============================================= || || 23rd 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... *** This is the time of year to say "Waes Hael" and wish you all the very best for the Christmas season. It is also a good time to thank county recorders for their diligent work and say a thank you to everyone who has sent in reports, articles, or questions to support the Bulletin. If you have any outstanding 2018 reports for recorders please make sure they have them in good time. Snow for Christmas? Keep an eye on this site. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/christmas-day Donna Nook Seal update - the end of year wind down: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update As usual I have included a selection of local/topical links. Don't forget to click. Seal pups 'at risk from toxic chemicals in contaminated water' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-46553454 Are you ready for BigGardenBirdWatch 26-28 January 2019? https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ Norfolk gets it's first Birdfair https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Norfolk_gets_its_first_Birdfair.aspx National coastal nature reserve in Suffolk cut by third https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-norfolk-46598605 Can you help to monitor Britain's declining Willow Tits? https://www.birdguides.com/news/can-you-help-to-monitor-britains-declining-willow-tits/ The magical beauty of Britain, shown at its very best by the British Wildlife Photography Awards https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/magical-beauty-britain-shown-best-british-wildlife-photography-awards-189713 Pebbles and penguins: The Falklands island up for sale https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46540282 Find out your food’s climate footprint - interesting https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46459714 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 *** Moth-ers Rex Johnson writes: I would lke to respond to Annette Faulkner's "One for the moth experts" in today's Wildnews Bulletin. Maitland Emmett was invited by the LNU to spend a weekend (overnight hotel at Washingborough provided), after helping me sort out the modern names of the Lincolnshire Micro lepidoptera. Going back through LNU Transactions it had taken me three years to list all the known micros, and trace the name changes there had been since recording first started. It was a very difficult task, and Maitland's knowledge and expertise was invaluable. "Yes" he said, "I would love to come - Lincolnshire is under recorded", so I met him - with a small number of other LNU memberrs - at the Chamber's car park, with a picnic provide by my wife - but he wasn't anxious to eat it - he was buried in an Oak tree, and as I walked up said "I have seven species in this branch alone".We spent the afternoon searching and I seem to remember we identified around 80 species on the day - with around three dozen new to the County. He was so approachable, and full of enthusiasm, it was a treat of a day. As we were about to leave the area in front of the visitor's centre, he jumped from his car, and approached a stand of teazels - and said "here is another species". Someone jumped out of the centre and called out "Hey, those are planted for our birds". To which Emmett replied - as he was opening the Teazel head - "Wrong - they are here for my moths" (or words to that effect). Since then, like Annette, I have pulled apart occasional Teasel heads and the moth is widespread. In the teasel head you find the larvae of the moth called Endothenia gentianaeana (Hb.). It is a Tortix moth. The larvae are in the plant heads in September and October, feeding on the pith in the centre of the seed-head. If you open a head, and it is full of frass (black droppings), the larva may still be lower down the stem, before it eats a way out to pupate. There was an account of Maitland's visit and a species list written up in Transactions. Following his help there was flood of new records coming in, and his help made the publication of "The Butterflies and Moths of Lincolnshire, The Micro-moths and Species review to 1996" possible. I sent him a copy, and he was very enthusiastic about what he called the "No nonsense format". Best of regards to Annette and Colin, and all the oldies from my earlier LNU days. Thanks too to today's recorders for keeping things alive. Rex Johnson. PS Google 'Edothenia gentianaeana' for lots of images. Editor adds: I wish you a Happy Christmas from us all, Rex. *** 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: You can order direct from the Astrospace web shop via the link below. http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/shop/publications.html#NS2019 Editor adds: Ultima Thule flyby... "Nasa's New Horizons probe on course for historic flyby" - New Year's Day https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46610812 Follow news on NASA television website: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html *** 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.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** 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 *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ Keith Scarrott writes: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. Our first meeting for the New Year takes place on Monday, 14th January when our specialist geology member Paul Hildreth will be giving us his talk entitled "Women in Geology". Following a talk he gave to the Yorkshire Geological Society, Paul realised that none of the individuals he mentioned were female. A little research revealed that women had made an outstanding contribution to our present understanding of Geology. As always, the meeting will be held in the St. Bernadette's Church Parish Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, starting at 7.15pm.  There is a large free car park at the Church. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS.  There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided.  