============================================= || || 26th 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... *** We were pleased to see our first Painted Lady of the year at Kirkby Moor on 22nd at about 10am. The heather was looking wonderful. We spotted a colony of "Trooping Crumble Cap" in the car park. LWT Car Parks are still "closed for Moor Farm, Kirkby Moor and Kirkby Gravel Pits." Check before going. I am sorry about the unplanned switch of fonts in the last Bulletin. I must have spoiled that on final editing - it had looked fine when I checked it earlier. I hope you still found our reports, articles and topical news links of interest. If you read the Bulletin on a tablet or laptop you might find it useful to try the option given at the top. There you will find a link that says: "Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser." Click on it. See how you get on. I am, ashamed to say I have never noticed "Earth Overshoot Day". Have you? Earth Overshoot Day: When consumption outstrips the planet's eco resources https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53861858 Weather forecasts suggests "Autumnal" changeable conditions this week with showers or longer spells of rain. Check current Met Office Warnings: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings 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. Covid-19-related information: "All LNU meetings are cancelled." continues. When judged safe to do so, 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 which LWT reserves are open and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus RSPB Returning to reserves: Not all reserves are open. Please see the list below for more information. 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 stories and articles sent in by fellow readers. More cracking links at the end of the Bulletin in ...and finally... Don't forget to scroll down. Woodland Trust competition to find England's top trees - see Grantham Oak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53901298 Moth Night reminder: 2020 - 27th-29th August: https://www.mothnight.info/themes/ Taking part - Moth Night https://www.mothnight.info/taking-part/ How close are we to a vaccine for Covid-19? Well worth a listen. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000m0gg Funnel cloud spotted over Lincolnshire recorded by teenager https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-53822696/ Tesco blackmail plot: Nigel Wright contaminated baby food https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53849726 Stripes and checked patterns repel horseflies https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8639491/ Boy, 6, saves rare albino hedgehog found in Otley https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-53880061 Fears the badger cull will be expanded and vaccinated badgers will be shot https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/fears-badger-cull-will-be-expanded-and-vaccinated-badgers-will-be-shot-despite-government Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust calls for potential badger cull to be stopped https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/news/lincolnshire-wildlife-trust-calls-potential-badger-cull-be-stopped Immingham gas-fired power station approved by government https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-53822147 Plastics toxic for seabirds https://theecologist.org/2020/aug/19/plastics-toxic-seabirds Mummified' plants give glimpse of Earth's future https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53842626 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. *** Humber Nature Forum *** Jackson Sage writes: Humber Nature Forum - Thursday 17 September 10 am -12 noon. Join us for a talk on Marine Mammals in and around the Humber Estuary, with presentations from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and British Divers Marine Life Rescue. Please follow the link to register. http://humbernature.co.uk/news/post.php?s=2020-08-20-humber-nature-forum-marine-mammals-in-and-around-the-humber-estuary *** Ghost Thistles *** Jonathan Bye writes: For several years I had noticed that some of the Creeping thistle (Circium arvense) in my garden appeared as if stunted and bleached, yet I knew that spray drift was an unlikely cause. I’ve finally tracked down the reason with the help of an online backnumber of the Llanelli Naturalists newsletter. It seems that this strange condition is often caused by a bacterium: Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis (PST), which inhibits the production of chlorophyll. PST affects other plants but its first UK record on Creeping thistle was in Kent by Dr John Fletcher in 2002. A year later it was noted on Creeping thistle in Canada, where the plant is an invasive alien of arable and has become known, rather unimag- inatively, as “White-colour disease in thistles”. PST was patented in Canada as a potential herbicide but wasn’t effective as the thistle reproduces more by root than seed. This bacterium seems to be spreading and may be bad news for Creeping thistle but is another tick for my home patch and perhaps yours too. Photo on: https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist *** 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 *** 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.] 