============================================= || || 3rd June 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... *** Almost 70% of readers opened their Bulletins mailing this week. Fantastic! It's great that so many of you are keeping reports and information flowing. Now you can start to extend your "home range" - carefully! See details below. Don't forget to include a grid reference for the locations. Always needed. As the CO-19 restrictions are eased we will update you on eventual resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, meetings webpages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking for updates. Things could change for better or worse as the situation evolves. Stay safe and keep up appropriate measures to reduce the risks. For other organisations please refer to their individual websites below. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants RSPB Returning to reserves: Frampton Marsh & Freiston Short listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Forestry Commission says: Stay at Home, please do not visit the nation's forests. https://www.forestryengland.uk/news/covid-19-stay-home-please-do-not-visit-the-nations-forests Forestry work is underway at Chambers Farm Woods. There have been warning signs up for some weeks. Please don't drive there until you have confirmed it is open again. https://www.louthleader.co.uk/news/people/chambers-farm-wood-car-park-currently-closed-2869267 National Trust to reopen gardens and parks - check NT website for details. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52845490 https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/how-to-book-your-visit-and-what-to-expect The Lincolnshire Show 2020 is going on-line: 24th June https://lincolnshireshow.co.uk/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have been POSTPONED to Autumn www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk A selection of useful or entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! Peak District blazes prompt call for barbecues ban . [I've even seen this horrid black scars on LWT nature reserves!] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-52894643 BBC Springwatch Continues: watch again on BBC i-player https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qgm3 Sunniest spring on record for the UK https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/52840873 Watch the moment the first Lock Arkaig osprey chick of 2020 hatched https://mobile.twitter.com/WoodlandTrust/status/1266353784697077761 Rutland osprey project grows online audience in lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-52847850 Photo of the Week: 20-26 May 2020 - BirdGuides - great Lincolnshire magpie! https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-20-26-may-2020/ Cambridge nature-lover records 573 species in 'ordinary' garden https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-52840241 Wrecked WW2 aircraft discovered on Cleethorpes beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-52837526 Ammunition found in Cleethorpes beach WW2 aircraft wreckage https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-52867698 Why you may need to encourage social distancing around your bird feeder https://theconversation.com/why-you-may-need-to-encourage-social-distancing-around-your-bird-feeder-137134 [Note: we had a sick-looking adult Collared Dove die last week and I suspect Trichomoniasis. We have reorganised our feeding regime.] Nature on UK doorsteps: thousands sign up for daily 'random acts of wildness' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/30/nature-on-uk-doorsteps-thousands-sign-up-for-daily-random-acts-of-wildness I hope the Bulletins are keeping you in touch; entertained, inspired and encouraged. Stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** BATS – can readers help? *** Annette Faulkner's request - abridged: Where are all the bats? I wonder if you can be persuaded to go out in your gardens one evening, when we are scheduled to have some warmer evenings, from about 15 minutes after sunset for half an hour or so – and just see what turns up? Then please send in your results, making sure you attach a 6 figure grid reference, please, and only recording the number of bats you’ve seen together, to avoid overcounting. And let’s see if there are any changes on previous years. Please also record if you DON’T see any bats! Negative results are as important as positive ones, particularly if we’re looking at possible decline. *** Flusurvey *** Readers may recall me mentioning Flusurvey a few times in the Bulletin. This is an on- line weekly questionnaire managed and monitored by Public Health England (PHE) and designed to monitor trends of infectious diseases in the community. They need data from healthy as well as infected participants. You don't have to be ill to contribute! Roger https://flusurvey.net/ *** LNU Events