============================================= || || 15th April 2020 || || 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 http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union or any associated organisations. Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. ============================================ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. Information, hints, tips and requests ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Editor writes... *** Thank you for opening your Bulletin. I hope you find the reports and information of interest. Please scan down the links and clock on those that catch your eye. A big thank you to everyone who managed to send something in this week. It is interesting to discover how the Bulletins are read. Mailchimp gives reports on this. We fall into 2 reader groups, those who open the Bulletin and look at a selection of the links - usually opening between 2 and 8, and those who tend to skim through and hardly ever open a link at all. Clickers almost always open Bulletins in the first 24 hours, the Skimmers tend to read their copy a few days later, perhaps at the weekend. It's just a matter of taste, there is no "right" way. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " Please Remember: All LNU Meetings until the 8th June have been cancelled. We will monitor the "progress" of CO-19 and update you on further cancellations and the eventual resumption of meetings at some point, through the LNU Bulletin, LNU Website meetings pages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please Keep checking these for updates. Anything may change as the epidemic evolves. We assume all such activities are OFF until we beat Covid-19. Meantime stay safe and keep your news and reports coming. The Lincolnshire Show 2020 has been cancelled. The Bird Fair 2020 has been cancelled. All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are cancelled until further notice. The Forestry Commission says: Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. A selection of useful or entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! Photo of the Week: 1-7 April 2020 - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-1-7-april-2020/ Coronavirus: Lockdown 'could boost wild flowers' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52215273 Coronavirus may prove boost for UK's bees and rare wildflowers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/09/coronavirus-may-prove-boost-for-uks-bees-and-rare-wildflowers How to discover the wildlife wonders of your own garden https://theconversation.com/how-to-discover-the-wildlife-wonders-of-your-own-garden-134197 Rewilding: Contact with backyard nature as therapy during Coronavirus self-isolation https://ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/rewilding-your-garden-contact-with-backyard-nature-as-therapy-during-corona-virus-self-isolation/ An introduction to garden mothing in 2020 - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/other-wildlife/an-introduction-to-garden-mothing-in-2020/ BTO Garden Watch [now free] https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/join-gbw BSBI Garden Wildflower Hunt, https://bsbi.org/garden-wildflower-hunt Every Flower Counts - Plantlife https://www.plantlife.org.uk/everyflowercounts/ Why everyone should have a garden pond https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/how-to-grow/everyone-should-have-garden-pond-kate-bradbury/ Feeling tired while on lockdown ~ the Shackleton solution https://theconversation.com/here-is-why-you-might-be-feeling-tired-while-on-lockdown-135502 I hope some of these links lifted the spirits or gave you ideas. Stay healthy. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - this is my best address for emails please. *** Flusurvey *** Readers may recall me mentioning Flusurvey a few times in the Bulletin. This is an on- line weekly questionnaire managed and monitored by Public Health England (PHE) and designed to monitor trends of infectious diseases in the community. I would encourage everyone to register and contribute as [unsurprisingly] they need data from healthy as well as infected participants. You don't have to be ill to contribute! Roger https://flusurvey.net/ *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, and start at 2pm.] Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are CANCELLED." We will update you if/as situation changes. *** Whisby Workshops 2020 *** "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are CANCELLED." We will update you if/as situation changes. *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED *** "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ *** RSPB Frampton Marsh: Visitor Centre CLOSED! *** Frampton Marsh visitor centre (including the toilets) will be closed until further notice. The hides will also be closed, as will those at our sister reserve of Freiston Shore. *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards POSTPONED to Autumn *** The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have been postponed to Autumn of 2020. For general information in the Awards see: www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** About Coronavirus [COVID-19] - a good starting point *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups: very useful *** https://roadworks.org/ *** Met Office Severe