19/8 Short-eared Owl, Anchor Lane, Ingoldmells 3 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Gull-billed Tern, Greenshank Creek from Mill Hill, 9 Pied Flycatchers one caught and ringed at East Dunes, Black Tern, Curlew Sandpiper flew south, Osprey flew east, Gibraltar Point Black-necked Grebe juv, T-junction pit, Baston + Langtoft pits 23 Spoonbills, 2 Wood Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, Temminck's Stint, 25 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret flew south over Boultham Mere, Lincoln Garganey, Great White Egret WhisbyNR 20/8 Osprey flew south over Greenshank Creek, Gibraltar Point 19 Spoonbills, 11 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, Temminck's Stint, 20 Spotted Redshanks, Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, Black Tern juv, Freiston Shore 5 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Barred Warbler trapped and ringed, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper, Alkborough Flats 21/8 13 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Long-tailed Skua juv south past, Gibraltar Point Possible Elenora's Falcon flew past Chapel St Leonards - tho distant 22/8 Osprey juv flew south along A15, Barton-upon-Humber 7 Spoonbills, Blue-headed Wagtail male, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Little Stint, 3 Wood Sandpipers, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Short-eared Owl, 2 Black Terns, Gibraltar Point Temminck's Stint, 4 Little Stints, 10 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Osprey over, Frampton Marsh 2 Wood Sandpipers, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness [Late report] 23/8 Osprey, Killingholme Pits 7 Spoonbills, Spotted Redshank, Short-eared Owl, 5 Pied Flycatchers, Southern Migrant Hawker dragonfly at south end, Gibraltar Point 29 Spoonbills, Temminck's Stint, Little Stint, 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 4 Little Stints, 11 Spotted Redshanks, Whinchat, Hen Harrier flew south over River Witham, Osprey flew east over River Witham, Frampton Marsh Red-breasted Flycatcher, 2 Curlews, 5 Whinchats, Freiston Shore 5 Curlew Sandpipers - 4 juvs - Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Spotted Redshank at realignment, Donna Nook Spoonbill, East Halton Skitter, then flew north over Humber Curlew Sandpiper, juv Arctic Tern, 14 Whinchats, East Halton Skitter 6 Spoonbills, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats Caspian Gull, Trent Port Wetlands., WSW of Marton 24/8 Black-necked Grebe, juv T-junction pit, Baston + Langtoft pits 27 Spoonbills, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Wood Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Little Stint, Temminck's Stint, Turtle Dove, 2 Whinchats, Frampton Marsh Cattle Egret, 10 Whinchats, Freiston Shore 7 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Great White Egret, 2 Short-eared Owls, 4 Pied Flycatchers, Pied Flycatcher trapped and ringed, 4 Whinchats, Gibraltar Point Spotted Redshank juv, Covenham reservoir 25/8 12 Spoonbills - 8 Tennyson's Sands, 4 Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point Black Tern ad, Arctic tern ad, Boultham Mere 3 Arctic Terns, 2 ads + juv, East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Probable Long-tailed Skua past, 2 Spotted Redshanks on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 26/8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 BTO tracked cuckoos: Valentine has moved to northern Nigeria. PJ has reached NW Niger. Carlton is 40 km (25 miles) east of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Identifying British bugs - an online identification guidehttps://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html How to identify non-native summer flowers - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-non-native-summer-flowers/ 3D app brings UK bumblebees to life on your phone https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/3d-app-brings-uk-bumblebees-to-life-on-your-phone/ ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Reports welcome. Roadkill Ian Dunn 17.08.20 Small hedgehog, West