Diary *** Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes, including LNU Workshops and Drop-in sessions and Indoor Meetings. For details of all LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled. " https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** About Coronavirus [COVID-19] - a good starting point *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups: works are in progress. A lot about. *** 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 *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ Lyme Disease UK says good weather and closure of indoor leisure facilities could put more people at risk of being bitten. Wake Up to Lyme campaign to be launched in May https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/lyme-disease-lockdown-alert-more-4074140 *** June Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2020 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** All meetings of the Scunthorpe Museum Society, both indoor and field meetings, have been cancelled until further notice. http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** Martin Francis writes: “It won't be a great surprise to learn that the June Meeting and Trip of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group have been cancelled and the AGM has been postponed until a later date. As you would expect, speakers have been arranged from September onwards. There is just a small chance that we will be able to resume activities in September but it will depend on the Government regulations at the time, RSPB advice, the requirements of the Parish Hall, and our ability to comply with them. There will be further announcements like this one nearer the time. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** South Lincs RSPB - please check the website *** “Birdwatching cruises into the Wash” programme for 2020. Cancellations can be found at : https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves "Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates." https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** For details of cancellations see: www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 27/5 Ring Ouzel, Huttoft Bank Pit in bean fields by Renew's Drove, north of Crowland 5 Turtle Doves, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Spoonbill, 2 Turtle Doves, Frampton Marsh 2 Quail males singing, Renew's Drove, Crowland 28/5 Cattle Egret on scrape west of hide, Fiskerton Fen 3 Quail flew over Renew's Drove, Crowland 5+ Quail, 1 male singing in field by Renew's Drove, Crowland Temminck's Stint, Garganey, Frampton Marsh 29/5 Turtle Dove male singing in dead tree near Forest House, Walesby Moor Spoonbill, 2 Little Gulls both 1w, Alkborough Flats Hoopoe flew from Quad 2 to Quad 3, singing male Quail, Donna Nook 4 Quail+ in field by Renew's Drove, Crowland north of River Welland Cattle Egret, Fiskerton Fen Little Gull, Frampton Marsh 30/5 Black Tern, Woodhall Spa airfield 31/5 Little Gull 1s, Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 2 Garganey, East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe, Grimsby Curlew Sandpiper, Turtle Dove, Frampton Marsh 2 Quail males singing in field by Renew's Drove, Crowland north of River Welland 2 Spoonbills, as + 1w, Alkborough Flats 3 Turtle Doves, Rimac 1/6 Garganey drk at Wader Pit, male Quail singing, Baston + Langtoft pits 2 Garganey, East Pit. Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 2 Spoonbills, 1 flew south, Great White Egret flew south, Gibaltar Point 2 Quail males singing in field by Renew's Drove, Crowland north of River Welland 2/6 Osprey, Tallingtom Lakes Garganey drk at Wader Pit, Knot, Baston + Langtoft pits 2 Little Gulls, Alkborough Flats 3/6 Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh Little Tern, 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 Anne Gayfer writes Roger asked me to write something about my Beewalking for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust…. so here goes! I can’t remember why I chose to monitor bees. I’ve always been interested in social insects as I think we have a lot to learn from them. I’d heard about some work being carried out by Stirling University and one of their PhD students had started off the Beewalk, which asks participants to report monthly along a selected transect. This sounded easy and if I was to make a contribution, I needed to be able to fit it in between exhaustion from my errant son and full time job, so I ordered a set of the BBCT’s transect information (by post). It was so complex, I almost gave up there are then (it is much more user friendly now)! However, once I’d found some time to look through it, I realised that I could just record the bees in my back garden, whenever I wanted. I soon became hooked. Who knew that there were bumblebee mimics, cuckoo bumblebees, that there are only a few species and it’s easy to tell the sexes