============================================= || || 21st August 2019 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, 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 from Feb 2009 - 10 years worth! http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please use the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every LNU Bulletin. We really need your help with building up reader numbers. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Information, hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Lots of reports this week - Odonata and Lepidoptera recorders please note! I learned about an important App this week, well worth knowing about. An invaluable location tool for field work and emergencies? Promising innovation for future biological recording? See what you make of it. What3words: "The app that can save your life." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49319760 To Download: https://what3words.com/ I asked them if What3words offered Grid References yet and they replied: "It was actually something we released on our most recent version of our online map site .... you can now type in and discover a OS grid reference. It is not currently available on our app, however, keep an ear out as I know our team are working on this." This week I have been unsubscribing "non-readers" to make room for others. Some 40% of present subscribers seldom open a Bulletin. I will be happy to reinstate anyone I have wrongly removed. If you hear anyone complaining please ask them to contact me. Thank you. A selection of relevant news stories can be found on the following links. Many have been suggested by readers. Others I have chosen with specific individuals in mind! Len Pick Barn Owl camera - the story continues... EIGHTH egg on 19th! http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 Woodhall Spa mustard gas accused trio appear in court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-49359040 In pictures: Australian Geographic's photo prize winners https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-49365922 Toxic blue-green algae warning for dog owners and swimmers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49344232 'Plastic recycling is a myth': what really happens to your rubbish? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/17/plastic-recycling-myth-what-really-happens-your-rubbish Plants can tell time even without a brain – here's how https://theconversation.com/plants-can-tell-time-even-without-a-brain-heres-how-121840 More links in "...and finally..." Be a contributor as well as a reader. Please help keep the information interesting by sending in something: wildlife sightings, articles, events, questions and news - anything you feel would be good for other readers to see and enjoy. Thanks to all who sent me a contribution this week. Very much appreciated. 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/ You should check this link in case any change has been made. In the event being told of a late cancellation or other change after the Bulletin has been sent I will also post updated details on the following webpage. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, Moor Lane, Thorpe on the Hill, Lincoln and start at 2pm.] Next meeting: rescheduled Glebe Farm, East Keal (including Keal Carr LWT Reserve and SSSI) – southwest of Spilsby Saturday 31st August 2019 All day event with evening moth/bat session Access courtesy of Alec Coney Farms Ltd and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Last LNU visit in 1988 10.00 start and then again from 13.00. Evening session starting from 20.15. Meet and park at Glebe Farm TF378649 which is at end of track off minor road (last road on left as you head north out of East Keal on A16). Nearest postcode: PE23 4HA. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Spilsby. Some marshy areas and steep slopes. Habitats: Grassland, marsh, ponds, wet woodland, scrub and hedgerows. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Boston Cemetery – Sunday 8th September 2019 Last LNU visit in 2002 Access courtesy of Boston Borough Council 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet and park at Boston Crematorium TF323454 and post code PE21 9HA. NB. Please respect graves and visitors to the cemetery when undertaking recording/collecting. Several public toilets available in Boston and supermarkets are present nearby. Habitats: Cemetery, grassland, plantations Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Whisby Natural History Workshops 2019 - have you signed up yet ? In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. 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. Bryophytes, course on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st - has been cancelled. The other workshops all have a number of places available. Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead *** The National Moment - Lincolnshire Wolds *** Helen Gamble writes: The Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service are taking part in the National Moment which all AONBs are participating in on Saturday 21st September at 2pm. We are pleased to announce and share with you the event which we are running and hope you can attend and/or circulate around your contacts. The Landscape for Life week information is live on our website here https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/National%20moment The event details are here https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/events/national-moment-be-part-of-the-heart-event We have a pinned tweet about it and will be circulating the attached pdf poster/flyer around Wolds venues and community groups in the next few weeks and a press release will be going out shortly. We are pleased to have secured a local catering van there for hot drinks etc. and facilities are booked. If you require any further information that is not available via the above links, please do not hesitate to contact me. Helen.Gamble@lincolnshire.gov.uk ***National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend *** Dave Miller writes: 16 volunteers help man a full itinerary of watches at Anderby Creek and the North Sea Observatory: 66.25 hours of effort produced; Three porpoises were seen, all on Sunday morning, all from the Observatory and all by Jane Woodcock! We spoke to well over 60 people about NWDW and cetacean spotting off the Lincolnshire coast. I would just like to say thank you to all you volunteers for helping to keep this important survey going, it is a shame we don’t spot more porpoises but what we do see and how long we spend watching all goes into the national survey. I am always amazed at how many of you help each year. Here's looking forward to NWDW 2020!!! *** August Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Heritage Open Days *** Download your Heritage Open Day brochure ready for the festival in September. https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/news *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby For more information, contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group's 2019 BIRDWATCHING AND SEAL CRUISES aboard The Boston Belle, into The Wash. Full details of the 2019 cruise programme can be found at- https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/459075/ 5 cruises remain in the 2019 cruise program. Further details and seat availabilities at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 15th August Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, Turtle Dove, Long-billed Dowitcher, 13 Spoonbills, 11 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Wood Sandpipers, 7 Garganey, Nightjar fem/juv, Frampton Marsh 15 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Whinchat, Great White Egret, Arctic Tern, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Saltfleet Haven 16th August Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 5 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 ads+juv, Whinchat, 2 Turtle Doves, Little Stint, 7 Garganey 5 juvs, Black-necked Grebe, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 13 Spoonbills, 2 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh 17th August Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, Wood Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Curlew Sandpiper, 13 Spoonbills, 10 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 9 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Gibraltar Point 2 Wood Sandpipers, Manby Flashes 18th August Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 12 Curlew Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, 13 Spoonbills, 10 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Turtle Doves, Whinchat, Frampton Marsh 7 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Short-eared Owl, Osprey flew south, Gibraltar Point Spotted Crake, West Pit, Far Ings, west of Barton-upon-Humber 6 Spoonbills, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 19th August Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 14 Spoonbills, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 15+ Spotted Redshanks, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Black-necked Grebe juv, Frampton Marsh Honey Buzzard ad, Chambers Farm Wood, over "Minting triangle" 12 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 20th August Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, ads, 13 Spotted Redshanks, Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Great White Egret, 8 Spoonbills, Little Stint, Turtle Dove, 3 Whinchats, 7 Garganey, Frampton Marsh Turtle Dove, Short-eared Owl, 8 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 21st August Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Spoonbills, 13 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Garganey, Great White Egret, Frampton Marsh Black Redstart, 8 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. ROAD KILLS 15/8/19 A15l SK940232 BROWN RAT Jane Ostler 18/8/19 Old Post Lane,Colsterworth SK926240 HEDGEHOG (young) Jane Ostler *** 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 TF120694 R and A Parsons 16/8/2019 Hirundine feeding continues in churchyard next door. Swallows and house martins. A juv Pied Wagtail seen in the garden. 