============================================= || || 22nd 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... *** Thanks to all this week's contributors, especially to Roy Pearson who has given a heads up on diseases in Greenfinches. Up your feeder hygiene. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/disease-and-garden-wildlife/diseases-in-garden-birds/ Don't forget the Big Butterfly Count Friday 17 July and Sunday 9 August https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ 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. Covid-19 Reminders: Lincoln Christmas Market 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus fears. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53347623 The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have now been cancelled for 2020 and will resume in 2021, all being well. 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 this year. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of 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 Wood. The car park is open. A selection of useful and entertaining links sent in by readers. Please click on a few! River Witham: Omex to maintain polluted river for decade - the result... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53431575 Spillover: the origins of Covid-19 - anthropzoonoses - diseases of animals and humans https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/spillover-origins-covid-19-next-pandemic-may-already-have-started/ BBC2 A Wild Year - Series 1.3 - The North York Moors - watch again https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000kxy7/a-wild-year-series-1-3-the-north-york-moors Estimating the age of that oak tree... http://www.wbrc.org.uk/atp/Estimating%20Age%20of%20Oaks%20-%20Woodland%20Trust.pdf Beetle-mounted camera streams insect adventures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53445772 Why allotments offer urban oases for bees and butterflies https://theconversation.com/why-allotments-offer-urban-oases-for-bees-and-butterflies-142529 Pine Marten successfully breed in England - Forest of Dean https://www.birdguides.com/news/pine-martens-successfully-breed-in-england/ Coronavirus: No barbecues plea to prevent wildfires https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53448721 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. *** BATS – please keep your reports coming *** 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 *** 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/ *** 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 15/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed Lagoon from Visitor Centre, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, 2+ Black-necked Grebes, Spotted Redshank, 7 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 16/7 10 Spoonbills, Caspian Tern, Reedbed pool near Visitor centre, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Rose-coloured Starling ad on rough compound near Fire Station, Mablethorpe 15 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Bittern, opposite Scallow Grove Farm, Messingham Sand Quarry 17/7 Spotted Redshank, Saltfleet Haven Caspian Tern, Reedbed pool near Visitor centre, then flew NW, 2 Black-necked Grebes [juvs], Spotted Redshank, Little Stint from sea wall car park, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 18/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed pool near Visitor centre, Little Stint from sea wall near steps, 14 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 19/7 22 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Caspian Tern, Reedbed pool near Visitor centre, 15 Spoonbills. Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Black-necked Grebes all juvs, 3 Garganey, 2+ Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret, Toft Newton 2 Ruddy Shelducks, Whitton Sands 20/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed pool near Visitor centre, 2 Wood Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, 14 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh Knot ad on Wader pit, Baston +Langtoft pits 21/7 Caspian Tern, Reedbed pool near Visitor centre, ad Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Wood Sandpipers, 19 spoonbills, Black-necked Grebe, Frampton Marsh Knot ad on Wader pit, Baston +Langtoft pits Roseate Tern, on island in lagoon, Freiston Shore was later confirmed as Common Tern from photos Caspian Gull at Trent Port Wetlands WSE of