apart? It’s not long before you can impress your friends. Last year, I was invited up to a house in Old Somerby to look at a bee nest and was able to confidently say that it was tree bumblebees. They used to be rare in the UK, but with climate change are gradually moving north through the country. If you look at the Beewalk site, you will see there are a lot of resources there, including an engaging short video about how to identify them. https://www.beewalk.org.uk/ As with all wildlife recordings, it’s hard to see what impact you are making, but each year the BBCT prepares a paper about how the bee distribution across the country is changing. Bumble- bees are critical pollinators of certain crops such as tomatoes and blueberries. In some places in China they are having to pollinate by hand because they have killed off all their bumblebees. On 20 May, it was International Bee Day. The BBCT celebrated by posting 2 videos on their website. I particularly recommend the one by Gill Perkins which contains some fascinating information about bumblebees. It’s quite long but much of the second part is about the work of the Trust and questions from members, which you can skip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQi_Szwc390&feature=youtu.be WEBCAMS Bob Sheppard has sent the following details of his favourite webcams. Len Pick Barn Owl project - See the diary. Hatch due about 7th June. Expect a chick to hatch around Sunday 7th June if all goes well. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 The Loch Arkaig ospreys: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam CJ Wildlife have fantastic webcams from Europe https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams Woking peregrine webcam: https://www.wokingperegrines.com 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. ASHING LANE Reserve Ashing Lane Reserve Bird Count 27 May 2020 TF043790 Maurice Nauta & Brian Chapman Blackcap 5 Blue Tit 5 Bullfinch 1 Chaffinch 6 Chiffchaff 1 Coot 2 Crow 8 Dunnock 5 Garden Warbler 1 Goldfinch 8 Great Tit 8 Green Woodpecker 1 Greenfinch 1 Lesser Whitethroat 3 Linnet 2 Magpie 2 Mistle Thrush 2 Moorhen 2 Pheasant 8 Pied Wagtail 1 Reed Bunting 7 Robin 8 Sedge Warbler 1 Skylark 5 Song Thrush 1 Whitethroat 14 Willow Warbler 8 Wood Pigeon 12 Wren 5 Yellowhammer 7 One grey squirrel, Dragonflies, Brimstone butterfly, Yellow irises, Wild roses. It did really look a picture. Temp 20 degrees. Very good visibilty BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 27/5/2020 at 10pm - no bats detected. 29/5 Hedgehog leaving garden approx 00.30hrs. 30/5 Cinnabar moth in garden 10.30hrs. Garden list for May: following K Pearson's order for comparison. Blackbird 2m 2f, Robin 2, Woodpigeon 4, House Sparrow 12, Blue Tit 2, Wren 1, Chaffinch 1, Collared Dove 3+1 mortality, Starling 10ad, 10juv, Dunnock 2, Magpie 1, Great Tit 2, Black-headed Gull 12 in area, Jackdaw 9, Pied Wagtail 2. Over: hunting over village - 3-5 Swifts. 2-3 Housemartins. 2 Grey squirrels regular visitors. No bats seen or detected since last report. BARDNEY P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 27th May 2020 Dragonfly x1 over the pond too briefly to identify. Bullfinch x1-2 calling Common Blue Butterfly x1 Ruby-tailed Wasp x1 on old woodwork 29th May 2020 Wasp Beetle x1 Hoverfly Myathropa florea x1 Mullein Moth x5+ larvae on Verbascum Great Mullein 30th May 2020 Large White x1 31st May 2020 Early Bumblebee x1. This very pretty small bee never seems very early to me. I would judge that around now is a pretty normal first date in the garden. It was a worker though, so perhaps we missed a queen. Bullfinch female apparently challenging its reflection in patio window. BOSTON (Garden by A16) May 2020 Kathleen Pearson Owing to lockdown, I managed to do the BTO Garden BirdWatch on all 31 days in May. The total number of species was 23. Most species were present in very small numbers with the exception of Starling, with a flock of 20 present on one occasion. Most were juveniles. The most interesting bird was the first Pied Wagtail on the lawn for many years. Blackbird 4, Robin 2, Woodpigeon 8, House Sparrow 3, Blue Tit 2, Greenfinch 5, Wren 1, Chaffinch 2, Goldfinch 4, Collared Dove 3, Starling 20, Pheasant 1, Dunnock 1, Magpie 2, Great Tit 1, Song Thrush 1, Black-headed Gull 4, Herring Gull 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull 3, Jackdaw 1, Carrion Crow 1, Sparrowhawk 1 and Pied Wagtail 1. Eight butterflies were present:- Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Large White, Brimstone, Small White, Peacock, Red Admiral and Common Blue. CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 03/06/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson General observations over the last week or so: Large Skipper seen in garden most days Several Speckled Woods seen Holly Blue, Orange Tip and Brimstone now few and far between Blue Damselflies more numerous than usual One female Banded Demoiselle seen near village pond White Ermine moth found its way into our conservatory Very little activity around our local Little Owl nesting site, I fear that something has gone amiss. 