============================================= || || 13th January 2019 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 6. Other Reserve Reports and Highlights 7. Sending in Reports - contributors please read! 8. Contact information 9. Notes about these wildlife reports 10. Bulletin publicity policy 11. Events Diary 12. ...and finally..... ============================================ Reports here are open and are available to county recorders of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, the Lincolnshire Bird Club and Lincolnshire Environmental Record Centre [LERC]. Text versions of past Wildnews Bulletins 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 this. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Thanks to all those who logged on the their accounts to check or update their Mailchimp subcriptions. Very grateful. It's not too late to check and tick the email consent box. If anyone is still bewildered please email me and I'll guide you through the process. We have had some very positive comments about the Bird Migration talk by Professor Ian Newton. The next LNU meeting will be when the county recorders give us their feedback on the past year. Not to be missed. As expected, snow is now being forecast - tentatively - for late-January. We can expect some winter sightings in our gardens, Bramblings, Siskins, Fieldfares and Redwings. Keep a look out for Waxwings: Winter birds thrill Norfolk wildlife photographers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-46763901/w Remember the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch on the 26-28 January and the joint BTO/LBC conference on Saturday, 26 January. Details below... Here's a thought: Quite a lot of us accumulate natural history books and before long we discover we have a small library of them. Eventually we recognise the time has come to downsize our collection - I am at that point now. It is unlikely that anyone would want the whole lot, but there may be someone on the lookout for books on a particular topic, or a specific title. e.g. a book on South African birds [I have one!]. I would like to try a "BOOK WANTED" section - where you can ask if anyone can help you with a particular topic. If anyone would like to give this a try, please send me a short wish list and we'll see what we can do. Are you ready for BigGardenBirdWatch 26-28 January 2019? See: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ A selection of topical links follows - chosen with specific readers in mind: People smuggler fear on Lincolnshire North Sea coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-46784320 British winter wildlife in pictures https://www.discoverwildlife.com/photo-galleries/british-winter-wildlife/ January 2, 2019NASA's New Horizons Mission Reveals Entirely New Kind of World Images of the Kuiper Belt object Ultima Thule unveil the very first stages of solar system's history http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/News-Article.php?page=20190102 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46742298 Medieval Haxey Hood game revised after pubs closure https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-46760029 Seal pup found in back garden 'very poorly' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-46752782 New Year's Eve beach bonfire sparks 'firenados' in the Netherlands https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-46727838/ Warming seas linked to bluefin tuna surge in UK waters https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46738175 How is litter affecting the UK's animal population? https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/46345467 Thank you for all your contributions this week. Please keep them coming. 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/ [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 Recorders’ Meeting – 9th February 2019 Whisby Education Centre, 12 noon Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders; the overview s tarts at 2pm as in previous years. *** January Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Heads up for the total Lunar eclipse on 21st. Lots of Planets are visible this month. Details on Paul Money's website. *** Joint BTO and Lincolnshire Bird Club Conference *** Celebrating 40 years of Lincolnshire Bird Club with a focus on Water and Farmland Birds. Everyone is welcome! Saturday, January 26, 2019 - 09:30 to 16:00 https://www.facebook.com/464978593554672/posts/2189603697758811/ Full details of the event can be found and tickets booked through the BTO https://www.bto.org/lincolnshire19/. *** Bryophyte Meeting - Sunday 20th January 2019 - note corrected details *** Bryophyte meeting – Rose's Plantation, Scotter, Lincolnshire Sunday [correction] 20th January 2019 Steven Heathcote writes: The next Lincolnshire bryophyte meeting will take place at Rose's Plantation, a Forestry Commission site between Gainsborough and Scunthorpe. Parking is on a forestry track off the A159 at SK873997. Meeting time is 10AM but I will be there from 9:40AM to open the gate. Please take extreme care when turning off the A159, particularly if coming from the south, because if the barrier is shut it isn't possible to get completely off the road. Hopefully this won't