============================================= || || 25th 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 you open this Bulletin I shall have started on next week's, the first of 2020. This means you can send me a contribution now if you'd like to. I'm ready for it. I was very impressed by "The Last Igloo" on BBC 4 : "Documentary that follows a lone Inuit as he hunts, fishes and constructs an igloo, a way of life threatened by climate change." If you missed it it is available on i-Player: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000cr9s/the-last-igloo Major road into Lincoln to be closed for up to FIVE MONTHS - Washingborough https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/major-road-lincoln-closed-up-3652977 Update surrounding flooding on Short Ferry Road, Fiskerton https://pre.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/article/141/update-surrounding-flooding-on-short-ferry-road-fiskerton Bird of the week: The Smew - but what is a "redhead"? https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/smew/ https://www.beautyofbirds.com/smew.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybdzx5QyUgs Look out for Quadrantid meteor shower - 1-6 January 2020 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates Reminder: Allan and Annette Binding are taking a break from recording. [Harvestmen, Pseudoscorpions, Spiders and Shield Bugs] Please do not send records in for now. We will let you know when alternative arrangements are in place via the LNU website and the Bulletin. Donna Nook. Check Weekly Seal Update before visiting. Numbers are dropping swiftly. 21/12/2019 - Total pups born 2,186. A 5.4% increase on last year. The seals are heading out to sea now but there's still plenty to see. Visible from the viewing area there are: bulls 34, cows 29, pups 185. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update A selection of news stories and articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Wildlife volunteer army needs recognition - Iolo Williams https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50840158 Paw Patrol truck boy, 3, takes to road to rescue dad - good lad! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-50851639 Large section of Norfolk coastal cliff falls on to beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-50874876 Christmas flakes: macro photography reveals unique snowflake design https://www.zmescience.com/other/great-pics/christmas-snowflakes-photos/ Birds in Flight - watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wp1RnC7kk Separating Short-eared and Long-eared Owls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_zoBcSrXZk Family finds owl in Christmas tree after a week: 'He was hugging the trunk' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/20/family-finds-owl-christmas-tree-hugging-trunk Buglife Bee and Ladybird winter surveys for the last two weeks of December to add to climate change data: https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bee-survey/ https://www.buglife.org.uk/get-involved/surveys/bbc-radio-4-today-winter-ladybird-survey/ RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: 25-27 January 2020. https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ Homo erectus: Ancient humans survived longer than we thought https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50827603 Kew selects its top new species of 2019 https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/kew-top-new-species-2019/ Seven Worlds, One Planet on i-Player - watch again. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009tt8/seven-worlds-one-planet 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/ [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 *** December 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/ Keith Scarrott writes: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society. Our first talk for 2020 is on Monday, 13th January when we have a visit by Dr Miguel Morale-Maqueda of the Natural and Environmental Sciences department at Newcastle University. He comes to give us his illustrated talk that he has entitled "Ocean and Climate - How ocean processes shape Earth's climate". The talk will provide an overview of the history of oceanography as a scientific exploration endeavour and will also discuss the crucial part played by ocean processes in driving and controlling the global climate, notably as regards glaciations and current climatic changes. Starting at 7.15pm we shall meet as usual in the St Bernadette's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is a large, free car park at the Church. There is no charge for entry to our meetings but a donation bowl is provided to help us pay the speaker's fees and travel expenses. There will be a mid-talk break in the meeting during which light refreshments are available for a small charge. For further details please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** 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 *** 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.] 