Marton, flew north along River Trent 22/7 Knot ad on Wader pit, Baston +Langtoft pits ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 BTO tracked cuckoos have set off south. Follow their progress in 2020 on this link: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Bob Sheppard writes: The Loch Arkaig Osprey chicks are on the move. Already they have done a few circuits of the valley. Soon it will be Africa. Catch them while you can. https://youtu.be/FvXWTBHmUnU ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Reports welcome. LAUGHTON FOREST SE840019 D&G Bardsley 6/7/2020 Grass snake - roadkill *** 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. *** 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. ALKBOROUGH FLATS SE 875227 Ian Dunn 18.07.20 Comments - Hides still closed Other visitors noting a lack of Bearded tits this year. Mammals Roe Doe Squirrel Birds Magpie Woodpigeon Linnet Crows Blackbirds Reed buntings Shelducks Black headed gulls Lapwings Spoonbills c.15 Black tailed godwits 12 Little egrets 30+ Moorhen Rooks Avocets x 20 Heron Yellowhammer Swans Starlings Skylarks x 6 Flora Bristly Ox-Tongue Oxeye daisy Self-heal Mallow Ragwort Rosebay willowherb White campion Birds foot trefoil Bird vetch Insects Cinnabar caterpillars on ragwort Meadow Browns x many Peacocks x many Small tortoiseshells x 2 Ringlets x many Small / Essex skippers x 8 (not at a level to distinguish which yet) Red Admiral x 1 BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 17/7/2020 Usual garden summer buff-capped red-cracking red-blushed stipe, Boletus spp. in lawn. First recorded 13.7.2017. Checking identification. 22/7/2020 Hedgehog droppings BARDNEY - Water Rail Way Between Bardney and Bardney Lock From either side of Boat Moorings up to opposite Farm on other bank GR TF111693 and TF110693 to TF109695 with several smaller patches along the east bank of the Witham. R & A Parsons 18/7/2020 Common Valerian - Valeriana officinalis https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/common-valerian Also noted along this stretch Great Mullein - Verbascum thapsus - one with caterpillars sp. https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/great-mullein BOSTON - Alert! 18/07/20 Roy and Kathleen Pearson We are having to do a major cleaning job on our garden bird feeders now owing to a serious outbreak of disease in Greenfinches in the garden. No other species seem to be affected. Perhaps readers could keep a lookout. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD TF150 738 Ian Dunn 19.07.20 Butterflies Ringlets - many Red Admirals - 3 Peacocks - many Silver Washed Fritillaries – 10 plus White Admirals - 4 Speckled Wood - 3 Small Whites - many Large Whites - many Commas - 3 Small or Essex skippers – many Painted ladies – 2 (both very worn) Meadow browns - many Gatekeepers - many COLLEGE and THISTLESLOW WOODS near Apley TF119753 R & A Parsons 19/7/2020 at 10am - 11am approx Butterflies counted in 1 hours period Peacock 8 Small Tortoiseshell 1 Ringlet - Frequent 10+ Small White 1 Large White 3 Meadow Brown - Abundant 20+ Gatekeeper - Common 10+ White Admiral 9 Red Admiral 5 Grizzled Skipper 1 possible 2 Speckled Wood 2 Silver-washed Fritillery 2-spot Ladybird 2 Green Woodpacker calling Buzzard calling and seen Unknown raptor chick-type call Common Lizard briefly! Old cracked-Oak girth measured and age estimated at 290 years. approx TF124755. Does anyone know its history or if it has a name? GAINSBOROUGH AREA from D&G Bardsley MORTON, NEAR GAINSBOROUGH SK 819928 D&G Bardsley 5/7/2020 9.45am Lapwing c100 in cultivated field GAINSBOROUGH SK818911 D&G Bardsley 13/7/2020 9.25 am Small Skipper butterflies – colonies on former school playing field 2 ASH GROVE, GAINSBOROUGH SK819907 D&G Bardsley 7/6/2020 hedgehog by back door 21.20 10/6/2020 hedgehog on lawn 20.30 – not usually seen this early 18/7/20 hedgehog on lawn 21.10 Hedgehog regularly visits at least three adjacent gardens – droppings and sightings 19/07/20 10.30hr Butterflies, Gatekeeeper, Holly Blue, Large White Peacock Comma GRIMSBY TA265095 Joyce Attia 19th July 2020 15.40 hrs. This week my son and I went for a walk following the river between TA265095 and the old tip TA255099 which has been turned into wildlife meadows and walkway. Wildflowers spotted along the way were Marsh sowthistle Purple Toad flax Tiny unidentified low growing plant alongside river wall - pink flowers, red leaves Purple buddleia Red valerian Creeping