============================================= || || 29th July 2018 - sorry for the wrong date last week: 22nd, not 15th! || || 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 have received a Met Office Weather Warning for the East Midlands which says: "Between 14:00 Fri 27th and 23:45 Fri 27th Scattered thunderstorms are possible." This could affect Lincolnshire. For more up-to-date information see: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings#? Matt Blissett writes: With the current weather we are experiencing and the projected forecast over the next week it is worth keeping an eye open for unexpected invertebrates and birds. Observations are showing that butterfly species in particular are dispersing and turning up in places they haven’t been seen previously. Peter Crick writes: Bee Box on the 24th - two Bees seem to be contesting ownership of a new opening/cell. At one time one extracted the other, head to head. One Bee re-entered cell followed by other, which kept exiting and re-entering. Noise/conflict from inside cell was audible over a metre away. This carried on for over an hour, at which point I had to go out. On return both bees were absent, cell empty, so conclusion unknown. Not experienced this behaviour before, anybody know if this is typical? See his Cleethorpes report below. In reply to the "Where are all the dragonflies?" question, John Walker writes: I have seen many azure blue and emerald green damselflies also common darter, emperor, southern hawker, and brown hawker in Swinn wood, and similar species, also ruddy darter and common darter, lots of four-spotted chaser (most now past flight period) broad bodied chaser at Saltfleetby NNR. Several species fly May to July a few fly July to October, so it a question of knowing the flight periods of species, the same as butterflies, and different species also have different habitat requirements: some choose still water others flowing water some alkaline others acid, as the majority of the life cycle is as a larvae in water some may last 3 years before emerging for their flight period, which is only a few weeks. Alice Nunn writes: A brief comment referring to Peter Lilley's comments ref Odonata. ON 4th July I observed & photographed a Red Damselfly, several Broad bodied Chasers and one or 2 four spot Chasers at the small pond in the Chambers Farm Wood butterfly garden. Also on Sunday 15th I observed one large green & blue dragonfly around the churchyard area at Winteringham. I think it was an Emperor, but not 100% certain. Have also observed Brown Hawkers at Messingham in early July, plus numerous common blue damselflies. Slightly out of area in Herefordshire/ Shropshire I saw more Beautiful AND Banded Demoiselles than I have ever seen before...plus ruddy Darter and various small damsels (10- 11 July) Again I got plenty of pictures of these. I don't know the places to which Peter refers, but thought it might be helpful to let you know they are around, even if not in huge numbers. Downside of the Chambers Wood garden is that I got horribly bitten by Cleg flies and had to visit the Pharmacy in Wragby soon after for some antihistamine pills to stop having a nasty reaction. Have never come across these beasties there before! Steven Heathcote writes: Natural Flood Management survey There is a survey running as part of a Masters project at Leeds University. If anyone is involved in natural capital tools and natural flood management, and can spare 10 minutes to complete this survey their input would be greatly appreciated: https://leeds.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/natural-capital-tools-and-natural-flood-management Have you any news? 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 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. Don't forget to click. Winter storm 'battered seals' released in Skegness https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-44924276 Red Arrows RAF Scampton air base to be sold off https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-44936234 Great Butterfly Count https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44895558 Driest start to summer on modern record https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44903861 Blue-green algae shuts new aqua park https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-44910635 Arctic wild goose chase threatens chicks as temperatures rise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44892324 Antarctic seabed site gets protection after reporter's submarine trip https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-44877609/ More links in "..and finally..." GDPR I continue unsubscribing those who have not "consented" to being emailed the Bulletin. If you have not yet done so, please: 1. Click on "update subscription preferences" link at the of the Bulletin. 2. Scroll down to "Marketing Permissions". 3. Tick Email box if unticked. 4. Click "Update Profile" Thanks. 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 becoming increasingly active. Keep watching the drama! Bob Sheppard writes: "Our parent owls have been bringing lots of food to the chicks and, weather permitting, this should continue as we enter cereal harvest time. For a few weeks there will be a glut of prey. Our owls have timed their egg laying to perfection. Those who have the opportunity to watch the webcam from around 9pm will hear the extraordinary hissing of the chicks!" More: http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 *** National Cetacean Survey 4/5th August 2018 - Reminder *** Dave Miller is planning to run watches for this national cetacean survey along with Sea Watch Foundation on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August. 