============================================= || || 24th 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... *** Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. Much appreciated. We could do with information from a few more areas to get a better coverage. Please keep reporting report any bats seen - see Annette Faulkner's bat note further down. Some very interesting information is coming in. Excellent. Heads up for A Wild Year - series 1 - Starts Friday 3rd July. Episode 1: The Pembrokeshire Coast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000kl8y We seem to be keeping up with the cancellations and postponements and the latest steps to ease the CO-19 restrictions whilst staying as safe as possible. Related wildlife organisations needing to publicise any changes are welcome to get in touch with updates for us. Here's some good news: The National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend is going ahead this year. When the moment comes we will announce the 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. Stay alert and keep up appropriate measures to reduce any risks. Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain 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. Please don't drive there until you have confirmed it is open again. A selection of useful and entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! Coronavirus: UK must prepare for second virus wave - health leaders https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53159918 Snake falls from sky and lands near Lincoln park dog walker. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53091159 Seeds of controversy: the debate around sown vs native road verges - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/plant-facts/flowers/flowers-road-verges/ Wildlife scientists examine the great 'human pause' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53113896 Crows are watching your language, literally - I've often wondered... https://corvidresearch.blog/2020/06/21/the-crows-are-watching-your-language-literally/ Groby chimney honeycomb housing 160,000 bees found - startling! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53140462 Durham Botanic Garden's lockdown photo diary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-53119584 Public asked to help shape England's tree planting strategy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53106602 Climate change: Planting new forests 'can do more harm than good' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53138178 Arctic Circle sees 'hottest-ever' recorded temperatures https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53140069 Researcher flies to Iceland to study Arctic terns - watch https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-devon-53098898/ Stonehenge: Neolithic monument found near sacred site https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-53132567 Stonehenge Skyscape - addictive! https://www.stonehengeskyscape.co.uk/ I hope the Bulletins are keeping you in touch and entertained. Stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** This Year's NWD Watch *** Dave Miller writes: National Whale and Dolphin Watch Weekend is going ahead this year. Obviously this will not be the usual public event, but I thought that with such a great group of dedicated volunteers we could still get plenty of effort data, and who knows maybe some whales, dolphins or porpoises for the Lincolnshire coast. The “weekend” is spread over nine days: 25th July until 2nd of August, and we do have a long coastline. Please do not arrange to do any sea watches with anyone outside your immediate family or bubble, and follow all government social distancing guidelines when out on the coast. However there is the opportunity to pick a time and location that suits you best, watch the sea for as little or as long as you like. I have the usual land-based effort form if you would like one. If you can get involved, after your watch fill this out and then send me a scanned copy, or if that is not possible just type in the details on an email to me. I will then collate the data and do a report for the Lincolnshire coast. Dave Miller Further information on the national picture can be found at https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/ *** BATS – 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. 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. *** 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 Look out for noctilucent clouds. https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/53137927 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 17/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 18/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Wood Sandpiper over Anderby Creek Wood Sandpiper, Manby Flashes 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 young, Frampton Marsh Probably Montagu's Harrier, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 19/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Glaucous Gull reported on Pylon scrapes at Cress Marsh, Stallingborough 20/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 2 Spoonbills, Frampton Marsh, then flew towards Freiston Shore 21/6 Blyth's Reed Warbler singing, Target Lake, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber 22/6 4 Black-necked Grebes, 2 young, on North Scrape, Frampton Marsh 23/6 Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 24/6 Quail male singing in barley at Carrington, near Boston ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 for latest developments... 