============================================= || || 4th July 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 building up reader numbers. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Note: Important LNU Field Meeting Sunday 7th - information below, plus Dormouse Report, Butterfly Conservation events. Heads up for the Perseid meteor shower Fri 9 Aug – Wed 14 Aug 2019. The Perseids start to show in mid-July, peaking early- to mid-August. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/perseid-meteor-shower Targets - over 500 people subscribe to the Bulletin and 50% of you open it within 48 hours of mailing. That's astounding! I have now unsubscribed non-readers and non-GDPR-consenters, though all are welcome to sign- up again should they wish to do so. Please tell them they can use the "update subscription preferences" link at the end of your their last Bulletin. I would like to see our numbers grow to over 600 once more. Please help if you can. You could mention the Bulletin to friends/colleagues; at meetings; in newsletters; or best of all forward a copy of the Bulletin to a possible new reader using the "forward to a friend" link at the end of every LNU Bulletin. A selection of topical links follows. I hope you find them of interest. Click any that catch your eye. I may well have meant them for you. Wainfleet flooding: RAF ballast drop to cost up to £1m https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-48805485 Marsh harrier 'shot' near Norfolk nature reserve https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-48842212 Deer enjoys playing football in the Scottish Highlands https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-48748148/ Seals have been trained to sing the Star Wars theme - have a listen https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207264 Why are England's roadsides blooming? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-48772448 Butterfly previously extinct in England bred in Rockingham Forest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-48786365 Bats benefit from protected farmland hedgerows https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48747587 Should beavers be brought back across England? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48759710/ Welney flood plain defence work enters third phase https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-48771428 Thousands flock to see 'very rare' little bustard https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-48770382 Revealed: The secret life of the spittlebug https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48762200 Lincolnshire - Country diary: how a glance at cuckoo spit led to trouble https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/21/country-diary-glance-cuckoo-spit-led-trouble-stamford Len Pick Trust Owlcam - the 2 surviving chicks are quite big now. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 More links in "...and finally..." Please help to keep the information interesting by sending in your contributions for next week: wildlife sightings, articles, events, questions and news - anything you feel would be useful for other readers to see. 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.] Two July Meetings Queen Elizabeth Park, Grantham – Sunday 7th July 2019 A new site for the LNU Access courtesy of South Kesteven District Council 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet and park in small car park at southern end of park at SK916365 which is off Belton Lane (by pedestrian lights) just before it joins Manthorpe Road (A607). Nearest postcode: NG31 8FJ. Toilets and café at Wyndham Park which is just across the road to the south. Habitats: Meadows, plantations Leaders: Annette Faulkner 01775 766286 annettefaulkner@btinternet.com Annette adds: A volunteer from the Wyndham Park Volunteer group will be on gate duty between 12 noon and 1 pm. Please be prepared to say what you’ve come for – you will be asked. There is room to pull off the road in front of the gate for one car. It is easiest to arrive so you have a left turn in – but not impossible if you come the other way – just traffic to turn across. As far as leaving is concerned it does need us to have someone on the gate as otherwise anyone and everyone could take advantage and drive onto the park. ‘A surprisingly varied site for the middle of a town – grassland, clumps of woodland and scrub, two very different ponds and the River Witham on the east side. The park is the subject of a very imaginative HLF scheme being administered jointly by South Kesteven District Council and the Environment Agency to create, amongst other habitats, a wetland area. There will be a number of botanists at the field meeting, but it’s going to be more in the nature of a Bioblitz to find as many different species as we can, so in particular calling all invertebrate specialists. We need you!’ Woodhall Spa Airfield LWT Reserve – Saturday 20th July 2019 All day event with evening moth/bat session Access courtesy of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust A new site for LNU 10.00 start and then again from 13.00. Evening session starting from 20.45. Meet and park at reserve car park at TF206607 which is off the B1192 between Tattershall Thorpe and Woodhall Spa. Nearest postcode LN4 4JT. Dave Bromwich will meet us to indicate best collecting areas. Marshy areas present. