============================================= || || 4th February 2018 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins back to Feb 2009: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Bulletin is being read by over 1000 people and we are keen to encourage even more readers to subscribe. Please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every LNU Bulletin and invite new readers to give it a try. We will really appreciate your help with this. Please contact the Editor to contribute articles or reports. E-mail: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** This week we have news of talks and events across the county: the annual LNU Recorders meeting at Whisby, a Bryophyte Day at Toby's Hill, “Deer and Deer Parks” at Scunthorpe Museum, an RSPB Bird talk at Grimsby and a trip to RSPB Blacktoft Sands. Looking at the weather forecast it still seems we may have snow mid-February. 14-21th February brings the BTO's annual National Nest Box Day https://www.bto.org/about-birds/nnbw Nest Boxes for Garden Birds https://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/nest-boxes/ RSPB Bird houses & nest boxes http://shopping.rspb.org.uk/birds-wildlife/nestboxes.html LWT Building bird nest boxes – you can do it! http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/discover-learn/building-bird-nest-boxes As usual I have included a selection of topical links. Most were sent in by readers. Suggestions for interesting links are always welcome. See: British geology maps now free to explore on website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8398451.stm Potholes send breakdown figures flying http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42826912 Gainsborough trolleys: 'Up to 70' dumped in town daily http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-42858392 Most UK bat species 'recovering or stable' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42811351 Thank you for all your contributions this week - very welcome. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ [Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm.] Recorders’ Meeting – 10th February 2018 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. [You are welcome to bring a “packup”.] *** Bryophyte meeting 11th February *** Steven Heathcote writes: Toby's Hill, Saltfleet, Lincolnshire – Sunday 11th February 2018 We will be meeting to record bryophytes again, this time at Toby's Hill Nature Reserve, an isolated remnant of the old sand dune system http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/Tobys-Hill Parking and the meeting location is by the reserve entrance on Marsh Lane, Saltfleet (TF453943) at 10AM. This is a public road so please park considerately. 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 in case of last-minute changes due to weather. steven.heathcote@gmail.com *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: http://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates *** Development and implementation of the project continues. We will keep you informed via the Bulletin and Communique and via Twitter. Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** February Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Look out for Venus and Mercury [evening], Jupiter, Mars and Saturn [morning]. *** Svalbard Global Seed Vault *** Julia Smith sent the following: “Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a massive international seed storage unit built into a mountain near the North Pole. The nearly 900,000 samples inside are provided by almost every country in the world, safeguarding seeds from natural disaster, war, mismanagement, and other crop-destroying circumstances. “There are 1,700 genebanks of seeds around the world now, but none are protected as intensely as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The vault is 120 meters inside the entrance of the building with multiple levels of security and cameras monitoring every move. No one works inside it on a daily basis, so the seeds are rarely handled, they're stored inside moisture-proof, triple-ply custom foil packages. The vault is on neutral ground (in collaboration with the Norwegian government and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center), so it can remain free of political issues that could impact its safety.” https://www.croptrust.org/our-work/svalbard-global-seed-vault/ *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ Keith Scarrott writers: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society At our second meeting of this year, on Monday, 12th February, Chris Manning, the LNU Recorder for Mammals visits to give us his illustrated talk entitled "Deer and Deer Parks in Lincolnshire". Chris has a particularly extensive knowledge about the deer populations and will will be telling us about the various types of deer, their distributions about the County, their behaviours, our concerns about them etc. ALL ARE INVITED TO OUR MEETINGS which start at 7.15pm and take place in the St Bernadette's Church Parish Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. There is a large, free car park at the Church. There is no entry charge to our meetings but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are provided for a small charge at the mid-talk break. For further details contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** Local RSPB links: *** Grimsby & District RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby The next meeting of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group is at 7.30pm on Monday 19th February at Holy Trinity Parish Hall (formerly called Corpus Christi Community Centre), corner of Machray Place, Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes DN35 7AE. Paul Hobson will give us an illustrated talk entitled "Changing