============================================= || || 15th 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... *** It is wonderful to see 70% of readers opening their Bulletins each week. I hope you are finding the records useful and topical news stories of interest. Thanks to all this week's contributors. Your input keeps the Bulletin worth reading. The sheep have completed a second grazing of the churchyard next door, revealing a dramatic "moonscape" of large ant hills. This is a major foraging ground for local jackdaws and starlings, and the church is the mustering point for black-headed gulls, constantly on the lookout for a possible meal. It's time to look out for flying ants! https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html We managed to spot Comet Neowise the night of the 11th July. In the northern sky, it was not far above the horizon. The constellations to look for are The Plough and Cassiopeia [The Big W] . Imagine a line drawn between the two, take the halfway point and run your eye [or binocs] downward until you find it - a fuzzy object with a long tail trailing upwards away from the sun. Very satisfying to see a REAL comet. An added bonus was a hunting barn owl. "Comet Neowise has been spotted by stargazers across the UK as it heads past Earth. " https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment Bob Sheppard wrote on 6th July: "Only one BO chick left in the tower. It got a big vole last night. The youngest didn't! It looked well this morning but went downhill from lunchtime and died at 9pm tonight. Barn owls are 75% down in Lincs this year but they will bounce back. The population of adults remains stable from year to year. 2021 could be a bumper year!" Bob then updated me as follows on 9th July. "Our disastrous breeding season has ended with the death of the last surviving chick. We have had constant drizzle for the past two days in the Bourne area and the adults have struggled to feed their young. When the grass is wet the parents birds get soaked every time they dive into it to catch a rodent. Barn owls don't have waterproof feathers! So last night only one mouse was brought in. This is truly "nature red in tooth and claw!" The adults can now build up their strength for next year when we hope for better things. We wish all our viewers well over the coming months. Thirty nine countries have been represented this year. Stay safe and we hope to see you back at the end of January when the camera will be turned on again." A big thank you to Bob and the Len Pick Trust for allowing us to have a privileged look into the private life of the Bourne Barn Owls. 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. Lincoln Christmas Market 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus fears. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53347623 Heckington Show 2020, 25th - 26th July, has been cancelled this year but they will be doing something on-line: https://www.2020virtualheckingtonshow.org/ RSPB Returning to reserves: Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore 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 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. 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. One reader reports that the car park is reopening, but please double check before driving there. https://www.forestryengland.uk/chambers-farm-wood A selection of useful and entertaining links sent in by readers. Please click on a few! BBC's A Wild Year Series 1.2 - The Fens - in case you missed it. Worth watching. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000kjrl/a-wild-year-series-1-2-the-fens 'Incredible' large rare vulture spotted in the Peak District - Wow! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-53383387 Bransby Horses reopens after losing £300,000 during lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53332636 Twenty tonnes of plastic waste dumped at Norton Disney farm - maddening https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53340788 Dame Vera Lynn: Spitfire flypast marks funeral - BBMF https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-53337459 England's future water supplies at 'serious risk' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53351401 Natural solutions boosted to help prevent floods https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53396977 How bird life may be affected by roads – and what to do about it https://theconversation.com/how-bird-life-may-be-affected-by-roads-and-what-to-do-about-it-142039 Fire destroys 500-year-old Whiteleaved Oak on Malvern Hills https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-53328855 Coronavirus: Truffle farmer can't sell £30k harvest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-shropshire-53337924/ Bison to be introduced into Canterbury woodland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-53349929 Bat found in car in Hartlepool after 500-mile journey [Not a monkey, then!] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-53390966 New invertebrate photography competition launched https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/new-invertebrate-photography-competition-launched/ Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. All very much appreciated. 