones in Scartho Cemetery! We know from the press and TV that they are spreading northwards, but they were not supposed to have arrived here yet. These black and red monsters, larger than our native ladybirds, were feasting on greenfly from the falling sycamore leaves. (See http://www.harlequin-survey.org/) They appear in many variations of colour and pattern: red spots on black, black on red, yellow, orange. The dragon-like larvae have yellow spikes on their backs and the pupae stand on their heads! Within a week I found some in Keelby and had a report about them from Stallingborough. Did they appear anywhere else? Please let me know the date and place if you have seen them

Shaggy Soldier is an insignificant rarity**, like a tiny feverfew, not seen in Grimsby before; there are only three other places in northern Lincolnshire where it occurs. But Neil, our rarity hunter, found it hiding behind Grimsby Town Railway Station. He sent me a scan of it. I am not sure why I get so few notes about plants. They stay in one place and the flowers are eye-catching. Maybe in spring look for Wild Violets or Hazel catkins (don’t miss the scarlet female flowers on the same branch). If you want to see and smell Sweet Violets, come to Limber and find the small wood opposite the new cottages on the edge of the village.

Cuckoo. So far I have received twelve reports of birds walks in Tetney Blow Well NR, and by email, from Stephen Crossfield. Thanks Stephen! On 28th May he saw two Cuckoos and heard a third one – what a record! To put that into context – on the same day The Guardian said about the Cuckoo, "A shocking 37% decline since the mid-1990s." And later in 2009, the B.T.O. Lincs Newsletter declared, "Cuckoo joins the growing Red List of the UK’s most threatened birds." How sad - I have not heard one in Keelby for five years. [Note to myself: end of May is the time to visit Tetney Blow Wells!] Nature is full of surprises.

Thank you for all your reports, photographs and specimens. The records will all now be sent to the Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre. Please do not stop looking at nature – almost all of it is still there, even in winter. Keep sending me records: What, When, Where and How Many you saw. Send any pictures by e-mail, or ring and I will come and look at it with you.

Mark Tyszka - email: mark.tyszka@tiscali.co.uk

Walk around Benniworth Moor L.E.A.F Farm "Skirbeet Farm"
12th September 2009 worked by Mr. And Mrs. Olivant.

We were met and greeted by Kay in her usual friendly, helpful manner in the car park. On our preferred route, we soon passed a "pond dipping" area, well signed – as are several other points of interest throughout the two and a half hour stroll.

There are numerous ponds/lakes, (when does one become the other?), each with their own habitat, including "bulrushes", flag irises etc, an abundance of wild flora along with a great variety of trees and shrubs within the copses and hedges separating the fields. All these with berries, including crab apples, brambles (thoughts of bramble and apple pies!), rose hips, haws, elderberries, rowan etc., all in profusion along with many types of thistle and other such plants/crops, providing a variety of food for birds and insects.

We observed hare, rabbits, buzzards, kestrel, lapwings, goldfinches, and the usual Corvus varieties, thousands of butterflies, moths, dragonflies (one soon became quite blasé), lots of bees, wasps and other insects/beetles going about their life/business pollinating and feeding. The small number attending enjoyed the outing, in near perfect weather conditions

Colin Rushby

Fungus Foray Linwood Warren 25th September

Market Rasen boasts a nationally known racecourse and next to it, a golf course. Opposite the golf course, on a minor road leading to Legsby, is Linwood Warren. It has been put to a variety of uses over the years, including practice trenches for the First World War, (see Linc's Wildlife Trust page on Linwood Warren).

On a beautiful September afternoon, ten people arrived at Linwood Warren to be met by Ray Halstead, our leader, and Jackie Freeman, a volunteer warden at the reserve. Ray said he did not know if we would find many fungi, as the weather had been so dry lately.

