============================================= || || 11th March 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... *** Sorry about the gremlin in last week's Bulletin. It looked beautiful when I stopped working on it - then I made a small correction and... We had an excellent and well-attended AGM at Whisby, culminating in a wonderfully thought-provoking presentation by Chris du Feu. Thank you, Chris. A note on Covid-19 has been added to "STAYING SAFE" section. If at some point you should decide to cancel a Wildlife event you are welcome to ask me to include a cancellation note in the Bulletin. Meanwhile, Bulletin readers will all have some knowledge and concern about Covid-19, so why not sign up for an on-line course about it? FutureLearn is offering a FREE on-line course run by The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. See: COVID-19: Tackling the Novel Coronavirus https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/covid19-novel-coronavirus [I can't resist mentioning I have been told the unofficial motto of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is: "Diarrhoea is our bread and butter."] As the Covid-19 situation becomes clear we will use the Bulletin, the LNU website and Twitter to let you know of any changes/cancellations to proposed activities. Any changes will reflect the current NHS advice. Other wildlife organisations posting events in the Bulletin are welcome to let us know of any similar alterations, and I will do my best to include their announcements and alterations. Bob Sheppard has reminded us that The Len Pick Trust camera is live again. Two owls are already using the box. Keep watching! https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 If you know of projects which deserve to be applying for a Lincolnshire Environmental Award please encourage the organisers to do so now. The deadline for entries: 31 March 2020. For more information see: www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk A selection of topical news stories and wildlife articles can be found on the following links. Most have been suggested by fellow readers. Photo of the Week: 26 February-3 March - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-26-february-3-march/ Nottingham Trent University study to assess impact of traffic on hedgehogs https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-51756873 Sea Watch Foundation survey reveals record numbers of whales and dolphins in UK waters https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51770375 Climate change: Carbon-reducing seagrass planted off Welsh coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51804404 Europe experiences exceptionally warm winter https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51758223 Badger cull to be replaced by vaccines in bovine TB fight https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-51753393 British Birds: Surviving a changing climate https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/natureuk/entries/dd8845a2-3bc0-4456-a4f4-aaf321520727 Six RAF jets intercept Russian aircraft heading for Scottish coast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-51789577 More links in "...and finally..." Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ [Note: Unless otherwise stated, Indoor Meetings are held on Saturdays at the Whisby Education Centre, Whisby Nature Park, and start at 2pm.] Field Meetings 2020: https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Details at the of Bulletin. 11. Events Diary. Next meeting: Doddington Hall Estate – Sunday 26th April 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-04-28/ *** East of England Coleopterists meeting *** Charlie Barnes writes: The 2nd East of England Coleopterists meeting is taking place at Whisby Nature Park on the 21st March. The morning will have a range of beetle- related talks at the education centre, including vane trapping and dealing with the minutiae of the Coleoptera. After lunch we'll head outdoors to look for beetles on the reserve. For further information contact Bill Mansfield billmansfield8@hotmail.com or Charlie Barnes charlie@cucaera.co.uk 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: very useful *** https://roadworks.org/ *** Met Office Severe Warnings: current *** 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/ *** Botany - 2020 Field Identification Skills Certificate *** From Love Lincs Plants Team For the third year running we are delivering a Field Identification Skills Assessment (FISC) from the BSBI and delivered by Natural England Field Unit Staff. This is a highly regarded botanical TEST which aims to establish your botany identification skill level so that you can progress as a botanist. It is also a great way to meet fellow botanists and great way to see part of the county that you would not otherwise venture to. Date: Saturday 11th July 2020 Time: 10:15am - 4:30pm Meeting venue for indoor session: Castle Bytham Village Hall, Pinfold Rd, Grantham, NG33 4RY Fee: £75 TO BOOK: To book your slot please send an email to Andrea.Perkins@naturalengland.org.uk stating 'Field Identification Skills Assessment (FISC) - Castle Bytham, 11th July' Please do NOT contact the LNU or Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to book your space. Once confirmed, you will receive more detail event details in June. Find out more about FISCs here: www.bsbi.org/field-skills *** Whisby Workshops *** Richard Davidson has sent details for this year's Whisby Workshops All from 12.30 until 16.30 pm. Plant Pressing - Sue Fysh - 30th May. Yellow Flowered Asteraceae / Compositae Plants - Sarah Lambert - 1st August. Lichens workshop - Prof Mark Seaward - Saturday the 17th of October. Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele - 21st November. *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions *** The LNU has organised some drop-in sessions at the Whisby Education Centre to provide an opportunity to chat ‘natural history’ over a cup of coffee. You can turn up when you like; no booking necessary. Different specialists will be present at each and if you want to discuss something in particular let them know so they can come prepared with, for example, specimens or reference material. See the LNU website for further details: https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ *** Sea Watch Observer Volunteer Training Courses *** Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Seawatch Foundation North Sea Observatory - Chapel Point 28th March 2020 - 9am to 5pm. Find out how to identify the different whales, dolphins and porpoises off the Lincolnshire coast and how you can help us to monitor them. Booking essential - contact Dave Miller at dmiller@lincstrust.co.uk or phone 07919 326646 *** March 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 *** http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby Martin Francis - Group Leader - writes: The speaker at the next meeting of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group is Mandy West who is a freelance nature/wildlife/travel photographer with a passion for birds, wildlife and travel. Mandy has had images published by many organisations including BBC Earth, the RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts. She also organises and leads wildlife photography trips around Asia, Europe, Costa Rica and the UK. Mandy's talk has the title "Birding Murcia, Spain" and it takes place at 7.30pm on Monday, 16th March 2020 at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, (formerly known as Corpus Christi Community Centre), Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7LH. There will also be refreshments and a raffle Entry is £4, payable at the door. Our next coach trip is to Clumber Park and the new RSPB Reserve at Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire on Sunday 15th March (i.e. the day before the meeting). On previous visits to these woodland areas, we have seen over 50 species, including hawfinch, marsh tit, nuthatch, treecreeper, goldcrest and great spotted woodpecker. This trip may also appeal to walkers and ramblers who will be most welcome to join us, because there are excellent walks at both sites. The coach leaves the Shoppers Car Park in Scartho, (next to Scartho Community Centre) at 7.30am, returning at 6-6.30pm. The cost is £20 per head. Booking is essential. Contact Tony Bryan by email at mariners4top@yahoo.co.uk or by phone at (01472) 873362 Everyone, RSPB members and non-members, is welcome to attend the meeting or join us on the trip. *** South Lincs RSPB *** Jeremy Eyeons writes: “Birdwatching cruises into the Wash” programme for 2020. Fourteen cruises are arranged for 2020, at various sailing times and dates, starting 16th April and ending 23rd October. Full details of all cruise dates and times, costs etc., plus 2019 Sightings, can be found at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ Booking is once again via Spalding's South Holland Centre (01775-764777) or online at www.southhollandcentre.co.uk *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Lincoln LWT *** Richard Davidson writes: Lincoln Area Group Talk March 19th - Nature's Calendar An update by Judith Garforth on this groundbreaking Citizen Science project, which monitors signs of the changing seasons and the effects of weather and climate on wildlife, in it's twentieth year. At Whisby Nature Park in the Lafarge Education Building starting at 7.30 pm. Admission is £2.50 which includes refreshments. *** Louth LWT *** Ray Woodcock writes Our Annual General Meeting will be on 24 April when there will be cake! There is a need for at least a couple of you to volunteer to join the committee. The tasks are not onerous, we hold 3 meetings a year to discuss and plan the programme for the following year. The only commitment is to help to run the indoor meetings; most of you attend these so it would only be a matter of arriving before the 7.30 pm start time. Please contact me for any further details on rwwsec3lo@aol.com *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** 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: Rare Bird Alert website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] RBA note on visiting Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness: Access from A52 thru The Pines Caravan Park, TF537628 If visiting Willow Tree Fen see: LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and access. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen What is a "ringtail" Hen Harrier? "While males are a pale grey colour, females and immatures are brown with a white rump and a long, barred tail which give them the name 'ringtail'. https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/hen-harrier/ 4/3 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Long-eared Owl on island from hide, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Hen Harrier ringtail, Tetney Marshes 90 Water Pipits, Short-eared Owl, Tundra Bean Goose on Croftmarsh, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 5/3 Waxwing, by car park, Cleethorpes Country Park Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 4 Hen Harriers, 2 males, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier male. 3 Water Pipits, Gibraltar Point Great Northern Diver flew south past Chapel Point 6/3 Waxwing, by car park, Cleethorpes Country Park Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Water Pipit, by River Glen, Baston Fen Short-eared Owl over ploughed field at Bellingham's Drove, Spalding South Fen 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Tennyson's Sands, Pale-bellied Brent Goose with 543 Dark-bellied Brent geese on Jackson's Marsh, 44 Water Pipits at Old Saltmarsh roost, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point 2 Bitterns, Far Ings, Barton-upon-Humber Short-eared Owl, Littleworth Drove, Deeping St Nicholas 7/3 Snow Bunting, Waxwing, by car park, Country Park, Cleethorpes Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 3 Hen Harriers, 1 male, over saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret in drains east of Stickford, SE of east Keal Cattle Egret by Short Ferry Road by pub, Great White Egret, Fiskerton Fen 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Tennyson's Sands, 18 Water Pipits, roosted, Gibraltar Point 8/3 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby Cattle Egret in flooded field on west side, Great White Egret, Fiskerton Fen 2 Waxwings, by car park, Country Park, Cleethorpes Water Pipit, Willow Tree Fen, WSW of Spalding 2 Tundra Bean Geese on Croftmrsh, 62 Water Pipits in roost at Old saltmarsh, Pale-belied Goose on Jackson's Marsh, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier ringtail, Freiston Shore Hen Harrier ringtail, Frampton Marsh 4 Water Pipits between Winter's Pond and Dawson City Clay Pits 9/3 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 2 Waxwings, by car park, Country Park, Cleethorpes Great White Egret on flood near Gainsborough Little Ringed Plover, West Deeping 13 Water Pipits, Male Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier ringtail, Frampton Marsh 10/3 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby 36 Water Pipits, male Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 11/3 Black-throated Thrush 1w male still at Grimsby Institute, Grimsby ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Peregrines Bob Sheppard has sent this list of the churches where we can see them. St Wulframs Church, Grantham. St James' Church, Louth St Botolph's Church, Boston. St Mary's Church, Bottesford (just over the border) All these churches have live pictures streamed to a TV screen and most have a cafe serving cake and hot drinks whilst you watch the action (details on their websites) The RSPB organise viewings at Lincoln Cathedral. ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. BOSTON David Smith 05/03/2020 B1183 near Cowbridge Adult badger *** 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. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons Mistle Thrush singing from about 4.30hrs in Lime trees on The Green. Our senior Jackdaw is now nicknamed Corvid-1! TF120694 3 Slugs collected on 7/3/2020 and determined by Chris du Feu. Arion distinctus (2 specimens) the most common of the garden slugs. Tandonia budapestensis - the major potato pest and (surprisingly in agricultural Lincolnshire) common but grossly under-recorded. Village garden, Bardney. Mainly damp mossy lawn adjacent to The Green, under bricks on soil close to a low wall. Collected 10am on 7/3/2020. BOSTON (Garden by A16) 08/03/2020 Kathleen Pearson Recorded the first Brimstone butterfly of the year in the garden today. HOLYWELL LAKE WeBS Holywell Lake 6th March 2020 0820 – 0925 Ian Misselbrook Little Grebes 17 Little Egret 1 Mute Swans 2 – both males Greylag Geese 65 Canada Geese 26 Mallard 22 Gadwall 8 Wigeon 56 Teal 6 Tufted Duck 32 Coot 8 Moorhen 15 Black-headed Gulls 52 Grey Wagtail 2 - pair Pied Wagtail 1 Dunnocks 3 Wrens 2 Robin 4 Blackbird 1 Great Tit 1 Blue Tits 4 Stock Dove 1 singing Wood Pigeons © 40 Pheasants 2 Jackdaws © 20 Rooks © 40 Carrion Crows 4 Red Kite 1 Kestrel 1 Tawny Owl 1 – hooting at 0830! Goldfinches 6 Grennfinches 2 Chaffinch © 12 Rippingale – my garden 1 male Reed Bunting HORKSTOW Jenny Haynes 6 March 2020 A local farmer has strung up a dead rook in the field opposite my house. I thought this barbaric practice had ended years ago. It doesn’t even work as the local rook population appears to be taking no notice and continues to land in the field. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 28/2/2020 Pheasants 2 2/3/2020 Barn owls 2: 1 flying low over the field next to me TF 510761 (6.15am); the second: along Jolly Common Lane and over the fields either side TF515767 (6.45am) Hares 2 TF517765 Roe deer 4 TF528765 3/3/2020 Wren 1 4/3/2020 Great tits 6 NETTLEHAM Brenda Edlington TF 005756 2020 The garden bird numbers are beginning to drop from highs of 12 goldfinches, 7 blackbirds, 4 greenfinches and 13 collared doves in February. Presumably starting to pair up. Since 16/2/2020 a song thrush has been singing daily in the tree tops until earlier this week. Last seen when 2 thrushes were chasing about so hopefully it’s found a mate. Thrushes not seen regularly in the garden since 2010. w/c 22/2/2020 A single siskin on sunflower seed over a 2-week period 9/3/2020 Saw what looked like hedgehog droppings in the morning so put out trail camera. Largish hedgehog visited that evening and also a wood mouse. Blackbird nesting in ivy on the fence. 2 robins 2 dunnocks 0/3/2020 2 yellowhammers under bird feeders – very bright yellow. The first this winter. Great spotted woodpecker on sunflower seeds. 6 magpies and 8 crows attacking the ash tree (which has a lot of dead wood) at the bottom of the garden trying to break twigs off. KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK847757 09/03/2020 Alison Brownlow First bees seen, Buff-tailed Bumblebee Tawny Mining bee both on lungwort. Scarlet Elf Cap on rotting log ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves - reports always welcome ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/ https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves: reports always welcome. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 4th – 10th March 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett and Ruth Taylor. Daily news and wildlife sightings Weather note - the 10th was an unusually mild day with the max temperature reaching 16.25? in a strong south-westerly wind; a gust of 48.7mph noted near Rimac. 040320 - Stonechat near Sea View and 120 pink-feet over Elm House Farm. 060320 - Male merlin mobbing a male hen harrier over the saltmarsh. 070320 - Marsh harrier hunting over the saltmarsh, tawny owl calling near Sea View. 090320 - 42 little egrets on the saltmarsh and on Paradise lagoon were 75 dark-bellied Brent geese, 13 tufted duck, 5 coot, 1 moorhen, 10 gadwall, 2 shelduck, 20 shoveler, 11 wigeon, 29 teal, 10 redshank, 3 curlew, 1 little grebe and a kingfisher alongside the Eau. 100320 - Against the shelter of a strong south-westerly wind 8 stonechats were working their way alongside the edge of the scrub and saltmarsh between Rimac and Sea View. Fresh flowers of common daisy, dandelion and lesser celandine noted. A polecat ferret was spotted at Sea View and later found dead at the side of the road. Other Reserves 090320 – Lots of frog spawn, frogs and toads in amplexus and lesser celandine in flower at Tetney Blow Wells. 6 stonechat at Donna Nook. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. 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 The group still meets over winter to carry out essential coppice management of the wood and maintenance activities and anyone is welcome to come along and help. Just 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If visiting Willow Tree Fen see LWT website for directions and updated information on parking and seasonal paths - groundwork is in progress. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen If your favourite locations are under-reported, why not send in some information? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. The upper limit is £250. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - Updates from the Partnership *** 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 Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society http://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/news-events/lincolnshire-plants-project/ 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: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** 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. Reminder: Allan and Annette Binding are taking a break from recording. [Harvestmen, Pseudoscorpions, Spiders and Shield Bugs] Please do not send records in for now. We will let you know when alternative arrangements are in place via the LNU website and the Bulletin. *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: We'd be happy to welcome new people, experienced or not, particularly if they are located towards the northern part of the vice county! sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** British Bryological Society *** http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/ *** 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 You can 