============================================= || || 20th May 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... *** Thank you for the many interesting contributions and reports this week. Please keep the information coming, even if only reporting from your home patch. Remember to include a grid reference for locations. Always needed. On LNU meetings, Brian Hedley writes: "I can now confirm that all the relevant landowners/organizations have been contacted regarding the cancellation of the LNU field meetings this year. This does not include those specific to the LLP project... Further information will be provided on this soon." We will monitor the "progress" of CO-19 and update you on eventual resumption of events at some point, through the LNU Bulletin, LNU Website meetings pages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking for updates. Things may change as the situation evolves. Stay safe. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are cancelled until further notice. Forestry Commission says: COVID-19: stay at home, please do not visit the nation’s forests https://www.forestryengland.uk/news/covid-19-stay-home-please-do-not-visit-the-nations-forests Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have been POSTPONED to Autumn www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk RSPB Frampton Marsh: Visitor Centre (including the toilets) will be closed until further notice. The hides will also be closed, as will those at our sister reserve of Freiston Shore. A selection of useful or entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! BBC2's Springwatch starts next Tuesday: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08d1lfq Photo of the Week: 6-12 May 2020 - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-6-12-may-2020/ Red Arrows moving to RAF Waddington from RAF Scampton https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-52709531 Coronavirus: Lincolnshire man fined six times for lockdown breaches https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-52667067 National Trust sites become wildlife hangouts during lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/52655500 More birds and bees, please! 12 easy, expert ways to rewild your garden https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/12/more-birds-and-bees-please-12-easy-expert-ways-to-rewild-your-garden Action for insects | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/action-insects-home Bombus hypnorum - Tree Bees in your Bird Box or roof? [Black Bees with white tails and ginger "rucksacks"] https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/images/education/Introducing%20the%20Tree%20Bumblebee.pdf Breeding Bird Survey reveals contrasting fortunes - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/news/breeding-bird-survey-reveals-contrasting-fortunes/ Surge' in illegal bird of prey killings since lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52667502 Climate change: Future floods will delay emergency response https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52710224 I hope the Bulletins are keeping you in touch; entertained, inspired and encouraged. Stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** BATS – can readers help? *** Annette Faulkner's request - abridged from last week: Where are all the bats? Here’s where Bulletin readers can help. I always extract the records many of you sent in over the years. For that, many thanks and I wonder if you can be persuaded to go out in your gardens one evening, when we are scheduled to have some warmer evenings, from about 15 minutes after sunset for half an hour or so – and just see what turns up? Then please send in your results, making sure you attach a 6 figure grid reference, please, and only recording the number of bats you’ve seen together, to avoid overcounting. And let’s see if there are any changes on previous years. Please also record if you DON’T see any bats! Negative results are as important as positive ones, particularly if we’re looking at possible decline. *** New: ‘Hedgehogs After Dark’ reminger *** Adela Cragg writes: Hedgehog Street has launched 'Hedgehogs After Dark'. Between now and the end of July Champions are being encouraged to carefully observe hedgehogs in their gardens, recording all the different behaviours they see, allowing conservationists to discover, and better understand, the hidden lives of the UK’s hedgehogs this summer. Hedgehog Champions (members of the public who have pledged to help hedgehogs by making small changes to their gardens), can start logging any behaviours seen from today. Those who aren’t already a Hedgehog Champion but want to take part, can sign up (for