============================================= || || 31st July 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... *** Here's some good news about Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes. Threatened sand dunes gain £4m National Lottery funding boost https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-49164716 Wood Sandpipers being reported this week. Would you recognise one? https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/wood-sandpiper/ Great photo: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/gallery_show.asp?galleryid=66637 The cuckoos have left and you can follow their progress back to Africa on the following link. Tennyson and Valentine are leading the way so far. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Swifts have been feeding overhead this week, but they will soon be off. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/natures-home-magazine/birds-and-wildlife-articles/migration/migratory-bird-stories/swift-migration/ also see: https://www.bto.org/our-science/topics/tracking/tracking-studies/swifts A selection of topical links follows. Click any that catch your eye. I may well have selected them for you. Woodhall Spa mustard gas accused summonsed to court https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-49151518 How the world's former biggest fishing port became home to our unhealthiest high street https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/30/worlds-former-biggest-fishing-port-became-home-unhealthiest/ New marine strandings app launched https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-49131967 'Thrilling' trout-hungry ospreys on camera https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-49096866 Is this still the best place to be a puffin? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-49045533 Daniel Hauck: 'I'm inspired by photographing wildlife around me' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-49100160 Chase Dekker Wild-Life Images on Instagram: Whale 'swallowing' sea lion. https://www.instagram.com/p/B0TrbRmgiKt/ ‘Citizen scientists’ helping to save our most elusive animals https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/28/britain-elusive-animals-fall-into-camera-trap-citizen-scientist Belligerent beetles show that fighting for mates could help animals survive habitat loss https://theconversation.com/belligerent-beetles-show-that-fighting-for-mates-could-help-animals-survive-habitat-loss-121072 Len Pick Trust Owlcam - "the Owl feed has nearly achieved 50,000 hits this season with visitors from the four corners of the world." 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 *** RIP Gus Grant *** Bob Sheppard writes .... Readers who knew Gus Grant will be sad to hear he passed away at his Frithville home on 7th July aged 85. Gus was a conservationist before the term became common. In the early 1980s he put down wildlife strips, planted spinneys and wildflower meadows, put up nestboxes and dug ponds. Most of this was without any government grants. He created a kingfisher nest bank from scratch which has been used every year. He enthusiastically welcomed wildlife groups to his farm who delighted in seeing such a wide variety of flora and fauna. My own fondest memory of Gus was when he asked me to design a home for owls which would last for ever. I came up with the idea of a brick built owl tower and he built three! Most years when I monitor his towers they have barn owls in them. Rest in peace Gus and thank you for your pioneering work. *** 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: Glebe Farm, East Keal (including Keal Carr LWT Reserve and SSSI) – southwest of Spilsby Saturday 10th August 2019 All day event with evening moth/bat session Access courtesy of Alec Coney Farms Ltd and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Last LNU visit in 1988 10.00 start and then again from 13.00. Evening session starting from 20.15. Meet and park at Glebe Farm TF378649 which is at end of track off minor road (last road on left as you head north out of East Keal on A16). Nearest postcode: PE23 4HA. NB. No mains available for moth traps. Nearest public toilets in Spilsby. Some marshy areas and steep slopes. Habitats: Grassland, marsh, ponds, wet woodland, scrub and hedgerows. Leader: Brian Hedley 07989 665794 brian_hedley@hotmail.com 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 workshop is now fully booked up. The other workshops all have a number of places available. Odonata - August 3rd - Fiona McKenna and Grahame Hopwood - fully booked. 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 - soon to become August 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.popastro.com/main_spa1/meteor/perseids/ *** National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend - volunteers needed *** Dave Miller writes: Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August we will be running watches from the Round- and-Round hide and North Sea Observatory for National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend. If you are around come along and lend your eyes to the sea. DMiller@lincstrust.co.uk Note - can we match this pager record? How good would that be? 26th July Minke Whale south past Wolla Bank - pager message 09.47hrs *** 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. Full details of the 2019 cruise programme can be found at- https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/459075/ The South Lincs RSPB Groups latest birdwatching cruise on 25th July produced 51 bird species seen from "The Boston Belle" ,as follows. avocet, bar-tailed godwit, barnacle