thistle Mugwort Rosebay willow herb Ragwort Melilot Birds foot trefoil Buttercup Feverfew White and pink clover Vipers bugloss Carrot Black medic Meadowsweet Yarrow Marsh thistle Swan parents and one cygnet. Adult Mallards and a number of juveniles Moorhens Herring gulls In the garden there have been some flying ants, they didn't stay long. There are lots of white bottomed bees on the campanula and one little red bottomed bee, there only seems to be one - he lives dangerously, I had to untangle him from a spiders web. And I found a spider's nest, dozens of tiny spiders. There are lots of hover flies and those persistent green bottle flies. There have been a few large white butterflies, a silver Y moth flying by day and two different coloured harlequin ladybirds. In the evenings the swifts are flying quite high. There was a flock of about 12/13 last night. Some of them are quite small so I'm presuming they are juveniles, they flutter rather than soar like the bigger ones. HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 15 July 2020 Common grasshopper seen in the same clump of campanula growing around a water butt as previously. As this is surrounded by concrete I’m assuming that’s where it lives. 21 July 2020 Tawny owls, possibly two males, and one female, calling in the night. May be youngsters as the males calls sounded unsure. Birds in garden over the past week: Blackbird, including youngsters Goldfinch, including youngsters Blue tit Great tit Chaffinch Dunnock Tree sparrow House sparrow Robin including youngsters Blackcap, male Wren Wood pigeon Magpie Pheasant Swifts overhead Buzzard overhead Butterflies: Red Admiral Peacock Meadow Brown Ringlet Small White Orange Tip Small Tortoiseshell HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 10/7/2020 Bat sp. 2 Dunnock 1 Southern hawker 1 - just emerged on dead cow parsley by pond and drying its wings. 11/7/2020 Southern hawker 2 - 1 drying its wings and 1 emerging from nymph case 12/7/2020 Bat sp. 2 Green-veined whites 2 Ringlets 2 13/7/2020 Meadow browns 2 m&f Song thrush 1 14/7/2020 Barn owl 1 6.30am flew up from bottom of garden Cuckoo bumblebee 1 (confirmed by David Sheppard) Large whites 2 15/7/2020 Dunnock 1 Gatekeeper 1 Frog 1 Southern hawker nymphs 2 - in pond, appeared on the top of some flattened couch grass that had made its way in and got matted around the articulated rush. I was in the process of pulling out the couch but it will stay there for the time being now... 16/7/2020 Red admiral 1 Small tortoiseshell 1 - a bit damaged KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe 20/07/2020 Alison Brownlow Red Kite drifted over Kettlethorpe this morning at 9.30 First time I have seen one here. SCOTGROVE WOOD TF130703 Richard Fox 16.07.2020 Comma 7 Large white 4 Meadow brown 20+ Peacock 20+ Red admiral Ringlet 10+ Silver-washed Fritillary 4 Small skipper 5 Small tortoiseshell Small white 20+ Brown hawker 5 Southern hawker 3 Azure damselfly Common lizard Hornet Roesel's Bush-cricket 30+ SOUTHREY WOOD TF132684 https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/reserves/southrey-wood-lincolnshire R&A Parsons 21/7/2020 10am - 11am Butterflies Large White 2 Small White 2 Small Copper f - 1 Meadow Brown - abundant 10+ Ringlet abundant 11+ Gatekeeper 5+ Peacock 10 Red Admiral 7+ White Admiral 3 Skipper spp 2 Hornet - Vespa crabro 2 https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/hornet Brown Hawker dragonfly 3+ https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/brown-hawker Green Woodpecker calling juv raptor calling - Buzzard? Black Slug c- Arion ater agg rossing path https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/black-slug Upright Hedge Parsley - Torilis japonica ID A Parsons https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/upright-hedge-parsley THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 09/07/20 Blackbird x 4 fledged young Black-headed Gull x 6 Carrion Crow x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Kestrel x 1 Magpie x 2 Oystercatcher x 4 over Thurnholmes Skylark x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 4 Tree Sparrow x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellowhammer x 1 Pedestal Puffball Lycoperdon excipuliforme x 4 (thanks to Ray Halstead for ID) 11/07/20 Green-veined White x 2 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 7 Peacock x 4 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 17 Small White x 1 Cinnabar