free) online at Hedgehog Street. https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ Participants can then record what they see in their garden on the Hedgehogs After Dark behaviour log and are encouraged to keep watch over the summer to report any new or repeat behaviours. Those who take part in Hedgehogs After Dark will have the opportunity to win a free Hedgehog Hamper, crammed full of hedgehog goodies! You can upload photos to social media using #HedgehogsAfterDark, and if you have a wildlife camera in your garden, you can upload your best videos to the Hedgehogs After Dark behaviour log too. https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/Hedgehogs-After-Dark/ *** Flusurvey *** Readers may recall me mentioning Flusurvey a few times in the Bulletin. This is an on- line weekly questionnaire managed and monitored by Public Health England (PHE) and designed to monitor trends of infectious diseases in the community. They need data from healthy as well as infected participants. You don't have to be ill to contribute! Roger https://flusurvey.net/ *** LNU Events Diary *** LNU events are also listed below in section 11. "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are cancelled." For LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All LNU meetings until the 8th June are CANCELLED." We will update you if/as situation changes. https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** About Coronavirus [COVID-19] - a good starting point *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups: works are in progress. *** https://roadworks.org/ *** Met Office Severe Warnings *** https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings *** Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service *** http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/guide-to-emails *** EasyTide *** http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/index.aspx *** Environment Agency Flood Information/Floodline *** http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx *** Lyme Disease *** https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ Lyme Disease UK says good weather and closure of indoor leisure facilities could put more people at risk of being bitten. Wake Up to Lyme campaign to be launched in May https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/lyme-disease-lockdown-alert-more-4074140 *** May Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2020 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** All meetings of the Scunthorpe Museum Society, both indoor and field meetings, have been cancelled until further notice. http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** April and May Meetings and Trips of the RSPB Grimsby Local Group have been cancelled. http://www.rspb.org.uk/groups/grimsby *** South Lincs RSPB - please check the website *** “Birdwatching cruises into the Wash” programme for 2020. Cancellations can be found at : https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/groups/southlincolnshire/news/ *** LWT Reserves *** http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves "Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates." https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/events *** LWT Get Involved page - including Area Groups *** https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved *** Grimsby & Cleethorpes LWT *** For details of cancellations see: www.grimsbywildlifetrust.org.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. Wildlife Highlights ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** Bird News from Rare Bird Alert *** Rare Bird Alert has kindly given permission to reproduce reports. A big thank you from us all. Interested readers should have a look at the RBA website: http://www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/ [Please mention the Bulletin if you decide to subscribe.] 13/5 2 Avocets, Baston Fen Temminck's Stint, 2 1m Spoonbills, East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Green-winged Teal, Manby Flashes east of Louth 14/5 2 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Temminck's Stint., East Pit, 4+ Arctic Terns, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Green-winged Teal, Manby Flashes east of Louth 2 Arctic Terns, Woodhall Spa airfield 3 Wood Sandpipers, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 15/5 Bee-Eater, from Bank end, Black Redstart in garden, North Somercotes Iberian Chiffchaff male singing at Low Road, Croft, Sw of Skegness 16/5 2 Wood Sandpipers, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness Great White Egret, Huttoft Bank Pit 2 [NOT 22] Common Cranes flew over Bardney 4.25pm [Scrambled message