be a problem. We are interested in taking a look at the ponds which have recently been cleared and many of which now have Floating Crystalwort, Riccia fluitans. We will also look at the woodland and heathland habitats. We plan to stay out most of the day so please bring warm/dry clothes and a packed lunch. Anyone is welcome for part or all of the day. It is very important that you let me know if you plan to attend so I can make contact if there are any last-minute changes due to weather. ( steven.heathcote@gmail.com ) *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** 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/ Editor adds related links: Exhibition of work by Mrs E M Cheales at Caistor - Sir Joseph Banks Society https://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/exhibition-of-work-by-mrs-e-m-cheales/ *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** 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 *** 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/ *** 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 meeting for the New Year takes place on Monday, 14th January when our specialist geology member Paul Hildreth will be giving us his talk entitled "Women in Geology". Following a talk he gave to the Yorkshire Geological Society, Paul realised that none of the individuals he mentioned were female. A little research revealed that women had made an outstanding contribution to our present understanding of Geology. As always, the meeting will be held in the St. Bernadette's Church Parish Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, starting at 7.15pm. There is a large free car park at the Church. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are available at the mid-talk break for a small charge. Contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098 for any further details. *** Local RSPB links: *** https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby Martin Francis writes: The next meeting of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group is at 7.30pm on Monday 21st January 2019 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH Dr Mike Leach, who has visited us several times before and proved himself to be an outstandingly experienced, knowledgeable and entertaining speaker, will give us an illustrated talk entitled "Madagascar's Ghosts". There will also be refreshments and a raffle. Entry is £4, payable at the door. All are welcome. You don't have to be a member of the RSPB. For more information, contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 *** Lincoln RSPB *** http://www.lincolnrspb.org.uk/ *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group has released the dates of their 2019 BIRDWATCHING AND SEAL CRUISES aboard The Boston Belle, into The Wash. Details can be found at: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk New Year Bird Walk at Humberston Carolyn Davis writes: On Monday 14th January 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where speaker Gary Steele will give an illustrated talk on the conservation of Barn Owls in Lincolnshire. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £3, all are welcome. There will be Trust sales, raffle and tea & coffee available. For further details contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858. *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: Lincoln Area Group Talk January 17th: Highlands and Islands An illustrated talk by Steve Lovell looking at the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and their wildlife. Talk at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50 which includes refreshment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 1/1/2019 2 Waxwings, 2+ Long-billed Dowitcher, fed Scaup, Great White Egret, Short-eared Owls, Hen Harrier male, Frampton Marsh 5+ Berwick's Swans, 2 ads, 4 Hooded Crows, 13 Velvet Scoters, Hen Harrier ringtail, Firecrest, Gibraltar Point Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft Iceland Gull, Middlemarsh Wetlands. Skegness Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit, Baston+Langtoft pits Long-eared Owl on island, Deeping Lakes 5 Short-eared Owls, Bonby Carrs 2/1 3 Long-eared Owls on island, Deeping Lake Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft Long-billed Dowitcher, fem Scaup, Short-eared Owl, 5 Bewick's Swans, 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier ringtail, Candy Corner, Wroot 2 Great White Egrets on River Witham between Tattershall Bridge and Kirkstead Bright, near Woodhall Spa Great White Egret, Wolla Bank Grerat Whit Egret, Huttoft Bank Hooded Crow, 7 Velvet Scoters, Gibraltar Point 3/1 Velvet Scoter, 5 Bewick's Swans 2 ads, 60 Whooper Swans, Black Redstart, Hen Harrier male, Little Gull, Great Northern Diver, 11 Velvet Scoters, Gibraltar Point 7 Bewick's Swans 5 ads, Doncaster Road, as Whooper Swan, Westwoodside 107 Whooper Swans, 11 Bewick's Swans, Hen Harrier, Long-billed Dowitcher, Water Pipit, Frampton Marsh Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft Long-eared Owl on island, Deeping Lakes Long-tailed Duck, Baston+Langtoft pits 4/1 2 Great White Egrets on River Witham near Woodhall Spa 2 Smew both redheads, 2 Long-eared Owls on island, Deeping Lakes