============================================= || || 26th 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... *** Frogs: Brenda Lane reports frogs active in garden pond in Boston. That's our cue for asking for amphibian information. Please have a look at: https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php This is 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.) Phil Porter asks: On a recent Preston Montford workshop, I was recommended to investigate the Olympus tg5 pocket camera for its capacity to produce "stacked" images in its very close-focus "microscope" mode. If anyone with experience of this could get in touch with me to discuss, I would be very grateful. Email: philporterento@outlook.com Plus-com say they have resolved the recent issue on non-delivery of Bulletins. They commented on one of the bounce reports: "That fingerprint is for the domain glnporg.uk, which was reported as having had its web site compromised. We've reset the fingerprint however so the issue should now be resolved." Hopefully plus-com customers will receive their their bulletin this week. On a personal note: In Joan Gibbons' "Flora of Lincolnshire" you will find reference to Rev J F Wray, 1801-1859, of Bardney and Stixwould who collected a herbarium between 1820 and 1830, mostly from Bardney, which was [eventually] found at Ipswich. I was amazed to discover that we are living in his house in Bardney, where he was the vicar and schoolmaster. He was probably born here. His father was Schoolmaster here too. Rev Wray was an entertainingly controversial fellow. If you come across any information or anecdotes about him please let me know. old.museum@yahoo.co.uk "John Wray (1776-1851): Vicar of Bardney, 1806-1851 - by June Benton Son of a former Bardney schoolmaster, he took the living of the village and proceeded to bankrupt himself by re-building the vicarage and extensively restoring the church. A fascinating account of his attempt to avoid penury and imprisonment. " Download: Lincolnshire Past & Present No. 50 Winter 2002/03 http://slha.org.uk/search/publications.php?id=53&zoom_highlightsub=Bardney+Wray 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: Residents 'can't sleep when it rains' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-51617074 Environment Agency chief: Avoid building new homes on flood plains https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51620992 Coronavirus: World must prepare for pandemic, says WHO - I don't usually include news on this topic - but this article could be of interest. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51611422 Coronavirus: The race to find the source in wildlife https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51496830 Photo of the Week: 12-18 February - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-12-18-february/ Frozen bird turns out to be 46,000-year-old horned lark https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/02/frozen-bird-turns-out-to-be-46000-year-old-horned-lark/125820 Erica McAlister on the beauty of flies - BBC The Life Scientific - listen https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00045kh Cigarette filters polluting the environment - BBC Inside Health - very interesting - listen https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000fp66 Link your garden with a hedgehog highway https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/ Some ants disinfect food by drinking the acid they spray at enemies https://www.newscientist.com/article/2234508-some-ants-disinfect-food-by-drinking-the-acid-they-spray-at-enemies/ Bees may struggle in winds caused by global warming https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/18/bees-may-struggle-in-winds-caused-by-global-warming-study-finds Watch tadpoles breathe by sucking in air bubbles at water's surface https://www.newscientist.com/article/2234062-watch-tadpoles-breathe-by-sucking-in-air-bubbles-at-waters-surface/ 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. *** Help Fight 'Flu - register with Flusurvey *** Message from Flusurvey: https://flusurvey.net/ "We have re-opened registration to join the flusurvey to allow us increase number of active participants, hence providing us robust data to identify any early changes in patterns of acute respiratory illness/ILI in the community. Routine surveillance of influenza activity in the UK shows continued declining/stable activity for all indicators while amongst flusurvey participants, rate of ILI also decreased from 19.7/1000 reported in week 7 to 15.4/1000 in week 8. Please invite your friends and family to sign up via this link, you can also share to your social media contacts as we will like to have more participants registered. You can also share to your social media contacts as we will like to have more participants registered." https://flusurvey.net/en/accounts/register/ *** East of England Coleopterists meeting *** Charlie Barnes writes: The 2nd East of England Coleopterists meeting is taking place at Whisby Nature Park on the 21st March. The morning will have a range of beetle- related talks at the education