Moth caterpillar x 7 Large Yellow Underwing x 1 Yellow Shell x 2 13/07/20 Blackbird x 4 Carrion Crow x 6 Chaffinch x 1 Common Buzzard x 2 high over Thurnholmes Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 ad 6 fully grown young Willow Warbler x 1 Green-veined White x 2 Large white x 2 Meadow Brown x 8 Peacock x 5 Red Admiral x 3 Ringlet x 5 Small Tortoiseshell x 10 15/07/20 Barn Owl x 1 01:00hrs 16/07/20 Comma x 1 Meadow Brown x 4 Peacock x 1 Red Admiral x 2 Ringlet x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 6 Small White x 2 18/07/20 Brown Hawker x 1 19/07/20 Blackbird x 3 Black-headed Gull x 1 Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Chiffchaff x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Swallow x 12, 1 on nest in stables Swift x 29 Tree Sparrow x 2 Wood Pigeon x 4 Comma x 1 Green-veined White x 3 Large White x 1 Meadow Brown x 4 Peacock x 4 Red Admiral x 4 Ringlet x 4 Small Tortoiseshell x 6 20/07/20 Tawny Owl calling 01:30hrs Southern Hawker x 1 Large Yellow Underwing x 3 W00LSTHORPE-COLSTERWORTHH SK908242 - SK917243 13th -20th JULY 2020 Jane Ostler Nature Trail and adjoining Roadside Nature Reserve FLOWERING PLANTS The area managed as a meadow for the last two years is now showing the diversity and range of limestone plants found on the neighbouring RNR. This week has been a time to update an increased list of flowering plants here. The first impression is of a sea of yellow near the gate where Wild Parsnip is in flower. Looking beyond this it is the blue of Field Scabious which is dominant with extensive areas of the deep mauve blue of the Greater and Common Knapweeds. The yellow which predominates below the seeding grasses is mainly St John's Worts and Agrimony and below them yellow pea flowers of Birds' Foot Trefoil, Hop Trefoil and Black Medick. Less frequent are Salad Burnet, Bladder Campion, Yellow Toadflax, Musk Mallow, and Viper's Bugloss. Eyebrights are along the edges of the paths and the dainty Fairy Flax has to be searched for. One area of shorter grass is covered in Yellow composites of all kinds. The Hieracium spp. I am unable to identify but some 'revision' sorts out Rough Hawkbit, Cat's Ear, and the distinctive lemon-yellow Mouse Ear Hawkweed whose basal leaves match its common name. The Yarrow flowerheads on long stems at a distance look like the largest heads of the abundant Upright Hedge Parsley. Taller and larger than these is the Wild Carrot , with some umbels already gone to seed, their spiny fruits balled into a distinctive fist. INSECTS Marbled White Butterflies still about, low in the grasses on the day of intermittent sunshine they were seen (19th July). On the same day Common Blues were photographed paired up. On 21st July there were adults of Small, Large and Green-veined Whites, Large Skipper, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Gatekeeper. 5 different species of Bumble Bee were mainly on the Greater Knapweed, the most common being Bombus terrestris and only one Bombus hortorum. BIRDS On 17th July there was a sudden increase in numbers (of swifts) flying over gardens in Woolsthorpe ( young flying?) By 20th July the numbers had dropped again (adults set off on their journey home?) MAMMALS Black rabbit seen regularly in area adjacent to Nature Trail.Hares seen in fields, motionless in day in same area. Stoat moving its family to a new place of safety. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 15th – 21st July 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 140720 - Single common sandpiper and 2 black-tailed godwits at Paradise lagoon. 150720 - On Paradise lagoon: 1 black-tailed godwit, 2 common sandpipers, 2 dunlin, 11 redshank, 1 little ringed plover, 1 green sandpiper, 4 lapwing, 1 heron, 3 common gulls and 32 black headed gulls. One holly blue on the wing near Sea View. 160720 - 3 yellow wagtail flew over Sea View to the saltmarsh, 2 cuckoo, c40 curlew over saltmarsh. At Sea View Roesel’s bush cricket, short-winged conehead, 6-spot burnet, shaded broad-bar, gatekeeper, small copper, meadow brown, small skipper, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, peacock, ringlet and large white. 170720 - Paradise Lagoon in the evening: Mediterranean gull (2nd summer), 2 dunlin, 2 common sandpiper, 2 little ringed plover, 5 redshank, 1 black-tailed godwit, kingf- isher, 2 little egret. Moth trap at Sea View produced 46 macro-moth species, of note garden tiger, fen wainscot, white-line dart, but most common brown-tail moth. 180720 - Paradise lagoon: 11 black-tailed godwits, 1 greenshank, 2 dunlin, 7 lapwing, 1 common sandpiper, 59 black headed gulls, 9 common gulls, 1 coot, 2 pied wagtails. Swifts over Sea View late evening. 