============================================= || || 28th 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 interest this week - an LNU Field Meetings at Glebe Farm, East Keal , news of ‘the Great British Hedgerow Survey’, RSPB Grimsby Local Group's trip to Spurn Point, latest news from The Boston Belle cruise into The Wash on 23rd August 2019, a report on Bats from Annette Faulkner and her note about viral haemorrhagic disease in Hares. Gemma Watkinson has sent in a very informative Dormouse Group report. Your late summer reports will be welcome. We caught a hedgehog [or hedgehogs] on the camera trap several nights this week. We had previously noted hedgehog droppings on the lawn, and knew at least one was about. If you see signs or you actually see a hedgehog, please send in a record. Try putting out a trail camera if you have one. If you spot a road kill, let us know that too, please. See: Drop in RSPCA hedgehog calls 'evidence of decline' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49433727 Hedgehog Links https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ https://www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk/posts/view/a-hospital-and-home-for-hedgehogs Botanical colour question - a reader asks: I love scabious flowers but are they blue or lilac? I missed them when I lived in West Yorkshire, now I have them in my garden. I remember them from childhood as bluer, perhaps it depends on soil? Or genetics? Does anyone have thoughts on this? Len Pick Barn Owl camera - the story continues... EIGHTH egg on 19th! http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 A selection of relevant news stories can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by readers. Others I have chosen with specific individuals in mind! Loch Ness Monster: 'Plausible theory' for Nessie https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49419989 Stephen the hedgehog found safe and well https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-49431958 Rivers used as 'open sewers', says WWF charity https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49131405 South Stack: Concerns over new parking charges at beauty spot https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-49467253 Big Picture Competiton - 2019 Results https://www.bigpicturecompetition.org/ David Attenborough to front BBC's Extinction: The Facts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49432824 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, a 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 *** ‘Great British Hedgerow Survey’ *** Letter from Izzy Wyatt - PTAS At the end of this week we will be formally announcing our new national hedgerow survey called the ‘Great British Hedgerow Survey’ https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/ You may have heard a bit about this already but to give you more of an idea, the survey’s aimed at landowners, farmers, wildlife groups and anyone interested in healthy hedgerows. We want to encourage the UK to health-check the nation’s hedgerows in an attempt to safeguard the future of this important habitat. The survey will provide instant feedback about the condition of the hedge. You’ll receive separate scores for wildlife, connectivity and structure, and tailored management advice to guide surveyors to the best way of managing the hedge to ensure tip top condition for our wildlife in the future. As you know, woodland is the primary habitat for dormice, but they need a good network of hedgerows in order to travel to new sites. This helps maintain their genetic diversity, rescue declining dormouse populations, re-establish populations in woodlands where dormice have been lost and help them colonise new suitable habitat. If a hedgerow is good enough and with a wide enough range of plant species, hedgerows can even be a home to healthy dormouse populations. We are using #HealthyHedgerows across all of our social channels. Thank you in advance for your support. Please do get in touch if you have any questions. Izzy Wyatt Website and Outreach Officer 0207 498 4533 People’s Trust for Endangered Species 3 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BG www.ptes.org *** 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. 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 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 *** August Night Sky - soon to become September 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 Martin Francis writes: 'The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's new 'season' gets under way on Sunday 15th September with a trip to Spurn Point, where migration will be in full swing. We w ill probably also be calling in at Kilnsea Wetlands, and we have been promised a ringing demonstration sometime during the day. Please note there is a new departure point (because we are using a new coach company, PC Coaches) which is the Shoppers Car Park on Waltham Road, Scartho, DN33 2LX, which is between Springfield Rd and the Scartho round-a-bout. We leave promptly at 7.30am and expect to return at 6.00 - 6.30pm. The cost of the coach trip is £20 per person. Booking is essential. For more information, contact Tony Bryan at mariners4top@yahoo.co.uk or on 01472 873362 Unusually, the trip takes place before the first meeting which is at 7.30pm on Monday, 16th September 2019 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH Well-known local naturalist and photographer, Geoff Trinder, will give an illustrated talk entitled 'Birds of Prey', which promises to be excellent and maintain the very high standard we have enjoyed. There will also be refreshments and a raffle Entry is £4, payable at the door. Everyone is welcome. You don't have to be a member of the RSPB to attend the meeting or go on the trip. *** 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/ The South Lincs.RSPB Group recorded the following Species sightings from aboard The Boston Belle on 23rd August 2019. 