============================================= || || 8th July 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. Invite new readers to give it a try. We really need your help with this. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** I am still busy unsubscribing readers who have NOT YET given consent by ticking the correct box on MailChimp. Progressing alphabetically, I am about to start work on the Hs. Why not check and update your GDPR consent via the "update subscription preferences" link at the end of every Bulletin? LNU Field Meeting at South Ormsby Estate, Sat 7 July 2018, details below. Please note - the evening Moth and Bat session has been cancelled. However the meeting will will include plant collecting for the LoveLincsPlants project and also a "Botanical field notebook sketching/drawing workshop". Suzanne Fysh writes: "This is a unique opportunity to learn how to observe and sketch wild plants in their natural habitat and create detailed, accurate and beautiful field notebooks. Places are limited to 12, so book as soon as you can." Mobile: 07867 775858 Email: sfysh@lincstrust.co.uk You probably know I run the Coningsby Wildlife Watch group, which mostly meets at the Cottage Museum in Woodhall Spa. They are terrific young people but they will keep growing up and we need to invite some new families to come along. If you know anyone in the Horncastle, Woodhall Spa,Tattershall or Coningsby area who would like to give it a try, please tell them they will be more than welcome to contact me at old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Details of ALL Lincolnshire Wildlife Watch clubs, including "Coningsby", can be found on: http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/where-you-live/east-midlands/lincolnshire-wildlife-trust Have you any news for the Bulletin? I will be pleased to receive your reports and contributions and to give a "plug" for Lincolnshire natural history activity. The usefulness of the Bulletin entirely depends on what is sent in. If you can add to the interest, that will be great. As usual I have included a selection of topical links. Most were sent in by readers. Some I have chosen with the interests of particular readers in mind. This could be you, so don't forget to click. See: More links in "..and finally..." Reality Check: Are butterflies getting rarer? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44399804 Laughton woodland saved as major blaze rips through grassland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-44656548 What a hoot! Tawny owl takes a bath https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44658839/what-a-hoot-tawny-owl-takes-a-bath Why scientists are counting seal pups in the Thames Estuary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44647967 What the fire near Saddleworth Moor means for wildlife https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44643827 How trees secretly talk to each other https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-44643177/how-trees-secretly-talk-to-each-other Real time lightning - for when this weather breaks.... [Speakers on and set volume on page!] https://www.lightningmaps.org/ Thank you for all your contributions this week. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** Barn Owl Nest Box Webcam. The story continues.....*** The 2 chicks are growing fast. Keep watching the drama! http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 *** Botanical Notebook Sketching and Painting Workshop *** Date: Saturday 7 July 2018 Time: 12 noon for packed lunch, workshop to start at 12.30pm to 4pm Trainer: artist Laura Andrew www.lauraandrew.com Host: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Funded through Heritage Lottery Fund as Part of the Love Lincs Plants Project. Venue: South Ormsby Estate Workshop outline: Arrive 12noon for a picnic lunch. Workshop to start at 12.30pm Brief introduction about the #LoveLincsPlants project and this workshop: Laura will show examples of botanical notebooks and explain how to observe, sketch and make colour notes of plants in the field so that they can be identified and the drawings used as the basis for further art work. We will be spending much of our time out in the fields and woods near the centre, sketching and drawing from life in order for us to gain the skills to make comprehensive and beautiful field notes and sketches. Cost: Free Places limited to 12: to book please email: lovelincsplants@gmail.com *** Stand-in Wash WeBS counter volunteers wanted - Reminder *** John Badley writes: WeBS is the Wetland Bird Survey, the monthly year-round waterbird counts that are conducted for all important wetlands sites around the country run by the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology). WeBS is how we track the wintering and passage waterbirds using our wetland sites so we can assess importance, pick up species population trends etc. The Wash is the most important wetland site in the UK with a current 5-year mean peak count of 370,005 waterbirds (nearly 200,000 more than any other site!). With so many birds we need a network of sectors and counters to ensure complete coverage. There are around 22 sectors, some of which require more than one counter, so it’s quite an undertaking. Being a Wash WeBS counter is extremely rewarding, you get the chance to contribute to this incredibly important