============================================= || || 28th 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 building up reader numbers. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Readers' hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Thank you for all your contributions. Please keep them coming. It is good to be producing LNU Bulletins again, keeping a finger on the pulse of wildlife events in Lincolnshire. I am enjoying it, but am conscious of the need to keep plugging the notion of a successor. Editing the Bulletin makes a great voluntary job for someone retired who enjoys computer work and shares an enthusiasm for natural history. If you are that way inclined please get in touch to discuss the idea. If interested, I could forward incoming material to you and you could put together a draft Bulletin for me to upload to MailChimp. If you would like to have a try one week we'll give it a go - the best way to discover what is involved. Mysteries of MailChimp we can leave until you need to know! Exciting news from Louth St James Church. Bob Sheppard writes: The peregrine falcon has been sitting on five eggs for the past month and they have now hatched. Clutches of five eggs are very rare in the UK. The peregrines can be viewed on a large screen inside the church. The cake, tea and coffee are excellent. This week look out for: Owlcam eggs hatching , Springwatch catch-up. Seaside Safari; Botany trip on the Boston Belle; Birdwatching Cruise report; Morning Bird Walk in Cleethorpes Country Park; a big Woolsthorpe report, two weeks worth of Thurnholmes reports, Grimsby RSPB trip to Bempton Cliffs and Top Hill Low. A selection of topical links follows - chosen with specific readers in mind: don't forget to click any that catch your eye. Passer-by saves deer from canal in Saxilby - short video https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-48438287/ Len Pick Trust Owlcam - Hatching has started - first chick 29/5/2019.. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 Butterfly Conservation on: Why moths matter. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/why-moths-matter Butterflywatch: sunny May is good news for lepidopterists https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/28/butterflywatch-sunny-may-is-good-news-for-lepidopterists Bug hunt: Volunteers needed to spot insect's 'spittle' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48383730 Lichens: There are certain Lichen species that are indicative of air quality and an unhealthy environment due to pollutants such as nitrates and ammonia compounds. Believe it or not - there is an App about this!!!!! http://www.apis.ac.uk/nitrogen-lichen-field-manual You can apply to the Woodland Trust for free trees or buy saplings from their shop. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/ 'Miracle' black-tailed godwits return to Welney to nest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-48369261 Beavers in Essex doing a 'better job' creating flood defences https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-48368930 Lowestoft: Street artist ATM creates barn owl mural https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-48380341 'Unique' Iron Age shield discovered in Leicester https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-48377927 BBC i-Player: Botany - A Blooming History - BBC4. Photosynthesis. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011vf07 Springwatch on BBC2 - catch up on: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qgm3 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. Thank you for all your help. 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 Saturday 22nd June 2019 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 2019 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 - shortly to become June Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html The summer months can offer the impressive displays of Noctilucent Clouds. If you are out late you may be lucky and catch sight of one of these NLCs. https://britastro.org/node/9456 *** Coastal Events *** Dave Miller writes: 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 - Updates from the Partnership - more in section 8 *** LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants - a botany trip on the Boston Belle 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 Lincolnshire’s 2nd Field Identification Skills Certificate (FISC) 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. 