============================================ || || 7th October 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** LNU Events - Important message for LNU members *** LNU Hon General Secretary, Nick Tribe, writes: 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 appreciates that this is disappointing news but there seems little expectation that larger gatherings will be advisable or allowed early next year. The Executive will explore dates in the summer for the AGM. The AGM is important constitutionally and many look forward to the President’s address. 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. We hope that this arrangement is acceptable to members. If you have any questions, please contact Richard Chadd or Nick Tribe. LNU Officers & Executive https://lnu.org/about/officers-executive/ *** Editor writes... *** I hope Nick's information brings you all "up to speed". We are in a difficult and unpredictable situation and will keep you informed as the situation evolves. Ants: The churchyard next door is peppered with anthills, very visible now as a small sheep flock has just completed their spell of late summer grazing. "There are a staggering 15,000 or more species of ant across the world but here in the UK there are 11 genera comprising 51 native species, with a further 1 genera and three species restricted to the Channel Islands. There are a further 13 introduced species associated with artificially heated environments such as greenhouses and conservatories. Despite being the most numerous insect on the planet, ants are drastically under-recorded at both a National and International level with most records derived from a band of dedicated entomologists, myr- mecologists and ant enthusiasts. Ant abundance is perhaps their downfall; they are often overlooked and yet, as ecosystem engineers, they are of great ecological importance. Seed spreaders, habitat creators, corpse removers, soil turners, butterfly farmers, beetle harbourers, bird and mammal food... ...the benefits of ants on the wider environment are numerous and complex." https://www.naturespot.org.uk/ant_ID On our frequent drives to Pembrokeshire 50 years ago we used to say we knew when we had reached Wales because we saw buzzards. Since then we noted closer and closer sightings on our trips, eventually seeing them in Lincolnshire. It's been an extraordinary story of recovery. A number of people are noting buzzard activity at the moment - as you will see below. I have included some Buzzard links too. Please send in your sightings. Weather forecast: "More settled conditions are expected to develop from the west through October, with western/northwestern areas becoming dry with sunny spells and light winds at first. Showers are likely to continue in the east/southeast at the start of this period, whilst central and eastern areas remain rather windy." https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Humber Nature Forum talks are online Jackson Sage tells me The Humber Nature Forum event went really well and they were able to record the talks and upload it to YouTube. Includes Matt Blisset speaking on The Grey Seal Colony of Donna Nook. Available here: http://humbernature.co.uk/news/post.php?s=2020-09-30-humber-nature-forum-videos-from-the-september-2020-meeting Bryophytes: Steven Heathcote writes: Lincolnshire Pages of new BBS website - photos requested! The British Bryological Society is updating its website and as Lincolnshire recorder for them I've been tasked with updating the vice-county pages for Lincolnshire. The new website is planned to be very visual, with lots of photos displayed. Whilst I have plenty of photographs of bryophytes in the county, I don't have a good supply of landscape photos. I'm hoping that readers of the Bulletin might be willing to help me by supplying photos that show Lincolnshire in its best light, particularly any good view of nature reserves or nice landscape shots. As well as an introductory image or two, I'll be using images to illustrate an updated Lincolnshire Travelogue originally produced by Frank Lammiman and Christine Rieser https://websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Bryodiversity/vc53-54/vc53-54sites.htm. The whole thing is voluntary so I'm afraid there is no financial incentive, but full credit will be given for any photos used, and I'll let you know when the new website is live so you can see your images. Please contact me via email steven.heathcote@gmail.com if you can help! Dragonflies: Richard Shillaker, Hull Natural History Society, writes: Your readers my find this report for September (from the Hull Dragonfly survey) of interest, especially as it details for a second year the appearance of the Willow Emerald Damselfly in Hull. http://abugblog.blogspot.com/2020/09/hull-dragons-2020-september-summary.html Covid-19-related information: Please stay aware of government advice and adapt your personal precautions accordingly as the pandemic changes. 