============================================= || || 4th December 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... *** As ever, many thanks for the reports and contributions you have sent in. As you will realise, we rely on your help to make the Bulletin as interesting as possible. We hope to stimulate you to take recording seriously if you do not already do so. If you enjoy observing wildlife, there will be a Lincolnshire recorder who will be pleased to hear from you: contacts in section 8. I am always pleased to hear from readers, so if you need advice or information get in touch. I will help if I can, or at least point you in the right direction. Check this week's flood warnings. Short Ferry causeway is still under water. https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire UK weather: How wet has 2019 autumn really been? Scampton saw 303.2mm compared with 1993's 271.7mm while Coningsby had 341.6mm compared with 284.8mm in 2000. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50572041 Donna Nook. Advice is: Check the LWT Weekly Seal Update. When you do go please try to avoid weekends. Latest seal count: 569 bulls, 1438 cows and 1999 pups. "02/12/2019 -The main car park is now open. Thank you to everyone for bearing with us during another busy seal season and helping us to get the message out there to other visitors." https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Also check road closures before you go - there are a lot in the area - we got diverted last week near Chapel St Leonards and Burgh le Marsh. See: https://roadworks.org/ Len Pick Barn Owl camera - camera off. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 Bob Sheppard writes: We are turning the camera off on December 2nd to allow the feed to be updated over the winter. We shall return at the end of January, let's hope the owls return too. We have had over 124,000 hits from 55 countries around the world this year. A big thank you to Bob for this window into the family life of the Barn Owls. Make a note of the dates for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: 25-27 January 2020. https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ A selection of news stories and articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Photos of the week - 2019 British Ecological Society photography competition https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-50602795 and Bird Guides: https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-27-november-3-december/ Donna Nook: Seal image 'highlights impact of marine litter' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-50630280 How drones can help with counting seals https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-50653582/ BBC Open Country - Witham Navigable Drains and Frampton Marsh - listen: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000bp45 White squirrel 'hotspots' investigated in Sussex - occasionally seen in Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-sussex-50575108/ Sperm whale dies with 100kg 'litter ball' in its stomach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50621304 Seven Worlds, One Planet on i-player.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009tt8/seven-worlds-one-planet Apostrophe campaign ends due to 'ignorance and laziness' - local hero John Richards bows out. Do you really know how to use an apostrophe? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-50602665 More links in "...and finally..." Thanks for all the support. Please keep your contributions coming. If you need a plug for your Natural History events and activities - please let me know. Always glad to help. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ You should check the link below in case any change has been made. In the event 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, and start at 2pm.] Next meetings: Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ‘Gibraltar Point’ Barrie Wilkinson – 11th January 2020 Recorders’ Meeting – 8th February 2020 Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu *** Bryophyte meeting - Gibraltar Point - Saturday 14th December *** Steven Heathcote writes: We have arranged a bryophyte outing to Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve at Skegness. We will meet in the northern car park (TF558589) at 10am and bryophyte our way south to the visitor centre for lunch and warming drinks. I'm particularly keen to re-find the population of Tortula viridifolia which is one of only two English east-coast outposts of this species. Let me know if you are planning to attend (steven.heathcote@gmail.com) in case of weather-related problems *** December Night Sky... *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html The Geminid meteor shower will peak 14-15 December between late evening and dawn https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/geminid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** 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 next meeting is at 7.30pm on Monday, 16th December 2019 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. Our speaker, Graham Catley, who describes himself as an ornithological consultant, photographer and serious patch-watcher, is one of the area's pre-eminent birders. He has previously given us talks about his expeditions to Scandinavia and North America, and his studies of Alkborough Flats and Wood Pipits in Laughton Forest. He is an accomplished speaker and an outstanding photographer This time, Graham will give us an illustrated talk about "Rare Birds in Britain, the Highs and Lows of Bird-finding, and Twitching and Vagrancy Patterns". There will also be festive 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. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves Donna Nook See Weekly Seal Update page: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust - Boston Branch *** WILDLIFE OF THE SUFFOLK COAST An illustrated talk by Geof Lee. 7.30 P.M., Thursday, 12TH December, 2019. The meeting will be in the schoolroom of the Centenary Methodist Church in Red Lion Street, Boston All welcome, refreshment and a leaving collection. For more info contact Geof Lee on 01205 366923 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Monday 9th December 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where the Trust's Chief Executive Paul Learoyd will give an illustrated presentation looking back over 70 years of the Trust's achievements and look ahead at some of the forthcoming challenges. This will take place in the Banqueting Room of Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. There will be a Trust goods stall, raffle, tea & coffee available and festive refreshments provided by our members. For further details contact Jennie Redpath 01472858. *** Scunthorpe and Brigg Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Local Group *** Keith Scarrott writes: At our last meeting for this year on Thursday, 12th December we have Simon Wellock, the South Humber Warden for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, visiting us to give his illustrated talk entitled "Reedbed Rehabilitation on the South Humber Reserves". Simon has enormous experience at managing our reserves for wildlife. The successful breeding and increase in numbers of Bearded Tits, Bitterns, Marsh Harriers and other species at Far Ings and other reserves can be attributed to him and his management team. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and will be held as always at the St Hugh's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2AG, which is opposite the filling station between Lloyds Avenue lights and West Common Lane lights. ALL ARE WELCOME AT OUR MEETINHGS. There is a £2 entry charge which includes light refreshments at the mid-talk break. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] RBA note on visiting Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness: Access from A52 thru The Pines Caravan Park, TF537628 If visiting Willow Tree Fen see: LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and access. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen What is a "ringtail" Hen Harrier? "While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/hen-harrier/ 27/11 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Water Pipit, ad male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Duck, Apex Pits, North Hykeham Twite with Linnets, Trent Port, Marton 28/11 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Water Pipit on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Lapland Buntings over old saltmarsh, Black-throated Diver flew north offshore,Velvet Scoter flew south , Gibraltar Point 29/11 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook 2 Bean Geese with Whooper Swans, Crowland Red-throated Diver on Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 2 Common Cranes fled south over Mareham-le-Fen 6 Great White Egrets, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh Hooded Crow, 7 Snow Buntings flew north along beach, Water Pipit, 2 Tundra Bean Geese in field by Croft Marsh, 5 Waxwings flew south, Lapland Bunting, Hume's or Yellow-browed Warbler, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting, 4 Snow Buntings, Great Northern Diver, 4 Scaup, 7 Velvet Scoters, Hen Harrier, 3 Short-eared Owls, Tetney Marshes 30/11 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Snow Bunting, 20 Twite, Saltfleet Haven Red-throated Diver on Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Long-tailed Duck, Apex Pits, North Hykeham 1/12 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Great White Egret, Bardney Lock Red-throated Diver on Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Crowland 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Lapland Bunting over, Black-throated Diver on sea, Velvet Scoter, 2 Water Pipits, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Water Pipit, Frampton Marsh Shorelark, Theddlethorpe St Helen Long-eared Owl, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Red-throated Diver, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Hen Harrier ringtail, Baston Fen 2/12 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Great White Egret on New Drain north of , Crowland Bridge 2 Tundra Bean Geese, 5 Lapland Buntings at Wash Viewpoint, Black Redstart, Short-eared Owl, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, male Hen Harrier, Water Pipit at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 2 Great White Egrets, Bardney Lock Scaup 1w drk, Denton reservoir Red-throated Diver, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 3/12 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, 2 Snow Buntings, Twite, Donna Nook 2 Tundra Bean Geese, Holbeach St John, then flew East. Smew Redhead, Slea pit, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits Lapland Bunting, Water Pipit, male Hen Harrier, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Gibraltar Point 4/12 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Lapland Bunting, 6 Twite, Donna Nook Smew Redhead, Slea pit, Kirkby on Bain gravel pits 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Water Pipit, 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. ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** 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 & A Parsons w/o 01/12/2019 Collared Dove 8 Woodpigeon 6 Starling flock c 30+ counted in sycamore tree in churchyard next door House Sparrow flock c20+ Blackbird 2 Robin Dunnock Blue and Great Tit Magpie 2+ Jackdaw 6+ Black-headed Gulls c 24 counted on church roof Feral honeybee workers flying in sunshine. also in area: 27th and 30th November 2019 - warm days with sunshine Several flies and a Hoverfly on yellow Mahonia flowers The hoverfly probably the drone fly, Eristalis tenax Honeybee worker also noted on 27th, metres from known hive location. Small Fieldfare flock working hedgerow along Water Rail Way towards Bardney Lock. Many also along hedgerows on Bardney - Baunber road. Bardney Garden Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter 27.11.19 Goldcrest on apple tree outside kitchen window 28.11.19 Treecreeper on old cherry tree near the house A mixed party of tits most days including at least 12 long tailed tits on 1st December. They got highly excited when they saw me top up the peanut dispenser and had descended upon it as soon as I started to walk away. House sparrow colony still thriving. Collared dove numbers going down. Only one or two left (see “Sparrow hawk” below). One or two wood pigeons. Two, possibly more, robin territories. Jackdaws visit most days. Resident starlings have disappeared. At least one fieldfare on the apples at the bottom of the garden, but it is often just one. 29.11.19 A small skein of about 30 pink-footed geese flew over the garden, heading approx. south-east. 2.12.19 Treecreeper again on the same cherry tree Both male and female great spotted woodpecker feeding on the peanuts. T he female had to wait for the male to finish before she could come in. Goldfinches, chaffinches and a small number of greenfinches present every day. Blackbirds feeding on cotoneaster berries and apples. Female sparrow hawk in the garden most days. Both male and female tawny owls often heard at night. Muntjac deer was barking behind the garden during November. Blue-tit bust-up over bird box. Before the first very frosty night on 20th November, I heard a shrieking coming from the garden. I couldn’t locate it at first. It sounded the typical sound of a sparrow hawk strike. However, I soon found the answer. We put up a house martin box several years ago. It is quite low, on a single storey extension, and has never been used by house martins. However, I have seen wrens roost in it on occasions. Suddenly blue tits started going in, coming out, pecking each other and producing this shrieking noise. It was obviously a precious roosting place for a cold night but nobody wanted to share! At least three blue tits were involved. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 27/11/2019 Jeremy Hutchinson A general note about the last few weeks: Jays foraging for acorns have been seen and heard more often than in any other autumn that I can recall. Likewise the Long-tailed Tit population seems to be more numerous that I can ever recall, with visits to the garden almost daily (seldom seen on our feeders though), and typically 3-5 sightings per day in the general area. In contrast there seem to be very few rabbits in the area, either seen alive or as roadkill. I presume that there must have been an outbreak of Myxomatosis or VHD. Great Spotted Woodpecker(s) have been seen/heard more often recently than during earlier in the year, and the occasional Green Woodpecker has been heard but not seen. Tawny Owl(s) have been heard hooting during the daytime on several occasions, and I have heard (but not seen) a Barn Owl screech after dark on several occasions; not a pleasant experience when it is unexpected! COLSTERWORTH NATURE TRAIL  SK918242 Western Section 28th November 2019 Jane Ostler Plants In Flower. 10 native species of which the following 7 were Composites,Smooth Sowthistle, Smooth Hawksbeard, Dandelion, Daisy, Common Groundsel, Ragwort, Yarrow. The others were White Deadnettle, Petty Spurge and Germander Speedwell. There were also some hardy cyclamens (Ivy-leaved) from garden waste years ago. Like the ivy-leaved toadflax which coils its fruits back to set itself into the cracks of the wall on which it is growing, the cyclamen needs no help with seed dispersal. It curls its fruits into the leafy mould of the ground beneath. Berries available were hips and haws, ripening ivy, sloes, including larger fruits on a hybrid bush. Hogweed had plenty of seeds left on its umbels. Fungi. The following gill fungi all appear regularly in November at this site - Snowy Waxcap (Hygrocybe virginea), Clustered Domecap (Lyophyllum decastes), Clouded Funnel (Clitocybe nebularis), Glistening Inkcaps (Coprinus micaceus) Wood Blewits (Lepista nuda) Scurfy Twiglet (Turbaria furfuraceae) Pleated Inkcaps (Coprinus plicatilis). Round Headed Dungcap (Panaeolus semiovatus), and the less common Coprinus macrocephalus were both on horse dung and the Deer Fungus (Pluteus cervinus) on sawdust. Brackets and Resupinates were Bitter Bracket (Postia stiptica), and Turkey Tail. Jelly Ear was on elder. Cramp Ball (Daldinia concentrica) on ash. Some Smooth Puff Balls (Lycoperdon molle), but best of all some very photogenic Collared Earth Stars (Geastrum simplex). Sycamore leaves were heavily infested with Tar Spot. Other Notes. A Muntjak Deer crossing line. Fresh