2/6/2020 Juvenile Grass Snake seen 15.45 on local combined footway/cycle path, size approx 225mm/ 9 inches. I presume that it was sunbathing. It was among several pieces of plant debris on the asphalt, but began to move when I rode close by on my bike, forcing me to swerve abruptly in order to avoid running over it, successfully I'm glad to say. CHAMBERS FARM WOOD TF149738 Brenda Edlington Chambers Farm Wood red route 26/5/2020 Plenty of birds singing including chiffchaff and willow warbler but quite hard to spot them in the greenery. We did have a very good view of a garden warbler singing. We were surprised by a woodcock which emerged from the edge of the ride and flew across in front of us, its colours showing up well in the sun – our first woodcock sighting. FLIXBOROUGH around SE8814 A.Primavera 31/05/2020 Plants seen in flower: creeping buttercup now joined by meadow buttercup common fumitory creeping cinquefoil dog rose Lesser trefoil Common birds foot trefoil Common vetch Hairy tare red & white clover meadow vetchling dogwood cow parsley fls finishing hogweed viper's-bugloss field forget-me-not hedge woundwort crosswort oxeye daisy goatsbeard southern marsh orchid cocksfoot grass Heard & saw green woodpecker. Saw broad-bodied chaser. GRIMSBY Grid Ref. TA265095 Joyce Attia 31st May 2020 17.00 hrs In the garden...I have had to stop feeding the birds again as the neighbours have spotted a rat or two in their gardens. We have looked up humane ways to get rid of rats and have found that chopped up onion seems to have had some effect, just throw it around where rats have been seen. A few birds still come for the bird bath, robin waits for me to change the water each morning and enjoys splashing about and a pair of collared doves also come to drink. We also have a pair of blackbirds, the male is very visible and sings from the tree and the chimney pots... We did hear a thrush about a week ago which was lovely as we don't see many in the town. There have been one or two goldfinches on the buddleia and a chaffinch (heard but not seen). Also a bluetit on the roses, then I realised they had greenfly, which I left as I would rather have bluetits than perfect roses. We have seen one or two large white butterflies, a small tortoiseshell, a holly blue butterfly, the charming little mint moths and some small white moths at night time. On the river the swans which were disturbed by the building works have hatched only one cygnet, a shame really as there are usually at least six. There are a couple of pairs of moorhens but I haven't seen any babies yet. The same with the mallards, they seem to have paired up but no ducklings yet, perhaps I've missed them. We went for a walk further up the River Freshney TA233081 There was a pair of swans with 7 cygnets, quite small still, and a goose which was being harassed by the cob, poor thing kept flying off and coming back, only to be chased off again. There was also a cormorant sitting at the top of a dead tree. GRIMSTHORPE Grimsthorpe Park 25/05/2020 TF 045205 Jeremy Hutchinson On our first trip anywhere for months, we had a walk during the afternoon in Grimsthorpe Park. Lots of Greylag geese on the lake and grazing a field of wheat nearby, several Red Kites and the odd Buzzard. The highlight was on the margin of the lake itself, and the south- west corner in the area of the outfall, where numbers (up to 6 at a time) of Blue-bodied Chaser Dragonflies were patrolling over the margins of the lake. I have seen the odd specimen before, but never more than one at once. There were also plenty of Blue Damselflies, and a single specimen of an unidentified Hawker species. HALTON HOLGATE 2 Tree Slugs - Lehmannia marginata Location: Northorpe Road, Halton Holegate, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire OS Ref TF 417660 Date: 28th May 2020 Reporter: Janet Harwood Agricultural land, a small field with hedges/scrubby areas and a few small areas of mixed woodland. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 23/3/2020 Fox 1 25/5/2020 Bats 2 - 9.30pm Green-veined white 1 Red admiral 1 Song thrush 1 - wakes me at 3.30am daily Woundwort shieldbugs 6 - first one seen in my hair by my husband! Then 6 in pairs on Stachys nearby. 