============================================= || || 22nd 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... *** It should be no surprise that we have been given an extension to our "Lockdown" to press home the countermeasures to the coronavirus pandemic. Please Remember: All LNU Meetings until the 8th June have been cancelled. The link about isolation and the "Shackleton experience" raised a lot of interest last week, so I am including it again in case you missed it. Good advice for the weary and exasperated. Feeling tired while on lockdown ~ the Shackleton solution https://theconversation.com/here-is-why-you-might-be-feeling-tired-while-on-lockdown-135502 Have you heard a cuckoo yet? Reports this week. You can follow the BTO satellite tracking of UK cuckoos here. [Carlton II is in Berkshire!] https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project The Cuckoo Flower is open in the village. https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/cuckooflower This is a good fundraising idea. Spurn Bird Obs Launches Lockdown Auction, news via @RareBirdAlertUK https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Spurn_Bird_Obs_Launches_Lockdown_Auction.aspx 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. Meantime stay safe and please keep your news and reports coming, if only from your home patch. See The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus The Lincolnshire Show 2020 has been cancelled. The Bird Fair 2020 has been cancelled. Note: 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. Bob Sheppard writes: Readers might like to know about a recently published book, "Wild Your Garden." This is a book about creating a wildlife garden written by our very own Lincolnshire lads, Jim and Joel Ashton, known as the Butterfly Brothers. They are experts in this field and have built hundreds of ponds and wildflower meadows all over the UK. "Wild Your Garden" takes the reader through every stage of creating their own patch of magic. Publishers: Dorling Kindersley. It is available from Amazon at £14.99. I have my own copy and its is highly recommended. [Editor adds: Kindle £5.99] Ian Misselbrook writes a regular blog and his latest piece is on garden wildlife. Mainly to encourage folk to look for wildlife in their gardens, it but also reflects his inability to travel and collect material. See: www.countryeye.org.uk A selection of useful or entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! National Trust to create new coastal nature reserve in support of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park vision https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/article/235/national-trust-to-create-new-coastal-nature-reserve-in-support-of-the-lincolnshire-coastal-country-park-vision Traffic noise reduces bats' ability to feed https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/apr/15/traffic-noise-reduces-bats-ability-to-feed How did insects get their colours? Crystal-covered beetle discovery sheds light https://theconversation.com/how-did-insects-get-their-colours-crystal-covered-beetle-discovery-sheds-light-136411 Bug hunt: Volunteers needed to spot insect's 'spittle' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-48383730 BBC News: Your pictures on the theme of 'insects' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52123715 Feel the buzz: the best plants and trees to encourage more bees into your garden https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardening-events/feel-buzz-best-plants-trees-encourage-bees-garden/ I hope these links inspire you. Stay healthy. Remember to include a grid reference in reports. 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." *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions *** "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." *** 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 *** 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 *** 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. 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. 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 *** For Members of the Louth Area Group - 2020 Annual General Meeting by Email. As you are aware all LWT activities that involve personal contact have been postponed until a future date. The LAG AGM was scheduled for 24 April 2020. Rather than plan another date for the Autumn the committee made a case to the LWT for conducting the 2020 AGM by email. This was approved by Paul Learoyd, CEO of the LWT, on 3 March 2020. This move will enable the new committee to become operational early in May. The 2019 AGM was reported in the 2019 Summer Newsletter. Let me know if you would like a copy of the Minutes of that meeting, a copy of the LWT LAG Constitution or if you would like to be nominated