Warnings *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ *** April night sky... - still OPEN for business... *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2020 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates Heads up: The Lyrid meteor shower will peak on the night of 21-22 April 2019 My pupils used to tell me the best way to watch for meteors was lying on a trampoline. https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/lyrid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** Keith Scarrott writes: All meetings of the Scunthorpe Museum Society, both indoor and field meetings, have been cancelled until further notice. Please check the Website for details. http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** April and May Meetings and Trips of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group have been cancelled. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** South Lincs RSPB - please check the website *** “Birdwatching cruises into the Wash” programme for 2020. Jeremy Eyeons writes: Full details of all cruise dates and times, costs, 2019 Sightings and cancellations can be found at : https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves "Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates." https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Louth LWT *** Ray Woodcock writes: The 24 April AGM and meeting under review - no information yet . *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** For details of cancellations see: www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] Dick Filby writes: "We are now featuring, and invite, more reports of the ‘commoner’ regular migrants than normal including any notable ‘visible migration’ (vismig) and also ‘nocturnal migration’ (nocmig) records. For example your garden records of species such as Firecrest, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher are welcome, records of overflying Hobby and inland waders, and interesting incoming records such as Common Scoters and Water Rails." 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/ 7/4 Hooded Crow, North Somercotes Ring Ouzel male, Louth 9 Yellow Wagtails, 2+ White Wagtails, Toft Newton reservoir Hen Harrier ringtail, Baston & Langtoft GPs Avocet, 2 White Wagtails, 8 Yellow Wagtails, Deeping High Bank Firecrest, Anderby Creek Glaucous gull, Pywipe 8/4 Firecrest at Chapel Pit, Chapel Six Marshes Common tern flew along Rover Welland, Deeping St James 2 Ring Ouzels, both males, in horse paddocks, North Thoresby Ring Ouzel in buckthorn, Saltfleetby Haven Hooded Crow, North Somercotes 9/4 Black Redstart, fem/1w male, in garden, Spalding Bluethroat male, Gibraltar Point Hooded Crow, Huttoft Bank Ring Ouzel, Fillingham 10/4 Ring Ouzel, Saltfleetby Haven 11/4 Ring Ouzel fem, Kettleby Quarry, south of Elsham Ring Ouzel, Redstart, between Melton Ross railway bridge and Barnetby Ring Ouzel at Newton's Marsh Lane, then flew high south, Tetney Lock Ring Ouzel male in garden, Garthorpe Ring Ouzel, Anderby Creek 2 Ring Ouzels, Barnetby-le-Wold 3 Ring Ouzels in horse paddock, Goxhill Possible White-tailed Eagle Blue-headed Wagtail, Toft Newton reservoir 12/4 2 Ring Ouzels, Richard's Pipit, 2 Garganey, Anderby/Huttoft Little Gull, Boultham Mere Grasshopper Warbler, Swanpool 3 Ring Ouzels in horse paddock behind tile yard, Goxhill 2 Garganey, 1 male, Deeping Lakes, SE of Deeping St James 13/4 Ring Ouzel in field near car park, Rimac Great White Egret flew east over Dunston 14/4 6 White Wagtails, 6 Yellow Wagtails, Toft Newton reservoir Ring Ouzel, Barrow Haven Ring Ouzel, Barnetby-le-Wold Ring Ouzel, Kettleby Quarry south of Elsham Ring Ouzel, Richard's Pipit, Anderby/Huttoft 2 Ring Ouzels both males, Hills and Hollows, Grantham 2 Ring Ouzels, Old Bolingbroke Ring Ouzel male, in grass field by car park, Rimac Redstart, Swanpool Hen Harrier ringtail over farmland at Crowland Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe 15/4 Ring Ouzel 1wfem, in horse paddock on hill, Barnetby-le-Wold Ring Ouzel male in field near vineyard, Somerby, Ring Ouzels, Hills and Hollows, Grantham ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions at the Queen in the West pub! http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml WEBCAMS Bob Sheppard has sent the following details of his favourite webcams to occupy the hours most of us will be spending at home in the next few weeks. Put them in your favourites. There are lots of choices out there but these are the best quality. The Loch Arkaig ospreys. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam CJ Wildlife have fantastic webcams from Europe including little owl, tawny owl (already hatched), white stork etc. https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams There are lots of UK peregrine webcams but Woking is one of the best https://www.wokingperegrines.com In Lincs we have the Len Pick Trust barn owl webcam. Both birds are often in the box but no action yet https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 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. *** 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/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy 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 10/4/2020 Bee Fly [AP] Many male Andrenas circling about 12+ nest mines in lawn. 11/4/2020 10 Andrena mines on our lawn. Lots of males mustering over a holly bush. 2 f Andrena fulva seen near "mines". Probably Holly Blue Peacock butterfly flying along Church Lane Bat - probably Pipistrelle spp - brief signal @ 55KHz - 20/30hrs. 12/04 3 Holly Blues at hedge at TF117697 Abbey Road start to Wood Lane path. About 10am. BARDNEY P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 8th April 2020 Stock Dove x1 singing from derelict barn just over our fence. 