Scaup fem, Black-throated diver briefly, North Hykeham pits Siberian Chiffchaff at sewage works, Alkborough Flats Ruddy Shelduck, Whitton Sands Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft Iceland Gull 2w, Hooded Crow, Kirkby-on-Bain landfill Hen Harrier male, Black Redstart, 2 Hooded Crows on sand bar, Gibraltar Point 9 Bewick's Swans and Whooper Swan, Westwoodside Long-tailed Duck, Water Pipit, Baston+Langtoft pits 5/1 Long-billed Dowitcher, male Hen Harrier, Scaup, 3 Short-eared Owls, 14 Bewick's Swans, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Black-throated Diver, Siberian Chiffchaff, Scaup, Apex Pits, North Hykeham Iceland Gull at North Sea Observatory, Chapel St Leonards Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft Black Redstart, Gibraltar Point 6/1 Waxwing, fem Scaup, Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Hen Harriers 1m, Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck, Baston+Langtoft pits Great White Egret between Graizelound and Owston Ferry Black-throated Diver, Apex Pits, North Hykeham 2 Hooded Crows, Black Redstart, Snow Bunting, Gibraltar Point 5 Water Pipits at pools, East Halton Skitter Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft 7/1 American Wigeon, Riverslea Pit, Hooded Crow, Kirkby-on-Bain GPs 3 Hooded Crows, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Gibraltar Point Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft Water Pipit, fem Scaup, 2+ Bewick's Swans, 2 Hen Harriers 1 male, Long-billed Dowitcher, Frampton Marsh Scaup fem, North Hykeham pits 8/1 Black Redstart, 2 Hooded Crows on beach, Snow Bunting, 5 Bewick's Swans, 2 ads, Gibraltar Point 2 Caspian Gulls, Hooded Crow, Kirkby-on-Bain landfill American Wigeon on Riverslea pit, Kirkby-on-Bain pits 2 Long-eared Owls on island, Deeping Lakes Long-billed Dowitcher, Frampton Marsh Dusky Warbler, Roman Bank, Huttoft 9/1 Black-throated Diver on The Wash, Freiston Shore 2 Long-eared Owls on island, Deeping Lakes American Wigeon on Riverslea pit, Kirkby-on-Bain pits Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. ROAD KILLS? Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. Roadkill list Jane Ostler Rabbit SK909203 Stoke Rochford 22/12/18 Rabbit SK911295 Ponton Heath 22/12/18 Rabbit A52 TF120368 Threekingham 29/12/18 Hare A155 TF270606 Mareham le Fen 29/12/18 Fox A52 TF465536 Friskney 29/12/18 HEALING - A180 03.01.2019 Peter Crick 2 Foxes, laid only feet apart on main east bound carriageway of A180 adjacent Healing/Europark slip road. Very sad sight *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY The Green TF119694 R.&A Parsons 2/1/2019 Regular flocks of: Starlings - 24+ House Sparrows 12+ Black-headed Gulls - 12+ - occasional visits 2 Robins Blackbirds 2 m, 1f Chaffinch - 2m, 1f Blue tit 1+ Collared Dove 2-6 Woodpigeon - 2-8 Jackdaw 2-3 BOSTON (Garden S. by the A16) 03/01/2019 Kathleen Pearson During December 2018, I was able to do a BTO Garden BirdWatch on 30 days. It was a remarkable month for an increasingly urbanised garden only a few metres from two busy roads, with a total of 28 species recorded. One species was new to the garden - a Common Buzzard - whilst a visiting Brambling was the first seen in the garden since 1986. On the 15th December, 52 Goldfinches were feeding together on a large number of sunflower hearts that had been scattered on the ground by a squirrel that had destroyed a full feeder. The full list of species is given below with the highest number of birds seen together at one time. Blackbird 4, Dunnock 1, Woodpigeon 15, Chaffinch 4, Greenfinch 2, Blue Tit 3, Jay 1, Collared Dove 8, GOLDFINCH 52, Great Tit 3, Robin 1, Goldcrest 1, Starling 30, Wren 1, House Sparrow 3, Magpie 2, Long-tailed Tit 3, Black- headed Gull 7, Jackdaw 1, Common Gull 1, Carrion Crow 4, Blackcap 1, Herring Gull 5, Coal Tit 1, Brambling 1, Sparrowhawk 1, COMMON BUZZARD 1 and Green Woodpecker 1. HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 1/1/2019 Great tits 4 Wren 1 3/1/2019 Sparrowhawk 1 4/1/2019 Blackbirds 15+ Pheasants 2 male Rooks 12 Tawny owls 2 - heard 3am and one heard 5pm 6/1/2019 Blue tits 2 Chaffinch 4 8/1/2019 Wren LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 05/01/2019 Jayne Knight 24/12/18 Brambling and male GSWoodpecker 26/12/18 Male GS Woodpecker bashing the living daylights out of a rotten branch in front garden ornamental apple tree LINWOOD WARREN TF1387 Colin Smith 01/01/2019 Had a look round the reserve as I like to do each 1st Jan. Was very pleased to note the number of Ladybirds about as they had been declining over the years. Seven Spot Ladybird - 100+ Sixteen Spot Ladybird - 100+ Orange Ladybird - 2 Cream-streaked Ladybird - 3 Adonis Ladybird - 1 Rusty Oak Button Moth Acleris ferrugana/notana - 5 Common Plume Moth Emmelina monodactyla - 4 Variable Smudge Moth Ypsolopha ustella - 2 Hairy Shieldbug - 1 Heath Damsel Bug - 50+ more than I have ever seen here before Field Damsel Bug - 50+ more than I have ever seen here before Birch Catkin Bug - 100+ RAND WOOD TF082779 Colin Smith 03/01/2019 Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug - 4 Hairy Shieldbug - 1 THURNHOLMES 2019 (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 01/01/19 Blackbird x 9 Black-headed Gull x 4 