============================================= || || 1st July 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... *** Welcome to July. The weather forecast looks somewhat changeable, A mixed outlook with some wet and sunny spells with reasonably warm temperatures. Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. Much appreciated. It is great to see over 70% of you have opened your Bulletins, and gratifying to note how many of you took the time to click on some of the suggested links. Please keep reporting any bats seen - see Annette Faulkner's bat request further down. Have you noticed a Flying Ant Day this year? Please tell us if you do. https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html July is when cuckoos set off south, so bookmark and follow their progress in 2020 on this BTO link: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Swifts are being reported in thousands flying over Gibraltar Point. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/natures-home-magazine/birds-and-wildlife-articles/migration/migratory-bird-stories/swift-migration/ BTO Swift Facts https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob7950.htm If you are not yet following the Len Pick Trust Barn Owls chicks, watch: https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project Heads up for A Wild Year - series 1 - Starts Friday 3rd July. Episode 1: The Pembrokeshire Coast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kl8y We seem to be keeping up with the cancellations and postponements and the latest steps to ease the CO-19 restrictions whilst keeping as safe as possible. It seems we shall be living with a risk of Covid-19 for a while yet and will have to take that risk into account in all aspects of our lives. When eventually decided, we will announce any resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, LNU meetings webpages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking. Things could change for better or worse as the pandemic evolves. Remain alert and keep up appropriate measures to reduce your risks. Please let me know of any interesting local "re-openings" readers might enjoy. Other wildlife organisations wishing to publicise any changes are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. Always glad to help. The National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend is going ahead this year. Heckington Show 2020, 25th - 26th July, has been cancelled this year but they will be doing something on-line: Visit the Virtual Heckington Show for a taster: https://www.2020virtualheckingtonshow.org/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. RSPB Returning to reserves: Frampton Marsh & Freiston Short are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Please note the message from Martin Francis at the end of this section about RSPB Grimsby Local Group's cancellation of Meetings and Trips. The Forestry Commission says: Please read our guide to visiting the forest in the summer of 2020. https://www.forestryengland.uk/news/covid-19-stay-home-please-do-not-visit-the-nations-forests Forestry work is underway at Chambers Farm Woods. Please don't drive there until you have confirmed it is open again. The Forestry Commission website currently says: "From 29 May the car park at Chambers Farm Wood is closed until further notice; this is due to active harvesting at the site." A selection of useful and entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! Coronavirus: Lincolnshire Show held online due to lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53165247 Other Coronovirus stories at the end in "..and finally" if you can bear it! Flu virus with 'pandemic potential' found in China - another one to watch? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53218704 International Bomber Command Centre saved with emergency fund https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53204426 Cloud cuckoo land? How one bird's epic migration stunned scientists https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/26/cloud-cuckoo-land-how-one-birds-epic-migration-stunned-scientists-onon-aoe First Viking ship excavation in a century begins in Norway https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53204948 NASA Scientist Simulates Kaleidoscope of Sunsets on Other Worlds https://youtu.be/vrLfHv6sze0 How to help your garden wildlife in a heatwave - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/how-to-help-your-garden-wildlife-in-the-heatwave/ Shoots banned at 'birthplace' of wildfowling - on The Humber Estuary https://www.birdguides.com/news/shoots-banned-at-birthplace-of-wildfowling/ Why is UK recycling being dumped by Turkish roadsides? Horrific. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-53181948/ Boy, 12, followed down mountain by brown bear - in Italy - he kept his cool... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-52803872/ I hope the Bulletins are keeping you in touch and entertained. Please stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group's Meetings and Trips *** Martin Francis writes: It is with much regret, but not a lot of surprise, that I have learned this week from the RSPB that all the Local Group's Meetings and Trips must be suspended until 31st December. There will be a review before the end of the year when, hopefully, we will learn when activities can resume. There will be further announcements like this one nearer the time. Best wishes - Stay Safe *** This Year's NWD Watch *** Dave Miller writes: National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend is going ahead this year. Obviously this will not be the usual public event, but I thought that with such a great group of dedicated volunteers we could still get plenty of effort data, and who knows maybe some whales, dolphins or porpoises for the Lincolnshire coast. The “weekend” is spread over nine days: 25th July until 2nd of August, and we do have a long coastline. Please do not arrange to do any sea watches with anyone outside your immediate family or bubble, and follow all government social distancing guidelines when out on the coast. However there