Seasons" There will also be refreshments and a raffle. Entry is £4, payable at the door. The next trip is to Fairburn Ings and Blacktoft Sands (for the harrier roost) on Sunday 25th February, leaving Millman's Coach depot in Wilton Road, Humberston at 7.30am and returning by 6pm. Booking is essential All are welcome. You don't have to be a member of the RSPB to attend this talk, or to go on the trip. For more information, or to book the trip, please contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 Also, please note there has been a change of speaker at the March meeting on the 19th. Graham Catley, (ornithological consultant, photographer and serious local patch birder), will now give an illustrated talk about the birds of Vancouver Island and Western British Columbia" S Lincs RSPB http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** Alford & Mablethorpe Branch LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/LWT-Alford-Mablethorpe-Area-Group-175413729474673/ *** Barton Area Group LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/LWT.Barton.Group *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Monday 12th February 2018 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where bird expert Graham Catley will give an illustrated presentation about the Marsh Harrier. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. There will be a Trust goods stall, raffle and tea & coffee available. Admission £3, all are welcome. On Sunday 18th February 2018 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a bird walk in Cleethorpes Country Park with Ray Hume. Please meet in the car park at 8am. You are advised to wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event but donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further information contact Ray - 07814 840682 *** Horncastle & Woodhall Spa area group LWT *** https://www.facebook.com/hwsag/ *** More Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Events *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/whats-on ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ I have adapted RBA pager data/information for the Bulletin by eliminating or consolidating repeated messages. Note - I have been leaving out late/historical reports to save going back to re-do entries. From now on I shall squeeze in important reports, marking them with a * to indicate their lateness. 25/1 4 Waxwings by road near hump, then flew west, Hen Harrier male, Gibraltar Point Tundra Bean Goose with Greylag Geese, Marston Iceland Gull 2w, Manby Flashes 10 Shorelarks on beach, 30 Snow Buntings, 20 Twite, Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby 2 Great White Egrets on south lake, Woodhall Spa Airfield Red-necked Grebe, Covenham reservoir Scaup ad female near sailing club, North Hykeham pits 20 Snow Buntings between leisure centre and Buck Beck, Cleethorpes 2 Bewick's Swans with 116 Whooper Swans, Great White Egret at Alderfen, Wroot 26/1 6 Russian White-fronted Geese* at Candy Farm, Wroot Great Northern Diver, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Snow Buntings, Freiston Shore Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier male over saltmarsh, Gibraltar Point Siberian Chiffchaff, Tundra Bean Goose in field by Hougham Mill Lane with Greylag Geese, Marston sewage Works – not do not park on Hougham Mill Lane c40 Snow Buntings* near leisure centre, Cleethorpes then flew towards Humberston Fitties 27/1 Water Pipit, Hen Harrier, Snow Bunting, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Gibraltar Point Tundra Bean Goose in field by Hougham Mill Lane with Greylag Geese, Marston sewage Works – not do not park on Hougham Mill Lane 2 Great White Egrets at Alderfen, Wroot Mealy Redpoll on feeder at Park Road, Willingham by Stow Scaup*, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese*, Hen Harrier ringtail, Frampton Marsh 28/1 20 Snow Buntings on beach a Churchill Lane, 40 Twite, Saltfleetby Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Waxwing, Quebec Road opposite Holivans Caravan Park, Mablethorpe Great White Egret at Alderfen, Wroot Tundra Bean Goose in field by Hougham Mill Lane with Greylag Geese, Marston sewage Works – not do not park on Hougham Mill Lane 20 Russian White-fronted Geese with Pink-Footed Geese opposite church, Saltfleet St Clement 2 Short-eared Owls* over saltmarsh,. Gibraltar Point 29/1 Great White Egret*, Idle Bank, Westwoodside Waxwing*, Quebec Road opposite Holivans caravan park, Mablethorpe 2 Bewick's Swans with 150 Whooper Swans by Idle Bank, Wroot 30/1 Great White Egret west of Crowland Bridge, Deeping High Bank Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Bewick's Swan with c100 Whooper Swans, Great White Egret* at Alderfen, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese west of Candy Farm, Wroot 31/1 Great White Egret, Kirkby-on-Bain pits Great White Egret, west of Crowland Bridge, Deeping High Bank Please visit the RBA website for updates/fuller details. Here you can register free to use the site and get free trials of their subscription services. Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. ROAD KILLS? Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. Holton le Moor TF 0921 9719 Peter Morrell 28.01.18 Badger roadkill on A46. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Please keep your reports coming. We rely on you to send in your observations and we welcome information from ALL readers, be they beginners or experts. Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY The Green TF119694 R & A Parsons Birds noted January 2018 Blackbird 2m, 1f Robin 2+ Dunnock 1+ House Sparrow – flock of up to 20 Starling – flock of up to 20 Pied Wagtail – picks fights with robins Chaffinch 2m 2f Great Tit 2+ Blue Tit 2+ Jackdaw 3+ Magpie 1+ Black-headed Gull raiding party - 12+ Collared Dove 4+ Woodpigeon 1+ plus Grey Squirrel caching peanuts 29/1/2018 Compare with RSPB Garden Birdwatch 11-12hrs on 28/1/2018 Blackbird 1 Collared Dove 2 Starling 20 also Magpie 2 Jackdaw 2 BOSTON (RSPB Garden BirdWatch) 27/01/2018 Roy & Kathleen Pearson The number of birds in the garden increased greatly in the cold weather this month and when we did the RSPB count, we had a total of 18 species. Two species - Greenfinch and Goldfinch - were in double figures at one time. Totals were Blue Tit 3, Great Tit 2, Coal Tit 1, Woodpigeon 9, Blackbird 7, Goldfinch 18, Greenfinch 10, Robin 1, Wren 1, Dunnock 1, Magpie 1, Collared Dove 2, Chaffinch 2, Herring Gull 1, Starling 1, Blackcap 1, House Sparrow 1, Long-tailed Tit 3. 29/01/2018 A very unusual bird - a Tawny Owl - was heard calling in the garden late at night today. This followed an unusual high count of gulls down at one time in the afternoon - Herring Gull 4, Black-headed Gull 3 and Common Gull 1. COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler 26/1/18 Great White Egret photographed in the River Witham where we already have had a pair of Little Egrets all winter and a Heron who is a 'regular' HORKSTOW 26 January 2018 Jenny Haynes A flock of about 16 swans has been appearing regularly on a field about two miles south of the Humber Estuary and adjacent to the River Ancholme. They are too far away to identify, even with binoculars, which variety of swans they are or what the field is growing but they stay there for several hours at a time. HOWDENS PULLOVER Matt Blissett 29/1/18 Hen Harrier 1 – Ringtail flew south KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 22/1/18 Jon Drakes A Tawny Owl was heard calling from trees in a nearby garden at 8pm. KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 27/1/18 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO in our back garden were: Blackbird 4 Black-headed Gull 1 Collared Dove 10 Dunnock 6 House Sparrow 40 Robin 2 Starling 1 Woodpigeon 1 Tree Sparrow 1 Magpie 1 KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610 and TA1609) 28/1/18 Jon Drakes An early morning walk around fields and woodland to the North and South East of Keelby Village found the following species recorded: Blackbird Black-Headed Gull Blue Tit Bullfinch 2 male and female present Buzzard 2 Carrion Crow Chaffinch Collared Dove Dunnock Fieldfare 100 (approx.) all in a single flock. Goldfinch Great Tit Grey Wagtail single bird still residing around the village sewage works House Sparrow Jackdaw Jay Kestrel Magpie Mistle Thrush Moorhen Nuthatch Pheasant Pied Wagtail Pink-footed Goose 350 (approx.) in a single skein flying in a SW direction Redwing Robin Rook Skylark Song Thrush Sparrowhawk Starling Woodpigeon Wren Also seen were two Roe Deer. KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK 847757 28/01/2018 Alison Brownlow Brimstone Butterfly seen while doing the Garden Bird count LEGBOURNE WOOD Matt Blissett 26/1/18 Blue tit, great tit and robin in song Great spotted Woodpecker 2 Green Woodpecker 1 - calling Nuthatch 2 Bullfinch 1 Buzzard 1 Common Frog 1 – large adult disturbed from leaf litter but quite active NORTH COCKERINGTON TF375906 Matt Blissett 29/1/18 Barn Owl 3 – 3 birds together hunting over the same field TOBY’S HILL Matt Blissett 29/1/18 Woodcock 1 Snowdrops in flower WADDINGTON SK975 639 Peter Wilson Goldcrest seen twice this week, first on Sunday 21st Jan 2018 and again on Thursday 25th Jan 2018. First sighting of Goldcrest here I think RIVER WITHAM Near Southery R & A Parsons 28/1/2018 3 Goosanders – male RIVER WITHAM River Witham from Chapel Hill Tattershall Bridge Geof Lee 28-01-2018, 10.00 A.M. Goosander - 36 Wigeon - 30+ Heron - 7 Little egret - 1 Great crested grebe - 2 Egyptian goose - 2 Cormorant - 6 Mallards WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH  SK 92/22 Jane Ostler 30January 2018 LICHENS Some of the hedges in this area have been covered with dust lichens for over a decade. Some colour the twigs orange (Xanthoria parietina). Others are grey(e.g. Physcia adscendens, Parmelia sulcata, Punctellia subrudecta). Recent storms have blown down, from high up on the trees, clumps of the fruticose lichens Ramalina caliciris and Ramalina farinaceae, and smaller amounts of Evernia prunastri. This is something I had not noticed until 2016. An area of grassland where sidings used to be once had extensive patches of the Dog Lichen Peltigera membranacea. There is now little left as the area has become vegetated with higher plants. FERNS There is time to check on these before flowering plants become a distraction. Access to farm fields runs under the disused railway line at what is known locally as Cow Pass Bridge. A single clump of Hart's tongue fern has grown heere for at least 40 years. There are expanding colonies of the hard fern Polypodium vulgare but the male fern at []and?] its hybrid is still only found in isolated clumps. FLOWERING PLANTS Spurge Laurel is in flower on the Nature Trail. Though Miss Gibbons describes this as native in the Ancaster area where it is found where limestone quarries have reverted to scrub, it is typical of beechwoods where there is some clay in the soil. To further confuse the situation the line has historically been used to dump garden rubbish. The Stinking Hellebore which is in hedgerows in Woolsthorpe is more certainly a garden escape. It has been in flower for two weeks. The Lesser Celandine is in flower, one of the plants monitored for climate change. Hazel and Alder have their flowers early this year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-Of-Far-Ings-National-Nature-Reserve/186876774685595 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/donna-nook-nnr http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 24th January – 30th January 2018 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Nige Lound & Matt Blissett. Daily Notes and Wildlife Sightings 240118 – 150+ lapwing flying west over Sea View 250118 - 2 stonechats at Rimac, snatches of skylark in song over saltmarsh. I mistle thrush at Sea View. Between Churchill and Brickyard Lane 6 shore lark, 70 twite and c20 snow bunting in flock with linnet and twite. Flock of 98 sanderling. 