============================================= || || 27th 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... *** Many thanks for the interesting contributions this week. I'm pleased that so many readers are able to keep the information flowing. Don't forget to include a grid reference for the locations. Always needed. As the "progress" of CO-19 unfolds and restrictions are eased we will update you on eventual resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, meetings webpages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking for updates. Things will change as the situation evolves. Meantime stay safe and keep up appropriate measures to reduce the risks. For other organisations please refer to their individual websites. It hardly needs saying, but many charities, including environmental charities, will have been hit financially because of the CO-19 pandemic. I feel certain that every reader will have their favourite good causes, and no doubt each will be contacting us to set out their particular situation and the help they are likely to need. There is no need to say more than that. I am sure we will all be ready to do what we can. 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. RSPB Returning to reserves information: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Forestry Commission says: COVID-19: 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 A selection of useful or entertaining links sent in by readers. Skim or click, please! BBC Springwatch Continues: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qgm3 Partly on Lincolnshire: Outdoors again at last: a first real walk, run and cycle as lockdown eases https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/14/outdoors-again-at-last-first-walk-run-and-cycle-after-quarantine Photo of the Week: 13-19 May 2020 - BirdGuides https://www.birdguides.com/articles/photo-of-the-week/photo-of-the-week-13-19-may-2020/ Coronavirus: Robins find nesting space in lockdown cars https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-52737199 Coronavirus: Roadside wildflowers bloom under lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52708577 Hatfield Moors blaze near Doncaster burns for two days https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52737613 Orphaned deer kid saved from Hatfield Moors fire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52757360 Bumblebees' 'clever trick' fools plants into flowering https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52759804 Flies | The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/flies Leicestershire sites developed to protect endangered newts https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-52752636 Norfolk discovery of 1,100-year-old brooch 'will remain a mystery' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-52724170 Pollution: Birds 'ingesting hundreds of bits of plastic a day' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52762120 Light trickery makes bird feathers blue but not red https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn26687-light-trickery-makes-bird-feathers-blue-but-not-red/ Epic 7,500-mile cuckoo migration wows scientists https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52815286 I hope the Bulletins are keeping you in touch; entertained, inspired and encouraged. Stay safe. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** BATS – can readers help? *** Annette Faulkner's request - abridged: Where are all the bats? 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’ reminder *** 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. https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ *** Flusurvey *** Readers may recall me mentioning Flusurvey a few times in the Bulletin. This is an on- line weekly questionnaire managed and monitored by Public Health England (PHE) and designed to monitor trends of infectious diseases in the community. They need data from healthy as well as infected participants. You don't have to be ill to contribute! Roger https://flusurvey.net/ *** LNU Events Diary *** Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes, including LNU Workshops and Drop-in sessions and Indoor Meetings. For details of all LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ Field Meetings 2020: Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled. " https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** About Coronavirus [COVID-19] - a good starting point *** https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 *** Check for road works and hold-ups: works are in progress. *** 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 - soon to become June Night Sky *** Paul Money's 'Monthly Night Sky' webpage will be found on: http://www.astrospace.co.uk/Astrospace/monthly-sky/monthlynightsky.html Meteor Shower Guide 2020 https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates *** Scunthorpe Museum Society Natural History and Geology Section *** All meetings of the Scunthorpe Museum Society, both indoor and field meetings, have been cancelled until further notice. http://scunthorpemuseumsociety.btck.co.uk/ *** Grimsby & District RSPB *** 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.] 