============================================= || || 23rd 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... *** In response to another enquiry about gmail issues I will repeat the advice I offered on September 11th. Gmail question: "At the beginning of this e-mail [4th] I get a warning not to open it or to click on anything. Even if I click on any of the links, they won't open. Any advice or ideas?" Editor's answer: I believe this to be a gmail issue as only gmail users have reported it. There should be an option to "whitelist" the incoming email address. Please copy and paste and use the following link and see if it gets you any help. https://support.google.com/mail/?hl=en#topic=7065107 If it does, please follow the advice and please do let me know how you get on. Bird of the week has to be the Bobolink that turned up near Mablethorpe. Did any of you see it? It is not what I'd call a "striking" bird. Photos: http://rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/gallery.asp?SpeciesID=189 Meanwhile, heads up for Waxwings. Please let me know if you see any. 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 Reminder - BBC's Autumnwatch starts next week: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009v50 A selection of news stories and articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Chris Manning has suggested the following link: Wild Humber A new 25 minute TV documentary from HNP celebrating spectacular bird migration on the Humber is now available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5rxQMkUftU&feature=youtu.be Chris adds: This 25 minute documentary, filmed entirely on the Humber, showcases the amazing stories of some of the long distance bird migrants visiting the estuary. Local experts explain why the estuary is so important for birds, what draws the birds (and us) to the Humber and how we play a vital role in their survival. The programme was made possible by a generous grant from the National Grid Community Fund. Transit of Mercury: Really good preview for November 11 2019 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhWMOkrzKzs Len Pick Barn Owl camera - the grim story continues! Bob Sheppard writes: We lost a chick last Friday. I think the food has dropped off now as often happens after the harvest. Second broods usually fare badly. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch Southrey Wood work party volunteers needed starting this November. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html 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 *** 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. Slugs - October 26th - Chris de Feu - Spaces still available. Fungi - November 2nd - Ray Halstead - fully booked. *** Ornithological and other journals - free to a good home. *** Chris du Feu writes: After the death of a friend I have been left with his collection of journals which his son has asked me to pass on where they would be appreciated. They are all free and I am happy to arrange collection/delivery one way or another without resorting to couriers. I have not checked whether the sequences are complete but, if not, they are certainly almost complete. In the list below dates are approximate. British Birds - 1990s to present Bird Study -1990s to present Ringing & Migration - 1990s to present Nature of Scotland - 2000 to present BTO News - 1990s to present Scottish Birds - 2005 to present Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers monthly bulletin - 1990s to present If anyone would like any (or all) of these, please contact me. Chris du Feu. chris.r.dufeu@gmail.com 01427 848 400 *** 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/ *** 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 Trip. 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 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/ The South Lincs RSPB Group concluded their 2019 Cruise programme aboard The Boston Belle with 71 bird species seen on the years final cruise. In addition to basking common seals,the birds seen were- bar tailed godwit, black headed gull, black tailed godwit, blackbird, blue tit, brent goose, buzzard, Canada goose, carrion crow, chaffinch, collared dove, common gull, common sandpiper, cormorant, curlew, dunlin, feral pigeon, gadwall, gannet, golden plover, goldfinch, goldeneye, great black backed gull, great crested grebe, great tit, green woodpecker, grey heron, grey plover, grey wagtail, greylag goose, herring gull, house sparrow, jackdaw, kestrel, kingfisher, knot, lapwing, lesser black backed gull, linnet, little egret, little grebe, long tailed tit, magpie, mallard, marsh harrier, meadow pipit, merlin, moorhen, oystercatcher, peregrine, pied wagtail, pintail, red breasted merganser, redshank, reed bunting, ringed plover, rock pipit, ruff, sanderling, shelduck, skylark, snipe, song thrush, starling, stock dove, teal, tree sparrow, turnstone, whooper swan, wigeon, wood pigeon. Details of the Groups 2020 cruise programme will be released as soon as possible. 