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/ Events/activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust's policy on Coronavirus, Covid-19: Gives details of which LWT reserves are open and other advice and information. https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/coronavirus RSPB: map for which reserves and facilities you can now 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..." Four reasons why restoring nature is the most important endeavour of our time https://theconversation.com/four-reasons-why-restoring-nature-is-the-most-important-endeavour-of-our-time-147365 Some outstanding drone photos - Drone Awards 2020 https://droneawards.photo/gallery/2020 Swimming deer - North Uist https://twitter.com/iasgairmuir/status/1312138669034106880 How to identify earthstars https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/identify-wildlife/how-to-identify-earthstars/ Big Butterfly Count 2020: The Results https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/big-butterfly-count-2020-the-results Spider home invasion season: why the media may be to blame for your arachnophobia https://theconversation.com/spider-home-invasion-season-why-the-media-may-be-to-blame-for-your-arachnophobia-147115 Mountain butterflies 'will have to be relocated as habitats get too hot' https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/04/mountain-butterflies-will-have-to-be-relocated-as-habitats-get-too-hot Lincolnshire Police say it is taking a tougher stance than ever on hare coursers. https://www.lincs.police.uk/news-campaigns/news/2020/we-have-now-launched-this-years-operation-galileo/ Lincolnshire hare coursing: Rural residents' help 'vital' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-54403513 Thank you to everyone who sent in reports, stories, news and links. These make the Bulletin much more useful and encourages others to "have a go". Your Autumn observations will be welcome. Please keep them coming. Please tell others about the Bulletin or use the useful "forward to a friend" link at the end of every edition. It would be good to expand the network. 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 Check for road works and hold-ups. Lots about. https://roadworks.org/ Met Office Severe Warnings - check https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings Met Office Severe Weather E-mail Service - why not sign up? 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/ *** October 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. Next big ones: Draconids max 8-9 October, Orionids max 21-22 October . See: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates Mars opposition 2020: how to observe the Red Planet - skyatnightmagazine https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-to-observe-mars/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] Could you recognise a Yellow-browed Warbler? https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/yellow-browed-warbler/ 29/9 Yellow-browed Warbler, in scrub north end of Marsh Yard car park, Anderby Creek 3+ Yellow-browed Warblers, Short-eared Owl, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR 2 Yellow-browed Warblers at Sea View, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe NNR Great White Egret, Boultham Mere 11 Sooty Shearwaters flew past, 2 Little Gulls, Chapel Point Mealy Redpoll, Ring Ouzel, ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Jack Snipe, Water Pipit at Croft Marsh, Gibraltar Point 30/9 Osprey, East Pit, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James Yellow-browed Warbler in willows, Anderby Creek Yellow-browed Warbler in willows, Chapel Six Marshes Great White Egret in field west of river, Gibraltar Point 1/10 Short-eared Owl, 9 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 9 Yellow-browed Warblers, Ring Ouzel, 5 Lapland Buntings, 3 Spotted Redshanks, Water Pipit, Gibraltar Point 1 Curlew Sandpiper juv North Killingholme Great White Egret, Boutltham Mere Great White Egret flew south over Chapel St Leonards 2/10 Great Snipe flushed from golf course, Wryneck in gorse on golf course, Sandilands Short-eared Owl at Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas Great White Egret, Boultham Mere Goshawk flew low over north side, Pomarine Skua flew north past, Hawfinch in plantation, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers, 6 Spotted Redshanks on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 7 Little Stints, Short-eared Owl, Frampton Marsh Yellow-browed Warbler in gardens in first avenue, Humberston Fitties 2 Yellow-browed Warblers in dunes, Theddlethorpe St Helen 3/10 Short-eared Owl at golf