============================================= || || 12th August 2020 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby'Theddlethorpe 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - including Chambers Wood Farm 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..... don't miss the links... ============================================ 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... *** Over 70% of our readers open their LNU Bulletins each week. Some have been reading them weekly for over 20 years! Between us we have built a unique network representing a wide range of interests and a shared fascination for Lincolnshire's natural history. I hope you are finding the weekly reports, articles and topical news links helpful. Some I select with particular readers in mind and sometimes I even get that right! It's always good to receive news of events, interesting articles and wildlife stories. It encourages others to start to contribute. Please let me know of any interesting local "re-openings" other readers might like to hear about. Wildlife organisations wishing to publicise changes or news are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. We'll be glad to help. Weather forecasts suggests thunderstorms into Wednesday and Thursday this week. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings 12th brings the Perseid meteor shower. It peaks inconveniently, in the afternoon. Paul Money recommends viewing before midnight before the Moon rises to spoil the show. Jupiter and Saturn should be showing well now if it's clear. Spot Jupiter's 4 Galilean moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/jupiter-moons-how-see/ Covid-19-related information: When eventually decided, we will announce any resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, LNU meetings webpages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking. Things could change for better or worse as the pandemic evolves so remain alert and keep up appropriate measures to reduce your risks. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. Virtual Birdfair 2020 - 18th-23rd August: https://birdfair.org.uk/ Moth Night 2020 - 27th-29th August: https://www.mothnight.info/ RSPB Returning to reserves: Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ The Forestry Commission says: Please read our guide to visiting the forest in the summer of 2020. https://www.forestryengland.uk/news/covid-19-stay-home-please-do-not-visit-the-nations-forests Forestry work is underway at Chambers Farm Wood.. The car park is open. A selection of [hopefully] interesting and entertaining links sent in by readers. More links at the end of every Bulletin. Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Bird Club - latest sightings: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. Latest sightings: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/lincolnshire-latest-sightings Photo of the Week: 29 July-4 August 2020 - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-29-july-4-august-2020/ Ecology and Wildlife Conservation - Free Online Course - FutureLearn https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ecology-and-wildlife-conservation Wartime code breaker helps crack Sheffield birds' behaviour https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-53733997 Fox found with impressive shoe collection in Berlin https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53612856 Beaver families win legal 'right to remain' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53658375 There Are Two Ways Out of a Frog. This Beetle Chose the Back Door. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/science/beetle-frog-poop.html Culverts – the major threat to fish you've probably never heard of https://theconversation.com/culverts-the-major-threat-to-fish-youve-probably-never-heard-of-143629 Farmer 'blackmailed Tesco over contaminated baby food' - Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53737345 Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. All very much appreciated. Please stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Short summary of this year’s National Whale & Dolphin Watch Weekend *** Dave Miller writes: A strange year this year, but we still managed to run some surveys. In total seven people put in 41 hours’ worth of effort from 25th July to 3rd August. Efforts from the Round-and-Round hide at Anderby Creek will undoubtably have been hampered by the presence of the beach nourishment boats and pipes causing too much noise for porpoises to be seen close by. However, three animals were seen from the North Sea Observatory at Chapel Point. Richard Doan spotted one on 30th July at 8:20am, and I managed to see two on the morning of 2nd August; my first porpoises during NWDW since 2017. Dick Lorand also had a pod of six in the mouth of the Humber Estuary on the 30th July. The weather was great and we managed to speak to around 40 members of the public from the Round-and-Round hide, the conservation usually starting with “what are you looking for?”