as a committee member You will receive AGM documents for consideration and decision by email on 24 April. If you are a LAG member and not on my list and you would like to take part in this unprecedented AGM, please contact me on rwwsec3lo@aol.com Ray Woodcock Chairman LAG *** 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/ 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 Black Redstart fem/1w male,in garden near Frithville, Boston 2 Common Cranes drifter north over Norton Disney Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe 16/4 Black Redstart fem/1w male,at sea on boat, 15 mls east of Skegness 2+ Common Scoters flew over Grantham 2 Ring Ouzels at Hall's Hill, Grantham 17/4 Ring Ouzel male in grass field on left before car park, Rimac Blue-headed Wagtail, Toft Newton Reservoir 3 Ring Ouzels near Alkborough 2 Common Cranes flew over Gibraltar Point 18/4 Wryneck in garden, Normanby 19/4 White-tailed Eagle flew NW over West Deeping c 11.55hrs Jack Snipe, Cleethorpes Country Park Little Gull, Whimbrel, Baston + Langtoft GPs Alpine Swift over Ness End Farm, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 20/4 Iceland Gull 3w flew east, 23+ Arctic Terns flew east, Saltfleetby St Peter Ring Ouzel, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Richard's Pipit, Anderby/Huttoft 2 Ring Ouzels 1 male, in rough field before car park, Rimac 19 Arctic Terns, Covenham Reservoir 9 Arctic Terns, 3 White Wagtails, 2 Avocets, Toft Newton reservoir 21/4 Glaucous Gull, 2 Little Gulls, Pyewipe 20 Arctic Terns, Covenham reservoir 22/4 Grey Plover just east of Brigg Black Tern, Baston + Langtoft GPs Garganey drk, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 3 Ring Ouzels. High Barn, Old Bolingbroke Great While Egret, Rippingale Ring Ouzel on path, Covenham reservoir ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Oil Beetles - seen any yet? *** Keep an eye out on road verges and footpaths whilst on your sanctioned daily exercise. Follow the social distancing rules and don't go putting yourself at any risk in infection. Catharine Brown writes on 6th April 2020: Walking the country roads near my home in Ropsley I saw a large and unusual shiny black beetle about 6 years ago. I am an amateur naturalist and used my insect books and Google back at home to identify it as an Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus). A few days later I was reading my LNU Bulletin when I saw a request for any sightings of Oil Beetles to be reported. This I duly did with a description of where I had seen it. I knew the verge quite well as I had surveyed it on the ‘Life on the Verge’ project. I was then delighted to learn that an expert had visited the site and found 2 colonies: the first siting of Oil Beetles in Lincolnshire since 1984 (if I remember correctly). Then this last week I was walking on the same road and spotted another Oil Beetle (believed to be Meloe proscarabaeus) about half a mile away from the previous colony location. The beetle was immediately on the edge of a footpath so I moved it into the grass. I returned to get a Grid Ref and reported it. A few days later I passed the same spot and checked to see if I could see any or any squashed ones. An identical Oil Beetle was sitting in exactly the same spot as before (no squashed ones). This time I was able to take some photographs. Charlie Barnes adds: Its not possible to say which species of oil beetle they are from your photos (you need to take a close look at their necks!), but all the specimens I have examined have been Meloe proscarabaeus and this is the only species we have in Lincolnshire at the moment, as far as we are aware, and yours will almost certainly be the same. 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. 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 15/4/2020 Holly Blue at holly bush 16/4/2020 Hedgehog in garden at 02.58 [trailcam] 16/4 @ 23.55hrs to 17/4 @ 02.30hrs Hedgehog active - feeding on lawn - trailcam. 18/4 Hedgehog active - 02.30 - 03.15. Size indicates an adult. 21/4 Hedgehog active @ 00.401 - 02.55. 2 bats over garden echolocating at 55kHz. @ 20.55hrs. Pipistrelle spp.? 21-22/4 Hedgehog active 12.50 - 2.30. 22/4 Cuckoo Flowers on lawn off Wragby Road B1202 TF122698 Walk Bardney to Bardney Lock - 19/4/2020 at 10-11am. 2 Kestrels, Buzzard Heard: Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wren, Chaffinch, Robin. Seen: Orange tip male 2, Small Tortoiseshell - many. P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 15thth April 2020 Brimstone, Orange-tip, Green-veined White, Holly Blue regular in small numbers. Red-tailed Bumble-bee x1 Common Carder-bee x5 Honey Bee x1 Nomad Bee x1 Cranefly probably Tipula paludosa x1 female ovipositing in damp moss by the pool. 18th April Blackcap x1 singing 19th April Song Thrush carrying nest material 21st April Lots more insects in the garden today. First sightings of the hoverflies Rhingia and Syrphus. Also lots of Melanostoma. Nomad Bees several Hairy-footed Flower-bee x2 Also found lots of Vine Weevil larvae in a couple of our pots. Scotgrove Wood TF130701 15th April Blackcap x2; Chiffchaff x4 singing Buzzard. Brown Hare. Bluebells, Lesser Celandine and Wood Anemone created the main palette, also Twayblade, Cuckoo-pint, Greater Stitchwort, Primrose, Ground-ivy, Wood Sedge. Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Greenfinch, Wren in very small numbers in green lane at the edge of the wood. Another Hare, Red-legged Partridge x3, Skylarks x8 in open fields. Water Rail Way Bardney Bridge to Bardney Lock TF108696 19th April Blackcap x2, Whitethroat x2, Kestrel x2, Buzzard x2, Goldfinch x2. Bardney Village – Wood Lane TF116695 19th April Still Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff singing. Bardney Village – Abbey Road TF116702 20th April Linnets x6+ feeding on dandelion heads. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 11/4/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson Redstart (only the second that I've ever seen here) 13/4/2020 Holly Blues and Male Orange Tips now plentiful 15/4/2020 Blackcap singing in local gardens First House Martin of the year 16/4/2020 At least 4 House Martins present No frogspawn for the first time in 27 years Jeremy adds: A friend photographed 4 Cranes in the Norton Disney area during mid-afternoon on Wed 15th April. HORKSTOW SE985178 Jenny Haynes 22 April 2020 Seen In the field opposite my house this afternoon: four Roe Deer, two Brown Hares and a one Fox. Butterflies include, Holly Blue butterfly, Orange Tip and Brimstone. Birds seen in my garden this week: Goldfinch Chaffinch Greenfinch Tree Sparrow Blue Tit Great Tit Robin Dunnock Wren Pied Wagtail Whitethroat Blackbird Wood Pigeon Collard Dove Magpie Crow Pheasant Red Legged Partridge Birds seen from my house: Buzzard Kestrel Rook Jackdaw As I’m writing this a young Robin landed on my windowsill! TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 10/4/2020 Rat 1 in shed. I opened my shed door after lunch to find the wood around the bottom of the entrance completely gnawed. It hadn't been like that when I closed it at about noon. I think the rat had got inside while I was gardening in the morning and decided to leave during my lunch break. I duly started to empty it out and we were both surprised to see each other before he escaped! The shed was due for a tidy up anyway! 11/4/2020 Blue tits 2 Appeared to be feeding chicks in nest box. Orange tip 1 female 15/4/2020 Black bee 1 - small bee which I think must have been the female Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes), collecting pollen from cerinthe major purpurens. KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe Alison Brownlow 15/04/2020 Heard cuckoo calling loud and clear for about 15 calls at 7.00pm. Stopped abruptly and we have not heard him since. 21/04/2020 St Mark's flies LINCOLN “Simon’s Bridge” area  SK991710 11 April 2020 Jacquie Harrison First (single) swallow on wire over road. A few from my statutory walk on the Sustrans.  John Margetts LINCOLN Sustrans path to Boston SK991710 12 April 2020 Bugle (Ajuga reptens), plenty Carder bee 1 (covered in pollen from willow catkins) Colt’s-foot, plenty in flower and seedheads Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), several plants in flower Cormorants 3 perched on high-tension cables Cowslip 2 plants in flower Honesty, quite a few, in flower Mute swans, 2 Orange tip butterflies - several, male and female Peacock butterflies, several Small tortoiseshell butterfly, 2 White dead nettle, lots of it along the path verge Yellow iris, several clumps of leaves, no flowers LINCOLN Witham area SK991710 19 April 2020 Jacquie Harrison and John Margetts Two swallows Very windy day and only small tortoiseshells noticeable but - lots of nettles in flower on bank sides to north of river so may explain. On other walks in this area have also seen over past few weeks: Grey heron Mallards Buzzard - including over central Lincoln Greenfinches Goldfinches Very few starlings Mistle thrushes heard and glimpsed Chaffinches Blue tits Blackbirds Great tits Long tailed tits Dunnock Robins Rooks - although new bypass work seems to have dispersed rookery between sustrans and Washingborough bridge over road. Crows and magpies much fewer and Jackdaws only in flight over. Early on admiral butterflies and brimstones ( some of latter still around) as well as those John reported as well. For the first time in years, we’ve a healthy house sparrow flock using garden feeders in very urban Lincoln - in fact can’t keep up on seed although have had to