21/5 Garganey, 1 drk, Baston Fen Wood Sandpiper, Paradise Pool south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet 22/5 2 Sanderlings at Wader Pit, Baston+Langtoft pits, then flew NE 23/5 Whooper Swan, Garganey drk, Manby Flashes east of Louth 2 Garganey, 1 drk. Bardney Lock Purple Heron, Deep 24/5 Golden Oriole male singing, Whisby Possible Honey Buzzard high west between Bardney and Fiskerton Turtle Dove, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 25/5 Turtle Dove by reservoir, Frampton Marsh Turtle Dove, Brickyard Lane, Saltfleetby 2 Temminck's Sandpipers, Curlew Sandpiper, Garganey, Black- necked Grebe and Little Gull near East Hide, Frampton Marsh Purple Heron flew north up River Humber, Horse Shoe Point Garganey, Alkborough Flats Gannet adult flew over Bardney Red-footed Falcon flew north over Horse Shoe Point 3 Quail, all males, singing at Renfrew's Drove, Crowland Wood Sandpiper at Cress Marsh, Stallingborough 26/5 Garganey drk at Wader pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs - then flew off Garganey drk, Fairfield pit, New Holland then flew west Scaup, Common Scoter, Toft Newton reservoir Cattle Egret on scrape wast of hide, Fiskerton Fen 2 Curlew Sandpipers, drk Garganey, Frampton Marsh 4+ Quail males singing north of River Welland 27/5 Ring Ouzel, Huttoft Bank Pit in bean fields by Renews Drove, north of Crowland 5 Turtle Doves, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Expect a chick to hatch around Sunday 7th June if all goes well. https://www.lenpicktrust.org.uk/owl-project/4593449091 The Loch Arkaig ospreys: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam CJ Wildlife have fantastic webcams from Europe https://www.birdfood.co.uk/webcams Woking peregrine webcam: https://www.wokingperegrines.com Bob added on 20th: Just opened my bulletin, a timely reminder to update you on the Grantham peregrines. Sadly the nest has failed. The first chick died early on. The second chick looked really healthy but then died suddenly (last) Tuesday morning. The two remaining eggs are long past their incubation time so won't hatch. The only conclusion is we have an inexperienced pair and so we hope for better things next year. 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 Scale insect on small [Bonsai] sycamore and lime plants A Parsons 20/5.2020 Thought to be: Parthenolecanium corni Both Lime and Sycamore trees adjacent to garden. Photo: https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/801529/as-previous 21/5 at 21.35hrs Bat - 1 brief signal at 55kHz. 26/5 at 21.45hrs Bat - brief circuit of garden echolocating at 55kHz. BARDNEY P&M Porter Bardney garden TF 117700 20th May 2020 Female Cuckoo x1 with distinctive bubbling call very close to the garden, perhaps inside at one stage. Holly Blue butterfly x2 22nd May 2020 Stock Dove x1 on bird table. This is the first for some time in the garden certainly this year, but we have had several previously, mostly in winter. A pair of Bullfinches. 24th May 2020 A large diving beetle exuvium in the pond. 25th May 2020 Newly fledged Greenfinches x4. Great Spotted Woodpecker male x1 Blue Tit pair trying to lure nestlings out of box Jackdaws x<5 lurking with menace Peacock, Holly Blue, Orange-tip, Large White, all x1 Small White x3 Signs of Cuckoo Spit Bug especially on Lavender 26th May 2020 Stock Dove x1 again Greenfinch brood still OK today Chaffinch juvenile x1 being fed No juvenile Goldfinches seen yet Great Spotted Woodpecker male and female Turfed out Vine Weevil infestation in pot of dark red Sedum, larvae, pupae and adults, consumed by trusting female Blackbird 26th May 2020 Southrey Wood TF135679 Lovely lot of Wood Melick a delicate woodland grass Nearby, Wood Meadow-grass, also very attractive with slender downward slanted flower-stalks Several good patches of White Climbing Corydalis Lots of Pignut getting towards the end of its flowering season CARLTON LE MOORLAND Carlton le Moorland SK909581 20/05/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson I am pleased to report that since the above date we have had a Cuckoo calling (almost certainly 2 on occasion) intermittently in and around the village. Up to about 10 years ago we always had one or more by (and usually on) 17th April onwards, but since then we often have haven't heard one at all some years. I am also pleased at how many people have noticed this and commented upon it, who like me hadn't realised quite how much we'd missed hearing it. I've been told that there has been a Red Kite in the area recently, but I haven't seen one since the one I reported one last month. A friend tells me that a pair of Pied Wagtails have built a nest in his open-sided allotment shed. GRIMSTHORPE Grimsthorpe Park Chris Howes 20/05/2020 TF 045205 Good moth trap for once this year, with 9 Small Elephant Hawk, 2 Large Elephant Hawk, 2 Poplar Hawk along with a pristine Alder moth and Mullein 21/05/2020 Two fresh Duke of Burgundy sunning themselves TF 047205 Earliest ever record of Large Skipper Large patches of Horseshoe vetch in flower with several Dingy Skipper flitting around. Patches of Purple Milkvetch now in full flower, but Rockrose and BirdsFoot Trefoil seem reluctant to come out. TF511762 (my garden) HUTTOFT Jane Pennington 14/5/2020 Badger 1 9.40pm - seen through French doors while watching TV with the lights off. We know we have one around because of what gets left in our boundary ditch. Wonderful! 