19/8 Feeding continuing on 19/8/2019 - mainly house martins now. 4 Small tortoiseshells in garden. BARDNEY - SCOTGROVE WOOD Butterflies seen at Scotgrove Wood along main ride. Grid Ref: TF 1306 7022 A & R Parsons 18/8/2019 Peacock 3+ Red Admiral - 5+ Painted Lady 5+ Brimstone m + f Large White many Small White many Meadow Brown 5+ Gatekeeper 12+ Skipper spp 3 Common Blue 2m and 3f Silver-washed Fritillary 1 Small Tortoiseshell 4 Speckled Wood 3 also European Hornet Many dragonflies - darters and hawkers Photo taken identifies Migrant Hawker SCOTGRAVE WOOD near BARDNEY Scotgrave Wood TF128701 (nominal) Richard Fox 19.08.2019 A walk along the bridle path from the road to the wood and along the main ride 100's of odonata consisting of: Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum m & f Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta m & f Butterflies: Brimstone 6+ Common blue 20+ Gatekeeper 20+ Large White 20+ Painted Lady 10+ Peacock 4 Red Admiral 20+ Ringlet (tatty) Silver Washed Fritillary (very tatty!) Small Heath 4 (second brood?) Small Tortoiseshell 10+ Small White 20+ Speckled Wood 5 BARDNEY - SOUTHREY WOOD Grid Ref: TF 1310 6804 A & R Parsons 19/8/2019 Dark almost black 15cm adult Common Lizard crossing main path. Butterflies observed along main ride. Peacock 1 Red Admiral - 25+ Painted Lady 50+ Large White several Small White several Meadow Brown 3+ Common Blue 1 Small Tortoiseshell 12 Possible glimpse of White Admiral AP. also Many dragonflies - darters and hawkers CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 Jeremy Hutchinson 18/8/2019 2 x Elephant Hawk Moth larvae, one brown, one green. Also one Hawk Moth pupa found in well-rotted manure heap, unsure of species. Several Brimstone butterflies seen recently (despite it being a predominantly Spring species), including an exceptionally pale female. Unidentified Grasshopper in garden, the first for many years. 19/8/2019 Female Brown Argus nectaring on Verbena Bonarinensis. 20/8/2019 Damsel Bug, probably Himacerus apertus Kirkby la Thorpe TF096456 18/8/2019 8+ Swifts (none seen at home for 2 weeks - then a pair seen evening of 20th!) Single Swifts seen at Boston and Bloxholme. Billinghay TF159551 18/8/2019 Hobby (f) GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 18/8/2019 20.00 hrs 11th August - Along the river bank - the moorhens are growing well, there are 3 left now. The swans continue to thrive, still 9 cygnets, some of which have the beginnings of white feathers. A black duck with a white chest has 6 ducklings - new born ones, very tiny, 2 black and white and 4 brown mallards. There is a pair of hawks in the trees, I haven't seen them but can hear their cries, the other birds are keeping very quiet 12th August - Only 3 ducklings left, 2 mallards and a black one which seems to be very quiet. Mum is keeping them very close to the river edge, there are pike in the river as well as roach and rudd. 14th August - Little black duck has gone, just Mum and 2 mallards left. I saw 4 swifts overhead for the last time, there have been none since. The sky always seems so quiet when they have gone. 16th August - I think we have lost the rest of the ducklings - In the garden all this week there have been lots of painted lady butterflies, a few small tortoiseshell butterflies, a couple of commas, number of large bumblebees and some smaller white bottomed bees in the buddleia, it's really living up to it's name this year . butterfly bush. Also some little honey bees on the oregano. There are still one or two mint moths and a few 7 spot ladybirds. Since I've stopped feeding the birds there are very few which come to the garden. A wood pigeon stopped for a drink the other day, but that's all. At night time I've seen lots of little white moths mostly around the hanging baskets, The security light is just above. GRIMSHORPE ESTATE 15/8/19 Jane and Brian Ostler At the southern edge of the trails where bridge crosses over the disused railway line at Little Bytham. TF024178 There was some shelter here from the almost gale force winds. Insects: Southern Hawker and Common Darter Dragonflies constantly on the move but more than ten of each species. Butterflies - Speckled Wood(3), Gatekeeper(5), Large White(3) Painted Lady(5). In long grass under trees Dark Bush Crickets. Fully grown. On the return journey to centre along a line of ancient oak trees and horse chestnuts TF025190 Fungi: Horse  Mushrooms and Giant Puffballs in grass and,on oak, one magnificent specimen of a Lacquered Bracket Ganoderma resinaceum or G. pferrfei - still to be determined if possible with the help of photographs. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 15/8/2019 Cricket 1 type unknown but trying to find out Red admirals 2 and Small tortoiseshells 2 on dwarf buddleia 17/8/2019 Green veined white 1 Holly blue 1 Peacock butterflies 3 18/8/2019 Common darters 3 Robins 2 - not seen for a while Speckled wood 1 19/8/2019 Bats 3/4 8.30pm flying quite low in the garden 20/8/2019 Cricket 1 - same as noted for 15/8 above MARTON MARSH Marton Marsh SK 861805 15/08/2109 Alison Brownlow approx. 