============================================ || || 2nd September 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... *** I don't post photos in the Bulletin but, as you may have noticed in last week's issue, it is possible to post a photo on the LNU Twitter page as we did with Jonathan Bye's Ghost Thistle article. If you put something on there that may interest Bulletin readers, please tell me so I can include a link to it. Thanks. https://twitter.com/LincsNaturalist Reports are down this week, which is hardly surprising given the wind and rain we have experienced. Next week weather forecasts suggest a mixture of weather typical for early September. Covid-19-related information: "All LNU meetings are cancelled" continues. When judged safe to do so, we will announce any resumption of LNU events through the Bulletin, LNU meetings webpages and the LNU Twitter feed. Please keep checking. Things could change for better or worse as the pandemic evolves so remain alert and keep up appropriate measures to reduce your risks. Please let me know of any local "re-openings" readers might like to hear about. Wildlife organisations wishing to publicise any news or changes are welcome to get in touch with updates for the Bulletin. We'll be glad to help. 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 Events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. RSPB Returning to reserves: Not all reserves are open yet. Please see the list below for more information. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ The Forestry Commission says: "We are open and ready to welcome you" https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide Heritage Open Days 2020 Brochure 11-20 September https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/lincolnshire-heritage-open-days-brochure Here is a selection of links to interesting stories and articles sent in by fellow readers. More cracking links in "...and finally..." Don't forget to scroll down. Orphaned hare 'like a small kangaroo in the house' - Lincolnshire https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-53964265 Shock as DOLPHIN spotted in river on the Lincolnshire border https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/shock-dolphin-spotted-river-lincolnshire-4472646 Seal lured away from Norfolk Broads after climbing on kayaks - watch - great! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-norfolk-53953508 Sir Isaac Newton's notes among Cambridge web gallery 'treasures' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-53948693 Why wasps become so annoying at the end of summer https://theconversation.com/why-wasps-become-so-annoying-at-the-end-of-summer-145053 Thetford Forest rave broken up up as new rules come into force. A 27-year-old man from Lincoln has been charged after a gathering on Wepener Mount, Harehills, on Saturday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-53964327 As Autumn approaches look out for Fungi. Fungi Families/Types Identity Parade https://www.first-nature.com/ The future is fungal: why the 'megascience' of mycology is on the rise https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/aug/23/the-future-is-fungal-why-the-megascience-of-mycology-is-on-the-rise Underwing and a prayer: Moth Night spotters hope for a flash of fuchsia https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/27/underwing-and-a-prayer-moth-night-spotters-hope-for-a-flash-of-fuchsia Wood mouse guide: how to identify, diet and habitat https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/facts-about-wood-mouse/ Bird Photographer of the Year 2020 - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/photo-galleries/bird-photographer-of-the-year-2020/ Many thanks for the contributions and sightings this week. All very much appreciated. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** Humber Nature Forum *** Jackson Sage writes: Humber Nature Forum - Thursday 17 September 10 am -12 noon. Join us for a talk on Marine Mammals in and around the Humber Estuary, with presentations from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and British Divers Marine Life Rescue. Please follow the link to register. http://humbernature.co.uk/news/post.php?s=2020-08-20-humber-nature-forum-marine-mammals-in-and-around-the-humber-estuary *** LNU Events Diary *** Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes, including LNU Workshops and Drop-in sessions and Indoor Meetings. For details of all LNU meetings and workshops, see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ *** RSPB Grimsby Local Group's Meetings and Trips *** All the Local Group's Meetings and Trips must be suspended until 31st December. Martin Francis 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 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/ *** September 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 and Orionids in October https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/how-to-see-meteor-showers-key-dates The colour of stars - skyatnightmagazine