============================================= || || 16th December 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. Please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every LNU Bulletin. We really need your help with this. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Next big meteor shower - the Geminids - peaks Thu 13 – Fri 14 Dec 2018 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/geminid-meteor-shower The strangely-shaped Christmas tree on Bardney village green resembles a giant Sea Gooseberry. Look out for it when passing through at night: https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/2050 Some forecasts have been predicting snow for Christmas, but a lot could change by then. Keep an eye on this site. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/christmas-day Donna Nook Seal update : 07/12/2018 - 539 bulls, 767cows and 1533 pups Total number of pups to date: 2010 https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update If you are planning a visit to Donna Nook try to avoid weekends if you can and be prepared for traffic issues such as the one-way system and parking charges. The following link will tell you about the changes in the parking arrangements. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook As usual I have included a selection of local/topical links. Don't forget to click. Listen to the sound of wind on Mars! Wow! Nasa's InSight probe listens to Martian winds https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46489199 Boston boa constrictor slithers home https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-46499376 11 superb photographs from the 2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year people's choice award https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/11-superb-photographs-2018-wildlife-photographer-year-peoples-choice-award-189506 Amount of deep life on Earth quantified - mind boggling. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46502570 Call for women to take up jobs working with trees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-46466996 Ash dieback: ash woodlands 'may flourish once again' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46440389 Climate change: Warming made UK heatwave 30 times more likely https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46462014 Plans afoot to reintroduce White-tailed Eagle to the Isle of Wight https://www.birdguides.com/news/plans-afoot-to-reintroduce-white-tailed-eagle-to-the-isle-of-wight/ For the Palaeontologists and Geologists: very interesting... 'Digital museum' brings millions of fossils out of the dark https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-46502021/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46497406 Some more links in "..and finally..." Don't forget to click. Thank you for all your contributions this week. Please keep them coming. 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/ [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm.] Next Meeting ‘Bird Migration’ – 5th January 2019 Professor Ian Newton talks on bird migration. 2pm start. Joint talk with the Lincolnshire Bird Club *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" Chris Manning writes: Project Officer Kath Castillo at NHM has improved the accessibility of the LNU historic specimens; creating a collections ‘dataset’ on the NHM Data Portal. All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The digital herbarium sheet image data for the LNU historic specimens, plus associated images i.e. the newspaper packets, together with images for the contemporary Lincs specimens will all be pulled into the dataset as and when these are integrated into the museum’s EMu collections management system. It’s a fantastic online resource so please take the time to have a look through it. If you have any questions on this please get in touch with Kath at k.castillo@nhm.ac.uk or Fred Rumsey at f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** December Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Paul writes: I'm very proud that Nightscenes 2019 is in fact the 20th edition. I could never have imagined that a simple little booklet produced to help my WEA classes could take on a life of it's own and 20 years later still be in demand. You can order direct from the Astrospace web shop via the link below. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/shop/publications.html#NS2019 *** Bryophyte Meeting *** Steven Heathcote writes: Bryophyte meeting – Snipe Dales, Lincolnshire – Saturday 15th December 2018 The next bryophyte meeting is a re-arranged visit from March. Hopefully there won't be snow this time as we try again to visit Snipe Dales, a semi-natural wet valley system. Parking and the meeting location is in the reserve car park which is signposted from B1195 Horncastle-Spilsby road (TF330682). Meeting time is 10AM. There is a small charge for the car park apparently. We are interested in rumours of Sphagnum and a 1972 record of Fountain Apple-moss (one of two post-1930 records for this species in Lincolnshire). 