============================================ || || 4th November 2020 || || News of Lincolnshire Wildlife || || LNU Website: || http://lnu.org/ || ============================================ In this issue..... 1. Information, tips and requests 2. Wildlife Highlights from Rare Bird Alert 3. Wildlife reports from around the county 4. NNRs including RSPB and LWT Reserves/Saltfleetby'Theddlethorpe 5. Bardney Limewoods NNR - including Chambers Wood Farm 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..... don't miss the links... ============================================ 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... *** We had a freezing conditions last night, waking to a crisp morning with frost on the lawn and cars. Sycamores have been shedding their leaves and gardens and paths are punctuated with heaps, gathered together by the earlier wind. A walk when the Sun was up revealed lots of insect activity on ivy flowers, bees, wasps, flies and the occasional ladybird. Weather forecast: "By mid-November occasional short lived unsettled spells remain possible, however the emphasis remains on a good deal of dry weather. " https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ We are on the point of another lockdown, as many will have anticipated. Hopefully this will buy valuable time so eventually we can get the infection rate down. Note the Covid-19 guidelines from the RSPB, Forestry Commission and The Wildlife Trusts. Covid-19-related information: Please stay aware of updated government advice and adapt your personal precautions accordingly as the pandemic evolves. See: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus "All LNU meetings are cancelled" policy continues. When eventually judged safe to do so, we will announce any resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, the LNU Twitter feed and LNU meetings webpages. https://lnu.org/meetings/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus Coronavirus: Donna Nook reserve to close during lockdown https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54781588 "Donna Nook: People should follow the government guidelines and not travel to see the seals. Full details and some FAQs can be found on the LWT website." 301020 – Seal count: 54 pups, 108 cows, 26 bulls. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have taken the decision to close the seal viewing area and the booking system to view the seals at Donna Nook following the Government announcement of the new national lockdown from Thursday 5 November: For full details please visit our website using the link https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook-bookings Events/activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants RSPB: map for which reserves and facilities you can access. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ Forestry England’s coronavirus guidance: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Please let us know of any local Covid-related changes readers might need to hear about. Wildlife organisations wishing me to publicise any alterations or new guidelines are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. Here is a selection of links to topical local and national stories and articles sent in by fellow-readers. More links for you "...and finally..." Bonfire Night poses 'most treacherous' time for hedgehogs — here's how you can help https://www.countrylife.co.uk/news/bonfire-night-poses-treacherous-time-hedgehogs-heres-can-help-206831 Grantham's iconic oak tree comes second in national Tree of the Year competition https://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/granthams-iconic-oak-comes-second-in-national-tree-of-the-year-competition-9127628/ The Grantham Oak https://granthamecology.com/2017/01/18/the-grantham-oak/ Autumnwatch. Catch up on i-Player: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0079t1p Extremely rare great fox-spiders rediscovered in Britain - Surrey https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/extremely-rare-great-fox-spiders-rediscovered-in-britain/ Coronavirus outbreak at Anwick poultry factory https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54796043 Lincolnshire Peak District walker drove home as search continued https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54737813 Can Brexit bring back the glory days of British fishing? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-54756574 Domestic cats and their impacts on biodiversity https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10073 A medieval scribe curses a cat for peeing on his manuscript https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/medieval-scribe-peed-manuscript/ Exquisite plant portraits created using Victorian photography method https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833060-300-exquisite-plant-portraits-created-using-victorian-photography-method/ Dogs are humans' oldest companions, DNA shows https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54690458 Don't forget: try the ethical search engine called Ecosia which is strict about tracking rules and plants a tree every time you click! See: https://info.ecosia.org/what Thank you for your reports, stories, news, links and feedback. Very welcome. Your input makes a massive difference to the variety and value of the content. You are very welcome to send me an email of a chatty nature or with reports or other contributions for the Bulletin to keep us all entertained. Can you help us find a few more readers, please? Word of mouth seems to be the best way. Or try the "forward to a friend" link at the end of the Bulletin. You can also direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. STAYING SAFE Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. NHS About Coronavirus [COVID-19] https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 Road works and hold-ups. 