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) For further information and to submit records 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 http://www.glnp.org.uk/ (of which LERC is a part) 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 Deadline for entries: 31 March 2020 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 cases may be difficult or impossible to verify. If further information is needed 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/ BTO's Birdwatchers' Code https://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u10/downloads/taking-part/health/bwc.pdf 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. Our 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: Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ Annual General Meeting – 7th March 2020 Followed by the Presidential Address by Chris du Feu Field Meetings: Doddington Hall Estate – Sunday 26th April 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-04-28/ Anderby Creek area – Saturday 30th May 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-05-12/Pebbles on the beach at the North Sea Observatory – Sunday 31st May. A Lincs. Geological Group event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/pebbles-on-the-beach-at-the-north-sea-observatory-sunday-31st-may-a-lincs-geological-society-event/ Nettleton Top – Saturday 13th June 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-06-22/ Belton Park – Saturday 18th July 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-07-07/ Kirkstead Old Mill – Sunday 16th August 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-07-20/ Cadney and Howsham: In the footsteps of Rev A. Woodruff-Peacock – Date TBC August 2020. All day event. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-08-10/ Sudbrooke Scout Campsite – Sunday 6th September 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-09-08/ Woodhall Spa Airfield LWT Reserve – Sunday 11th October 2020. Fungus Foray. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/2019-10-13/ Whisby Workshops - Lincoln LWT area group and LNU at Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, in the Lafarge Education Building from 12.30 to 4.30 pm. All from 12.30 until 16.30 pm. Free of charge but booking is essential. Please contact Richard Davidson on 01522 525725 or email rel.davidson@btinternet.com Plant Pressing - Sue Fysh - 30th May. Yellow Flowered Asteraceae / Compositae Plants - Sarah Lambert - 1st August. Lichens workshop - Prof Mark Seaward - Saturday the 17th of October. Owl & Other Bird Pellets - Garry Steele - 21st November. *** Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions *** The LNU has organised some drop-in sessions at the Whisby Education Centre to provide an opportunity to chat ‘natural history’ over a cup of coffee. 2pm to 4pm. You can turn up when you like; no booking necessary. Different specialists will be present at each and if you want to discuss something in particular let them know so they can come prepared with, for example, specimens or reference material. See the LNU website for further details: https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** 1 Mail fail: Allan Binding If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. Text copies of current and past Bulletins can be found on: http://rogerparsons.info/bulletinportal.html Reminder: Please check and make sure that your account on Mailchimp has your GDPR email consent box ticked and that your name/details are as you want them to be. ....and finally... National Insect Week 22-28 June 2020 - dates for your diary. If any Lincolnshire "insect events" need a plug, please let me know details. https://www.nationalinsectweek.co.uk/ New Fair Isle bird observatory plans submitted - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/news/new-fair-isle-bird-observatory-plans-submitted/ Illicit wildlife products 'slipping through the net' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51726617 Why plastic is a deadly attraction for sea turtles https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51804884 China has shut all of its wild animal markets – it was long overdue https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532723-900-china-has-shut-all-of-its-wild-animal-markets-it-was-long-overdue/ Recycle your waste · TerraCycle https://www.terracycle.com/en-GB/about-terracycle/recycle_your_waste How birds are used to reveal the future https://theconversation.com/how-birds-are-used-to-reveal-the-future-130844 Grey squirrels are oblivious to threat from pine martens – giving native reds the advantage https://theconversation.com/grey-squirrels-are-oblivious-to-threat-from-pine-martens-giving-native-reds-the-advantage-131064 Country diary: colourful jays with electrifying chat https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/28/country-diary-colourful-jays-with-electrifying-chat Country diary: a jewel-eyed destroyer infests the knapweed https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/02/country-diary-a-jewel-eyed-destroyer-infests-the-knapweed ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/