9th April Greenfinch x1 singing 14-spot Ladybird x1 found on gravel path Great Spotted Woodpecker on peanut feeder 10th April Green Woodpecker x1 calling from nearby. Stock Dove x1 singing again. Comma x1, Peacock x1. Holly Blue x2 seen every day, Small Tortoiseshell x2. Bat x1 at dusk. Pied Shield-bug. 11th April Song Thrush x1 singing. Great Spotted Woodpecker x1 drinking from pond. 12th April Green Woodpecker x1 calling nearby every day 12th – 14th. Orange-tip x1. 13th April Sparrowhawk accidently disturbed from its collared dove prey which was badly injured. We decided to let it return to finish the job, which it did, rather than kill again. Hairy-footed Flower Bee x c.4 females at Lungwort flowers. While digging over a tired flowerbed Mary gently inspected a ‘toad-pot’ (a broken terracotta embedded at an angle) to find a small perfect cup of a nest on the ground, lined with hair from our dog which we had put out from her last grooming and which had disappeared with amazing speed. We imagine it must have been a Blue Tit nest but not having noticed any activity, we had been very busy around there for several days and we assume it was abandoned. We have replaced the pot to see what will happen. 14th April A Swallow (our first) passed over. Tawny Mining Bee x1 Great Tit in nestbox. First occurrence in 20 years! Blue Tits have always been regular. Bardney Village 10th April House Martin x2 prospecting near River Bridge. Fruiting Ivy with ripening yellow berries in a hedge of normal black-berried plants in Wood Lane. Blackcap x3, Chiffchaff x1, Willow Warbler x1 all singing between Wood Lane and Abbey Road. Also Goldfinch x2 and Linnet x1. Common Polypody and Red Valerian on retaining walls Station Road. Toad croaking briefly Bardney village jetty, River Witham. HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 9 April 2020 We were watching a kestrel on a tree across the road, through a scope, and noticed it was ringed. Couldn’t see what was on it though! We also think buzzards may be nesting in the small wood across the field. 9 April 2020 Brimstone butterfly in my garden yesterday. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 3/4/2020 Collared doves 2 Goldfinch 1 on aster stems, trying out the seeds Greenfinch 3 4/4/2020 Chaffinch 2 m&f Goldfinch 1 Song thrush 1 5/4/2020 Long-tailed tits 2 Wren 1 6/4/2020 Peacock butterfly 1 7/4/2020 Dunnocks 2 LINWOOD WARREN Stuart Britton I am utilising my days exercise either cycling or walking. Yesterday (7/4) at Linwood Warren the highlights were: 1st Blackcap of the year. 1st Willow Warblers (2) of the year. 2 singing Nuthatches. 2 Greylag Geese (my first record for the Reserve in 38 years. In addition there were 72 Fieldfares in the field at the back of our garden in Market Rasen (TF115882) feeding on a freshly drilled arable field. Today (8/4) at 1840 I counted 110 Fieldfares on the field and approximately 30 in adjacent trees. MIDDLE RASEN Caistor Road (own garden) Richard Fox 11.04.2020 Brimstone 2 Green-veined white Holly Blue 2 Small tortoiseshell 3 Peacock Mining bee so peppering front law with their burrows Blackbird 7 3m 4f Blue tit 5 Carrion Crow pr nesting next door Chaffinch 2 Chiffchaff singing next door Coal tit Collared dove pr Dunnock 2 Goldfinch 3 Greenfinch pr Great tit 3 Heron 2 flew overhead together House sparrow 7. 2m 5f Jackdaw Robin 3 Sparrowhawk female fly through quietening things down for a while! Wood pigeon 7 Grey squirrel 2 daily visitors to dedicated feeder Wood mouse in shed NETTLEHAM Nettleham TF 01184 75296 Su Colman 12 April 2020 11:15 Orange tip male THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 06/04/20 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Goldfinch x 26 Grey Partridge x 2 Common Pipistrelle x 2 flying high and active around house at 20:00hrs, still very bright daylight Noctule x 1 flying high over paddock 20:00hrs (as above), all confirmed with bat detector. Common Frog x 1 Peacock x 2 08/04/20 Blackbird x 2 Blue it x 3 Chaffinch x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 3 Greenfinch x 1 Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Oystercatcher x 2 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 Nest in woodpile Robin x 1 Rook x 25 in arable fields around Thurnholmes Starling x 2 Stock Dove x 2 nests Tree Sparrow x 7 Wood Pigeon x 2 Comma x 1 Orange Tip x 1 Peacock x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 1 10/04/20 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 12 fields around Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 9 Wood Pigeon x 2 Green-veined White x 2 Orange Tip x 2 Peacock x 4 13/04/20 Blackbird x 3 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x in battle with Common Buzzard over Thurnholmes Chaffinch x 3 Chiffchaff x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 15 north over Thurnholmes Goldfinch x 5 Greenfinch x 1 Magpie x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Tree