Light refreshments are available at the mid-talk break for a small charge. Contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098 for any further details. *** 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 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 New Year Bird Walk at Humberston Carolyn Davis writes: On Saturday 5th January 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a New Year bird walk starting from Anthony's Bank, Humberston. Grid ref. TA061331, nearby postcode DN35 0PW. Meet leader Ray Hume at 8am in the car parking area. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout foot wear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Ray Hume - 07814 840682. *** 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: 11/12 Caspian Gull 2w, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Lapland Bunting by Humber, Cleethorpes 2 Hooded Crows, Snow Bunting, 3 Tundra Bean Geese with 2500 Pink-Footed Geese, Pomarine Skua flew north, 2 Great Northern Divers flew south , Gibraltar Point 12/12 20+ Shorelarks, Brickyard Lane, Theddlethorpe 16 Russian White-fronted Geese, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier male, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit, Frampton Marsh 13/12 Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh Velvet Scoter, Gibraltar Point 14/12 2 Long-tailed Ducks at realignment, Donna Nook Caspian Gull 2w, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Great White Egret, between Cowbridge and Frithville, West Fen Drain Velvet Scoter, 2 Hooded Crows, Gibraltar Point 7 Bewick's Swans, Doncaster Road, Westwoodside Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh 15/12 Red-necked Grebe, Black-throated Diver flew north, Chapel Port Hooded Crow, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Duck ad fem, Baston Langtoft pits Hen Harrier ringtail flew along river Witham, Deeping High Bank Great White Egret, between Cowbridge and Frithville, West Fen Drain 16/12 3 Hooded Crows, 8 Velvet Scoters, ringtail Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 11 Bewick's Swans, 6 ads, Doncaster Road, Westwoodside Black Brant ad with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Donna Nook Great White Egret, between Cowbridge and Frithville, West Fen Drain 10 Shorelarks on beach at end of Churchill Lane, Saltfleetby Long-tailed Duck ad fem, Baston Langtoft pits Hen Harrier ringtail, Deeping High Bank Hen Harrier male, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 17/12 11 Bewick's Swans, 6 ads ,west of Westwoodside Hen Harrier, 4 Short-eared Owls, Tetney Marshges 3 Long-eared Owls on island, Deeping Lakes 3 Hooded Crows, 8 Velvet Scoters, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier, Long-billed Dowitcher, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck ad fem, Baston Langtoft pits Ring-necked Duck on RiverSlea pit, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Probably Siberian Chiffchaff, by River Slea in bushes by swimming pool, Sleaford 18/12 Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh 3 Water Pipits, Hooded Crow, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret, Nocton Fen 19/12 Hooded Crow, Gibraltar Point 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. *** A handful of slug records for the bulletin *** Chris du Feu writes: Thanks to the Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT group for bringing slugs for me to identify. Species found were: Species English Town Grid ref Comment Ambigolimax valentianus Iberian Three-band Slug Grimsby TA20 Ambigolimax valentianus Iberian Three-band Slug Cleethorpes TA30 Arion ater seg Large Black Slug Cleethorpes TA30 Arion flagellus Green-soled Slug Cleethorpes TA30 A recent arrival in the county – very localised distributions – nearest known record near Market Rasen Arion rufus Large Red Slug Grimsby TA20 Deroceras invadens Tramp Slug Grimsby TA20 Limacus flavus Yellow Cellar Slug Grimsby TA20 Now unusual to find this formerly common species. The green species is now dominating massively. Limacus maculatus Green Cellar Slug Grimsby TA20 Limacus maculatus Green Cellar Slug Cleethorpes TA30 Tandonia budapestensis Budapest Slug Cleethorpes TA30 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 Pied Wagtail Chaffinch 2m, 1f BOSTON 15/12/2018 Kathleen Pearson Today a squirrel seriously damaged one of our garden sunflower hearts feeders and the falling food was scattered across the ground over a large area. This brought in an unusually large number of Goldfinches with a count of 52 feeding together on the ground. Some bread put onto the lawn brought in a scrum of approximately 30 Starlings. These were unusually high totals for the week when 20 species were recorded here. BOSTON 16/12/2018 Roy and Kathleen Pearson Only the second Brambling (female) ever recorded in the garden was seen feeding on the spilled seed today. The last was a female in 1986. COLSTERWORTH SK93/22 Jane Ostler 1-14December 2019 MAMMALS Fallow Deer a road casualty alongside Twyford Wood. Single Roe Deer on Stamford Road. Badger feeding in field well away from sett, around 6p.m. Fox in field alongside River Witham, morning. Grey Squirrels out feeding in trees on Woodlands estate on milder days. BIRDS The regular 3 Little Egrets joined by another 3 on 14th December 2018. Not only has one Heron moved downstream away from them but another was found sitting (in a disgruntled fashion?) on a covered garden pond. As always daily sightings of both buzzards and Red Kite, including the latter coming down to feed on a dead pheasant road casualty. Kestrel has regular spot hovering over Stamford road but no reports of sparrowhawks in this period. Tawny Owl heard on High Street. Barn Owl seen out at night in field alongside B6403. Regular flocks of Fieldfare, travelling north west, feeding on abundant hawthorn berries. Greater Spotted Woodpeckers at bird feeders. On 14th flocks of woodpigeons seen in fields. Song Thrush singing on milder days. Bullfinches in gardens and a Tree Creeper on oak tree Stamford road. Few finches in gardens . Blue, Great and Coal Tits, in ones or twos and a party of Long tailed Tits. PLANTS IN FLOWER In addition to an unusual diversity and number of wayside plants in flower at this time of the year, Snowdrops were out in the churchyard. These plants have been monitored since 2009 and they have never flowered in December before. FUNGI In gardens Blackening Waxcap, Shaggy Parasol, Glistening Inkcap, Blewits, Grey Funnel Cap, Scurfy Twiglet and a small orange, delicate species, with no common name, Omphalina pyxidata. SLIME MOULDS On dead leaves and grass Mucilago crustacea (spongiosa). When I was shown this for the first time by Jack Houghton, many years ago, he described it as looking like porridge. I have since seen it described rather more unattractively. Despite its unpleasant appearance, within 24hrs it changes to the sporangial form of tiny purplish pin heads. It is characteristic of limestone areas and contains crystals of lime. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 15/12/2018 17.00hrs Along the river bank - the juvenile swans are flapping their wings along the water, they will soon be flying. There is one juvenile herring gull who stays with a small flock of blackheaded gulls, either he has an identity problem or prefers the more gentle black headed gulls to his more aggressive kind. There are a number of sparrows in the hedges, but the blackbirds seem to be down in numbers. The squirrels are very brave, getting a bit too near my dog, luckily she is too old to catch them. This morning 15/12/18 06.30hrs. I went out in the garden. It was bitterly cold. There was a large number of herring gulls flying overhead, they are coming inland - it doesn't needa weather forecast to tell us bad weather is coming. I think it's Venus that is very bright in the sky - this must be the Star of Bethlehem. My birds have started coming back over the last couple of days - 2 great tits, 3 blue tits, a robin, a dunnock (heard), a blackbird, 5 collared doves, a wood pigeon, I haven't seen any finches yet but they hopefully will return when they are hungry. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 10/12/2018 Chaffinches 4 Dunnocks 2 Great tits 4 Heron 1 - flew over the house Long tailed tits 8 or so 11/12/2018 Pheasant 1 m. 16/12/2018 Sparrowhawk 1 17/12/2018 Sparrowhawk 1 - sat on fence for a minute and looked like a juvenile 18/12/2018 Pheasants 2 both male Sparrowhawk 1 - flushed out about 8 blackbirds but didn't disturb the pheasants at all KIRTON MARSH 16/12/2018 Roy and Kathleen Pearson A short walk along the sea bank today produced approximately 300 Lapwing together with a following flock in excess of a thousand Golden Plover. There were very few Brent Geese on the salt marsh, with a small number of Curlew and 5 Little Egrets. Fieldfare had increased over the number seen on our last visit with over a hundred feeding in a small area of hedgerow. Three birds of prey seen were singles of Kestrel, Buzzard and Hen Harrier (female). THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 05/12/18 Little Egret x 1 SE813009 11/12/18 Sparrowhawk x 1 female flew through St. Andrews church yard, Epworth, and took a Blackbird. 13/12/18 Blackbird x 3 Common Buzzard x 1 over Thurnholmes Fieldfare x 89 Mute Swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 21 Tree Sparrow x 25 18/12/18 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 9 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 71 Golden Plover x 1 over Thurnholmes Goldfinch x 5 Kestrel x 4 along Owston Ferry Warping Drain Magpie x 2 Mallard x 4 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 35 Sparrowhawk x 1 female Tree Sparrow x 15 Wood Pigeon x 9 Wren x 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 12th – 19th December 2018 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 161218 – 2 pairs of bullfinch and 8 reed buntings near Sea View. On Paradise lagoon were 110+ teal, 8 lapwing, 13 shoveler, 1 shelduck, 9 mallard and a single snipe. A chiffchaff was seen in bushes near Bridge Farm south of Saltfleet. 2 hen harriers; 1 brown, 1 grey, 1 marsh harrier, 1 short eared owl, 1 barn owl, 1 little owl, tawny owl pair calling, c1500 pink footed geese in the Churchill area. 171218 - Two tree sparrows with a flock of at least 15 house sparrows at feeding station near Sea View, single woodcock flew from dunes. 181218 – 3 water rail, 6 woodcock, 5 bullfinch, 2 great spotted woodpecker, 2 sparrowhawk. 191218 – 110 lapwing flying south over the dunes DONNA NOOK 141218 – Bulls: 399, Cows: 353, Pups: 1050 Total number of pups so far: 2053. Numbers are dropping daily but there are still plenty of seals to be seen from the viewing area. 181218 – Weasel, 10+ snowbunting. Flocks of brent geese, starlings, goldfinches, skylarks and shelduck 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.... Lincolnshire -Country diary: if this woodpecker were human, he’d look irritated https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/15/country-diary-woodpecker-look-irritated-stamford-lincolnshire Country diary: the joys of the black stuff https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/18/country-diary-the-joys-of-the-black-stuff County Lines: Drug gangs destroying lives and communities https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-dorset-46511106/ Dracula ant's killer jaws are nature's fastest mover at 200mph https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/12/dracula-ants-killer-jaws-are-natures-fastest-mover-at-200-mph Pink poop and satellites revealed a giant penguin colony https://www.zmescience.com/science/adelie-penguins-colonyl-12122018/ Researchers want to vaccinate bees so we don’t run out of food https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/researchers-want-to-vaccinate-bees-so-we-dont-run-out-of-food/ UK pollinators you might not have thought of https://www.growwilduk.com/blog/2018/11/21/amazing-uk-pollinators-you-might-not-have-thought Meet Nepal's daredevil honey hunters https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-46572043/meet-nepal-s-daredevil-honey-hunters Hastings dinosaur footprints exposed by cliff erosion https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-sussex-46594370 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/