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 *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk On Saturday 26th October 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them for a Fungus Foray in Messingham Sand Quarry Nature Reserve with Ray Halstead. Meet At 10.30am in the reserve car parking area which is off the B1400 opposite Scallows Hill Farm. Grid Ref. SE 908032. Nearest postcode DN17 3RD. Please wear suitable out door clothing and stout footwear. This is a free event however donations will be welcomed for the Trust. For further details contact Carolyn Davis - 07914 924790. On Sunday 3rd November 2019 the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them on a morning bird walk in Cleethorpes Country Park with Graham Hicks. Meet Graham at 8am in the car parking area at the end of Park Lane. Grid Ref. TA 306066. Nearest postcode DN35 0QZ. 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 - 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 17th October Great White Egret flew south over Wolla Bank car park Long-eared Owl on island, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 11 Ring Ouzels, Lapland Bunting, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Great White Egret, Gibraltar Point 18th October Bobolink, Theddlethorpe NNR, NNW of Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary 2 Long-eared Owl on island, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Little Stint, Great White Egret, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler, Theddlethorpe NNR Black Brant ad, Snow Bunting, probable Siberian Lesser Whitethroat [form Blythii] Donna Nook 3 Ring Ouzels, Spotted Redshank, Pomarine Skua past, Gibraltar Point 19th October Lesser Whitethroat [probably an eastern form] Donna Nook 5 Ring Ouzels, Yellow-browed Warbler, Great White Egret, Water Pipit, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Black Brant ad with Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Pale Bellied Brent Goose, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier ringtail, Deeping High Bank Yellow-browed Warbler, Marsh Yard, Lesser Whitethroat [Possibly Siberian form blythi], in buckthorn north of car park, Anderby Creek Yellow-browed Warbler, Crook Bank car park fem Ruddy Shelduck flew to Whitton Sands, Alkborough Flats 20th October Yellow-browed Warbler, trapped and ringed in East Dunes, Gibraltar Point 7 Ring Ouzels, Snow Bunting, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Water Pipits, Pomarine Skuas past, Sooty Shearwater, 2 Long-tailed Ducks, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, 17 Little Gulls, Gibraltar Point Richard's Pipit, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, Alkborough Flats Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Unconfirmed reports of a possible Nutcracker at Burton-upon -Strather, NNW of Scunthorpe and another at Sawcliffe Hill, Risby 21st October Short-eared Owl over, 3 Little Auks flew north past, Anderby Creek Black Redstart, Gibraltar Point Black-throated Diver, 2 Velvet Scoters, 2 Short-eared Owls, Little Auk flew past , Mablethorpe 4 Little Auks past , Huttoft Car Terrace Yellow-browed Warbler in garden opposite church, Huttoft Short-eared Owl flew in off sea at Butlins, Skegness 22nd October Black Brant ad, Donna Nook Subalpine Warbler and Bluethroat trapped and ringed, Siberian Chiffchaff in plantation, Black Redstart, Yellow-browed Warbler, Water Pipit, Ring Ouzel, Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Great White Egret, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Firecrest, 8 Little Auks past, 4 Pomarine Skuas, 4 Velvet Scoters, Long-tailed Duck, 2 Black-throated Divers, Long-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Lapland bunting over, 2 Water Pipits, Wolla Bank Great White Egret, Woodhall Spa airfield Firecrest trapped and ringed, Anderby Creek Little Auk, Covenham Reservoir Green-winged Teal with 1,800 Teal, on Read's Island, South Ferriby Great White Egret, Jack Snipe, Ring Ouzel, Frampton Marsh 23rd October Water Pipit, Firecrest, Frampton Marsh 2 Firecrests, 1 Firecrest trapped and ringed, Gibraltar Point Waxwing at University of Lincoln, flew towards Morrisons Black Brant, Donna Nook 2 Great White Egrets, Grebe Lake, Whisby - the flew west ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 and A Parsons 17/10/2019 Common Green Shield Bug in garden [A.Parsons] https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bugs/common-green-shieldbug 18/10/2019 9 Collared Doves 16+ House Sparrows Dunnock 2 2+ Jackdaws 4+ Wood Pigeons Robin Blue Tit Goldfinch Blackbirds - 2f Black-headed Gull - up to 10 occasionally Starlings - regular visitors 20+ BARDNEY Limewoods - College Wood Grid Ref: TF 1249 7565 R & A Parsons 23/10/2019 Buzzard A quick walk revealed this to be a promising fungus site. Boleti, Milk Caps, Puffballs, Funnel Caps etc. Worth noting for a future LNU foray location. Working on list now. https://getoutside.