goose, black-headed gull, blackbird, buzzard, Canada goose, carrion crow, collared dove, common sandpiper, common tern, cormorant, corn bunting, curlew, dunlin, eider, feral pigeon, goldfinch, great black- backed gull, grey heron, greylag goose, herring gull, house martin, house sparrow, jackdaw, kestrel, knot, lapwing, lesser black-backed gull,little egret, little tern, magpie, mallard, marsh harrier, meadow pipit, moorhen, oystercatcher, peregrine, pied wagtail, redshank, ruff, sand martin, sandwich tern, shelduck, starling, stock dove, swallow, swift, turnstone, whimbrel, wood pigeon. There are six dates remaining in our 2019 programme,with spaces available on some cruises. Full details at www.southhollandcentre.co.uk *** 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 On Friday 2nd August 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join us at a Bat and Moth Evening in Cleethorpes Country Park with experts Julie Ellision and Adrian White. Meet in the car park area at 8.40 pm. Grid Ref. 306067, nearest postcode DN35 0TG. There will be a short talk by Julie and Adrian followed by a walk in the park hoping to detect bats led by Julie. Meanwhile Adrian will set up his moth trap so hopefully by the time the walkers return there will be some moths to see. Please bring a small torch and a folding seat and wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout foot wear. Donations will be welcomed for the Lincolnshire Bat Group and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Strictly bookings only through Julie Ellison - 07586293860 / 07791803189 or email julie@julieellison.co.uk On Sunday 4th August 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in Irby Dales with Graham Hicks. Meet at 8am outside St. Andrew's Church, Irby on Humber, near Grimsby. Grid Ref. TA 196049. Nearest postcode DN37 7JR. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Graham Hicks - 07979089890. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 24th July Long-billed Dowitcher ad, 2 White-rumped Sandpiper ad, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Wood Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Freiston Shore 2 Spoonbills, Short-eared Owl, Spotted Redshank, Purple Heron flew in from sea, then NW, Gibraltar Point Osprey flew SW over Langtoft 25th July Long-billed Dowitcher, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 2 Spoonbills, 3 Arctic Terns, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Short-eared Owl, Trent Port Wetlands, Marton 3 Quail males singing north east end of Thurlby Fen Drove Great White Egret, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 26th July Minke Whale south past Wolla Bank - pager message 09.47hrs Long-billed Dowitcher, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 6 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh 3 Quail males singing north east end of Thurlby Fen Drove 27th July White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Spoonbill, 4 Black-necked Grebes, Little Stint, 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 5 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh north of Syke's Farm, 2 on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Black Terns, 2 Wood Sandpipers flew south, Gibraltar Point Turnstone, Wader Pit, Baston+Langtoft gravel pits 2 Quail males singing north east end of Thurlby Fen Drove 4 Arctic Terns, Roseate Tern as flew south past Chapel Point c240 Common Scoters flew west over Humber Bridge 28th July 29+ Common Scoters flew east over Alkborough Flats Long-billed Dowitcher, 9 Wood Sandpipers, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Spoonbills, 4 Black-necked Grebes, Short-eared Owl, 2 Little Stints, Black Tern, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper and 3 Turnstones on Wader Pit Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Arctic Terns flew west, Baston+Langtoft gravel pits 30+ Wood Sandpipers, 7 Spoonbills, 8 Arctic Terns, 2 Pied Flycatchers in East Dunes, Wood Warbler, Gibraltar Point White-rumped Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 9 Wood Sandpipers, Freiston Shore Cattle Egret, Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 19 Wood Sandpipers, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 29th July Black -necked Grebe, Blue Lagoon, Normanby 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 31 Wood Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints, Freiston Shore 36 Wood Sandpipers, 21 flew south, Huttoft Bank 24 Spotted Redshanks, 1 juv, Alkborough Flats 3 Wood Sandpipers flew over Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Sanderling as at Trent Port Wetlands, Marton 26 Wood Sandpipers, Huttoft Bank Pit 13 Wood Sandpipers, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, drk Garganey, 4 Black-necked Grebes 2 ads, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Temminck's Stint, Caspian Gull, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness Wood Warbler in plantation, 20 Wood Sandpipers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 5 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Wood Sandpiper, Woodhall Spa Airfield 30th July Roseate Tern, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 7 Spoonbills, 2 Common Cranes flew north, Gibraltar Point Temminck's Stint, Caspian Gull juv, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 2 Purple Heron, 4 Spoonbills, 16 Wood Sandpipers, Manby Flashes Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 Spoonbills, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 ads + 2 young, Wood Sandpipers, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 40 Wood Sandpipers, 2 White-rumped sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Short-eared Owl, Freiston Shore 2 Quail males singing, west end of Thurlby Fen Drove Wood Sandpiper, Messingham Sand Quarry 31st July 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 14 Wood Sandpipers, 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Ruddy Shelducks, Freiston Shore 3 Wood Sandpipers, Purple Heron juv, Manby Flashes Spoonbill on jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. Young Badger SK945193 27/7/19 Alongside South Witham Roadside Nature Reserve Jane Ostler *** 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 29/7/19 2 swifts feeding over garden 20.45hrs. 31/7/2019 12+ housemartins feeding around single sycamore tree in churchyard. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 30/7/2019 Jeremy Hutchinson Female Hobby hunting 17.30, only my second definite sighting this year. Recent butterfly/moth sightings: Painted Lady Common Blue Meadow Brown (Numerous) Small Skipper Peacock Red Admiral Brown Argus (a first for me: having read up about them I don't know what it was doing here). Hummingbird Hawk Moth General note: Hoverflies have become super-abundant over the last month or so, with many more species than usual seen.  Unfortunately I am not expert enough to identify most of them. Flea Beetles have devastated many of my vegetable crops (Brassicas) to an extent t hat I have never witnessed before. Horse Flies seem to be more numerous than usual too, mainly Chrysops relictus and a very large species which I have not seen before, which I was unlucky enough to be bitten by. HORKSTOW 30 July 2019 Jenny Haynes This is the count I did for the Big Butterfly Count last Thursday. Large White - 1 Small White - 6 Brimstone - 1 Gatekeeper - 6 Meadow Brown - 6 Ringlet - 7 Comma - 2 Small Tortoiseshell - 2 Red Admiral - 4 Peacock - 8 Since then I have seen two Painted Ladies and at least 16 Peacocks at one time. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 22/7/2019 Common darters 3 Peacock butterfly 1 Ringlets 2 Southern hawker 1 flying 23/7/2019 Wren 7 - mother with 6 fledglings 25/7/2019 Holly blue 2 Robin 1 Young, sunbathing on terrace 28/7/2019 Gatekeeper 1 - first ever in garden Holly blue 1 Painted ladies 3 Peacock butterflies 4 30/7/2017 Greenfinch 1 LINCOLN SK972738 W/E 03/08/2019 Jayne Knight Been counting butterflies over the past week and recorded: Large White, Small White, Gatekeeper, Painted Lady, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Holly Blue and Small Copper. Last Sunday, 21st July, observed a Ringlet on the splendid Lavender border outside one of the houses overlooking the West Front of the Cathedral. Fledgling feeding frenzy finally diminished, just a Blackbird with a juvenile in tow at the start of the week but it seems to have gained independence now, too. And small heap of soil appeared between the gap in two sections of concrete, so after few days of staring intently and probably causing consternation in the neighbours was pleased to confirm my suspicions that the Yellow Meadow Ant is still holding territory in the back garden. MORKERY WOOD (EAST) SK95/18 Jane and Brian Ostler 27th July 2019 9.30a.m. - 10.15a.m. Visit cut short by heavy rain. Temp 18C, following temp 34C in heatwave. PLANTS IN FLOWER Notes on changes since last visit on 21st June. Wood Vetch - this has now spread to all areas of the wood from its original site in the car park quarry area. Upright Hedge Parsley is the most frequent umbellifer with Wild Angelica towering above it. Marsh Thistle includes some exceptionally tall plants with Meadowsweet abundant in the same area. Rosebay Willowherb is less frequent than in the years following major extraction of timber. Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Valerian, Wild Basil. Betony, Musk Mallow Enchanter's Nightshade and Centaury have all flowered since the last visit. BUTTERFLIES All counted along the N-S ride which includes the forester's look out platform. Speckled Wood (2)Painted Lady (1), Ringlet (25) Meadow Brown (7) Gatekeeper (2) Small Skipper (1) SANDILANDS, SUTTON-ON-SEA Ian Whitaker 25 July 2019 Long-tailed Blue Butterfly At least two [circling together] spent several minutes on and around the White Perennial Sweet Pea in our garden this morning. We were very surprised to see them - by the time we got the camera they had gone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 24th July – 30th July 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. July weather report: The hot, humid weather continued with a max of 31.75? recorded at Sea View on the 24th then high twenties the next two days but falling to 19.5? on the 27th and 28th. There have been a few light showers and the temperature rose to 25.25? on the 29th. Minimum temperatures have been high, humid and oppressive; typically late teens. 5mm rain overnight on the 30th. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 240719 – Over 100 species of moth recorded at Sea View including: 7 least carpet, pretty chalk carpet, saltmarsh plume, garden tiger, leopard, star-wort, white line dart and dotted fan foot. 250719 – Silver washed fritillary at Sea View. 4 whimbrel and 2 juvenile cuckoos at Rimac. 260719 - On Paradise lagoon were a single green sandpiper, 2 common sandpipers, 26 pied wagtails, 2 curlew, 2 redshank and on the adjacent edges to the Eau 16 common sandpipers, 1 dunlin, 2 curlew and 2 redshank. 290719 - Single green sandpiper and at least 6 common sandpipers around Paradise lagoon plus 100+ hirundines (mainly swallows and a few house martins feeding low over vegetation. 