actually read: 4C...LinCs 22C/mmon Cranes d eg"nw Over Bardney at 4.25pm] 17/5 Garganey drk, Paradise Lake, Saltfleet 3 Avocets, East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Wood Sandpiper, Middlemarsh Wetlands, Skegness 5 Quail [all males] singing from Bluestone Heath Road, Withcall 18/5 Cattle Egret of scrape west of hide, Fiskerton Fen Terek Sandpiper, Alkborough Flats, briefly, then flew north Sanderling in flooded field north of North Drove, Deeping Fen 19/5 2 Turtle Doves, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Garganey drk on Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet 20/5 2 Wood Sandpipers, Garganey drk at Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** Oil Beetles - seen any yet? *** Keep an eye out on road verges and footpaths whilst on your sanctioned daily exercise. Follow the social distancing rules and don't go putting yourself at any risk in infection. *** Drama at the Old Museum *** Friday 15th May at breakfast time I spotted a dramatic stand-off in the garden. A regular visitor, a black and white cat, had chased a grey squirrel up our wrought iron railings. It was an impasse - the cat could not reach the squirrel, the squirrel was too scared to make a run for it along the top of the railings. They glowered at one another for about 15 minutes. Then the cat decided to go for some "displacement activity". This started by rolling in the sunshine immediately below the squirrel, followed by an ostentatious scratching session. Then it strolled away without a backward look, a nonchalant backing down. That's a win for the squirrel I think. WEBCAMS Bob Sheppard has sent the following details of his favourite webcams. Len Pick Barn Owl project - 4 eggs at last count. See the diary. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 The Loch Arkaig ospreys now have a full clutch of three eggs. The first should hatch on 1st June. The male will be busy bringing several big brown trout to the nest every day plus the occasional flounder and small salmon. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam CJ Wildlife have fantastic webcams from Europe https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams There are lots of UK peregrine webcams but Woking is one of the best - chicks. https://www.wokingperegrines.com ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Reports welcome. *** County Wildlife Reports From Readers *** Thanks to our regular contributors across the county. Much appreciated. We rely on readers to send in their observations and we welcome records from everyone, experts or beginners. Please keep your reports coming. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 14/5/2020 Kestrel [male] perching on south chimney of Old Museum 13/30hrs 16/5/2020 A number of grasshopper instars noted in garden. Probably Common Field Grasshopper. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/grasshoppers-and-crickets See: https://www.orthoptera.org.uk/about_orthoptera Hedgehog adult, night of 18/19th May 2020 [trailcam] at 9.22, 10.25 and 12.35hrs. No bats noted 14/5 - 18/5, seen or on bat detector. 19/5/2020 - single adult bat, echolocating at 55kHz - first seen circling garden at 21.40hrs, then making 3 further short passes until 21.45hrs. BARDNEY and area: P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 19th May 2020 Orange-tip x3-4, still as frequent as any other butterfly No Holly Blue this week Brimstone female x1 Dark Bush Cricket nymph x1 Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Dunnock at pond to drink or bathe Blackcap x1 still singing close by Buzzard x1 overhead Green Woodpecker heard from garden Great Spotted Woodpecker(s) fairly frequent visitor to peanuts Blue Tit pair still feeding young in box Great Tit box has gone suddenly and ominously quiet, no young birds around Male Sparrowhawk in aerial tussle with Collared Dove, result unknown Carrion Crow starting to hang around with evil intent, Jackdaws also Large Dance-fly on Ox-eye daisy probably Empis livida Cinnabar Moth Occasional common newt seen in pond Peacock butterfly drinking from pond Bats x3-4 most suitable nights Abbey Farm, Bardney TF112705 15th May 2020 P&M Porter Cuckoo x1 in flight Peacock butterfly x2 Water Rail Way Bardney north to TF084714 16th May 2020 P&M Porter Mute Swan x100 on the fen Whitethroat x12 singing Blackcap x8 singing Common Terns x5 along river Gadwall x 2 pairs Oystercatcher x3 flying over Branston Island Peacock butterfly x2 Oxeye Mouse-ear Hawkweed Red Valerian Goatsbeard CARDYKE Cardyke near Wasps Nest TF071657 P&M Porter 19th May 2020 Strong scent of Wild Garlic from woods Red Campion Comfrey Prickly Sow-thistle Common Winter-cress Beaked Hawksbeard