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 so I can make contact if there are any last-minute changes due to weather. Contact: steven.heathcote@gmail.com *** Joint BTO and Lincolnshire Bird Club Conference *** Celebrating 40 years of Lincolnshire Bird Club with a focus on Water and Farmland Birds. Everyone is welcome! Saturday, January 26, 2019 - 09:30 to 16:00 https://www.facebook.com/464978593554672/posts/2189603697758811/ *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Local RSPB links: *** https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby Martin Francis writes: The next meeting of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group is at 7.30pm on Monday 17th December 2018 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH Paul Hobson will give us an illustrated talk entitled "The Cairngorms". There will also be refreshments, includng mince pies, and a raffle. Entry is £4, payable at the door. All are welcome. You don't have to be a member of the RSPB. For more information, contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group has released the dates of their 2019 BIRDWATCHING AND SEAL CRUISES aboard The Boston Belle, into The Wash. Details can be found at: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: Lincoln Area Group Talk December 20th: Caring for Hedgehogs A talk by Lauri Fox of Caistor Hedgehog Care about the rescue and aftercare of Hedgehogs and what you can do to help them in your own garden.  Talk at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50 which includes refreshments. Our Christmas meeting, so contributions of seasonal fare would be gratefully received! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 5/12 Long-tailed Duck fem, Baston Langtoft pits 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 6/12 Caspian Gull, Water Pipit, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 2 Hooded Crows, 11 Velvet Scoters, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Duck fem, Baston Langtoft pits Hen Harrier male, Alkborough Flats Ring-necked Duck drk, Woodhall Spa Airfield 7/12 Hooded Crow, ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Velvet Scoters, Gibraltar Point Scaup as fem, North Hykeham pits Long-tailed Duck fem, Baston Langtoft pits 8/12 Common Crane, Belton, flew towards Grantham 2 en Harriers 1 male, Frampton Marsh 9/12 Short-eared Owl on new wetlands near Winter's Pond, 3 Water Pipits, East Halton Snow Bunting, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck fem, Baston Langtoft pits 2 Hooded Crows, 9 Velvet Scoters, 2 Great Northern Divers, Gibraltar Point 2 Short-eared Owls, Deeping High Bank Hen Harrier ad male, Alkborough Flats 4 Bewick's Swans east of Idle Bank, Westwoodside 10/12 Long-tailed Duck fem, Baston Langtoft pits Hen Harrier ringtail, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 9+ Shorelarks, Brickyard Lane, Theddlethorpe Great White Egret, Freiston Shore 2 Great White Egrets, Thorpe Fen, Little Steeping 5 Bewick's Swans, 2 ads, 3 juvs, east of Idle Bank, Westwoodside 11/`12 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. *** Moths and Bats *** Annette Faulkner writes: One for the moth experts: Years ago I recall Rex Johnson, former county moth recorder, telling me about a field trip he made with Maitland Emmet, one of the editors of 3 volume Moths and Butterflies series, in which Maitland Emmet pulled the head off a teasel and showed him the caterpillar residing inside. This was a micro moth. Since then I’ve periodically checked the teasels when I’ve been clearing them away in the depths of winter, and regularly find some of the heads inhabited by these small larvae, so I ‘plant’ the stems and hope the larvae can carry on, and leave some the teasels in situ. But what species are they? I’ve searched through the above volumes and other books that list food plants, but can find no reference to teasel anywhere. Can any of the experts out there help? For the records our Spalding garden and allotment (where I’ve also found them) are at TF244218 (garden) and 228218 (allotment, 2017). Bats. After an extremely quiet November, when after the first few days we had no further calls and bats all seemed safely tucked up in hibernation, in the last week we’ve had three calls, two from Lincoln – an underweight male Daubenton’s from the Castle and a dead sub adult (ie first year) Natterer’s found on a wall at a private address, which had been injured, and today (10th) a bat has turned up in an Immingham office… But with temperature’s set to drop hopefully we shouldn’t be getting any more. ROAD KILLS? Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. 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 Blue Tit 2 Dunnock Robin Chaffinch m 3 Blackbirds m 2, f 1 Sparrow flock 12 - 24+ Starling flock 24+ Pigeons 5+ Jackdaws 2 Witham Bank near Bardney Lock Goldfinch Flock of 24+ fieldfares in hedge. BOSTON Boston (South by A16) 11/12/2018 Kathleen Pearson Interesting morning in the garden with the occurrence of three less than usual species - a very attractive male Blackcap, a male Goldcrest and two Carrion Crows. Last week added Jay, Jackdaw and a Common Gull that came down to feed on the lawn. DEEPING LAKES Venue: Deeping Lakes LWT Reserve Date: 04/12/18 Time: 0930 - 1210 Weather: sunny periods, breezy, mild Observer: Ian Gordon Birds: Blackbird Blue Tit Bullfinch Buzzard Carrion Crow Chaffinch Cormorant Fieldfare Gadwall Goldcrest Goldeneye Goldfinch Goosander Greenfinch Green Woodpecker Great Tit Grey Heron Jackdaw Kestrel Lapwing Little Egret Little Grebe Long-eared Owl Magpie Mallard Moorhen Mute Swan Pheasant Reed Bunting Robin Rook Shovelor Snipe Stock Dove Teal Tufted Duck Wigeon Woodpigeon Mammals: Grey Squirrel Muntjack Otter HOLYWELL LAKE Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook 10th December 2018 1430 -1540 19 Little Grebes 2 Mute Swans 14 Canada Geese 204 Mallard 8 Gadwall 4 Northern Shoveler 4 Wigeon 4 Teal 1 Red-crested Pochard – female 25 Tufted Duck 21 Moorhen No gulls, coot or raptors today. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 29/11/2018 Sparrowhawk 1 2/12/2018 Mistlethrush 1 Pheasant 1 3/12/2018 Grey squirrel 1 Magpies 2 Woodpigeons 18 4/12/2018 Dunnock 2 Mistlethrush 1 5/12/2018 Pheasant 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point 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 https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 5th – 11th December 2018 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 061218 - A minimum of 230 lapwing flying SW over Paradise and 600+ Brent geese nearby. 