============================================= || || 2nd October 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... *** Wow! A 60% opening rate for last week's Bulletin. Most similar newsletter mailings typically get 20%, according to MailChimp. A big thank you for this week's contributions. Very welcome indeed. It makes the Bulletin much more interesting when we have readers' reports and news. It was good to see a few new readers sign up too. If you have not yet tried it, please use the "forward to a friend link" at the end of every Bulletin and send it to a likely future reader. I will be helping Ray Halstead with the LNU Field Meeting at Moor Farm this month. Sunday 13th October 2019. See the details below. Dates and details of the "Indoor Meetings " are also available now and I have summarised these below to help you plan ahead! A selection of relevant news stories can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Len Pick Barn Owl camera - the story continues! http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 UK weather: Torrential rain brings floods across Britain https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49890229 Jerry Gunner writes: Exciting sighting near Coleby yesterday morning [26th], a Great White Egret standing stock still by the side of the road. I’ve never seen one in the UK, or I don’t remember seeing one. See: Country diary: wow, there's a great white in the canal https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/05/country-diary-wow-theres-a-great-white-in-the-canal Lincolnshire exhibition sheds new light on Pilgrim Fathers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-49852517 'Alarming' extinction threat to Europe's trees https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49838650 Beetles 'evolve to reproduce in warmer weather' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-49890776 Sand loss at £22m beach in Norfolk was 'expected' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-49878600 Pine Martens returned to Forest of Dean after facing extinction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-49881227 More links in "...and finally..." Thanks for all the 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: Moor Farm LWT Reserve and SSSI – Sunday 13th October 2019 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-10-13/ Moor Farm LWT Reserve and SSSI, east of Woodhall Spa Access courtesy of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Last LNU visit in 1997 12.00 for 13.00 start. Meet and park in reserve car park at TF226635. Nearest postcode: LN10 6YU. NB. Possible need for some verge parking if car park gets full (only takes about 10 cars). Nearest public toilets are in Woodhall Spa. Possibly quite wet along reserve paths. Habitat: Acid Grassland, broadleaved woodland and boggy heathland. Leaders: Ray Halstead 07772 613640 ray.halstead@tiscali.co.uk and Roger Parsons 07867 847679 old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ‘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 *** 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. Update on the Whisby workshops. Two places left on Leafminer Moths but Fungi now fully booked up. Spaces still available on "Slugs". Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead *** October 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/ Keith Scarrott writes: The Natural History and Geology Section of the Scunthorpe Museum Society Following our AGM we have Dr Chris Skinner from Hull University to give us his illustrated talk about the impact of "Micro-plastics" on Monday, 14th October. This is a great opportunity to learn about this major pollutant that threatens life forms all over the Earth. Don't miss it. As always we start at 7.15pm and meet in the St. Bernadette's Church Hall, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 2RS, which is opposite the Priory Hotel on Ashby Road. There is no entry charge but a donation bowl is provided. Light refreshments are available for a small charge during the mid-talk break. ALL ARE WELCOME. There is a large, free car park in the church grounds. 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: October Meeting and Trip. “The RSPB Grimsby Local Group's next meeting is at 7.30pm on Monday, 21st October 2019 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. Our speaker, Richard Baines, is an experienced ornithologist/ecologist whose work as a Wildlife Guide and in Nature Conservation for over 30 years has included setting up the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project. Richard will give us an illustrated talk entitled ‘Birding in East and North Yorkshire’. There will also be refreshments and a raffle Entry is £4, payable at the door. Our next trip is on Sunday 27th October to the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Attenborough Reserve. This is a large reserve with a variety of habitats, and a Visitors’ Centre with a café. On previous visits, we have always seen 60 or more species including unusual sightings like water rail and red-crested pochard. The coach leaves the Shoppers Car Park on Waltham Road, Scartho, DN33 2LX, (which is between Springfield Rd and the Scartho round-a-bout) 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. *** South Lincs RSPB Group *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group's 2019 BIRDWATCHING AND SEAL CRUISES aboard The Boston Belle, into The Wash. Full details of the 2019 cruise programme can be found at- https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/459075/ Note: The Group has 3 cruises remaining this year, 5th and 21st October. For full availability information contact the Groups booking agency, Spalding's South Holland Centre 01775-764777 www.southhollandcentre.co.uk *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Boston Branch - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** Geof Lee writes: 10th October, 2019 at 7.30 p.m. Wildlife of Madeira and the Canary Islands a talk by Gill Walsh illustrated by digital photographs taken on her many visits. The meeting will be held in the schoolroom of the Centenary Methodist Church in Red Lion street Boston. Free - all welcome. Refreshments. Leaving collection. For more info contact Geof Lee at 01205366923. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk On Monday 14th October 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust hold their indoor meeting where excellent photographer Geoff Trinder will be showing his wildlife images taken in 2018 from his visits to Hungary, the Yorkshire Dales and some taken more locally. The photos are of birds, landscapes, flowers and some captive frogs! This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30 pm. Admission £3, all are welcome. There will be a Trust goods stall, raffle, tea & coffee available. For further details contact Jennie Redpath - 01472 502858. On Sunday 20th October 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in Bradley Woods off Bradley Road, Grimsby. DN37 0AQ with Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 8am in the car parking area. Grid Ref. TA 244058. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and stout footwear. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Graham Hicks 07979 089890. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 25th September Pectoral Sandpiper juv, American Golden Plover ad on reedbed, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Black-necked Grebe, Boultham Mere, Lincoln Great White Egret flew over Baston+Langtoft GPs 8 Spoonbills, 10 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper, end of Boatmere Creek, Gedney Drove End Great White Egret, Far Ings 26th September Sabine's Gull, 6 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Pectoral Sandpiper juv, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler, 11 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Yellow-browed Warbler, Sandbanks garden, Saltfleetby NNR Garganey, Marston Sewage Works 27th September Pectoral Sandpiper juv, 3 Little Stints, 5 Spoonbills, Hen Harrier, 15 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 3 Lapland Buntings flew south over, 2 Twite, 10 Spotted Redshanks, Little Stint, 8 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Black Tern, Covenham reservoir Pallid or Montagu's Harrier flew south, Anderby Creek 28th September Pectoral Sandpiper juv, Osprey flew south, Frampton Marsh Snow Bunting flew south, Little Stint, 1w Caspian gull, 8 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point 29th September 2 Wood Sandpipers, Alkborough flats Pectoral Sandpiper juv, Temminck's Stint, 2 Little Stints, Short-eared Owl, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Black Tern, Covenham reservoir Great White Egret, Pit 4, Far Ings Long-tailed Skua past, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 30th September Great White Egret flew over Fiskerton Fen Great White Egret, Far Ings Great White Egret, Alkborough Flats Pectoral Sandpiper juv, 7 Short-eared Owls, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Red-footed Falcon flew in off sea then flew south along East Dunes, also Great White Egret, 11 Spoonbills, Yellow Browed Warbler, Gibraltar Point 1st October 2 Little Stints, 6 Short-eared Owls, Frampton Marsh 2 Long-tailed Skuas, both juvs, flew past Huttoft Car Terrace Yellow-browed Warbler, Great White Egret, 5 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work. http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml Driving Forays - the following fungi were noted this week R Parsons w/o 30th September 2019 Lawyer's Wig, Coprinus comatus, on road verges at Minting at approx TF182734 and near Bardney on B1190, at approx TF15868. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/fungi/shaggy-inkcap Chicken of the Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus on rotting tree Fiskerton Road near Greetwell, at approx TF017718 https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/species-explorer/fungi/chicken-of-the-woods CORRINGHAM Chris du Feu Corringham, today 25th Sept. 2019 Farmyard. Two toads seen (full grown and half grown). Slugs: Arion distinctus Tandonia budapestensis Deroceras reticulatum Arion vulgaris - sadly abundant. Toads not doing their job of slug clearance. 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 A surge in mole activity following the heavy rain this week. 15.00hrs - heron flew over St Lawrence' Churchyard 30/9/2019 - Pied Wagtail hunting on roof on nearby bungalow. GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 25th September 2019 20.35 hrs. In the garden.. still a few 7spot ladybirds, numerous harvest spiders, a number of beautiful garden spiders with their lovely circular webs, a few mint moths, an angle shades, a pretty moth which was underneath the lid of the garden recycling bin which I can't identify. There have been a number of house spiders which I put outside in the garden - one ran across the bathroom floor and I'm sure he was wearing clogs, and the inevitable spider in the bath. There has been a shortage of birds since I had to stop feeding them, though I have heard titty twitterings in the elder bush beyond the back wall. There has been a male blackbird searching for worms since the rain overnight, and a persistent magpie calling for the last day or two. A crow was calling from a chimney pot Along the river bank...The river has been in a state for a few weeks, lots of thick algae and the river weed has spread from one side and is meeting the reeds from the other side. Thankfully the Environment Agency is clearing it today. There's been no flow through and the water birds have been struggling. The swans are doing well. There are 3 broods, one with 10 cygnets, one with 9, and one with 5. They are as big as their parents now, I hope we can keep them safe. The moor hens are the only ones who are enjoying the algae, the mallards are thriving though there