This soon proved to be not the case, and Ray's first find was a puffball (Cep or Boletus Edulinus, sometimes known as Yorkshire pudding). It was a lovely specimen and we could see why it might be known as Yorkshire pudding from its shape. The next find by Jackie was a sulphur tuft. This lives on any wood and destroys dead trees. A lot of them grow in rings (sometimes known as fairy rings). Ray told us that they take the nutrients from the soil and then expand the ring for the next year.

We then found milk cap (Collybia Maculata). Ray was not sure which of the family this particular one was so he placed it into his trug to go home to be identified later from his mycology books. It grows under conifers, which had been cut down at the reserve, and when a tiny piece was broken off it exuded white sap looking like milk.

Not long after we had started our walk, a lady from Lincoln joined us, and was very interested in our finds. Ray then told us about the oak apple that one of our group found next. The oak apple is a gall made by a gall wasp, and grows on oak trees. We could see the small hole where the insect had exited the gall and when Ray cut it open we could see inside where the insect had lived - so fascinating!

With Ray and Jackie's help we found a Brown Roll rim (Paxillus Involutus), with the rolled rim evident when turned over, and then the earth ball (Schleroderma Citrinum), which is similar to the puffball. Ray cut it open and millions of spores spilled out showing how they are spread. During our walk we found lots of Birch Russula (the tops of which are a lovely reddish colour). These grow under Silver Birch, which are in abundance on the reserve. We found razor-strop fungus (Piptoporous betulinus), which only grows on Silver Birch. Ray told us that it was used like a strop for sharpening cutthroat razors in times gone by.

As we walked further round the wood we came across Hoof fungus, or Tinder fungus (Fomes Fomentarius) so called as it looks like an animals hoof growing on the side of a tree.

It was called Tinder fungus as nomadic tribes took it with them from camp to camp for lighting fires. Our next find was the false death cap (Ammonita Citrinum). This is similar in shape to the very poisonous death cap, which grows near Oak trees. We learned that fungi recycle trees and insects recycle fungi so there was a lot of recycling going on at Linwood!

We saw lots of woodpecker holes in the trees on our way round and lots of the beautiful red-topped Russula. There were several unidentified species, which Ray said that he would take home and check. There was a lot of leaf litter underfoot as we walked around and lovely autumn colours everywhere.

We heard a blackbird chattering in the trees and as we came towards the end of our walk we spotted some really giant specimens of Boletus (Cep). Ray proceeded to pick them, helped by a couple from the group, and reminded us that they are edible and asked if anyone wanted them for tea. I'm sure they made a delicious meal for the couple that took them home.

We were only disappointed that we didn't find any Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria), the one most children know from stories, the one with the red and white spots that are home to fairies, aren't they? *

As we got back to the car park we all thanked Ray and Jackie for a really informative and interesting afternoon in glorious weather. Ray said that he hoped we had all learned a little, which we all agreed on whole-heartedly. I personally learned a lot as I had always thought of fungi as just wild mushrooms and not very interesting. I was very pleasantly surprised and had a great time.

Jackie Kirk

* You obviously weren't looking hard enough, Jackie! ;-) ............

Sunday afternoon 11th October 2009

Clifford and Barry led a guided walk around Tetney Blow Wells. A popular event, it was attended by thirty people, including three children. Half the people were visiting the reserve for the first time and went away with membership forms.

Autumn fruits noticed were hornbeam, maple, sycamore, rose, hawthorn and burdock. Late flowers included creeping thistle, hogweed, herb Robert, water forget-me-not, and yarrow. In Blow Well 4, a few flowers remained on the water violets, which have not had a good year, being fewer in number than previous years.

Two hares were seen in a field to the south of the reserve, one sitting motionless and the other amazing everyone by the speed at which it ran across the field. Many common darter dragonflies frequented the old cress beds.

One of the boys in the group discovered an old nest of a reed warbler. A successful and enjoyable afternoon, after which, many took advantage of the light refreshments on offer at the church.

Clifford Jukes

Monday 12th October 2009

Sixty years on from its foundation as the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Trust, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is the leading nature conservation charity with around a hundred nature reserves and over 25,000 members. The most tangible evidence of the achievements of the Trust can be seen in those nature reserves, which protect every type of habitat.

