============================================= || || 8th 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... *** Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. All appreciated. It's been a gusty weekend and the lime trees on The Green here have been dancing frantically in the wind. We are lucky they are still standing. There are some more windy days forecast for the coming weeks, so be prepared! If skies are clear there's a naked-eye comet in the pre-dawn sky: https://astronomynow.com/2020/07/07/comet-2020-f3-neowise-a-naked-eye-comet-visible-in-the-pre-dawn-sky/ https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-to-see-comet-c-2020-f3-neowise/ 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 so 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 Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes 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. The Forestry Commission website still 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." One reader reports hearing the car park is reopening, but please double check before driving there. A selection of useful and entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! Tiny Cleethorpes pub set to welcome back customers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53249915 Heckington Show 2020, 25th - 26th July, has been cancelled this year but they will be doing something on-line: https://www.2020virtualheckingtonshow.org/ World War Two Lancaster bomber takes off for first time this year https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-lincolnshire-53255080/ World War Two RAF Bomber Command 'matriarch' dies aged 99 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53318508 Coronavirus: Photographs capture 100 days of Skegness in lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53236406 Coronavirus: Testing sewage an 'easy win' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53257101 BTO-tracked Cuckoos heading south: PJ, Valentine and Carlton II. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Doncaster baby owl webcam 'banned by Facebook over sex and nudity rule' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-53320544 Why a Woodpecker Doesn't Bash Its Brains In - The Infinite Spider https://infinitespider.com/woodpecker-doesnt-bash-brain/ Boris Johnson's newt-counting claim questioned https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53276461 Black-browed Albatross searches Bempton cliffs for mate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-53282880 Rarity finders: Bearded Vulture in the West Midlands https://www.birdguides.com/articles/rare-birds/rarity-finders-bearded-vulture-in-the-west-midlands/ Yorkshire Dales bids for Dark Sky Reserve status. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-53253418 Woodland Trust's Ancient Trees page https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/ancient-trees/ I hope the Bulletins are keeping you informed and entertained. Please stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** This Year's National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend *** 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 – please keep your reports coming *** 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. Annette Faulkner *** 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/ *** 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 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.] 1/7 7 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Scaup fem at realignment, Donna Nook 2/7 2 Spoonbills, both ads, flew over Anderby Creek 14 Spoonbills, 9 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 3/7 Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe, NW of Grinsby Common Scoter drk, Toft Newton Reservoir 4/7 Glaucous Gull, in Britcom compound, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby Spotted Redshank near sea bank car park, Frampton Marsh Purple Heron by River Welland, Stamford water meadows - late report 5/7 2 Great White Egrets on new Saltmarsh, Short-eared Owl, ad male Black Redstart near Harvey's hide. Gibraltar Point 12 Spoonbills, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 6/7 Black-necked Grebe on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GP Black-necked Grebe ad, Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh Glaucous Gull, in Britcom compound, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby 7/7 Black-necked Grebe on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 8/7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/ The Len Pick Trust barn owl camera in Bourne. The 2 remaining chicks have now been ringed. Cobwebs over the webcam were cleared at the same time. 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 1/7/2020 Batwatch: Typical pattern here seems to be: Noctule activity starts 21.30hrs, 1-2 individuals @ 55kHz. Pipistrelle activity starts 21.40hrs, 1 individual @ 22kHz. On south side of Station Road at TF119694 Ragwort in garden - well infested with Cinnabar Moth caterpillars looking like a Boston United match! 3-Words: throat.meanings.valley https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/cinnabar Nearby a good growth on the pavement of Caper Spurge. Euphorbia lathyris L. https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000003725 2/7/2020 TF120694 Hedgehog visit approx 03.15hrs 6/7/2020 TF120694 2 Holly Blue butterflies inspecting our holly bush. 14.00hrs approx. Summer Chafer, Amphimallon solstitialis - a smaller, brown, hairy chafer. Parked up on a rose bush in garden at 15.30hrs. https://species.nbnatlas.org/species/NBNSYS0000141623 7/7/2020 2 bats detected at 21.40, echolocating at 20kHz and 55kHz, probably Noctule and Pipistrelle. Both did a couple of passes and disappeared. BOSTON (Garden by A16) June 2020 Kathleen Pearson I did BTO Garden BirdWatch on all thirty days in June, which was quite a good month for species of which 27 were seen. The highest number of species in one day was 18, which was the highest