was a man in a van trying to capture some mallards, fortunately he was seen by a passer by who made him put them back in the river. The black headed gulls are starting to come to the river now, a sure sign of Autumn. People feed the ducks and the gulls get an easy meal. A lady who runs Grimsby in Bloom has organised a river clean for this coming Saturday, as it's World Rivers Day. River cleans are a regular event, we all get together and pick up all the litter. It's worked out well with the E.A. clearing it too. If any Grimsby people reading this would like to help it's from 10 am to 1pm, meeting at the Pavilion on the Duke of York Gardens. Grimsby in Bloom are also doing fundraising for wildflower seeds for the river bank next year. GRIMSBY TA265095 (or nearby) Joyce Attia 30th September 2019 The moth that was found under the lid of my recycle bin was a Herald moth. Thank you to Colin for identification. Riverside 28th September - spotted a moorhen on a nest, the EA have cleaned the river. 30th September - 3 tiny moorhen chicks trying to keep up with Mum and Dad. There's been e lot of rain and the river is flowing quickly now. There is still a certain amount of algae and reeds along the edges I hope it's enough to give them shelter, and it's a lovely sunny day today. There was a robin calling in the trees. Birdsong is a bit scarce at the moment GRIMSTHORPE ESTATE GARDENS TF04/24 25th September 2019 Jane and Brian Ostler TREES These were just those which I had time to note English Oak: A mixture of ancient , middle aged and new plantings. Few acorns (though lots of squirrels), greyish appearance of leaves on older trees. Only galls noted were marble galls on a newly planted tree. Beech: This has plenty of mast on the healthy mature trees. Lime: Gardener trimming basal shoots of the Common lime to reveal naturalised cyclamens. Two particular fine, heavily fruiting trees near information centre. Small leaved lime planted on south facing edge before topiary. Horse Chestnut: Looking sorry for themselves in spite of abundant 'conkers' Rust brown colouring of leaf spot fungus Guignardia aesculi Ash: There is very little ash in this area Holm Oak: In a corner before the walled garden, looks a mature tree, but with all juvenile leaves as described by Alan Mitchell. Walnut: Like so many trees allowed to grow in a space and so achieving its classic shape Deodora Cedar: Two of these are magnificent with a curving limb at the base as thick as t he trunks of other trees around them. Tulip Tree: Still young. Judas Tree Near the cottage - its growth suggests it can't make up its mind to be a tree or a bush Indian Bean Tree: Well grown, but with no fruit. Foxglove Tree: This was a surprise, just brought back one of its large leaves for identification so identity will need to be confirmed on a later visit. Japanese Red Cedar: Noted previously for its elephant tusk-like main branches discovered this was the largest of seven trees , all close together. Maiden Hair Tree: In a corner and another outside the walled garden Cherries: These appear to be large specimens of our native cherry. Medlars: Covered in fruit in the kitchen garden. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 26/9/2019 Woodmouse 1 27/9/2019 Heron 1 in flight TF520767 WOOLSTHORPE AND COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler Following an item in a previous LNU Wildnews I asked for casual records of bats and hedgehogs for the parish Natural History Bulletin. Adding these to others sent in over the years are helping to build up a picture. HEDGEHOGS There are encouraging signs of hedgehog breeding success. A Woolsthorpe garden adjacent to the Nature Trail has a hedgehog home where families have been reared. They have been recorded visiting neighbouring gardens. The latest reports show them at intervals along all the area bordered by gardens. For many years hedghogs have appeared as road casualties crossing from this area over the Woolsthorpe Road. Since 2015 families have been recorded in one garden, have fed and hibernated in neighbouring gardens and new records in show that they are found along Reads and Newton Lanes running at right angles. At the original site as many as eight have been seen at the feeding dish put out for them. Similar stories are emerging for Colsterworth particularly on the extensive estates where passageways between gardens are often put in for hedghogs. BATS These need a good Public Relations Officer, especially with all the nonsense of Halloween approaching. Known roosting and nesting sites are well monitored but half a dozen casual sightings sent in from Colsterworth this September may not be from these. In my own garden I have been surprised to find first one bat, at the beginning of this month and then three regularly flying figure of eight  over the length of the garden. They have also been seen by a dog walker at dusk on the Nature Trail. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/collections/thewash_northnorfolk.aspx https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: 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 25th September – 1st October 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Weather note Apart from the occasional shower the first three weeks of September were generally dry with hot sunny weather. An unseasonal high of 24.75C was recorded on the 3rd and 12th. A ground frost of -0.25C was noted on the 18th. From the 22nd - 30th a continual flow of SW fronts gave periods of heavy rainfall where for that period 66.6mm fell out of a total for the month of 79.7mm making it the wettest September since 2000. The rainfall over the past week has raised water levels by 35cm after the dry previous weeks. The very high tides over 29th-1st have flooded the saltmarsh and up into the foredunes. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 260919 - Goldcrest and 3 swallows over Sea View, kingfisher along the Eau near Paradise. 