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Woodhall Spa or Coningsby. There is a gated pedestrian entrance to the reserve with a code needed. Habitats: Acid Grassland, rough grassland, marsh, lakes, broadleaved woodland, old concrete runways. Leaders: Nick Tribe 07733 073989 nick.tribe@ntlworld.com and Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com Whisby Natural History Workshops 2019 - have you signed up yet? In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Odonata - August 3rd - Fiona McKenna and Grahame Hopwood Bryophytes, focusing on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st - Steven Heathcote Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead *** July Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Perseid meteor shower Fri 9 Aug – Wed 14 Aug 2019. The Perseids start to show in mid July, peaking early to mid August. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/events/perseid-meteor-shower I have just noted there is a transit of Mercury in November - Nov 11 at 15:20UT. [Universal Time = GMT] A date for our diaries. Mercury transits are less dramatic thjan those of Venus, but still fascinating and exciting. If you intend trying to observe it you will need to prepare a safe way to look at the Sun. https://www.popastro.com/main_spa1/transit-of-mercury-2019/ *** National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend - volunteers needed *** Dave Miller writes: It is that time of year again planning for this year’s NWDW. This is a first call for volunteers for the first week in August (3rd & 4th). I am planning to run watches at the Round-and-Round hide, Anderby Creek and at the North Sea Observatory at Chapel Point. If you are interested please do contact me and I will commence full planning. Contact: DMiller@lincstrust.co.uk *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch moth night and open day *** Lesley Robinson writes: Moth night at Chambers Farm Wood education centre - 20th July 10.30 pm until late Come and see the amazing variety and number of moths found in the Limewoods Please wear warm clothing, stout shoes and bring a torch Open Day at Chambers Farm Wood education centre - 21st July 11.00 am – 3.00 pm Join the guided walk at 11.00 am for your opportunity to see White Admiral and other butterflies at close quarters Come and have a wander in the butterfly garden attached to the education centre and be inspired to make your own garden more attractive to pollinators Enjoy the displays in the education centre, buy from the sales table and enjoy light refreshments Grid reference for Chambers Farm Wood education centre: TF147740 Post code: LN8 5JR *** Recent release of dormice into Chambers Farm Woods *** Gemma Watkinson writes: "A second release has taken place in Lincolnshire this week, where another 11 dormice have been released. This follows a previously successful reintroduction in 2002, and this addition will strengthen the local dormice population in this area. These reintroductions play an important role in the long-term conservation of this endangered species and are part of the Species Recovery Programme supported by Natural England. This year’s release is the latest in the programme, which has run for over 25 years, releasing almost 1,000 hazel dormice (the majority of which were bred by the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group) back into 12 English counties where dormice once existed, in an effort to rebuild lost populations. This further release of animals into Chambers Farm Woods will bolster the existing reintroduced populations of hazel dormice already in the area by increasing genetic diversity and therefore helping the long-term survival of this endangered species. Since the previous reintroduction, dormice have become well dispersed throughout Chambers Farm Woods, which is fantastic as it shows they have adapted and settled into their new surroundings. To ensure these populations continue to thrive, each woodland will require ongoing woodland management, which is something The Lincolnshire Dormouse Group and the local team at Forestry England have been doing successfully since 2002.” Dormouse can only be disturbed and handled by those that are licence by Natural England. The group always welcomes visitors to join us when we carry out box check surveys to continue to monitor the dormouse population. We have box checks scheduled for the following dates, and anyone interested should email lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com. Sunday 21st July Saturday 17th August Saturday 21st September Sunday 20th October *** Keep looking out for Juniper Shieldbugs *** George Rutter writes: Now seems to be the perfect time to hunt for Juniper Shieldbugs Cyphostethus tristriatus. Editor adds: see https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NHMSYS0020309134#overview *** 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 *** 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/ Full details of the 2019 cruise programme can be found at- https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/459075/ 64 bird species were seen from The Boston Belle in the Wash estuary and along the Haven and Welland rivers. Reports sent in by Jeremy Eyeons. Short-eared