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 final reminder *** 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 also: 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 *** 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 *** 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 Martin Francis 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 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 7/7 Black-necked Grebe on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 8/7 Glaucous Gull in Britcom compound, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby Black-necked Grebe, 5 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes Black-necked Grebe on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 9/7 Black-necked Grebe on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs Spoonbill on Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Frampton Marsh Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes 5 Spoonbills, Gibraltar Point Glaucous Gull in Britcom compound, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby Rose-coloured Starling in garden, Mablethorpe 10/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 3 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Rose-coloured Starling at The Boulevard on rooftops, Mablethorpe Black-necked Grebe on Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 9 Spoonbills, Gibralter Point 11/7 Rose-coloured Starling on roof by Fire Station tower, Mablethorpe Caspian Tern, Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, 4 Spotted Redshanks, 6 Black-necked Grebes, 4 Spoonbills, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Alkborough Flats 12/7 Rose-coloured Starling on roof by Fire Station tower, Mablethorpe Later reported in council yard behind station Caspian Tern, Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Black-necked Grebes, 3 ads + juv, 4 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Later - no sign of Caspian Gull/ Quail male flew over Manthorpe, north of Grantham Turtle Dove singing, Woodhall Spa airfield 2+ Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Spotted Redshank, Killingholme Haven 13/7 Rose-coloured Starling on grass behind Fire Station, Mablethorpe No sign of Caspian Tern but Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 14/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, 4 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Caspian Tern, Huttoft Bank 15/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, 2+ Black-necked Grebes, 7 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Most of the recommended webcams will soon be finished for the season. CJ Wildlife have just barn owls and white storks still in the nest. https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams The three osprey chicks at Loch Arkaig will soon be fledging. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/ Osprey names: Dame Vera, Capt Tom and Doddie Weir in running https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-53374397 The Len Pick Trust owl chicks all failed. It is a very poor season in Lincolnshire for barn owls. http://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? 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 Correction from last week - frequencies were the wrong way round! Thanks for Richard Fox for the correction. "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 @ 20kHz. Pipistrelle activity starts 21.40hrs, 1 individual @ 55kHz." 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. 10/7/2020 Hedgehog droppings in garden. Winged black garden ants noted in a disturbed nest under a rock. 11/7/2020 Common Ground beetle – found on kitchen floor - returned to garden. Hedgehog 2149 - 22.40hrs on Trailcam. also TF124708 Barn owl hunting 10.30 on Wragby Road verge B1202 near King Hill. BLUE LAGOON, Flixborough Industrial estate around SE8814 A.Primavera 28/06/2020 Plants seen in flower: Knotgrass Perforate St John's wort Musk-mallow Yellow loosestrife Scarlet pimpernel Biting stonecrop Raspberry Smooth tare Black Medick Sand lucerne Great willowherb Small-flowered evening-primrose Upright hedge parsley Hemlock Common centaury Yellow-wort Marsh thistle Musk thistle Pyramidal orchid Common spotted x southern marsh orchid Yorkshire fog grass seen 6-spot burnet moth CALLANS LANE WOOD 11th July 2020 Callans Lane Wood 4 Silver-washed Fritillary 6 Large Skippers 4 Small Skippers 1 Red Admiral 6 Peacocks 1 Small Tortoiseshell 1 Comma 20+ Meadow Brown 20+ Ringlets 4 Large Whites 10+ Small Whites 2 Brown Hawker Dragonflies 1 Southern Hawker 1 Common Darter Notable birds: 1 Nuthatch 1 Marsh Tit 2 Ravens 3 Bullfinches 1 Tawny Owl – calling at 9am. COCKLODE WOOD/GREAT WEST WOOD (track between the two) TF107765 Richard Fox 13.07.2020 Comma Meadow brown 10+ Peacock 4 Purple hairstreak 3 Red admiral 2 Ringlet 10+ Small white 3 White admiral 3 Marmalade Hoverfly numerous! COLLEGE WOOD, near Aply TF119753 R & A Parsons 11/7/2020 at approx 15.00hrs Butterflies seen: White Admiral 4 Red Admiral 4 Speckled Wood - 3+ Meadow brown - many Ringlet - many Comma - 3+ Large White 3+ 3+ Brown Hawker dragonflies Common Lizard on woodpile Common Valerian - Valeriana officinalis - found by AP, determined by Jane Ostler CROWLE MOOR SE 751 152 A.Primavera 19/06/2020 Heard nightjar - 2 churring males DUNSBY WOODS 10th July 2020 Edge of Dunsby Wood TF087263 Ian Misselbrook 1 Black Hairstreak on thistle flower close to a Blackthorn bush. 2 Essex Skippers - my first this year 2 Large Skippers 8 Gatekeepers – my first this year © 50 Meadow Brown © 30 Ringlet 1 Comma 4 Peacocks 2 Small Tortoiseshells 3 Red Admirals 4 Large White © 30 Small Whites 1 Green-veined White 3 Brown Hawker Dragonflies 1 Southern Hawker 1 Common Darter EPWORTH TURBARY RESERVE SE 757037 A.Primavera 02/07/2020 purple hairstreak (female) HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes Monday 14 June 2020 I’ve just been watching (6.30pm) a large number of swifts (50+) flying around overhead. Never seen so many before. It pays to look up! Also seen our bats flying round the house on the past two evenings, around 9.30pm. MARKET/MIDDLE RASEN (OWN GARDEN) TF107897 Richard Fox 12.07.22020 Max numbers throughout the day Blackbird 7 inc. 2 juv. Blue tit 5 Carrion crow 2 Chaffinch 5 Collared dove 2 Dunnock 4 Goldfinch 2 Great tit 2 Greenfinch 2 Jackdaw 12 (The crazy gang!) Magpie 2 Pied wagtail Robin 3 inc. 1 juv. Rook Stock dove Wood pigeon 5 Barn owl fly through at 1950 & 2210 Tawny owl on ridge tiles 2245 Common pipistrelle 3 2148 to 2210 Cucumber spider (my first) Grey squirrel 3 RISBY WARREN around SE 929142 A.Primavera 03/07/2020 Sand Leek SOUTHREY WOOD TF12911 68189 Ian Dunn 11.07.20 Silver washed fritillaries x 2 White admirals x 2 SANDILANDS, SUTTON-ON-SEA Ian Whitaker 11/07/2020 Hummingbird Hawkmoth visiting pelargoniums and scabious in garden this morning WALESBY MOOR TF116 914 Richard Fox 08.07.2020 Comma Large Skipper 5 Purple hairstreak f (photo) Ringlet 50+ Small White 2 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK 908242 - SK917243 12/7/2020 Jane Ostler 5 Marbled White Butterflies. These were recorded here for the first time last year. The shed skin of a Grass Snake in the area where one is seen crossing over the road to a Grass field. A Peregrine Falcon heard (a squeaking, squealing sound) and then seen flying overhead with its characteristic flapping flight followed by a glide. Swifts flying previous to this - no sudden increase in numbers which usually heralds the emergence of young. Rabbits are back , evidence of them and then one seen briefly in the bushes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Shore 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 8th – 14th July 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings:   070720 – 4 buzzards circling low together, 2 oystercatcher, 1 treecreeper, 1 great-spotted woodpecker at Sea View 080720 - Grey wagtail on bank of the Eau near Paradise and 2 weasels at Sea View. 090720 - 21 teal on Paradise lagoon, 5 swifts over Sea View. 100720 - Single whimbrel heard and 18 sandwich terns going north over sea. Along the edge of the Eau: 4 common sandpipers and 3 black-tailed godwits on Paradise lagoon, tawny owl flew off in daylight at Sea View. 1 buzzard, 1 whimbrel over beach at Crookbank, c200 sandwich terns roosting on the beach, 1 cuckoo, 5 curlew, c300 common scoter c300 offshore from Crookbank, 1 yellow wagtail flying south. 110720 - 2 swifts south over Sea View and tree creeper nearby, kingfisher along the Eau and a single whimbrel over the saltmarsh. A count of c620 common scoter on calm sea close inshore. 120720 - Single short-eared owl flew from edge of dunes near Paradise and landed out of sight on the saltmarsh. Early evening 27 curlew flew west towards Elm House Farm. 130720 - 5 swifts south over Sea View, both adults and a single juvenile great spotted woodpecker seen and head near Sea View. Hobby in the Brickyard Lane area. C100 swifts flying south, 1 grasshopper warbler. 140720 - 168 sandwich tern and 3 common tern roosting and 38 gannets circling offshore. Now in flower: marsh helleborine, harebell, scabious, marsh bedstraw, mallow, melilot, meadow vetchling, marsh pea. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Webpage says: "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). " Contact: Sarah Lambert: 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/ Woodland Trust's Ancient Trees page https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/ancient-trees/ *** 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... The Schoolgirl Who Helped to win A War - watch again https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kzx7 The reason your hay fever is so bad? Blame botanical sexism https://www.wired.co.uk/article/hay-fever-botanical-sexism Farmers hatch plan to return area the size of Dorset to wild nature https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/14/farmers-wildeast-hatch-plan-return-area-size-dorset-wild-nature-east-anglia Coronavirus: Millions of pints of beer poured down drains https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53349304 Extinction: One third of all lemurs 'on the brink' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53348992 Locusts: A close-up look at the swarms devouring the world's crops https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-79cb45e7-42ce-4c06-8912-bd07d2c909be Bright feathers, bright brains: hummingbirds 'can order numerically' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/08/bright-feathers-bright-brains-hummingbirds-can-order-numerically Ancient Americans made epic Pacific voyages https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53338203 Rosewood smuggling in The Gambia: Shipping firm halts timber exports https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53325743 Country diary: preparing the garden for a much-loved mammal https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/03/country-diary-preparing-the-garden-for-a-much-loved-mammal Country diary: a little chat goes a long way https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/02/country-diary-a-little-chat-goes-a-long-way Country diary: gripped by a grayling's disappearing act https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/06/country-diary-gripped-by-a-graylings-disappearing-act Country diary: a towering plant with pariah status https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/08/country-diary-a-towering-plant-with-pariah-status Enjoy your week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/