. Here’s to NWDW 21!! *** HEDGEHOGS - your reports please... *** Road kills, garden signs, sounds or sightings? Between us we should be able to gather many reports across the county. Please send something in to the Bulletin. Useful links: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ *** BATS – please keep your reports coming *** A big thank you to those of you have been sending your bat sightings in. Could I persuade some other contributors to go into your gardens and see if there are any bats around, from about 15 mins after sunset for half an hour. I’m more than happy to take records from all summer, but negative reports are at least as important as positive ones – I’ve had a few ‘Where are my bats?’ enquiries this year already. Annette Faulkner *** LNU Events Diary *** Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes, including LNU Workshops and Drop-in sessions and Indoor Meetings. For details of all LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group's Meetings and Trips *** It is with much regret, but not a lot of surprise, that I have learned this week from the RSPB that all the Local Group's Meetings and Trips must be suspended until 31st December. There will be a review before the end of the year when, hopefully, we will learn when activities can resume. There will be further announcements like this one nearer the time. Best wishes - Stay Safe Martin Francis STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 Check for road works and hold-ups 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/ *** August Night Sky *** 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 - the Perseid meteor shower https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/space-stargazing/meteors-comets-asteroids/Perseid-meteor-shower https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates Stargazing with binoculars: a beginner's guide - skyatnightmagazine https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/stargazing-with-binoculars-a-guide/ The Moon and stars are a compass for nocturnal animals – but light pollution is leading them astray https://theconversation.com/the-moon-and-stars-are-a-compass-for-nocturnal-animals-but-light-pollution-is-leading-them-astray-142301 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] Spoonbills in Lincolnshire 4/8 9 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 19 Spoonbills, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull juv, 2 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Wood Warbler, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret east of Scallow Grove Farm, Messingham Sand Quarry 5/8 White Stork flew over Long Sutton at 12.15pm. 19 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Freiston Shore 6/8 19 Spoonbills, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 15 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 2 Wood Sandpipers 2 Great White Egrets, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 17 Spoonbills on saltmarsh south of Gibraltar Point 7/8 7 Spoonbills flew west over Humber Mouth Yacht Club - Tetney Marshes Pied Flycatcher trapped and ringed. Anderby Creek Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly, Rimac 2 Wood Sandpipers, Paradise Pool, Saltfleet 20 Spoonbills, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh 2 Turtle Doves flew south over Gibraltar Point 8/8 27 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier ringtail flew west, Leasingham 9/8 18 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Bonxie, Covenham Reservoir Wood Sandpiper, Wood Warbler, 4 Pied Flycatchers, Osprey, Gibraltar Point Southern Migrant Hawker along coastal footpath, Wolla Bank Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Churchill Lane, Saltfleetby 30 Spoonbills, Little Stint, 2 Great White Egrets, Alkborough Flats 20 Spoonbills, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 10/8 2 Wood Warblers, c30 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Turtle Doves, Gibraltar Point Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly, 2 Turtle Doves, Rimac 2 Pied Flycatchers between Sea View and Rimac, Saltfleetby 3 Pied Flycatchers along coastal path north of Wolla Bank Roseate Tern flew south past, Black Tern, Chapel Six Marshes 11/8 Red-backed Shrike juv, 15+ Pied Flycatchers. Spotted Redshank, Barred Warbler 1w in Sea Buckthorn @ Sea View, Saltfleetby Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Little Stint, East Pit, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Barred Warbler in plantation, Sykes Farm, flew towards WREN woodland, 29+ Pied Flycatchers, Gibraltar Point 26 Spoonbills, 8 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Reedbed Lagoon, Great White Egret on saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 6 Pied Flycatchers, Anderby Creek Garganey juv, Osprey, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Baston + Langtoft pits 12/8 Barred Warbler 1w in Sea Buckthorn @ Sea View, Saltfleetby ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Have you noticed a Flying Ant Day yet? Some of us have. Please tell us if you do. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html Estimating the age of that oak tree... http://www.wbrc.org.uk/atp/Estimating%20Age%20of%20Oaks%20-%20Woodland%20Trust.pdf BTO tracked cuckoos have set off south. When last checked Valentine had crossed North Africa as far as Mali. Via Ziguinchor in Southern Senegal and through the National Park of Niokolo-koba. He will have enjoyed that! https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Jerry Gunner's Noctorn Walkabout Cold and misty here at the moment on Tuesday August 11, 2020. Looking towards the Wolds from Nocton I cannot see them from the garden. Not much to report but my belief that the common buzzards had left our garden have been scotched by the appearance of a juvenile at the nest site on the drive way. I first noticed it by its call which is like an adult buzzard’s but much higher pitched and often more frantic. I caught glimpses of it but it is very active, chasing other birds for no obvious reason. Finally last Saturday the 8th of August I caught it on the top of a fir tree at the end of the garden and managed a couple of snaps. Absolutely pristine and unruffled. Totally unlike a red kite which was patrolling the surrounding fields at the same time and looked like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards with a couple of primary feathers missing and one of the tail feathers way out of kilter with the rest. Its generally bedraggled appearance did not seem to affect its mastery of the air. All our robins now have red breasts and all are singing the winter ‘ching ching’ song rather than the more complex tune I associate with the spring and summer. Other not so frequently seen birds in the garden that seem to have taken up residence are the greater spotted woodpeckers that are spending a lot of time on a few dead trees but none on the bird feeders which is their usual reason for visiting. I’ve spent a while photographing insects in the garden. I haven’t worked out what most are but one thing I have noticed is that female brimstone butterflies seem to prefer the usual purple buddleia while the males seem to prefer the white one in the front garden; I haven’t seen either sex on the ‘wrong’ buddleia. ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Reports welcome. MUNTJACS Two adult Muntjac Road kills noted this week 10/8/2020 R & A Parsons Southery Wood B1190 at approx TF138684 Baumber, Henry Lane [to Bardney] at approx TF217737 EASTON 11/8/20 B6403 Easton SK938276 BADGER (larger boar) Jane Ostler ROPSLEY 11/8/20 A52 Ropsley SK970355 FOX Jane Ostler *** 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. Include the time too if relevant - e.g. for Bat records. *** 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. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 4/8/2020 Much house sparrow activity, 20+ feeding on lavender seed heads. Regular flocks of c 30 starlings drop in when food is available and the local 12+ group of Jackdaws plus Corvid-99 and its new best friend. 6/8/2020 20.00 hrs 3 swifts over Bat 55kHz at 21.20 hrs briefly. 7/8/2020 20.00 hrs 4 Swifts over Mint Moth on Anise Hyssop plant Bat 55kHz at 21.20 hrs - a few passes. 20.30hrs 4 swifts over. 8/8/2020 20.00 hrs 1 swift over. BOSTON TF338441 Tracey Lenton 07/08/2020 Dragonflies seen flying around the garden on this very hot day. Common darter female and a damselfly female willow emerald resting on a tree branch (ids confirmed) BOSTON 11/08/2020 Roy and Kathleen Pearson Problem with Greenfinches I recently mentioned the deaths of a high proportion of Greenfinches found dead in the garden. These are the only species found and in despite of washing, cleaning and disinfecting all equipment, we have now reached double figures. Four of these birds had been ringed and we therefore know that these were all ADULT MALE BIRDS when ringed.  (Unfortunately we didn’t notice the ages or sex of the unringed birds or the scientific information might have been better.) The dates of ringing and deaths of the four were:- 24/03/2018 - 20/07/2020 03/08/2019 - 29/07/2020 21/01/2020 - 11/08/2020 09/06/2020 - 14/07/2020 Details will subsequently be sent to the BTO. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 11/8/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson Butterflies: over the last 2 months our garden has had regular visits by the following: Holly Blue, Common Blue, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, plus the occasional Comma, Small Skipper and Brimstone. Speckled Wood numbers seem to be much lower than in recent years. Moths: One visit by a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, and one Elephant Hawk Moth. I photographed recently an unusual Plume Moth which I have been unable to identify, so if anyone would like to try, please let me know and I'll email a photo. With regard to other insects, it's been a good year for Hoverflies, both in numbers and species, some of which I do not recalling having seen before. There also seem have be more Grasshoppers than usual (which is virtually none), including in the long grass of a house that's been unoccupied since April. I've also seen a couple of Bush Crickets in the garden (not sure of exact species), which I've never seen here before in 43 years. In June we saw (for the first time) White Admirals in some local woodland. A friend has recently seen and