150 Greylag geese 90 Lapwing 80 gulls, mix of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed. 50 Starling 1 Cormorant Also a patch of Thorn Apple plants THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 29/07/19 Greenfinch x 1 Swift x 15 Wood Pigeon x 3 Yellowhammer x 1 Painted Lady x 1 Peacock x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 20 03/08/19 Blackbird x 3 fledged young Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Essex Skipper x 2 (first for site) Gatekeeper x 4 Green-veined White x 7 Large Skipper x 1 Meadow Brown x 9 Painted Lady x 3 Peacock x 11 Red Admiral x 3 Small Skipper x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 Speckled Wood x 1 Common Wave x 1 Hummingbird Hawkmoth x 1 Mother of Pearl x 1 Southern Hawker x 1 05/08/19 Blue Tit x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 2 fledged young Lesser Black-backed Gull x 2 over Thurnholmes Magpie x 2 Tree Sparrow x 15 Yellowhammer x 1 Hedgehog x 1 SK774987 Green-veined White x 1 Meadow Brown x 1 Painted Lady x 4 Peacock x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 08/08/19 Green-veined White x 2 Meadow Brown x 1 Painted Lady x 4 Peacock x 12 Small Tortoiseshell x 11 Small White x 17 Lesser Yellow Underwing x 1 (Sam Hiner) 12/08/19 Blackbird x 5 fledged young House Martin x 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 25 Swallow x 12 Swift x 2 Wood Pigeon x 4 18/08/19 Little Owl x 1 calling 23:00hrs Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:50hrs Painted Lady x 4 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 20/08/19 Goldfinch x 8 Common Toad x 1 female Green-veined White x 1 Meadow Brown x 2 Painted Lady x 1 Peacock x 2 Red Admiral x 5 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 1 Small Skipper x 3 WOODHALL SPA Witham Road Grid Reference: TF185 626 Pat Wheat 15/8/2019 Sunbathing grass snake in the very overgrown area at the back of the garden. Young green woodpecker probing in the garden lawn – the bird’s back was softly spotted in light grey and the breast barred. It was gouging out holes in the lawn and seemed to be swallowing (at least the throat was undulating) at the same time as gouging. WOODHALL SPA RAF Woodhall Spa Nature Reserve;TF 206 608; Pat Wheat 17/08/19 Kingfisher (1) actively fishing along the edge of the North Lake – this is the first time I have seen one on the Site. Sand martins (hundreds) over the South Lake and North Lake. A glorious sight seeing them taking over the whole Lake and then perching in dozens on the barbed wire fence. Yellow wagtails (4) both adults and juveniles feeding on the sunny, south-east facing, sloping grassy bank on the South Lake – just pottering about in a randomly mixed group of starlings, wood pigeon and Egyptian geese. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx 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/ LWT Reserves: reports always welcome. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings 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 14th August – 21st August 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. 140819 - Four whimbrel feeding on saltmarsh near Sea View. 150819 - Single swift with a mix of swallows and house martins over Sea View. 160819 - Mixed flock of 2 lesser whitethroats, 2 blackcaps, 5 long tailed tits plus blue and great tits in scrub near Sea View. Single kingfisher along Eau near Paradise. 180819 - Paradise lagoon 1 wood sandpiper, 3 dunlin, 2 common sandpiper, 1 redshank, 1 oystercatcher, 1 little ringed plover, 3 lapwing, mallard with 2 juvs, 2 teal, 123 black-headed gulls and 5 common gulls plus 2 swifts flying over. A single hobby flew over. 190818 - Three common snipe flying over saltmarsh and a wood sandpiper on Paradise lagoon. A family of 5 common buzzard soaring on thermals. Continued increase in roosting gulls with c 7500 on foreshore at dusk. 200819 - In the Sea View area single humming bird hawk moth, red admirals, painted ladies, small tortoiseshell, small white and large white butterflies on the wing plus holly blue, common blue and one tatty brown argus. Two clouded yellow butterflies still at Rimac. On the dipping pond at least 7 red-eyed damselflies. Butterflies - a noticeable number of red admirals, small tortoiseshells and painted ladies with dozens of each species seen. It has been a record year for holly blues with widespread sightings on the NNR and in adjacent gardens. Dragonflies - southern and migrant hawkers, black tailed skimmer, many common and ruddy darters. Flowers - the main nectar source remaining on the NNR is fleabane and water mint most other species now in seed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/get-involved/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group The group still meets over winter to carry out essential coppice management of the wood and maintenance activities and anyone is welcome to come along and help. Just get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson adds: "Dormouse can only be disturbed and handled by those that are licenced by Natural England. The group always welcomes visitors to join us when we carry out box check surveys to continue to monitor the dormouse population. We have box checks scheduled for the following dates. Saturday 21st September Sunday 20th October Anyone interested should 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always 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/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. 