============================================ || || 16th 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... *** Reminder to LNU members from Charlie Barnes: LNU Communiqué goes online. If you're a member of the LNU don't forget to sign up to the new online Communiqué to keep up-to-date on news and events. Visit https://groups.io/g/lnu-communique/join 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 As someone who has made the annual pilgrimage to Donna Nook over more than 30 years, I'd like to offer a word of appreciation and thanks to the staff and helpers who have coped with the sensitive and no doubt sometimes tricky task preventing potential visitors from gathering at the seal colony this year. I can't begin to imagine what must have been involved. But thank you, all. I hope to visit next year - something to look forward to. Thank you for your reports, stories, news, links and feedback. Your input makes a massive difference to the variety and value of the content. If you are reflecting on a New Year Resolution why not decide to send in a report in 2021 if you have not managed to get round to doing something this year? That's what we hope for. Please 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 Weather Forecast 20th - 29th Dec: "The greatest chance of showers is in the north and perhaps in the east.. strong winds are likely to be confined to the north and perhaps the east.. Prevalence of overnight fog and frost is likely increasing, with fog potentially slow to clear during the daytime. Temperatures either close to or slightly below normal." https://www.metoffice.gov.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 "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..." Hayabusa-2: Pieces of an asteroid found inside space capsule - Wow! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55315502 Blakeney Point little terns have best season in 26 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-55286518 Lundy: Remote island seeks new volunteer wardens - why not? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-55279469 Tawny owl: Stricken bird rescued from kitchen pipe - Spalding https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55246118 Covid-19: University of Lincoln party student fined £10,000 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55250218 Covid: Lincoln Prison outbreak linked to high levels of virus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55317293 Suspected gas explosion causes Lincolnshire house collapse - Bourne https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-55279445 Honeybees could fight back against Asian hornets, say scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55255290 46 bizarre and downright funny signs spotted by Derbyshire photographers. https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/gallery/46-bizarre-downright-funny-signs-4758447 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. *** Limerick competition: from last week *** 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" Offerings so far are: Eight Bewick's and one-nine-one Whooper Looked fine and well super-duper To Holbeach St John's Migrated these swans The birder was no party pooper It is only the size of the swans That will tell where the right name belongs For the Bewick's is smaller, The Whooper is taller. They are both found at Holbeach St John's *** 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. *** South Lincs RSPB Social Group Cruise programme *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: The South Lincs RSPB Group announce that , due to the current pandemic and general uncertainty, they are unable to offer any more information or proposed sailing dates about a 2021 Cruise programme. However the Group can announce that the Boat Owners have decided that the “Boston Belle” will not be available for the foreseeable future for ANY cruises. It will however be replaced by a smaller boat with a smaller capacity [compared to the Boston Bell]. Please keep checking the website where we will publish further information when we have it. https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/ *** 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 *** 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/ 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 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/ 9/12 1 Long-eared Owl from track to hide at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier ringtail, Deeping High Bank, NE of Deeping St Nicholas 7 Short-eared Owls at Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas Swallow by Humber between Killingholme and Immingham 10/12 Lapland Bunting, Black Redstart at visitor centre, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret between Great Carlton and Three Bridges Lane, flew west over Long Eau, Saltfleetby, 6 Russian White-fronted Geese in field with Pink-footed Geese near Three Bridges Lane, Saltfleetby Great White Egret, 9 Bewick's Swans flew south, Manby Flashes 2 Water Pipits, Killingholme Pits Great White Egret, Hibaldstow Bridge 11/12 Short-eared Owl, Baston Fen 2 Long-eared Owls at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, SE of Deeping St James Hen Harrier male, Black-throated Diver offshore, Gibraltar Point 12/12 Long-eared owl from track to hide at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier male. Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting flew north along beach, Mablethorpe Great White Egret in drain, Eastoft Great White Egret in dyke, Branston Booths, the flew towards Bardney Lapland Bunting, Red-necked Grebe, Russian White-fronted Goose, Twite, 2 Common Scoters, Covenham Reservoir Scaup, Cleethorpes city park Great White Egret, Denton reservoir Great White Egret at Belvoir Lakes, south of Bottesford 13/12 2+ Long-eared Owls from track to hide at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Iceland Gull flew west over Saltfleetby St Peter Red-necked Grebe, Covenham reservoir Snow Bunting male, 7 Scaup, Goxhill Haven 14/12 2 Long-eared Owls from track to hide at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier ringtail, RAF Wainfleet 6 Russian White-fronted Gees with Pink-footed Geese east on Burgh-le-Marsh 9 Tundra Bean Geese in field by coast road, the flew NW, Anderby Creek 3 Russian White-fronted Geese in fields by A1031 opposite Sea View 15/12 Short-eared Owl at Deeping High Bank, NE of Deeping St Nicholas 5 Long-eared Owls from track to hide at Main Lake, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 3 Russian White-fronted Geese south over Thurlby Fen Glossy Ibis flew SE over Gibraltar Point 2 Russian White-fronted Geese, Woodhall Spa Airfield Short-eared Owl, Humberston Fitties Great White Egret, Bittern, Fiskerton Fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Bassingham SK909598 Jeremy Hutchinson 14/12/2020 Hedgehog roadkill: very small individual. Chris Manning writes: 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 10/12/2020 Wren Blue tit Robin On walk from Southrey to Bardney along Water Rail Way: A fungus the wooden sculptures of Lincolnshire curly Coat pigs - thought to be Auricularia mesenterica - the Tripe Fungus. Yet to be confirmed. https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/auricularia-mesenterica.php BASSINGHAM Bassingham SK909598 Jeremy Hutchinson 14/12/2020 Hedgehog roadkill: very small individual. Song Thrush singing 08.30, also heard most mornings recently. On a general note, has anyone else noticed the unusually large number of Long-tailed Tits around the moment? HUTTOFT Jane Pennington TF511762 (my garden) 10/12/2020 Long tailed tits 2 11/12/2020 Squirrel 1 - hanging upside down underneath a homemade bird feeder that he couldn't work out how to get into (touch wood). I made this last year when a rat was eating all the bird food. The bottom bit is an old wooden garden sieve with a plastic plant pot plate inside and it's topped securely with an old metal dome-shaped hanging basket frame. The whole thing is hung from a birch branch and works really well for tits and robins. The 'new' blackbirds don't seem to have noticed it at all. 13/12/2020 Coal tit 1 - seen amongst the blue tits and great tits. I wasn't sure until I saw it a gain and could identify it properly on 16/12 Sparrowhawk 1 16/12/2020 Coal tit 1 in group of blue tits and great tits at feeder. STICKNEY TF323427 Gail Cartwright 21.12.2020 probable Whooper Swans x 40 in the field with the solar farm for the last week WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler 1-14 December 2020 FLOWERING PLANTS. On 4th December it snowed all day and the snow remained on the ground for four days. The week before I had made a list of flowers still out on Newton Way and compared with lists along the same route last year at this time. The number of species was about the same but there was a higher proportion of annuals. In 2019 my notebooks show a number of species in flower somewhere in the parish every month of the year. These included groundsel, common speedwell, petty spurge, hairy bittercress, common chickweed shepherd’s purse and annual meadow grass. A walk on the 14th December suggests that the snow has wiped the slate clean so to speak. This makes the garden winter flowering plants all the more important for late flying insects. INSECTS/invertebrates. Mild, sunny weather on 14th December and a Tree Bumble Bee on the winter honeysuckle flowers and a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee on the rather bedraggled Mahonia flowers. Greenfly on a geranium plant moved into the greenhouse were lined up on one of the stems. Pots of hyacinths brought into the house included one with the shoot nibbled off and a brown slug lying dead on top of the bulb fibre. Must have got in after planting in October. BIRDS. These have been returning to gardens. Watching the snowy scene through the window: A chaffinch successfully taking a running jump from a fine arching branch to grab a remaining whitebeam berry that blackbirds had been unable to reach. A jackdaw making a heroic but awkward attempt to hover near a bird feeder before finding another sturdy enough for it to hang onto. Two colourful photos sent in - one of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in a garden. Another of a Kingfisher on a low branch alongside the River Witham. A party of Long-tailed tits has been making a regular circuit of gardens. Two coal tits in our larch tree and two blue tits regular on the peanuts are all new visitors since the snow – but only the single chaffinch and no other finches. Field fares and Redwings are finding plenty of berries on the Nature Trail. Only the Fieldfares seem to venture into the garden for apples later in winter. Tawny Owls, extending their territories are heard calling most nights. The more silent Barn Owl is seen out hunting in the late afternoon ( when it is already dark). The hens are looking miserable in an outdoor cage which keeps them and their food away from wild birds now that the Bird Flu regulations are in place. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 9th – 15th December 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: The raw, foggy weather lingered from the 6th - 9th with freezing night time temperatures and low single figure daytime conditions. The 7th was particularly raw with a ground frost of -4.0 degrees C, air frost of -1.5 degrees C and a daytime maximum of 3.0 degrees C. The long-tailed duck first seen on Paradise lagoon on 26th October was last known to be seen on 4th December and is assumed to have now moved on. 091220 – Sea View: 3 rock pipit, 1 sparrowhawk. At Brickyard Lane: 3 bullfinch moving through the dune scrub together. At Crook Bank: 1 merlin flew west over dunes 101220 - At least 20 blackbirds near Sea View feeding on fallen apples, 2 redwing. A lone white-fronted goose flew over Sea View in a westerly direction towards Elm House Farm. The area was checked and no geese around. Of note 2 stonechats, later 6 whitefronts were seen at a distance in dull light with around 1500 pink-feet in an area south of Thacker Bank between Carlton Grange Farm and N Carlton. 131220- At Churchill Lane: 58 whooper swans seen leaving foreshore roost. An influx of thrushes included 47 fieldfare and 37 in adjacent grass field hedge. 141220 - Paradise lagoon: 31 shoveler, 92 teal. Male hen harrier hunting over saltmarsh and at least 500 lapwing and 800 golden plover seen flying over Elm House Farm area. Also seen were 3 Russian white-fronted geese with feral geese and 450 wigeon in roadside fields. 151220 - Group of 17 little egrets and 12 curlew feeding on saltmarsh. Late afternoon 4 herds of whooper swans totalling 36 birds flew in over the saltmarsh and roosted on Rimac lagoon, 2 marsh harriers and a peregrine hunting over the area. On Sea View washland: 3 European Whitefronts with 6 greylags and around 170 Canada geese plus at least 80 wigeon, 40 teal, 2 shoveler, 5 mallard and 4 curlew. Saltfleet Haven: 120 brent geese, 1 male merlin, 15 rock pipit and 4 meadow pipit. At Sea View a large female sparrowhawk caused chaos with the local pipits. Donna Nook 111220 - Seal count: 1,670 pups,498 cows, 445 bulls. Total number of pups born to date: 2,204 surpassing last years final total of 2,187. Reminder: 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 "The LLP Team have been working hard since their return from furlough ...and a the haiku competition for 15 and under children has been launched, alongside the Lincspirational Plants Open Call for Artists." Please see details here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants/haiku-competition https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants/lincspirational-plants 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 *** Ian Macalpine-Leny - mailbox full Philip Rudkin - undeliverable ....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. Earth Photo winners announced https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-55222730 First case of coronavirus detected in wild animal https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55309269 New species of ichthyosaur found on Dorset's Jurassic Coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-55257110 Pride of York: Ferry leaves Hull for final time after 33 years https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-55252036 Trump golf course dunes lose special environmental status https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55244660 Human-made objects to outweigh living things https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55239668 Extinction: Conservation success set against 31 lost species https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55259552 Humpback whale in New York Harbor seen near Statue of Liberty https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9032403/Humpback-whale-New-York-Harbor-ready-closeup-Statue-Liberty.html Little pygmy possum found on Kangaroo Island after fears of decimation in bushfire https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/dec/07/little-pygmy-possum-found-on-kangaroo-island-after-fears-of-decimation-in-bushfire The beauty of starling murmurations – in pictures https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2020/dec/05/the-beauty-of-starling-murmurations-in-pictures Country diary: ice that's hair today, but gone in an instant https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/12/country-diary-ice-thats-hair-today-but-gone-in-an-instant Country diary: ghost ponds can be priceless botanical time capsules https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/14/country-diary-ghost-ponds-can-be-priceless-botanical-time-capsules Country diary: riveting ravens in silhouette https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/15/country-diary-riveting-ravens-in-silhouette ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/