300719 - Single hummingbird hawk moth and migrant hawker at Sea View. Single ruff and 5 common sandpipers at Paradise lagoon and 3 swifts with swallows and house martins overhead. Black-tailed skimmer. Migrant hawker in the Brickyard Lane area. 57 peacock and 11 painted ladies, also 2 holly blues, southern hawker and emperor dragonflies seen around the Churchill Lane area. Restharrow, sea lavender, harebell and scabious in flower. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Gemma Watkinson adds: "Dormouse can only be disturbed and handled by those that are licenced by Natural England. The group always welcomes visitors to join us when we carry out box check surveys to continue to monitor the dormouse population. We have box checks scheduled for the following dates. Saturday 17th August Saturday 21st September Sunday 20th October Anyone interested should email 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 *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Also see: *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** Chris Manning writes: Project Officer Kath Castillo at NHM has improved the accessibility of the LNU historic specimens; creating a collections ‘dataset’ on the NHM Data Portal. All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The digital herbarium sheet image data for the LNU historic specimens, plus associated images i.e. the newspaper packets, together with images for the contemporary Lincs specimens will all be pulled into the dataset as and when these are integrated into the museum’s EMu collections management system. It’s a fantastic online resource so please take the time to have a look through it. If you have any questions on this please get in touch with Kath at k.castillo@nhm.ac.uk or Fred Rumsey at f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Editor adds: Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE :07768-501895 PAGER : 07654-330877 Related Webpages: 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/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ *** Life on the Verge and Wildflower Meadow Network Project *** http://www.lifeontheverge.org.uk/ For the geologists... *** 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/ 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: None this week. If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp does have your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. If in any doubt, this is what you do: 1. Scroll to the end of any Bulletin and click on "update subscription preferences". 2. Look at the "Marketing permissions" section. Your email box should have a tick. 3. If is doesn't, please give it a tick. Then please click on "Update Profile". That's it. If there are difficulties when doing this, send an email to old.museum@yahoo.co.uk If ever you decide you don't want to receive the Bulletin any longer there is an easy- to-use "Unsubscribe" link to click at the end of every Bulletin. You can sign up again if you miss us. ....and finally.... Badger sett destroyed 'to make cycle track' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-49157213 Hedgehog highways to be included in new housing developments https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/hedgehog-highways-to-be-included-in-new-housing-developments/ Scientists honor Iceland's first glacier lost to climate change https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/ok-glacier-lost-to-climate-change-23072019/ Devon town's plans to burn replica Mayflower ship sparks anger from across the pond https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/devon-towns-plans-burn-replica-2850545 This tree stump shouldn't be alive https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/tree-stump-alive-superorganisms-24072019/ Corncrake: Two endangered Corncrake pairs recorded on Rathlin Island https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49089993 Unhatched birds communicate with each other https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/unhatched-birds-vibrating-shells-24072019/ Dark feathers give birds hot wings that may save energy during flight https://www.newscientist.com/article/2210970 Car parts from weeds: The future of green motoring? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48988355 Birds and Debris: new citizen science project launched https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Birds_and_Debris_new_citizen_science_project_launched.aspx Light pollution's effects on birds may help to spread West Nile virus https://www.newscientist.com/article/2210827 Ethiopians plant more than 200 million trees in a single day in bid to restore landscape https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/07/29/ethiopians-plant-200-million-trees-single-day-bid-restore-landscape/ Country diary: marmalade hoverflies are a sweet sight to behold https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/23/country-diary-marmalade-hoverflies-are-a-sweet-sight-to-behold Country diary: this ancient yew should live forever https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/25/country-diary-this-ancient-yew-should-live-forever-church-preen- Country diary: walking in on the hogweed's bonking beetles https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/26/country-diary-walking-in-on-the-hogweeds-bonking-beetles#comment-131409922 Country diary: the short happy life of Bone-face the beetle https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/29/country-diary-the-short-happy-life-of-bone-face-the-beetle ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/