============================================= || || 14th May 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... *** I am back from an excellent week in the Norfolk marshes with daily sightings of marsh harriers - up to 7 on one day, a local fox family with 8 cubs and with cuckoos heard daily. The weather seemed almost autumnal at times, we had a ground frost yesterday morning. Insects were low in number, which probably explains the apparent low number of swallows seen. The Bulletin is back in action. With your help we shall soon get the information flowing. Thanks for your many kind messages. A selection of topical links follows - chosen with specific readers in mind: Len Pick Trust - Owlcam - first egg laid 27/4/2019 - now 5 eggs in clutch! http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 National Trust axes Belton Horse Trials https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-48107907 Aslackby farmland to be used for green burials https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-48041294 Badger sett leads to three-month Kempsford road closure https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-48077302 Birds nesting at Tesco after nets removed at Norwich store https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-48071213?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment&link_location=live-reporting-story Beavers given protected status in Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-48106147 Thank you for all your contributions. 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 Freshney Bog LNR, just west of Grimsby All day event Last LNU visit in 1944 Access courtesy of North East Lincolnshire Council 10.00 start and then again from 13.00 for afternoon session. Meet at car parking area next to St. Michael’s Church in Little Coates (off the A1136) at TA241090. Nearest postcode: DN34 4ND.NB. Can be a very wet site so wellingtons recommended. Nearest toilets probably in local supermarket or McDonalds. Habitats: Marsh, ponds, wet woodland, rough grassland, River Freshney. Leader: Richard Chadd 07990 564519 richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk 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 *** May Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html *** Coastal Events *** Dave Miller writes: Sunday 19th May 2pm Anderby Creek: Sea-dipping – using pushnets in the surf to see what marine creatures we can find. Wednesday 29th May 2pm North Sea Observatory: Seaside Safari – a look to see what the latest high tides have dropped to reveal some of our marine wildlife. *** Love Lincs Plants *** Sailing in the footsteps of Sir Joseph: a botany trip on the Boston Belle Thursday 30th May 11-3.30pm  (arrive 10.30am) At Sluice Bridge, Witham Bank East, Boston, PE21 9JU (across from the Haven Café). Long stay carpark PE21 6PL. Come and join us travelling along the River Witham to undertake plant collections as Sir Joseph Banks once did. The trip will set sail from Boston, reach Anton’s Gowt where voyagers will disembark to collect plants, before returning to Boston. FREE event, donations to LWT welcomed. Refreshments can be purchased on board. Booking essential via lovelincsplants@gmail.com 01507 526667 Sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund Aidan Neary writes: Lincolnshire’s 2nd Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) delivered by BSBI and Natural England. 4th July, Horncastle. Background: Field Identification Skills Certificate is a simple, affordable test that determines your botanical skill level on a scale from 1 (beginner) to 5 (professional) with 6 being awarded in exceptional cases. A FISC is becoming established as the industry standard for assessing botanical survey skills. The aim of the FISC is to measure your skills in real-life situations. It should not form part of a training course because a FISC tests your long-term botanical ability on a wide range of plants, not your short-term memory. A FISC lasts a day and is fun to do. One of our aims is to make people less fearful of being assessed. Our evidence shows that there is no-one who can identify all plants correctly, so you do not need to worry that you might not be perfect. Your results will be confidential. Some consultancies send their staff on a FISC every year, to encourage them to gain skills and make progress. Each test starts with a lab session, where the candidates are asked to name fresh specimens of 30 species collected around the British Isles. Next there is a site survey, where you spend a couple of hours recording as much as you can in a small, interesting site. Assessors then compare what you have identified with what they know occurs on site and work out what skill level you have. Details and how to book: 4th July 2019 at Horncastle Community Centre with a site visit to Shearman’s Wath. Fee: £75. To book on, visit the BSBI website at: https://bsbi.org/field-skills and Email: Andrea.Perkins@naturalengland.org.uk *** 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/ *** 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/ *** 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 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 *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk May 16th: Lines across Lincolnshire - Discovering Routes, Banks and Islands Local author Jon Fox returns to share more of his geographical knowledge of Lincolnshire, based on his latest book on the subject. Talk at Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission £2.50 which includes refreshments. And also - Lincoln Area Group Walks Friday May 17th. Spring Walk at Whisby Nature Park with Jan Rousseau. 1.30 pm at 'The Barn'. Looking at the impressive displays of Orchids along the railway verge and Orchid Glade and listening for summer visitor birds plus any other wildlife we encounter. Saturday May 25th. Visit to Kingerby Beck Meadows. 