photographed a Silver-Washed Fritillary in the Norton Disney area, plus several Clouded Yellows at some gravel pits nearby. Hobby sightings have been few (although I saw one over North Hykeham on 29 July), but I have seen Red Kites more often this year than ever before, at least 6 sightings, whereas in recent years once has been more more typical. The last sighting was on 5 August over the end of the garden; as the Kite drifted eastwards more and more Crows began to appear and mob it. Green Woodpecker(s) have been heard regularly, and occasionally seen, and for the first time a Blackcap was singing daily in and around our garden from late April until mid July. On 4th July I found a dead Weasel (roadkill) between here and Bassingham, and on 3rd August I saw one dash across the pathway to Bassingham, the first Weasels I have seen locally for a long time. The Buzzards which nest a couple of hundred yards from our house have raised at least one youngster again, and have been mobbed on several occasions by the local Kestrels, on one occasion by four at once. I presume that this must have been a pair and their two offspring. The local pair of Little Owls have seemingly deserted their usual nesting site of a cavity in an Ash tree, and have raised at least 2, probably 3 young. I suspect that they have used, some abandoned farm buildings nearby. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD See report in Section: 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler Week beginning 5th August 2020 Walk by river looking at Brown Trout and Kingfisher which nests along this area. A fledgling kite seen. 5 Young buzzards flying together. A photo of one chasing a crow. From the allotments on Stamford Road a photo of a Speckled Bush Cricket. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes report dates 5/8/2020 Bats were seen on both Saturday and Sunday evenings (1 &2 August) at around 9.30pm. Butterflies seen in the past week: Red Admiral Peacock Large White Small White Common Blue Meadow Brown Orange Tip Birds in garden over the past week: Blue Tit Great Tit Blackbird (several young ones getting acquainted with the fat balls!) Robin Dunnock Tree Sparrow Wren Wood Pigeon Stock Dove Chaffinch Greenfinch Pheasant Partridge (two adults and a young one) HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 7, 8 and 9 August 2020 Bats were flying around my house. 9 August 2020 Two Wall butterflies in my garden. I’ve not seen these for several years. Group of Longtailed Tits on my feeders. 11 August 2020 Half-grown frog seen in my garden. NETTLEHAM TF 0088 7538 David Smith 05/08/2020 23.30 Hedgehog large adult (plus droppings on my veg plot!) SCOTGROVE WOOD TF130702 approx R&A Parsons 8/8/2020 8-9.00hrs Plants noted: Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica ) RP https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-fleabane Common Eyebright. (Euphrasia nemorosa). Figwort family AP https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/eyebright Common Century. (Centaurium erythraea) AP https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/centaury-common Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus). Figwort family AP https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/red-bartsia Deer barking. TATTERSHALL TF216579 Geoff Annibal August 11th 2020 This year appears to be an excellent one for wasps. I have found 9 nests in my local patch within a circle of radius 60 m. There may be others but I am not keen to investigate too closely! Normally I would expect to find one or two nests. Perhaps the dry weather has ensured that nests have not been flooded. Two of the nests have been excavated, which I suspect will be badgers. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 05/08/20 Nicrophorus humator x 1 rescued from horse water trough by Sam Hiner 06/08/20 Blackbird x 5 Blue Tit x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 5 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 12 Swift x 4 Tree Sparrow x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Willow Beauty moth x 1 08/08/20 Brown Hawker x 2 09/08/20 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 6 Kestrel x 2 Swallow x 7 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Comma x 1 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 2 Peacock x 6 Red Admiral x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 10/08/20 Common Buzzard x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Marsh Harrier x 1 male over Thurnholmes Swallow x 7 Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Comma x 4 Green-veined White x 1 Large White x 2 Peacock x 4 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Silver Y x 1 11/08/20 Comma x 1 Green-veined White x 1 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 8 Peacock x 5 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 16 Small White x 8 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK9225 Week beginning 5th August 2020 A vine of White Bryony is hanging over a Judas Tree on Newton Way onto the verge. All flowers examined were male. Chicory flowers are forming a blue line on one conservation headland and the Common Blue Sowthistle with similar flowers has seeded abundantly along a jitty to Water Lane. It is a garden escape here. Two trees each planted to replace ash on the Woolsthorpe road are having a difference in abundance of fruits. The Sweet Chestnut is covered in fruits but the Walnuts were thinned out by crows taking them when still green. In the drought some 20 White Butterflies and two Small Tortoiseshells found a muddy puddle left from watering and were drinking from it. Grasshoppers are abundant not only in the meadow but also on the verges. The Common Field Grasshopper was in sparse grass and the Common Green Grasshopper in more lush areas. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Reserves including RSPB and LWT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. Back in action - click to read. 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 5th – 11th August 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 030820 - Short-eared owl hunting near Paradise lagoon on edge of saltmarsh [per Geoff Williams]. 040820 - Late afternoon, 8 kestrels hunting over saltmarsh and a SW movement of c50 swifts over Sea View. 050820 - With low cloud and light rain several small groups of swifts flying SW over Sea View, 15, 22, 9 and later in the afternoon before a rain shower 100 flew over. Seawatch from Mablethorpe North End: Gannet 86S 14N, black-tailed godwit 9S, dunlin 4s, knot 100S, ringed plover 5S, manx shearwater 23S, common tern 12N 2S, ‘commic’ tern 13S, shelduck 2S, Med gull 1N (juvenile), c2000 mixed gulls N. 060820 - On the flooded saltmarsh 400 black-headed gulls feeding and 5 whimbrel further south near Rimac. On Paradise lagoon 9 black-tailed godwits, 149 redshank, 27 dunlin, 3 greenshank, 6 lapwing, 1 common snipe, 2 little egret, 39 black-headed gulls and 51 common gulls. Kingfisher on the Great Eau. 30 swifts south outer Sea View. Mid-day at Paradise lagoon a roost of 419 black-headed gulls plus 12 common gulls. Rimac freshwater marsh: Green sandpiper 1, grey heron 1, little egret 1, kestrel 4. At Sea View: Yellow wagtail 1S, buzzard 2, treecreeper 1, great spotted woodpecker 1, curlew 14 (saltmarsh). 2 fresh painted ladies, good hatch of small tortoiseshell and wall butterflies in the Churchill Lane area. 070820 - Green sandpiper briefly landed on floating vegetation at the Rimac pond, plus nearby a mixed flock of 30 plus birds of blue tit, great tit, long-tailed tit and including 10 willow warblers. 2 male southern migrant hawkers, latticed heath moth and emerald damselfly at Rimac. Rimac freshwater marsh: 6 willow warbler, 4 kestrel, 11 cormorant, 2 little egret, 1 whimbrel. 112 curlew on recently mown silage field down Churchill Lane. 080820 - On Paradise lagoon: 187 redshank, 5 greenshank, 5 black-tailed godwits, 1 common sandpiper, 1 green sandpiper, 1 wood sandpiper, 1 common snipe, 26 dunlin and 9 lapwing. Whinchat at Crookbank. 2 fresh male blue eyed hawker dragonflies at Rimac. Pied flycatcher and wood warbler in the Churchill Lane area. 2 large great diving beetles spotted in a Rimac pond. 090820 - Group of 6 house sparrows at Sea View, plus single black cap and willow warbler. Short-eared owl and 3 whimbrel on saltmarsh. Paradise lagoon: 1 green woodpecker, 1 wood sandpiper, 2 green sandpiper, 1 greenshank. Pied flycatcher at Churchill Lane. 100820 - Paradise lagoon - 143 redshank, 2 greenshank, 25 dunlin, 26 lapwing, 1 green sandpiper, 1 common sandpiper, 1 ruff, 7 little egret, 22 common gulls, 515 black-headed gulls and a common tern. Walk from Rimac: 3 kestrel, 2 pied flycatcher, 12 willow warbler, 4 chiffchaff, 3 lesser whitethroat, 12 whitethroat, 4 sedge warbler, 2 snipe, up to 5 green sandpiper, 3 whimbrel flew west to farmland, 1 teal, 1 grey heron. Green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker and sparrow hawk in the Brickyard Lane area. 110820 – A crossbill was heard calling in the Churchill Lane area. A very large and distinctive hover fly perched on a tree leaf for c30 seconds, not an uncommon species but not seen often here, identified as Volucella zonaria a striking species looking rather hornet like. 3 small bats around Churchill Lane at dusk every evening. Up to 400 sandwich terns and 120 common terns on the beach during the week, along with up to 600 common scoter on the sea. Lichen Tree Beauty moth and a vine moth have been found on the NNR. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. The FC says: "Please read our guide to visiting the forest in the summer of 2020." 