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 *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Also see: *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** Chris Manning writes: Project Officer Kath Castillo at NHM has improved the accessibility of the LNU historic specimens; creating a collections ‘dataset’ on the NHM Data Portal. All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The digital herbarium sheet image data for the LNU historic specimens, plus associated images i.e. the newspaper packets, together with images for the contemporary Lincs specimens will all be pulled into the dataset as and when these are integrated into the museum’s EMu collections management system. It’s a fantastic online resource so please take the time to have a look through it. If you have any questions on this please get in touch with Kath at k.castillo@nhm.ac.uk or Fred Rumsey at f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Editor adds: Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** 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 *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club 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: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/news-campaigns/news/2019/rural-crime-news/ Drug crime mapped: Gangs operating away from home cities https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48343369 STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: *** https://roadworks.org/ *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** British Bryological Society *** http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ *** What's That Butterfly? *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/ http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php *** Identifying Dragonflies *** http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species *** How to Identify Bees *** http://www.bwars.com/ http://bumblebeeconservation.org/ LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas You can download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further information and to submit records contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ For the geologists... Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf A Building Stone Atlas of Lincolnshire - British Geological Survey pdf https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=2885 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. *** Codes of Conduct *** 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 Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi for Research and Educational Purposes https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants. https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.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 https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Our indoor meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. There is an annual recorders’ meeting, where we review the wildlife highlights of the previous year and to leaven the Annual General Meeting the honorary president gives a presentation on his or her particular interest in wildlife and this is reproduced in full in ‘The Lincolnshire Naturalist‘. This too starts at 2pm but attendees gather from noon to socialise. Next Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Boston Cemetery – Sunday 8th September 2019 Moor Farm LWT Reserve and SSSI – Sunday 13th October 2019 Whisby Natural History Workshops In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. 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. Bryophytes, focusing on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st - cancelled Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: None this week. 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 Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp does have your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. If in any doubt, this is what you do: 1. Scroll to the end of any Bulletin and click on "update subscription preferences". 2. Look at the "Marketing permissions" section. Your email box should have a tick. 3. If is doesn't, please give it a tick. Then please click on "Update Profile". That's it. If there are difficulties when doing this, send an email to old.museum@yahoo.co.uk If ever you decide you don't want to receive the Bulletin any longer there is an easy- to-use "Unsubscribe" link to click at the end of every Bulletin. You can sign up again if you miss us. ....and finally.... Iceland holds funeral for melted glacier https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49405023 Welsh bees threatened by deadly disease American Foulbrood https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49365140 Museum shrouds endangered wildlife exhibits in mourning veil https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/14/museum-shrouds-endangered-wildlife-exhibits-in-mourning-veil Fish recorded singing dawn chorus on reefs just like birds https://www.newscientist.com/article/2106331-fish-recorded-singing-dawn-chorus-on-reefs-just-like-birds/ How killer bees evolved into chiller bees in just one decade https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332430-700-how-killer-bees-evolved-into-chiller-bees-in-just-one-decade/ Country diary: collared doves cosy up for a summer fling https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/14/country-diary-collared-doves-cosy-up-for-a-summer-fling#comment-131957439 Country diary: the spider that small fish should fear https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/06/country-diary-fen-raft-spider-that-small-fish-should-fear Extinction: Humans played big role in demise of the cave bear https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49345392 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/