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 - sign up if at risk. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/default.aspx Lyme Disease https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/ *** November 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 Next : Leonids - Peaking 17/18 November. Fast bright meteors with fine trains. https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/leonid-meteor-shower-when-and-where-see-it-uk *** A Musical Interlude *** Annette Faulkner writes: As a classically trained musician in another life I’ve always used my ears as much as my eyes when identifying birds. Some have short songs that are easy to remember, others, such as the thrush family have much more complicated songs. As someone who has also written music it’s fun trying to put their phrases into musical notation, which is easier said than done when they’re singing between the cracks of the keys on a piano. But mostly a lot of a blackbird’s song fits well into the scales we use, so can be notated, and this year we had two holding territories top and bottom of the garden. Top blackbird’s song was a lot easier to remember and notate than bottom blackbird’s, I have to say, but by using rhythm as well as pitch I’ve tried to use words and letters to create phrases that readers might be able to reconstruct. p is a crotchet, q is a quaver. Here goes! ‘Oh what a silly boy!’ Comes out as ‘p qq qq p’, just two notes, 4 beats in a bar ‘How do you do?’ Comes out as ‘p. q p p---‘, the notes are C DE B, 3 beats to a bar, with the p. a dotted crotchet. [Editor adds: I once had a piano teacher who owned a parrot which could mimic a music lesson in progress. Remarkable. She and her husband had an unexplained and ongoing plumbing problem with a constantly flushing toilet until they discovered that their tame monkey had learned to pull the chain for fun! That's another story.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 28/10 2 Jack Snipe, Marston sewage works Woodlark over East Dunes, Little Stint, Gibraltar Point Parrot Crossbill, 13 Tundra Bean Geese, Frampton Marsh Grey Phalarope past Huttoft Car Terrace Long-tailed Duck, Paradise Lagoon, Saltfleet Hen Harrier, Rimac Short-eared Owl in off sea. Chapel Point Great White Egret, Shearman's Wath, West Ashby 29/10 Black-necked Grebe juv on T-junction pit, Baston+Langtoft GPs 2 Great Northern Divers flew south past, Black-throated Diver flew south past, Gibraltar Point 14 Tundra Bean Geese, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck, Paradise Lagoon, Saltfleet Serin flew south over Anderby Creek 30/10 Velvet Scoter drk, Great White Egret flew south over beach, Gibraltar Point Long-tailed Duck juv, Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet 2 Lapland Buntings, 9 Twite, Tetney Marshes 31/10 Great White Egret near Huttoft Pit 1/11 Great Northern Diver offshore, Little Gull flew north, Gibraltar Point 13 Tundra Bean Geese, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Scaup on reedbed, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Green-winged Teal drk at Roads Farm, Frampton Marsh Great White Egret, 40 Twite, Freiston Shore Long-tailed Duck juv, Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet Great Northern Diver, Donna Nook 2/11 13 Tundra Bean Geese, Curlew Sandpiper, ringtail Hen Harrier, Frampton Marsh Great Northern Diver south past, 4 Snow Buntings, Hen Harrier, Gibraltar Point 2 Common Cranes flew SE over Marton Smew Redhead on wader Pit, Baston + Langtoft GPs 3/11 2 Snow Buntings on outer beach, Cleethorpes Great White Egret, Huttoft Pit Great White Egret, Messingham Sand Quarry Great White Egret, 6 Whooper Swans 4 ads, Woodhall Spa Airfield Long-tailed Duck juv, Paradise Pool, south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet Lapland Bunting flew south over Gibraltar Point 4/11 Great White Egret flew west over Marton 3 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Useful Hedgehog Links https://hedgehogcare.org.uk/ http://caddingtonhedgehogs.blogspot.com/ https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgehog/ https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog: http://gibraltarpointbirdobservatory.blogspot.co.uk/ Bird Club - latest sightings: https://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/site/index.php/sightings/latest-news Butterfly Conservation Lincolnshire Branch. Latest sightings: https://butterfly-conservation.org/in-your-area/lincolnshire-branch/lincolnshire-latest-sightings BTO tracked cuckoos: https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Otters? Reports welcome. It would be helpful if readers would continue to report otter road kills and sightings to help build up relevant data. Chris Manning adds: Carcases may be sent to: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/otter-project Alas our local EA team no longer support the project by paying for transport. Chris Manning sent in the following information: Potential Bovine TB Hotspot Area - Lincolnshire Wolds "If you find a dead badger or wild deer carcase within the PHA, please report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency [APHA] via the Defra Rural Services Helpline 03000 200301. They will need the following details: 1. The location of the carcase to assess whether it falls within the PHA and in order to find it, if it’s suitable for collection. This could be an OS grid reference, longitude-latitude co-ordinates, the what3words address (tapping on the exact square where the carcase is located), a postcode or enough detail to precisely locate the carcase 2. Whenever possible an assessment of the condition of the carcase because decomposing or extensively damaged carcases are not suitable for post mortem examination." ROAD KILLS THEDDLETHORPE John Walker 281020 A fresh dead badger corpse was on the verge of A1031 c 150 metres north of the water pumping station on Great Eau just north of Theddlethorpe. *** Find the Grid Reference - don't forget - it's important *** Grab a Grid Reference: https://www.bnhs.co.uk/focuson/grabagridref/html/index.htm UK Grid Reference Finder: http://www.gridreferencefinder.com/ Chris Manning writes: Please remember to use grid refs, If a recorder doesn't, it not only adds work but must invariably loose accuracy. DON'T FORGET - TIME FLIES! Please include the year in your reports in case they are copied and thus lose their context. Include the time too if relevant - e.g. for Bat records. *** 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. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons 30/10/2020 Fieldfare flocks moving through hedgerows towards River Witham/Branston Island 1/11/2020 Grey wagtail flew over garden 2/11/2020 2 magpies in garden Gray squirrel caching peanuts BLANKNEY/SCOPWICK and KIRKBY ON BAIN D. Robinson We've been back to Blankney/Scopwick areas over the last few days and had fantastic views of Kites, Buzzard and Sparrow Hawks all seeming to be really enjoying these blustery conditions. Today was amazing we were spoilt for choice with 5 Kites a Buzzard and a couple of Sparrow Hawk all riding the the air currents around and above us at the same time. We also went to KoB pits again Sunday afternoon a perfect evening for photography but we only just got there in time. They were already gathered in huge flocks and started murmurating almost as soon as we parked up. Here's the video https://flic.kr/p/2k2KMRE CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 2/11/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson The flock of 300 or so Starlings I reported last week has now become more like 3000 over the last 48 hours, numbers which I haven't seen here before. They are feeding in fields which (thanks to a new tenant farmer) are now being cultivated by no ploughing/direct drilling techniques, so the fields are basically stubble fields with a new crop beginning to grow in them: I presume that this is providing more food for the birds, which is not surprising. More conventionally farmed fields nearby are being ignored by and large. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 23/10/2020 Common carder bee 1 - very surprised to see it on a cold, damp day. 24/10/2020 Sparrowhawk 1 - a young male appeared at 5pm and sat on the terrace for about 2 minutes before heading off 30/10/2020 Amblyjoppa proteus 1 - likely but I didn't have a dorsal view to make sure; however this ichneumonid was all black with white band on antenna, seen on the French doors two days running. Wren 1 SALTFLEETBY John Walker I was at Saltfleetby workbase at dusk 281020 after a days volunteer work. 3 small bats and 1 medium size began hawking around the adjacent trees. Pips and soprano pips, brown long eared and Daubenton's have all been recorded at this site a few years ago. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 28/10/20 Blackbird x 1 Black-headed Gull x 7 over Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 1 Dunnock x 2 Goldfinch x 19 Jay x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 21 Reed Bunting x 1 Robin x 1 Skylark x 2 Wood Pigeon x 6 THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 27/10/20 Cormorant x 2 over Lesser Redpoll x 25 Little Owl x 1 Tree Sparrow x 32 28/10/20 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 7 over Chaffinch x 6 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 6 Golden Plover x 78 over Goldfinch x 2 Greylag Goose x 6 over Lesser Redpoll x 7 Magpie x 2 Mute Swan x 4 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Redwing x 15 Robin x 1 Siskin x 2 30/10/20 Golden Plover x 68 Pink-footed Goose x 255 north over 