============================================ || || 9th December 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 - new layout 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... *** A fantastic 71% of readers opened their Bulletins last week. Typically comparable organisations get about 48% opened. Thank you everyone! A pager record this week is almost a limerick. I've been trying to convert it without much success. Would anyone like to try to complete the task? "8 Bewick's Swans in fields south of Dowse Farm with 191 Whooper Swans, Holbeach St John's" Donna Nook viewing is closed for the rest of the seal pupping season. Seal pup news: 04/12/2020 - 2,114 pups, 1,166 cows and 568 bulls. See: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook-bookings Please keep your contributions coming and send in your reports via the Bulletin or to the appropriate LNU recorder[s] if you prefer: https://lnu.org/specialists/ [If unsure on this, see section 7. "Sending in Reports - contributors please read!"] To email me please use the recommended address: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Covid-19-related information: Please stay aware of updated government advice and adapt your personal precautions accordingly as the measures evolve. See: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Where are England's coronavirus hotspots among older people? Boston, Lincoln. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-55074293 Coronavirus: Boston care home outbreaks behind spike https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55189057 Coronavirus: Covid-19 vaccine: First Lincolnshire patients gets jab https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55235229 Weather Forecast 19th Dec - 2nd Jan: "...Outbreaks of rain and windy conditions are likely at times, particularly in the east and south, with wintry showers possible on high ground and maybe to lower levels at times. There is a possibility that conditions may become wetter and milder at the start of January. " https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ "All LNU meetings are cancelled" policy continues. When eventually judged safe, we will announce any plans for resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed and LNU meetings webpages. https://lnu.org/meetings/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Events/activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants RSPB: map for which reserves and facilities you can access. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Forestry England’s coronavirus guidance: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Please let us know of any local Covid-related changes readers might need to hear about. Wildlife organisations wishing me to publicise any alterations or new guidelines are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. Here is a selection of informative and we hope entertaining links from topical local to national and international news stories and articles sent in by fellow- readers. There should be something to interest you. More links in "...and finally..." Thank you for your reports, stories, news, links and feedback. Your input makes a massive difference to the variety and value of the content. Starling murmuration RSPB https://youtu.be/JynRvX0yeiw Bird flu: All captive birds in Britain to be kept indoors amid outbreak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55201167 Protected River Lugg was 'bulldozed' - Herefordshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-55193809 Thunder Snow - what is it? Watch. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/55194018 Lincolnshire caravan season extension plans cancelled https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55174293 Humber Bridge scraps coins for cashless tolling https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-55171317 Grimsby tip waste transformed into Christmas wonderland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-55158080 Norfolk coastal erosion: Winterton beach cafe demolished https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-55202184 Here are the impressive winning images of the British Ecological Society competition https://www.zmescience.com/science/british-ecologicalphotoraphy/ Asteroid capsule located in Australian desert https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55201662 The Food Chain - Why the whale hunt continues - BBC Sounds The real reasons some countries swim against the tide of international opinion... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3cszjqw Small waters 'can help address biodiversity crisis' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55150482 Wildflower meadows to line England's new roads in boost for biodiversity https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/01/wildflower-meadows-to-line-all-major-new-uk-roads-in-boost-for-biodiversity-aoe Scientists compile the world's largest inventory of known plant species https://www.zmescience.com/science/scientists-compile-the-worlds-largest-inventory-of-known-plant-species/ Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors made Dark Sky Reserves https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-55218589 Can you help us find some more readers, please? Try the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. You can also direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Tip: If possible avoid forwarding on your individual Bulletin to others. Best to use the secure "Forward to a Friend" link at the end of each issue, please. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Grimsby and Cleethorpes area group LWT cancellation *** Carolyn Davis writes: Due to the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic the Grimsby & Cleethorpes Area group LWT have taken the decision to cancel the rest of their indoor and outdoor meetings up to and including April 2021. *** Heads Up for Big Garden Birdwatch 2021 Friday 29 and Sunday 31 January *** Your reminder may already be winging its way to you. "You can participate in the Birdwatch anytime between Friday 29 and Sunday 31 January. Simply spend an hour counting the birds in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park. Then tell us what you saw. " https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/ *** BTO On-line Conference *** Nick Tribe writes: The British Trust for Ornithology is hosting its annual conference talks online this week and the talks are available on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BTOvideo If you enjoy the videos, please make sure that you send BTO a donation if you can, because their income has been hit hard this year. https://www.bto.org/how-you-can-help/donate *** Second RSPB Zoom Talk *** "Return of the Red Kite" - A Zoom talk by Keith Betton Martin Francis writes: 'Following the success of our first Zoom talk about Minsmere, the RSPB Grimsby Local Group has arranged another talk which will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 14th December. The talk is open to everybody. You don't need to belong to the RSPB, or have attended Group Meetings. And don't be put off by Zoom. It is easy to use, you don't need any special equipment like a camera or microphone - just an internet connection, and we may able to offer help if you request it. To find out the arrangements for getting a link to the talk, please email Martin Francis at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com before 8pm on Friday 11th December Martin Francis Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group' STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 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 - sign up if at risk. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx Lyme Disease https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ *** December 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 Heads up for the Geminid meteors: 4-17 December, peak 13-14 December. https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/geminid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk See the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, 21 December 2020 - skies permitting. "Historically speaking, this is more than just a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/great-conjunction-jupiter-saturn/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 1/12 Possible Black Kite near Rookery Farm, Great Hale SSW of Heckington Hen Harrier male, Short-eared Owl, Scaup on Jackson's Marsh, 2 Tundra 3 Short-eared Owls over fields SW of Baston Fen Smew redhead, north scrape, 2 Pale Bellied Brent Geese, Frampton Marsh Bean Geese in off sea, 5 Snow Buntings, Pomarine Skua flew south, Velvet Scoter, Gibraltar Point 2 Russian White-fronted Geese one ad, in field on T-junction pit, Baston+Langtoft GPs Siberian Chiffchaff, north of River Glen, Baston Fen Iceland Gull, as at river mouth at low tide, Saltfleet 3 Pomarine Skuas flew south past Sutton-on-Sea 18 Snow Buntings south of Brickyard Lane, Theddlethorpe Pomarine Skua south past, Velvet Scoter, Great Northerm Diver, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe, Snow Bunting, Velvet Scoter past, Huttoft Bank Great White Egret between North Thoresdby and North Cotes 6 Snow Buntings on outer beach, Cleethorpes 2 Scaup both fem, Cress Marsh, Stallingborough 2/12 2 Short-eared Owls, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, Great White Egret flew SW, Baston Fen Glossy Ibis, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, at Middlemarsh Wetlands, west of Skegness Snow Bunting flew over Wainfleet All Saints 18 Snow Buntings east of Crook Bank, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Possible Black Kite near Rookery Farm, Great Hale SSW of Heckington now identified as a Red Kite Red-necked Grebe, by yacht club, Toft Newton reservoir Spoonbill, Great White Egret, Woodhall Spa Airfield 3/12 Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Freiston Shore Twite, Tetney Marshes Firecrest in garden, North Somercotes 2 Great White Egrets, Fiskerton Fen 2 Turnstones, Red-necked Grebe, Covernham reservoir 8 Bewick's Swans in fields south of Dowse Farm with 191 Whooper Swans, Holbeach St John's 4/12 4 Swallows along Humber Bank near Immingham Red-necked Grebe near car park, Covenham Reservoir 5/12 Great White Egret flew south over Thurlby Fen Short-eared Owl over fields south of Baston Fen 3 Common Cranes flew over Deeping High Bank, 2 Short-eared Owls, Deeping High Bank, 1 near Crowland Bridge, 1 near Gull Farm, Deeping St Nicholas 14 Slavonian Grebes, 3 Great Northern Divers, Cut End, River Witham Mouth, 5 mls SE of Boston Great Northern Diver flew south past, 2 Lapland Buntings over Old Saltmarsh, Great White Egret, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 2 Great Northern Divers at River Witham mouth at