daily count since one of 20 in the winter. However the highest total of birds of any species in a day in the month were counts of 7 Goldfinches and Blackbirds. Of particular interest this month was the number of gulls coming together into the garden with 5 Herring Gulls and 6 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Also of interest were 2 Carrion Crows feeding 3 juveniles. Totals were:- Blackbird 7, Robin 3, Collared Dove 4, Pied Wagtail 1, Song Thrush 1, Greenfinch 3, Goldfinch 7, House Sparrow 5, Chaffinch 2, Dunnock 1, Herring Gull 5, Starling 6, Woodpigeon 5, Carrion Crow 5, Long-tailed Tit 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull 6, Magpie 2, Jackdaw 1, Pheasant 1, Black-headed Gull 3, Blue Tit 2, Blackcap 1, Great Tit 4, Wren 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Jay 1 and Great Spotted Woodpecker 1. Others:- Red Admiral, Small White, Large White, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell and Ringlet. Common Darter and Blue-tailed Damselfly. BOURNE Factory unit, Roman Bank, Bourne David Griffith 26/6/2020 2 Kingfishers dead, apparently flew into windows. GOSLINGS CORNER TF 144752 R & A Parsons 5/7/2020 10.00hrs approx Butterflies: White Admiral 1 Silver-washed Fritillary 1 Ringlet - frequent - in the hundreds Gatekeeper - common - 24+ Speckled wood - occasional - 8+ Small White - occasional 8+ Small Skipper - occasional 12+ also Blue-tailed damselfly Brown hawker dragonfly Buzzard seen and heard. Green Woodpecker heard HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 24/6/2020 Bat sp. 10.04pm Meadow brown 20+ TF521765 both sides of the verge (as reported for 22/6/2020)  Small tortoiseshells 2 25/6/2020 Wrens 6 - think fledglings, all jumped out of a very large pot I grow raspberries in 28/6/2020 Red admiral 1 - always early evening when sunny 30/6/2020 Bat sp. 1 9.35pm - usual as much earlier than last sighting on 24/6/2020 above Bombus lapidarius 1 on thistle Hedgehog 1 11.00pm TF511763 - very exciting as it was just inside my neighbour's garden 1/7/2020 Collared doves 2 Greenfinch 2 Great tits 4 Woodpigeon 1 - in and out of a gap in beech hedge and presumed to have a nest there HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 2/7/2020 Bat sp. None seen Greenfinch 2 Ladybirds 7-spot 8 on one nettle plant Red admiral 1 3/7/2020 Robin 1 fledgling 4/7/2020 Bat sp. 2 definitely, 4 possibly 09.45-10.05pm - a very warm evening and they were flying lower than on 6/7/2020, a cooler evening. Chaffinch 1 5/7/2020 On this very windy day, I was surprised to see these butterflies but they were struggling to fly: Meadow brown 1 Small tortoiseshell 1 6/7/2020 Bat sp. 2 9.45-10pm Cinnabar caterpillars 14 on 3 ragwort plants in my lane Common red soldier beetle 1 sharing plant with cinnabars above Ringlet 1 First this year for me 7/7/2020 Goldfinch 2 drinking from bird bath LOUTH Stewton Lane, Louth C. Brady 1/7/2020 Three little bats (Pipistrelle?) flying round the garden and looked to be going in and out of our old chicken hut. This was at about 10pm. Plenty of insects about for them. RIMAC TF 470914 Nick Adams 4th July 2020 Male marsh harrier quartering salt marsh. Presume it found prey as it suddenly dropped and didn't re-emerge. Several smaller birds including skylarks 'flushed' as it passed over. RIPPINGALE Observer’s garden n Rippingale TF103282 Ian Misselbrook 6th July 2020 Pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding one recently fledges young. Goldcrests also nested but I am not sure how many young. 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker and one young frequently on the peanut feeder. One adult Hedgehog. 1 Muntjac 2 Grey Squirrels. 1 medium sized bat. Larger than a Pippistrelle but not as big as a Noctule bat. 2 Red Admiral Butterflies and one Small White. 5 adult Smooth Newts and a few newt tadpoles. Some frog tadpoles have become froglets but many others still large tadpoles. At least 3 large dragonfly nymphs in the pod – probably Southern Hawkers. STENIGOT Near Stenigot TF 270817 1st July2020 Nick Adams At least 4 corn buntings calling and flying between telegraph poles and wires. I had assumed unidentified LBJ until hearing call and then noticed characteristic dangling of legs in flight. Also quail (number unknown) calling from behind hedge. Not seen. THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 30/06/20 My first Ringlet of year 01/07/20 Blackbird x 3 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Kestrel at least 2 young looking out of nest box, Owston Ferry Warping Drain Magpie x 3 Robin x 2 Skylark x 1 Stock Dove x 1 Swallow x 4 (1 on nest) Swift x 6 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 11 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 3 fledged young Brown Hare roadkill SK804997 Common Frog x 1 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 10 Ringlet x 8 Small Tortoiseshell x 9 07/07/20 Blackbird x 1 adult and at least 6 fully fledged young Blue Tit x 1 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Swift x 35 Tree Sparrow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellow Wagtail x 4 young BUTTERFLIES; Essex Skipper x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Large White x 2 Meadow Brown x 6 Red Admiral x 1 Ringlet x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 8 Small White x 4 MOTHS; Clouded Border x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 Green Shieldbug x 1 (Sam Hiner) WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 Jane Ostler 1 - 7 July 2020 Nature Trail and Verges Plants In Flower. Common and Greater Knapweeds and Field Scabious are at their best creating a haze of blues in the limestone grass areas. What they have in common is an attraction to a wide range of insects. St John's Worts, Agrimony Wild Mignonette, Ladies' Bedstraw, the first Wild Parsnip flowers and the great variety of Dandelion like flowers mean that the dominant colour is yellow. Some of the Composites are challenging to identify. Others like the low