For the first indoor meeting of this season we welcomed David Robinson O.B.E., the Hon. Secretary of the Trust, to give his talk "60 years of the Trust". A good turnout of 35 people listened intently as David told about how it started. He illustrated his talk with photographs taken over the years at different reserves around the county.

Gibraltar Point was our first nature reserve and, as well as changes in the landscape, we were shown how the visitors' centre has grown and developed. David talked about how the land has been managed and showed the successes the Trust has had as well as telling us about the very few failures where the Trust was not able to buy new reserves.

His descriptions of Dole Wood and Tortoiseshell Wood made me want to visit immediately. He showed pictures of almost every reserve in the county and it was a very inspiring talk which made me want to visit many more of the reserves. David paid tribute to all the members and volunteers, and reminded us that it is our contributions that help keep the Trust working.

At the end of David's talk, Colin Rushby thanked him on behalf of us all. Our Treasurer, Julie Wood, and Secretary, Jackie Kirk, then presented David with a cheque for £700 for Trust funds, which had been raised from various events throughout the year.

Jackie told everyone that the Grimsby/Cleethorpes group had been the first to present a cheque to Paul Learoyd in the Jubilee year and was now doing so again to David as the year comes to a close. David said he would pass the cheque onto the finance officer. He ended by reminding us that he had brought copies of Ted Smith's memoir "Trustees for Nature", and the Milestones booklet, with him for sale. We all thanked David for a very entertaining evening.

Jackie Kirk

Three months later at Messingham

On 13th October, the day after our first indoor meeting of the season, I paid a visit with my husband to Messingham Sand Quarry. I had visited in July with our group but Dave has never been there before.

I identified swans and coots on the lake, but was not sure which geese and other water birds that I was seeing as I am still very much a novice. When we got to the clearing, I didn't recognise what had been there in July. I remembered that we went down to look at the beautiful orchids (Dune Helleborine and Marsh Helleborine). The ground was now rather boggy and you would never know that the orchids had been there. It just shows how nature moves on through the seasons.

We sat on one of the many benches around the reserve for our cup of coffee, and while we sat in the warm autumn sun, a dragonfly landed on Dave's jumper. I was able to photograph it, and it then landed on our map that was laid out on the grass so I was able to take another snap. We spent a lovely morning and Dave said he was very impressed with Messingham. He thought it was his best reserve visit so far, and wants to go back soon.

After taking care of some business in Scunthorpe and having lunch, we went off to Far Ings. We walked around the reed beds and then sat at the picnic benches for a cup of coffee and watched magpies and finches feeding as the sun started to go down. It was a most enjoyable day, with the hope of many more

Jackie Kirk

Bird Watching at the Fitties

On a rather unpromising Saturday morning, twenty brave souls turned up at the Humberston Fitties car park for a bird walk led by Ray Hume who, from a child, has been interested in the environment and especially in the lifestyles and calls of birds.

Ray is especially good at recognising bird songs even if the bird remains hidden and indeed not all of the thirty or so species that were heard that morning were seen. The morning of the 24th of October was misty with slight drizzle as we motored to the rendezvous. A bracing wind was also present which caused some to regret not bringing a hat and gloves with them.

Ray drew our attention to the board the R.S.P.B. had erected by the salt marsh lagoon. This indicated what we might expect to see. Then we went over the top and down onto the beach where a variety of waders – Oystercatcher, Godwit, Redshank, Ring Plover and a Cormorant - were spied feeding at the edge of the high tide line. We came not long after it had passed, Ray suggesting watching waders feed on this slightly shelving coast is best done just after an extra high tide.

Back to the lagoon and some shelter from the elements where most avians seen were either Gulls (most kinds) or ducks. Ray got very excited at seeing nine Little Grebe bobbing on the shallow water at the same time. The walk continued along the lagoon edge.

