============================================= || || 17th 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... *** I have had this note from Bob Sheppard on 16th: "We had made an assumption the fourth egg would not hatch as the chick was due on Saturday morning. To our amazement the fourth chick was born at 11.45am on Sunday. This is 76 hours after the third was born, most unusual in the realms of our knowledge of barn owl breeding." https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. There are lots of reports and interesting news including the Woodhall Spa Mustard Gas sentencing and the Wainfleet concerns that flooding may occur again. Plus you can watch the Summer Solstice and The Lincolnshire Show on-line. For those of you with camera traps, may I suggest that this month you try to capture any hedgehogs in your garden or local area. Live sightings will be welcome too. We could get an interesting picture of UK distribution of this intriguing nocturnal visitor. Also, please report any bats seen - see Annette Faulkner's note further down. Heads up for Noctilucent Clouds. Scroll down for more info. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/weather/types-of-weather/clouds/other-clouds/noctilucent We seem to be keeping up with the cancellations and postponements and the cautious steps to ease the CO-19 restrictions whilst staying as safe as possible. "People usually fail when they are on the verge of success. So give as much care to the end as to the beginning; Then there will be no failure." Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu When the moment comes we will update you on eventual resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, meetings webpages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking. Things could change for better or worse as the situation evolves. Meanwhile stay safe. Keep up appropriate measures to reduce any risks. For other organisations' CO-19 information please visit their individual websites: 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 RSPB Returning to reserves: Frampton Marsh & Freiston Short are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Forestry Commission says: Please read our guide to visiting the forest in the summer of 2020. https://www.forestryengland.uk/news/covid-19-stay-home-please-do-not-visit-the-nations-forests Forestry work is underway at Chambers Farm Woods. There have been warning signs up for some weeks. Please don't drive there until you have confirmed it is open again. The National Trust is reopening gardens and parks - check the NT website for details. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/how-to-book-your-visit-and-what-to-expect English Heritage to reopen sites after virus lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53007462 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! Summer Solstice. English Heritage says: Please do not travel to Stonehenge on the 21st June but stay at home and watch online instead. Sunset on 20th, Sunrise on 21st. https://www.facebook.com/events/581183132524229/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/solstice/ Drone footage shows 64,000 green turtles migrating to Cairns rookery https://www.ecowatch.com/turtles-migrating-video-australia-2646170942.html Springwatch 2020 - watch again on BBC i-player: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qgm3 The Wildlife Trusts report devastation as visitors flock to reserves https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/the-wildlife-trusts-report-devastation-as-visitors-flock-to-reserves/ Trio who dumped mustard gas in Woodhall Spa lake sentence https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53021069 Wainfleet flooding: Residents 'living in fear' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53007854 Scientists have decoded honeybee queens' "tooting and quacking" duets in the hive https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-environment-53068718 Widespread support for new environmental powers https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-52992856 Purple Emperor ~ Butterfly returns after nearly half a century https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-48860751 Nant Helen opencast mine to close after licence rejected over climate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-52992868 Coronavirus: Police fines for lockdown breaches fall as measures ease https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53011886 Coronavirus: Litter as takeaways reopen 'disappointing' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52969144 Coronavirus came to UK 'on at least 1,300 separate occasions' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52993734 I hope the Bulletins are keeping you in touch; entertained and encouraged. Stay safe and keep your distance when out and about. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** BATS – can readers help? *** Annette Faulkner wrote: First, a big thank you to those of you have been sending your bat sightings in. There’s some really interesting observations amongst them and I’ve been in touch with some of you. Now – 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. *** The Elm Tree Story *** Colin Thornton writes: "Out walking recently in Hemingby I reflected that I had not seen an elm tree since the 1980s during the Dutch Elm Disease. I am told that some survived, are there any elm trees or even elm trees developed from suckers in the greater Hemingby area. Does anyone know?" I responded with the following links: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/pest-and-disease-resources/dutch-elm-disease/dutch-elm-disease-central-and-southern-britain/ and https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/tree-pests-and-diseases/key-tree-pests-and-diseases/dutch-elm-disease/ Anyone care to inject some specialist/local knowledge? *** 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] *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups: works are in progress. *** 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 *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ Lyme Disease UK https://lymediseaseuk.com/lyme-disease/ *** 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 If you are planning some skywatching look out for noctilucent clouds. Spaceweather.com says: "New data from NASA satellites show that the mesosphere (a layer of Earth's atmosphere near the edge of space) is experiencing record cold. This is causing meteor debris to frost, and noctilucent clouds (NLCs) to spread over Europe and the United States. Another summer of record-low latitude NLCs could be in the offing." Check out: https://spaceweather.com/ *** 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: “The June Meeting and Trip of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group have been cancelled and the AGM has been postponed until a later date. Speakers have been arranged from September onwards. There is 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. Cancellation details can be found at : https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves "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.] Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber https://ebird.org/species/blrwar1 https://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/RealData/gallery_show.asp?galleryid=71264 10/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Scaup drk on sailing pit, Barton-upon-Humber Glaucous Gull, Pyewipe, NW of Grimsby Curlew Sandpiper, Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh 11/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 12/6 Black Tern, Baston + Langtoft GPs, then flew off Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Bearded Tit, in reeds just before track to Mill Lane, Marston Sewage Works Garganey drk, Wader pit. Baston and Langtoft GPs 13/6 Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh 2 Black Terns, Wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GP Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Long-eared Owl by track, Possible Night Heron over Marston Sewage Works 6 Spoonbills, Little Gull, Little Tern, Alkborough Flats Black Tern Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 14/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Quail WNW or Spridlington at West Firsby 2 Turtle Doves at North Thoresby 15/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 6 Spoonbills, Little Gull, Alkborough Flats Spoonbill by visitor centre, Frampton Marsh 16/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 17/6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. Wildlife news from around the county ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** The Roger Goy Column *** Remembering Roger Goy's wildlife information work and drop-in sessions at the Queen in the West pub! http://www.bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire/content/articles/2005/08/30/nature_sightings_feature.shtml WEBCAMS Bob Sheppard has sent the following details of his favourite webcams. Len Pick Barn Owl project - See the diary. 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 ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. Include the time too if relevant - e.g. for Bat records. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 12/6/2020 3 juv magpies visiting garden. 1 Bat seen and detected 22.00hrs echolocating at 55kHz - about 4 bursts of signals. 