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 18/6/2020 2 Bats echolocating at 55kHz over garden 22.00hrs - probably Pipistrelles 19/6/2020 Hedgehog in garden at 00.30hrs and 01.30hrs [trailcam] Bat echolocating with different "shape" of sound to pipistrelle - 1 single burst at 02.10hrs 19/6/2020 Single bat hunting over garden 21.50 to 10.10hrs - echolocating @ 55kMz - probably Pipistrelle 20/6/2020 Bat, signal @ 20kHz 21.40hrs - Noctule, Bat, 55kHz at 21.50 and 22.05hrs - probably Pipistrelle. Grasshopper nymph sp found in house 10.10hrs and returned to garden. 21/6/2020 2nd grasshopper nymph sp found in house on some boots and returned to garden. Bat, 22.00hrs signal at 55kHz - probably Pipistrelle. 22/6/2020 Pipistrelle 55kHz @ 21.55, Noctule at c20kHz - 2 good signals a minute or two apart.# 23-24/6/2020 Hedgehog garden visits at 11.12, 01.39 and 02.57hrs. BOSTON Arundel Crescent Boston PE21 7QH Mike Skinner 17/6/2020 The early hedgehog catches the mealworm. 9.45pm on Wednesday 17th June in our garden. Mike adds: We had another one later in the evening and recently we had 3 all eating happily together. Maybe a further point of interest in Autumn we and our near neighbours have regularly had to take poorly and underweight hogs to the hospital in Old Leake however last Autumn we didn’t have to take one. CAMSHAW'S PLANTATION [Bardney Limewoods NNR] near Stainfield TF119743 R & A Parsons 24/6/2020 at 9.30hrs approx. Buzzard calling in area. 6+ White Admirals, plus Small Tortoiseshells, Small Whites, Gatekeepers, 1 Speckled Wood. GRIMSBY Grid ref. TA265095 and nearby Joyce Attia 23rd June 2020 16.50 hrs  My garden..over the last few days. A number of white bottomed bees on the campanula, the roses, the foxgloves and the blue lavender. Birds... A pair of blackbirds. A dunnock heard every day but not seen 6 gold finches on the garden fence A pair of sparrows on the roses The occasional herring gull on the chimney pot. 1 ringlet butterfly 2 large white butterflies 3 small tortoiseshells A few little mint moths. A buff ermine moth on the hanging basket and another in the bathroom. A silver Y on the hanging basket. Overhead ...swifts, small flocks of 5, 6, and 7, probably the same ones. Just one swallow A bat fluttering overhead in the evening Along the riverside... The berries are turning red on the hawthorns. Yellow flag irises scattered in patches along the river bank. There is a moorhen's nest hidden in the reeds and a couple of pairs of mallards, one with ducklings. I haven't seen the swans at all for a few days. HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes SE987179 23 June 2020 A common (I think) grasshopper appeared in a clump of convolvulus in my garden this evening. Red Admiral also seen today. Bats out tonight probably 22.00hrs 24 June Male house sparrow. A rare sighting here. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 11/6/2020 Chaffinch 1 Greenfinch 1 12/6/2020 Bat sp. 1 9.47pm Pheasant 1 13/6/2020 Bat sp. 1 10.10pm - 10.20pm No bats at TF511764 9.30pm - 10.05pm, where previously seen 14/6/2020 Great spotted woodpecker 1 Wren 2 including one fledgling being fed 15/6/2020 Blackcap 1 17/6/2020 Dunnocks 2 in hawthorn, one fledgling being fed Ladybird 7-spot 2 Red admiral 2 Speckled wood 1 TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 19/6/2020 Bat sp. 2 10.03pm Frog 1 Speckled wood 1 20/6/2020 Bat sp. 3 (possibly 4) 10.04-10.15pm Elephant hawk-moth 1 TF511763 (neighbour's garden, on strawberry patch under netting) Great tits 2 21/6/2020 Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus weevil 1 - on living room wall! 22/6/2020 Meadow brown 20+ TF521765 both sides of the verge Nemophora Degeerella m. 10 - 'dancing' in sunlight Small tortoiseshell 1 23/6/2020 Bat sp. 1 10.04pm Blue tits 4 fledglings Red admiral 1 LINCOLN. Pig Lane Evening of 14/06/2020 GR. SK 946/707 Bats ( not sure which species ) 2 + around old Oak tree Also 6+ Roe dear with young. LINWOOD WARREN Stuart Britton Visited 22.30 on 21st June to look for glow worms in an area I had seen them in previous years. Despite an hour long search I did not locate any but I was treated to a roding Woodcock flying over and a Tawny Owl calling nearby. There were a large number of moths, a barking Muntjac but no bats. SOUTHREY WOOD, near BARDNEY Ferry Road pull in. TF137677 R & A Parsons 23/6/2020 at 10am. 2 White Admirals - 1 sunning on Bramble near barrier, on in flight over road. Comma sunning in open area. Hawker dragonfly sp. SPALDING TF245218 Garden Annette Faulkner 20/6/20 Whilst doing some grass clearing in a rather overgrown bit at the bottom of our walled garden, I moved a couple of bricks that were forming a small boundary and to my astonishment a toad crawled out. Until the pond sprung a leak some years ago we had frogs regularly, but this is the first time I have seen a toad in all the 47 years we have lived here. And then, to add to my delight, once I’d cleared tussocks of false oat grass from the top of a large yellow meadow ants’ nest which has been against the wall for years (ants everywhere!), I discovered a privet hawk moth folded up on the wall behind the grass. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK908242-SK917243 Jane Ostler Roadside Nature Reserve (LWT) 21/6/20 Though I have not been to the Reserve as often as usual this Spring I have in June started to check through the plants which are in flower, paying particular attention to those which are associated with limestone and those of hay meadows. The grasses in flower included both Golden Oat Grass and Hairy/Downy Oat Grass, and Quaking Grass. Both upright and Heath False Bromes which dominate some areas were not yet in flower. Glaucous Sedge, Field Woodrush and Hoary Plantain were scattered throughout. White flowers of Hedge Bedstraw, Bladder Campion, Wild Carrot and Fairy Flax, with deep pink of Salad Burnet and the fading colour of Yellow Rattle. Cat's Ear, Rough Hawkbit and Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Bulbous and Meadow Buttercups provide swathes of yellow. There is a preponderance of flowers belonging to the pea family - Meadow Vetchling, Bird's Foot Trefoil, Black Medick, Hop Trefoil Common and Bush Vetch and Tare. In May there were reports of Dingy Skipper but not of Grizzled Skipper. There were both Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral Butterflies (one or two only) on 21/6/20. A Common Blue, Small and Large Skippers, Speckled Woods and Meadow Browns. Moths were Cinnabar, Chimney Sweep and Lattic Heath. Bumble Bees out were Buff and White Tailed and Common Carder. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 17th – 23rd June 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont.   Note: The recent spell of 10.5mm rainfall was a welcome addition to the amount earlier in the month which has now freshened up the vegetation on the dunes and saltmarsh. On the dunes there is now a good show of viper’s bugloss and lady’s bedstraw is coming into flower.   Daily news and wildlife sightings:   160620 - Barn owl day time hunting along B1200 at Elm House Farm. On Paradise lagoon 8 avocet, 1 green sandpiper, 4 redshank, 2 grey heron, 8 mallard, 6 tufted duck, 3 teal, 2 shoveller, 2 coot, 1 moorhen, 2 greylag with 4 goslings and 10 black headed gulls.   170620 - Barn owl day time hunting at Howdale. Hobby over Rimac freshwater marsh and an emergence of common darter this morning from nearby scrapes. Broad-bodied and four-spot chasers at Rimac and Sea View. At Tetney Blow Wells 2 Cetti’s warbler, 1 grasshopper warbler, cuckoo, marsh harrier, red admiral, common blue, large skipper, meadow brown and small tortoisehell.    180620 - Paradise lagoon 41 mallard, 3 teal, 4 avocet, 21 black-headed gulls, 5 lapwing, 1 heron, 3 tufted duck, 3 redshank, 1 coot, 1 moorhen, 1 pied wagtail and 2 greylags with 4 juvs.   200620 - Juvenile great spotted woodpecker and hobby at Sea View, grasshopper warbler at Rimac and 2 marsh harriers hunting over the saltmarsh. On Paradise lagoon late evening 3 black tailed godwit, 4 avocet and 4 lapwing of note.   210620 - 1 spotted redshank at Paradise lagoon. Noticeable number of swifts in the Sea View area.   220620 - 2 spoonbills on Paradise lagoon which eventually flew off in a southerly direction, a single lesser black-backed gull, plus swifts and house martins feeding over the lagoon. Single siskin at Sea View. 1 speckled wood, small tortoiseshell and meadow brown butterflies now on the wing near Sea View. At Sea View first ringlet along with meadow brown, small heath, small tortoisehell, red admiral, 6 spot burnet, silver Y and yellowshell. Banded demoiselle on Great Eau at Rimac.   230620 - 7 sandwich terns on foreshore. Ruddy darter, common darter and broad-bodied chaser at Rimac.   Now in flower: pyramidal orchids, meadowsweet, sea lavender, various hawkbits, marsh bedstraw, lady’s bedstraw. Butterflies seen: speckled wood, small tortoiseshell, large white, green veined white and small white, holly blue, common blue, small heath, meadow brown, ringlet, large and small skipper and red admiral. Dragonflies: hairy, emperor, broad bodied chaser, four spotted chaser, common and ruddy darters Damselflies: common blue, emerald green, azure blue, blue tailed, large red. Moths: Narrow-bordered 5-Spot burnet, burnet companion, small-barred long horn, nettle tap. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: None this week. ....and finally... Coronavirus: Looking for viruses in Thai bats https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-53146195/ MSPs ban unlicensed culling of mountain hares https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53087039 Breathtaking new map of the X-ray Universe https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53102718 Urban dwellers yearn for 'Good Life' allotments https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53097572 DNA study reveals Ireland's age of 'god-kings' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53059527 Country diary: magpies are not to be seen in black and white terms https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/13/country-diary-magpies-not-black-and-white Country diary: it’s still spring in the green underworld of the ash trees https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/15/country-diary-its-still-spring-in-the-green-underworld-of-the-ash-trees Country diary: the tadpoles in this toad soup are dining on me https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/16/country-diary-the-tadpoles-in-this-toad-soup-are-dining-on-me See the light: why midsummer birding in Norway is life-affirming https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jun/20/midsummer-birding-in-arctic-northern-norway-birds-migrate-africa Country diary: catching a shapeshifter in the stream https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/20/country-diary-catching-a-shapeshifter-in-the-stream Enjoy your week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/