01/11/20 Pink-footed Goose x 45 South East over 02/11/20 Blackbird x 1 Black-headed Gull x 17 over Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 2 Fieldfare x 29 Golden Plover x 100+ over Kestrel x 1 Little Owl x 1 Moorhen x 9 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Mute Swan x 4 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Redwing x 9 Robin x 1 Tree Sparrow x 32 Wren x 1 03/11/20 Blackbird x 4 Black-headed Gull x 2 over Common Buzzard x 1 Fieldfare x 30 Golden Plover x 38 Greylag Goose x 12 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 12 Mute Swan x 1 over Pink-footed Goose x 85 South over Redwing x 32 Starling x 29 Stock Dove x 1 Tree Sparrow x 15 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 22/10/20 -31/10/20 Jane Ostler PLANTS In the third week of October both the meadow on the Nature Trail and the grass verges of the Woolsthorpe Roadside Nature Reserve were cut. On the Nature Trail a few flowers on the uncut banks were still out, including Field Scabious, Greater Knapweed and Yellow Toadflax. On Newton Way still plenty of annuals at the road edge of the verge. One was a surprise, not being in its usual habitat . Fat Hen (Chenopodium album) thrives in rich soil, including on manure heaps. It is a weed of crops like sugar beet. Known locally as Lincolnshire Spinach it is edible. As a late flowering annual, resistant to frost and with oil rich seeds, it is food for hens too. (The stunted plant on Newton Way wouldn’t make much of a meal). A close relative Good King Henry (Chenopodium bonus-henricus) is also edible and shares the same local nickname, but it is no longer common. Both plants are related to the Oraches, a difficult group needing care in identification. FUNGI In the garden Velvet Shank has appeared on a tree stump amongst the ferns. Usually it does not appear until after the first frosts. The first Wood Blewits  have emerged on the Nature Trail. INSECTS In the garden we have a Mahonia aquifolium (Oregan Grape) in spectacular flower. The long yellow spikes of flowers are like a firework display and as they open from the base upwards their open nectaries are filled with nectar. On the 22nd October, temp 14C after cold rainy days, a Buff-Tailed Bumble Bee was feeding and has been seen on most days since along with hover flies and Honey Bees. On 26th October I brought sprays of hardy fuchsia in from the garden and in minutes Black Ants (Lasius niger) were running all over the draining board. Later in the day they emerged from the furled petals of a rose bud. I couldn’t discover aphids on either plant so presumed it was not honey dew attracting them. At first I thought nectar wan’t the attraction in the hybrid tea rose, but perhaps they are small enough to find their way to the centre. PLANT GALLS Falling leaves can reveal these. In the Garden on pear Pear Blister (a mite). On Maple the red swellings caused by a mite Acerie sp. On the walnut tree opposite the house another mite causing Walnut Blotch. On the Nature Trail on Ash Keys growths caused by the mite Acerina fraxinoutries, on rose Robin’s Pincushion and the swellings on thistle caused by the midge Urophora cardii. On Newton Way the Witches Broom on Silver Birch caused by the fungus Taphrina betulina. VERTEBRATES. Birds slow to return to feeders except for 20+ House Sparrows. Clearing round shrubs in garden revealed a number of Frogs in a slope above the pond so that area left. Good to find that two young hedgehogs found on the Woolsthorpe Road allotments underweight and infested with flies. Were rescued, treated and brought up to hibernation weight before the cold weather sets in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. COASTAL NNRs and Nature Reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Reserves: https://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/freistonshore/ http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/reserves/guide/f/framptonmarsh/ LWT Reserves http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/wildlife/reserves https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/far-ings https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/gibraltar-point ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RSPB Frampton Marsh & Freiston Shore are listed as Open. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19 includes details of which LWT reserves are open and other advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus See: Gibraltar Point Bird Observatory blog. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Donna Nook Weekly Seal "Pupdate": https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update IMPORTANT - Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust says "Due to Government Guidance in relation to Covid-19, we have introduced an online booking system to help us manage visitor numbers. Unfortunately, if you don't book a ticket you will be turned away." To book your ticket see: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 28th October – 3rd November 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Although the rainfall total for October was not exceptional with 60.2mm there was only one day in the month, the 18th, when no rainfall was recorded. A near ground frost of 1.0 degrees C was noted on the 9th and 24th. An unseasonal daytime high of 18.0 degrees C was observed on 1st November, and 17.0 degrees C on 30th October. 