15/5/2020 Bats 2 Holly blue 1 Orange tip m. 1 16/5/2020 Buzzard 1 Flying through garden 17/5/2020 Starlings 2 19/5/2020 Chaffinch 1 Chiffchaff 1 - heard Cuckoo 1 First day of hearing it (5.30am) and it hasn't stopped since! 20/5/2020 Bats 2 9.25pm Cuckoo 1 - I was at the edge of the field next to my house and heard it. It sounded close and I saw two corvids mobbing a bird which I think might have been the cuckoo. 21/5/2020 Bats 2 - They were fantastic to watch as they were really swooping around and at one point, they spiralled upwards around each other! Great tits 2 Red admiral 1 - on a chair outside in the evening sunshine KETTLETHORPE Kettlethorpe SK844753 Alison Brownlow 26/05/2020 Chicken of the woods fungi on Oak tree. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/fungi-and-lichens/chicken-of-the-woods/ In flower in the hedgerows; Guelder rose Elder Dogwood Dog rose Dewberry Yellow flag Iris THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 10/05/20 Hobby x 1 low over Thurnholmes Swallow x 4 1405/20 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 1 over Thurnholmes Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 1 roosting in open fronted nest box, near to family in hole nest box Greenfinch x 1 Kestrel x 1 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Mallard x 3 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 Reed Bunting x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 4 Tree Sparrow x 5 in nest boxes Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 5 Yellowhammer x 3 Yellow Wagtail x 1 Common Pipistrelle x 2 around dusk White-shouldered House-moth x 1 18/05/20 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Goldfinch x 2 Magpie x 2 Robin x 1 on nest with 5 eggs in my barn Skylark x 1 Swallow x 4 Swift x 2 Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:00hrs, also 1 later further down yard but not seen at same time so could be one of previous. Pale Tussock Moth x 1 male White Ermine x 1 20/05/20 Blackbird x 5 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Chaffinch x 3 Collard Dove x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Great Tit x 1 Kestrel x 1 Marsh Harrier x 1 male, Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pied Wagtail x 2 with 3 fledged young Robin x 3 on nests Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 4 Swift x 4 Tree Sparrow x 4 Willow Warbler x 1 Wood Pigeon x 4 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Soprano Pipistrelle x 1 caught on bat detector whilst out watching space station pass 14-spot Ladybird 23/05/20 Great-spotted Woodpecker x 1 fledged young sat on road SK789988 25/05/20 Blackbird x 2 Blue Tit x 4 including 1 on nest in hole nest box with 6 young Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Goldfinch x 4 Greenfinch x 1 Mute swan x 2 over Thurnholmes Oystercatcher x 2 over Thurnholmes Pied Wagtail x 1 with 4 fledged young Robin x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Swallow x 4 Swift x 12 Tree Sparrow x 5 all feeding young in nest boxes Willow Warbler x 1 Yellowhammer x 1 Yellow Wagtail x 2 Common Pipistrelle x 2 22:10hrs Green-veined White x 4 Peacock x 2 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 WOOLSTHORPE-COLSTERWORTH SK923247 Jane Ostler 20-26 May2020 Garden unless otherwise indicated FLOWERING PLANTS Native plants in flower since last week:- Honeysuckle, already attracting moths. At the edge of the pond Yellow Iris, Fool's Watercress, Wintercress (Barbarea). In borders Lesser Rue (Thalictrum minus) is in flower next to a garden variety of Commmon Rue which flowers later. Lesser Hop Trefoil seemed to appear overnight like a yellow rash on the lawn. The native Foxglove has flowered later than a garden variety. It grows well in the shade as does Stinking Iris, both woodland flowers, but the latter is also found out in dry soil against a south facing wall and bears abundant orange berries each year. The fruits of the Oregon Grape (Mahonia) is laden with fruit just beginning to turn purple. INSECTS The first Common Blue (male) was seen for the first time on 25/5/20 moving from one patch of Lesser HopTrefoil to another. Regulars still are Holly Blues, Large Whites and Orange Tips. Silver Y Moths visiting Honeysuckle in the evenings. A Bumble Bee climbing out of the Foxgloves was Bombus hortorum, one of two long tongued Bumble bees we have in garden. We have seen both the the Cuckoo Bee of Bombus terrestris and the Cuckoo Bee of Bombus lapidarius. The Red Mason Bees (Osmia bicornis) occupied