https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/star-colours/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 26/8 12 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, 6 Long- tailed Skuas, 4 Pomarine Skuas, Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Arctic Terns, Gibraltar Point 2 Long-tailed Skuas, 4 Arctic Terns, flew past Chapel St Leonards Temminck's Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh Quail male in cereal field west of Moor Wood, Brauncewell ESE of Welbourn 4 Curlew Sandpipers on beach, Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe Garganey juv, Boultham Mere 27/8 31 Spoonbills, Temminck's Stint, 12 Curlew Sandpipers, 4 Wood Sandpipers, 6 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 19 Spoonbills, Pomarine Skua imm flew south past, Short-eared Owl, Wood Sandpiper on Tennyson's Sands, Gibraltar Point 28/8 7 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints, 2 Wood Sandpipers, c5 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 6+ Long-tailed Skuas flew south past Huttoft Car Terrace 4 Long-tailed Skuas flew south past Huttoft Bank Spoonbill, 4 Long-tailed Skuas flew past, 2 Black Terns, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, Gibraltar Point Sandwich Tern, Toft Newton Reservoir 29/8 4 Spoonbills. 1 Tennyson's Sands, 3 Jackson's Marsh, Long-tailed Skua flew past, Black Tern, 3 Pied Flycatchers in East Dunes, Gibraltar Point Sabine's Gull ad on beach then flew out to sea 10.14am , 2 Long-tailed Skuas, juvs, flew south past Sutton on Sea Arctic Skua over Nocton Big Wood Sabine's Gull flew north past Huttoft Bank 8.15am, 13 Long-tailed Skuas all juvs south past, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, flew north, Huttoft Car Terrace. Sabine's Gull flew north past Chapel Point 7.30am, Long-tailed Skua flew south past, Sooty Shearwater flew north, 2 long-tailed Skuas, 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Little Gulls, Black Tern, Chapel Point 6 Curlew Sandpipers all juvs, Arctic Tern, East Halton Skitter 30/8 Black-necked Grebe, T-junction pit, Baston + Langtoft pits Spoonbill, 3 Wood Sandpipers, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh Wryneck, Freiston Shore 20 Spoonbills, 2 Sabine's Gulls, ads, at river mouth, 3 Black Terns, 5 Wood Sandpipers, Osprey reported, 11 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh Caspian Gull juv on rocks, Cut End. 4 Spoonbills on Tennyson's Sands, Pied Flycatcher in oaks at Croft Hill, 13 Long-tailed Skuas south past, 5 Long-tailed Skuas north, 6 Pomarine skuas, juv Curlew Sandpiper, Black Tern, 2 Little Gulls, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Spoonbills, 2 Curlew Sandpipers on Reserve, Black Tern, 1w Caspian Gull, Later report: Black-throated Diver, 6 Pied Flycatchers, Great White Egret, Gibraltar Point Curlew Sandpiper past Chapel Six Marshes Black Guillemot ad flew north past Sandilands, Balearic Shearwater past, Sooty Shearwater, Red-necked Grebe, Sutton-on-Sea Leach's Petrel flew north past, 9 Long-tailed Skuas south past, Huttoft Car Terrace Caspian Tern flew north past, Black Guillemot north past, Huttoft Bank 6 Long-tailed Skuas past, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Curlew Sandpipers, 5 Little Gulls, Black Tern, Chapel Point 3 Little Gulls, Covenham Reservoir 2 Ruddy Shelducks, 6 Curlew Sandpipers all juvs, Spoonbill juv, East Halton Skitter 31/8 Black-necked Grebe, T-junction pit, Baston + Langtoft pits juv Caspian Gull on rocks by hide at Cut End Pied Flycatcher along track, Huttoft Bank Pomarine Skua flew north past, 4 Little Gulls, ad + 2 Juvs, Huttoft Car Terrace Icterine Warbler midway between Stonebridge Car Park and Pye's Hall in bushes on sea bank with tit flock, Donna Nook 16 Spoonbills, 2 Short-eared Owls, 6 Pied Flycatchers, Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 23 Spoonbills, Wood Sandpiper, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stint, Whichat, Frampton Marsh Spoonbill at Cut End, Little Stint, River Witham 1/9 26 Spoonbills, 6 Curlew Sandpipers, Great White Egret, Pied Flycatcher, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 8 Spoonbills, Curlew Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Pied Flycatcher, 5 Spotted Redshanks, Short-eared Owl, Gibraltar Point Great White Egret of grazing marsh then flew off, Black-necked Grebe juv on T-junction pit, Baston Fen Icterine Warbler, between Stonebridge Car Park and Pye's Hall, in bushes on sea bank, probably Marsh warbler, Donna Nook 2/9 6 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Whinchat, Gibraltar Poiny ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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: Valentine has moved to northern Nigeria. PJ has reached NW Niger. Carlton is 40 km in the Fragas do Eume natural park, north-west Spain. 