63 BIRD SPECIES...barnacle goose, black-headed gull, blackbird, blue tit, brent goose, buzzard, Canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, collared dove, common gull, common sandpiper, common tern, cormorant, curlew, dunlin, feral pigeon, goldfinch, great black- backed gull, greenshank, grey heron, grey wagtail, greylag goose, herring gull, house sparrow, jackdaw, kestrel, kingfisher, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull, linnet, little egret, little tern, magpie, mallard, marsh harrier, meadow pipit, moorhen, oystercatcher, peregrine, pied wagtail, pink-footed goose, purple sandpiper, redshank, little plover, ruff, sand martin, sandwich tern, shelduck, sparrow-hawk, spoonbill, starling, stock dove, swallow, swift, teal, tufted duck, turnstone, wheatear, whimbrel, wood pigeon, wood sandpiper, yellow wagtail. Also seen... 160 common and 1 grey seals, butterflies {painted lady, small tortoiseshell, red admiral, large and small white, peacock, holly blue}, migrant hawker, common darter and banded demoiselle. 4 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 Carolyn Davis writes: On Saturday 7th September 2019 at the Cleethorpes Arts by the Sea Festival, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are encouraging people to join them on an "Estuary Walk" led by Mick Binnion. Meet Mick at 2pm by Cleethorpes Pier from where he will lead the walk along the beach to the salt marsh south of the Leisure Centre. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and footwear. For further details contact Mick Binnion - 07963120437 On Sunday 8th September 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk at Tetney Blow Wells Nature Reserve with Graham Hicks. Meet at 8am outside St. Peter & St Paul Church, Church Lane, Tetney, DN36 5JS. Grid ref. TA 317009. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Graham Hicks - 07979089890. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 21st August Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 6 Spoonbills, 13 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Garganey, Great White Egret, 2 Short-eared Owls, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh Black Redstart, 8 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 4 Spoonbills, Cress Marsh, Stallingborough 2 Wood Sandpipers, Manby Flashes Curlew Sandpiper flew south over Saltfleetby St Peter 22nd August Pied Flycatcher, Trent Port Wetlands, SWS of Marton Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Great White Egrets, 12 Spoonbills, 16 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Little Stints, 2 Garganey, Frampton Marsh 5 Little Gulls, Glentham, flew north over Bishop Norton 8 Spoonbills, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Black Tern flew south, Gibraltar Point Garganey, Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull on Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness Dotterel juv, on mud, Killingholme Curlew Sandpiper, Whinchat, between Stonebridge car park and Somercotes Haven breach, Donna Nook 23rd August Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 8 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Curlew Sandpipers juv, Long-billed Dowitcher, 15 Spoonbills, 10 Spotted Redshanks, Turtle Dove, Whinchat, 10+ Garganey, Little Stint juv, Frampton Marsh Pale Clouded Yellow butterfly Saltfleetby north of Rimac Car Park Dotterel juv, Killingholme Caspian Gull on Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 24th August Dotterel juv, Killingholme 12 Pied Flycatchers, 21 Whinchats, 8 Spoonbills, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Black Terns flew past, Wood Sandpiper over, Gibraltar Point Long-billed Dowitcher, Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 3 Whinchats, East Halton Skitter Garganey, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Garganey, Bittern, Far Ings Dotterel juv, Killingholme Willow Emerald dragonfly, Cleethorpes Country Park 25th August Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, Long-billed Dowitcher, Little Stint, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 10 Spotted Redshanks, 19 Spoonbills, 4 Garganey, Frampton Marsh 3 Curlew Sandpipers juvs, Dotterel juv, 2 Whinchats, Killingholme, Haven pits, Osprey flew south over Killingholme pits 2 Pied Flycatchers between Pye's Hall and breach, Donna Nook 2 Pied Flycatchers between Rimac and Seaview, 1 at Churchill Lane Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 17 Pied Flycatchers, 10 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull, Trent Port Wetlands, Marton 26th August Dotterel juv, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Spoonbill, Killingholme Haven Buff-breasted Sandpiper ad, 6 Wood Sandpipers, 13 Curlew Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, 9 Spoonbills, Garganey, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 9 Pied Flycatchers, 17 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Little Gull, Gibraltar Point 2 Turtle