============================================= || || 19th February 2020 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR 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..... ============================================ 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 hope you survived Storm Dennis without worries, fears or damage. We did have reasonable warning to be ready for it. See: Storm Dennis: More heavy rain forecast amid flood defence fears - report and photos: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51555075 Message from Aidan Neary, LoveLincsPlants – Project Officer "Just received this email from Debra Turner at NHM about the 5000th Historic LNU specimen to be mounted. Great result and well done to the team in London! " Wow. Well done indeed! Last Friday we spent several hours stuffing the next LNU mailing. You should soon have Communiqué and the AGM papers dropping through your letterbox. We hope you will find this of interest and that you will come along to the AGM next month. 7th March 2020. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/2019-03-02/ If you hear of any Plus.com users complaining their Bulletin has not arrived, please direct them to this help page: https://www.plus.net/help/email-guides/spam-protection-guide/ A selection of topical news stories and wildlife articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Wainfleet flooding inquiry report blames cattle for breach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-51493727 Storm Ciara: Wild dogs kill animals after escaping enclosure https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-51500542 Storm Dennis: Beavers introduced to Yorkshire in 2019 may have prevented Storm Dennis flooding with their dams https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/latest-news/beavers-introduced-to-yorkshire-in-2019-may-have-prevented-storm-dennis-flooding-with-their-dams-1-10261513 Photo of the Week: 5-11 February - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-5-11-february/ New species of flies found in Lochaber forest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-51488783 Spurn needs Little Tern volunteers https://www.spurnbirdobservatory.co.uk/news/post.php?s=2020-02-16-little-tern-volunteer-wardens Appeal to protect Nottinghamshire reserve surpasses £1million target. - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/news/appeal-to-protect-nottinghamshire-reserve-surpasses-1million-target/ 16 absolutely stunning images from the 2020 British Photography Awards - Country Life https://www.countrylife.co.uk/nature/16-absolutely-stunning-images-from-the-2020-british-photography-awards-211394 More links in "...and finally..." Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, and start at 2pm.] Next meetings: Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu LNU Honorary President, Chris du Feu, will be speaking speaking about: 'Biological records - Cost and Lost. Thoughts of an amateur limacologist.' (Limacologist = slug expert). Chris' talks are ntbm. [ = Not to be missed!] Starts 2pm. £2 parking. Field Meetings 2020: https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Details at the of Bulletin. 11. Events Diary. *** Botany - 2020 Field Identification Skills Certificate *** From Love Lincs Plants Team For the third year running we are delivering a Field Identification Skills Assessment (FISC) from the BSBI and delivered by Natural England Field Unit Staff. This is a highly regarded botanical TEST which aims to establish your botany identification skill level so that you can progress as a botanist. It is also a great way to meet fellow botanists and great way to see part of the county that you would not otherwise venture to. Date: Saturday 11th July 2020 Time: 10:15am—4:30pm Meeting venue for indoor session:Castle Bytham Village Hall, Pinfold Rd, Grantham, NG33 4RY Fee: £75 BOOK: To book your slot please send an email to Andrea.Perkins@naturalengland.org.uk stating 'Field Identification Skills Assessment (FISC) - Castle Bytham, 11th July' Please do contact the LNU or Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to book your space. Once confirmed, you will receive more detail event details in June. Find out more about FISCs here: www.bsbi.org/field-skills *** Whisby Workshops *** Richard Davidson has sent details for this year's Whisby Workshops All from 12.30 until 16.30 pm. Plant Pressing - Sue Fysh - 30th May. Yellow Flowered Asteraceae / Compositae Plants - Sarah Lambert - 1st August. Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele - 21st November. Lichens workshop - Prof Mark Seaward - Saturday the 17th of October. *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions *** The LNU has organised some drop-in sessions at the Whisby Education Centre to provide an opportunity to chat ‘natural history’ over a cup of coffee. The first session is on Saturday 15th February and will run from 2pm to 4pm. You can turn up when you like; no booking necessary. Different specialists will be present at each and if you want to discuss something in particular let them know so they can come prepared with, for example, specimens or reference material. See the LNU website for further details: https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ *** Sea Watch Observer Volunteer Training Courses *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Seawatch Foundation North Sea Observatory - Chapel Point 28th March 2020 - 9am to 5pm. Find out how to identify the different whales, dolphins and porpoises off the Lincolnshire coast and how you can help us