Drive, Sudbrooke *** 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 Correction to earlier report of 19th August 2020: NOT Rough Hawk’s-Beard (Crepis biennis) but Sonchus arvensis - Perennial Sow-thistle. Paul Kirby says: "Locally frequent along road edges at this time of year." 23/8 TF115665 Marsh Harrier fem hunting near Bardney Sugar Factory 10am approx. BARDNEY Bardney Garden Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter Robin singing most mornings Juvenile blackbird calling and being fed on lawn all week until Monday 23rd when it appeared to be injured with no parent in sight. Later we heard it “screaming” and blackbird warning calls. We haven’t seen it since. Butterfly numbers seem much reduced, with one or two red admirals most days, 3-4 small tortoiseshells, x1 holly blue, x1 female brimstone, and various whites, mostly large whites. Still plenty of “Mint” moths Pyrausta aurata around. 20th August 2020 Slowly and carefully cutting back a large gorse. Despite checking for invertebrates, in excess of x40 7 spot ladybirds crawled out of just one large branch cut back. Made us wonder how many there were altogether. X2 22 spot ladybirds. One on nasturtiums, one on gorse. 22nd August 2020 X1 Emerald damselfly found in conservatory. Green (speckled) bush cricket rescued from inside the house, high up the wall, under a “daddy Long legs” (Pholcus phalangioides) web. On same day, I was driving down the A15 and felt something crawling up my arm – it was a large, mature female dark bush cricket. I have no idea if it was a passenger from home or somehow got in the open car window. Released near Grantham! Bardney Causeway road B1190 Little Egret strolling around a newly cut field. FISKERTON Fiskerton Fen Grid ref TF 083 718 Phil and Mary Porter 18th August 2020 A windy day. Large amounts of rubbish cleared from, mostly, the Car Park. Majority KFC and MacDonalds packaging. One nest of swallows still active in the hide X2 Grey herons on lake X3 Gadwall X1 Common blue butterfly Sloes in abundance Fleabane, purple loosestrife, and angelica still out GOLTHO Goltho – Great West Wood to Goltho Grange TF 121 376 Ian Dunn 23.08.2020 Birds Carrion crow – 4 Grey partridge – 6 Pheasant – 1 Song thrush – 1 Woodpigeons - 5 In flower Birds-foot trefoil Bristly oxtongue Common chicory Common fleabane Corn poppy Dandelion Mayweed – (not sure if scented or scentless, will know next time) Ragwort Rosebay Willowherb Speedwell (not sure which variety) In fruit Blackthorn Burdock Gelder rose Hawthorn Hazel – plenty of empty hazel nut shells beneath the bushes with holes nibbled by mice or voles Insects Green-veined whites – 3 Large whites – 12 Meadow brown - 1 Small tortoiseshell – 2 (both very small, small tortoiseshells!) Small whites – 3 Speckled wood - 1 Also saw some nice examples of Bedeguar gall (Robins pincushion) One small dog rose had 4 on it, the neighbouring bush had another 2. Other interest this week Solitary bees nest at the livery yard above the tack room doorway HORKSTOW SE 987179 Jenny Haynes 20 August 2020 We’ve had a daytime flying moth in the garden a couple of times which resembles a Hummingbird Hawkmoth by hovering over flowers but doesn’t look the same. Its fore wings are brownish with three cream coloured ovals and the hind wings are paler. The only identification we can find is one called Gold Spot. Does this sound reasonable? HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 12/8/2020 Bat sp. 1 9.05pm Tawny owl 1 - heard 1.00am 18/8/2020 Bat sp. 1 or 2 8.45pm Common darters 2 - looked like they were having fun in the breeze Red-legged shield bug 1 22/8/2020 Small tortoiseshell 1 Speckled wood 1 24/8/2020 Southern hawker 1 - ovipositing on logs or moss on stones around pond KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK 847757 22/08/2020 Alison Brownlow Alder leaf beetles Viburnum Leaf beetles Birch Sawfly larvae 45Hz bats x2 flying at 9.00pm Hedgehog KIRTON MARSH 20/08/2020 Roy and Kathleen Pearson A mile walk this morning along the sea bank on Kirton Marsh. Several pools by the bank had been flooded by the tide, but apart from large flocks of gulls and two Curlews, no waders were around, probably being by the sea, which on a now very low tide was out of sight. Along the sea bank were large numbers of Goldfinches, feeding on thistles. Ten Little Egrets, together with a single Grey Heron, were on the outfall areas near a pumping station. An area of marsh that hadn’t been available to cows was being hunted by several raptors, with prey available in the long grass. Three Buzzards from a nearby copse were flying around, with one of them breaking off to hunt here, alongside a pair of Kestrels. The best sighting was of a female Marsh Harrier whose hunting proved successful. A huge hedge that runs along beside the sea bank had a large crop of berries. This is a superb place to see large flocks of Fieldfares in late autumn. RIMAC Some brief sightings for Rimac 22/08/2020 Martin Warne 8 Kestrel hunting together along saltmarsh. 