2.00 pm on the roadside. South side of Gulham Road, North Owersby near Market Rasen. Grid Reference TF051941. Join the reserve manager Jean Dodds for a walk through these meadows to see the flowering herb rich sward. Including Kingcups and Frog Orchids. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] Pager problem being investigated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY Bardney Garden 13th May 2019 Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter MASS ORGY of Dolycoris baccarum the sloe shield bug, on a clump of Dame’s Violet! There must have been about twenty of them on one clump, very lively in the sunshine. Some were mating and some seemed to be trying (unsuccessfully) a sort of “ménage a trois”! Four common newts in pond, two male, two female, one of which was obviously pregnant. One yellow-coloured common frog leapt out of the pond when I peered in. Many wasp queens trying to get in the house. Many bees of many species in the garden, some going in holes in the ground. Sorry for not identifying, but still worthy of note. About 6 holly blues on the wing. Many orange tip butterflies, with some white ones, but they were all on the move, so, difficult to tell if they were female orange tips, or other species. One male brimstone One peacock butterfly One “marjoram or mint moth” Pyrausta aurata. Three blackbird territories resulting in fights. One juvenile being fed Blue tits going in and out of box, Goldfinches, chaffinches, one greenfinch, one blackcap, one chiffchaff and one song thrush singing. Two pairs of collared doves, one pair of wood pigeons. NO CUCKOO – the first year in 18 years this has happened. CANDLESBY QUARRY TF 460682 C Byatt 02/05/19 Flora:- Cowslips Forget Me-Nots Ground Ivy Primroses All in abundance Butterflies:- Orange Tip – 2 Peacock – 1 Bird:- Long Tailed Tit – 1 CASTLE CARLTON/AUTHORPE TF 397834 C Byatt 05/05/19 Cowslips Early Purple Orchids (4) Gt Stitchwort Ground Ivy ( all in great numbers) Marsh Marigolds HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 13/5/2019 Honey bees - swarm in apple tree LOUTH OS 3486 C Byatt 07/5/19 Chaffinch (male) – 1 Great tit – 1 Sparrows – 4 Wood Pigeons – 2. MILL HILL QUARRY TF 452716 C Byatt 02/05/19 Bluebells Forget-Me-Nots Ground Ivy Primroses Wood Anemones All in great numbers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 1st May – 13th May 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 010519 - Single small copper on the wing near Sea View 030519 - Single common sandpiper, cuckoo and wheatear all near Paradise. 31 whimbrel on saltmarsh. Cuckoos calling at Sea View and Rimac. House martins and swallows feeding along Great Eau. Willow warbler singing at Rimac. 050519 - Two feeding groups of whimbrel on saltmarsh 9 + 15. On Paradise lagoon 17 shelduck, 2 gadwall, 1 tufted duck, 14 shoveler, 1 little egret, 2 coot, 4 mallard, 1 lapwing and 1 greenshank nearby. One short-eared owl hunting over saltmarsh. Two sand martins over Sea View. 070519 – 5 green-hairstreak, cinnabar moths seen and a cuckoo calling at Crookbank. Grasshopper heard at Churchill. 090519 – 4 swifts over Sea View. 110519 – 2 common lizards and 6-8 large red damselflies at Rimac. 130519 – Cuckoo heard singing at Rimac and a roe deer buck briefly spotted. Brimstone butterfly at Sea View. Orchids emerging along the coast throughout the dunes and cuckoos now being heard on a daily basis. Cliff Morrison adds: I’m currently out from home at Brickyard Lane Theddlethorpe a couple hundred metres away on the S-T NNR taking photographs of the Green Long-horn Moth, Adela reamurella. There are several 100 in the area and males are dancing in swarms, settling on elder, rose and buckthorn. Three weeks ago, I was recording up to 50 Green Hairsteaks on my regular circular walk between Brickyard Lane and Churchill Lane. However, with the constant cold onshore winds and heavy rain, I expected that what was looking to be a good season for the species would be a washout. This morning, I have counted over 50 Green Hairstreaks in my walk area and over 100 in the wider up jtowards the MoD base. I’ve also seen 2 Wall Butterflies, 6 Common Blues, 2 Holly Blues, 1 Comma, several Peacocks, Small and Green- veined Whites, Orange Tips, 3 Speckled Woods, 1 a Brimstone and a Small Copper. Birds here this morning have included a regular pair of Buzzards, performing splendid arial displays, female Sparrow Hawk, 2 pairs Cuckoos, Turtle Dove, moving Sand and House Martins along with many Swallows, Little-ringed Plover north and a mixed flock of around 35 Ringed Plovers and 20 Dunlin. Peter Roworth adds: 090519 - Single whimbrel and 4 wheatear on saltmarsh late evening 110519 - Five wheatear and 1 whimbrel on saltmarsh 120519 - Four wheatear on dune grassland bewrtween SV and Rimac and 9 whimbrel on saltmarsh. On Paradise lagoon were 4 little egrets, 4 mallard, 4 shelduck, 1 gadwall, 4 tufted duck, 2 coot with 2 juvs, 2 teal. Reed warbler in song along edge of Eau nr Sea View Rd. On the wing green hairstreak, holly blue, orange tip and a single wall brown near Sea View. 130519 - Single wheatear and 6 whimbrel on saltmarsh, single lapwing flying west over dunes. Speckled wood, green hairstreak and wall brown on the wing near SV. Flock of 10 black-tailed godwits flew south over Sea View mid-morning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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: 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.... Your "and finally" links will be welcome. Nature loss: Major report to highlight 'natural and human emergency' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48059043 Climate change being fuelled by soil damage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48043134 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/