Cow Parsley Azolla fern in Car Dyke, coloured red from recent frosts Wood Forget-me-not A lot of dead Ash trees Cranefly Tipula fascipennis x1 Song Thrush x1 singing Blackcap x1 singing CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 8/5/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson Female Hobby circling 12.00-12.30 (first Hobby this year) 13/5/2020 Newly-fledged broods of Dunnock and Long-tailed Tit. FISKERTON Fiskerton Fen P&M Porter TF084718 14th May Cetti’s Warbler x1 singing Reed Warbler x2 singing Sedge Warbler x 2 singing Reed Bunting x1 Garden Warbler x1 singing Whitethroat x 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat x1 singing HORKSTOW SE 985178 Jenny Haynes 15 May 2020 Red Admiral spotted in my garden today, rather faded in colour. Hedgehog poo on the path. Not seen that for a while. I also have what I think are mining bees. I’ve tried to look them up but without success! HORNCASTLE TF260699 approx. R&A Parsons 15/5/2020 at 09.30hrs approx. Adult mole crossing street. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 6/5/2020 Blackbird 1 first fledgling Collared dove 1 Greenfinch 2 Orange tip 1 Small white 1 7/5/2020 Bats 2 8.57pm 8/5/2020 Bats 2 9pm Orange tip 1 Woodmouse 1 9/5/2020 Greenfinch 1 Collecting moss for nesting Holly blues 2 Robin 1 fledgling Wasp 1 Rasping on my side of neighbour's fence MESSINGHAM SAND QUARRY around SE 912 034 A. Primavera 18/05/2020 Plants seen in flower: Still a blanket of cuckoo flower, meadow saxifrage and cowslip with changing forget-me-not, yellow rattle now just starting to flower in the main meadows. Starting to notice ragged-robin in the wetter meadows. Yellow iris looking nice, hiding lots of damselflies - blue tailed & common blue and still can see some bogbean in flower amongst the new green common reed from the platform looking eastwards. Guelder-rose flowers on the woodland path, bugle, germander speedwell, common nettle and greater stitchwort too. Common vetch starting to flower, springbeauty now ending. Heard & saw cuckoo. SLEAFORD Grid ref is TF 07088 45991 Richard Dawson 14/5/2020 Found young six inch grass snake lying dead on gravel path – presume dropped by predator. Despite several evenings spent quietly watching for bats at dusk no sightings yet Pair of toads in garden caught in flagrante couple of weeks ago but no spawn in our small pond. Perhaps it was laid underground out of the water? We see the male toad regularly but only saw the female that once. Glad the hungry gap is over as spring cabbages now ready, all veg growing on well despite the cold nights. Very good fruit year forecast as a tremendous year for blossom and no serious air frosts. SPALDING A Faulkner Allotment From ca TF228219 Cuckoo calling, for short while. This is the first time I have heard a cuckoo in the Spalding area for probably 10 years, and I noticed a lot of records from last week. Are they staging a recovery? But at the same time no house martins foraging over the allotments, I haven’t seen a swift yet, and on an excursion to Burton Coggles on Monday we could count the few swallows there were on the fingers of one hand. This is scary stuff. WHAPLODE FEN Simon Rummery TF 322208 Whaplode Fen 17.05.20 Box bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus Mating pairs X2 This record with photographs posted at: https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/801259/box-bug-gonocerus-acuteangulatus WOOLSTHORPE-BY-C0LSTERWORTH SK923 Jane Ostler 13th -19th May 2020 Garden (unless otherwise indicated) FLOWERING PLANTS I am puzzled as to the pollination of the flowers on the Spindle Trees. They have open nectaries but their greenish colour would seem to make them unattractive to bees and butterflies. They are described by Proctor and Yeo as visited by flies of the Bibionidae (e.g. St Mark's fly and Flesh flies). We have had the former in the garden but none seen around these trees. Indeed no insects have been seen on the spindle at all. Beneath them the Wild Arum is trapping flies, having lured them in by a foetid smell transmitted efficiently by a spathe which warms up. I cannot discern any smell from the Spindle. The flower structure doesn't suggest self pollination and certainly not wind pollination yet I expect the trees to be covered in the striking orange and pink fruits by September. Anyone know the answer? INSECTS The best day in the garden for butterflies this week was 14/5/20 when there were Brimstones, Large Whites, Green Veined Whites and pairs of Orange Tips. Red Mason Bees have been very active filling the tubes in the bee hotel with pollen. An overflow pipe from the house was found to be completely blocked up with hard packed