26/5/2020 Orange tip m. 1 Sparrow hawk 1 - flying through garden 27/5/2020 Bats 2 - 9.30pm Dunnocks 2 Wren 1 28/5/2020 Bombus hypnorum, Tree bumblebees 5 - I had been watching bees take it in turn going in and out of a cavity wall underneath a window sill. I asked our recorder David Sheppard whether he could check my id from my photos and this is what he said: "Yes, they are Bombus hypnorum, the Tree Bee. They build their nests in abandoned bird nests and got their misleading English name from an early observation of their nesting in old bird nests in tree cavities. Unlike most bumblebees which fly straight into and straight out of their nests, so they are usually difficult to find, B. hypnorum workers hover about outside and make their presence known. They have the reputation of being the most aggressive of our bumblebees, so don't expect any builders to work anywhere near them and best tell your window cleaner as well. The nest will be active for about 6 - 8 weeks." Collared doves 2 - on the bird bath, needing a drink after mobbing a magpie out of the garden Specked wood 1 KIRTON 01/06/2020 Roy and Kathleen Pearson Saw the first of this year’s Yellow Wagtails with a pair amongst growing potatoes. NETTLEHAM Brenda Edlington May 2020 TF005756 Great tits were pecking on the wood inside the metal nest box plate on the blue tit box. The last 4 or 5 years they have used the triple sparrow box – which the sparrows have never used, preferring the ivy on the house walls. The great tits were squeezing into the box, made a nest and began feeding their young with large green caterpillars, smaller caterpillars and flies with long thin light brown bodies and narrow long wings, a bit like a small cranefly. Also something bright pink that looked like it might be plastic! The great tits fledged on 27/5/2020 but we feared for one left behind in the nest. An adult came near the box a few times but with no food, however the next day the chick was gone so a parent must have coaxed it out. Robins that nested in an open fronted nest box have fledged but not sure how many. Magpies have been plaguing the blackbirds at their nest and there has been a lot of chasing and alarm calls. Some young blackbirds have fledged but a pile of feathers was found so at least one didn’t make it. Now a second nest has been built nearby in thick ivy but not sure if it’s the same pair. They are currently feeding chicks. Two hedgehogs have been caught feeding together on camera but the smaller one is very wary of the larger. The small one could be one of last year’s late litter – last caught on camera on January 2nd. Three hedgehogs were caught together on the trail camera on 27/5/2020 but no signs of any mating activity yet. They like to drink from the birdbath. I watched a brimstone laying eggs on an alder buckthorn that I planted especially for them to to feed on but I can’t see any hatched caterpillars, perhaps because the great tits, robins and blackbirds were nesting close by. I was watching an orange tip that was near the pond when a young blackbird came out of hiding and swallowed it in one go, wings and all. The newts are active in our small pond – seven seen by torchlight, but no frogspawn. SOUTHERY Southrey Wood P&M Porter TF130682 28th May 2020 Sheets of Ragged Robin and Field Forget-me-not, Aspen seedlings on ride edges, Giant Bellflower starting into growth, Remote Sedge, Tufted Hair-grass, Wood Sedge, scent from Honeysuckle and pristine Dog Rose blooms. Cuckoo x1, Willow Warbler x1, Goldcrest x1, plenty of Blackcaps, 2-3 Garden Warblers. Very vocal Muntjac x1. 30th May 2020 Marsh Fritillary x2, Four-spotted Chaser x2, Bullfinch x1, Garden Warbler x1, Goldcrest x1 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 27/05/20 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Heron x 1 Pied Wagtail x 1 Swallow x 4 Tufted Duck x 1pr. Owston Ferry Warping Drain Yellow Wagtail x 2 Blood Vein x 1 29/05/20 Little Owl x 1 Quail x 1 calling from our paddock 22:30hrs Common Pipistrelle x 2 at dusk 30/05/20 Oystercatcher x 2 over Thurnholmes 31/05/20 Cinnabar moth x 3 01/06/20 MV moth trap in paddock 22:00hrs - 23:55hrs Angle Shades x 1 Blood Vein x 1 Brimstone Moth x 1 Common White Wave x 1 Heart and Dart x 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character x 7 Silver-ground Carpet x 2 Small Magpie x 3 Smoky Wainscot x 1 Treble Lines x 2 Whilst setting up moth trap, I had a BARN OWL hunting over the paddock along with 2 COMMON PIPISTRELLES and later had a TAWNY OWL calling from the paddock whilst another was calling across at Owston Ferry Warping Drain. 02/06/20 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit, at least 4 fledged young in my chicken run Chaffinch x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Mallard x 1 over Thurnholmes Mute Swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Robin x 1 feeding young in nest in my barn Skylark x 2 Stock Dove x 1 on nest Swallow x 4 in and out of stables where they have previously nested Wren x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 4 Red Admiral x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 TWYFORD WOOD Twyford Wood 27th May 2020 Ian Misselbrook 6 Dingy Skippers 10 Grizzled Skippers 10 Small Heath 4 Common Blue 5 Green Veined White Birds 10+ Willow warblers 4 Chiffchaffs 4 Garden Warblers 6 Blackcaps 3 