is the opportunity to pick a time and location that suits you best, watch the sea for as little or as long as you like. I have the usual land-based effort form if you would like one. If you can get involved, after your watch fill this out and then send me a scanned copy, or if that is not possible just type in the details on an email to me. I will then collate the data and do a report for the Lincolnshire coast. Dave Miller Further information on the national picture can be found at https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ *** BATS – can readers help? *** Annette Faulkner wrote: First, a big thank you to those of you have been sending your bat sightings in. Could I persuade some other contributors to go into your gardens and see if there are any bats around, from about 15 mins after sunset for half an hour. I’m more than happy to take records from all summer, but negative reports are at least as important as positive ones – I’ve had a few ‘Where are my bats?’ enquiries this year already. *** LNU Events Diary *** Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes, including LNU Workshops and Drop-in sessions and Indoor Meetings. For details of all LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups *** https://roadworks.org/ *** Met Office Severe Warnings *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - sign up for your area *** 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 - are you at risk? *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ Lyme Disease UK https://lymediseaseuk.com/lyme-disease/ *** July 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 - Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids on 29/30th. https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates Look out for noctilucent clouds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/53137927 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 24/6 Quail male singing in barley at Carrington, near Boston Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe, Grimsby Curlew Sandpiper south end on scrape by sea wall, Frampton Marsh 25/6 7 Black-necked Grebes, 4 ads and 3 young, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Frampton Marsh 3 Wood Sandpipers, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness Great White Egret, Ness Pit, Far Ings 26/6 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 1 young, adult Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh Bittern, Boultham Mere Sandwich Tern, Thorpe Lake, Whisby 27/6 Garganey drk, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 6 Black-necked Grebes, 3 ads 3 young, Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 28/6 16,000 Swifts flew south over Gibraltar Point 2 Turtle Doves near car park, Frampton Marsh Glaucous Gull at Pyewipe NW of Grimsby Garganey drk, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 29/6 46,026 Swifts flew south over Gibraltar Point Glaucous Gull at Pyewipe NW of Grimsby 30/6 Great White Egret, Osprey, Far Ings Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Glaucous Gull at Pyewipe NW of Grimsby Turtle Dove, Kirkby-on-Bain GPs ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 WEBCAMS Bob Sheppard has sent the following updates on his favourite webcams. Loch Arkaig ospreys are good value. The three chicks are nearly five weeks old and a lot of trout are being brought to the nest. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/ The Len Pick Trust barn owl camera in Bourne is covered in cobwebs. Apologies for the poor picture quality. Around lunchtime this Friday the three chicks will be ringed and the camera cleaned. The eldest chick is already over three weeks old. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 CJ Wildlife cameras still have chicks in the following nests: barn owl, little owl, white stork, spoonbill and blackbird. https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** 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. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. Include the time too if relevant - e.g. for Bat records. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 24/6/2020 Bats: note - my IDs are based on echolocation frequency. My bat detector is old [so am I] and my records have not been confirmed by a "smart" detector or expert! However, both species have been recorded previously before by experienced batters. Noctule activity over the village started with a brief 22kHz signal at 21.40hrs and by 21.40 there were 3+ bats visible, high over the garden all giving the Noctule-type sound. The regular Pipistrelles were absent. 25/6/2020 Bat detector on a windowsill picked up Noctule hunting activity on 20kHz between 21.50 and 22.00hrs. No Pipistrelle activity detected. 26/6/2020 Bat detector picked up Noctule hunting activity on 20kHz between 21.50 and 22.00hrs and also Pipistrelle activity between 21.30 and 22.00hrs. 30/6/2020 Many bees working the lavender included B. terrestris [many], B hypnorun [1] and "Carder" B. pascuorum [3-4], working clover: B. lapidarius [12+]. Noctule sounds at 22kHz from 21.25 to 22.00 with one bat seen high over the garden and in addition to the characteristic chip-chop call an additional, more "mewing" kind of sound at about 22.00 - still in the 22kHz range and linked to the more familiar racket. 2 Pipistrelles seen and heard at 55kHx from 21.40 to 22.00 hunting low within the perimeter of the garden and interacting in flight. No hedgehog on trailcam last night - only an unknown local cat! Note: review of past video footage revealed a 2nd hedgehog we had overlooked. On 23rd/24th June 2020 an adult hedgehow was filmed. On more careful scrutiny a 2nd individual curled in a ball was visible next to a large terracotta garden frog! BOSTON TF338441 Tracey Lenton 24/06/2020 Sun fly Helophilus pendulus - 2 I heard, then saw, 2 of these flying around my pond and one settled on the leaf blade of water iris plants. I captured the moment on camcorder which I use to record my sightings and is very useful for identification purposes. My lawn is full of (welcomed!) daisies, there are buttercups, white clover which has an amazing scent and some purple self-heal. The day ended with a Buff Ermine moth and a beautiful crescent moon. Bumble bees seen this month: Carder Tree Buff tailed Red tailed COLLEGE WOOD, near Aply TF119753 R & A Parsons 28/6/2020 at approx 10am Butterflies seen: White Admiral 7 Red Admiral 4 Speckled Wood - 3+ Meadow brown - many Blue-tailed Damselfly GRANTHAM M.E. Ellis 20.06.20 Managed to film briefly a water vole grazing on the bank of the River Witham by the Avenue Road bridge in the middle of town. 26.06.20 Watched approx. 