190720 - Pair of bullfinch at Sea View. 3 grasshopper warblers singing but little song of the other 7 species of warbler and no cuckoos heard in recent days. Sea bird and wader migration is now well underway with: 486 dunlin, 97 sanderling, c230 sand- wich terns, 28 common terns and c900 black headed gull roosting on the foreshore, c620 common scoter on the sea with c40 gannets fishing and drifting by. 200720 - 14 black-tailed godwits, 49 dunlin, 3 common sandpipers, 3 green sandpipers, 3 greenshank, 8 redshank, 14 lapwings at Paradise lagoon, plus a single kingfisher and whooper swan on the Eau. Flying over the area: hobby, kestrel and a cream-crown marsh harrier. 1 yellow wagtail flew north over Sea View, 4 kestrel, 4 buzzard, 1 grasshopper warbler, c50 swallow, 1 whimbrel (calling over saltmarsh), 3 sedge warblers at Rimac. 2 Essex skippers on the wing in the Brickyard Lane area. 210720 – Between Brickyard Lane and Churchill Lane: Several emerald dragonflies, juvenile cuckoo, peacock and red admiral butterflies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: None this week. ....and finally... Museum of the Earth - Bees - great! https://www.museumoftheearth.org/bees Ant finally - It's not raining – just a 50-mile wide cloud of flying ants https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/18/its-not-raining-just-a-50-mile-wide-cloud-of-flying-ants Red kite 30-year Chilterns project a 'conservation success' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-53445054 Dambusters dog: Headstone racist name removal 'disgraceful' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53446494 The crushing irony in this is the fact that the RAF of the time was a leader in equal treatment of black aircrew. Caribbean aircrew served bravely and loyally in WW2 - and that goes for many then-colonial people. Those with a connection to the West Indies regret this contribution is so frequently overlooked. “All ranks should clearly understand that there is no colour bar in the Royal Air Force…any instant of discrimination on grounds of colour by white officers or airmen or any attitude of hostility towards personnel of non-European descent should be immediately and severely checked.” https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions/pilots-of-the-caribbean/answering-the-call/the-second-world-war-1939-to-1945-recruitment.aspx https://www.caribbeanaircrew-ww2.com/ One gene can turn mosquitoes from females to males, which don't bite https://www.zmescience.com/science/mosquito-gene-sex-change-8256456/ Artificial spider webs shake to stay clean, just like the real thing https://www.newscientist.com/article/2248953-artificial-spider-webs-shake-to-stay-clean-just-like-the-real-thing/ Competitive hotdog eaters nearing limit of human performance - good grief! https://www.theguardian.com/food/2020/jul/15/competitive-hotdog-eaters-nearing-limit-of-human-performance Chewing robot developed to test gum as a potential drug delivery system https://www.zmescience.com/science/chewing-gum-robot-chewer-4245235235/ Country diary: the lair of the labyrinth spider https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/10/country-diary-the-lair-of-the-labyrinth-spider Country diary: the ‘lady of the house’ has been left to her fate https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/09/country-diary-the-lady-of-the-house-has-been-left-to-her-fate Country diary: mighty oaks have sprung from the work of the lively jay https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/11/country-diary-mighty-oaks-have-sprung-from-the-work-of-the-lively-jay Boris Johnson says newts are a drag on the UK’s economy. Here’s why he’s wrong https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/10/is-boris-johnson-right-to-blame-newts-for-slowing-britains-recovery-aoe Country diary: preening avocets attract attention https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/14/country-diary-preening-avocets-attract-attention Country diary: out on the fell among the heather and restless grasses https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/15/country-diary-out-on-the-fell-among-the-heather-and-restless-grasses ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/