============================================ || || 18th 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... *** Reports are a bit thin this week - perhaps a reflection of the lockdown. If you do spot anything of interest, contributions next week will be very welcome. Meanwhile, will you help us find a few more readers, please? The "forward to a friend" link at the end is a handy way to send an invitation to sign up, or you can direct people to: https://lnu.org/publications/wildnews-bulletin/ Donna Nook Weekly Seal "Pupdate": 13/11/20 – 647 pups, 960 cows, 200 bulls. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust took the decision to close the seal viewing area and the booking system to view the seals at Donna Nook. We are requested to follow government guidelines and not travel to see the seals. Full details and some FAQs can be found on the LWT website. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook-bookings 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 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. Weather Forecast 17-26 November: "There is a chance that drier brighter conditions may extend UK-wide at times, where fog patches could prove persistent in places. Although uncertain, temperatures are looking to become colder by the end of this period. " https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ 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..." Spectacular red palm weevil scoops top award in bug photography prize https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833073-500-spectacular-red-palm-weevil-scoops-top-award-in-bug-photography-prize/ Blakeney Nature Reserve: Record seal pup births predicted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-54974873 Your pictures on the theme of 'autumn landscapes' - BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54908247 Extra £40m for green spaces in England, Boris Johnson pledges https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54947577 Lincoln Usher Gallery: Moving exhibits to Nottingham 'bonkers' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54909014 The Naturalist's Journal - a bit of music and poetry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHpS_07Jn1w Covid: Thousands of cases relocated in England in data change https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54976372 Covid-19: Temporary [Woodhall Spa] site mortuary use discussed as deaths rise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54966946 Avian Influenza cases in Kent and Cheshire https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2020/11/03/avian-influenza-cases-in-kent-and-cheshire/ New Forest pannage season pigs tracked by GPS https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-54326420 The meaning of leaf: an autumnal tour of England's arboretums https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/oct/27/autumn-tour-of-uk-arboretums-living-library-of-trees-leaves People's Trust for Endangered Species - ptes Shop https://shop.ptes.org/product-tag/wildlife-gifts/ Shop - Butterfly Conservation https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-you-can-help/shop Shop - RSPB https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/christmas/ Shop - The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/shop 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. 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 *** Watch Mars LIVE for National Astronomy Week *** https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/planet-mars *** Grimsby RSPB Zoom *** "Minsmere - a Home for Nature" A Zoom talk by Ian Barthorpe, Visitor Experience Office This free talk is offered by the RSPB Grimsby Local Group and will take place at 7.30pm on Monday 23rd November. It is open to everybody. You don't need to belong to the RSPB, or have attended Group Meetings. And don't be put off by Zoom. It is easy to use, you don't need any special equipment like a camera or microphone - just an internet connection, and we may able to offer help if you request it. To get a Zoom link to the talk, or if you have any queries, please email Martin Francis at martin.francis2@ntlworld.com before 8pm on Sunday 22nd November If this talk is successful and well-supported, more talks, (for which there may be a small charge and/or an option to donate) will follow. Martin Francis Leader - RSPB Grimsby Local Group ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ 11/11 Black-throated Diver on sea, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew south, Gibraltar Point 2 Scaup, Frampton Marsh Great Northern Diver on River Welland, Deeping High Bank north of Crowland Great White Egret, Denton Reservoir Slavonian Grebe, Covenham Reservoir 12/11 Great Northern Diver on River Welland, Deeping High Bank north of Crowland by Newborough Syphon Great White Egret, Deeping High Bank west of Crowland Bridge on River Welland near Deeping St Nicholas turning 2 Great White Egrets along Counter Drain, Baston Fen 2 Great White Egrets between Fen Bridge and Thoresby Bridge Drain Lapland Bunting south over, male Hen Harrier, Jack Snipe on Mere Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier on saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh Long-tailed Duck on