Tabb's Head, Scaup drk, Frampton Marsh 4 Black-throated Divers flew past, 17 Great Northern Divers, 9 Slavonian Grebes, 8 Long-tailed ducks, Freiston Shore Black-throated Diver, Rimac Dusky Warbler in due course along realignment, Pomarine Skua offshore, Donna Nook Great White Egret, Denton reservoir Red-necked Grebe near car park, Hen Harrier over fields, Covenham reservoir Waxwing at Vicarage Gardens, Grimsby Caspian Gull 1w, 33 Snow Buntings, 29 Scaup, Great Northern Diver flew west, Goxhill Haven 6/12 Short-eared Owl north of river Glen, Baston Fen 3 Long-eared Owls at main lake from track to hide, Deeping Lakes, SE of Deeping St James 3 Scaup, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton March Lapland Bunting flew north over, White-fronted Goose flew north, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 4 Snow Buntings, Mablethorpe 4+ Snow Buntings, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Great White Egret east of South Marsh Road on marsh, Stallingborough 2 Scaup, both fem/juv drk, on Winter's Pond, East Halton Skitter Great White Egret, Idle Bank Road, Wroot 7/12 24 Bewick's Swans + 88 Whooper Swans, Holbeach St John's Lapland Bunting, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 12 Snow Buntings on central beach, Mablethorpe 8/12 2 Long-eared Owls at main lake from track to hide, Deeping Lakes, SE of Deeping St James Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret by Main Drain at Trusthorpe then flew north Red-necked Grebe near car park, Covenham reservoir Great White Egret, Denton reservoir ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions at the Queen in the West pub! http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml Useful Hedgehog Links https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ 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 BTO tracked cuckoos: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. Chris Manning writess: It would be helpful if readers would continue to report otter road kills and sightings to help build up relevant data. Carcases may be sent to: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/otter-project [Alas our local EA team no longer support the project by paying for transport.] Chris Manning sent in: Potential Bovine TB Hotspot Area - Lincolnshire Wolds "If you find a dead badger or wild deer carcase within the PHA, please report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency [APHA] via the Defra Rural Services Helpline 03000 200301. They will need the following details: 1. The location of the carcase to assess whether it falls within the PHA and in order to find it, if it’s suitable for collection. This could be an OS grid reference, longitude-latitude co-ordinates, the what3words address (tapping on the exact square where the carcase is located), a postcode or enough detail to precisely locate the carcase 2. Whenever possible an assessment of the condition of the carcase because decomposing or extensively damaged carcases are not suitable for post mortem examination." *** 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 9/12/2020 During the Co-19 epidemic we have had more time than usual to observe the birds visiting our garden feeding station. You may recall we have had a regular jackdaw which seemed to have difficulty walking and socialising. I think it may have been the last of the clutch with disadvantaged start in life. It overcame its fear of humans and had made the most of the food we put out. In poor taste we named it Corvid-99! It was ignored or persecuted by other local jackdaws. Eventually it found a friend with only one leg [Hoppy] who was also coping with a major setback. The two of them formed a strong bond and were later joined by a third jackdaw which remained nameless due to lack of any distinguishing features! Hoppy and Corvid-99 are still about, but are now very self sufficient and it is pleasing to see that their adaptability and team-spirit has won through. I wonder if they will make it through the winter. More recently we have been "adopted" by a single Carrion Crow with a "slipped oar". One wing is clearly faulty in some way. It can still fly but the problem is sufficiently serious for it to befriend us, albeit a bit shyly. It watches us through our windows and is very jumpy if we go outside. I think it had observed the local Black-headed Gulls raiding the garden, was able to scrump what they left behind and realised it was worth sticking around. Safety in numbers is a useful survival strategy. We see it in garden flocks, with House Sparrows [c25] and Starlings [c40] and the Gulls [c25]. Driving home from near Boston yesterday there were several large Fieldfare flocks [in the 100s] on the move, and on a recent trip to Lincoln I noted good-sized flocks of Lapwing in several locations. I find the problem with birding whilst driving is remembering exactly where you saw things, and that applies to road kills and botanising by car as well. Nevertheless - if you manage to see and remember any wildlife of interest, please send it in. Do it safely, please! HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 3/12/2020 Pheasants 2 - males, roosting overnight 5/12/2020 Great spotted woodpecker 1 7/12/2020 Collared dove 1 Long tailed tits 2 Magpie 1 8/12/2020 Wren 1 - lovely to watch it climbing a birch 9/12/2020 Tawny owl 1 - heard 6.40am MARTON Marton Brian Hedley SK842820 08.12.2020 Water Shrew Found dead alongside grass track. My second record of this species at this locality over the years which is surprising given the lack of suitable habitat. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 09.12.20 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 7 Great Tit x 2 Jackdaw x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 8 Robin x 1 Tree Creeper x 2 Wood Pigeon x 2 Wren x 1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 27.11.20 Pink-footed Goose x 250 south over 28.11.20 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 35 Fieldfare x 39 Goldfinch x 2 Lesser Redpoll x 21 Pink-footed Goose x 250 south over Redwing x 12 Tree Sparrow x 29 29.11.20 Little Owl x 2 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 25 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 35 Dunnock x 1 Fieldfare x 35 Goldfinch x 6 Lesser Redpoll x 39 Magpie x 2 Redwing x 28 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Tree Sparrow x 41 Wood Pigeon x 4 01.12.20 Barn Owl x 1, Little Owl x 1 & Tawny Owl x 1 all calling at same time 18:00hrs 03.12.20 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 21 Chaffinch x 2 Cormorant x 6 north over Great Tit x 2 Fieldfare x 31 Robin x 1 06.12.20 Blackbird x 6 Black-headed Gull x 200+ over Blue Tit x 1 Chaffinch x 29 Cormorant x 7 over Fieldfare x 200+ Great Tit x 2 Peregrine Falcon x 1 female Redwing x 120 Robin x 1 Starling x 500+ murmuration, then landing very noisily on pylon south of Thurnholmes Tree Sparrow x 34 Stoat x 1 SK795975 07.12.20 Barn Owl x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:50hrs 08.12.20 Tawny Owl x 2 calling 23:00hrs 09.12.20 Blackbird x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Cormorant x 9 on pylons south of Thurnholmes Fieldfare x 51 Heron x 1 SK805998 Mute Swan x 6 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Redwing x 29 Rook x 29 Sparrowhawk x 1 female Starling x 120 Tree Sparrow x 42 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. COASTAL NNRs and Nature Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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. 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 2nd – 8th December 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 041220 - On the saltmarsh: 4 short-eared owls, 27 little egrets, 1 marsh harrier. On Paradise lagoon: long-tailed duck, 2 goldeneye, 29 shoveler, 4 mallard, 7 tufted duck, 97 teal. 2 little grebes on the Eau. A minimum of 450 lapwing over Elm House area. 1 female goldeneye on River Eau. At Sea View: 8 little egret, 3 mistle thrush, 2 goldcrest, 2 siskin, 1 stonechat. 051220 - Sunny afternoon brought out several flies and a peacock butterfly basking on a wall at Churchill Lane. 061220 - Kingfisher along Eau. 14 tufted duck and single goldeneye on Paradise lagoon, 2 grey and 1 brown hen harriers over saltmarsh and a green woodpecker flew in from over the saltmarsh over the dunes to trees near Sea View late afternoon. In the Churchill Lane area: 2 tawny owls calling and 1 hunting at dusk, 4 woodcocks seen and 3 water rails heard. 1 Lapland bunting over and a total of 21 reed buntings along foreshore scrub. Between Mablethorpe North end and Brickyard Lane: C200 common scoter, 20 red-throated diver, 5 snow bunting, 60 redwing, 50 blackbird. 071220 - No sign of long-tailed duck on Paradise lagoon, first seen on 21st October. At Sea View: 1 merlin, 1 stonechat, 2 Lapland bunting flew west. Donna Nook 041220 – Seal count: Total number of pups so far: 2114. 568 bulls and 1166 cows still present Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have taken the decision to keep the seal viewing area at Donna Nook closed for the rest of the seal pupping season due to Lincolnshire being placed into Tier 3 of coronavirus lockdown conditions. To help stop the spread of the virus and to keep our staff, volunteers, the local community and the seals safe, we will be keeping the seal viewing area closed. We would ask everyone to follow the Government guidelines and not to visit Donna Nook: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook-bookings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 advice: 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. 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 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 Recorders and improve the quality and quantity of reports 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! 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.] Bulletin 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ 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 *** Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed - active... https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants LLP Project Partners and related links: Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society Dr Anke Timmermann FLS discusses Joseph Banks’ florilegium https://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/lifesciences/ *** 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/ *** 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 https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/BC%20Policy%20on%20collecting%2C%20breeding%20and%20photography%202018.pdf *** 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: Lincolnshire Police Advice on Hare Coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ 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. Useful