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 volunteers, and the plan is 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 - fully booked. A few places still available on: Ground Beetles - August 11th - Alan Lazenby [4 places left] Plant Galls - September 8th - Jan Rousseau [6 places left] Bryophytes - October 6th - Steven Heathcote. [3 places left] Fungi - November 3rd - Ray Halstead [2 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/ Raithby Beck Wood – Saturday 4th August 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2018-08-04/ Raithby Beck Wood, northwest of Spilsby A private site with access courtesy of Margot and Keith Charlton. Afternoon and evening moth/bat session. 12.00 for 13.00 start and then again from 20.30 for evening session. Meet and park on access track which is situated on the east side of the minor road between Hundleby (B1195) and Hagworthingham (A158) at TF365684, immediately north of Raithby Bridge. Nearest postcode PE23 4LF. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Spilsby town centre or at Snipe Dales Country Park. Habitats: Grassland, plantations, stream, ponds Leader: Dr. David Sheppard 07880 986923 d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Fresh dead otter required by Cardiff University Otter Project. *** 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. 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. 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 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Walk August 4th: Woodhall Spa Airfield Guided walk at Woodhall Spa airfield. Local warden Kevin James will take us round one of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's newest nature reserves and tell us all about plans for it's future. The site was the former home to the RAF's 617 squadron 'The Dambusters'. Meet at the site entrance at 2.00 pm. Access to the reserve is off the B1192 Tattershall to Woodhall Spa road at LN4 4JT. OS Grid reference TF205607 *** 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: 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. POTTERHANWORTH TF061673 25th July 2018 Steve Green Grass Snake roadkill. Scunthorpe SE 87293 09417 Peter Morrell 24.07.18 Hedgehog road kill on Ashby High Street. Scotter SE 88257 00666 Peter Morrell 23.07.18 Hedgehog roadkill on Gainsborough Road Scotter SE 88640 00799 Peter Morrell 23.07.18 Hedgehog roadkill on High Street. Ingham SK 97082 82840 Peter Morrell 24.07.18 Badger roadkill on A15. Willoughton SK 93860 93464 Peter Morrell 24.07.18 Badger roadkill on B1398 High Street. *** 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 22/7/2018 Muntjac buck on road and ventured onto our back path. 8am. Seemed lost. Thought to have moved off into the adjacent churchyard. 23/7/2018 Found R.Parsons determined Phil Porter Palloptera muliebris - the family is collectively called ‘flutterflies’ The thing that most struck me was the position the wings were held, at a very strict 90deg angle to the body and parallel the the ground. A very square posture - with the 2 wings clearly visible with their distinctive pattern. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/palloptera-muliebris CLEETHORPES TA 300069 20.07.2018 Peter Crick Yellow Brimstone x 1 on runner beans Holly Blue x 2 Adult Pied Wagtail feeding two fledglings in garden Bee Box filling up, twenty cells sealed up so far, mostly Leaf Cutter Bee. A lot more activity this year than usual. Bee Box on the 24th - two Bees seem to be contesting ownership of a new opening/cell. At one time one extracted the other, head to head. One Bee re-entered cell followed by other, which kept exiting and re-entering. Noise/conflict from inside cell was audible over a metre away. This carried on for over an hour, at which point I had to go out. On return both bees were absent, cell empty, so conclusion unknown. Not experienced this behaviour before, anybody know if this is typical? HUTTOFT BANK PITS John Walker Huttoft Pit nature reserve 230718 Odonata : migrant hawker, brown hawker, southern hawker, ruddy darter and banded demoiselle , Possibly drawn to water as so many ditches are now dry. also comma, large and small white, small tortoiseshell, red admiral. NETTLEHAM TF 0136 7549 Su Colman 19/07/18 07:30 Roesel's bush cricket found in our first floor bedroom and introduced to the garden. Must have had a really good hop to arrive upstairs! https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/grasshoppers-and-crickets/roesels-bush-cricket SANDILANDS, SUTTON-ON-SEA Ian Whitaker 21 July 2018 EMPEROR DRAGONFLY [male] seen in conservatory late afternoon. We have a small pond but never seen one here before. SCOTGROVE WOOD, BARDNEY Grid Ref: TF 1306 7022 R& A Parsons Big Butterfly count 21/7/2018 White Admiral 5 Red Admiral 1 Peacock 1 Small White 12 Large White 12 Ringlet 10 Speckled Wood 4 Gatekeeper 2 Meadow Brown 2 Common Frog SOUTHERY WOOD, BARDEY Grid Ref TF 127 682 R& A Parsons 24/7/2018 at 07.45hrs Adult Roe Deer - female - in "gully" by footbridge near Southery road. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow Long-eared Owl young x 2 calling throughout the night from Owston Ferry Warping Drain Hawthorns all week up to 24/07/18. Quail calling, at first during the daytime, south of Thurnholmes (Phil Lee), then every night at Thurnholmes all week19/07/18 - 25/07/18.  