pollen. Already the bees are filling up the tubes in a box newly made for them near the site of the now cleared pipe. BIRDS The blackbirds who built a second nest in the climbing rose are now feeding young there. Blue tits are also feeding young both parent constantly in and out the nest box, helping to clear the garden of aphids. The young tend to disperse suddenly and all together so we shall be lucky to see them go. A neighbour built a box intended for Tawny Owls. This is now filled with a family of very noisy Jackdaws. More House Martins and Swifts have arrived and circle above the house at night. Event of the week was when our next door neighbour spotted a White Tailed Sea Eagle from her garden, flying above Old Post Lane. This marks the boundary between Colsterworth and Woolsthorpe so perhaps both parishes can claim the record. WOOLSTHORPE ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVE SK908242-SK917243 Jane Ostler 18/5/20 A visit to check on the limestone flowers and insects proved disappionting. Cooler windy conditions meant no butterflies and only buff tailed bees. The flowers also not as far on as expected. The cowslip which for the second year have increased considerably in numbers, were faded and looking like the many Yellow Rattle coming out between them. Other plants in flower noted included Ribwort Plantain, Field Wopodrush, Meadow and Bulbous Buttercup, Oxeye Daisy, Salad Burnet, Common Vetch and Bird's Foot Trefoil. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. NNRs and Reserves including RSPB and LWT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. "On hold". http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SALTFLEETBY THEDDLETHORPE DUNES NNR including DONNA NOOK http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/saltfleetby-theddlethorpe-dunes https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/38015?category=59026 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 13th – 19th May 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Note: The days of bitterly cold easterlies from the 8th - 15th finally changed to a SW flow giving warmer day-time temperatures but the month continues to be dry (7.8mm of rain recorded at Sea View so far) however the light rainfall on the 19th was a welcome sight even though it was only 0.3mm. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings: 130520 - At least 14 house martins feeding over Rimac and a pair of gadwall in nearby freshwater marsh, single wheatear and a pair of bullfinch near Sea View. On Paradise lagoon: 2 greenshank one of which was colour ringed OO // GL. Feedback from the Farlington Ringing Group, Hampshire says that the bird was ringed as an adult on 16th August 2018 at Terrington Marsh, The Wash, next seen at Woodwalton Fen on 9th May 2020. 2 small heath butterflies in flight near Rimac. 140520 - 3 common sandpipers near Paradise lagoon. Holly blue at Sea View. Fine sight of a hobby hawking dragonflies over ponds near MoD track. Barn owl active at Sea View and Rimac. 4 Whimbrel over at Sea View. 150520 - 9 whimbrel on the saltmarsh, single kittiwake on the ground before flying off near the outer Haven. 2 avocets on Paradise lagoon and 2 on Rimac lagoon. Hobby hunting low over saltmarsh. 5 Cuckoo, 3 Wheatear, 1 Bullfinch. Also 3 Jay and a Yellow, Wagtail flew north. WeBS at Donna Nook, 68 ringed plover & 98 dunlin. 1 Cuckoo & 1 garden warbler Stonebridge car park. 160520 - Single wheatear near Sea View, 8 whimbrel on saltmarsh, male garganey on Paradise lagoon plus 5 gadwall, 2 avocets and a little ringed plover. Butterflies seen: orange tip, wall, peacock, green hairstreak, holly and common blue, small and large white, speckled wood, brimstone, small heath and brown argus. Also large red and azure blue damselflies and four spotted chasers. 170520 - On Paradise lagoon male garganey, pair of wigeon, pair of shoveler, 5 shelduck, 7 gadwall, 19 mallard, 1 teal, 7 tufted duck, 2 greylags, 2 avocet, 1 common sandpiper, 1 little egret, 2 redshank, 1 moorhen, 6 coot, 1 black-headed gull and 1 pied wagtail. Tawny owl calling mid-day at Sea View. At Rimac: 3 Common Scoter on sea, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Little Tern offshore, 2 Grasshopper Warbler. 1 Yellow Wagtail flew west. 3 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Marsh Harrier seen at Elm House Farm. 180520 - 4 whimbrel on the saltmarsh, pair of great spotted woodpeckers at Sea View. Flowers noted: yellow flag, birds foot trefoil, southern marsh orchid, twayblade, common star of Bethlehem. Count of singing warblers Brickyard Lane to Rimac: 43 whitethroat, 18 willow warbler, 8 chiffchaff, 11 blackcap, 9 sedge warbler, 8 lesser whitethroat, 3 grasshopper warbler, 1 garden warbler. Moonwort showing well. 190520 - Drake garganey and 2 wood sandpipers at Paradise lagoon. Treecreeper at Sea View. Merlin at Rimac. Sightings in other locations during social distancing: 13-190520 – Daily sightings of blackbird, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon and dunnock in Louth. 