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 6 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 51 Gadwall x 2 over Thurnholmes Goosander x 1 male Owston Ferry Warping Drain Kestrel x 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 1 Little Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Mallard x 6 over Thurnholmes Meadow Pipit x 3 Moorhen x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Mute Swan x 10 adults, 1 juv grazing on fields around Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 Pink-footed Goose x 138 west over Thurnholmes Redwing x 21 Robin x 1 Rook x 25 fields around Thurnholmes Tawny Owl x 2 calling 00:50hrs Tree Creeper x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Wood Pigeon x 7 Wren x 1 Harlequin Ladybird x 3 in the house 07/01/19 Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 1 Chaffinch x 4 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 29 Goldfinch x 4 Goosander x 1 male 1 female Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pied Wagtail x 1 Reed Bunting x 1 Robin x 1 Wood Pigeon x 15 THURNHOLMES 2018 (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 19/12/18 Hen Harrier x 1 female SK793989 Roe Deer x 2 SK788994 (Clare Holmes) 20/12/18 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 3 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 53 Goldfinch x 23 Redwing x 31 Short-eared Owl x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain 25/12/18 Barn Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 4 Chaffinch x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Cormorant x 1 over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 59 Golden Plover x 6 over Thurnholmes Goldfinch x 9 Great Tit x 1 Heron x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Redwing x 15 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:55hrs Tree Sparrow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 9 Wren x 1 Wood Mouse x 1 28/12/18 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 8 Dunnock x 4 Fieldfare x 63 Golden Plover x 6 Goldfinch x 8 Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 Moorhen x 3 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Mute Swan x 5 grazing fields around Thurnholmes Pink-footed Goose x 225 north over Thurnholmes Redwing x 25 Robin x 1 Rook x 18 Song Thrush x 1 Sparrowhawk x 1 male Tree Sparrow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 7 Wren x 1 30/12/18 Goosander x 3 males over Thurnholmes 31/12/18 Little Owl x 1 Tawny Owl x 2 calling alongside Little Owl just before New Years fireworks WADDINGTON VILLAGE 2/1/2019 Peter Wilson In my garden in High Street Aconites in flower, also a solitary crocus. Heliobore buds opening. In churchyard, a patch of snowdrops in flower, quite advanced, must have been in flower several days I think. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 19th Dec 2018 – 8th Jan 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Weather facts from 2018:- Lowest min. temp: ground -7.25? on 6th February and air -5.0? on 1st March. A late ground frost of -1.75? was recorded on 19th May. Highest day-time temp: 30.75? on 24th July. Most continuous days of recorded rainfall: 16 from 2nd March - 17th March giving 37.6mm (1.48 inches). Most rainfall recorded in a 24 hour period: 25.7mm (1.01 inches) on 27th July. Wettest month: December with 71.7mm (2.82 inches) of rainfall. Total rainfall for 2018: 530mm (20.88 inches). Longest period without rainfall: 17th June - 20 July (33 days). Driest month: June with 7.2mm (0.28 inches) of rainfall. Snowfall was recorded as snow grains on 21st January, 5th February and 17th March. Settling snow recorded 27/28th February but thawed soon after. Dense fog observed on 12/13th April. An easterly gust of 60.6mph was recorded on 1st March during a spell of bitterly cold winds. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 221218 - On Rimac lagoon 400+ teal and 45 shoveler, hunting over saltmarsh single male merlin, ringtail hen harrier, short-eared owl and 2 marsh harriers plus a kestrel over the dunes and a skein of 50 pink-footed geese flying south. 241218 - On Paradise lagoon were 60 teal, 16 mallard and a single common snipe 291218 - Single woodcock flushed from the dunes and 21 pink-footed geese flying high, north 301218 - On Paradise lagoon were 26 mallard, 14 male shoveler, 50 teal and 90 pink-footed geese flying over, plus 2 woodcock and 1 great spotted woodpecker near Sea View 010119 - Several skeins of at least 1500+ pink-footed geese flying from the roost to land on pasture in the Elm House Farm area. Single barn owl near Sea View and robin and mistle thrush in song 050119 - At least 950 pink-footed geese on pasture at Elm House Farm, single woodcock over dunes General observations Churchill Lane area 1st-9th January: Pink-footed geese wintering flock now c2000 roosting on foreshore (rough counts on 2 mornings as they leave), 3 hen harriers: 2 brown 1 grey, 1 marsh harrier, 3 sparrowhawk, 1 barn owl, 2 little owl, 1 tawny owl pair calling, c10 woodcock, 3 water rail screaming, c15 snipe. DONNA NOOK Final seal count for the season was 2066 pups, an increase of 33 from last season. The majority have now left the viewing area. There have been regular sightings of a peregrine falcon. On 6th January we were treated to a flying display where it flew up high, flipped over as though grappling with another and then it dived down towards the salt marsh. Skeins of pink-footed geese fly over daily and a charm of 30+ goldfinches are feeding on the saltmarsh. Curlew and redshank can be heard calling and there are 3 little egrets feeding in the area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports welcome..