13/6/2020 Hedgehog adult at 00.20 caught on camera trap. 16/6/2020 Recently fledged Jackdaw in garden. [AP] 2-spot ladybird on Holly - many blackflies. BARDNEY P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 13th June 2020 Out of the blue we noticed that Marsh Bedstraw was flowering in the side of our pond. We don’t know how it got there, but it is very welcome. 14th June 2020 Mary photographed a blue damselfly at the pond and it turned out to be Azure Damselfly, the first we had identified in the garden. She then found an Orange-tip butterfly larva on the seed pods of Dame’s Violet. Adult butterflies seen were single Large Skipper, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral. Several Mint Moths were flying around Marjoram plants, and Mary photographed a Marmalade Hoverfly which was the first we had seen this year in the garden. 16th June 2020 Today brought our first Meadow Brown butterfly and a Small Tortoiseshell. Blackbirds seem to have done very well with juveniles all over the place in the garden. We have two fruiting cherries and many adults have been feasting on fruit but we were alarmed to see an adult repeatedly trying to push whole cherries down the throat of a youngster which kept refusing it, but after being offered the tenth time eventually took it down. The fruit is not large, having suffered in the dry weather, but it still looked a terrible effort. One 7-spot Ladybird was the only one seen. BOSTON (Garden by A16) 14/06/2020 Kathleen Pearson Male Blackcap in the garden today FISKERTON Fiskerton Fen NR TF083718 15th June 2020 A Cetti’s Warbler was singing at various parts of the small marsh/scrub area as it has been since winter. Other singing birds were Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Cuckoo (all x1) and Reed Warbler x3. A Common Tern flew over the reserve. Among the plants were Common Valerian, Common Meadow-rue, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Oxeye, False Fox Sedge, Marsh Bedstraw, Water Forget-me-not (all in flower) and early growth of Tubular Water-dropwort, Common Fleabane, Upright Hedge-parsley, Meadowsweet, Purple Loosestrife and Wild Angelica. The only dragonflies were Blue-tailed Damselfly x3 and Brown Hawker x1. Moths seen were single Latticed Heath and Cinnabar. A very tattered Common Blue butterfly was the only one seen. The only recognisable fly seen was the false cranefly Ptychoptera contaminata with heavily marked wings. The drain north of the R. Witham was covered with a thin oily and frothy film as far as the eye could see, and this was reported to the Environment Agency, and, pleasingly, quickly acknowledged by local officials, who were glad to receive photographs of the pollution. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust was also made aware. SLEAFORD Richard Dawson Sleaford – River Slea TF 05586 45904 Various families of water voles living blissfully in a weedy neglected part of the River Slea behind the Drove allotments. Have to keep explaining to lockdown walkers that they are NOT rats. But I like rats too, in the right habitats. About 10 years ago I saw the light and stopped using blue slug pellets and created a habitat for their predators. Now I have a goodly number of thrushes, a toad and quite a lot of young frogs hanging out in the adjoining lengthening clover and grass. Not a slug or snail seen all year around my greenhouses. Also seen daily on the Slea, trout, kingfishers, herons, wagtails. TORKSEY Torksey SK 824780 12/06/2020 Alison Brownlow Green Dock Beetles 1,000s on River Trent bank. Iridescent 5mm beetles on shot holed dock leaves or on docks that were reduced to a black mush. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 4/6/2020 Pheasant 1 Swallows 3 - flying low over field next to my gate 5/6/2020 Fox 1 - seen in garden at 9pm, looking very bedraggled 6/6/2020 Speckled wood 1 Wrens 2 8/6/2020 Barn owl 1 10pm Bat sp. 2 9/6/2020 Bat sp. 1 - in my garden 10.05pm Bat sp. 4 - TF511764 9.40-9.50pm Collared doves 2 - I know they have a nest on a neighbour's property but drink as a pair from my bird bath daily Dunnocks 2 Robins 2 Sparrows 6 also 9/6/2020 at TF528764 Azure damselflies 2 Cercopis vulnerata Red-and-black Froghopper 1 MESSINGHAM SAND QUARRY around SE 912 034 A. Primavera 14/06/2020 Plants seen in flower: White water-lily Celery-leaved buttercup Greater spearwort White campion ragged robin lesser stitchwort common sorrel water-cress dog-rose silverweed meadow-sweet white clover lesser trefoil meadow vetchling birds-foot-trefoil hogweed hemlock bittersweet water figwort cleavers elder common twayblade common spotted x southern marsh orchid Saw a common Lizard. RISBY WARREN around SE 922 136 A.Primavera 08/06/2020 Plants seen in flower: Sheep's sorrel White