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 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/ *** 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 'The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next meeting is at 7.30pm on Monday 17th June 2019 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH The AGM, which usually takes about 30 minutes, will be followed by an illustrated talk by Geof Lee entitled 'Wildlife of the Tees Valley' There will also be refreshments and a raffle Entry is £4, payable at the door. The Group's June Trip is to RSPB Bempton Cliffs and Top Hill Low on Sunday 23rd June 2019, leaving Millman's Coach Depot in Wilton Road, Humberston at 7.30am. Return at 6.00 - 6.30pm. The cost of the coach trip is £20 per person, including Entry Fee at Top Hill Low. Booking is essential. For more information, contact Tony Bryan at mariners4top@yahoo.co.uk or on 01472 873362 Everyone is welcome. You don't have to be a member of the RSPB to attend the meeting or go on the trip, (though there may be an additional entry fee at Bempton Cliffs for RSPB non-members) *** 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/ The South Lincs RSPB Group carried out their first birdwatching cruise into the Wash estuary on May 13th aboard the Boston Belle. Red Kite,Osprey and Turtle Dove were the stand out sightings. 76 species were seen...avocet, black-headed gull, black-tailed godwit ,blackbird, blue tit, brent goose, buzzard ,canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, chiffchaff, collared dove, common sandpiper, common tern, cormorant, curlew, dunlin, dunnock, feral pigeon, gadwall, goldfinch, great black-backed gull, great crested-grebe, green- finch, grey plover, grey wagtail, greylag goose, herring gull, house martin, house sparrow, jay, jackdaw, kestrel, knot, lapwing, linnet, little egret, magpie, mallard, marsh harrier, meadow pipit, moorhen, osprey, oystercatcher, peregrine, pheasant, pied wagtail, redshank, red kite, reed bunting, ringed plover, robin, rook, ruff, sand martin, sandwich tern, sedge warbler, shag, shelduck, skylark, song thrush, sparrowhawk, starling, stock dove, swallow, swift, tufted duck, turnstone, turtle dove, whimbrel, whitethroat, willow warbler, wood pigeon, wren, yellowhammer plus orange tip and brimstone butterflies. Full details of the 2019 cruise programme can be found at- https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/459075/ *** 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 Carolyn Davis writes: Morning Bird Walk in Cleethorpes Country Park On Saturday 1st June 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in Cleethorpes Country Park with Ray Hume and Graham Hicks. Meet them at 7am in the carparking area. Grid ref. TA 306067, nearest post code DN35 0TG. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. Bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for Trust. For further details contact Ray 07814 840682 or Graham 07730766026. Visit Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve On Saturday 8th June 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join themon a visit to Woodhall Spa Airfield Nature Reserve with Mid Lincolnshire Warden Kevin James. Meet at 10.30am in the carparking area at reserve entrance which is off the B1192 Tattershall Road (between Woodhall Spa and Tattershall Thorpe) LN4 4JT. Grid ref. TF 206606. This is a fairly new reserve so Kevin will be able show us some improvements that have been made and how the habitats are developing. For further details contact Carolyn Davis 07914 924790. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 28 May 2019 Curlew Sandpiper on scrape by small car park, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Osprey flew over Candy Corner, Wroot 29 May Spoonbill, 2 Garganey, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh Red-rumped Swallow flew south over sea, 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. BOSTON 25/05/2019 Roy and Kath Pearson A large swarm of bees came into the garden today and settled together along a large branch in the silver birch. They then formed into a large cone underneath the branch, where they still remain four hours later. 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 Swifts over this week - 3-5 individuals screaming. A Parsons Cucumber Green Orb Spider 22/5/2019 Araniella cucurbitina or A. opisthographa. Cucumber Green Orb Spider. Found 22.5.19. 2pm approx. on washing in garden. Could have been 5mm but not measured. Naturespot says: There are two common Araniella species found in Leicestershire and Rutland: A. cucurbitina and A. opisthographa. Females grow up to 8 mm, males only up to 5 mm. They are a pale yellowish green in colour and have a red mark under the abdomen. They are hard to tell apart in the field and are often found together, expert help may be needed to be certain of correct identification between the two species. GOSLINGS CORNER TF 144 752 https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/goslings-corner-wood 25/5/2019 R & A Parsons Queen European Hornet - Vespa crabro - foraging deep into clover sward on path. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bees-wasps-and-ants/hornet Wild garlic still in flower, very dramatic, but with some plants already "going over". TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 14/5/2019 Holly blue 2 Orange tip 2 (m & f) This year has been a great year so far for holly blues and orange tips in my garden; I see them daily and have seen both types of butterfly mating. 