Paradise Pool, just south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet Siberian Chiffchaff singing, Goxhill Haven 13/11 Great Northern Diver on River Welland, Deeping High Bank north of Crowland by Newborough Syphon Great White Egret, Deeping High Bank west of Crowland Bridge Grey Phalarope on sea, Lapland Bunting flew south, 3 Velvet Scoters, 2 Great Northern Divers, Gibraltar Point 2 Scaup, Frampton Marsh Hen Harrier over saltmarsh, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Long-tailed Duck on Paradise Pool, just south of Saltfleet Haven, Saltfleet [Scrambled message] 14/11 Great Northern Diver juv at Deeping High Bank on River Welland WSW of Wards Farm, north of Crowland Great Northern Diver on River Welland, Deeping High Bank north of Crowland by Newborough Syphon 2 Great White Egrets, Deeping High Bank west of Crowland Bridge 15/11 Hen Harrier, Velvet Scoter flew north, Gibraltar Point Scaup, Snow Bunting, 2 Hen Harriers, 1 male, Great White Egret, Frampton Marsh Siberian Chiffchaff, Olive-backed Pipit, Dawson City Clay Pits, Goxhill Haven, Snow Bunting near tile yard, Goxhill Hen Harrier ringtail, Messingham Sand Quarry 16/11 Great White Egret south of Bottesford at Belvoir/Denton Reservoir Great Northern Diver at Deeping High Bank on river Welland by drop in B1166 Crowland Road, north of Crowland 3 Scaup, 2.1w drk + fem,Frampton Marsh Great White Egret, 2 Hen Harriers, Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl, 3 Twite, 3 Snow Buntings, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier male flew south over Friskney Slavonian Grebe, Covenham Reservoir, ringtail Hen Harrier nearby 17/11 Water Pipit at reservoir, Freiston Shore 2 Great White Egrets, Baston + Langtoft GPs Lapland Bunting flew south over, Caspian Gull, Great Northern Diver flew north, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret in first main ditch north from bridge at Church Lane Appleby Great Northern Diver at Deeping High Bank on river Welland by drop in B1166 Crowland Road, north of Crowland ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 No reports this week. *** 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 13/11/2020 Honeybees working Mahonia flowers at 11am. BRACEBRIDGE HEATH Bracebridge Heath Viking Way SK976662 John Nickson Raven. COLSTERWORTH SK92/25 Jane Ostler 1-8 November 2020 Plant Galls In the absence of oak trees in Woolsthorpe, it is necessary to search for these in Colsterworth, including Twyford Wood, where there are again numerous Marble galls (Andricus kollari) on a line of young oaks. Some have larger exit holes of their single gall forming cypnid wasp has exited as an adult. Others were dotted with the smaller exit holes of inquilines (Insects which live alongside the gall causer) None appear to have been pecked by birds. Marble galls do not appear on mature trees. The floor beneath a mature specimen in the car park is thick with healthy acorns. Some already have the first sign of roots where they are buried in soil. They do not produce shoots until next spring. On Stamford road the acorns on a mature oak are infected by Knopper Galls (Andricus queruscalicis). The gall first infects the acorn cup but then penetrates the nut so rendering seed inviable. First reported in this country in 1962 it was thought a threat to natural regeneration of oak. It has two generations, one lives on the catkins of the Turkey Oak. I haven’t found any Turkey Oaks in the vicinity. Other readily identifiable galls on this oak are spangle and button galls on the fallen leaves. Birds A Jay feeding on the acorns in Twyford but we didn’t see Crossbills in the area where we had seen one in October. Kingfishers are seen regularly on the River Witham – from the Nature Trail upstream from Bridge End and from back gardens on Stamford Road which extend down to river. Upstream of this is an area stretching to the ford at North Witham which has no bushes or trees up to the river. I had thought this might mark the limit of their territory but have had reports of kingfishers between North and South Witham closer to the source of the river. They are also seen on a feeder stream in Gunby. HOLYWELL Holywell Lake Ian Misselbrook 12th November 2020 1045 – 1215 Pheasant 3 Canada Geese 13 Hybrid Goose 1 Gadwall 6 Wigeon 72 Mallard 66 Teal 12 Tufted Duck 43 Moorhen 18 Little Grebe 19 Black -headed Gulls 39 Cormorants 2 Grey Heron 2 Little Egret 1 Red Kite 1 Buzzard 1 Jay 1 Jackdaws 8 Rooks Carrion Crow 6 Woodpigeons Coal Tits 2 Blue Tts 8 Great Tits 4 Long-tailed Tits 7 Goldcrests 2 Wren 11 Blackbird 11 Fieldfare 3 Mistle Thrush 2 Robin 5 Dunnock 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 3 Chaffinch 7 Greenfinch3 Goldfinch Siskin 1 Peacock Butterfly 1 – a surprise November record! Grey Squirrels 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes NNR Report 4th – 17th November 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 041120 - Paradise lagoon 7 tufted duck, long-tailed duck and 23 curlew in adjacent field. Peacock butterfly on the wing, 1 brambling, 1 bullfinch, 1 buzzard, 2 kestrel at Sea View. Churchill Lane: 2 peregrine falcons over salt marsh, 1 sparrow hawk, 3 kestrel, 2 stonechat, 2 bullfinch, c800 pink-footed geese flew high south. Crook Bank: c500 starlings, 1 kestrel, 1 goldcrest, 10 redwing. 