Doves, Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe, Common Rosefinch Theddlethorpe St Helen, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Spotted Redshank on Paradise Pool, 2 Wood Warblers, 2 Pied Flycatchers at Saltfleetby 12 Pied Flycatchers, 13 Whinchats, Donna Nook 2 Little Gulls, Anderby Creek 27th August 24 Curlew Sandpipers, Bull-breasted Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Wood Sandpipers, 16 Spotted Redshanks, 3 Turtle Doves, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, 9 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Dotterel juv, 3 juv Curlew Sandpipers, Killingholme Haven 2 Little Gulls, juv Black Tern, 6 Arctic Terns, Anderby Creek Black Redstart, 6 Pied Flycatchers, 7 Whinchats, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 7 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Osprey, Saltfleetby St Peter Possible Icterine or Melodious Warbler in hawthorn at Buck Beck, Cleethorpes 28th August Pied Flycatcher, 7 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret, 19 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 5 Spoonbills, Bull-breasted Sandpiper ad, 21 Spotted Redshanks, Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Whinchats, Frampton Marsh Dotterel juv, Killingholme Haven 6 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Peter Wilson wrote: "Can anybody tell me what has happened to all the bats, I haven’t seen one for many months now and there used to be so many flitting about in the evening. Probably more destruction of habitats by uncaring humans I suppose." Annette Faulkner replies: Bats. There are clear signs that pipistrelles are declining in some parts of the county, judging by their reduced numbers in a number of repeat surveys we’ve done on churches in the last few years, and not helped by numerous lead thefts in the last few months, but as to why, the reasons would seem to be many and varied. We’ve had 60-70 years of pesticide use, and we now have climate change having a deleterious effect on a lot of invertebrate life cycles due, we are told, to warmer winters and shifting seasons. Earlier this year it was announced that the insect population had declined by 70%, and indeed when we drove from Spalding to Caistor and back last week there were only a handful of insect splodges on the wind screen by the time we got home. But we also shut them out of our houses (and house sparrows and swifts), and encase everything with plastic. Last year Buglife published a report on the presence of neonicotinoids in our rivers, using Environment Agency data, and also diclofenac: neonics have a fairly short shelf life; diclofenac doesn’t and is much more persistent. The concern, of course, was for aquatic inverts. Interestingly, given that both pipistrelles and Daubenton’s forage over water, feeding on emerging aquatic insects, there appears to be no reduction in Daubenton’s numbers, from work we’ve done in recent years. Two other things. Bats only have one baby a year, if that, so once reduced the numbers take a long time to recover; and the other is that pipistrelles ‘garden hop’, visiting a few gardens, backwards and forwards, for 10-15 minutes before moving on. If you’re not out at the right time you miss them, and rather than there being no bats, or ten bats, it’s not often more than one or two, and I always ask people how many bats they’ve seen together. This prevents over-counting and gives a truer picture of the population. SPALDING - Cradge Bank TF253165 Annette Faulkner We were returning from doing a bat survey along the River Welland south of Spalding at about 10.30pm on 24 August when we came across a hare in the middle of the road. It was emaciated and bedraggled and clearly very sick. It did the usual thing of zigzagging across the road in front of us as we waited for it to go into the verge, but was so weak it then sat down in front of us before having another go slightly faster. I was just about to get out of t he car to shoo it into the verge when it made it. I learnt some months ago that viral haemorrhagic disease (?) has crossed species from rabbits into hares and has been reported in Norfolk. Would anyone like to comment on this. ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. SCOTTER 889 016 Keith Scarrott 24/08/19 Young Hedgehog road kill This makes at least 7 hedgehog road kills I've seen in the Ashby, Messingham and Scotter area this year. *** 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 22/8/2019 Starling flock of 30-50 visiting garden, adults and many juvs. 8-10 small tortoiseshell butterflies. Hedgehog [or hedgehogs] on the trail camera night of the 22nd/23rd, active from after 22.00 hrs to about 05.00hrs 24/8/2019 Common Pipistrelle and Noctule bats detected at garden and churchyard. 21.00-22-00hrs 24/25th ad Hedgehog again caught on trail camera on garden. 25th/26th ad Hedgehog at approx 21.00 and 01.00hrs and again on 26th/27th 22.00 to 05.00hrs. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 23/8/2019 Common darters 4 or more Holly blue 1 Hummingbird hawk moth 1 Tawny owl 1 heard at 1.30 am 24/8/2019 Comma 1 on ivy (first in the garden this year) Red admiral 8-10 on ivy 27/8/2019 Dunnock 1 not seen for months WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH Nature Trail, The Meadow SK244918 Jane Ostler 22nd August, 2019 Seed Collecting day with Mark Schofield After a talk and demonstration we collected seeds including those of Field Scabious, Greater Knapweed, Common Knapweed, Agrimony, Black Medick, Hop Trefoil and Bladder Campion. A few seeds only from Yellow Rattle as they had mostly dispersed. Insects noted were butterflies - Red Admiral, Peacock, Painted Lady, Large White, Gatekeeper, Ringlet and Common Blue. A Privet Hawk caterpillar from Ash was photographed. There were buff and red tailed Bumble Bees on flowers and Hornets flying from a nest near the entrance gate. A group of Goldfinchs demonstrated that, unlike us, they could collect seeds from Greater Knapweed without falling foul of the spines in the chaff. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 21st August- 27th August 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 210819 - Paradise lagoon: singles of wood sandpiper, ruff, common sandpiper, greenshank, lapwing, 27 redshank, 2 dunlin, 7 little egret and a juvenile wheatear nearby. 220819 - Paradise lagoon: single of greenshank and ruff, 2 wood sandpipers, 2 lapwing, 26 redshank, 6 dunlin, 15 common gulls and 312 black-headed gulls. 2 swifts with swallows and house martins flying over dunes. 230819 - Paradise lagoon: 1 wood sandpiper, brimstone at Sea View. A Wildlife Watch event at Rimac detected several species of bat including soprano and common pipistrelle, daubentons and noctule and caught 24 species of macro moth including chevron, frosted orange, gold spot and small rufous. 240819 - 2 wood sandpipers, 45 redshank, 5 dunlin, 1 common snipe, 2 little egrets, 1 common sandpiper, 1 oystercatcher and 5 black-tailed godwits over Paradise lagoon. Kingfisher along the Eau. 2 pied flycatchers at Sea View. 250918 - Single pied flycatcher at Sea View. Single spotted redshank at Paradise lagoon. 3 pipistrelles around coastguard cottages and 2 along willow trees north of Churchill Lane car park. 260819 - 3 pied flycatchers and a single wood warbler at Sea View. Single spotted redshank and juvenile sandwich tern with roosting black-headed gulls at Paradise lagoon. Still numerous painted ladies including 25 on the butterfly transect at Rimac. 2 little owls and 2 tawny owls calling at dusk in Churchill Lane area over the past few days. 270819 – A pied flycatcher, marsh harrier and a common lizard seen at Sea View. Marsh harrier in the Churchill Lane area. Fleabane, water mint, greater water parsnip, angelica, harebell, scabious and lots of hawkbits in flower. At least 7 pied flycatchers, 2 wood warblers, 4 wheatears, 1 whinchat, 1 rosefinch this week around Churchill Lane. Lots of migrating dunlin sanderling, ringed plovers, oyster- catchers, gulls and terns throughout the past 5 days, a few gannets, cormorants and an occasional arctic skua. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Dormouse sightings were up at 36 individuals this month, mainly due to 5 litters, totalling 22 young, being found. This included three of the newly released female mice with litters of young. The chipped mice are also dispersing further into Ivy Wood which is good news. Only 2 of the 11 newly released mice have not been seen since being released, 4 have been seen at all 3 of the last box checks and 3 of the females have produced litters totalling 14 young. In Minting, three clipped adults were found and also two new mice were sighted. Also seen were 3 woodmice and a shrew all in Ivy Wood. Worryingly, a number of boxes in Minting triangle part of Chambers Farm Wood were found with signs of disturbance to the contents of some which contained nests, as though someone had been opening boxes, removing nests and carelessly stuffing them back in - a gentle reminder that dormice must only be disturbed by those who possess the relevant licence from Natural England! Anyone who would like the chance to see a dormouse should get in touch with us and is welcome to join a licenced handler on a box check. Please email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma 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.... 10 breathtaking photographs from the 2019 Audubon Photography Awards https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/10-breathtaking-photographs-2019-audobon-photography-awards City crows may have high cholesterol because they eat fast food https://www.newscientist.com/article/2214371-city-crows-may-have-high-cholesterol-because-they-eat-fast-food/ Marine life is still struggling after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill https://www.newscientist.com/article/2214384-marine-life-is-still-struggling-after-the-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill/ Extinction: Last chance to save 'rhinos of the oceans' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49422045 White-tailed eagles return to southern Britain after 240 years https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/22/white-tailed-eagles-southern-britain Country diary: fresh cowpats are nature's nutrient-rich smoothies https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/26/country-diary-fresh-cowpats-are-natures-nutrient-rich-smoothies#comment-132358216 Country diary: the wheatfield is bombarded by insouciant little weeds https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/20/country-diary-the-wheatfield-is-bombarded-by-insouciant-little-weeds Country diary: a continent of birds descends on this vast expanse of silt https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/19/country-diary-a-continent-of-birds-descends-on-this-vast-expanse-of-silt ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/