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. *** 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. ALFORD 2/9/2020 Clare Brady Alford, over the Grammar School 1 Stork circling and being mobbed by crows as it went. Headed south, Flew right over where I work and just happened to look out the window. BARDNEY - The Green TF120694 R & A Parsons w/e 29/8/2020 Goldfinch on niger seed feeder 27/8 again 30/8 2 juv Pied Wagtails 29/8 Substantial house sparrow flock c 40 Regular Startling flock c 30 Single adult hedgehog 03/12- 03/12 on 1/9/2020 [trailcam] Second flush of red-cracking boleti has just started in the garden. 3 caps. BUTTERWICK COMMON around SE 849061 26/08/2020 A.Primavera Celery-leaved buttercup Knotgrass Amphibious bistort Silverweed Black horehound Common ragwort Michaelmas-daisies Canadian fleabane Mugwort Marsh Cudweed gold spot moth seen on common ragwort f migrant hawker on bramble spp HORKSTOW SE 987179 Jenny Haynes 26 August 2020 There are a large number of goldfinches in my garden, many of them young ones. It wasn’t too long ago that they were rarities but now they are the most common of birds here. There’s been a young robin on the fat balls for a while (may, of course, be more than one). I was removing pond weed this morning and found several young newts, probably common, amongst the weed. Of course, I ceased my clearing activities and returned them to the pond! HUTTOFT TF511762 (my garden) Jane Pennington 25/8/2020 Silver Y 1 - showing 'orange' signs of wear and tear 26/8/2020 Magpie 1 Oak Bush Cricket 1 - I rescued it from the pond following the gale the previous night 28/8/2020 Grey squirrel 1 29/8/2020 Sparrowhawk 1 At TF511763 House martins 20+ flying low around the gravestones and grass at 9.30am opposite church 30/8/2020 Tawny owl 1 Very loud, sometime in the night! 31/8/2020 Frog 1 Peacock butterfly 1 Small tortoiseshell 1 Speckled wood 2 1/9/2020 Common darters 2 Holly blue 1 Southern hawker 1 KEADBY BRIDGE SE 84101065 28/08/2020 A.Primavera Was looking at ragwort in the rain....! Spotted narrow-leaved ragwort one side of the bridge, Oxford ragwort the other. GOSLINGS CORNER Goslings Corner LWT Reserve TF 142 752 Ian Dunn 30.08.2020 Mammals Hare x 1 Rabbit x 10 Birds Jackdaws x 12 Woodpigeon x 2 Heard a Jay In flower Bristly Oxtongue Buttercup Hemp Agrimony (nearly over now) Knapweed Meadowsweet Sowthistle Spindletree Vetchling Insects 7 Spot ladybird x 2 Large White x 3 Small White x 1 Speckled Wood x 1 (v small) In fruit Blackthorn Crab apples Dogwood Hawthorn Of other interest this week Livery Yard stables. Swallows nest with 4 young, only a few days old, perhaps a third brood? Hope they get an Indian summer to build up their flying time before migration. WOOLSTHORPE-BY-COLSTERWORTH SK92/24 25-31 August 2020 Jane Ostler FLOWERING PLANTS Notified of a plant growing on a wayside as possibly Himalayan Balsam. Found not to be but a a garden escape growing where garden waste had been dumped. Himalayan Balsam may have very attractive flowers but this alien has explosive pods which scatter abundant seeds over long distances. It is now listed as a harmful alien, invading watercourses and competing out all native plants. This year Giant Hogweed, another alien which can cause blistering if brushed against in sunlight, was also reported. Thankfully, as in previous years, it turned out to be just large specimens of the Common Hogweed. The Giant Hogweed is truly spectacular, above head height and with huge spiky leaves stretching at right angles. Thankfully we haven't as yet had Japanese Knotweed appear on the Verges or Nature Trail. There has been a tradition of dumping garden waste on the latter. Yellow fleabane is occasionally confused with Ragwort which has to be eradicated if it is likely to affect horses. On the Roadside Verges Nature Reserves almost overnight it seems, the taller plants have turned to seed. There is an understorey of Eyebright, Red Bartsia and Bird's Foot Trefoil On the Nature Trail Yellow Toadflax has spread in clonal colonies. Centaury and Purple Toadflax have turned up in the Meadow area. INSECTS An Oak Bush Cricket turned up drowned in the bath. The next day two small great-grandchildren had the task of finding any in the garden and found two in the small orchard. Common Bush Crickets are back in the shrubbery. We are finding dead buff-tailed bees on flower heads (cold or heavy rain?) The number of wasps on the plums has fallen in the cold weather. Apart from Whites the most frequent butterfly has been the Speckled Wood. Southern Migrant Hawker visiting garden but does not seem to be visiting pond. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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/ All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. 