281020 - Bullfinch near Sea View, 2 stonechat at Rimac, ringtail hen harrier and marsh harrier hunting over saltmarsh and 6 snipe flying high west over the area. 291020 - 3 goldcrests at Sea View. At Churchill Lane: lots of flies on ivy flowers including 2 species of beefly, buff-tail bumblebee and honey bee, also seen common darters 301020 - Long-tailed duck at Paradise lagoon, 14 curlew feeding in adjacent pasture field, near Sea View 2 great spotted woodpeckers, song thrush in song, 4 goosander flying over west and ringtail hen harrier and marsh harrier over saltmarsh. Sea View: 14 blackbird, 1 crossbill flew south, 150 curlew, 1 goldcrest, 90 golden plover flew south, 1 hen harrier ringtail over saltmarsh, 250 lapwing on fields over the road, 7 little egret, c250 pink-footed geese flew south on top of the c3000 ‘local’ birds, 4 redwing, 40 siskin flew south in a single flock, 2 snipe flew high west, 1 sparrowhawk. 011120 - Another sunny day with many flies on ivy flowers including 2 species bumblebee, 2 beeflies and lot of various flies. Also several small groups of redwings blackbirds and chaffinches, c4500 pink-footed geese leaving roost and 41 whoopers swans over. 2 water rail heard also 2 tawny owl and 1 little owl 021120 - Long-tailed duck on Paradise lagoon, 21 curlew in adjacent field, kingfisher along Great Eau, 39 whooper swans flying south, high over saltmarsh and 31 little egrets feeding on saltmarsh. 031120 - Single brambling with house sparrows and chaffinches at Sea View, long-tailed duck still present on Paradise lagoon. Late evening 30 whooper swans flew SW over Sea View. A green woodpecker and 3 great spotted woodpeckers and Churchill Lane. Sea View: 8 blackbird, 1 brambling, 2 fieldfare, 2 goldcrest, 40 goldfinch, 3 greenfinch, 13 little egret, 2 marsh harrier, 9 siskin flew south, 1 sparrowhawk, 80 starling on saltmarsh. Donna Nook 301020 – Seal count: 54 pups, 108 cows, 26 bulls. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust have taken the decision to close the seal viewing area and the booking system to view the seals at Donna Nook following the Government announcement of the new national lockdown from Thursday 5 November. For full details please visit our webpage using the link. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook-bookings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Forestry Commission says: "We are open and ready to welcome you" https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide 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. LWT Top Reserves: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on the Coronavirus, Covid-19 plus details of any LWT reserves which are now open and the related advice and information: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus LWT Reserves List: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/nature-reserves-list ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Recorders and improve the quality and quantity of reports 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! 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.] Bulletin mailing times vary, depending on what I am doing. The Bulletin usually goes out on Wednesdays/Thursdays in time for the weekend. Please e-mail in contributions as early as possible, to: old.museum@yahoo.co.uk ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ Downloads of LNU books are available on: https://lnu.org/publications/books/ LNU Bursaries: Why not apply for one? The LNU offers bursaries for natural history courses, or for identification materials (e.g. books or online resources) to help recording in any group of plants, animals or fungi in Lincolnshire. The upper limit is £300. You do not need to be a member of the LNU to apply, but it would help. The LNU would, however, expect you to put your newly facilitated skills into practice and derive some Lincolnshire records. If you would like to apply for a bursary for an FSC [or similar] course, or to buy books to help you, please contact Richard Chadd on: richard.chadd@environment-agency.gov.uk *** Love Lincs Plants *** Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed - active... https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants LLP Project Partners and related links: Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union LNU Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist? Natural History Museum Twitter feed https://twitter.com/nhm_botany?lang=en Sir Joseph Banks Society Dr Anke Timmermann FLS discusses Joseph Banks’ florilegium https://www.joseph-banks.org.uk/ Lincoln University School of Life Sciences https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/lifesciences/ *** 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/ *** 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 https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/BC%20Policy%20on%20collecting%2C%20breeding%20and%20photography%202018.pdf *** 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: Lincolnshire Police Advice on Hare Coursing https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/hare-coursing/ 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/ *** 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 British wasp guide: how to identify common species https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/insects-invertebrates/british-wasp-guide-how-to-identify-common-species-lifecycle-and-why-wasps-sting-in-autumn/ *** 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 NatureSpot on Spiders: https://www.naturespot.org.uk/taxonomy/term/19515 *** Identifying British bugs - an online identification guide *** https://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html *** Fungi Families/Types Identity Parade *** https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/ *** 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 *** Natural England *** http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ *** Lincolnshire Environmental Awards *** www.lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards have now been cancelled for 2020 and will resume in 2021, all being well. *** 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 *** British Geological Survey at Keyworth *** https://www.bgs.ac.uk/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct RSPB's birdwatchers' code https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ [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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important message for LNU members *** Précis of Nick Tribe's announcement on future events - full text in 7th Oct Bulletin. http://rogerparsons.info/bulletin2020oct07.txt As the Covid 19 risk remains high the Executive has taken the decision to cancel the first two meetings and (hopefully) postpone the AGM to July/August/September 2021. i.e. January 16th joint talk with Lincolnshire Bird Club February 27th Recorders’ meeting March 27th AGM The Executive will explore dates in the summer for the AGM. ...If a delayed AGM is not possible, the Executive is happy to remain in post until March 2022. We have considered alternatives such as an online AGM, but none appear to be workable. We hope to publish a summary of the accounts in the Spring 2021 Communiqué and should be able to update members on the delayed AGM at that time. Any queries about the accounts can be sent to Chris Manning. The Executive continues to be active via email and telephone and is monitoring the situation with an eye on the 2021 field meeting programme. As with the AGM, the Union may be able to run some field meetings in 2021. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Chadd or Nick Tribe." LNU Officers & Executive https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ Richard Davidson says of the Whisby Workshops: "All are cancelled for this year. I am hoping to run them this time next year if at all possible, but that depends on whether something approaching normal life has returned by then." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: None this week - all plus.com addresses got through. None this week. Plus.com customers received their Bulletins again. ....and finally... Readers have a wide range of interests which I try to reflect in the news and information given in the Bulletin. Please help with suggestions for future links. Cheaper to prevent pandemics than 'cure' them https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54721687 'Moderate to strong' La Niña weather event develops in the Pacific https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54725970 Coral taller than the Empire State Building found in the Great Barrier Reef https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/coral-taller-empire-state-building-0523532/ Amsterdam releases 5,000 leaf fleas to halt Japanese knotweed spread https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/23/amsterdam-releases-leaf-fleas-halt-japanese-knotweed-growth Big-eyed spiders that cast nets like gladiators can hear prey despite lacking ears https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/big-eyed-spiders-that-cast-nets-like-gladiators-can-hear-prey-despite-lacking-ears/ Country diary: an immense space studded with razor shells https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/20/country-diary-an-immense-space-studded-with-razor-shells Country diary: into the woods and out of the ordinary https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/26/country-diary-into-the-woods-and-out-of-the-ordinary Country diary: the magic of magpie inkcaps https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/oct/29/country-diary-the-magic-of-magpie-inkcaps New sensor offers a window into the secret lives of Britain's rarest bats https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/new-sensor-offers-a-window-into-the-secret-lives-of-britain-rarest-bats-aoe Country diary: rosebay willowherb – a pioneer plant https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/30/country-diary-rosebay-willowherb-a-pioneer-plant ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/