bryony Biting stonecrop Wild strawberry False-acacia Purple Milk-vetch Common birds-foot-trefoil Fairy flax Common stork's-bill Common centaury yellow-wort Hound's tongue Wood sage Heath speedwell Heard & saw yellowhammer, also many small-heath bf & several cinnabar moth. SANDILANDS, SUTTON-ON-SEA Ian Whitaker 16/06/20 Privet Hawkmoth pair mating and Hoverfly-Helophillus Pendulus - in garden late morning. Sandilands, Sutton-on-Sea Ian Whitaker 16/06/20 Harlequin Ladybird larva in garden late afternoon [photo available] THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 04/06/20 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 6 fledglings Chaffinch x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 1 + 5 fledged young Great Tit x 2 Mute Swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Robin x 2 + 4 fledged young Stock Dove x 1 on nest Swallow x 4 Swift x 2 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 6 Yellowhammer x 1 07/06/20 Blackbird x 1 Blue Tit x 6 young Chaffinch x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Goldfinch x 6 fledged young Great Tit several fledged young (at least 4) Kestrel x 1 Robin x 1 feeding young in nest Swallow x 1 on nest in stables Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Hedgehog x 1 MOTHS; Garden Carpet x 1 Silver-ground Carpet x 2 Yellow Shell x 1 13/06/20 Blackbird x 1 feeding young Chaffinch x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Robin x 1 feeding young Tree Sparrow x 1 feeding young Wood Pigeon x 1 BUTTERFLIES; Common Blue x 1 Meadow Brown x 1 Small Tortoiseshell x 4 15/06/20 Blackbird x 2 feeding young Blue Tit x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Cuckoo x 1 Dunnock with fledged young Goldfinch x 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 Greenfinch x 1 Mute Swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Robin lots of fledged young (at least 8) all around yard Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Swift x 12 Tree Sparrow x 6 fledged young Wood Pigeon x 3 Yellowhammer x 1 MOTHS; Green Carpet x 1 Yellow Shell x 1 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler 10/6/20 SK923233 Short walk round Newton, Reads and Water Lanes on a cool, wet day. Looking particularly at those old stone walls between the oldest houses and the lanes. The Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Petty Spurge and the Yellow Corydalis were all of interest since their seeds all have oil-bearing appendages which ants eat, without damaging the seed. They carry them away, so effecting dispersal. The ivy-leaved toadflax also has the ability to turn its developing fruits into the wall so planting its own seed. Biting stonecrop was found at the top of one wall, where it was sometimes planted, but also growing at the base of another wall. Red valerian was only at the base of the walls. No doubt it had been removed from walls where its roots are damaging. A garden escape, once uniformly red, some have developed pink forms. Antirrhinums, are also a garden escape found in this area which, flowering now, have reverted to the original pink forms with a yellow throat. 12/6/20 Viking Way SK891235 Yet another cold, wet day. The wide verges which mark the boundary between Lincolnshire and Leicester, were densely covered with coarse grasses and the tall umbels of Hogweed flowers. I listed 21 plants in flower, all of which are found amongst 50 Common Plants in Lincs ( the criteria for which is that they are in each of the 10KM squares.) They included Tall Oat , Cocksfoot, Yorkshire Fog, Perennial Rye Grasses, Common Nettle, Blackberry, Elder, Goosegrass, Creeping Thistle, Curled and Broadleaved Docks, a few Cowparsleys still with flowers, Creeping Buttercup, and at edges Creeping Cinquefoil, White Clover, Ribwort and Broad-leaved Plantains , Dandelion and Pineapple Weed. There were just one or two patches of Red Campion and Wood Sage. At first it seemed there was no animal life but parting the vegetation and looking under the leaves discovered numerous Snails and Slugs. The Marmalade Hover Fly and various pyralid moths were keeping dry between layers of leaves and there were several Scorpion flies. Grubs were curled up in dock leaves and the Bramble leaves scored with the tunnels of moths. We disturbed a single speckled Wood Butterfly and Common Carder Bees were loaded with pollen. There were also paths through the vegetation made by larger animals, including one with evidence of fox. Ahead of us, too far for me to walk were vast stretches of these wide unmanaged verges where the vegetation must resemble a forest of diverse structure to the invertebrate world, and a feeding ground for small mammals. Too wet to stay long. Next week I have to survey the