to monitor them. Booking essential - contact Dave Miller at dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk or phone 07919 326646 *** Seal Wardens wanted 2020 *** The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are hoping to expand their current team of volunteer seal wardens for the 2020 season. Volunteers provide valuable face-to-face contact for visitors, answer questions about the seals and other wildlife, patrol the viewing area, enforce the visitor guidelines and help to run the small gift shop. This work is done alongside the Donna Nook Wardens. For more information and/or to apply for a position please follow this link to the Trust’s website: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/vacancies *** February 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 *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** South Lincs RSPB *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: “Birdwatching cruises into the Wash” programme for 2020. Fourteen cruises are arranged for 2020, at various sailing times and dates, starting 16th April and ending 23rd October. Full details of all cruise dates and times, costs etc., plus 2019 Sightings, can be found at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ Booking is once again via Spalding's South Holland Centre (01775-764777) or online at www.southhollandcentre.co.uk *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson Lincoln Area Group Talk February 20th - Farming and Wildlife An illustrated talk in which Nicholas Watts gives a personal overview of the wildlife at Vine House Farm near Market Deeping and outlines some of the measures he has taken to improve the habitat and breeding success of a number of key species of birds. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments. *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] RBA note on visiting Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness: Access from A52 thru The Pines Caravan Park, TF537628 If visiting Willow Tree Fen see: LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and access. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen What is a "ringtail" Hen Harrier? "While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/hen-harrier/ 11/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese on Croft Marsh, Lapland Bunting flew over Wash Viewpoint, Gibraltar Point Scaup, Long-eared Owl on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier ringtail, Deeping High Bank, Crowland Great White Egret. Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Cattle Egret by Short Ferry Road, between pumping station and pub. 12/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Tundra Bean Goose with 1200 Pink-footed Geese between Croft Marsh and fields, male hen Harrier Jackson's Marsh, Water Pipit flew over West Dunes, Gibraltar Point 10 Snow Buntings beyond seal viewing area, 35 Twite, Nook Long-eared Owl on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 13/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 7 Bewick's Swans, Nocton Fen Tundra Bean Goose with 1200 Pink-footed Geese between Croft Marsh and fields, Great White Egret Croft Marsh, Water Pipit flew over Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 2 Hen Harriers, both ringtails, Frampton Marsh Long-eared Owl on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 14/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 7 Bewick's Swans, Nocton Fen 3 Bewick's Swans, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 2 Tundra Bean Geese with 1200 Pink-footed Geese between Croft Marsh and fields, Great White Egret Croft Marsh, Water Pipit flew over, Great White Egret, Jackson's Marsh, 27 Water Pipits, Gibraltar Point Snow Bunting, Twite, Hooded Crow, Black Brant west side of new alignment, Donna Nook Ring-necked Duck fem, Woodhall Spa Airfield Long-eared Owl on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Short-eared Owl, Dunsby Fen Great White Egret, Messingham Sand Quarry 15/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Long-eared Owls on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh Water Pipit on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 16/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Turnstone, Crowland Fodder Lots on flood with Lapwings, off Deeping High Bank NNW of Crowland Great White Egret on Tennyson's Sands, 2 Water Pipits, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 17/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Hen Harriersm both males, at Cut end, River Witham Mouth Water Pipit flew over Syke's Farm, Gibraltar Point Snow Bunting on saltmarsh, Cleethorpes Great White Egret, Fiskerton Fen 4 Possible Cattle Egrets east of Sudbrooke at Langworth in flooded field by Barlings Eau. [Late report 19/02!] 18/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 12 Snow Buntings, in marram grass beyond end of road, Chapel St Leonards 2 Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese, Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point Ring-necked Duck fem, Woodhall Spa airfield Hen Harrier male, Short-eared Owl, 4 Twite over, Tetney Marshes 2 Hen Harriers, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 19/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Frampton Marsh Glaucous Gull juv, Pyewipe 41 Water Pipits, Gibraltar Point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. ROAD KILLS Ropsley A52 SK967 357 5/2/20 Jane Ostler Fallow Deer Grantham Slip road from A1 SK920329 6/2/20 Jane Ostler Hedgehog Colsterworth B6403 SK931251 7/2/20 Jane Ostler Barn Owl Horncastle - A158 Lincoln Road TF233724 Approx - east verge R Parsons Adult Badger - been there for over a week. *** 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. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 13/2/2020 29 Black-headed gulls on church roof. Starling flock 20 House sparrow flock 20 Robin singing Blackbird 2m Dunnock 1. 2 on 19/2/2020 Wren 1 Magpie Jackdaw Bardney Lock A Parsons 19/2/2020 approx 10.30 am Barn owl crossed River Witham to approx TF107696 COLSTERWORTH SK92/25 Jane Ostler February 1-14 2020 PLANTS IN FLOWER With help from records sent in to me I have attempted to compile a list of early flowers in hedgerows, verges and waste ground. There was a good selection of annuals which can flower at any time of the year - groundsel, common chickweed, common speedwell, thale cress, shepherd's purse, petty spurge and herb robert. In addition the perennials white deadnettle and daisy never seem to have stopped flowering. Other 'relics'' like the sowthistle and yarrow have finally finished. Of those which flower first at the beginning of the year Spurge Laurel, Stinking Hellebore and Lesser Periwinkle in hedgerows may be garden escapes. Dog's Mercury, male flowers only, is evidence of a wood long gone. With Lesser Celandine it was first in flower at the end of January. By 13th February barren strawberry on the Colsterworth RNR, sweet violet alongside the public footpath crossing a field. Tiny plants of hairy bittercress produced flowers shortly after the leaves appeared. The real surprise a single flower of Danish Scurvy grass in a crack on High Street pavement. Soon there will be a white line of them alongside the Al. BIRDS On 18/1/20 a Cormorant was photographed in an ancient treee growing near the River Witham. On 19/1/20 another photograph shows it had been joined by three others plus two Red Kite and several Jackdaws, all in the same tree. In the field below there were Little Egrets and a Heron. The Cormorants stayed around for several days but by the time storm Ceira arrived, on 9/2/20, they had gone. One of the Red Kites had been seen being chased by a crow. An owl box put up in a garden has been taken over by Jackdaws. A Tawny Owl was found dead on the eastern side of the Al flyover. Though a number of people have commented how few small birds have been at the feeders, in one garden 10 Blue Tits were regularly at feeders in the first week of February. GRIMSBY Grid Ref TA265095 Joyce Attia 18/02/20 01.00hrs 9/2/20 Very windy, the bird feeders swinging around wildly. The little birds are still coming, blue tits, a couple of sparrows, gold finches, robin first as usual, dunnock singing- sounds like a squeaky bike chain. 13/02/20 Weather a lot calmer, though expecting storm Dennis for the weekend. A grey squirrel is on the suet block at the feeding station, followed by a wood pigeon, suet block is now on the ground and being attacked by a couple of starlings. There are 2 sparrows, 2 great tits, 3 goldfinches, 2 collared doves and robin. Took the dog for a walk alongside the river and there are daisies flowering on the grass. In the garden - the violets are in full bloom, they are the dark blue ones with the lovely scent, lots of primroses of various colours, narcissi are flowering and other bulbs shooting up, everything is beginning to sprout. 18/02/20 Today has been like a Spring day after the storms of the past few days. It's been warm and the sun is getting to climb higher in the sky now. Tidied up the debris left in the garden. Midnight. Just took dog down the garden, the sky is really clear and I can see all the big constellations. Light pollution is a pain when ou live in a town. HORKSTOW 16 February 2020 A large flock of lapwings (in the hundreds) was spotted circling over the A1077 between South Ferriby and Winteringham today. 13 February A brown hare was seen in the field opposite my house and a song thrush was singing in my garden. Together with daffodils being out everywhere, I think Spring must be coming! HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 12/2/2020 Sparrowhawks 2 - This was a treat at 10.15am. At the bottom of the garden we have a very old shed and our pond is just in front of it. I was using a rake to try and reach some debris on the pond surface when a sparrowhawk flew over me and into an old apple tree. Another smaller sparrowhawk followed it and landed in a different part of the tree. They hadn't seen me and then flewout together. The whole episode took about 10 seconds. From the different sizes, I guessed male and female. 13/2/2020 Barn owls 3 TF516767 I queried this sighting with Bob Sheppard: It was earlyish at 6.50am - 7.30am on a walk where I have often seen just one barn owl hunting in one or other of the various fields on either side of this road. On both sides of the road there are small dykes/ditches and these have a bit of water in at the moment but they're pretty full of dead plant material. At one point on the road, 2 owls flew out of the ditch together and that was pretty amazing in itself as it was only about 40 yards away. Then another owl flew out! This all happened at 7.15. One of the owls then seemed to be being mobbed by a crow (or other corvid). Bob advised, "It is very unusual to see three barn owls together. (It would be more unusual in the breeding season as they have set up territories by then). There is a lot of prey out there at the moment, particularly field voles. I can only assume there was a glut of voles along the dyke sides." 18/2/2020 Harlequin ladybird 1 - Walking across lounge carpet. 