centre, including vane trapping and dealing with the minutiae of the Coleoptera. After lunch we'll head outdoors to look for beetles on the reserve. For further information contact Bill Mansfield billmansfield8@hotmail.com or Charlie Barnes charlie@cucaera.co.uk  *** International Women's Day *** Ahead of International Women’s Day [8th March 2020], wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is celebrating the women across the world who are working to save all creatures great and small, from badgers, bats and wildcats in the UK, to lions, leopards and spider monkeys overseas. PTES has awarded £656,831 in funding to 21 female conservationists and scientists currently working to save some of the world’s most endangered, and most iconic, animals. See the link: https://ptes.org/international-womens-day-2020-eachforequal/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Check for road works and hold-ups: very useful *** https://roadworks.org/ *** Met Office Severe Warnings: current *** 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 *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ *** 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 TO 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 not 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. Lichens workshop - Prof Mark Seaward - Saturday the 17th of October. Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele - 21st November. *** 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. 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 Martin Francis - Group Leader - writes: The speaker at the next meeting of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group is Mandy West who is a freelance nature/wildlife/travel photographer with a passion for birds, wildlife and travel. Mandy has had images published by many organisations including BBC Earth, the RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts. She also organises and leads wildlife photography trips around Asia, Europe, Costa Rica and the UK. Mandy's talk has the title "Birding Murcia, Spain" and it takes place at 7.30pm on Monday, 16th March 2020 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. There will also be refreshments and a raffle Entry is £4, payable at the door. Our next coach trip is to Clumber Park and the new RSPB Reserve at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire on Sunday 15th March (i.e. the day before the meeting). On previous visits to these woodland areas, we have seen over 50 species, including hawfinch, marsh tit, nuthatch, treecreeper, goldcrest and great spotted woodpecker. This trip may also appeal to walkers and ramblers who will be most welcome to join us, because there are excellent walks at both sites. The coach leaves the Shoppers Car Park in Scartho, (next to Scartho Community Centre) at 7.30am, returning at 6-6.30pm. The cost is £20 per head. Booking is essential.  Contact Tony Bryan by email at mariners4top@yahoo.co.uk or by phone at (01472) 873362 Everyone, RSPB members and non-members, is welcome to attend the meeting or join us on the trip. *** 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 *** Louth LWT *** Ray Woodcock writes LWT Louth Area Group Chairman’s Jottings, February 2020 Our 28 February meeting will be ‘Wildlife Spectacles’, some fantastic scenes by Steve Lovell, wildlife photographer and nature guide. We begin at 7.30pm at the Nichol Hill Methodist Church, Louth. Entry, including refreshments £2.50. Children free. Our Annual General Meeting will be on 24 April when there will be cake! There is a need for at least a couple of you to volunteer to join the committee. The tasks are not onerous, we hold 3 meetings a year to discuss and plan the programme for the following year. The only commitment is to help to run the indoor meetings; most of you attend these so it would only be a matter of arriving before the 7.30 pm start time. In the past people stayed on the committee for a long time; no-one expects you to do a 27 year stint! I set myself 5 years and will be leaving after 6 years. If you are prepared to consider a year to see ’how it goes’, you will be most welcome. Please contact me for any further details on rwwsec3lo@aol.com WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN? I am sure that we are all delighted with longer days and no snow – yet! Two hedgehogs have come back after a 3 week break whilst the night camera is picking up moths in flight. I have heard a greenfinch and a great tit singing for nearly a week and of course the snowdrops, aconites and daffodils are in bloom. On 7 February Jane and went to have a look at the LWT Huttoft Bank Pit hide. The sun was shining, and it was a great pleasure to sit drinking our coffee out of the wind. A few mallards and moorhens were dodging in and out of the reeds when a flurry of activity caught our attention. A wisp of 8 snipe circled and settled on a reed patch about 3 metres from the hide whilst a further dozen snipe continued to circle and then settled elsewhere. Wow! Best wishes Ray Woodcock Chairman Louth Area Group, LWT rwwsec3lo@aol.com *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk Carolyn Davis writes: On Monday 9th March the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust invite you to join them at their next indoor meeting where the Trust's Head of Conservation Tammy Smalley will giving a presentation on our "Living Seas." This will take place in Grimsby Town Hall and starts at 7.30 pm. Admission £3, all are welcome. There will be Trust sales, raffle and tea & coffee available. For further information contact Jennie Redpath 01472 502858. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 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 20/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Tundra Bean Geese flew over Croft Marsh with 900 Pink-footed Geese, Long-tailed Duck flew south, Water Pipit on Jackson's Marsh, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 16 Water Pipits north of Gibraltar Point Rough-legged Buzzard reported 1ml west of Wragby over A158. 21/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Dark-bellied Brent Goose ad, Boulthan Mere [briefly] west of Lincoln Ring-necked Duck fem, Woodhall Spa Airfield Water Pipit flew over West Dunes, Gibraltar Point 2 Hen Harriers, both ringtails, Frampton Marsh 55 Whooper Swans in ploughed field, Nocton Fen 22/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Spotted Redshank, Short Ferry Road, Fiskerton Fen 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point Hen Harriers ringtail, Frampton Marsh 10 Snow Buntings on beach, Chapel St Leonards [Late report] 23/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Hen Harriers, Frampton Marsh 3 Snow Buntings, on beach at Wolla bank car park, Anderby Creek Spotted Redshank, Short Ferry Road, Fiskerton Fen Bewick's Swan. Branston Fen 24/02 Great White Egrets, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 2 Tundra Bean Geese with Pink-footed Geese, Croft Marsh, 44 Water Pipits on saltmarsh, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret, Spotted Redshank, Fiskerton Fen 25/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Balearic Shearwater south past North Sea Observatory, Chapel Point 2 Spotted Redshanks, Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh 2 Tundra Bean Geese with 1200 Pink-footed Geese, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Croft Marsh, 38 Water Pipits on saltmarsh, Woodlark flew north from West Dunes, Gibraltar Point Ring-necked duck fem, Woodhall Spa airfield 26/02 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 4 Spotted Redshank on wet grassland, Frampton Marsh 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 47 Water Pipits on saltmarsh, Pale-bellied Brent Goose, Jackson's Marsh, Great White Egret on Tennyson's Sands,. Male Hen Harrier over New Saltmarsh, 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 Forty-fifth Year of Ringing in a Boston Garden by Roy Pearson I began ringing in 1967 and became an ‘A’ Ringer two years later. At the beginning of this year, I commenced the 45th year of ringing in our garden, though the weather is not at present helpful. Whilst searching for something to interest me on the wet and windy days, I looked at the details of ringing in the garden since March 1976. Some of the results were especially interesting when looking at the disappearance of several species and the decline in ringing totals of what were once numerous birds. The house is on a small estate at what was once at the southern end of Boston, but some changes occurred with the building of the A16 on the old railway line and, more recently, increased building in the Wyberton area. This may have had some effect on species, but this is a Fenland area where there is little in the way of woodland and for the more interesting species one has had to rely on movement through the area. By the end of the eighties, 41 species had been ringed, with a further 9 from 1991 to 2020 making a total of 50. Many of the species first caught in large numbers still occur, though in slightly smaller numbers than in the past – Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, House Sparrow and Greenfinch, whilst Goldfinch has become increasingly numerous in recent years. However, the totals of species that were once large have fallen markedly in recent years and these include Song Thrush, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Linnet, Redpoll, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting, the latter four disappearing altogether from the garden. Other species have occurred less than ten times (some only once) in recent years and these include Kestrel, Moorhen, Herring Gull, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Redstart, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Jay, Brambling, Magpie, Rook and Coal Tit. The 9 species that were added to the list between 1991 and 2020 are Meadow Pipit, Waxwing, Sparrowhawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Firecrest, Woodpigeon (first caught in 2005, but now feeding in double figures on some days), Blackcap and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Three other species, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull and Collared Dove vary from year to year, but are fewer than in the past. There are 6 species that have been seen but never ringed in the garden. Three are regular visitors, Siskin, Carrion Crow and Jackdaw, one that was only seen regularly in the past, Spotted Flycatcher and two that have been seen only once, Woodcock and Black Redstart., I may end ringing this year, but it would be nice to ring something new. Roy Pearson ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. GRAINTHORPE A1031 23:02:2020 Peter Crick Badger, probably young one by the size LINCOLN A46 24/02/2020 David Smith A46 Lincoln bypass - Skellingthorpe roandabout Adult badger *** 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. ASHING LANE NR Ashing Lane Nature Reserve TF 04208 79116 Maurice Nauta 25/02/2020 - 10.00-12.00 Birds (Total species 22) Blackbird 16 Blue tit 15 Chaffinch 9 Coot 2 Crow 4 Dunnock 6 Fieldfare 36 Goldfinch 36 Great tit 5 Green Woodpecker 2 Long-tailed tit 4 Magpie 5 Moorhen 1 Redwing 2 Robin 6 Skylark 6 SongThrush 1 Starling 70 Stock dove 2 Wood Pigeon 13 Wren 7 Yellowhammer 6 Mammals Squirrel 1 Stoat 1 BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons Starlings. There are several local flocks of starlings in Bardney. Out local one numbers about 30 individuals. However, this month we have observed large flocks making their way N/NNW through the village, some passing over the church, sometimes over Abbey Road, seeming to be heading towards the Fiskerton area, but not murmurating - definitely on their way somewhere. 20/02/2020 we decided to stake out the Bardney Abbey site to see if we could get sight of the movement of the birds, starting at 16.40hrs. 14.46 hrs we saw a barn owl hunting low over the Abbey site. At approx 17.00 and 17.10hrs 2 large starling flocks flew low over the site and followed the hedge line N/NNW towards Fiskerton. The likely route taken was: TF129695 Henry Lane [based on previous sightings]; Bartholemew Close TF120702[a guess]; Bardney Abbey site TF113705; then along hedgerow TF111706 and up to TF111707 where we lost sight of them. Possible destination to consider is Bardney Road, Stainfield TF111713 and I have had a report of murmurations seen over Short Ferry recently. BASSINGHAM Bassingham SK908592 Jeremy Hutchinson 15/2/2020 10.00 Male Peregrine Falcon flying NE HADDINGTON Haddington SK922639 Jeremy Hutchinson 16/2/2020 17.45 Barn Owl HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington Just had an amazing half hour or so watching a sparrowhawk collecting twigs in the garden and starting to build a nest in a hawthorn right at the bottom of the garden! Not sure if they'll stay around though - the second one turned up and then they both flew out. I first saw two together here on 12 February. 20/2/2020 Pulmonaria in flower 21/2/2020 Sparrowhawk 1 23/2/2020 Chaffinch 25/2/2020 Robins 2 - together on bird table 26/2/2020 Sparrowhawks 2 - 1 nest building in hawthorn MIDDLE RASEN TF107 897 Richard Fox 23.02.2020 Grey Shoulder-knot daytime resting on garden gate (first for garden). SPALDING Annette Faulkner TF228218 23/2/20 Our allotment. Dead adult hedgehog. We have a small orchard at the bottom of the allotment which I manage as a mini meadow, cutting late summer and autumn. The cuttings are piled into ‘habitat’ heaps, being dug out when rotted down and used as compost. In the recent gales some of the tops got blown off the recent heaps and the hedgehog, quite recently dead, was found very close to one of them, with no sign of injury. Had it been hibernating there? WOOLSTHORPE-by-COLSTERWORTH  SK92/24 Jane Ostler February 2020 PLANTS IN FLOWER The Lesser Celandine is now in flower in several places, and not just at the usual early spot by the Rundle Stream and the first Coltsfoot was out on 24th th February on the Roadside Nature Reserve. In several sheltered spots both White and Red Nettle were in flower in the first week of February. On the Nature Trail the Stinking Hellebore and Spurge Laurel reached full flowering. The Dog's Mercury, a relic of old woodlands remains in a hedgerow. Aconites, naturalised or planted, are about over but snowdrops are still at their best. Of the new season's flowers the Sweet Violet is out on both the Nature Trail and the RNR. New plants of Hairy Bitter Cress, very small, flowered almost immediately mid- month followed by Whitlow Grass. Common Speedwell is back in flower and an Ash Tree was noted with Male flowers, stamens spread. There are three Cherry Plums in gardens in the Newton Manor area covered in white blossom. INVERTEBRATES On first of February a dark form of a Queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bee appeared in my garden feeding on the winter Honeysuckle. At night it had crept into the dense vegetation between the climbers and the wall from which it emerged next morning feeding in an organised fashion from one flower to the next. It was seen once more two days later. Since then there have been no bees seen. This includes Honey bees which in previous years have been seen in their hundreds on beds of winter flowering crocuses. Last