flowers, butterflies and bees of a Roadside Nature Reserve, but I shall want to come back to the Viking Way again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Reserves including RSPB and LWT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Short are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. "On hold". http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 10th – 16th June 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Note: Strong north-easterly winds on the 11th with a gust of 26.5mph recorded near Sea View. Very warm and humid during the night of the 13th with a ground temperature of 11.25 deg C and air minimum of 12.25 deg C. Daily news and wildlife sightings 070620- 2 Teal, 3 Kestrel, 4 Fulmar, 6 Common Scoter, 2 grasshopper warbler, 2 ringed plover, 4 cuckoo, 1 willow warbler, 2 gannet, 3 guillemot and 4 sandwich terns between Churchill Lane and Crookbank. 100620 – 12 ruddy darters around the Rimac Easy Access Trail 110620 - Paradise lagoon 4 avocets and 14 black-headed gulls of note. 5 grasshopper warbler including 4 reeling within a 100m stretch (family party?), 3 cuckoos between Sea View and Rimac. 120620 - A drake garganey with 2 teal and 9 little egrets on freshwater marsh at Rimac, plus at least 20 house martins feeding over the area. 130620 - Meadow brown, red admiral and small tortoiseshell butterflies on the wing near Sea View. A fine hobby hunting over the saltmarsh late evening. 2 medium size and 2 small bats in the Churchill Lane area. 6 species of orchid around Rimac nature trail. Small number of diamondback and silver Y moths in the dunes. 19 skylark, 1 kestrel, 2 little egret, 5 chiffchaff, 1 grasshopper warbler, 2 reed warbler, c400 starling, 4 swift flying north, 31 whitethroat, 12 sedge warbler, 3 willow warbler, 2 blackcap, 2 curlews between Sea View and Brickyard Lane. 140620 - Paradise lagoon 3 lapwing, 4 avocets, 5 redshank, 19 mallard, 3 teal, 4 tufted duck, 1 heron, 3 coot, 1 moorhen, 7 black-headed gulls and a pair of grey lags with 4 well developed young. Two red admirals, several small tortoiseshells and 1 brown argus at Sea View. Out at sea 50 common scoter north and 2 sandwich terns plus 3 ‘comic’ terns south. At Rimac 2 cuckoo, 4 little egret, 2 curlew flew south over the dunes as did a single bar- tailed godwit. Common centuary, several thousand orchids, fairy flax in flower in the dunes. 3 herons out from Brickyard Lane and 2 emperor and 1 four spotted chaser dragonflies. A single skylark, c5 whitethroats, 3 linnets and a sedge warbler on territories. Also 3 mistle thrushes feeding. 150620 - A hummingbird hawkmoth on the wing at Sea View. 160620 - Of note on Paradise lagoon 6 avocets and one green sandpiper. 2 pairs of cuckoo in the Brickyard Lane area and several yellow shell moths. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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/ 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: Keith Rossington - Hard Bounce. ....and finally... Birds and other animals may see colours that we cannot even imagine | New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/2246101-birds-and-other-animals-may-see-colours-that-we-cannot-even-imagine/ Nature crisis: New global extinction target proposed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53008292 African swine fever 'decimating' Nigerian pigs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-52993366 Hope for pangolins as protection boosted in China https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52981804 'More masks than jellyfish': coronavirus waste ends up in ocean https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/08/more-masks-than-jellyfish-coronavirus-waste-ends-up-in-ocean Life attracts life': the Irish farmers filling their fields with bees and butterflies https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/06/food-will-be-a-by-product-the-irish-farmers-creating-nature-friendly-fields Hopes dashed that resurgent pine martens can save UK's red squirrel https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/15/hopes-dashed-that-resurgent-pine-martens-can-save-uks-red-squirrel Country diary: black garden ants are quick to colonise the compost https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/06/country-diary-black-garden-ants-are-quick-to-colonise-the-compost Country diary: a coughing cuckoo catches my attention https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/09/country-diary-a-coughing-cuckoo-catches-my-attention Country diary: last dance of a long-legged mayfly https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/10/country-diary-last-dance-of-a-long-legged-mayfly Enjoy your week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/