2 Curlew 3 Wall Brown 4 Small Heath 3 Small Copper 1 poss immature Natterjack 4 Ruddy Darter SALTFLEETBY NNR (Rimac) Steve Hiner Common Tern x 7 Cormorant x 6 Great Black-backed Gull x 5 Herring Gull x 15 Kestrel x 6 Little Tern x 2 23/08/20 Green-veined White x 2 Peacock x 1 Red Admiral x 3 feeding on windfall plums Small Tortoiseshell 4 Flounced Rustic x 2 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character x 6 Migrant Hawker x 1 24/08/20 Barn Owl x 1 calling 01:00hrs Blackbird x 3 Blue Tit x 1 Chaffinch x 4 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 25 flock with lots of young birds Greenfinch x 1 Grey Partridge x 4 Hobby x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain  Moorhen x 1 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 11 Tree Sparrow x 15 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 5 SOUTHREY Southrey Wood Grid ref TF 132 682 Phil and Mary Porter 20th August 2020 Two buzzards calling. One sounded young. Blackberries ripening but small. Honeysuckle berries, sloes, hawthorn and acorns in abundance Southrey Wood Grid ref TF132 682 Phil and Mary Porter 23rd August 2020 Several nuthatches mobile high up in the trees, calling. Sounded like a family party. Long tailed tits also in trees Muntjac wandering around badger sett site. Too far away to get detail. SUTTON ON SEA LN12 2HU Sutton On Sea Lianne Havell 24.8.2020 Xylocope bee - black with blue wings Hornet mimic hoverfly x2 Large Tortoiseshell butterfly x2 - reported to recorder Small Tortoiseshell - 10 Red Admiral -5 White(s) - many THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 13/08/20 SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve East Lound Collared Dove x 4 Common Buzzard x 2 Robin x 1 Willow warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Meadow Brown x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Roesel's Bush Cricket x 2 15/08/20 Great Diving Beetle x 1 female (Sam Hiner) 16/08/20 Blackbird x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Goldfinch x 9 Swallow x 12 Tree Sparrow x 32 Wren x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 1 flying around stables 02:00hrs (detector at 45hz) Green-veined White x 1 Red Admiral x 2 Small White x 2 Silver Y x 1 Willow Beauty x 1 Roesel's Bush Cricket x 1 in conservatory 17/08/20 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Red-legged Partridge x 1 young one sat on front room windowsill looking into house when I opened curtains 19/08/20 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 12 Goldfinch x 17 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Grey Partridge x 2 Tree Sparrow x 21 Willow Warbler x 1 singing (possibly young male) Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellow Wagtail x 2 young ones on house roof Common Shrew x 1 Small White x 2 Silver Y x 1 20/08/20 Orange Swift x 1 (Sam Hiner) SEDGE HOLE CLOSE Steve Hiner Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Common Buzzard x 2adults, 2 young Linnet x 6 Robin x 1 Whitethroat 2 Wood Pigeon x 4 Green-veined White x 4 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 2 Small White x 2 Common Darter x 1 Migrant Hawker x 1 22/08/20 Setaceous Hebrew Character x 2 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK 92/24 Jane Ostler 19th August 2020 FRUIT TREES After a hot week and a drought followed by rain and thunderstorms a "John Downie" Crab Apple in garden shed most of its heavy load of fruit. Interested to see if the tree had been developed from Malus sylvestris (Wild Crab Apple) or Malus pumilla (the domestic apple) I found its leaves and calyx entirely hairless and spines on its branches indicating the possibility of the former. A species lists for the Disused Railway line (now the Nature Trail) inclludes Malus sylvestris . There are more than a dozen fruiting apples all of which I have checked and am certain none are Malus sylvestris. They have grown from seed originating in apple cores thrown down . They have fruit with a great variety of colours, textures, shape , size and flavours. This is because their seeds arise from cross-pollination. This is how some of our favourite apples like Bramleys developed. It is not surprising that when I have taken some samples to Woolsthorpe Manor on Apple Day they have puzzled the experts. In the 1920s an apple and a plum tree was planted in each estate garden some still remain including one in Chapel House garden which bears mistletoe. None of the trees were