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/ 18/12 Smew ad drk, Huttoft Bank Pit Hen Harrier male flew west over Saltfleetby St Peter 19/12 Great Northern Diver, Cut End, River Witham Mouth Pomarine Skua juv south past, Slavonian Grebe, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point Smew ad drk, Huttoft Bank Pit Smew redhead, Kirkby-on-Bain gravel pits 20/12 Water Pipit at Croftmarsh 21/12 4 Water Pipits, male Hen Harrier, East Halton Skitter Black-throated Diver, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 22/12 Lapland Bunting, 2 Velvet Scoters, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 2 Hen Harriers, both ringtails,roosted at 4pm, Baston Fen 23/12 Scaup fem, on reservoir, Frampton Marsh Pomarine Skua past, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, 3 Water Pipits, ringtail Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret. South Fen, Bourne 24/12 Great White Egret, Bardney Lock Bittern, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Water Pipit, 2 Velvet Scoter on sea, Hen Harrier male over old saltmarsh, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 25/12 2 Bittern, 1 from Ness Pit hide, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Hen Harrier ringtail, Short-eared Owl, 2 Velvet Scoters, Water Pipit, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Gibraltar Point Tundra Bean Goose, Black Brant, 3 Lapland Buntings, 80 Twite, 37 Snow Buntings, 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Donna Nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Marion Ellis writes: Three days ago a notice was posted on our Notice Board at Martin Court, saying that an otter had been spotted in the Witham in the stretch between St. Catherine's Road and Sainsburys. The river is very high at present, due to the rain. I've no way of confirming this, unfortunately. 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 Several small tortoiseshell butterflies overwintering in The Old Museum. Also in the Methodist chapel - plus a Peacock butterfly. RP. TF118693 Song Thrush heard singing in churchyard 22/12/2019. RP. TF119693 Probable sparrowhawk kill of possible Fieldfare - AP on 23/12 at approx TF117692 Common Buzzard - AP - 23/12 at TF118692 HORKSTOW 23 December 2019 Jenny Haynes Today a flock of about 15-20 red legged partridges traversed my garden, from the field at the back to the road at the front. When they got to the hawthorn hedge that borders the road, they appeared to wait to go through it until the first one scouted out the other side. I live on a relatively quiet road, but couldn’t watch as they started to meander across the road and thought that when I went out I’d find a few casualties, but they all appeared to have crossed safely (with a few taking to the air). Phew! I hadn’t seen any partridges for quite a while and then all these turned up. Were they looking for pear trees? THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 19/12/19 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 35 Common Buzzard x 1 Common Gull x 12 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 29 Goldfinch x 15 Kestrel x 1 Redwing x 4 Starling x 150 Stock Dove x 2 Wood Pigeon x 5 24/12/19 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 15 Blue Tit x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 1 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 15 Goldfinch x 15 Goosander x 2 males, 1 female Owston Ferry Warping Drain Kestrel x 1 Pink-footed Goose x 125 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 21 Robin x 1 Starling x 48 Tree Sparrow x 31 Yellowhammer x 15 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 NNRand nearby Higher Level Stewardship. Sightings: Peter and Janet Roworth, John Walker. A summary of peak sighting over the past 3 weeks on the 250 acres of HLS grassland adjacent to B1200 and A 1031 at Seaview near Saltfleet. Water levels in the shallow pools and ditches at the highest of the 12 years the sites have existed. Peak counts pink foot geese 1120, canada geese 325, wigeon 185, teal 190, mallard 72, brent geese 73, redshank 93, curlew 88, little egret 6 lapwing 1450, golden plover 2100, starling c 120, rook 65, common gull 295, black headed gull 280, 1 male hen harrier, 2 common buzzards 1 sparrowhawk, 1 barn owl, 2 kestrels. ( a pair of pink foot geese with coded neck and leg rings observed awaiting data ) Other sightings 19 12 19 a single pipestrelle bat at Seaview also the ring ouzel again seen in the same area a barn owl and 2 little owls in the Churchill lane area . 21 12 19 4 water rails heard from Rimac to Churchill Lane, 1 stonechat seen and again on 241219. 22 12 19 tawny owl at Seaview, male blackcap near Brickyard Lane, c 1300 pink foot geese seen in 4 skeins leaving NNR foreshore roost 24 12 19, 2 grey 2 brown hen harriers, 14 little egrets, foreshore 21 snipe c 45 rock pipits 1 jack snipe . Donna Nook: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Also check road closures before you go. 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. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 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... Lewis stone circle has star-shaped lightning strike - fascinating! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50891787 Rescued grey squirrels to be killed under new law – but Britain’s ‘invasive’ problem runs much deeper https://theconversation.com/rescued-grey-squirrels-to-be-killed-under-new-law-but-britains-invasive-problem-runs-much-deeper-128270 Suffolk bird flu: Cull of 27,000 chickens completed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-50841416 Fighting a goose invasion with guns, knives and forks https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-50816678 Scottish grouse moor owners face mandatory licensing https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/19/scottish-grouse-moor-owners-face-licensing-within-five-years Welsh Farmers hit out at meat production 'propaganda' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-50810966 Climate change: Met Office says warming trend will continue in 2020 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50839974 Black Saturday: The bushfire disaster that shook Australia https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-47038202 Cutting down trees and planting new ones is wrecking the soil https://www.zmescience.com/science/agriculture-science/cutting-down-trees-and-planting-new-ones-is-wrecking-the-soil/ Scientists devise tiny robot insects that can't be crushed by a flyswatter https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/soft-insect-robots-042332/ ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/