growing Mouse Ear Hawkweed  with the hair lined-leaves from which it gets its name, and the Sow thistles with gland-tipped hairs and distinctive leaves, are more straight forward. Every year I have to revise with help of keys but sometimes I wait for the fruits and often finish up with just Hawkweed with its 8 divisions and microspecies. Closer examination of a group of St John's Wortss showed them to be Hypericum maculatum, Imperforate St John's Wort with no apparent hybridisation with Hypericum perforatum. What had probably separated them out was that they were in a patch of clay soil in an otherwise limestone area. Mallows , Wild Basil , Wood Sage and the first Thistles provide some mauves. The White flowers in the limestone areas are Bladder Cam[pion, Wild Carrot , Hedge Bedstraw, Eyebright and the dainty Fairy Flax. In less diverse grassland the Upright Hedge Parsley has replaced the Hogweed, which in turn replaced the Cow Parsley as the most common Umbellifer.  In several hedgerows there is an extravagant flowering of Honeysuckle this year Insects. No Marbled White Butterflies seen so far this year. Last year was the first time they had been seen on verges and on the Nature Trail. Commas on 5/7/20 were paired up along a south facing hedge in a brief spell of sunshine. There have been plenty of Small whites, Meadow Browns and Ringlets. A few Gatekeepers still about and an occasional Ringlet. Peacock caterpillars had dropped from their webbing on Nettle and were searching for stems on which to pupate. Adults of 7 spot Burnets, Cinnabar Moths, Chimney Sweep, and Ermines. One newly emerged Elephant Hawk Moth on Nature Trail. (Several reported from gardens where the caterpillars have been on fucshia) A photo of a hoverfly allowed me to identify it as Helophilus pendulus. The Heliopilus spp. are difficult to separate as they have similar yellow and black stripes but this one was showing a hind leg which has a pale middle section on tarsus which distinguishes it. A photo was also sufficient to name a soldier beetle Cantharis rustica. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Back in action - click to read. 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 1st – 7th July 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Note: Unusual very strong south-westerly winds for the time of year observed on the 5th (gust 39.6mph) and 6th (gust 37.6mph) but gradually decreasing during the day, near Sea View. 010720 - Paradise lagoon 4 black-tailed godwits, 2 little ringed plovers. Single tree creeper at Sea View. 020720 - 4 mistle thrushes at Sea View, on Paradise lagoon 3 little ringed plover, 3 avocet, 3 black-tailed godwits and 23 curlew flew west towards Elm House farm grassland. Coal tit in the Brickyard Lane area. 040720 – Crossbill in the Brickyard Lane area. 050720 - Comma butterfly near Sea View. 060720 - 2 swifts over Sea View. 070720 - Paradise lagoon little ringed plover and common sandpiper, single kingfisher along the Eau and 14 little egrets on the saltmarsh, 1 tree creeper and a hummingbird hawkmoth at Sea View. Flowers: swathes of various hawkbits, hawksbeard, lady’s bedstraw, common and lesser meadowrue, meadowsweet, common centuary, restharrow, vipers bugloss, pyramidal orchid, marsh thistle, great mullein, self-heal, houndstongue, sea lavender and sea rocket. Butterflies: red admiral, small tortoiseshell, small copper, gatekeeper, meadow brown, small skipper, ringlet, small heath, comma, small, green veined and large whites. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ Field Studies Council ~ sale still on https://www.field-studies-council.org/product-category/publications/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ For the geologists... *** Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group *** https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ *** The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf *** British Geological Survey at Keyworth *** https://www.bgs.ac.uk/ *** Stone Circles - for archaeologists really - check the Lincolnshire list *** http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/index.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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... Exotic frog found among bananas at Llanelli supermarket https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53300142 Cold Case Whithorn sheds new light on 'cradle of Christianity' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-53267412 Seahorses' return threatened by Dorset visitor influx https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-53233340 Cerne Abbas Giant: Snails show chalk hill figure 'not prehistoric' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-53313064 Feathers offer clue to capercaillie's survival https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-53269020 Dover clifftops 'buzzing with wildlife' after National Trust takeover https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/04/dover-clifftops-buzzing-with-wildlife-after-national-trust-takeover Spring sunshine brings butterfly abundance to fill 'that hole in our soul' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/26/spring-sunshine-brings-butterfly-abundance-to-fill-that-hole-in-our-soul Country diary: are all our swifts out for the count? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/30/country-diary-are-all-our-swifts-out-for-the-count Country diary: a fearsome insect assassin has moved in to our log pile https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/01/country-diary-a-fearsome-insect-assassin-has-moved-in-to-our-log-pile Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/01/more-than-350-elephants-dead-in-mysterious-mass-die-off-botswana-aoe Have you noticed a Flying Ant Day this year? https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html Follow tracked cuckoos movements on this BTO link: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Enjoy your week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/