280118 - A fine very mild Sunday daytime temperature reached 14.5°C. Snowdrops now in full flower. 90 pink-footed geese flying NW over Sea View, 27 snow buntings off Crook Bank – Brickyard saltings and a single barn owl hunting over edge of saltmarsh near Sea View. 71 red-throated diver, 6 great-crested grebe and 150 common scoter were over the sea. 21 snow bunting and 92 twite were on the beach. Flocks of pinkfeet included 172 flying north west and 44 flying north. Single marsh harrier flew south. 4 barnacle geese were I n the field south of Rimac car park. Singles of sparrowhawk and common buzzard also noted. A single pipestrelle flighting down the dunes near Coastguard at 1700 hrs also a little owl, 2 water rail calling and 2 woodcock flying. 300118 - More song evident from blue tit, great tit, robin, collared dove, dunnock, song thrush and skylark. A count on Elm House Farm today from 1230 to 1315 (sunny but cold) were 526 pink-footed goose, 39 white-fronted goose, 3 barnacle goose, 97 wigeon, 11 mallard, 98 starling, 72 lapwing, 93 jackdaw, 27 rook, 2 snipe, 19 curlew, 12 redshank, 2 common buzzard and single marsh harrier. Totals didn’t include northern fields as this would have disturbed the geese all feeding. 1 barn owl at Sea View. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article Also see: Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html LWT Lincolnshire Limewoods http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-landscapes/lincolnshire-limewoods ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lincolnshire Dormouse Group The Lincolnshire Dormouse Group meet monthly at Chambers Farm Woods. We always welcome visitors and new members. Dormice are legally protected and sensitive to disturbance; attending the group's meetings provides the opportunity to see dormice legally with licenced surveyors. If you are interested please email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS - LNRs, private reserves etc. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available on the LNU website. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ Care of Sick or Injured Animals - information on LWT website http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/sick-and-injured-animals *** Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Hare coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ Wildlife Crime http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/issues/crime STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Weather Underground *** https://www.wunderground.com/ *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** Identifying Fungi *** App: http://rogersmushroomsapp.com/ BMS Checklist of names: http://www.fieldmycology.net/GBCHKLST/gbchklst.htm BMS Keys for Macrofungi http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/library/keys/ *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/ http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species *** How to Identify Bees *** http://www.bwars.com/ http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. http://www.glnp.org.uk/our-publications/biodiversity/projects-and-reports.php *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further information and to submit records contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com You can input reptile and amphibian data at: http://www.recordpool.org.uk/ Please remember, common species are just as important as rarer species. *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. See: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing *** Lincs Bird Club *** LBC County Bird Recorders John Clarkson - Covering the north of the county recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Phil Hyde - Covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** http://www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk/ *** RSPB local webpages *** https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/t/tetneymarshes/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ John Badley, Site Manager for RSPB Lincolnshire Wash reserves e-mail: john.badley@rspb.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. For good advice for ALL nature-watchers see the RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ and BTO's pdf: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://lnu.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm. Indoor Meetings 2017/8 Indoor meeting – 20th January 2018 Joint talk with the Lincolnshire Bird Club Lincolnshire Rooks; Living in the shadow of Ash dieback by Andrew Chick Recorders’ Meeting – 10th February 2018 Annual General Meeting – 3rd March 2018 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** If you recognise the owner of a 'part-address' below, please let them know that their their Bulletin has 'bounced' this week. Gary Cooper – soft bounce - delivery failed; will not continue trying 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..... Scrutiny over wood and coal fires in UK homes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42873645 Handheld device sequences human genome – astounding! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42838821 Global register lists alien species http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42835528 A third of coral reefs 'entangled with plastic' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42821004 InsideEcology: Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/