18/07/18 Barn Owl x 1 daytime hunting, Gunthorpe Brown Hare x 2 Station Rd. Owston Ferry Common Pipistrelle x 1 Brimstone x 1 Gatekeeper x 2 Meadow Brown x 5 Painted Lady x 1 Peacock x 25 Ringlet x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 17 Small White x 5 Speckled Wood x 2 19/07/18 Blackbird x 5 fledged young Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Kestrel x 5 fledged young & 1 adult all flying round nest box area, calling. Tree Sparrow x 1 feeding vocal young in nest box. Wren x 1 feeding young in old Swallows nest in stables. Common Pipistrelle x 2 Comma x 1 Gatekeeper x 2 Meadow Brown x 9 Peacock x 5 Small Skipper x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 Small White x 9 Smoky Wainscot x 1 20/07/18 Grass Snake x 1 male rescued out of drain along my driveway (Clare Holmes). I have now rectified this and made it snake proof. Comma x 1 22/07/18 Common Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 4 (3 fledged young) Brimstone x 2 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 11 Peacock x 12 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 9 Small White x 5 23/07/18 Kestrel x 3 Tawny Owl x at least 2 young calling from Hawthorns along Owston Ferry Warping Drain, 02:30hrs Yellowhammer 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 18th July 2018 – 24th July 2018 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, Cliff Morrison, John Walker, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Ruth writes: We’ve had a reserve first this week which is exciting! White-letter hairstreak. Daily Notes and Wildlife Sightings: A very light shower of rain during the evening of the 20th gave the first recorded rainfall of a trace [less than 0.1mm] since 16th June, a period of 33 days without precipitation. However the hot, dry weather has continued and daytime temperatures rose to 29.0? on the 23rd. Only a small area of open water remains on Paradise lagoon and the surrounding ground is dry mud. 190718 - 3 black-tailed godwits on Paradise lagoon, single holly blue at Sea View. A long winged form of Roesel's Bush Cricket was caught in a moth trap overnight in the Brick Yard area. About 1% of the population have long wings; usually a strategy for dispersal in hot weather for colonising new areas. The short winged form cannot fly. 200718 - A young wheatear on the outer dunes at Rimac, single hummingbird hawkmoth at Sea View and 3 painted ladies over sea lavender on the saltmarsh. 210718 - 2 whimbrel over Sea View & a single hummingbird hawk moth. 220718 - On Paradise lagoon were 3 common snipe, 12 redshank, 1 ruff, 1 black-tailed godwit, 3 common sandpipers, 4 lapwing, 1 little egret, 1 dunlin, 6 common gulls, 24 black- headed gulls, 4 moorhen and 3 yellow wagtails. A short-eared owl was hunting over the saltmarsh nearby. Butterflies in the Sea View area include holly blue, comma, peacock and common blue plus a single hummingbird hawkmoth. 230718 – A weasel was spotted crossing the road near Sea View. Lapwings on the Sea View washland. 2 holly blues and a hummingbird hawkmoth at Sea View, 4 whimbrel on the saltmarsh. Marsh harrier at Churchill Lane. 240818 - On Paradise lagoon were 4 little egrets, 3 common sandpipers, 1 dunlin, 2 common snipe and a single spotted redshank with 9 redshank. Short-eared owl hunting over the saltmarsh. 2 white-letter-hairstreak butterflies feeding on garden mint flowers near Sea View; a first for the reserve. From the butterfly transect: small skipper 70, large skipper 3, large white 8, small white 29, green-veined white 27, small copper 1, common blue 8, holly blue 1, red admiral 6, small tortoiseshell 2, peacock 3, speckled wood 3, hedge brown 72, meadow brown 42, small heath 7, ringlet 47. Flowers: small patches of lesser centaury on upper foreshore, sea lavender, scabious, bell flower, rest harrow, fleabane, water dropwort, tufted vetch. Also Welton le Wold Quarry 240718 - Small and Essex skipper, common blue, meadow brown, ringlet, small copper, gatekeeper, small white, large white, peacock, six spot burnet, shaded broad bar. Several yellow hammers singing, 3 buzzards passed overhead and a hare was spotted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Lincolnshire 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 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/ *** 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 necessary. *** 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 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 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/ *** 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/ Raithby Beck Wood – Saturday 4th August 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2018-08-04/ Raithby Beck Wood, northwest of Spilsby A private site with access courtesy of Margot and Keith Charlton. Afternoon and evening moth/bat session. 12.00 for 13.00 start and then again from 20.30 for evening session. Meet and park on access track which is situated on the east side of the minor road between Hundleby (B1195) and Hagworthingham (A158) at TF365684, immediately north of Raithby Bridge. Nearest postcode PE23 4LF. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Spilsby town centre or at Snipe Dales Country Park. Habitats: Grassland, plantations, stream, ponds Leader: Dr. David Sheppard 07880 986923 d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com Sutton Bridge area – Sunday 2nd September 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2018-09-02/ Swinn Wood LWT Reserve – Sunday 14th October 2018 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2018-10-14/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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..... Slowing Gulf Stream current to boost warming for 20 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44875508 Is UK barbecue charcoal fuelling global deforestation? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44880398 Baby snake 'frozen in time' gives insight into lost world https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44872148 Ecuador's colonial past 'written in soil' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44821726 The cost of Trump's Endangered Species Act proposal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44892275 ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/