throw away last few years. LINWOOD WARREN Linwood Warren LWT Reserve today 17/4/2020: Birds. Blackbird 2 Blackcap 3 Blue Tit 6 Carrion Crow 2 Chaffinch 4 Chiffchaff 2 Goldfinch 2 Green Woodpecker 2 Greylag Goose 2 Long-tailed Tit 2 Mallard 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Nuthatch 3 Pheasant 1 Robin 2 Willow Warbler 5 Wood Pigeon 8 Wren 2 Reptiles Common Lizard 1 Grass Snake 1 Road Casualty (Outside Market Rasen Golf Club Car Park) Mole 1 Finally a pair of Lapwings were displaying near Legsby at TF136867. NORTH HYKEHAM North Hykeham SK 94666 67241 9/4/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson First Swallow SAUSTHORPE TF3869 Helen Shovlar Bank Voles visiting bird feeder area regularly since lockdown. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 15/04/20 Brimstone x 1 male Bee-fly x 1 17/04/20 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 6 Great Tit x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 2, 1 on nest in base of sleeper used for raised bed at ground level Stock Dove x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Tree Sparrow x 7 Willow Warbler x 2 singing males Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Brimstone x 1 male Orange Tip x 2 males 1 female Peacock x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 21/04/20 Singing males at dawn chorus; Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 (plus evening singing but still part of a flock of 9) Great Tit x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Willow Warbler x 2 Wren x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 1 (my first at Thurnholmes but had one 09/04/20 at work on Thorne Moors) Wood Pigeon x 8 feeding on ground late evening in paddock Brimstone x 1 female Green-veined White x 1 Orange Tip x 4 males Peacock x 2 Bee-fly x 1 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 15th-21st April 2020 Jane Ostler Garden (Unless otherwise indicated) FLOWERING PLANTS Ivy-leaved Toadflax in a hanging basket is covered in flowers. The fruits, which usually coil back to plant themselves into a wall  are now trying to insert themselves into the base of the basket. This week Jack-by-the-Hedge, Native Bluebells, Bugle and a single Red Campion are all in flower. Green Alkanet in flower in garden, hedgerows and on Nature Trail. In hedgerows and on Nature Trail Ground Ivy in colours ranging from lilac to deep blue and the first flowers of Germander Speedwell. In places the Cow Parsley makes a continuous lacy line of white flowers. On the Nature Trail Wild Strawberries abundant and in full flower. In the garden Apple Blossom is the last of the fruit trees to blossom. On the Nature Trail there is a range of trees of all ages, grown from discarded apple cores, dating back to the time of the ironstone railway line. Trees now in full leaf in the garden include Silver Birch, Spindle, Rowan , Larch, Maple(just) and the Guelder Rose shrub. Ash and a large Walnut which I can see from the garden are still leafless. INSECTS Holly Blues, Small Whites and Brimstones still regular in garden. Large Whites new, both here and on the Nature Trail. 21/4/20 Speckled Woods on the Nature Trail. Mint moth on mint. Bumble Bees, the two most frequently seen this week, Common Carder and Red-tailed. Smaller, all black bees which had puzzled me, actively collecting pollen especially from Japanese Quince turned out to be Anthophora plumipes - confirmed by orange hairs of pollen baskets. The solitary bees are now the most active pollinators in the garden , and in large numbers. Am taking a closer look at the cleptoparsite species I am beginning to find. Red Mason Bees Osmia rufa have emerged from their 'bee hotel' tubes. Photographed a Ichneumon stramentarius in the conservatory. Another insect of this group found flying indoors in Februay has been identified provisionally by Charlie Barnes as Opohion obscuratus. It parasitises moth larvae, is attracted to light and is one of very few ichneumons in flight in winter. BIRDS 14/4/20 A male Blackbird seen carrying a dead nestling away from nest. It was struggling with the weight and size of a chick I would think about seven days old and dropped it in flower bed. Later in day another dead one was found on the lawn but there was still one alive in deserted nest. The next day the nest was empty. On 18l/4./20 a female had started a new nest in a climbing rose with barely any support or cover. A pair of blue tits are nesting more suitably in a box provided. 16/4/20 8 Greenfinches feeding on lawn cut that morning on scattered dandelion seeds. Peregrine falcon seen and Green Woodpecker heard from the Nature Trail. 17/4/20 Swallows back at the stables alongside the Nature Trail, gathering moss - but mud will have to be provided for them - the potholes and ruts from which they usually collect are dried up. 21/4/20 Cuckoo flying above Nature Trail. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 15th – 21st April 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: very cold easterly winds from the 17th, being particularly strong on the 20th with a morning gust of 33.8mph and 42mph in the afternoon near Sea View. Dry weather continues and the dune vegetation is looking more parched. Cowslips are in flower but plants look smaller than expected. 150420 - Green hairstreak in flight at Sea View plus small tortoiseshell, comma, peacock, large white, orange tip; red admiral seen flying, direct and west, low over the saltmarsh. 4 avocets on Rimac lagoon with 14 curlew in one flock nearby. Late evening a pair of lapwing were displaying over Sea View washland. Spring beauty well in flower in shaded areas on the dunes, so is scurvy grass on the saltmarsh. Green hairstreak and orange tip butterflies seen near Rimac. 160420 - Willow warbler in song near Paradise wood, 9 mute swans on Paradise lagoon and a further 14 on Rimac logon, 4 whimbrel on the saltmarsh. Between Churchill Lane and Rimac: 8 willow warbler, 5 chiffchaff, 3 swallows, 2 grasshopper warbler, 3 sedge warbler, 6 whitethroat, 6 blackcap. 170420 - Paradise lagoon: 32 teal, 8 tufted duck,4 gadwall, 10 shoveler, 4 coot, 1 moorhen and 43 redshank. A fine looking male hen harrier flew over the saltmarsh and disturbed 8 whimbrel. Single yellow wagtail in Sea View washlands and mid-day a hawfinch briefly appeared in garden near Sea View. 180420 - Hawfinch made occasional appearances at Sea View. Pasture fields adjacent to Rimac held 10 fieldfare with 6 ring ouzels. Cuckoo seen and heard at Paradise [Graham Parker]. Between Churchill Lane and Rimac: Butterfly species: small and green veined whites, peacock, small tortoiseshell, comma, green hairstreak, speckled wood, orange tip, holly blue. Small areas of active brown tail moth caterpillars. 2 cuckoo, 3 lesser whitethroat, 10 willow warbler, 8 blackcap, 12 whitethroat, 1 barn owl 1, 2 little owl, 1 common buzzard, 1 sparrowhawk, 4 ring ouzel. 190420 - In the Rimac area marsh harrier, 5 swallows, common whitethroat, cuckoo and in nearby pasture were 8 fieldfare, 7 ring ouzels and singles of mistle thrush and song thrush. Several skylarks in song over dunes. 200420 - Seven whimbrel on the saltmarsh, swallow, blackcap and small tortoiseshell near Paradise and common whitethroat, blackcap and 1 wheatear near Sea View. In pasture fields near Rimac were a group of 24 whimbrel busily feeding, 5 ring ouzels and a single fieldfare. A flock of a least 30 linnets was seen on short, dry vegetation near Sea View. Between Churchill Lane and Crookbank: 5 whitethroat, 5 blackcap, 6 willow warbler, 4 chiffchaff, 2 lesser whitethroat. Sightings in other locations during social distancing: 1504-220420 – Daily sightings of blackbird, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon, dunnock in Louth. 200420 – Speckled wood, small tortoiseshell, peacock butterflies, roe deer, hare, buzzard, blackcap and chiffchaff singing in Legbourne area. 210420 – Swallows and house martins in 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 of 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 *** BSBI Website: *** https://bsbi.org/ *** Natural History Museum - Botany Collections *** https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/botany-collections.html *** 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. *** 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... Cranes make comeback in Britain's wetlands https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52384853 Allergy impact from invasive weed 'underestimated' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52367688 Your pictures on the theme of 'insects' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-52123715 Country diary: there's a buzzard in the air https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/13/country-diary-theres-a-buzzard-in-the-air Country diary: fired up over brimstones https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/14/country-diary-fired-up-over-brimstones Nature’s comeback? No, the coronavirus pandemic will devastate the world’s wildlife https://theconversation.com/natures-comeback-no-the-coronavirus-pandemic-will-devastate-the-worlds-wildlife-136209 High winds kill thousands of migrating birds in 'disaster' over Greece https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/10/high-winds-kill-thousands-of-migrating-birds-in-disaster-over-greece 'Spectacular' artefacts found as Norway ice-patch melts https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/apr/16/spectacular-artefacts-found-as-norway-ice-patch-melts ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/