============================================= || || 27th 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... *** Check this week's flood warnings. Short Ferry causeway is still under water. https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings?location=lincolnshire More rain is expected. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Donna Nook. Advice is: Time your visits to avoid weekends if possible. I went for my annual pilgrimage on Thursday and it was as impressive as ever. Thanks to the team who organise everything so carefully and thoughtfully. A great job. Weekly Seal Update page: 22/11/2019 - 489 bulls, 1629 cows and 1554 pups https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Check road closure before you go - there are a lot in the area - we got diverted near Chapel St Leonards and Burgh le Marsh. See: https://roadworks.org/ Bird of the week - the Pomarine Skua - a spectacular bird, a male of which has been reported by pager for some time "on beach" at Donna Nook. This should have said "Eating placentas within yards of visitors. Seemingly unruffled by crowds of humans." Impressive. A gathering of appreciative birders were admiring him enjoying his lunch. https://www.birdguides.com/gallery/birds/stercorarius-pomarinus/ A selection of news stories and articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Low-lying flood affected areas 'priority' for Environment Agency https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-50518736 Floods leave farmers with 'unprecedented costs' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50475804 Stolen Tealby cannon returned with apology after 30 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-50559846 Bird Guides "photo of the week" - more stunning photos. https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-13-19-november/ Sir David Attenborough backs £1m nature reserve appeal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-50539487 If you go down to the woods today … don't come back with mushrooms https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/23/if-you-go-down-to-the-woods-today-dont-come-back-with-mushrooms-aoe New hope for trees affected by ash dieback https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50420207 Seven Worlds, One Planet on i-player.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0009tt8/seven-worlds-one-planet Len Pick Barn Owl camera - the story continues. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 More links in "...and finally..." Thanks for all the support. Please keep your contributions coming. If you need a plug for your Natural History events and activities - please let me know. Always glad to help. 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: 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 - soon to become December Night Sky... *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby For more information, contact Martin Francis (Group Leader) at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com (preferred) or on (01472) 883436 *** 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 *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Sunday 1st December 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk with Graham Hicks starting from Anthony's Bank, Humberston. Meet Graham at 8am in the carpark Grid Ref. TA 331061. Nearest postcode DN35 0PW. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear and bring binoculars if you have them. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Graham Hicks - 07979089890. On Monday 9th December 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where the Trust's Chief Executive Paul Learoyd will give an illustrated presentation looking back over 70 years of the Trust's achievements and look ahead at some of the forthcoming challenges. This will take place in the Banqueting Room of Grimsby Town Hall DN31 1HX and starts at 7.30pm. There will be a Trust goods stall, raffle, tea & coffee available and festive refreshments provided by our members. For further details contact Jennie Redpath 01472858. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 If visiting Willow Tree Fen see: LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and access. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen What is a "ringtail" Hen Harrier? "While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/hen-harrier/ 20th November Waxwing, Lincoln Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 2 Great White Egrets by River Witham, ESE of Fiskerton 2 Bitterns from Ness hide, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Hawfinch at feeding station in Plantation, Lapland Bunting flew south over, Great White Egret from Wash viewpoint, male Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshank flew over Jackson's Marsh, Water Pipit Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point Pomarine Skua on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook 21st November 20 White-fronted Geese on Jackson's Marsh meadows, Water Pipit flew over Sykes Farm, Hawfinch at feeding station, Great Northern Diver flew past, male Hen Harrier, 7+ White-fronted Geese with Canada Geese on Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 5 White-fronted Geese flew south over Anderby Creek Pomarine Skua on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook 8 White-fronted Geese with 700 Pink-footed Geese, Worlaby Carrs 22nd November Little Auk flew south past, Lapland Bunting flew south over North Sea Observatory, Chapel Point 2 Ruddy Shelducks with Greylag Geese at Blackmoor Bridge west of Harmeston Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook 15 White-fronted Geese, Freiston Shore 16 White-fronted Geese at Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Waxwing, Hawfinch