Sparrow x 6 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Green-veined White x 2 Orange Tip x 2 Peacock x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 6 WEST TORRINGTON West Torrington TF139799 14th April 2020 Steve Green dead Ferret [determined CJM] Probable Nicrophorus humator [determined by CB who writes: there are only two large black carrion beetles; the other has noticeable ridges on the wing cases which yours looks to be lacking. It's a common and widespread species, but not too many people inspect dead animals so it's a bit under-recorded.] WRAGBY-ish TF142792 08/04/2020 Steve Green 3 hares chasing around WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Jane Ostler April 8 - 14th 2020 Garden, unless otherwise indicated FLOWERING PLANTS Sweet Woodruff in flower in the shrubbery and Wild Arum spikes unfolding Silver Birch covered in open catkins Blackthorn in full flower (on the Nature Trail) Pear and Plum Blossom seem to be relying on Bumble Bees for pollination Gooseberry flowers seemed to appear overnight on 9th April 2020 to awaiting Tawny Mining Bees Holly flowers are in bud on one bush should the Holly Blues chose to lay their eggs here. Wild Garlic flower buds also emerging and , in the absence of Cuckoo flowers may be chosen by Orange Tips Dandelion flowers, on the shortest possible stalks , covered the lawn less than a week after mowing - a banquet for many insects. INSECTS Brimstones, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks and Small Whites have visited intermittently Holly Blues first on 7th April 2020 and 3 in garden every day since An Orange Tip first on 8th April 2020 and one male in garden most days since. Common Carder Bumble Bee first on Lungwort on 9th April 2020 Red tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius) first on 11th April2020.(this is ten days later than last year) Buff tailed and White tailed Bumble Bees are now worker bees. The Tree Bumble Bee (Bombus hypnorum) is the most abundant in the garden with both queens and workers out) On 12th April, the second of two days when temperatures reached 20C, I noticed at 9.30am small bees flying frantically to and fro in front of a large group of lime green Euphorbia flowers. On closer inspection they were all male Early Mining Bees (Andrena haemorrhoea). A few were larger than others and settled on leaves long enough for a photograph. On 8th April walked Nature Trail (East) as far as first seat. Unable to manage any further asked husband if he would go to the bank behind second seat to see if the mining bee Andrena cineraria was out on the bank where it nested last year. He came back to say that there were small bees all flying and he thought his attempts to photograph them were unsuccessful. Back home found he was right but on enlarging what looked like a drop of red sealing wax found it to be a Blood Bee (Sphecodes sp) This is a nest parasite. It was a genus I had not come across before and learn that 17spp. have been recorded in British Isles, the identification of which 'can be challenging'. On 10th April the flowers beds had many golden brown 'furry' hoverflies. Their identity was discovered, not in Stubbs and Falk Hoverflies, but amongst my books on Pests and Diseases. The were the adults of the Large Narcissus Fly (Merodon epiestris) whose larvae are unusual amongst hoverflies in being vegetarian. They eat the inside of bulbs, leaving behind an excreta filled hollow. Dug up some bulbs in an overgrown patch of double daffs and there was the evidence. On 11th April a Shield Bug found under a leaf was one of the all brown Coreus sp. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 8th – 14th April 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: General note: The state of the vegetation on the dunes is looking very dry, parched in places. Only a trace of rainfall (less than 0.1mm) has been recorded at Sea View so far during April. There was a showery spell in March from 7th - 18th with 9.4mm and since then only 1.8mm recorded on the 29th and 30th. 080420 - 1 little ringed plover at Paradise lagoon. 2 swallows flying over Churchill Lane area. 090420 - Small skein of 45 Brent geese over saltmarsh and sand martins reported over Paradise lagoon [per comms Graham Parker]. 3 ring ouzels in pasture field near Rimac. 100420 - 4 ring ouzels Rimac. Red admiral butterfly in flight at Sea View. Natterjack toads calling late evening in the area. 6 black cap and 7 willow warbler in song between Churchill Lane and Rimac. 110420 - Single swallow over dunes near Sea View and a pair of common buzzards circling nearby. On Paradise lagoon: 4 male and 1 female gadwall, 23 teal, 2 mallard, 6 tufted duck, 5 coot, 2 moorhen, 1 shoveler. Butterflies around Sea View: orange tip, large white, green veined white, comma, peacock, brimstone plus small bat sp around at dusk. 3 whitethroat, 2 sedge warbler in song Churchill Lane to Rimac. Butterflies: 8 peacock, 5 small tortoiseshell, 3 small white, 1 speckled wood, 1 comma. Tawny mining bee, buff tailed bumblebee and many honey bees in and around sallow flowers Churchill Lane and Rimac areas. 4 small bats in the evening. 