course, Sandilands Short-eared Owl in scrub, Trunch Lane, Ingoldmells Grey Phalarope flew north past Chapel Point Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores, Sea View, Saltfleetby Pied Flycatcher, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Warbler, Siberian Chiffchaff, 12 Yellow-browed Warblers, 3 Water Pipits, 3 Jack Snipe, Hawfinch, 2 Spotted Redshanks, 12 Ring Ouzels, Short-eared Owl, Scaup, Gibraltar Point 10 (unconfirmed) Red-breasted Flycatchers, Donna Nook Great White Egret on River Witham, Lagriville Bridge, Boston 4/10 Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and ringed, Anderby Creek 2 Gannets, both juvs, flew up River Humber, Pyewipe Yellow-browed Warbler, Aylmer Avenue, Gibraltar Point 12 Yellow-browed Warblers, Honey Buzzard, 3 Lapland Buntings, 7 Ring Ouzels, 7 Pied Flycatchers, ringtail Hen Harrier, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point 2 Radde's Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Donna Nook 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in garden, Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby/ Theddlethorpe Great White Egret flew north over Trent Port Wetlands, WSW of Marton 5 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh Red-breasted Flycatcher, Wolla Bank Pit Yellow-browed Warbler, Chapel St Leonards Great White Egret, Boultham Mere Bittern flew south over Cleethorpes 5/10 Richard's Pipit flew over realignment, Donna Nook Great White Egret at Deeping High Bank, Deeping St Nicholas 7 Yellow-browed Warblers, 2 Ring Ouzels, Pied Flycatcher, Little Stint on Tennyson's Sands, Great White Egret flew in off sea, Gibraltar Point Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores behind houses at bottom of Sea Lane, Saltfleet 2 Yellow-brower Warblers at Sea View, Saltfleet Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 6/10 Hawfinch flew south over beach, 5 Yellow-browed Warblers, ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Ring Ouzels, Firecrest, 2 Water Pipits, Jack Snipe, Great White Egret, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Hen Harrier on saltmarsh, Frampton Marsh 3 Yellow-browed Warblers in trees by path to hide, Goshawk juv, Hawfinch in pine, probable Ruddy Shelduck over, Freiston Shore Lapland Bunting flew over, Snow Bunting, Anderby Cheek Ruddy Shelduck, Alkborough Flats 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Scaup, fem Spotted Redshank, 2 Short-eared Owls, between East Halton Skitter and Goxhill ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 Reader question: Peter White writes: Monday 27th Sept 9 buzzards congregated circling above my house in Louth. They circled for a while making a lot of noise before they all departed at the same time and in different directions. Around and about i have seen similar activity (but not with so many buzzards) and i recall a previous report of 20+ buzzards in the Huttoft area. Does anyone have any thoughts on this behaviour? Stuart Britton says: I think the simple answer is that Buzzards enjoy riding the thermals. They can travel good distances at height and their mewing often attracts other Buzzards. They have exceptional eyesight and see up to a mile. By circling high they can spot prospective prey items. Some of 20 birds at Huttoft may have been migrants but I have seen up to 12 birds together particularly in the Wolds. RSPB Buzzard Bird Facts https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/buzzard/ Wildlife Trusts - Buzzard https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/birds/birds-prey/buzzard BTO Buzzard https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2870.htm 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? Reports welcome. ROAD KILLS BOURNE Jane Ostler 22/9/20 TF107202 A151, Bourne BADGER COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler 25/9/20 SK945239 B676, Colsterworth BADGER Jane Ostler 26/9/20 SK932253 B6403, Colsterworth HARE *** 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 Bardney Garden Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter 29th September 2020 X2 Robins singing X1 wren X2 chaffinches Still just one or two blackbirds X2 chiffchaff, singing plus one observed quite closely as it was picking its way through shrubs and tress X1 female great spotted woodpecker X1 female sparrow hawk 30+ house sparrows X4 collared doves X5 wood pigeons Both male and female tawny owls calling at night. Bat sp around streetlight next to ivy (in flower) covered post. Hummingbird hawk moth in garden on and off all day. Mostly on remnants of yellow buddleia and honeysuckle flowers. Last seen still feeding at dusk. Migrant hawker Common darter Ivy flowers still attracting many insects, including common wasps and one or two red admiral butterflies. X2 small white butterflies X1 small tortoiseshell