Newton's Apple, Flowers of Kent described as a "tasteless cooker". The pear trees growing along the line are also all domestic. The wild pear  Pyrus pyrastri is easy to distinguish by its hard, brown, almost round fruits. Eric Simms discovered this on the Lincs Trust RNR at South Witham, where its species was confirmed by Irene Weston. Earlier in the 1970s Guy Messenger , the Rutland Botanical recorder confirmed the identity of one I had found on the Rutland/Lincs border. It has now fallen sideways to be more in Lincs. As far as I know there is only one other confirmed record of this rare tree in South Lincs. Dewberry can be misleading early in the year due to the great variety of Blackberry plants. It grows locally and its fruits are distinctive and delicious. There are several of the native, white Cherry Plums, Prunus cerasifera but they seldom bear fruit. They do however hybridise with Blackthorn and the results are totally confusing, even in fruit. Elderberry Sambucus niger, is now ripening.  Once a good source of fruit for local people it is regarded by farmer, forester and gardener as a weed and must make do with any odd corner neglected by man. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of which LWT reserves are open and other 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 19th – 25th August 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont.   Daily news and wildlife sightings:   200820 - Whinchat perched in sea aster on saltmarsh and 3 short-eared owls hunting over the saltmarsh. 210820 - Whinchat and hobby near Sea View and a party of 11 swifts flying south, single avocet on Paradise lagoon. 220820 - On Paradise lagoon: 139 redshank, 3 greenshank, 1 avocet, 30 common gulls and 3 yellow wagtails. On the tide flooded saltmarsh: 4 ruff feeding amongst several hundred black-headed gulls. Theddlethorpe foreshore: 139 ringed plover, 186 curlew, c350 sandwich tern, 29 common tern, 9 turnstone.  230820 - Spotted flycatcher at Sea View, single swift over Paradise wood, wheatear nearby and 1 stonechat near Rimac. As the high tide covering the saltmarsh receded it attracted c800 black-headed gulls, 2 whimbrel heard and seen flying off towards the Haven Outfall. Butterfly numbers have markedly decreased except small white which have increasesto peak numbers with 20 on weekly transect. 240820 - Juvenile peregrine and a merlin on and over foreshore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission says: "We are open and ready to welcome you" https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide 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 LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ *** 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: ....and finally... The week in wildlife – in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2020/aug/21/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures BBC - Earth - The unexpected beauty of bugs http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150425-the-beautiful-bugs-of-earth-capture? BBC - Earth - Weird and wonderful photo quiz http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150320-weird-and-wonderful-photo-quiz? Sowerby's beaked whale washed up on Lowestoft beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-53875914 Bioluminescent plankton light up Cork beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53814226 Fish rescued after Union canal breached in storm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-53870930 Curious Kids: how do bees make honey? https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-how-do-bees-make-honey-143450 Bid to boost numbers of one of UK's rarest ants https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-53861750 Country diary: tiny toads star in their own fast-forward evolution movie https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/13/country-diary-tiny-toads-star-in-their-own-fast-forward-evolution-movie Country diary: the ravishing dishevelment of tall herbs https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/17/country-diary-the-ravishing-dishevelment-of-tall-herbs Country diary: dodder is such a pretty parasite https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/14/country-diary-dodder-is-such-a-pretty-parasite ‘Bored’ ravens straying from Tower of London as tourist numbers fall https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/20/bored-ravens-straying-tower-london-tourist-numbers-fall-legend-birds-monarchy Country diary: a brief history of one of our most beautiful grasses https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/19/country-diary-a-brief-history-of-one-of-our-most-beautiful-grasses ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/