Our attention was drawn to an old nest in the hedgerow of the adjoining field, probably belonging formerly to a Goldfinch or a Linnet. Then we moved on between the chalet bungalows and caravans of Thorpe Park and our expectations were met when we saw a number of common birds hopping or flying around the gardens – Robin, Starling, Pigeon, Crow, Dunnock, Sparrow, Bluetit and Wren – and a rarer one the Redpoll. Linnets fluttered out of the rosehip hedge where they had been feeding as we passed.

Back to the beach, this time on the other side of the Yacht Club for one more chance to gaze at the receding sea and the avian feeder before getting back into the cars for home and the warm.

Jennie Redpath

A Bird walk looking for waders

On Saturday 14th November, seventeen hardy souls met at the Cleethorpes Discovery Centre for our walk with John Nelson. It was a very windy morning so it was pleasing how many people turned out.

We started our walk along the Boating Lake with the Mallard ducks all around us. John told us that the male mallard has a green head and the female a brown head and orange beak, but there are several variations in colour where they interbreed. They are common, along with the Greylag Geese that always seem to looking for something to eat.

We then saw tufted ducks on the lake and a scaup, one of the rarest ducks to breed in the U.K. according to the R.S.P.B. It is similar in appearance to the tufted ducks and is a diving duck as are the tufted ducks. There were also coot and moorhen on the lake.

At the end of the boating lake we crossed and then walked along Buck Beck to the outfall. We weren't seeing a lot of birds along the beck and thought that the wind had sent them looking for cover, although we did see a Little Grebe.

We were hoping to see a Kingfisher at the outfall as it had been seen there recently but we weren't lucky. Our first sight when we got across the path was a Little Egret. John told us that these used to be rare but we are now seeing more and more in the area. It seems that they first appeared in significant numbers in the U.K. in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996.

Walking along the beach we saw a heron, and a curlew. The sun was brightly shining by then and we were out of the wind so it was very pleasant. A flock of linnets weaved overhead and quite a few of the party followed them with binoculars. We also saw shelduck, lapwing, robin, magpie, black-headed gull and reed bunting.

Starlings coming in from the continent for the winter passed by us and as we walked along the beach towards the leisure centre we all trained binoculars on the Brent geese that were in abundance on the shoreline. Even though we did not see too many waders we had a most enjoyable morning and all thanked John Nelson for leading us.

Jackie Kirk

Wildlife Watch Events

12th September. Our N.E.Lincolnshire Group met in Tetney churchyard at 8 p.m. for a bats and moths evening. We welcomed Vivienne Booth from the Bat Conservation Group. She started by showing the children some pipistrelle bats, all safely caged, which she was nursing back to health under license.

Everyone was amazed at how small the bats were, as they look so much bigger when flying. She showed the children how to use bat detectors, enabling them to hear bats before seeing them flying overhead. Afterwards the group visited a garden along Church Lane, where a moth lamp had been running. Although it was a fine, mild evening, it did not suit the moths, possibly because the sky was too clear. Only one large and one small yellow underwing were found. Steve and William Meek were thanked for their efforts on our behalf.

3rd October The Group met on Cleethorpes beach by the Meridian car park, to look for seashore life with Barry Whitehead, assisted by the regular group leaders. Mary Porter, Wildlife Watch Organiser for the Trust was welcomed, having come to visit the group.

Dipping a channel with small nets yielded bullheads or gobies and small shore crabs, and then Barry demonstrated digging for lugworms and managed also to find small rag worms. He then followed the tide out towards sunken wrecks where he demonstrated the use of his very large push-net, bringing his catch ashore for the children to examine.

It was immediately apparent that the sea was teeming with life, including brown shrimps, fairy shrimps, a pipefish, two hermit crabs and a sand eel, together with many small flatfish and more gobies. A short distance away, he was able to show everyone small tubeworms protruding from nearby sand. All, in spite of a long trek back against the wind, had a great time.

Clifford Jukes

Accounts of previous years' events have been transferred to:

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