survey, perhaps see a part of the Wash few others might get the opportunity to and often the satisfaction of seeing one of the great bird spectacles in the UK, often all to yourself! The counts are monthly, usually on a Sunday, but sometimes Saturday and take about three hours, usually first thing in the morning. With so many sectors and counters we’re always on the lookout for ‘stand-in’ counters to cover holidays/illness etc to help ensure complete coverage. So if your wader and duck identification skills are pretty good (you’ll need to be satisfied you can identify winter plumaged waders at a distance) and you’d like the option of covering a count every now and then I’d be pleased to hear from you. Contact: John Badley John.Badley@rspb.org.uk *** National Cetacean Survey Sunday 5th August 2018 - Reminder *** Dave Miller writes: I am planning to run watches for this national cetacean survey along with Sea Watch Foundation on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August. I hope to have watches from the Round-and-Round hide at Anderby Creek as in previous years, but the plan this year is to use the new North Sea Observatory at Chapel Point as well. Watching the sea from inside if the weather is inclement. As ever this event could not be run without the help of you volunteers, and I plan to run watches in the same format: i.e. two watches of three hours per day per site: Contact: Dave Miller - Coast and The Wash Warden Email: dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** Whisby Natural History Workshops - Reminder *** At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Hoverflies - July 28th - Phil Porter & David Denman - now fully booked. A few places still available on: Ground Beetles - August 11th - Alan Lazenby [4 places left] Plant Galls - September 8th - Jan Rousseau [5 places left] Bryophytes - October 6th - Steven Heathcote. [3 places left] Fungi - November 3rd - Ray Halstead [4 places left] Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com *** 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.] Field Meetings 2018 - details on: https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Next meeting: South Ormsby Estate – Saturday 7th July 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2018-07-07/ Important note: evening moth/bat has been cancelled. Also see: http://southormsbyestate.co.uk/about/ Repeating Shearman's Wath Report from last week - with corrected layout. SHEARMAN'S WATH / WEST ASHBY PITS TF252718 23 JUNE 2018 LNU field meeting led by Brian Hedley to this private wetland and meadow site courtesy of Mike and John Harrison. Attended by 22 people on a very hot and sunny afternoon followed by evening moth and bat recording session. Some collecting of meadow and marsh plants for the LoveLincsPlants herbarium project was also undertaken. About 140 plant species were noted including Common Sedge, Brown Sedge, Spiked Sedge, Yellow Oat-grass, Field Mouse-ear, Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Southern Marsh Orchids, Creeping Jenny, Marsh Cudweed, Tormentil and Lady's Bedstraw and masses of Yellowrattle. Awaiting bryophyte list from Steven Heathcote. Bird-wise, a good range of wetland species were present including Avocet, Oystercatcher, Snipe, Lapwing, Common Tern, Shelduck, Green Sandpiper and Reed Bunting. Others included Kestrel, Swift, Grey Partridge, Willow Warbler and Bullfinch. Mammals included Common and Soprano Pipistrelles, Daubenton's Bat, Brown Hare and signs of Water Vole. Dragonflies/damselflies were out in force with ten species on the wing including Emerald Damselfly, Brown Hawker, Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmerand Ruddy Darter. Nine butterfly species included Red Admiral, Small Copper, Brown Argus and Ringlet. Over 50 moth species were noted during the afternoon and evening trapping session (1 MV lamp and 2 actinic lamps) including Barred Yellow, Chimney Sweeper, Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet, Common and Light Emeralds, Plain Golden-Y, Ghost Swift, Brown and Small China-marks, Ingrailed Clay, Udea olivalis, Clay, Pale-shouldered Brocade and Anania perlucidalis. Other insects included Blue Sheildbug, the beetles Chalaenius nigricornis (possible first for North Lincs) and Chaetarthria simillima (possible 4th record for Lincs), the weevils Datonychus melanostictus, Amalorrhynchus melanarius, Phloeotribus rhododactylus and Drupenatus nasturtii (all with less than 10 records for Lincs) and the wasps Oxybelus uniglumis and Crabro cribrarius. Additionally, a gall on willow was identified as being created by the sawfly Pontania proxima. *** Fresh otter required by Cardiff University Otter Project. Reminder. *** They are looking for a really fresh sample from a male otter, in order to extract DNA for whole genome sequencing by the Wellcome Sanger Institute. heir win of the 25 Genomes competition). https://floundering25.imascientist.org.uk/2017/12/13/thank-you-from-the-floundering-zone-winner-eurasian-otter/ https://www.sanger.ac.uk/ If anyone sees an otter killed on a road, finds an otter still warm, or knows that a roadkill is very recent, we need to know. Please can you get in touch with us ideally by phone (02920 874046) or send a message on Facebook/Twitter, and (we) will try and arrange rapid collection. *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates *** 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/ *** July Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Heads up for the Perseid Meteors, 17th July to 24th August, with the peak on 12th August.