============================================= || || 19th 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... *** Please make a mental note: If you ever need to change your email address or check on your details on Mailchimp: go to the end of your Bulletin and click "update subscription preferences". Why not look now and while you are there make sure your GDPR consent has been ticked? I have checked but it is quite possible I have missed someone. I hope you are finding our reports, articles and topical news links of interest. Please let me know of any local "re-openings" readers might like to hear about. Wildlife organisations wishing to publicise any news or changes are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. We'll be glad to help. Weather forecasts suggests changeable conditions next week with showers or longer spells of rain. Met Office says: "Strong winds on Friday are expected to lead to some travel disruption." Check the current Met Office Warnings: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Covid-19-related information: For now "All LNU meetings are cancelled." 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. Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. 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 Virtual Birdfair 2020 - 18th-23rd August: https://birdfair.org.uk/ Moth Night 2020 - 27th-29th August: https://www.mothnight.info/ RSPB Returning to reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ The Forestry Commission says: "We are open and ready to welcome you" https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Here is a selection of interesting links sent in by fellow readers. More cracking links at the end of the Bulletin. Don't forget to scroll down. 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 Lockdown birdwatchers boost Lincolnshire sunflower seed business https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-53778151/ Robin shares food with cuckoo - watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-53757116 Here be dragonflies, thriving in Britain as never before https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/16/here-be-dragonflies-thriving-in-britain-as-never-before Tree of the week: the beloved 250-year-old wild pear being cut down for HS2 https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/aug/17/tree-of-the-week-the-beloved-250-year-old-wild-pear-being-cut-down-for-hs2 Government badger cull 'could double' this year - Lincolnshire mentioned https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53808023 British wildlife in August - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/watch-wildlife/british-wildlife-in-august/ A Lockdown Exploration into Moths and Bats https://www.creaturecandy.co.uk/blog-creature-candy/2020/7/28/a-lockdown-exploration-into-moths-and-bats Making a Bee Hotel - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/diy/making-a-bee-hotel/ Budget Bucket Moth Trap https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/east-scotland-branch/budget-bucket-moth-trap Lake District rubbish 'makes me want to cry' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-53798298 Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. All very much appreciated. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** 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 IN JULY AND AUGUST *** Annette Faulkner writes: First of all thank you to those who have continued to send in bat records. My apologies for not getting in touch if needed. July was one of the worst months we have ever had for lost/abandoned/orphaned babies and young juvenile bats, virtually all pipistrelles, with most other species managing to keep out of trouble. It started with a known colony in Pinchbeck with nine babies getting into an outbuilding, where there was a known roost in the roof. The mothers had moved out, and to begin with other babies were audible in the roof, mothers were coming down to feed the babies, and we managed to get one baby reunited with its mother. But over three nights the babies in the roof either died or were moved to the new roost elsewhere, four died, as the mothers started to abandon them, and the last four had to be euthanased, as we had o idea where the new roost was and no evidence of activity at all. After that it was singletons that were found wandering. Young bats grow incredibly quickly and start flying at three weeks, so there is much more potential for rearing and returning to their colony once they get to that stage, but whereas most years we might get one or two per carer, this year the calls kept coming and we were all exhausted by the end of the month. Once into August calls started to slow down and more routine calls started coming in – and a chance for me to start to catch up. Casualties have still mostly been pipistrelles, but there have been a few brown long-eared bats as well, virtually all underweight – and on Monday we dealt with a case of a male Natterer’s bat, a scarce beast in the Grantham area where found, that had become impaled on a cluster of burdock heads, and found by a member of the public whilst out on a country walk. After seeking advice she went back with box, gloves, cloth to wrap the bat in and secateurs to cut it free and took it down to a carer. Unfortunately there was severe damage to one wing, and it died before it could be taken to a vet to be euthanased, but it was also woefully underweight. My suspicion is that the problems are being caused by a big decline in the insect population. Different bat species feed on different ranges of insects, and they are at the top of their various food chains. It would be really good to have the thoughts of some of the invert specialists to see if they’ve noticed declines in their specialist groups, and see if this correlates with, in particular this year, pipistrelles, which are aerial feeders on flies and small moths, amongst others taxa. *** 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. 