051120 - Paradise lagoon: female goldeneye with the long-tailed duck, 6 tufted duck and a kingfisher along the Great Eau. Peacock butterfly at Sea View. 061120 – Crook Bank: 2 stonechat, 1 kestrel, 1 great spotted woodpecker. Sea View: 1 great white egret on river, 3 little egret, 1 grey heron, 3 goldcrest, 1 great spotted woodpecker. 071120 – At Churchill Lane: various flies, 2 species of beefly, 2 species of bumblebee small tortoiseshell and peacock all on ivy. A small arrival of migrant birds with c140 redwing, c120 blackbirds, c45 fieldfare, c110 linnet, c90 chaffinch, also 2 water rail, 3 stonechat, 2 woodcocks, a few goldcrests, c800 starling. 081120 – Mablethorpe north end to Churchill Lane: 180 blackbird, 5 blackcap, 3 brambling, 2 bullfinch, 1 buzzard, 175 chaffinch, 1 chiffchaff, 40 fieldfare, 13 goldcrest, 2 great spotted woodpecker, 1 mistle thrush, 200 redwing, 80 robin, 23 song thrush, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 4 yellowhammer. 091120 - Long-tailed duck still on Paradise lagoon. Single brambling with 15 goldfinch at Sea View and noticeable number of blackbirds in the area with a few redwing. Sea View: 1 chiffchaff. Rimac: 1 goldcrest, 1 chiffchaff, 25 golden plover flew south, 25 lapwing flew high west, 4 stonechat, 1 marsh harrier, 1 ringtail hen harrier, 1 jack snipe, 5 snipe, 60 redwing, 20 fieldfare, 30 blackbird. 101120 - Two stonechat at Rimac, chiffchaff at Sea View and common buzzard overhead, ringtail hen harrier and marsh harrier hunting over saltmarsh. Brickyard Lane: 1 sparrowhawk, 30 blackbird, 60 redwing, 15 fieldfare, 1 mistle thrush, 800 starling, 30 robin, 1 blackcap. Sea View: 3 mistle thrush, 3 marsh harrier, 1 brambling, 1 great spotted woodpecker. Crook Bank: 4 brambling. 111120 - Long-tailed duck at Paradise lagoon. 121120 - Peregrine falcon nr Saltfleet Haven Outfall, ringtail and grey hen harrier over saltmarsh late evening. Sea View: 25 whooper swan south, 1 small bat, 1 merlin, 2 sparrowhawk, 1 marsh harrier, 1 goldcrest. 131120 - Long-tailed duck at Paradise lagoon, whooper swan 4 flew south (2 adults and 2 juveniles). 90 Brent geese flying into roost at high tide on the edge of Saltfleet Haven Outfall, male marsh harrier and male sparrowhawk hunting over saltmarsh. Churchill Lane: 4 common darter, 1 migrant hawker.  4 stonechat along saltmarsh between Rimac to Churchill Lane. 141120 -17 little egrets on saltmarsh, marsh harrier and peregrine falcon hunting over area. 151120 - Paradise lagoon:18 shoveler, 30 little egrets on saltmarsh and 200 lapwing flying high over Elm House farm. Sea View and Rimac: 5 whooper swan roosting on Rimac lagoon at dusk, c3000 pink-footed goose, 1 pintail female flew west with wigeon, 3 eider males flew south offshore, 80 golden plover, 3 buzzard, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 merlin, 20 little egret on saltmarsh. 161120 - Merlin and marsh harrier over saltmarsh, tawny owl calling near Sea View. Rimac fresh water marsh: 16 common snipe, 1 jack snipe, 1 marsh harrier. Water rail swam across river near sea view. 171120 - Long-tailed duck, first seen on 26th October, still at Paradise lagoon, 2 little grebes on the Eau. Wren giving short bursts of song and 2 mistle thrush near Sea View, 80 lapwing south over the saltmarsh. Good morning flight of pink-footed geese over the area at dawn. Donna Nook 061120 – Seal count: 239 pups, 446 cows, 87 bulls. 131120 – Seal count: 647 pups, 960 cows, 200 bulls. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust has 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 new national lockdown from Thursday 5 November: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/donna-nook-bookings Donna Nook Weekly Seal "Pupdate": https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook/weekly-update ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: 3 this week John Clarke - soft bounce. Connection refused due to abuse. Steve Haith - soft bounce. Message contains spam or virus or sender is blocked. John Kneale - hard bounce. User unknown. ....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. Stonehenge A303 tunnel plan approved by transport secretary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-54919205 Birds' genetic secrets revealed in global DNA study https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54904806 Face masks and gloves found on 30% of UK beaches in clean-up https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/06/face-masks-and-gloves-found-on-30-of-uk-beaches-in-clean-up Coronavirus: Denmark shaken by cull of millions of mink - upsetting images https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54890229 Mutated strain of coronavirus may 'jump back and forth' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54918267 Covid-19: King Edward VI Grammar in Louth closed due to outbreak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54914253 'Critical incident' at Lincolnshire hospitals after Covid patients rise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54933070 Covid: Hull coronavirus rate 'worst in England' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-54917423 ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/