160520 – Four spotted chaser and 2 cuckoos at Woodhall Spa. 170520 - In moth trap: 2 muslin, 1 common quaker, 4 common pug, 1 treble-lines, 4 clouded drab, 2 waved umber, 1 rustic shoulder knot, 2 pale mottled willow, 1 setaceous Hebrew character, 1 marbled minor and 1 green carpet plus 1 badger in North Cockerington. 180520- 2 Cetti’s warbler, 1 cuckoo, green-veined white, orange-tip, large white, speckled wood, peacock, brimstone and silver ground carpet and an abundance of tadpoles in perimeter drains at Tetney Blow Wells. 1 dead minke whale at North Cotes. Tawny owl calling and perimeter ditches full of tadpoles at Legbourne. 190520 – House martins, swallows, swifts, 2 kestrels, 3 buzzards, skylarks, orange tip, brimstone and small heath butterflies at Woodhall Spa. Mole crossing the road in Horncastle ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forestry Commission Coronavirus information: Help stop the spread of coronavirus. Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. https://www.forestryengland.uk/coronavirus-visitor-information Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. Examples: SNIPE DALES https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/snipe-dales WHISBY https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/whisby WILLOW TREE FEN https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - CANCELLATION of events and activities *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are cancelled until further notice. This includes all plant collection activities, internal and external to the [Wildlife] Trust, as this is not essential under Government Guidance. All events post the end of May will be reviewed in coming weeks. No staff or volunteers, should be doing any activity under the LLP banner, other than on a computer at home. 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 until the 8th June 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: 8 plus-com customers "soft bounced". All were sent an email to inform them. If you would like a copy of the report, please let me know. If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. ....and finally... Debbie Pain on conserving globally threatened bird species - listen https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j21k Coronavirus puts spotlight on landmark year for nature https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52648577 Farmers lose legal challenge to cancellation of Derbyshire badger cull https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/13/farmers-lose-legal-challenge-derbyshire-badger-cull First wild white stork chick 'in centuries' hatches in UK. Wow! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-52675922 Stork chicks hatch in UK for first time in 600 years https://theconversation.com/stork-chicks-hatch-in-uk-for-first-time-in-600-years-why-thats-great-news-for-british-wildlife-137320 Coquet Island seabird sanctuary https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/coquet-island-seabird-sanctuary/ Birding while you sleep: noc-mig ID, part two - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/migration/birding-while-you-sleep-noc-mig-id-part-two/ High levels of plastic found in Scottish seabird nests - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/news/high-levels-of-plastic-found-in-scottish-seabird-nests/ Climate change contributes to widespread declines among bumble bees across continents https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6478/685.full Country diary: the bumblebees' low drone has replaced the hum of traffic https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/08/country-diary-the-bumblebees-low-drone-has-replaced-the-hum-of-traffic Country diary: the nightingale trills its return after years of hope https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/12/country-diary-the-nightingale-trills-its-return-after-years-of-hope Country diary: a crawling, sprawling floral underclass https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/13/country-diary-a-crawling-sprawling-floral-underclass#comment-140632177 Will hot weather and possible thunderstorms bring on any early Flying Ant Days? https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/when-why-winged-ants-swarm-nuptial-flight.html Enjoy the rest of the week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/