19/2/2020 Roe deer 8 TF528768 7.10am THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 11/02/20 Barn Owl x 1 daytime hunting Long-eared Owl x 1 12/02/20 Pink-footed Goose x 300+ flying west over Thurnholmes 18:00hrs Skylark x 2 singing high over Thurnholmes 14/02/20 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 14 Chaffinch x 4 Great Tit x 2 Little Egret x 1 SK794989 Pink-footed Goose x 250+ west over Thurnholmes 17/02/20 Barn Owl x 1 daytime hunting SE807012 Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Sparrowhawk x 1 female SK803996 19/02/20 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 9 Chaffinch x 2 Great Tit x 2 Fieldfare x 7 Starling x 65 WADDINGTON Waddington Village Peter WILSON 14th February 2020 100+ geese flying west at 0900hrs, Not sure what they were. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: reports always welcome. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 12th – 18th February 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 130220 - Brown hen harrier over saltmarsh, single white-tailed bumblebee in flight at Sea View. At least 1500 pink-feet still using pasture land at Elm House Farm. 150220 - South-westerly gust of 69.8mph recorded near Sea View in the afternoon. 170220 - On Paradise lagoon, which was slightly sheltered from the continual very strong south- westerly winds were, 20 curlew, 19 wigeon, 6 mallard, 4 gadwall, pair of pintail, 73 teal, 5 Canada geese, 1 little grebe, 4 ppt and 9 black-headed gulls. 4 hen harrier, 1 marsh harrier, 2 barn owl and 2 sparrowhawks seen and 4 water rail heard in the Churchill Lane area. 2 hen harriers: 1 male 1 female, were seen out from Howden’s Pullover. In the afternoon many pink-footed geese were heard in the Elm House area. Looking from the B1200 all were seen amongst the taller vegetation at the far end of the field overlooked by the hide. Two people walked down the farm track and spooked them giving a chance to give a count of a minimum of 3500 birds. Seal Wardens needed: The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust are hoping to expand their current team of volunteer seal wardens for the 2020 season. Volunteers provide valuable face-to-face contact for visitors, answer questions about the seals and other wildlife, patrol the viewing area, enforce the visitor guidelines and help to run the small gift shop. This work is done alongside the Donna Nook Wardens. For more information and/or to apply for a position please follow this link to the Trust’s website: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/vacancies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/visit/woods-and-nature-reserves/127031.article https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/limewoods/get-involved/ 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 The group still meets over winter to carry out essential coppice management of the wood and maintenance activities and anyone is welcome to come along and help. Just get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com Gemma Watkinson adds Please see below a link to the latest dormouse monitor magazine which includes an article on the Lincolnshire dormouse group. https://ptes.org/get-informed/publications/magazines/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. Examples: SNIPE DALES https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/snipe-dales WHISBY https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/whisby WILLOW TREE FEN https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If visiting Willow Tree Fen see LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and seasonal paths - groundwork is in progress. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen If your favourite locations are under-reported- why not send in some information? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** 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 Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ Also see: *** 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 *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** 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/ *** 2020 Big Farmland Bird Count *** Friday 7th to Sunday 16th February 2020. 2019 results on the BFBC website: https://www.bfbc.org.uk/ 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/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: very useful *** https://roadworks.org/ *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Metcheck 6-month Forecast - maybe! *** https://www.metcheck.com/WEATHER/180days.asp? *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ 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. Reminder: Allan and Annette Binding are taking a break from recording. [Harvestmen, Pseudoscorpions, Spiders and Shield Bugs] Please do not send records in for now. We will let you know when alternative arrangements are in place via the LNU website and the Bulletin. *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** British Bryological Society *** http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ *** 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 You can 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) For further information and to submit records 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 http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) 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/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards Deadline for entries: 31 March 2020 www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed 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 *** RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ BTO's Birdwatchers' Code https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf 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. Our 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: Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu Field Meetings: Doddington Hall Estate – Sunday 26th April 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-04-28/ Anderby Creek area – Saturday 30th May 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-05-12/Pebbles on the beach at the North Sea Observatory – Sunday 31st May. A Lincs. Geological Group event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/pebbles-on-the-beach-at-the-north-sea-observatory-sunday-31st-may-a-lincs-geological-society-event/ Nettleton Top – Saturday 13th June 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-06-22/ Belton Park – Saturday 18th July 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-07-07/ Kirkstead Old Mill – Sunday 16th August 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-07-20/ Cadney and Howsham: In the footsteps of Rev A. Woodruff-Peacock – Date TBC August 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-08-10/ Sudbrooke Scout Campsite – Sunday 6th September 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-09-08/ Woodhall Spa Airfield LWT Reserve – Sunday 11th October 2020. Fungus Foray. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-10-13/ Whisby Workshops - Lincoln LWT area group and LNU at Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.30 to 4.30 pm. All from 12.30 until 16.30 pm. Free of charge but booking is essential. Please contact Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Plant Pressing - Sue Fysh - 30th May. Yellow Flowered Asteraceae / Compositae Plants - Sarah Lambert - 1st August. Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele - 21st November. A fourth workshop on Lichens led by Mark Seaward has now been arranged. Lichens workshop - Prof Mark Seaward - Saturday the 17th of October. *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions *** The LNU has organised some drop-in sessions at the Whisby Education Centre to provide an opportunity to chat ‘natural history’ over a cup of coffee. The first session is on Saturday 15th February and will run from 2pm to 4pm. You can turn up when you like; no booking necessary. Different specialists will be present at each and if you want to discuss something in particular let them know so they can come prepared with, for example, specimens or reference material. See the LNU website for further details: https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails This Week *** Mail fails: If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp has your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. ....and finally... Buildings kill millions of birds. Here’s how to reduce the toll https://theconversation.com/buildings-kill-millions-of-birds-heres-how-to-reduce-the-toll-130695 Country diary: mistletoe's moon pearls are full of marvellous jelly https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/12/country-diary-what-happenemistletoes-moon-pearls-are-full-of-marvellous-jelly#comment-138157580 Car ‘splatometer’ tests reveal huge decline in number of insects https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/12/car-splatometer-tests-reveal-huge-decline-number-insects Bumblebees in crisis: insect’s inner lives reveal what the world would lose if they disappear https://theconversation.com/bumblebees-in-crisis-insects-inner-lives-reveal-what-the-world-would-lose-if-they-disappear-131519 Country diary: far from upright, this character is a hero of the floodplain https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/13/country-diary-black-poplar-far-from-upright-hero-of-the-floodplain Beavers cut flooding and pollution and boost wildlife populations https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/17/beavers-cut-flooding-and-pollution-and-boost-wildlife-populations Country diary: 'It's time, it's time,' calls the skylark, a signal spring is here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/17/country-diary-its-time-its-time-calls-the-skylark-a-signal-spring-is-here Meet the insects that are defying the plunge in biodiversity – new findings https://theconversation.com/meet-the-insects-that-are-defying-the-plunge-in-biodiversity-new-findings-131846 Top five threats to UK's wildlife (and what to do about them) – new report https://theconversation.com/top-five-threats-to-uks-wildlife-and-what-to-do-about-them-new-report-124670 Bumblebees in crisis: insect's inner lives reveal what the world would lose if they disappear https://theconversation.com/bumblebees-in-crisis-insects-inner-lives-reveal-what-the-world-would-lose-if-they-disappear-131519 Primitive bee trapped in 100-million-year-old amber is one of the earliest pollinators https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/primitive-bee-trapped-in-100-million-year-old-amber-is-one-of-the-earliest-pollinators/ National Insect Week 22-28 June 2020 - dates for your diary. If any Lincolnshire "insect events" need a plug, please let me know details. https://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk/ Buildings kill millions of birds. Here's how to reduce the toll https://theconversation.com/buildings-kill-millions-of-birds-heres-how-to-reduce-the-toll-130695 New Horizons spacecraft 'alters theory of planet formation' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51295365 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/