15/5/2019 Newt 1 - seen in the pond after removing some green gloopy stuff from the surface Speckled wood 1 Peacock butterfly 1 18/5/2019 Robin 1 - fledgling 20/5/2019 Damselfly 1 - Unable to identify Sparrowhawk 1 24/5/2019 Cuckoo 1 heard in the distance LITTLE SCRUBBS MEADOW TF147744 25/5/2019 R & A Parsons Marsh Fritillaries in good numbers, 100s, possibly 1000s. https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/marsh-fritillary A.Parsons Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth - Hemaris fuciformis METHERINGHAM Metheringham SK060616 Jeremy Hutchinson Red Kite SCOTGRAVE WOOD TF130703 25/5/2019 R & A Parsons Deer sp barking - both Muntjac and Roe are present in the wood. A. Parsons Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth - Hemaris fuciformis Photo taken if needed for confirmation. https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/broad-bordered-bee-hawk-moth TATTERSHALL Market Place TF213578 16/5/2019 Stella and Richard Sivill Hornet - Vespa crabro [Photos provided] Determined by David Sheppard, who adds: The full name of the Asian Hornet is the 'Yellow-legged Asian Hornet' which is a big clue about how to distinguish it from our native Hornet which has brown legs. " See: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/know-your-hornets THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 10/05/19 Breeding bird survey 06:00 - 07:00 Blackbird x 3 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Tree Sparrow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 3 Yellowhammer x 1 10/05/19 Barn Owl x 1 daytime hunting (seen 07:00 & 09:45hrs) Little Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Mallard x 1 Short-eared Owl x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain (Clare Holmes) Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Nurseryweb Spider Pisaura mirabilis x 1 11/05/19 Blackbird x 3 Blue Tit x 2 Chiffchaff x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Long-eared Owl x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pied Wagtail x 2 Swallow x 2 Willow warbler x 1 Orange Tip x 1 male, 1 female 12/05/19 Nest check; Blackbird x 3 nests, 1 in log store 4 eggs, 1 in honeysuckle 4 eggs, 1 in stables 5 eggs Blue Tit x 1 nest in box, 9 eggs Pied Wagtail x 1 nest in log store (too far in to see eggs, adult present) Tree Sparrow x 4 nests in nest boxes, 3 with 5 eggs, 1 with 4 12/05/19 Goldfinch x 2 Swallow x 2 Froghopper Cercopis vulnerata x 1 15/05/19 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Robin x 1 Swallow x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Peacock x 2 16/05/19 Little Owl x 1 Short-eared Owl x 1 Yellow Rattle first flowers 20/05/19 Blackbird x 1 Blackcap x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Goldfinch x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Tree Sparrow x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 23/05/19 Blackbird x 1 on nest in stables Common Buzzard x 1 Robin x 1 Swift x 4 over Thurnholmes Willow Warbler x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 1 Noctule x 2 Common Toad x 1 (dead) Epworth SE783045 Common Swift moth x 1 24/05/19 Grass Snake x 1 (Clare Holmes) 25/05/19 Grey Partridge x 2 adults, 5 just born young Pied Wagtail young hatched in woodpile nest Tree Sparrows young hatched in four nest boxes Wren nest in Chicken shed 28/05/19 Blackbird x 3 (1 on nest in stables) Chaffinch x 1 Stock Dove x 1 flew out of pole nest box, first year since its installation in 2014 that Kestrels have not used it. Swallow x 2 Swift x 5 over Thurnholmes Brown Hare x 2 Peacock x 2 Small Magpie moth x 1 White Ermine x 1 WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler May 1-14 2019 After a cold start to the month, but much needed rain, the limestone plants rapidly started coming into flower PLANTS IN FLOWER Bird's Foot Trefoil, Common Vetch,Black Medick Salad Burnet, Mouse-ear Hawkweed. Cowslips and Wild Strawberry are abundant on the Nature Trail FUNGI On the Nature Trail the Thimble Morel turned up in quantity along with Pink Shield (Entoloma clypeatum) and St George's Mushroom (T.gambosum) On a dung heap Egghead Mottle Gill (Panaeolus semi-ovata) On a lawn Fairy Ring Champinons (Marasmius oreades) whilst on an ash stump the winter fungus Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) was still producing fruits. On decaying leaves the slime mould .. Mucilago spongiosa appeared, porridge-like on decaying leaves INSECTS In my garden all six Bumble Bees given as common have now produced workers. In addition the Tree Bumble Bee, Bombus hypnorum , whose queens appeared first with the Buff-tailed bee was the first to produce workers. The last to appear was the Red Tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius). The