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Readers are invited to send in their reports and "reviews" of favourite nature reserves and public wildlife sites. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given here. http://lnu.org/ LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available on the LNU website. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorders John Clarkson - Covering the north of the county recorder_north@lincsbirdclub.co.uk Phil Hyde - Covering the south of the county recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Hare coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/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 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. http://www.glnp.org.uk/our-publications/biodiversity/projects-and-reports.php *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) For further information and to submit records contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com *** 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 *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/lincs-environmental-awards *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.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/ *** Good sources of seeds of Bee-friendly Wild Flowers *** Plantlife and Flora locale have defined protocols that can guide the conservation-minded shopper. See: www.floralocale.org/Alphabetical+supplier+listing For the geologists... *** 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 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. For good advice for ALL nature-watchers see the RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ and BTO's pdf: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see http://lnu.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. 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/indoor-meetings/ Recorders’ Meeting – 9th February 2019 Whisby Education Centre, 12 noon Overview and highlights of the past years recording provided by the county recorders. Arrive at 12 noon for a chance to catch up with recorders; the overview starts at 2pm as in previous years. Annual General Meeting – 2nd March 2019 Whisby Education Centre, 2pm Followed by the Presidential Address by David Sheppard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally.... British Wildlife - NHM http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/british-wildlife.html Quiz: How well do you know your winter wildlife? http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-well-do-you-know-winter-wildlife-quiz.html Researchers find plants may actually be able to HEAR gardeners https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6563615/ Large 'ice pancake' forms on River Dee https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-46764340/ 'Have you beetled?': the battle to save one of UK's rarest species https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/28/have-you-beetled-the-battle-to-save-one-of-uks-rarest-species Rescuers search Loch Eriboll for 'distressed whale' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-46757690 Bacteria in ancient Druid “healing soil” found to stop the growth of super bugs https://www.zmescience.com/science/bacteria-soil-super-drugs-02012019/ Memorial held for 'Angry Bob' the grumpy swan https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-46757329 Country diary: the heron's heroic appetite for survival https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/01/country-diary-the-herons-heroic-appetite-for-survival Country diary: nature's minute and various works https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/02/country-diary-natures-minute-and-various-works From volcanoes on Mars to scarps on Mercury – how places on other worlds get their names https://theconversation.com/from-volcanoes-on-mars-to-scarps-on-mercury-how-places-on-other-worlds-get-their-names-108362 Astronomical events in 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/06/five-best-astronomical-events-2019 Country diary: stumbling across the snails' winter shelter https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/03/country-diary-stumbling-across-the-snails-winter-shelter Country diary: a pocket park of apples https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/04/country-diary-pocket-park-apples-warmington-northamptonshire Country diary: ladybirds supply a welcome glimmer of colour https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/05/country-diary-ladybirds-supply-a-welcome-glimmer-of-colour Country diary: hart’s tongue ferns thrive in the gloom https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/07/country-diary-harts-tongue-ferns-thrive-in-the-gloom-otley-west-yorkshire ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/