the new bee hotel within two days of it being put up. On 22/5/20 I examined a single ball of webbing on the Spindle Tree and found 25 Sawfly caterpillars - pairs of black spots down their yellow bodies. When disturbed they reared their heads in the air in contrast to the Birch Sawfly which line the edges of a street tree locally, doing handstands to distract attackers. The annual war against some insects has started. On an ornamental in the greenhouse Scale Insects look like sombrero hats with their round dark bodies encircled by a disc of wax. The Guelder rose leaves are curling , loaded underneath with black aphids. Blue tits are helping to keep greenfly down. We watched one bird, with young to feed, constantly back and forth systematically working up the stem of a heavily infected Aquilegia. Greater Knapweed is not yet in flower but one plant has its leaves heavily infected by the gall mite Aceria centaurea. BIRDS In the garden it is all about nesting, feeding young and fledglings with Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blue Tits, all at different stages. Our most numerous birds are House Sparrows. One male has been giving a monotonous two note call all week. I remember Eric Simms telling me about one at Dollis Hill which called like this from the third week in March to the third week in July. "The high cheep cheep of the unmarried." The Song Thrush next door has stopped singing in the morning so perhaps it has found a partner. A Collared Dove sitting in a crab apple tree near the window is driving us mad with its constant repetitive call. More welcome is the daily sight now of House Martins and Swifts - flying low in the sky early in the week , now higher in the hot weather. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 20th – 26th May 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Note: Very strong SW to W winds all day on the 22nd, with a gust noted near Sea View of 43.3mph, and on the 23rd with a gust of 49.6mph recorded. Very dry weather continues with rainfall total so far for May 7.8mm at Sea View and this with the drying winds has put enormous stress on the dune vegetation except from some discreet hollows which benefit from early dews. Daily News and Wildlife Sightings: 200520 - On Paradise lagoon 4 wood sandpiper, 2 redshank, 2 avocet, 1 black-tailed godwit, 1 greenshank and drake garganey. 210520 - Paradise lagoon 2 wood sandpipers, 2 greenshank, pair of redshank displaying and eventually mating. Hobby seen. 220520 - Spoonbill on Rimac lagoon, single ruff on Paradise lagoon and a hobby doing aerial aerobatics and hunting pursuits in very strong westerly winds over the dunes in the evening near Sea View. 230520 - Pair of pochard, 2 gadwall, 2 wigeon, 5 shoveler, 28 mallard, 4 tufted duck, 1 common snipe, 1 single ruff, 4 black-headed gulls and singles of common gull and herring gull on Paradise lagoon. 240520 - 4 avocets, 2 dunlin, 1 greenshank and 1 lapwing of note on Paradise lagoon. Hobby seen. 250520 - Single wheatear on dunes near Rimac. Paradise lagoon pair grey lags with 4 goslings, 26 mallard, 6 shoveler, 8 tufted duck, 2 gadwall, 2 wigeon, 4 black-headed gulls, 6 coot, 1 moorhen, 1 common snipe, 6 redshank, 1 greenshank, 1 lapwing, 1 pied wagtail, 1 little egret. Tawny owl flew out of shelterbelt near Sea View and 5 herons flew over going north. Holly blue, brown argus and green hairstreak on wing at Sea View. Hobby seen. 260520 – 29 greylags flew north, over saltmarsh, on Paradise lagoon of note single lapwing and 13 black-headed gulls. Two common buzzards circling high on thermals over Sea View. Flowers seen: southern and early marsh orchids, twayblade, thrift, yellow flag, cuckoo flower, birds foot trefoil, yellow-rattle, goat’s-beard and dewberry Odonata: southern hawker, four spotted chaser, large red, azure, common blue and blue- tailed damselflies. Small heath butterflies are numerous with a fair number of common blue and brown argus. Sightings in other locations during social distancing: 20-260520 – Daily sightings of blackbird, house sparrow, blue tit, great tit, wood pigeon, dunnock, swifts, swallows and house martins in Louth. 260520 – Swallows, swifts, house martins flying overhead and 2 cuckoos heard in Woodhall Spa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. BARDNEY LIMEWOODS NNR These cover a huge area, and records from them and records from volunteer recorders are one of the main inputs to management planning and the protection of rare/scarce and critical species. Reports always welcome. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Forestry Commission Coronavirus information: Help stop the spread of coronavirus. Stay home, stay safe – please do not come to our forests. https://www.forestryengland.uk/coronavirus-visitor-information Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. See: https://butterfly-conservation.org/300/lincolnshire-branch.html The Hazel Dormouse https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/cy/node/35 Lincolnshire Dormouse Group You can get in touch via lincsdormousegroup@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The NNR includes the following sites: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chambers Farm Woods (comprises Ivy Wood, Little and Great Scrubbs Woods, Minting Wood, Hatton Wood, Hatton Plantation and Minting Park, and also three areas of grassland: Little Scrubbs Meadow (and extension), Small Meadow and Big Meadow. Since all have their own management plans, please give the actual location when reporting); College Wood, Cocklode & Great West Woods, Hardy Gang Wood, Newball Wood, Rand Wood, Scotgrove Wood, Southrey Wood and Wickenby Wood. Many of these include both areas of ancient woodland or important grassland, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and non-designated areas. Since managing the SSSI areas carries particular responsibilities to Natural England, records which provide a six-figure grid reference are of particular value to the Forestry Commission. Other woods included in the NNR but without public access: Stainfield Wood; Stainton & Fulnetby Woods (access by public bridle way only) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. OTHER RESERVE REPORTS AND HIGHLIGHTS. Examples: SNIPE DALES https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/snipe-dales WHISBY https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/whisby WILLOW TREE FEN https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/willow-tree-fen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 is here: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus " Following the Government’s advice we have taken the decision to cancel events and close our visitor centres, car parks and toilets until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation so please check our events page for updates. " ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 7. Sending in reports to Roger Parsons ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The purpose of the Bulletin is to encourage biological recording in Lincolnshire. We hope to increase the number of people reporting observations to LNU Recorders and improve the quality of reports, as well as the quantity and the geographical coverage. In return for this FREE service, we ask you to provide reports, questions, news or relevant articles from time to time. Descriptive pieces are welcome - you don't have to stick to lists! Mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Thursdays or Fridays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk When sending in reports please follow this layout to save re-editing: Place Name: IN CAPITALS with Grid Reference if you have it. Your Name: Real names please, not aliases. Put it in each time, for each location Date: Species list [Alphabetical?] & numbers [and observations?] e.g. Blackbird - 24 [And please, no home-grown abbreviations. Species Names in full.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8. Contact Information & Useful Websites ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. *** Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union Website *** http://lnu.org/ LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? LNU e-mail: info@lnu.org A full list of LNU Country Recorders is given on the website. Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. LNU Bursaries: The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants - CANCELLATION of events and activities *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants 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: none. If ever your Bulletin does not arrive, please let me know. ....and finally... 'Billions of years of evolutionary history' under threat https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52808103 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 Millions of periodical cicadas to emerge in parts of US https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52793339 Western Australia hit by 'once-in-a-decade' storm https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-52787152 Walking, talking and showing off – a history of Roman gardens https://theconversation.com/walking-talking-and-showing-off-a-history-of-roman-gardens-138902 Country diary: from garlic mustard, through a glat, to the pulse of spring https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/14/country-diary-from-garlic-mustard-through-a-glat-to-the-pulse-of-spring Lincolnshire - Country diary: these trees have become part of the family https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/18/country-diary-these-trees-have-become-part-of-the-family#comment-140791323 Country diary: why did the snail tiptoe across the road? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/20/country-diary-why-did-the-snail-tiptoe-across-the-road Country diary: the new normal in lockdown isn't that new after all https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/22/country-diary-the-new-normal-in-lockdown-isnt-that-new-after-all Enjoy the rest of the week - stay healthy! ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/