* = Correction to last week. The Moon phase is favourable, so cloud permitting we should get to see a decent display. The Moon rises "totally eclipsed" on 27th July, near Mars, which will be at opposition - i.e. relatively close in Solar System terms. Why not get out that telescope? Mars is worth observing from July into August and Paul's webpage will explain what is going on and what to look for. *** 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 South Lincs. RSPB "Birdwatching Cruises into The Wash" 2018 programme. 12 cruises scheduled for 2018 starting 11th May and ending 16th October. Further details,ticket prices and booking arrangements at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/450628/ Lincoln RSPB http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** LWT Reserves: *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved ***Alford & Mablethorpe Branch LWT*** George Rutter writes: Visit: Red Hill Friday 13th July Join us for a guided walk with Regional Warden, Kevin James around Red Hill, one of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's nature reserves known for its glorious wildflower meadows and hill top views. A small part of the reserve is very old chalk grassland but the larger part has been reverted from arable in the last 20 years, with much effort being put in by Harry Turner and others in establishing and encouraging a range of wild flowers. Meet at East End Car Park in Alford for 6pm, or 6.30pm on site (North east of Goulceby, Louth, Nearest postcode LN11 9UE) (Grid ref: TF 264806) *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** 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. New pager awaited - reports suspended. 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. ROAD KILLS? Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. Bardney - Henry Lane near OMEX. TF114694 R & A Parsons 2/7/2018 Small badger with remarkably bad smell! *** 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 1/7/2018 Leaf-cutter bees discovered to have occupied a row of redundant damp-proofing injection holes in brickwork. We are waiting for an opportunity to identify these. Swifts, swallows and housemartins over. CASTLE CARLTON/AUTHORPE TF 397834 C Byatt 16/6/18 Common Blue – 1 (on Bird’s Foot Trefoil). EAST HALTON SKITTER to GOXHILL HAVEN (Grid reference TA1423, TA1324) 29/6/2018 Jon Drakes A walk along the South bank of the Humber from East Halton Skitter towards Goxhill Haven, on what was an extremely hot afternoon, turned out to be very quiet when it came to wildlife. Species recorded: Avocet 2 Bearded Tit 1 Black-headed Gull Cetti's Warbler 1 Coot Cormorant 1 Feral Pigeon Grey Heron 1 Greylag Goose 6 Herring Gull Kestrel 1 Lapwing Linnet Little Egret 5 Magpie Mallard Marsh Harrier 1 Moorhen 1 Pheasant Reed Bunting Reed Warbler 3 Sedge Warbler 3 Shelduck 5 Skylark Starling Swallow Swift Whitethroat Woodpigeon Butterflies: Large White Meadow Brown Ringlet Also seen was a single Brown Hare. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 28/6/2018 Chaffinch 1 Wren 1 29/6/2018 Chaffinch 2 Meadow brown 2 Speckled wood 2 30/6/2018 Meadow brown 2 1/7/2018 Southern hawker (teneral) 1 + flying around later. This was in a strange place, on the green plastic cover over a bench next to the pond. 2/7/2018 Small tortoiseshell 1 Small white 1 Speckled wood 1 Tree bumblebee 1 3/7/2018 Nemophora degeerella 1 [Long-horn moth] KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 26/6/2018 Jon Drakes A brief evening walk along a lane local to where I live allowed me to take advantage of the splendid summer weather as well as watch some local wildlife. Species noted included: Blackbird Blue Tit Carrion Crow Collared Dove Herring Gull House Martin House Sparrow Magpie Robin Starling Swallow Swift Woodpigeon KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 30/6/2018 Jon Drakes Species recorded whilst carrying out the weekly Garden Bird Watch for the BTO in our back garden were: Blackbird 3 Collared Dove 3 Starling 6 House Sparrow 25 Goldfinch 1 Blue Tit 1 Greenfinch 1 Dunnock 3 Chaffinch 2 Woodpigeon 1 Carrion Crow 1 Robin 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Swallow Swift KEELBY (Grid reference TA1610) 1/7/2018 Jon Drakes Species noted whilst "working" in the back garden on a glorious Sunday morning were: Blackbird Collared Dove Dunnock Goldfinch Greenfinch Herring Gull House Martin House Sparrow Jackdaw Robin Starling Swallow Swift Woodpigeon Butterflies: Meadow Brown Moths: Silver Y White Plume Also seen resting in the sunshine was a Giant Wood Wasp - first one I have recorded in our garden. LOUTH OS 3486 C Byatt 11/6/18 Chaffinch – 1 (male). Hedgehog – 1, House Martins – 2 WILSFORD BANK ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVE TF010430 Jane Ostler 28th June 2018 The site is just one of many roadside limestone grasslands managed by the Trust. Adjacent to the busy A153 we were all wearing our reflective jackets. With over 250 flowering plants recorded here, there was plenty 'to go at'. Limestone grasses included Upright Brome and Tor Grass, Crested Hair and Yellow Oat Grass and good numbers of Quaking Grass. Glaucous and Spiked Sedge were frequent. Some time was spent on members of the pea family including Tufted Vetch, Hop and Lesser Hop trefoil, Black Medick, and Bird's Foot Trefoil. Features of the site are areas dominated by Wild Thyme and patches of Yellow Rattle. Scarce limestone plants like Small Scabious and Stemless thistle were in the shortest turf and Greater and Black Knapweeds in the taller grass. On the tall stony ledges were Weld, Wild Basil Hemp Agrimony and Wild Clematis. We also noted Meadow Grasshoppers, Ringlets and Gatekeepers and rose seedlings bearing the plant galls Robin's Pincushion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 follows ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/get-involved/ Does anyone know a good website dealing with The incolnshire Limewoods NNR? 