butterflies. Still a good number of 7 spot ladybirds. Arable field walk near house approx. one mile north west of Grid ref TF 117 701 Flock of approx. x100 lapwings FROM CAR between Bardney and Bucknall: Mary and Phil Porter 28th September 2020 X1 swallow X2 house martins BOSTON (Garden by A16) 01/10/2020 Kathleen Pearson A little bit of excitement over the garden this afternoon when 3 Buzzards drifted over the garden and were harried by a Peregrine. CARLTON LE MOORLAND SK909581 06/10/2020 Jeremy Hutchinson In my last report (11th August) I forgot to mention that among the butterflies seen the Gatekeeper was almost a daily visitor for months, often several at a time, more than in any recent year I can think of. On 6th September we had a visit from a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, and a Grey Dagger, both an adult and a larva. Notable over the last two months has been the number of Shield Bugs (both adults and nymphs, mainly Dock, Green and Hawthorn), all of which seem to be drawn to raspberry canes/fruits, although many have been seen elsewhere too. Our Swallows and House Martins departed 20/21st September, but I saw a group of about 10 Swallows just south of Bassingham on 28th and 29th September, but not since. In the same area there has been a flock of 200 approx Starlings feeding in a stubble field. Over the last few weeks I have heard snatches of Chiffchaff song occasionally in the area around my allotment, but on 5th October I got a long, good look at one in the increasingly bare willows: by far the latest I can recall having seen one. One evening about 10 days ago I noticed the security light at the back of the house come on, looked out of the window to see a fox staring back at me, a first here. While we were gardening on 4th October my wife found 2 frogs, one fully grown, the other about half grown. This was a very pleasant surprise given that this Spring, for the first time in nearly 30 years, we had no breeding frogs in our garden pond. The smaller one was found in a rather unusual place, a cardboard box of potted plants which has been on the seat of a garden bench for a couple of weeks or so: it must have taken remarkable climbing skills to have found its way inside the box. No Hedgehogs have been seen, but some very large droppings have been found in the garden. Our 2-3 local bats (probably Pipistrelles) are still hunting at dusk most evenings. HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 28/9/2020 Frog 29/9/2020 Grey squirrels 2 Ichneumon wasp 1 - one of the black and yellow species but it wasn't still enough for me to be able to id it 1/10/2020 Rooks 8 in oak Squirrel 1 - burying acorns in my grass path 6/10/2020 Wood mouse 1 LINCOLN Lincoln City Saturday 26th September Jacquie Harrison I was driving along Winn Street, near Baggholme Road junction when a weasel - not a ferret - crossed the road mid-afternoon! Usual not straight movement - managed to avoid it. SEDGE HOLE CLOSE LWT Nature Reserve Steve Hiner 23/09/20 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Dunnock x 1 Great Tit x 1 Jackdaw x 8 Linnet x 2 Robin x 3 Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 Roe Deer x 1 26.09.20 Blackbird x 4 Blue Tit x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Great Tit x 4 Jackdaw x 6 Linnet x 1 Long-tailed Tit x 8 Pied Wagtail x 2 Swallow x 2 Tree Sparrow x 12 Wood Pigeon x 5 SUDBROOKE Sudbrooke TF 041 763 Ian Dunn 30.09.20 Caterpillar Pale Tussock Moth THURNHOLMES (within 300m of SK797984 unless stated) Steve Hiner & Paul Snow 14.09.20 Blackbird x 2 Black-headed Gull x 7 Blue Tit x 4 Carrion Crow x 2 Common Buzzard x 1 Dunnock x 1 Greylag Goose x 12 over Thurnholmes Jackdaw x 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 19 over Thurnholmes Mute Swan x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Moorhen x 2 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Pied Wagtail x 1 Robin x 1 Swallow x 1 Tree Sparrow x 9 Wood Pigeon x 4 Wren x 1 Green-veined White x 3 Small Tortoiseshell x 1 Small White x 6 Common Darter x 1 16.09.20 Ichneuman, Possibly Dolichomitus spp. found dead in horse water trough 17.09.20 Cormorant x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Moorhen x 4 Robin x 2 Common Pipistrelle x 1 21:45hrs (45hz) Common Darter x 1 Southern Hawker x 1 18/09/20 Blackbird x 2 Chaffinch x 1 Dunnock x 1 Golden Plover x 1 over Thurnholmes Great Tit x 2 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 3 Owston Ferry Warping Drain Moorhen x 2 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:45hrs Wood Pigeon x 4 Moths around security light; Lunar Underwing x 4 Setaceous Hebrew character x 1 Silver Y x 1 Snout x 1 Southern Hawker x 1 20.09.20 SK807974 Steve and Sam Hiner whilst watching River Trent Aegir Blue Tit x 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull x 4 Mallard x 37 Sparrowhawk x 2 24.09.20 Blackbird x 1 Carrion Crow x 25 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 3 Moorhen x 2 Robin x 1 Rook x 52 Wood Pigeon x 12 25.09.20 Kestrel x 1 young bird sat on ground in stable yard 01:00hrs, I moved it away from my dogs attention, placed it in willow tree in chicken run to roost and it had flown by 06:30hrs. Moths around security light; Frosted Orange x 1 Lunar Underwing x 3 28/09/20 Blackbird x 2 Carrion Crow x 2 Common Gull x 3 Goldfinch x 12 Grey Partridge x 9 Kestrel x 1 Lesser Redpoll x 21 Mallard x 9 Mute Swan x 3 Moorhen x 6 Pied Wagtail x 2 Robin x 1 Swallow x 2 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 01:15hrs Wood Pigeon x 6 Wren x 1 02/10/20 Golden Plover x 1 over Thurnholmes Redwing x 9 over Thurnholmes Golden Plover x 6 over Thurnholmes Mallard x 15 over Thurnholmes Starling x 29 Tawny Owl x 1 calling 23:00hrs WELTON LE WOLD Tuesday 22nd September Near Welton-le-Wold Jacquie Harrison and John Margetts A young buzzard had pulled a roadkill rabbit off a minor road since I’d travelled down there earlier in the day and was on the verge eating and totally unaware of t he threat we could have posed. It saw our red car, I stopped and it continued eating whilst John got out and took photos. One of its parents came and alarmed called until it eventually did as it was told and moved, the older bird then kept note of us on our subsequent walk further down the valley for about an hour, calling from time to time. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH Jane Ostler 21 – 30 Sept 2020 SK923247 Garden 21st Sept ’20 Sunny day 16C Autumn often finds exotics from bird seed flowering in gardens (e.g. Apple of Peru several years ago, Millet this year). Today a mystery plant with dramatic leaves flowered to reveal itself as Datura stromonium, Thorn Apple, with trumpet shaped white flowers. This extremely poisonous plant is recorded in cultivation by 1597 and found in the wild by 1777. I do not think it came from bird seed. My last sight of it in the area was in the car park of the doctors surgery. Honey Bees, scarce this year were on Sedum spectabile, moving round the flowers as each group caught the sun, almost covering each flowerhead not seeming to collect pollen but sipping nectar. A Comma butterfly sunning on a tree trunk. Small Whites in mating dances above the veg patch. Adult Craneflies hauling themselves out of the lawn. A Robin constant in its autumn song for the first time this year. Swallows on the telegraph wires and House Martins feeding above the houses opposite. 25th September 2020 Travelled back from a short stay in Norfolk in horizontal rain, temperature 8C. The lawn, with longer between mowings had a rash of White Waxcaps amongst the last of the Autumnal Hawkbit flowers. The only insects noted then and since were Craneflies,and bedraggled Wasps (on 30th Sept a Red Admiral on Michaelmas Daisies). The Gulls flying south on their daily journey back to Rutland Water were earlier at 5p.m. with the shortening days. A Wood Pigeon was feeding a single squab with pigeon milk. A blown about bush revealed a hollowed gourd put there in the spring had a moss lined wren’s nest. The Swallows and House Martins had gone and the Hens have stopped laying and have to be persuaded out their hut. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 30th September – 6th October 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 28/09/20 – Small copper butterfly at Sea View 29/09/20 – Common blue butterfly at Sea View. In the Sea View area: 5 Goldcrest, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 4 chiffchaff, 1 redstart, 2 snipe 300920 - Over Sea View: 3 great spotted woodpeckers, 5 mistle thrush, 1 song thrush, 1 swallow. 011020 - On Paradise lagoon: 15 shoveler, 2 wigeon, 42 mallard, 66 teal, 2 little grebe and 2 greenshank. 2 siskin at Sea View. 021020 – Up to 30 little egrets feeding on saltmarsh, 2 swallows over Sea View. Brickyard Lane: 2 redwing, 2 redpoll, 5 chiffchaffs, these are residents at the moment. 4 shoveler over dunes. 031020 - In the Sea View area: 4 blackcap, 6 brambling, 4 chiffchaff, 1 willow warbler, 1 redstart, 2 goldcrest, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 20 chaffinch. Between Churchill Lane and BrickyardLane: 13 chiffchaff, 1 willow warbler, 1 lesser whitethroat, 2 reed warbler, 2 blackcap, 3 siskin, 3 brambling, 4 redpoll, 2 ring ouzel, 12 blackbird, 19 song thrush, 11 redwing, 8 goldcrest, 35 blue tit, 45 long tailed tit, 2 swallow, 60 chaffinch, 45 robin. Brickyard Lane: 5 male blackcaps appeared in a single bush together along with 10 blackbirds and 6 song thrushes close by as a fall of birds occurred mid-morning. 