Owl, Peregrine and [perhaps] Spoonbill were the "highlights"... avocet, bar-tailed godwit, black-headed gull, blackbird, brent goose, Canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, collared dove, common sandpiper, common tern, coot, cormorant, curlew, dunlin, dunnock, eider, feral pigeon, gadwall, goldfinch, great black-backed gull, great crested grebe, grey heron, grey plover, grey wagtail, greylag goose, herring gull, house sparrow, jackdaw, jay, kestrel, lapwing, lesser black- backed gull, linnet, little egret, magpie, mallard, meadow pipit, mistle thrush, moorhen, oystercatcher, peregrine, pheasant, pied wagtail, redshank, reed bunting, robin, sand - martin, sandwich tern, shelduck, short-eared owl, skylark, song thrush, sparrowhawk, spoonbill, starling, stonechat, swallow, swift, turnstone, whitethroat, wood pigeon, wren. *** 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.] 26th June 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Short-eared Owl, Quail flew north late evening [heard], Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe, 2 Spoonbills, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Turtle Dove, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 27th June Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Little Gull flew north, Gibraltar Point 2 Vagrant Emperor dragonflies at reclamation area, Donna Nook 2 Turtle Doves, Rimac 4 Turtle Doves singing, all males, Saltfleetby 28th June Alkborough Flats, Little Gull, 3 Spotted Redstarts Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Little Gulls flew north, Marsh Warbler trapped and ringed, Black Redstart m, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe, 2 Spoonbills, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 29th June 2 Sandwich Terns, Wader Pit, Baston & Langtoft GPs Black Redstart male, 2 Spoonbills flew south, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Lesser Yellowlegs, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 14 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Black-necked Grebe, 3 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 2 Vagrant Emperor dragonflies, Donna Nook 30th June Black Redstart male, 2 Spoonbills , Short-eared Owl, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 10,094 swifts flew south over, Great White Egret on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe, 2+ Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Little Gull, Frampton Marsh 1st July 2 Turtle Doves near Pottergate Golf Club, Branston Moor Short-eared Owl, Quail male singing early morning, Gibraltar Point Turtle Dove, 2 Black-necked Grebes, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Short-eared Owls, Garganey, Little Gull, 3 Spoonbills, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 2nd July 2 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, 14 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Short-eared Owls, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh Short-eared Owl, ad Little Gull flew north, Gibraltar Point 3rd July Short-eared Owl, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 1s Little Gulls, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 3 Spoonbills, 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Little Gulls, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 3 probable Cattle Egrets flew north over A153 near Scamblesby 4th July 2 Spoonbills, male Turtle Dove singing, Curlew Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Garganey, 2 Little Gulls, Little Tern briefly, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml SUTTON ON SEA Week of 24th June 2019 "Blue" starfish stranded on beach - thought to be Asterias rubens Lianne and Jordan Havell Editor adds: Asterias rubens is the most common and familiar starfish in the north-east Atlantic region. Asterias rubens may grow up to 52 cm in diameter, but commonly 10-30 cm. Asterias rubens is variable in colour, though usually orange, pale brown or violet. Deep-water specimens are pale. [Marine Life Information Network] https://www.marlin.ac.uk/species/detail/1194 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 and A Parsons 29/6/2019 Large hedgehog dropping on lawn. 10+ swifts feeding over garden in evening. COLSTERWORTH SK92/2 Jane Ostler Notes on June 2019 A contrast to last year's heatwave with cold, wet days to middle of month and the hottest day this year on Saturday 29th June (30C) PLANTS IN FLOWER Hedgerows changed from the dominance of Hawthorn to that of Elder, with some Dogwood. Lime Tree and Silver Birch flowered, but there will be none on the Tulip tree this year. Few flowers on maples or spindle Hogweed replaced Cow Parsley on the verges, with Buttercups beneath. A large swathe of Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense) on Old Post Lane and Ox Eye Daisies spectacular on the newer verg on the Colsterworth Roadside Nature Reserve. Here the scarce Wild Liquorice is found amongst other limestone plants. These areas seem to be dominated by a wide range of other members of the pea family - Common and Bush vetch (Tufted Vetch just beginning to flower), Bird's foot trefoil, Kidney Vetch, Hairy Tare, Black Medick and Yellow Vetchling and Clovers. INSECTS On one of the few days suitable for their flight Brown Argus was identified amongst the Common