identification links: Butterfly guide to part of Europe including Britain - free to download https://assets.vlinderstichting.nl/docs/0b095bc2-0387-4785-9f7e-5f7a987b3468.pdf Fungi Families/Types Identity Parade https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/ British wasp guide: how to identify common species https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/insects-invertebrates/british-wasp-guide-how-to-identify-common-species-lifecycle-and-why-wasps-sting-in-autumn/ NatureSpot on Ladybirds https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19357 Naturespot on Spiders https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19515 Naturespot on Beetles https://www.naturespot.org.uk/beetles Identifying British bugs - an online identification guide https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ 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 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. *** 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 *** 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ [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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important message for LNU members *** Précis of Nick Tribe's announcement on future events - full text in 7th Oct Bulletin. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletin2020oct07.txt As the Covid 19 risk remains high the Executive has taken the decision to cancel the first two meetings and (hopefully) postpone the AGM to July/August/September 2021. i.e. January 16th joint talk with Lincolnshire Bird Club February 27th Recorders’ meeting March 27th AGM The Executive will explore dates in the summer for the AGM. ...If a delayed AGM is not possible, the Executive is happy to remain in post until March 2022. We have considered alternatives such as an online AGM, but none appear to be workable. We hope to publish a summary of the accounts in the Spring 2021 Communiqué and should be able to update members on the delayed AGM at that time. Any queries about the accounts can be sent to Chris Manning. The Executive continues to be active via email and telephone and is monitoring the situation with an eye on the 2021 field meeting programme. As with the AGM, the Union may be able to run some field meetings in 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Chadd or Nick Tribe." LNU Officers & Executive https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ Richard Davidson says of the Whisby Workshops: "All are cancelled for this year. I am hoping to run them this time next year if at all possible, but that depends on whether something approaching normal life has returned by then." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** None. ....and finally... Readers have a wide range of interests which I try to reflect in the news and information given in the Bulletin. Please help with suggestions for future links. First rare earth plant in UK proposed for Hull https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-55223571 Climate change: Snowy UK winters could become thing of the past https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55179603 Climate change: 2020 set to be one of the three warmest years on record https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55150910 Humans waging 'suicidal war' on nature - UN chief Antonio Guterres https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55147647' Ditch high definition and new tech to fight climate change' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-55164410 Why scientists are on the tail of rare angel shark https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-55201228 Birds on the move - The RSPB Community https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/natureshomemagazine/posts/birds-on-the-move China's Chang'e-5 Moon mission returns colour pictures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55160768 China's Chang'e-5 mission leaves Moon's surface https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55179983 "Best Antarctic Animal Moments | Top 5 | BBC Earth" on YouTube - watch https://youtu.be/LBbWVw1kp5Q Amazon rainforest rock art depicts giant Ice Age creatures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-55172063 Country diary: a gorse seed weevil has a surprise in store https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/02/country-diary-a-gorse-seed-weevil-has-a-surprise-in-store Country diary: the shy side of our cheeky sparrows https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/01/country-diary-the-shy-side-of-our-cheeky-sparrows Country diary: these confident corvids live life on the edge https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/04/country-diary-these-confident-corvids-live-life-on-the-edge 'Ballooning' spiders take flight on Earth's electric fields https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/dec/05/ballooning-spiders-take-flight-earth-electric-fields Country diary: trolling for butterflies under a bridge https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/07/country-diary-trolling-for-butterflies-under-a-bridge Country diary: the jackdaws lengthen ‘jack’ calls in excitement or anxiety https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/09/country-diary-the-jackdaws-lengthen-jack-calls-in-excitement-or-anxiety ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/