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 CHAMBERS FARM WOOD Chambers Farm Wood TF158 741 Ian Dunn 08.08.2020 Birds Crows – 2 Buzzard – 1, excellent viewing conditions through the binoculars, calling and circling low in full sunlight Woodpigeons – 2 Blackbird – 1 Flora (in flower) Betony Bird vetch Common fleabane Common nipplewort Enchanters nightshade Herb Robert Himalayan balsam Lesser knapweed Meadow buttercup Meadowsweet Perennial sow-thistle Purple loosestrife Ragwort Vipers bugloss Wild angelica (see below - this was where both hairstreaks were nectaring) Willowherb In Fruit Blackthorn (sloes) Bittersweet (nightshade) European dewberry Butterflies Brimstone – 6 Brown hairstreak – 2 (Minting Wood area) Common blue – 2 Meadow brown – 4 Peacock – 10 Purple hairstreak – 1 (Minting Wood area) Ringlet – 5 Small tortoiseshell – 3 Small white – 8 Silver washed fritillary - 2 Speckled wood - 1 Large white – 15 A dozen or so photographers enjoying the hairstreaks. Of other interest Reed canary grass 09.08.20 Return visit to Chambers Farm Wood hoping for a better look at the hairstreaks. Late morning, conditions were much duller than yesterday and the wind had changed to NW. Nothing doing with the hairstreaks, so had a walk further around before returning to check a gain before leaving early afternoon, but still no sign. Birds Great tit - busy catching insects (couldn't see what) in a hawthorn bush. Kestrel – using a high lone pine stump as a look-out post, in the clearing from the logging in Chambers Plantation area Flora in flower (additional to yesterday) Burnet Saxifrage Common Burdock Devil’s-bit Scabious Selfheal Butterflies Large white - 3 Meadow Brown – 1 Ringlet – 3 Small white – 1 Speckled wood - 1 All Meadow Browns and Ringlets now very faded and worn. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Why not apply for one? 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 Due to Covid-19, all events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. LLP Project Partners and related links: Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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 https://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** 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 *** Webpage says: "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). " Contact: Sarah Lambert: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** BSBI Website: *** https://bsbi.org/ For beginners - Simple Guide to the Wildflowers of Britain https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/a-simple-guide-to-the-wildflowers-of-britain-71271 *** 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. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** 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 - 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) 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 (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ 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/ Woodland Trust's Ancient Trees page https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/ancient-trees/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have now been cancelled for 2020 and will resume in 2021, all being well. *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ Field Studies Council ~ sale still on https://www.field-studies-council.org/product-category/publications/ *** 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 *** British Geological Survey at Keyworth *** https://www.bgs.ac.uk/ *** Stone Circles - for archaeologists really - check the Lincolnshire list *** http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/index.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 instances may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please 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 *** Butterfly Conservation: Policy on collecting, breeding and photography https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/BC%20Policy%20on%20collecting%2C%20breeding%20and%20photography%202018.pdf RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ 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. 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: "All LNU meetings are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Field Meetings: CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: None this week. ....and finally... ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Chobham Common wildfire evacuation warning https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-53700404 Wildflower Walks: Visit the Cairngorms https://www.plantlife.org.uk/scotland/our-work/plantlife-library/wildflower-walks-visit-the-cairngorms Climate change: UK peat emissions could cancel forest benefits https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53684047 City growth favours animals 'more likely to carry disease' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53658165 Lockdown: Label showing plants safe for bees and butterflies https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53678798 Coronavirus: Interest in country living surges https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53670199 Coronavirus: Lincoln Cathedral uses chalk for social distancing https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53665301 Scotland top for whale and dolphin sightings https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-53684450 BBC Proms - Proms Plus - Birds - BBC Sounds - listen https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000l23m 'Paradise island' hosts untold botanical treasures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53668124 Nile dam row: Egypt fumes as Ethiopia celebrates https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53573154 Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/