heard in plantation, Snow Bunting, Water Pipit, Lapland Bunting flew south over, 4 White-fronted Geese Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 23rd November Hen Harrier male south over new saltmarsh, Hawfinch in plantation, 2 Water Pipits freshwater marsh, Snow Bunting flew over Mill Hill, Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshank on Croft Marsh, Pallas's Warbler by feeders in plantation, Gibraltar Point 2 Ruddy Shelducks at Blackmoor Bridge west of Harmeston Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook 16 White-fronted Geese, Saltfleet Hen Harrier ringtail, Frampton Marsh 24th November Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, 2 Lapland Buntings, 37 Snow Buntings, 2 Hen Harriers 1m , 2 Short-eared Owls, 90 Twite, Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed, Donna Nook 2 Russian White-fronted Geese in field with Pink-footed Geese, Goxhill Haven Pallas's Warbler behind Yacht Club, White-fronter Geese, Water Pipit, 2 Firecrests, Gibraltar Point 3 White-fronted Geese with 29 Pink-footed Geese, flew SW over Elm House Farm, Saltfleetby Great White Egret in field, Holbeach St Johns Long-tailed Duck, Whisby NR Water Pipit, Baston Fen 25th November Scaup 1w drk, Denton reservoir Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Great White Egret in dyke by field, Holbeach St Johns Long-tailed Duck, Apex pits, North Hykeham 16 Russian White-fronted Geese, Freiston Shore Snow Bunting, Covenham reservoir 3 White-fronted Geese from Wash viewpoint, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, male Hen Harrier, Great White Egret, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 26/11 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook Hen Harier male, Water Pipit on Freshwater Marsh, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret in dyke by field, Holbeach St Johns 27/11 Pomarine Skua ad male on beach at seal colony, Donna Nook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 w/o 25/11/2019 Collared Dove 8 Woodpigeon 4 Starling flock c 20+ House Sparrow flock c20+ Blackbird 2 Robin Dunnock Blue and Great Tit Magpie 2+ Jackdaw 5+ Black-headed Gulls c 12 Grey Squirrel TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 18/11/2019 Dunnock 1 Good to see it back! 19/11/2019 TF518769 Roe deer 2 20/11/2019 Harlequin ladybird 1 In lounge 25/11/2019 Self heal in flower Xylaria hypoxylon Candlesnuff  On decaying hawthorn stump MORKERY WOOD SK954190 17th November,2017 Jane and Brian Ostler Circuit of Eastern Section of Wood. Observed from path. Cloudy 8C FLOWERING PLANTS Almost nothing still in flower - a single Dandelion, two, or three Ragwort and several groups of Herb Robert. Ivy flowers over, but berries not yet ripe. Most of fruit gone on Guelder and Hawthorn, but Berries of Black Bryony. No berries on a Spindle which continues to thrive at edge of wood, in spite of growing from the base of a mature Oak. Leaf colour, slow to develoop this year, was at its best. Against a background of browning oak and bronze Beech and the dark green of the few conifers left, there were all the shades of yellow on Silver Birch, Hazel and Maple. FUNGI Clouded Funnel Caps (Clitocybe nebularis)were everywhere, often in rings round trees. Common Funnel cap (Clitocybe gibba) and Trooping funnel (Clitocybe geotropa) were few and scattered. Poison Pie (Hebeloma crustuliniforme) was under trees and Blackening Waxcap (Hygrocybe conica) in grassland. Searching the area where, earlier in November last year, I found Fly Agaric, we found a single decayed specimen. The Magpie (Coprinus picaceus).also turned up again in the same area. On fallen branches there were two kinds ofl Xylaria - Candle Snuff (X.hypoxylon) and Dead Moll's fingers (X.longipes). GALLS I did not find any fly galled bracket fungus Ganoderma australe. The Silver Birch logs where it was found previously have all been removed. Oak marble galls were on a group of young oak which was also the site of an oak apple gall. A mature oak had both spangle and silk button galls on its leaves. BIRDS Apart from the frequent calls of pheasants, earlier released from their pens, the wood was silent. A Jay flew across our path and other walkers reported Fieldfare. MAMMALS A Wood Mouse ran across path in car park area. Squirrel dreys, but no Squirrels seen . No signs of deer. Badger activity near their setts. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 09/11/19 Otter x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain (G. Watts) 19/11/19 Barn Owl x 1 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 65 roosting in Hawthorns around our paddocks with Redwing and Starlings Golden Plover x 15 over Thurnholmes Little Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Pink-footed Goose x 130 west over Thurnholmes Redwing x 35 Short-eared Owl x 1 SK795988 Starling x 150 Tawny Owl x 1 Tree Sparrow x 52 Woodcock x 1 20/11/19 Blackbird x 4 Fieldfare x 135 Mallard x 25 over Thurnholmes Pink-footed Goose x 80 north over Thurnholmes Redwing x 72 Starling x 450+ 22/11/19 Blackbird x 5 Fieldfare x 83 Moorhen x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Mute Swan x 2 fields north of Thurnholmes Redwing x 112 Starling x 250 25/11/19 Blackbird x 2 Cormorant x 2 over Thurnholmes Fieldfare x 65 Golden Plover x 2 Goldfinch x 15 Little Owl x 2 calling 01:15hrs Redwing x 129 Starling x 350+ Geotrupes stercorarius x 1 (Dor Beetle) Dytiscus marginalis x 1 (Great Diving Beetle) 27/11/19 Whooper Swan x 8 north over Thurnholmes 08:20hrs WOOLSTHORPE BY COLSTERWORTH 24TH November 2019 10C Some sunshine Jane Ostler Garden SK 923245 VERTEBRATES 8A.M. A House Mouse found in the perspex window ledge bird feeder. Having got in, couldn't get out so removed and feeder made 'mouse proof'. 