Molehills. First flocks of Fieldfare working way down line of apple trees. The gall,. Robin's Pincushion on Roses and the tunnels of micro moth Stigmella aurella on the bramble leaves TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 28/11/2019 Blue tits, great tits and long tailed tits 10-12 in all 29/11/2019 Long tailed tits 6 Wood pigeons 10 Wren 1 30/11/2019 Wood mouse 1 3/12/2019 Ladybird 7-spot 1 4/12/2019 Rooks 14 in oak KIRTON MARSH 24/11/2019 Roy and Kathleen Pearson A visit to the Marsh this morning produced up to 2,500 Brent Geese on the salt marsh, with 5 Little Egrets. A small flock of 17 Curlew was on the grassland inside the bank, but this later increased to 50 birds, whilst up to 200 Lapwing were flying over. The only other waders seen were singles of Oystercatcher and Redshank. At least 300 Fieldfare explained the reason for relatively few hawthorn berries remaining and they can’t stay here for long. A group of 5 Whooper Swans came in from the north-east, later followed by 17. The flashes inside the bank held small numbers of Mallard and Teal. WOODHALL SPA AIRFIELD - NORTH LAKE TF207610 Steph Hoare 27/11/2019 Ruddy shelduck 2 Among greylag geese. Presumably the same ones that were seen near Harmston on 22/11. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: 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 follows... Donna Nook. Advice is: Check the LWT Weekly Seal Update. When you do go please try to avoid weekends. Latest seal count: 569 bulls, 1438 cows and 1999 pups. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update "02/12/2019 -The main car park is now open. Thank you to everyone for bearing with us during another busy seal season and helping us to get the message out there to other visitors." Also check road closures before you go - there are a lot in the area - we got diverted last week near Chapel St Leonards and Burgh le Marsh. See: https://roadworks.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Southrey Wood work party volunteers needed starting this November. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 The mission to save the hazel dormouse - background https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/40728101 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Volunteers needed this winter. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If visiting Willow Tree Fen see: LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and seasonal paths - groundwork is in progress. 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. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ 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" *** 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 *** 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 *** 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/ *** 2020 Big Farmland Bird Count *** Friday 7th to Sunday 16th February 2020. 2019 results on the BFBC website: https://www.bfbc.org.uk/ 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/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: very useful *** 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/ *** 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 *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** 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/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ BTO's Birdwatchers' Code: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi 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. Next Meetings: Indoor meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ‘Gibraltar Point’ Barrie Wilkinson – 11th January 2020 Recorders’ Meeting – 8th February 2020 Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ....and finally... Battersea Bridge whale found motionless on shore https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50615538 'Toxic chemical cocktail' passed to baby porpoises https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50631664 Amazon fires intensify Andes glacier melt https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50573623 Climate Change: Are we passing some key 'tipping points'? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50578516 Climate change: 'Bleak' outlook as carbon emissions gap grows https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50547073 Future forests facing climate balancing act https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50552135 Siberia: 18,000-year-old frozen 'dog' stumps scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50586508 Country diary: the dormice are in their element https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/02/country-diary-the-dormice-are-in-their-element Country diary: a scruffy wood pigeon finds peace in the grey morning bustle https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/28/country-diary-a-scruffy-wood-pigeon-finds-peace-in-the-grey-morning-bustle Country diary: miniature worlds magnified to epic landscapes https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/29/country-diary-miniature-worlds-magnified-to-epic-landscapes Country diary: marsh harriers fly low in the orange glow of the sallows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/03/country-diary-marsh-harriers-fly-low-in-the-orange-glow-of-the-sallows Country diary: smelly berries are off the menu even for hungry fieldfares https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/04/country-diary-smelly-berries-are-off-the-menu-even-for-hungry-fieldfares ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/