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/local/college-wood-west-lindsey TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 17/10/2019 Common carders 2 on Eurybia divaricata (asters for shade) 18/10/2019 Barn owl 1 over field at 9.30am TF525764 20/10/2019 Magpies 2 eating hawthorn berries 21/10/2019 Coprinellus micaceus Glistening inkcap - large clump on grass near garden ditch which is edge with old birch and beech MINTING Lodge Lane TF 18688 74500 17/10/2019 David Smith Buzzards x2 on ground with prey - ? carrion Kestrel on telegraph pole ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 16th – 22nd October 2019 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 161019 - Single swallow over Sea View plus singles of blackcap and chiffchaff. On Paradise lagoon 15 shoveler and 1 gadwall, 1 kingfisher along Eau near Sea View and 1 wheatear near Rimac. 171019 - Two blackcaps, 1 brambling, goldcrests and 1 barred warbler at Sea View, single barn owl nearby and 3 fieldfares over with several redwing. Single red admiral, small tortoiseshell and 4 peacock butterflies on the wing near Sea View. 181019 – 3 pipistrelle bats, red admiral, peacock, comma, small copper still on the wing, 6 ring ouzels, 6 stonechats, 5 bramblings, 7 siskins and 3 woodcocks in the Churchill Lane area. A Bobolink (American species very rare in UK) was found on the foredunes in the afternoon but proved to be rather elusive. 191019 - On Paradise lagoon 4 black swans, 21 shoveler, 48 teal and 1 gadwall, 2 whooper swans flying over. 201019 - 3 mealy redpolls, 2 short eared owls, 1 marsh harrier, 1 merlin seen and 2 screaming water rails, 1 tawny owl, 2 little owls heard around Churchill Lane. 20-211019 – The seabird passage included: 2000 gannets, great, Pomerine and Arctic Skuas, little auks, many 100s guillemots flying south, black and red-throated divers and kittiwakes. A flock of 20 snow buntings have been moving around the area. 211019 - Strong north-easterly winds gusting 27.7mph near Sea View. On Paradise lagoon 27 shoveler, 16 teal and 6 wigeon. Donna Nook No seals or pups yet. See Weekly Seal Update page: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Last year the first pup was born on 22nd October so we are expecting something over the next few days. We would ask people to please stay on the viewing area at weekends and not go out to the beach to prevent stress and disturbance to the seals at this sensitive time in their life cycle. Birds seen: Brent and pink-footed geese, 2 merlin, sparrowhawk, short-eared owl, fieldfare, redwing, grey partridge, linnet, goldfinch, starlings, kestrel, shelduck. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ *** 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/ 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. 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. ....and finally.... Climate change: Peatlands 'turning into carbon sources' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50124001 How tiny creatures are reshaping the very rivers they live in https://theconversation.com/how-tiny-creatures-are-reshaping-the-very-rivers-they-live-in-124845 Satellites to monitor whale strandings from space https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-50040890 Country diary: where old willows lean https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/18/country-diary-where-old-willows-lean Country diary: field festooned with fleet of flying saucers https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/oct/19/country-diary-field-festooned-with-fleet-of-flying-saucers Country diary: a whole animal society is on the move https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/21/country-diary-a-whole-animal-society-is-on-the-move Country diary: there's life to be found in the deadwood https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/22/country-diary-theres-life-to-be-found-in-the-deadwood ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/