Whitethroats 1 Pied Wagtail Plus all the common woodland birds. WHAPLODE FEN Whaplode Fen TF 322208 Simon Rummery 01.06.20 Red-legged shieldbug Pentatoma rufipes Final instar nymph This record with photograph posted at: https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/802672/red-legged-shieldbug-pentatoma-rufipes-final-instar-nymph WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Jane Ostler 27th May - 2nd June 2020 Garden unless otherwise indicated FLOWERING PLANTS By the end of May there are weeds in the garden - that is plants which, if not controlled would take over. Hedge Bindweed and Ground elder are the most difficult. Others like Cow Parsley and Goatsbeard are welcome for their flowers but need taking up before they seed all over. Bluebells have become weeds over the years, and no wonder. Seeds germinate and photosynthesis takes place at below 10C. Their bulbs proliferate and dig deep on contractile roots. New shoots spear through obstacles. They control the soil by co-operating with fungi and restrict phosphorous to other plants. They use cell elongation rather then cell multiplication for growth as evidenced by their floppy leaves. Under the apple tree they are mown down in a sticky mass as soon as flowering is over. On our interesting lawn the nectar score has been increased this week by Red and White Clover and the lemon yellow Mouse Ear Hawkweed. Wild Clary escaped from the herb garden and is in bud. Not adapted to its new habitat, its flower stems are too long to survive the mower. We have one VIP native plant growing on a narrow calcareous border amongst rock plants. Over 30 years ago myself and a botanist from the Rutland Natural History Society collected some Sulphur Clover seed from a site adjacent to the Great Casterton Road Verges which was due for development. It has survived but never really spread. Now in flower it has a label against it to warn it is not just any old clover. In the hedgerows Hogweed has replaced Cow Parsley. Other plants new from a week ago are Bird's Foot Trefoil, Bush Vetch and Creeping Cinquefoil. Red Valerian is thriving in the dry conditions. Honey Suckle and Elder at their best are signs that summer has truly arrived. INSECTS Comma and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies are new this week. A single Common Blue continues to visit but no Holly Bllues seen. An occasional Orange Tip still and Large Whites are always with us. Ermine Moth at the window at night. Cinnabar Moths finding some groundsel and Numbers of Mint moths in the herb garden, not on mint but fluttering over marjoram and thyme. Common Carder Bees watched head first in the more bell shaped perennial borage. Watching Buff Tailed Bumble Bees making a nest in a hole in a stone wall. A Common Blue Damselfly flew in through the window on 31/5/20 and on same day a Common Sympetrum, female, was seen on a plant near the pond. BIRDS On Newton Way Blue Tits have successfully reared a family again this year in a hollow of a stone wall. In the garden one of two families of Blue Tits have flown, gone it seems in an instant with only one brief glimpse of a youngster stopping on the roof of the car parked in the drive. Alongside the Witham a female Mallard has over twelve ducklings in her care. MAMMALS These are reports sent to me from people walking a wider area into Colsterworth. Moles have been seen above ground. They only come out to mate or looking for moisture in dry weather, which seems likely in this case. A family of Rabbits is seen out regularly in the daytime - about six young. Good news. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. "On hold". http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 27th May – 2nd June 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Note: Looking at data recorded for the NNR 1993 - 2020 the average spring (March - May) rainfall total is 118.03mm. The wettest spring was 2000 with 213.5mm and the driest 2011 with 25.5mm. Spring 2020 was 29.7mm. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings: 260520 - 4 wheatear on dunes between Sea View and Rimac. 270520 - Single wheatear on dunes near Sea View, 6 avocets on Rimac lagoon and little tern flying near Haven Outfall. 280520 - Wood pigeons are regular feeders on the saltmarsh, 35 seen from Sea View. Single common sandpiper at Paradise lagoon where the water levels are falling quite noticeably due to the long spell without rain and input from a high tide. 290520 - Hoopoe flying over Paradise lagoon and lost out of view as it passed over trees into Saltfleet [JW, PR, JR]. 300520 - 6 common sandpipers on Paradise lagoon.  