============================================= || || 6th November 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... *** Amber warning of rain affecting East Midlands https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings If you are going to try to observe the transit of Mercury you will know not to look at the Sun directly. Use a professional-standard solar filter on your optics. See: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/transit-mercury-11-november-2019-what-how-see/ Or you can do it on-line. Why not? https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2019/10/16/the-11-november-2019-mercury-transit-online-observing-session/ Donna Nook. Time your visits to avoid weekends if possible. At the time of writing: 01/11/2019 - 81 bulls, 153 cows and 39 pups Weekly Seal Update page: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Bird of the week is the Lapland Bunting which you may see on coastal reserves. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/lapland-bunting/ Please let us have news of any other interesting winter visitors and also if you spot a starling murmuration. A selection of news stories and articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Commercial fungi pickers threaten Epping Forest biodiversity https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-50302738 Climate change: ‘Clear and unequivocal’ emergency, say scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50302392 New study into climate impact on North Sea wildlife https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50220341 'Alarming' loss of insects and spiders recorded https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50226367 Climate change alters Highland red deer gene pool https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50306365 Seven Worlds, One Planet on i-player - stunning but disturbing.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009tt8/seven-worlds-one-planet BBC's Autumnwatch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009v50 Len Pick Barn Owl camera - the story continues. What a racket! http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 More links in "...and finally..." Thanks for all the support. Please keep your records and contributions coming. If you need a plug for your Natural History events and activities - just let us know. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ You should check this link in case any change has been made. In the event of a late cancellation or other change after the Bulletin has been sent I will also post updated details on the following webpage: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, and start at 2pm.] Next meetings: ‘4000 years of recording Mayflies’ Craig Macadam – 16th November 2019 - note the change of date https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2018-11-10/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ‘Gibraltar Point’ Barrie Wilkinson – 11th January 2020 Recorders’ Meeting – 8th February 2020 Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu *** November Night Sky... *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Transit of Mercury: Really good preview for November 11 2019 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhWMOkrzKzs *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ Keith Scarrott writes: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society Our Monday, November 11th meeting will begin with the full Society AGM to be followed by an illustrated talk about "Water Voles and other small Mammals". This will be given by Chris Manning the LNU Recorder for Mammals who gave us a fascinating talk about deer and deer parks in Lincolnshire in February 2018. ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR MEETINGS which start at 7.15pm and take place in St Bernadette's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS. There is a large, free car park at the Church which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. There is no charge for entry but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are available for a small charge at the mid-talk break. For further details please contact Keith Scarrott on 01724 762098. *** 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 Martin Francis writes: November Meeting and Trip. The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next meeting is at 7.30pm on Monday, 18th November 2019 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. Our speaker, Garry Steele, worked as a freelance ecological consultant before retiring. His work involved many inspections of traditional farm buildings prior to their proposed conversion to alternative use, and where necessary, the development of mitigation strategies for barn owls and other protected wildlife species ahead of development. Garry has been awarded a Lincolnshire Environmental Award for his work with barn owls. Garry will give us an illustrated talk entitled ‘Conservation of Barn Owls in Lincolnshire’. There will also be refreshments and a raffle Entry is £4, payable at the door. Our next trip is on Sunday 24th November. We will travel first to RSPB Fairburn Ings. This is a large reserve with a variety of habitats, and a Visitors’ Centre where refreshments are available. On previous visits, we have always seen 70 or more species including kingfisher and willow tit, (which are almost guaranteed), and rarer species like great white egret. In the early afternoon, we will travel to RSPB Blacktoft Sands, arriving in time for the harrier roost, which is a magical experience. There will certainly be roosting marsh harriers and a chance of seeing a ghostly male hen harrier and other birds of prey, including barn owls. The coach leaves the Shoppers Car Park on Waltham Road, Scartho, DN33 2LX, (adjoining Scartho Community Centre) promptly at 7.30am and returns at 6.00 - 6.30pm. The cost of the coach trip is £20 per person. 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. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting or on the trip, or both! *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: ILLUSTRATED TALK- “Every pixel tells a story”, by Neil Smith [of Boston] A joint venture between The South Lincs RSPB Group and The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. Venue-Franklin Hall,Halton Halgate, Spilsby PE23 5LA. Thursday 7th November 2019 at 7-30pm. Admission £3 [on the door ]. *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves Donna Nook See Weekly Seal Update page: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Boston Branch - LWT *** Geof Lee writes: Boston Branch - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust 14th November, 2019 at 7.30 P.M. Dragons and damsels A talk by Nick Tribe, the County Dragonfly Recorder. The meeting will be held in the schoolroom of the Centenary Methodist Church in Red Lion Street, Boston. Free, all welcome, refreshments - there will be a leaving collection For more info contact Geof Lee on 01205366923 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Lovely writes: On Monday 11th November 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where speaker Barry Last will give a presentation about the life and times of a local hedgehog rescue centre - Charlie's Hedgehog Care. This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30pm. Admission £3, all are welcome. There will be a Trust goods stall, raffle and tea & coffee available. Donations appreciated of tinned cat or dog food and kitten biscuits for the hedgehogs at the rescue centre. For further information contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] RBA note on visiting Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness: Access from A52 thru The Pines Caravan Park, TF537628 30th October Red-backed Shrike 1w south of Seaview Farm, Saltfleetby Red-breasted Flycatcher trapped, Little Auk flew north past, Anderby Creek Black guillemot flew south past , 7 Little Auks, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver flew south past, Snow Bunting in off sea, Chapel Point Pallas' Warbler, ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler, Water Pipit, 2 Hen Harriers, Lapland Bunting over, Snow Bunting flew south, Velvet Scoter flew north, Gibraltar Point 2 Great White Egrets, Pomarine Skua, Frampton Marsh Water Pipit flew over Wolla Bank Great Northern Diver north past , Long-tailed Duck, Donna Nook 3 Water Pipits, Baston Fen Great White Egret flew over Crowland Rough-legged Buzzard ad, Holbeach St John by South Holland main drain 31st October 2 Great White Egrets over Ness End, Far Ings Great White Egret, Pallas's Warbler, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 5 Velvet Scoters past, Spotted Redshank, Water Pipit, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Great Northern Diver, Gibraltar Point Caspian Gull flew south over railway bridge, Torksey Firecrest, Huttoft Bank Pit, 2 Little Auks flew north past Huttoft Bank Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting, Short-eared Owl, Long-tailed Duck, Frampton Marsh Water Pipit, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Anderby Creek 1st November Yellow-browed Warbler, Pallas's Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Snow Bunting, Huttoft Bank Hawfinch over Normanby Enterprise.Park Pallas's Warbler, Crook Bank, Theddlethorpe 2 Great White Egrets, Crowland town centre Long-tailed Duck, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 2nd November Waxwing later flew south, Yellow-browed Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Spotted Redshank, ringtail Hen Harrier, 3 Great White Egrets flew south over, Gibraltar Point 2 Common Scoters, 2 Twite, Covenham reservoir 8 Water Pipits, male Hen Harrier, Donna Nook Long-tailed Duck, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 3rd November Long-tailed Duck, Frampton Marsh Firecrest in dunes, 4 Lapland Buntings north of Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary, car park, Theddlethorpe Water Pipit, East Halton Skitter 2 Common Scoter, Covenham reservoir Hen Harrier, Great White Egret. Nocton Fen 5 Lapland Buntings flew south, Snow Bunting, Siberian Chiffchaff, Ring Ouzel, Yellow-browed Warbler, Gibraltar Point 4th November Barred Warbler, Hen Harrier male, Little Gull flew south, Firecrest, Lapland Bunting flew south over, 2 Scaup offshore, Slavonian Grebe, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Duck, Great White Egret, Frampton Marsh 5th November 4 Pomarine Skuas flew past, 2 Velvet Scoters, Little Auk past, River Witham mouth, Cut End, Boston 2 Velvet Scoters, Freiston Shore 19 Pomarine Skuas flew north past, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Velvet Scoters, Black-throated Diver, 9 Little Gulls, Lapland Bunting flew south, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler, 2 Great White Egrets, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 6th November 5 Long-eared Owls on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Common Scoter, sailing pit, Barton-upon-Humber 2 Lapland Buntings, Little Auk flew north, 15 Snow Buntings, 67 Twite, Hen Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owls, Donna Nook 2 Lapland Buntings, 3 Pomarine Skua, Siberian Chiffchaff, Short-eared Owl, Long-eared Owl, Snow Bunting, 3 Twite, Great White Egret, 2 Water Pipits, Purple Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Duck, Frampton Marsh Water Pipit, East Halton Skitter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. *** 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 & A Parsons Week of 4th November - some flying from local feral honey bee colony during warmer spells. These could be what beekeepers politely term "cleansing flights, but may indicate that winter stores are running down. BOSTON (GARDEN by A16) October 2019 Roy and Kathleen Pearson We were able to count the birds in the garden on 29 days in October. Twenty-one species were recorded and are given below followed by the highest number of each species seen together. Fifty-seven per cent of the species only contained single birds on each occurrence. Long-tailed Tit 3, House sparrow 17, Great Tit 2, Woodpigeon 8, Robin 1, Blue Tit 2, Collared Dove 8, Blackbird 4, Goldfinch 10, Jay 1, Magpie 1, Dunnock 2, Chaffinch 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Wren 1, Carrion Crow 2, Greenfinch 1, Song Thrush 1, Siskin 1, Starling 1 and Blackcap 1. Other items occurring were:- Grey Squirrel, Red Admiral, Comma, Peacock Butterfly, Southern Hawker and Common Darter. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 31/10/2019 Hawthorn shieldbug 1 1/11/2019 Pheasants 6 f. wandering around together 6/11/2019 Wren 1 6/11/2019 Bats 3 or 4 - 4.45pm TATTERSHALL TF216579 03/11/2019 Geoff Annibal Saw a large bat hunting at 4-30 pm i.e. still light. I suspect this was a Noctule. Seemed late in the year for it to be active. TWYFORD WOOD SK947239 27th October 2019 Jane Ostler Fungus Foray with West Kesteven Wildlife Watch For the last 15 years this group has been helping continue the surveys I have done in one area of the wood since 1990. The main change has been the felling of most of the conifers. As a result of this there has bee a rapid growth of a ground layer of plants. This alone does not however explain the decline in the number and variety of fungi - in particular those gill fungi which contribute directly to the welfare of trees. After several years of dry autumn the wet weather in October meant a better list. Some species are awaiting identification but more than 50 spp were found. These included 5spp. Tough Shanks, 3spp. Funnel Caps, but only two kinds of Brittle Gills (Russula), both associated with Beech and only one Milkcap (Lactarius quietus) which is associated with oak. Of the the 4spp. of Bonnets (Mycena) yet identified two found with beech were frequent Saffrondrop ( M.crocata) and Lilac (M.pura). Easily identified and providing some colour were the Deceiver and the Amethyst Deceiver, the Wood Blewit and the Sulphur Tuft. There were three kinds of Puff Ball and the remains of a Collared Earth Star. The large size of the Birch Polypores provided some drama but on the small amount of decaying fallen wood only Turkey Tail was abundant. A favourite with the children was the only bolete found, Boletus chrysenteron or Cracking Bolete and a dramatic fruiting of many Lawyer's Wigs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: 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: reports always welcome. http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 30th October – 5th November 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Total rainfall for October 100.3mm (3.95 inches) which was the wettest October recorded at Sea View since 1993 (111.5mm). 301019 - Red-Backed shrike in hedge south of Sea View Farm, 2 great white egrets flew south over the washlands towards Rimac and at least 1000 starlings have been in the area in two flocks. 311019 - Single black cap at Sea View. Little egrets up to 33 on the saltmarsh and 70 black-tailed godwits flew over the area and settled onto the marsh, plus 100+ redshank. 011119 - Single goldcrest and blackcap at Sea View. 01/021119 - A small influx of thrushes and woodcocks with 8 fieldfare, 4 siskins and 5 bramblings, 9 rock pipits, 1 Lapland bunting and 13 reed bunting. 031119 - Great spotted woodpecker and 1 fieldfare at Rimac plus 190 pink-feet flew in, high, from the west and landed in fields at Elm House Farm. 2 small bats believed to be pipistrelles in the Churchill Lane area. 041119 - Single chiff/willow at Sea View. Late afternoon, flying in to roost in the Haven Outfall area were 70 curlew and 120 wigeon. 1 peacock butterfly and 3 buff tail bumblebees in the afternoon at Churchill Lane and 2 chiffchaffs, 1 yellow browed and 1 Pallas’s warbler. 051119 - Around Sea View mid-morning were 2 fieldfare, 12 redwing, 9 blackbirds and with a mixed tit flock 3 goldcrests and a firecrest. Around Churchill Lane; tawny owl and little owls heard most evenings, 1 short-eared owl 1 barn owl seen over saltmarsh. Donna Nook Weekly Seal Count: 011119 – 81 bulls, 153 cows, 39 pups Mixed flocks of blue tits, great tits, long-tailed tits and goldcrests moving through the sea buckthorn on a daily basis. Little egrets feeding on the saltmarsh. 021119 – Male hen harrier, short-eared owl, sparrowhawk, brent geese and shelduck. See Weekly Seal Update page: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Southrey Wood work party volunteers needed starting this November. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group Volunteers needed this winter. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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) College Wood ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 always 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. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ 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" *** 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 *** 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 *** 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/ *** 2020 Big Farmland Bird Count *** Friday 7th to Sunday 16th February 2020. 2019 results on the BFBC website: https://www.bfbc.org.uk/ 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: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/news-campaigns/news/2019/rural-crime-news/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: very useful *** 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 *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ 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/ *** British Mycological Society *** https://www.britmycolsoc.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. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** 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 *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** 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... Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** 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. *** Codes of Conduct *** 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 Birdwatchers' Code: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi for Research and Educational Purposes https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants. https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.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. Next Meetings: Indoor meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ‘4000 years of recording Mayflies’ Craig Macadam – 16th November 2019 - note the change of date https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2018-11-10/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ‘Gibraltar Point’ Barrie Wilkinson – 11th January 2020 Recorders’ Meeting – 8th February 2020 Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ....and finally.... Scientists solve mystery behind how gannets hunt for fish https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-50267180 Country diary: you only see tough little birds on the hike to the tor https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/31/country-diary-dartmoor-you-only-see-tough-little-birds-on-the-hike-to-the-tor-meadow-pipit Country diary: toxic toadstools pepper the golf course https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/01/country-diary-toxic-toadstools-pepper-the-golf-course Country diary: the welcome return of the porpoises https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/02/country-diary-the-welcome-return-of-the-porpoises ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/