270919 - On Paradise lagoon 3 greenshank, 10 lapwing, 5 redshank, 4 moorhen, 1 shoveler, 3 teal, 1 herring gull, 4 common gulls and 78 black-headed gulls. Ten little egrets feeding on the saltmarsh, 2 marsh harriers hunting over the area, 5 swallows over Rimac and singles of goldcrest and blackcap at Sea View. 280919 - 11 greenshank on Paradise lagoon and nearby a single hobby and whinchat. 290919 - 11 greenshank on Paradise lagoon but spooked by a grey heron, 2 ringed plover and 26 golden plover flew over; wheatear and kingfisher nearby. At Sea View goldcrest, chiffchaff and blackcap. Two ravens flew over Paradise and later seen flying south over Sea View. Tawny owl calling at Sea View. 300919 - During the past few days at least 650 pink-feet have been flying inland from their roosting areas to the marshland and beyond; 203 were at rest in a pasture field at Elmhouse Farm. 3 jays and 4 mistle thrushes seen in the Brickyard Lane area. Over the sea were spotted 2 Manx shearwaters flying north, 2 arctic and 7 sandwich terns along with 3 red-throated divers, several guillemots and around 70 juvenile gannets. 011019 – Kingfisher along the Eau near Sea View. Seawatch at Mablethorpe North End: 1 great skua north, 1 pomarine skua north and 2 arctic skuas south. Over the sea out from Brickyard Lane at high tide were seen: Sabine’s gull north, 9 red-throated divers, a few auks, 46 common scoter north and 2 sandwich terns. A yellow- browed warbler in land in the Brickyard Lane area. Butterfly species seen: red admiral, small white, comma, peacock, speckled wood. Little owl, barn owl and tawny owls heard and at least 8 goldcrests in Churchill Lane area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/get-involved/ Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group The group still meets over winter to carry out essential coppice management of the wood and maintenance activities and anyone is welcome to come along and help. Just get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson adds: "Dormouse can only be disturbed and handled by those that are licenced by Natural England. The group always welcomes visitors to join us when we carry out box check surveys to continue to monitor the dormouse population. We have box checks scheduled for the following dates. Sunday 20th October Anyone interested should email 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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" *** Chris Manning writes: Project Officer Kath Castillo at NHM has improved the accessibility of the LNU historic specimens; creating a collections ‘dataset’ on the NHM Data Portal. All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants The digital herbarium sheet image data for the LNU historic specimens, plus associated images i.e. the newspaper packets, together with images for the contemporary Lincs specimens will all be pulled into the dataset as and when these are integrated into the museum’s EMu collections management system. It’s a fantastic online resource so please take the time to have a look through it. If you have any questions on this please get in touch with Kath at k.castillo@nhm.ac.uk or Fred Rumsey at f.rumsey@nhm.ac.uk *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Editor adds: Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk Contact 01507 528223 enquiries@joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ Dates for 2020 Big Farmland Bird Count confirmed - 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 pdf: https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf 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. 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: Moor Farm LWT Reserve and SSSI – Sunday 13th October 2019 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-10-13/ Indoor meetings: https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Whisby Natural History Workshops In partnership with the Lincolnshire Naturalists Union. At Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.00 pm until 4.00 pm. Free of charge. Prior booking essential via Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or Email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Find out more about the various subjects from our local experts. Places are limited due to the number of microscopes available. Leafminer Moths - October 5th - Colin Smith Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: None this week. If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp does have your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. If in any doubt, this is what you do: 1. Scroll to the end of any Bulletin and click on "update subscription preferences". 2. Look at the "Marketing permissions" section. Your email box should have a tick. 3. If is doesn't, please give it a tick. Then please click on "Update Profile". That's it. If there are difficulties when doing this, send an email to old.museum@yahoo.co.uk If ever you decide you don't want to receive the Bulletin any longer there is an easy- to-use "Unsubscribe" link to click at the end of every Bulletin. You can sign up again if you miss us. ....and finally.... Basking sharks photographed by beach pollution team https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-49824692 Oil workers report North Sea 'earthquake' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-49825133 Microplastics? Some tea bags found to shed billions of particle https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/sep/27/milk-sugar-microplastics-some-tea-bags-found-to-shed-billions-of-particles Country diary: with a delicate flutter, the season has turned https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/26/country-diary-with-a-delicate-flutter-the-season-has-turned Country diary: the otter's trail leads me out of a brown study https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/28/country-diary-the-otters-trail-leads-me-out-of-a-brown-study ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/