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 Meeting - June Report for 17/06/2018 Found in the Dormouse boxes: Six Dormice were found in total, five of these had been found and marked previously. The new Dormouse was a female with a litter of 'pinkies' (1 to 2 day old babies). Most bird nests in the Dormouse boxes are now empty - hopefully as a result of successful fledging! Wasps continue to occupy a few of the boxes. Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Meetings 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. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This slot is for those cracking reserves which don't get the regular mention they should. 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 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 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/ InsideEcology: Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ British geology maps now free to explore on web http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** 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/ 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 *** 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 *** Birders Against Wildlife Crime *** Paul Bray writes: Hopefully you will have come across BAWC over the past few years and will have heard about our wildlife crime conferences (‘Eyes In The Field’) in 2015 and 2016 and the Hen Harrier Days (2013 to date). http://birdersagainst.org/ By joining in and spreading the word you would be helping in the fight against wildlife crime. Please let me know if you think this is something your group would be interested in. Email: Paul Bray thesetter@hotmail.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.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. Field Meetings 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ South Ormsby Estate – Saturday 7th July 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2018-07-07/ Important note: evening moth/bat session has been cancelled. Also see: http://southormsbyestate.co.uk/about/ South Ormsby Estate, west of Alford A private site with access courtesy of the South Ormsby Estate. Afternoon session. Also National Meadows Day. Important note: evening moth/bat session has been cancelled. 12.00 for 13.00 start. Use back entrance to the Estate at TF366759 which is off the Bluestone Heath Road (west of crossroads in village) then follow track and park/meet in Ormsby Hall courtyard at TF367755. Nearest postcode: LN11 8QS Nearest public toilets in Alford town centre. Habitats: Chalk stream, marsh, broadleaved woodland, parkland, grassland. Leaders: Roger Parsons 07867 847679 old.museum@yahoo.co.uk and Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Raithby Beck Wood – Saturday 4th August 2018 Sutton Bridge area – Sunday 2nd September 2018 Swinn Wood LWT Reserve – Sunday 14th October 2018 Whisby Natural History Workshops In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Free of charge. Refreshments included. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Hoverflies - July 28th - Phil Porter & David Denman Ground Beetles - August 11th - Alan Lazenby Plant Galls - September 8th - Jan Rousseau Bryophytes - October 6th - Steven Heathcote. Fungi - November 3rd - Ray Halstead *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Volunteer Days and Family Events *** Friday 20th July 2018 – Classroom in the Woods – Ashby Cum Fenby Practical day with the LCSP Volunteer Group – Improving this beautiful part of Waithe beck at one of our previous restoration sites. Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. I am about to delete mailing list addresses that are not "opted-in". Please check your details now as explained in "Editor writes". 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..... Country diary: swanning around the river bank https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/02/country-diary-swans-river-bank-otley-wharfedale#comment-117688205 Country diary: fretting at the bird ledges devoid of guillemots https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/30/country-diary-fretting-at-the-bird-ledges-devoid-of-guillemots Country diary: my moth trap nets the usual suspects and a rare newcomer https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/29/country-diary-moth-trap-ermines-concolorous-lowere-benefield-northampsonshire Country diary: a swift blast of beetle mania https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/03/country-diary-swifts-pollen-beetle-mania-raveningham-norfolk ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/