8 swifts flying above Grantham town centre about 9.00pm I often walk by the river. Recently sitting on the only bench there I wondered about the very large girth of the tree next to it. Looking it up I discovered it is a London Plane and old enough to be a Notable Tree on the Woodland Trust list of important trees. Every day a school day! HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes We’ve just had a visit from a young hare. It ran across the decking, outside the dining room, several times. We even got a very blurred photo! Can only think it lost it’s way from the field at the back of the house. 30 June 2020 The young hare has appeared again on the decking. On another issue, I found several pieces of stripped bark from my field maple on the ground. About three feet of bark has been stripped from one branch. I can only think it’s caused by squirrels but I’ve not seen this before. Editor adds: When we lived near Dogdyke a farmer neighbour told us in the '90s that adult hares had been changing their behaviour and were making their "forms" closer to his farm house. He was seeing leverets about the place more frequently. His explanation was the recovery in the local buzzard population. The proximity of humans had become something of a safety measure. Anecdotal but it's a good theory. LINCOLN - Danesgate / Steep Hill Grid reference: SK976716 Reporters name: Rebecca Longbottom Date: 23/6/2020 Time: [needed for bats] 21.30 Report: 2 bats sighted. There is usually just one. I do not know what species they are. Notes of interest: We have seen the one bat quite regularly recently but I think it made a later appearance than last year. REDHILL LWT Reserve TF265806 (nominal) Richard Fox 26.06.2020 Marbled White 50+ throughout the reserve Meadow Brown 10+ Ringlet 10+ Small Heath 10+ Chimney Sweeper moth Six-spot Burnet moth 10+ Common spotted Orchid several throughout reserve Pyramidal Orchid especially in Coronation Meadow THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 17/06/20 Blackbird x 1 feeding young Blackcap x 1 Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 1 adult 4 young Mute Swan x 1 low over Thurnholmes Robin x 5 young Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 22/06/20 Blackbird x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Hobby x 1 flew north, low over Thurnholmes Kestrel x 1 Robin x 4 fledged young Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 on nest Swallow x 4 Swift x 17 Tree Sparrow x 6 Wood Pigeon x 12 BUTTERFLIES; Common Blue x 1 Meadow Brown x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 8 Small White x 1 MOTHS; Barred Straw x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 Small Magpie x 1 White Ermine x 1 Yellow Shell x 1 23/06/20 Barn Owl x 1 23:00hrs Blackbird x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Kestrel x 1 Robin x 6 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 4 Swift x 15 Tree Sparrow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 BUTTERFLIES; Green-veined White x 3 Large Skipper x 1 Meadow Brown x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 10 MV Moth Trap 21:30hrs - 01:00hrs Beautiful Hook-tip x 5 Brimstone Moth x 7 Common Emerald x 1 Early Thorn x 1 Elephant Hawkmoth x 2 Flame x 3 Large Yellow Underwing x 2 Marbled Minor x 2 Middle Barred Minor x 2 Privet Hawkmoth x 2 Silver Y x 1 Smoky Wainscot x 1 24/06/20 Southern Hawker x 1 25/06/20 Heron x 1 east over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 Green-veined White x 4 Large white x 1 Meadow Brown x 15 Small Tortoiseshell x 21 26/06/20 Barn Owl x 1 01:15hrs Blackbird x 3 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Quail x 1 calling from long grasses all morning Skylark x 2 Swallow x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Meadow Brown x 6 Small Tortoiseshell x 13 Barred Straw x 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing x 1 Small Magpie x 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly x 1 28/06/20 Riband Wave x 1 Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 4 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Robin x 4 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 4 Swift x 12 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 2 WOODHALL SPA Chris du Feu 26 June, 2020 c. 13:30 Red Kite over fields in TF2265 just north-east of Woodhall Spa. WOOLSTHORPE AND COLSTERWORTH SK 92 Jane Ostler 23-30 June 2020 Reports coming in suggest birds of prey are visiting gardens more often. Sparrowhawks, which have always taken advantage of feeding stations designed for small birds, are no doubt more active now that they have young to feed. A Kestrel swooping down into a garden (onto "a pigeon") is surely very unusual. Red Kites have learnt to look for food in some gardens ( most of the local landfill site is now filled in). A buzzard was discovered in a hedge this week. Muntjak deer are now seen, not only on the Nature Trail and surrounding fields but in built up areas, including one with its young. A work party clearing rubbish in the River Witham found a bullhead fish wrapped inside an old coat and sent me a photo. Also trapped in the coat was a single Jenkin's Spire Shell, very common now but I remember learning at college (many years ago!) that 'until the late 19th century this little snail was confined to brackish still water'. Extraordinary. Last week I was sent a photo from a local garden of 7-spot ladybird pupae which were light orange. On 29th June I was sent another photo from same garden of blackish pupae. This fits in with a known adaptation - "light pupae are produced at high temperatures and dark ones at low temperatures. Lately we have all had to contend with high temperatures followed by a drop by more than 10C to below average temperatures. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Reserves including RSPB and LWT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Short are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. "On hold". http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 24th – 30th June 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Note: The recent rainfall has freshened up the vegetation on the reserve and of note on the dune grassland: lady’s bedstraw, pyramidal orchids, common restharrow, on the freshwater marsh: common valerian, marsh helleborine and on the saltmarsh: sea lavender and sea plantain are all looking good. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 240620 - Single garden warbler at Sea View 250620 - Paradise lagoon 55 black-headed gulls, 7 lapwing and 10 house martins with swifts feeding over lagoon. At Sea View: 1 great spotted woodpecker, 2 bullfinch and 2 mistle thrush feeding on abundance of cherries. 6 oystercatcher and 2 curlew at Skidbrooke Ridge. At Toby’s Hill southern marsh orchid, common twayblade and bee orchid in flower. 260620 - Black-headed gulls 62, lapwing 8 and redshank 22 on Paradise lagoon. Noticeable movement of swifts over Sea View during mid-day with at least 200+ in two hours. In moth trap at Sea View: beautiful hooktip, brown rustic, burnished brass, buff ermine, barred straw, bright line brown eye, brown line bright eye, crescent, common wave, common white wave, common emerald, cinnabar, clouded silver, common footman, coxcomb prominent, clay, common pug, dark arches, double square spot, engrailed, fanfoot, flame, green pug, heart and dart, light emerald, light arches, large yellow underwing, mottled beauty, marbled minor, mottled rustic, privet hawkmoth, poplar grey, peppered moth, poplar hawkmoth, peach blossom, rustic, riband wave, shoulder striped wainscot, setaceous hebrew character, small elephant hawkmoth, single dotted wave, sharp angled peacock, sandy carpet, small fanfooted wave, white line dart and uncertain. On Paradise Lagoon 6 avocet, 8 black-tailed godwit, 1 green sandpiper, 1 grey heron, 8 lapwing, 16 redshank and 2 coot with 1 chick. 270620 - On Paradise lagoon 24 black-tailed godwits. 280620 - 46 black-tailed godwits and 2 little ringed plovers on Paradise lagoon. Swifts continually moving south during the morning. 290620 – 11 sandwich terns, 54 great black-backed gulls and 2 lesser black-backed gulls on foreshore. 300620 - Single siskin at Sea View. 4 bats flying around the Churchill Lane area. On Paradise Lagoon: 24 black headed gull, 8 mallard, 2 little ringed plover, 6 black- tailed godwit, 1 avocet, 2 coot and 2 pied wagtail. 010720 - 294 common scoter counted close to shore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forestry Commission Coronavirus information. The FC says: "Please read our guide to visiting the forest in the summer of 2020." https://www.forestryengland.uk/coronavirus-visitor-information Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. Examples: SNIPE DALES 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Why not apply for one? The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - CANCELLATION of events and activities *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Due to Covid-19, all events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. LLP Project Partners and related links: Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Love Lincolnshire Plants: A plant archive for future generations https://lnu.org/lincolnshire-plants-past-and-future/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society https://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences blog https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: Following Government guidance and in the interests of health and safety, this year's field meetings are cancelled up until the end of May with immediate effect and until further notice. For further information please contact your County Recorder(s). sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** BSBI Website: *** https://bsbi.org/ *** Natural History Museum - Botany Collections *** https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/botany-collections.html *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas - download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com Please have a look at https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php for an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. Or you can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Please include Species, Date, Time, Location, numbers as a minimum (Other useful information includes Temperature and Weather conditions.) *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** 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 instances may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. *** Codes of Conduct *** RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.pdf [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Indoor Meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. Next Meetings: "All LNU meetings are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Field Meetings: CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: jill.hall - soft bounce - 554 message not allowed. ....and finally... Lenses made with spider silk could help take pictures inside the body https://www.newscientist.com/article/2247428 Coronavirus: UK 'on knife edge' ahead of lockdown easing, scientist warns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53212435 Coronavirus: Worst could be yet to come, WHO warns https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-53227219 Lake District rangers find hundreds illegally camping and partying https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-53210470 Coronavirus: 'The sheer amount of beach rubbish is colossal' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-53177188 Enjoy your week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/