12 House Sparrows are regular feeders here, mainly on fat balls when a robin has window feeder all to itself. A Wren seen going into bird box at dusk. Blue Tits feeding on leafless lilac branches, believe they are finding greenfly eggs. INVERTEBRATES Honey bees feeding on first flowers of Mahonia(Oregan Grape), which is covered in rings of yellow spikes. Each 12 petalled flower has a pair of nectaries at the base of its petals. On examining the flowers afterwards I found a pool of fluid at their centres where the bees had been. Seven Spot Ladybirds are hibernating in a bush in south facing border as they do most years. Kept clipped it has dense evergreen leaves. Didn't disturb what was perhaps a dozen of them except to confirm the species Harlequins seem to have disappeared from the garden this year. The chicken run is a quagmire this year and the hens replete with worms. They have ignored a fat earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) washed up on the path. They would normally fight over it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 20th – 26th November 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 191119 Late afternoon a male sparrowhawk pursued a common snipe over the saltmarsh but failed to capture it. 201119 - At dusk at least 500 pink-feet flying in from the NW to roost on the mud flats near Churchill, 30 whooper swans on grassland at Elm House Farm. 211119 - Single goldcrest and a male sparrowhawk around Sea View. 221119 - At Elm House Farm there were 5 white-fronts with 57 pink-feet plus 35 redshank and 41 curlew. 241119 - Single bullfinch near Churchill, peregrine on mudflats nearby and 18 common snipe flushed off saltmarsh in the Rimac area. One woodcock and 2 goldcrests near Sea View. The Pipistrelle bat seen flying around Sea View early in November (see Graham Catley’s blog for 9th November with photos) has again been seen in flight during the day. 251119 - Eleven whooper swans over Sea View, single greenfinch and great spotted woodpecker at feeding station. 3 water rails heard, 2 brown and 1 grey hen harriers seen at dusk in the Churchill Lane area. 261119 - In roadside pasture field at Elm House Farm were 274 Canada geese, 53 pink-feet and 9 grey lags. Donna Nook Weekly seal update 221119 – 489 bulls, 1629 cows and 1554 pups. 20-261119 – Pomarine skua still on site and showing well while feeding on the salt marsh in amongst the seals. 261119 – Lapland bunting feeding in amongst a flock of twite. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 The mission to save the hazel dormouse - background https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/40728101 The State of Britain’s Dormice 2019 report underlines the importance of providing the right habitat for dormice, and maintaining such habitats via correct woodland management practices, is the key to bringing this endangered species back from the brink. In Britain, dormice – known for their endearing appearance with soft caramel fur, furry tail and big black eyes – are threatened and are considered to be vulnerable to extinction. In fact, hazel dormice are already extinct from 17 counties in England. The areas where they are still known to exist are almost all entirely south of a line between Shropshire and Suffolk. Ian White, Dormouse & Training Officer at PTES, explains: “The decline in dormouse numbers is due to the loss and fragmentation of their natural woodland and hedgerow habitats, as well as climate change. In particular, it’s the loss of habitat quality that’s of real concern. Sympathetic woodland management is essential for the recovery of dormice. Whether woodlands are managed for timber or public access, shrubby areas should be created beneath the tree canopy. These provide dormice, and many other species with areas to nest and feed in while also being able to access the mature trees. It is this variety of woodland habitats required to help dormice survive.” To read the full report, and to find out more about PTES’ ongoing dormouse conservation work please visit: www.ptes.org/dormice 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) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If visiting Willow Tree Fen see: LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and seasonal paths - groundwork is in progress. 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/ *** 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/ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ 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 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/ 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.... All 435 illustrations from emblematic 'Birds of America' book now free for download https://www.zmescience.com/other/art-other/birds-of-america-illustrations/ When in trouble, just surf -- that's what honeybees do https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/when-in-trouble-just-surf-thats-what-honeybees-do/ Beavers to be reintroduced in Somerset and South Downs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-50485784 Captivity-bred wildcats to be released into wild in Cairngorms https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50464091 Country diary: the thrilling, terrifying flight of the merlin https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/19/country-diary-the-thrilling-terrifying-flight-of-the-merlin Country diary: pockets of stardust in the November gloom https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/nov/20/country-diary-pockets-of-stardust-in-the-november-gloom Country diary: burning question raised by the Fishlake floods https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/nov/22/country-diary-burning-question-raised-by-the-fishlake-floods ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/