010620 - Small copper, meadow brown and large skipper butterflies seen. 020620 - Single little stint on Paradise lagoon, starlings being to build up in the Sea View saltmarsh area with at least 90 birds. Presence of young robins, great tit, blue tit, goldfinch, dunnock, blackbird. Red kite over Churchill Lane area. Desperately dry on dunes so few flowers surviving other than on marsh margins or deep hollows. The best stand of mostly southern marsh and southern x early marsh hybrids a total of c 1650 on a field margin adjacent to NNR. Sightings in other locations during social distancing: 2705-020620 – Daily sightings of blackbird, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon, dunnock, swifts, swallows and house martins in Louth. 300520 – Large gatherings of young starlings in Woodhall Spa 020620 – Swallows, swifts, house martins flying overhead, 3 cuckoos heard, kingfisher and jay seen in Woodhall Spa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Help stop the spread of coronavirus. Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. 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 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, 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. 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/ Also see: *** Collections Dataset - LNU "historic specimens" *** All of of the specimens that have been processed and digitised to date can now be viewed here: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/lincs-plants *** The Flora of Lincolnshire by Joan Gibbons - downloadable book *** https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-flora-of-lincolnshire-e-joan-gibbons.pdf *** VC54 North Lincolnshire Plant List *** Paul Kirby has produced a list which details all the vascular plant and stonewort taxa with records on the MapMate botanical database for VC54, North Lincolnshire, at the end of January 2017. You can download this on: https://lnu.org/specialists/vascular-plants/ *** Botanical Group in South Lincs *** Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: Following Government guidance and in the interests of health and safety, this year's field meetings are cancelled up until the end of May with immediate effect and until further notice. For further information please contact your County Recorder(s). sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** BSBI Website: *** https://bsbi.org/ *** Natural History Museum - Botany Collections *** https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/collections/botany-collections.html *** CONTACTS LIST *** Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/ *** Lincs Bird Club Website *** http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk LBC County Bird Recorder Phil Hyde - County Recorder, Lincs Bird Club recorder_south@lincsbirdclub.co.uk *** The Sir Joseph Banks Society *** http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Bat Group website *** http://www.lincsbatgroup.co.uk/ *** Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch *** http://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html *** Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk *** Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project *** http://www.lincswolds.org.uk/chalk-streams/lincolnshire-chalk-streams *** Lincsbirders *** http://www.lincsbirders.org/ FIGHTING WILDLIFE CRIME *** Rural Crime Officer *** Pc 160 Nick Willey Force Wildlife, Rural Crime Officer Force Dog Training Establishment Lincolnshire Showground. Grange-De-Lings. Lincoln nicholas.willey@lincs.pnn.police.uk OFFICE: 01522-731897 MOBILE: 07768-501895 PAGER: 07654-330877 Related Webpages: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas - download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Lincs Amphibian and Reptile Group *** The Lincolnshire ARG (Amphibian & Reptile Group) Contact: Ashley Butterfield learningoutdoors@btinternet.com Please have a look at https://www.recordpool.org.uk/index.php for an easy way to record your amphibian and reptile species records. Or you can send any records to Ashley Butterfield (Lincolnshire Amphibian and Reptile Recorder) at LearningOutdoors@btinternet.com Please include Species, Date, Time, Location, numbers as a minimum (Other useful information includes Temperature and Weather conditions.) *** Local Bat Helpline *** Grounded bats, bat problems, advice and information. Contact Annette and Colin Faulkner on 01775 766286 or e-mail: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Confidential Bat Records *** You may send confidential bat records direct to Annette Faulkner on: annettefaulkner@btinternet.com *** Slug ID Help *** Chris du Feu will help with slug identification. Tel: 01427 848400 or e-mail: chris@chrisdufeu.force9.co.uk *** Non-Marine Molluscs *** Alex Pickwell is the LNU Recorder for Non-marine Molluscs Email: alex.pickwell@environment-agency.gov.uk USEFUL WILDLIFE CONTACTS Please copy and paste URLs if necessary. *** Lincs Environmental Records Centre *** Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership (of which LERC is a part) http://www.glnp.org.uk/ Contact: charlie.barnes@glnp.org.uk or for more general queries: info@glnp.org.uk *** Hedgehog Links *** https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Lincolnshire Environmental Awards www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk *** Field Studies Council *** Bringing Environmental Understanding to All https://www.field-studies-council.org/ *** InsideEcology *** Online Magazine for Ecologists, Conservationists and Wildlife Professionals https://insideecology.com/ *** NHBS *** Should you need natural history equipment or books, a good place to start is: https://www.nhbs.com/ For the geologists... Lincolnshire Geodiversity Group https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/discovering/geology-1 *** British geology maps - now free to explore on web *** http://www.bgs.ac.uk/opengeoscience/ *** UKGE - Geological Supplies *** https://www.ukge.com/ The Geology of Lincolnshire - downloadable book https://lincsnaturalist.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/the-geology-of-lincolnshire-h-h-swinnerton-and-p-e-kent.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9. Notes about these wildlife reports ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We do our best to ensure accuracy in our reporting but these records are sent in by a variety of reporters, from complete beginners to professionals. They therefore vary in reliability and in a few instances may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed please contact: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk Bulletins are sent to Recorders at Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre [GNLP] , Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union and Lincolnshire Bird Club. [Note: Where plants are reported, this is usually because they have been seen and identified in flower.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10. The Bulletin's publicity policy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We sometimes withhold details of rare or endangered species. Please point out any sensitive or "tricky" reports of this kind. Sensitive data should go directly to county recorders, please. Please respect the interests of wildlife and site owners if you report on national networks. Interest in wildlife is not a licence to act irresponsibly or thoughtlessly to landowners, who may well be partners in important conservation work. *** Codes of Conduct *** RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.pdf [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Indoor Meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. Next Meetings: "All LNU meetings are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Field Meetings: CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: none. ....and finally... Isaac Newton proposed curing plague with toad vomit, unseen papers show https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/02/isaac-newton-plague-cure-toad-vomit Letting rivers run wild could reduce UK flooding – new research https://theconversation.com/letting-rivers-run-wild-could-reduce-uk-flooding-new-research-138037 Crow helps hedgehog cross street safely by pecking - well, maybe.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIqFiQ2MwfA Charity's 'concern' at number of beavers culled in Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-52832380 How to attract butterflies to your garden https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-attract-butterflies-your-garden Insect-friendly gardening https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/features/garden-insects Dead 40ft whale washes up on Clacton beach https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-52847529' Cleddau Bridge disaster: 50th anniversary of fatal collapse https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52878053 Puffins' Farne Islands nesting areas 'may expand without tourists' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-52882553 Cannabis burned during worship' by ancient Israelites - study https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-52847175 Extinction crisis 'poses existential threat to civilisation' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52881831 Rewilding: rare birds return when livestock grazing has stopped https://theconversation.com/rewilding-rare-birds-return-when-livestock-grazing-has-stopped-137948 Country diary: the tale of a tit with supreme agility https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/27/country-diary-the-tale-of-a-tit-with-supreme-agility Country diary: tiny weevils home in on the dinky-flowered figworts https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/26/country-diary-tiny-weevils-home-in-on-the-dinky-flowered-figworts Country diary: an unpopular pest that plays a vital role https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/29/country-diary-an-unpopular-pest-that-plays-a-vital-role Enjoy your week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/