flower bee Anthophora plumipes still has females feeding on comfrey but by the 14th May no males were noted. The mason Bee has used the bee hotel again and there are nests of three species of the mining bee Andrena and their attendant parasites - Nomada spp Andrena haemorrhoea and A. fulva are readily identifiable but a third, dark species is not. The bee fly has been frequent this year. On the Nature Trail it was seen in the area of the grey mining bee Andrena cineraria. In spite of the fact that garden plants are specifically grown for the bees, with flowers like the winter honeysuckle from January onwards followed rapidly by swathes of Crocus thomasinianus and blossom from apricots to late apples, honey bees numbers are down. 7-spot ladybirds are abundant everywhere and no reports of harlequins. There are still regular sightings of Small and Large Whites, Brimstone , Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock , but not Red Admiral. It is a good year for Holly Blues and Orange Tips and by 14th the first Speckled woods were seen . AMPHIBIANS From a reduced number of frogs in my garden pond this year only 12 clumps of spawn resulted on 21 March. The multitude of tadpoles are now depleted by the common newts. Some which were removed to an aquarium have developed more quickly than the pond survivors. By 14th May they were sprouting back legs. BIRDS House Martins, Swallows and Swifts are back, the former two in smaller numbers and apparently delaying nesting (no mud and not enough insects ?) Birds nesting in our and immediate neighbour's garden include song thrush, blackbird, dunnock, house sparrow, robin, wren, blue tit, grey tit. collared dove, woodpigeon, starling. All except the blue and great tits and the song thrush have been observed feeding fledgings. Green and Greater spotted Woodpecker are nesting in area of Nature Trail as is Sparrowhawk. There is a new Rookery in Ash Trees here. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat are back. But the only cuckoos heard have come from the Colsterworth area. MAMMALS After a winter in which there was no evidence of rabbits in their usual areas they are now back, with young ones out in day. Several reports of a single bat flying at dusk (attracted by flies above a pond?) Hedgehogs are a success story as people are working together to encourage them with hibernating and nesting sites and passages from one garden to another. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 22nd May – 28th May 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 220519 - Great white egret flew from Rimac Lagoon 230519 - Male gadwall on Paradise Lagoon, and a fine hobby hunting over the dunes near Sea View. Elephant hawkmoth and small elephant hawkmoth at Rimac. Butterflies on the wing at Rimac: large white, green-veined white, orange tip, green hairstreak, small copper, brown argus, common blue, peacock, wall and small heath. 250519 – A female tawny owl calling near Sea View. 260519 - 2 avocets on Paradise Lagoon and there on the 27th. 280519 - During mid-day sunshine 2 brown argus, several common blues and holly blues on the wing at Sea View. A pair of tufted ducks near Sea View. Cuckoos still being seen/heard daily along the coast. Orchids in flower throughout the dunes. Swifts, swallows and house martins in the skies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** 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 *** 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 - downloadable book *** 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/ *** 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/ 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 LNR – 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: 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 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. You can also continue to read text versions of Wildnews Bulletins on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html ....and finally.... The week in wildlife – in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2019/may/24/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures Major UK festivals to go plastic-free https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48380605 Scottish trials to stop sea eagles stealing lambs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-48368247 Buzzards fatally shot in Northumberland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-48378563 Cardigan Bay oil and gas survey 'threatens wildlife' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48364285 Attenborough praises Saddleworth Moor fire marshal scheme https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-48370860 Young hen harrier missing in Cairngorms National Park https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-48364216 Your "and finally" links will be welcome. ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/