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 - check https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - why not sign up? 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 - sign up if at risk. 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 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 12/8 Barred Warbler 1w in Sea Buckthorn @ Sea View, Beautiful Marbled moth trapped, Saltfleetby Little Stint, Saltfleet Haven Barred Warbler, 2 Wood Warblers, 12 Pied Flycatchers, Caspian Gull on beach, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Gibraltar Point Dark-bellied Brent Goose, East Pit, Deeping Lakes Deeping St James Red-backed Shrike, Stallingborough 4 Wood Sandpipers, Whinchat, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness Probable Honey Buzzard over Baston Fen 13/8 Black-necked Grebe ad, juv Gargany, Baston + Langtoft pits Dark-bellied Brent Goose, East Pit, Deeping Lakes Deeping St James Wood Sandpiper, 9 Pied Flycatchers, Gibraltar Point Whinchat trapped and ringed, Marston Sewage Works 28 Spoonbills, 4 Little Stints, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 4 Wood Sandpipers, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness - late report 14/8 3 Common Cranes, 2ads + juv, Willow Tree Fen Dark-bellied Brent Goose, East Pit, Deeping Lakes Deeping St James Little Stint flew past, Little Gull, 8 Arctic Terns, Chapel Point Bee Eater flew south over Glentham 17 Spoonbills, Jackson's Marsh, Little Gull juv, 4 Spotted Redshanks on Tennyson's Sands, Long-tailed Skua past, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe ad, juv Gargany, Baston + Langtoft pits 28 Spoonbills, 7 Little Stints, 14 Spotted Redshanks, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Curlew Sandpipers [late report], Frampton Marsh Probable White-tailed Eagle reported , flew over A153 SW of Louth near Tathwell - late report. Probable White-tailed Eagle flew north over sea, Long-tailed Skua juv dark morph south past, Anderby Creek 15/8 Long-tailed Skua juv flew north past Crook bank, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Dark-bellied Brent Goose, in field south of road, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Black-necked Grebe ad, juv Gargany on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft pits Wood Sandpiper, 2 Pied Flycatchers, Freiston Shore Turnstone flew over Grantham overnight, identified from sound recording 32 Spoonbills, 5 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper,10 Spotted Redshanks 10 Little Stints, 2 Temminck's Stint, Frampton Marsh 17 Spoonbills, Possible Long-tailed Skua juv flew north past, 4 Pomarine Skuas, 4 Black Terns, 11 Arctic Terns. 3 Little Gulls, 11 Pied Flycatchers, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Skua juv flew north past Huttoft Bank 4 Long-tailed Skuas, all juvs, flew in off sea and inland, Chapel St Leonards 20 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 16/8 Black-necked Grebe juv, T-junction pit, Baston + Langtoft pits 22 Spoonbills, 4 Little Gulls, 7 Long-tailed Skuas past, Pomarine Skua, Black Tern, Roseate Tern, Black-throated Diver, 11 Pied Flycatchers, Gibraltar Point 28 Spoonbills, 8 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Temminck's Stints, ad + juv, 7 Little Stints, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, Pied Flycatcher on River Witham Bank midway to river mouth, Frampton Marsh 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew south past Huttoft Car Terrace Pied Flycatcher, Freiston Shore 17/8 Long-tailed Skua flew past, Pomarine Skua, Common Rosefinch singing in pines by lookout tower, Chapel Six Marshes Barred Warbler in elders by coast path, Pied Flycatcher by picnic benches, Wolla Bank 4 Pied Flycatchers by control tower, Gedney Drove End Barred Warbler, 10 Pied Flycatchers - 2 trapped and ringed, 4 Spotted Redshanks on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Spotted Redshank, Manby Flashes 26 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 9 Spotted Redshanks, 11 Little Stints, 2 Temminck's Stints ad + juv, Frampton Marsh 18/8 Gull-billed Tern, Greenshank Creek then flew south, Gibraltar Point 10 Spoonbills, Barred Warbler, juv Long-tailed Skua offshore, 4 Black Terns, 18 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point 2 Black terns juvs, Freiston Shore 25 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 4 Quail males singing, Withcall Garganey juv, Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft pits Turtle Dove singing, Rimac 19/8 Short-eared Owl, Anchor Lane. Ingoldmells 3 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gull-billed Tern, Greenshank Creek from Mill Hill, Pied Flycatcher caught and ringed at East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe juv, T-junction pit, Baston + Langtoft pits 23 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, 25 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret flew south over Boultham Mere, Lincoln ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Valentine is back in Burkina Faso. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Reports welcome. *** 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 Local house sparrow flock photographed [AP] and confirmed as 70+ Local Starling flock is c 40. 17/8/2020 at 21.00 - 21.15 Single Bat echolocating at 55kHz - very active. 18/8/2020 Pellitory-of-the-wall: Parietaria judaica - identified AP. Growing at the base of our garden wall. Also a patch growing at the back of the hedge of the IX Squadron RAF memorial. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/pellitory-wall http://wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/P/PellitoryOfTheWall/PellitoryOfTheWall.htm Bardney area: Identifying Yellow Composites - Asteraceae. A Parsons The tall yellow dandelion type flowers everywhere at the moment are probably Rough Hawk’s-Beard (Crepis biennis) CORRECTION P Kirby - Sonchus arvensis - Perennial Sow-thistle. Locally frequent along road edges at this time of year https://www.ukwildflowers.com/Web_pages/crepis_biennis_rough_hawksbeard.htm The short ones on everyone’s lawns. Smooth Hawk’s-beard (Crepis capillaris) https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/smooth-hawks-beard River bank near Bardney lock: Leafy hawkweed (Heracium umbellatum) ? patch 4ft high TF 105699 and another patch 2ft high. TF 094708 https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/19831/leafy-hawkweed GRIMSBY TA263098 Joyce Attia Last Thursday,13th August, we met with Rachel Graham and three colleagues in the Duke of York Gardens where they were conducting a bat emergence survey. We met at sunset, 8.30pm at TA263098. The bats started to come out about 15 minutes later, they were common pipistrelles. We were unsure whether they were roosting in the house or in the surrounding trees Rachel said there was a healthy population. She checked how many bats had been seen at once, I had counted 5. After about an hour we moved away from the area of the house and towards the river. There were still a good number of bats over the river but still only common pipistrelle. Apparently it was a bit early for any other species. We left at about 10 pm. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 12 August 2020 I went outside at dusk bat watching and could only see two at any one time. I think they’re pipistrelles as they are small. I also saw three small rodents. I think two may have been shrews and the other was a vole. 13 August 2020 Hummingbird Hawk Moth in my garden. First one I’ve seen for many years. 17 August 2020 Abundance of Small Tortoiseshell butterflies in my garden today. We counted 17 in one location. Also Red Admiral and Small White. Also spotted two Coal Tits on my Christmas tree. Not so frequent visitors. Female Blackbird collecting material, unclear whether nesting or feeding. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 5/8/2020 Gatekeeper 1 Peacock butterflies 2 Red admiral 1 6/8/2020 Newt 1 -seen swimming in the pond 7/8/2020 Bat sp. 2 9.10pm Common darter 1 - first of the year for me 8/8/2020 Bat sp. 1 9.08pm Common darters 5 - they were resting together on my neighbour's fence Holly blue 1 9/8/2020 No bats 11/8/2020 Holly blue 1 Small tortoiseshell 11/8/2020 Holly blues 2 Small tortoiseshell MOOR FARM Moor Farm, Woodhall Spa (LWT Reserve) TF 224 635 Ian Dunn 15.08.2020 Mammals Rabbits – 9 (1 black) Birds Magpies – 2 Carrion Crows – 4 (2 pairs) Starlings – large flock c. 50 birds working over the heath area near the entrance, separate flock of 9 in a dead tree further round. Mistle thrushes – 3 (they seem to like heathland – last time I saw some was at Linwood Warren in a similar environment) Woodpigeon – 5 plus large flock more distant Jay – 1 Great Tit – 1 Plenty of other tits flitting in the foliage of the oaks and silver birches, couldn’t 100% ID them though. Flora in flower Yarrow Mouse-ear Hawkweed Rosebay Willowherb Ragwort Devil’s bit scabious Tormentil Common Cotton Grass (small, sparse area) Common Centaury Of other interest Juniper Haircap moss – large, healthy looking area Woodland Germander (coming through but not yet in flower) Butterflies Meadow Browns – 3 Gatekeeper - 2 SUDBROOKE TF035 758 Ian Dunn 10-16.08.20 Quiet week here in Sudbrooke with most of the garden birds now finding richer pickings elsewhere - a time of plenty. Still being visited by great tits, blue tits and coal tits with the occasional robin, dunnock and pair of collard doves. Woodpigeons come to the garden every day. I've spent most of the week being led a merry dance by a persistent squirrel with twice my IQ, my efforts to keep him off the bird feeders only being matched by his determination to find new ways to access them. After one impressively spectacular leap that I went out and measured to be 7 feet, we have reached a compromise whereby he has access to his own feeder on a weekly 'when it's gone, it's gone' basis. I don't think he's honouring it whilst I am at work. Swallows are still down at the livery yard, along with a resident pair of stock doves and the ubiquitous wood pigeons. Have seen magpies down the paddocks and goldfinches and house sparrows in the hedgerows, but very little else. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 12th – 18th August 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: August was looking to be a dry month with only 0.1mm of rainfall recorded up to the 15th with dune vegetation looking parched, so the period of heavy rainfall during the night of the 15th and early morning of the 16th giving a total of 15.6mm near Sea View was much needed. 100820 – Sea View to Churchill Lane: 12 Willow warbler, 9 whitethroat, 2 lesser white- throat, 3 kestrel, 2 snipe, 1 teal, 8 swallow, 2 pied flycatcher, 1 yellow wagtail, 3 whimbrel, 4 sedge warbler, 1 grey heron, 56 curlew flying towards saltmarsh, 1 great skua. 110820 - Pied flycatcher at Sea View. Sea View to Churchill Lane: 1 Snipe, 3 green sand- piper, 2 sparrowhawk, 6 kestrel, 11 willow warbler, 1 female bullfinch. 120820 - Barred warbler near Sea View (OB, PR, JR and Phil Hyde). In scrub north of Sea View: whinchat, lesser whitethroat, 2 blackcaps and at least 6 common whitethroats. Two kingfishers on the Great Eau, flock of 44 curlew flying east over dunes towards Outer Haven roosting area. 130820 - Paradise lagoon - of note single wood sandpiper, 3 common sandpipers and 1 common snipe. 1 wheatear on dunes near Rimac and 2 whimbrel flying over. 140820 - Hobby hunting over dunes near Rimac. 150820 - Morning seawatch from dunes south of Crook Bank: 150 Common scoter on sea, 31 gannet, 1 juvenile long-tailed skua, 3 arctic skua, 4 skua sp, 38 oystercatcher, 5 knot, 3 turnstone, 7 teal, 25 common tern, 19 kittiwake. Paradise lagoon: 1 ruff, 3 redshank, 1 common snipe, 3 lapwing, 2 moorhen and 3 teal. On the Eau:2 ruff, 1 common sandpiper plus hobby feeding over area. A juvenile cuckoo was seen near Sea View being fed by a dunnock. 160820 - Garden warbler at Sea View. Tawny and little owls in the Churchill Lane area. 170820 - In scrub near Sea View: 3 blackcaps, 3 lesser whitethroats and a single whitethroat. Humming-bird hawk moth and painted lady at Sea View. Sea View to Rimac: 2 Pied flycatcher, 2 whinchat, 2 green sandpiper flew off Rimac fresh- water marsh, 3 willow warbler, 1 sparrowhawk, 3 kestrel, 8 whitethroat, 1 blackcap. Butterflies in the Churchill Lane area: small copper, small and Essex skipper, common blue, holly blue, peacock, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, wall, gatekeeper, meadow brown, speckled wood, large and small white, painted lady, comma. 2 sparrowhawks, 2 great spotted woodpeckers, 4 bullfinch, several willow warblers and chiffchaffs in Churchill lane area. On foreshore at sunrise c4500 black headed gulls, 74 ringed plover, 22 cormorant, 177 curlew, also dunlin, knot, redshank and oystercatchers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Wednesdays/Thursdays 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/ *** 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: John.Badley - soft bounce - "poor reputation sender" ....and finally... NI jellyfish warning as Lion's Manes wash up on Cloughey coastline https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53823153 Tree ferns are older than dinosaurs. And that's not even the most interesting thing about them https://theconversation.com/tree-ferns-are-older-than-dinosaurs-and-thats-not-even-the-most-interesting-thing-about-them-138435 Rare large blue butterfly reintroduction project a success https://www.countryfile.com/news/gloucestershire-sees-the-return-of-britains-rarest-butterfly/ Golden eagles breeding success at Scottish Highlands estate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53755630 Scottish forest identified for lynx reintroduction https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-53801923 Scotland records highest number of whale and dolphin sightings in annual UK survey https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/scotland-records-highest-number-of-whale-and-dolphin-sightings-in-annual-uk-survey/ Supertrawlers ramp up activity in UK protected waters during lockdown https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/13/supertrawlers-ramp-up-activity-uk-protected-waters-during-lockdown Dolphin stampede wows whale watchers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-53760503/ A Honeybee’s Tongue Is More Swiss Army Knife Than Ladle https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/11/science/honeybees-drink-video.html Plagues of field mice decimating crops, say German farmers https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/13/plagues-of-field-mice-decimating-crops-say-german-farmers Country diary: even the dowdiest day-flying moths deserve a closer look https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/06/country-diary-even-the-dowdiest-day-flying-moths-deserve-a-closer-look Country diary: an endearing little scrap of life darts round the garden https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/08/country-diary-an-endearing-little-scrap-of-life-darts-round-the-garden Country diary: crickets in the bushes, staring eyes in the water https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/11/country-diary-crickets-in-the-bushes-staring-eyes-in-the-water Country diary: one feather does not describe a whole bird https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/12/country-diary-one-feather-does-not-describe-a-whole-bird ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/