071218 - Female hen harrier hunting over saltmarsh 091218 - WeBS between Theddlethorpe and Saltfleet Haven included: 1500 pink-footed geese, 187 teal, 11 common snipe, 320 wigeon, 35 shoveler, 89 oystercatcher, 35 curlew, 1 water rail, 15 little egrets, 2 hen harriers, 1 marsh harrier, 1 short-eared owl and 1 peregrine. Female bullfinch and 5 fieldfares at Sea View. 101218 - At least 16 pied wagtails, collectively known as a flock, roost or flight, were feeding in a field amongst sheep near Paradise. Single great spotted woodpecker and coal tit at Sea View plus short-eared owl over the saltmarsh. 111218 – 11 collared doves and 1 stock dove at Sea View. 3 hen harrier; 2 brown and 1 grey,1 short-eared owl, 1 barn owl. DONNA NOOK 071218 – Bulls: 539 Cows: 767 Pups: 1533 Total number of pups to date: 2010 081218 – 1 hen harrier 091218 - WeBS survey heading north of viewing area: c140 twite, 7 snow bunting, 14 shorelark, 162 sanderling, 316 dunlin, 456 curlew. 111218 – 10 collared doves Pied wagtails, corvids, greater black backed gulls and redshank seen daily. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/get-involved/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group The group still meets over winter to carry out essential coppice management of the wood and maintenance activities and anyone is welcome to come along and help. Just get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports welcome..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Examples: SNIPE DALES https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/snipe-dales WHISBY https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/whisby WILLOW TREE FEN https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Readers are invited to send in their reports and "reviews" of favourite nature reserves and public wildlife sites. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 usually 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/as 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/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk 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 *** 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/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: *** https://roadworks.org/ *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** 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/as 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 *** British Bryological Society *** http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ *** 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 *** 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 *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ *** 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 *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ For the geologists... *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ The Geology of Lincolnshire https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf A Building Stone Atlas of Lincolnshire - British Geological Survey pdf https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=2885 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Our indoor meetings are normally 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. There is an annual recorders’ meeting, where we review the wildlife highlights of the previous year and to leaven the Annual General Meeting the honorary president gives a presentation on his or her particular interest in wildlife and this is reproduced in full in ‘The Lincolnshire Naturalist‘. This too starts at 2pm but attendees gather from noon to socialise. Next Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ‘Bird Migration’ – 5th January 2019 Professor Ian Newton talks on Bird Migration. Whisby Education Centre, 2pm start. Joint talk with the Lincolnshire Bird Club Recorders’ Meeting – 9th February 2019 Whisby Education Centre, 12 noon Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders; the overview starts at 2pm as in previous years. Annual General Meeting – 2nd March 2019 Whisby Education Centre, 2pm Followed by the Presidential Address by David Sheppard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: samantha lewsey - hard bounce - Undeliverable carol paterson - soft bounce - delivery failed 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.... And finally: The last man standing on the Calf of Man https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-45965251 Geckos can walk on water: here’s how (with a video) https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/geckos-can-walk-on-water-heres-how-with-a-video/ Microplastics found in the guts of all sea turtles across the oceans https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/microplastic-turtle-guts-04235/ Powerless to tackle plastic? https://www.mygreenpod.com/articles/powerless-to-tackle-plastic/ Guide to feeding garden birds - useful reminder https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/guide-to-feeding-garden-birds/ Tough as old boots: a Thames skeleton's durable footwear https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/04/tough-as-old-boots-a-thames-skeletons-durable-footwear-tideway-tunnel Country diary: the bird of the Blitz https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/01/country-diary-bird-of-the-blitz-black-redstart-plymouth Country diary: a clan of jackdaws takes to the air https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/05/country-diary-a-clan-of-jackdaws-takes-to-the-air Capturing Ecology: British Ecological Society photo competition – in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2018/dec/04/capturing-ecology-british-ecological-society-photo-competition-in-pictures ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/