year the numbers were down but had been seen in February. A single Hoverfly Eristalsis tenax was feeding on flowers on several days. Single Bluebottles and large Muscid flies sunning on the Wall and Winter gnats dancing above the lawn were the only flying insects I have observed.There were beetle holes on the Hellebore flowers but no Beetles when I searched for them. There was one remarkable survival of the storms. In the corner of the lean to on the shed a perfect web of the spider Zygena notata, easily recognised by the wedge of radial lines absent from one section of its orb web. BIRDS. The first bird song well under way. One morning Mistle Thrush and Song Thrush, both on the Nature Trail. Skylarks and Blackbirds, and by contrast the quieter Dunnock. The Robin has changed its tune and two in a garden seen together , without aggression, must be a pair. Great Tit belling, Blue Tit and Chaffinch full song. A partly built Chaffinch's nest was in a small tree, in clear view as it hadn't waited for the leaves to emerge. Jackdaws are very unsettled as a tree they used to spend much time in during the day has been felled and several chimneys where they nested last year have now been capped. As I write this Wood Pigeons are performing courtship displays both on a neighbours ridge tiles and on our lawn, ignoring the fact that their untidy pile of sticks was blown down last week. THE POND On 23rd February an area of the pond cleared of floating weed. Expected to find newts had returned but no sign of them and little in open water. Greater Pond, Wandering and Ramshorn Snails in this area and two areas of emergent plants and other cover left alone so there may be life there. It is unusual not to have seen, by the end of February, mature females emerging from winter hiding places, or heard the males croaking as they return to the pond. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 19th – 25th February 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings: The spell of very windy weather continued; a gust of 45mph was recorded on the afternoon of the 24th. Water levels on freshwater marsh at record height, many pathways flooded. 190220 - 54 curlew hunched up in the shelter of a brisk SW breeze on the edge of Paradise lagoon. Single great white egret on the edge of the saltmarsh near Rimac (per comms Cliff Morrison) and a few minutes later seen flying and landing on the saltmarsh towards Paradise. Signs of first bushes and willows breaking into bud. 200220 - On foreshore golden plover 230, ringed plover 34, curlew 443, pied wagtail 8, over saltmarsh 2 barn owl, 4 hen harriers, 1 sparrowhawk. Birds in song, some very strongly, blue and great tits, dunnock, chaffinch, blackbird, wren, reed bunting, skylark and song thrush. 240220 - On Paradise lagoon 10 gadwall (6 males and 4 females), 21 curlew. A fine male hen harrier was hunting along the creeks of the saltmarsh and 32 little egrets feeding on the edge of the saltmarsh near Sea View. Tawny owl calling and Angle Shades moth caterpillar found at Sea View. 250220 - Barn owl hunting over the scrub near Sea View and later in the afternoon seen over the ditches near Sea View Farm. Four reed buntings near Sea View, male marsh harrier hunting over the saltmarsh. 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. 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/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. 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. Lichens workshop - Prof Mark Seaward - Saturday the 17th of October. Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele - 21st November. *** 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. 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 Last Week *** 10 Mail fails: lynnnocton, pamelapmapletoft, woodentopsdarter, geoffoldstonecottage, patwheatwspa, iainitomlinson, lnumw475, treefeller, jallinson, nicknickhall 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... 'Birdgirl' Mya-Rose Craig to get Bristol University honorary doctorate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-51561747 Underwater Photographer of the Year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-51633570 Red squirrels sniff out danger better than greys https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51637091 Device inspired by mangroves could help clear up flood water https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/21/device-inspired-mangroves-help-clear-flood-water Predators can learn what food to avoid from watching TV https://www.zmescience.com/science/predator-feeding-habits-social-35234/ 'Astonishing' blue whale numbers at South Georgia https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51553381 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/ Country diary: the lair of the blue-grey worm https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/25/country-diary-the-lair-of-the-blue-grey-worm Country diary: ugly evidence of a criminal 'sport' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/26/country-diary-ugly-evidence-of-a-criminal-sport ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/