Blue Butterflies on the Colsterworth Roadside Nature Reserve. On the Nature Trail Speckled Woods were abundant. Garden reports included Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Red Admiral, a few Orange Tips at beginning of month Green Veined Whites and Brimstones, Common Blues and Small Heaths and Meadow Browns. Moths reported were Cinnabar, Six-spot Burnett and Humming Bird Hawk Moths. Bumble Bees were out collecting pollen on days too cold and wet for many insects - particularly workers of Buff-tailed and Tree Bumble Bees. There seemed to be fewer Honey Bees. A Cockchafer or May Bug was found beneath a window into which it had flown. This is one of our larger and night,flying beetles. By contrast a tiny beetle was noticed because of its iridescent green colour. On closer examination it was found to have wing cases which didn't quite close and swollen femuro (top section of the legs) which give it the common name of Thick Leaved Flower Beetle.(Only the male has this characteristic). Harlequin Ladybird larvae were also found in a garden. These are very striking in appearance, their black spiky bodies contrasting with a line of bright orange hair tufts down the centre. BIRDS Blue Tits were fledged and flown at the beginning of the month and blackbirds, song thrushes and sparrows were seen feeding young on lawns. There is some concern that house martins and swallows have been unable to feed young and certainly some nest appear to be deserted . Swifts though seem to be doing better and on the first fine days were back feeding although they hadn't been seen for some days. By 27th their numbers seemed to have increased (young birds?). Cuckoos were heard throughout June. VERTEBRATES Young frogs have left their ponds leaving behind this years young newts. Grass snakes again reported at ponds. Muntjac are regularly reported in the village but for the first time a Fallow deer was seen on the western side of the Al. GRANTHAM Grantham SK918356 M. Ellis 30/6/2019 Two red kites where wheeling above St. Catherine's Road in the centre of Grantham. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 27/6/2019 Painted lady 1 - First ever sighting for me and 2 the next day! Red admiral 2 28/7/2019 Frog 1 Large skipper 1 - feeding on thistle Painted lady 2 Small tortoiseshell 1 29/6/2019 Small tortoiseshell 1 30/6/2019 Tree bumblebee NETTLEHAM - adjacent to Mulsanne Park David Smith 27/06/2019 19.00 Hedgehog apparently pursuing a magpie on path next to hedgerow THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 27/06/19 MV moth trapping 10:00 - 01:30hrs Barred Straw x 2 Beautiful Hook-tip x 3 Brimstone x 7 Celypha lacunana x 1 Cinnabar x 1 Clouded Border x 1 Clouded Silver x 2 Dark Arches x 19 Elephant Hawkmoth x 1 Heart and Dart x 5 Large Yellow Underwing x 4 Lesser Yellow Underwing x 1 Light Arches x 1 Marbled Minor Agg x 2 Riband Wave x 1 Rustic x 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character x 24 Shark x 3 Silver Ground Carpet x 1 Small Magpie x 3 Smoky Wainscot x 1 Straw Grass Veneer x 1 Uncertain x 1 27/06/19 Painted Lady x 2 Southern Hawker x 1 28/06/19 Black-tailed Skimmer x 2 29/06/19 Grass Snake x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Small Tortoiseshell x 2 30/06/19 Blackbird x 1 Kestrel x 1 Tree Sparrow x 5 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood pigeon x 6 Grass Snake x 1 Red Admiral x 1 (Sam Hiner) Cinnabar x 1 Ghost Moth x 1 male (Sam Hiner) Large Yellow Underwing x 1 (Sam Hiner) 02/07/19 Stoat x 1 SE807012 Large White x 1 Painted Lady x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Black-tailed Skimmer x 2 WOOLSTHORPE ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVE Jane Ostler 29th June 2019 Marbled White Butterflies seen for the first time on this LWT Reserve. In May there were Dingy Skippers but only one unconfirmed report of a Grizzled Skipper In June it rained every day for the first ten days but by the third week all the following had been seen - Peacock, Red Admiral, Green Veined White, Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Common Blue, Small and Large Skippers, Speckled Wood, Meadow Browns, Small Heath. Moths included Cinnabar, Six-spot Burnet, Lattice Heath and Chimney Sweeper. The limestone flowers which this site is important for are on the whole, doing well, although there are some areas, which in spite of the prescribed management and due to natural succession, have become rather too lush in the rains. Bee orchids in good number and the pyramidal orchids, new to the site 3 years ago, have increased. The quaking grass (Briza media) is holding its own. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAR INGS NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings Reports welcome..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GIBRALTAR POINT NNR https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point Reports welcome..... 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 - follows next week. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports welcome... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants To view the LWT project page go to: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Also see: *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** Chris Manning writes: Project Officer Kath Castillo at NHM has improved the accessibility of the LNU historic specimens; creating a collections ‘dataset’ on the NHM Data Portal. All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The digital herbarium sheet image data for the LNU historic specimens, plus associated images i.e. the newspaper packets, together with images for the contemporary Lincs specimens will all be pulled into the dataset as and when these are integrated into the museum’s EMu collections management system. It’s a fantastic online resource so please take the time to have a look through it. If you have any questions on this please get in touch with Kath at k.castillo@nhm.ac.uk or Fred Rumsey at f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Editor adds: Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Related Webpages: 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 *** 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/ 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 - downloadable book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf A Building Stone Atlas of Lincolnshire - British Geological Survey pdf https://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/start.cfm?id=2885 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. 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 https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Our indoor meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. There is an annual recorders’ meeting, where we review the wildlife highlights of the previous year and to leaven the Annual General Meeting the honorary president gives a presentation on his or her particular interest in wildlife and this is reproduced in full in ‘The Lincolnshire Naturalist‘. This too starts at 2pm but attendees gather from noon to socialise. Next Meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Freshney Bog – Saturday 22nd June 2019 Queen Elizabeth Park, Grantham – Sunday 7th July 2019 Woodhall Spa Airfield LWT Reserve – Saturday 20th July 2019 Glebe Farm, East Keal (including Keal Carr LWT Reserve and SSSI) – Saturday 10th August 2019 Boston Cemetery – Sunday 8th September 2019 Moor Farm LWT Reserve and SSSI – Sunday 13th October 2019 Whisby Natural History Workshops In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Odonata - August 3rd - Fiona McKenna and Grahame Hopwood Bryophytes, focusing on Sphagnum Mosses - August 31st - Steven Heathcote Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: Colin Green - soft bounce If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp does have your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. If in any doubt, this is what you do: 1. Scroll to the end of any Bulletin and click on "update subscription preferences". 2. Look at the "Marketing permissions" section. Your email box should have a tick. 3. If is doesn't, please give it a tick. Then please click on "Update Profile". That's it. If there are difficulties when doing this, send an email to old.museum@yahoo.co.uk If ever you decide you don't want to receive the Bulletin any longer there is an easy- to-use "Unsubscribe" link to click at the end of every Bulletin. You can sign up again if you miss us. ....and finally.... Your pictures of Scotland: 21 - 28 June https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48758360 Two golden eagles 'disappear' from Perthshire grouse moor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-48824770 Scotland gets new wildlife-spotting Hebridean Whale Trail https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48759571 Trump's golf course destroys SSSI https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48789620 Japan whaling: Commercial hunts to resume despite outcry https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48592682 Alan Turing: how the world’s most famous codebreaker unlocked the secrets of nature’s beauty https://theconversation.com/alan-turing-how-the-worlds-most-famous-codebreaker-unlocked-the-secrets-of-natures-beauty-119425 Microplastic pollution and wet wipe ‘reefs’ are changing the River Thames ecosystem https://theconversation.com/microplastic-pollution-and-wet-wipe-reefs-are-changing-the-river-thames-ecosystem-119400 Wild bees are building their homes from plastic—and scientists aren’t sure why. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/wild-bees-building-homes-from-plastic/ Country diary: the lesser searcher is the greater discovery https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/25/country-diary-lesser-searcher-is-the-greater-discovery-ground-beetles-spean-bridge-highlands Noise pollution creates havoc for birds, study shows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/20/twitter-storm-noise-pollution-creates-havoc-for-birds-study-shows Fishermen want to address the problem of marine litter https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/pollution-ecology/fishermen-want-cleaning-plastic-22062019/ Seals have been trained to sing the Star Wars theme - have a listen. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207264-seals-have-been-trained-to-sing-the-star-wars-theme-have-a-listen/ Shatterproof phone screens could be made from seashell-like glass https://www.newscientist.com/article/2207952 Your "and finally" links will be welcome. ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/