041020 - Se View: at least 12 goldcrests, 5 chiffchaffs and single swallow and swift flying south. Paradise area: 2 redstarts, 5 goldcrests, 4 blackcap and 3 chiffchaffs. Single comma on wing at Sea View. Rimac to Churchill along the foreshore: 3 stonechat, 1 short eared owl, 1 marsh harrier. 4 Egyptian geese flying south on morning spring tide and 3 brent geese. 4 Stonechats at Brickyard Lane entrance. 3 brambling, 1 ring ouzel, 2 siskins, 3 redpolls. A few song thrushes and blackbirds SW. 051020 - On Paradise lagoon: wildfowl included 6 tufted duck, 6 wigeon, 18 shoveler and in nearby woodland 5 chiffchaff and 3 goldcrest. In the Sea View area: yellow-browed warbler, chiffchaff, goldcrest, 4 redwing and 2 swallows over. Brickyard Lane area: 1100 pink footed geese south off the roost 0800hrs - normally they fly west. 330 additional pink footed geese south during morning. Up to 400 Canada geese south off the roost. This is a daily occurrence at the moment flying low over dunes in flocks of up to 60. Few redwings and song thrushes SW early morning. 4 stonechats Brickyard Lane entrance and 6 chiffchaffs. 061020 - Sea View: 2 brambling, 1 lesser whitethroat, 3 goldcrest, 3 chiffchaff, 1 redwing. Rimac to Churchill along the foreshore: 2 marsh harrier, 1 hen harrier, 1 short eared owl. In the Sea View area: 13 goldcrest, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 3 chiffchaff, 1 sparrowhawk, 3 grey wagtail. Roosting geese on foreshore c750 pink footed and c530 Canada. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ A list of all the articles contained in Transactions (Transactions page) and a list of the Presidents (Officers page) is also available. 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. 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 - active... https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants LLP Project Partners and related links: Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. 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 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/ https://lifesciences.sites.lincoln.ac.uk/2016/09/30/heritage-lottery-funding-to-safeguard-lincolnshire-plants/ *** 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 *** Webpage says: "Following Government guidance and in the interests of health and safety, this year's field meetings are cancelled ... until further notice. For further information please contact your County Recorder(s). " Contact: Sarah Lambert: 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: 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 *** 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 *** 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 *** 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 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 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 Butterfly Conservation: Policy on collecting, breeding and photography https://butterfly-conservation.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/BC%20Policy%20on%20collecting%2C%20breeding%20and%20photography%202018.pdf 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/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 - under review. https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: None this week - all plus.com addresses got through. ....and finally... Readers have a wide range of interests which I try to reflect in the news and information given in the Bulletin. You can help with suggestions for future links. Ringing of honey buzzard chicks in South Wales https://www.countryfile.com/podcast/honey-buzzards-in-wales-episode-one-of-a-new-season-of-plodcasts/ National Trust suffers 'worst year' for ash dieback https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54373214 Wild boar guide: identification, behaviour and distribution in the UK https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/where-to-see/guide-to-boar-in-britain-benefits-dangers/ Helsinki airport is now using dogs to detect coronavirus infections https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/animals-ecology/helsinkig-airport-dog-coronavirus-20092020/ More hoarding than my two squirrels so far, I think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZkAP-CQlhA Country diary: these lacewings are welcome guests at my crafty bug hotel https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/02/country-diary-these-lacewings-are-welcome-guests-at-my-crafty-bug-hotel Country diary: these many-legged creatures raise a stink https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/07/country-diary-these-many-legged-creatures-raise-a-stink Country diary: wildlife-sustaining bramble hedges need our protection https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/06/country-diary-wildlife-sustaining-bramble-hedges-need-our-protection ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/