120420 - 1 wheatear on short grassland near Sea View. 3 swallows and 2 sparrowhawks over Churchill Lane and barn owl hunting at dusk. 130420 - Bitterly cold easterly winds, gust of 36.2mph recorded near Sea View, brought the daytime temperature down to 9 DegC compared to a very high 24.75 DegC on the 11th. Pair of barn owls been seen in the Paradise wood - Sea View area [per comms Graham Parker]. Sightings in other locations during social distancing: 0804-140420 – Daily sightings of blackbird, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon, dunnock in Louth. 080420 – Coal tits in Louth and house martins overhead 090420 – Ring ouzel, marsh harrier, buzzard at Woodhall Spa 110420 – Yellow wagtail and house martins at Woodhall Spa 130420 – Wheatear at Woodhall Spa 140420 – Fox, marsh harrier, buzzards at Woodhall Spa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Forestry Commission Coronavirus information: Help stop the spread of coronavirus. Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. https://www.forestryengland.uk/coronavirus-visitor-information Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - CANCELLATION on events and activities *** 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 All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are cancelled until further notice. This includes all plant collection activities, internal and external to the [Wildlife] Trust, as this is not essential under Government Guidance. All events post the end of May will be reviewed in coming weeks. No staff or volunteers, should be doing any activity under the LLP banner, other than on a computer at home. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Love Lincolnshire Plants: A plant archive for future generations https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ LNU 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 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: Following Government guidance and in the interests of health and safety, this year's field meetings are cancelled up until the end of May with immediate effect and until further notice. For further information please contact your County Recorder(s). sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 Botany-type Links for LLP enthusiasts Natural History Museum - Botany Collections https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/botany-collections.html BSBI Website: https://bsbi.org/ Online with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - PropaGate Learning - online courses in Plant Science, Horticulture, and Botany - free and discounted courses... https://onlinecourses.rbge.ac.uk/index.php *** 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/ 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/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ 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. Reminder: Allan and Annette Binding are taking a break from recording. [Harvestmen, Pseudoscorpions, Spiders and Shield Bugs] Please do not send records in for now. We will let you know when alternative arrangements are in place via the LNU website and the Bulletin. *** 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 Please have a look at https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php for an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. Or you can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Please include Species, Date, Time, Location, numbers as a minimum (Other useful information includes Temperature and Weather conditions.) *** 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 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Field Meetings: CANCELLED "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Please contact Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or email rel.davidson@btinternet.com *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED *** "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. See the LNU website for further details: https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fail: Tania Davey 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 has your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. ....and finally... Country diary: winning the trust of a friendly robin https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/06/country-diary-winning-the-trust-of-a-friendly-robin#comment-139540574 12 Virtual Landmark Tours To Enjoy At Home https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/g32000722/virtual-uk-landmark-tours/ Mysteries of decorated ostrich eggs in British Museum revealed - extraordinary! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52232715 Wildlife crossword 1 - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/quizzes/wildlife-crossword-1/ Social distancing works – just ask lobsters, ants and vampire bat https://www.zmescience.com/science/social-distancing-animals-04042020/ UK researchers map "profound long-term changes" in plankton populations around their island https://www.zmescience.com/science/uk-plankton-climate-change-13514124/ New treatment could help eradicate Lyme disease https://www.zmescience.com/science/lyme-disease-new-treatment-options-151423/ Grouse shoots scrapped as heather burning is banned on moors https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/04/grouse-shoots-scrapped-as-heather-burning-is-banned-on-moors Soil gets its smell from bacteria trying to attract invertebrates | New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/2239854 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/