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 26th August – 1st September 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: Unseasonal very strong south-easterly winds on the 25th with a gust of 55mph recorded near Sea View and more unsettled weather of strong near gale force winds and heavy rainfall to the 30th. A NNE gust of 64.3mph was recorded near Sea View on the 28th and during the afternoon a spell of torrential rain gave 18.2mm in a couple of hours. Total rainfall for the month 83.4mm (3.29 inches). The maximum temperature for the month was 27.5 degree C on the 7th. 260820 - On Paradise lagoon: 53 lapwing, 85 redshank, 1 greenshank, 1 black-tailed godwit, 10 common gulls and 209 black-headed gulls. Kingfisher on the Great Eau. On the beach after high tides: 3 curlew sands, up to 18 turnstones (a high count for here), 100+ each of dunlin, ringed plover and sanderling. 270820 - Female shoveler on Paradise lagoon. 280820 - Near gale force north-easterly winds and torrential rain in afternoon, gust 64.3mph recorded near Sea View and 18.2mm of ppt in a couple of hours. With a northerly gale a 2 hour sea watch in the afternoon yielded 80 teal north, 2 great skuas and 5 arctic skuas, along with 130 sandwich terns north and an adult Sabine’s gull that flew out north eastwards. 290820 - On Paradise lagoon: 56 lapwing. In the continuing strong winds; an adult little gull flew north along the dunes and there was a little ringed plover on the beach. 300820 - Hummingbird hawkmoth at Sea View. 310820 - Paradise lagoon: single yellow wagtail, 67 lapwing and a mix of 30 house martins and swallows feeding over the area, on the Great Eau: kingfisher, 2 greenshank, 1 common sandpiper and 2 green sandpipers. Comma and brimstone butterflies on the wing at Sea View. 010920 - Paradise lagoon: 36 teal and female wigeon of note, bullfinch near Sea View. There have been a few siskin south during the week. At least 8 chiffchaffs still present in the Brickyard Lane area, along with a few whitethroats, lesser whitethroats and blackcaps. A flock of a dozen long- tailed tits attracts blue and great tits to the feeding flock, along with warbler species. There are 2 great-spotted woodpecker and a green woodpecker. Plenty of migrant hawkers and darters about still after the strong winds and heavy rain. Fewer butterflies: 2 each of common blues, brown Argus and small heaths, 6 speckled woods and small whites being most numerous. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Examples: SNIPE DALES 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 All events and activities for Love Lincs Plants are suspended until further notice. 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 - CANCELLATION of events and activities *** To view the LWT project page go to: LoveLincsPlants Webpage: https://www.lincstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/love-lincs-plants Love Lincs Plants Twitter feed https://twitter.com/LoveLincsPlants Due to Covid-19, all events and activities for Love Lincs Plants remain suspended until further notice. 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 up until the end of May with immediate effect and 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: Rural Crime News https://www.lincs.police.uk/reporting-advice/wildlife-and-rural-crime/ SPECIES IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDING Please copy and paste URLs if/as necessary. When asking for help: Please give the the very best information you can provide. If you are not sure, ask what is needed from you to confirm identification. Photographs are helpful but not every species can be identified from a photograph. When asked for further details, get back to them promptly. Don't forget a thank you for the help. That is always welcome. LNU Recorders and Specialists: https://lnu.org/specialists/ *** Botany *** Botanical Group in South Lincs Contact: Sarah Lambert, who writes: sarah.lambert7@ntlworld.com Also see: http://bsbi.org/south-lincolnshire-v-c-53 *** LNU Sawflies, Bees, Wasps and Ants Recorder *** Dr. David Sheppard Willing to examine specimens or check photos (bear in mind only a relative few of the 300+ species in the county are identifiable using photos). d.a.sheppard@btinternet.com *** Lincolnshire Mammals *** Chris Manning, Chris.LincsDeer@gmail.com Mink/Otter reports are of interest and can be sent via the Bulletin. Mammal Atlas - download and print off a hard copy or view it online. https://glnp.org.uk/admin/resources/mammalatlas.pdf *** Spiders *** Imogen Wilde Regional Co-ordinator (RC) and Mentor for Lincolnshire for the British Arachnological Society (BAS). Imogen@imogenwilde.co.uk *** Identifying British bugs - an online identification *** guidehttps://www.britishbugs.org.uk/gallery/heteroptera/Pentatomoidea/pentatomoidea.html *** 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/ *** Stone Circles - for archaeologists really - check the Lincolnshire list *** http://www.stone-circles.org.uk/index.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 *** 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/ BMS Code of Conduct for Responsible Collecting of Fungi https://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/mycology/conservation/code-conduct BSBI Code of conduct for picking, collecting, photographing and enjoying wild plants https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Code-of-Conduct-v5-final.pdf [Remember - views expressed in the Bulletin do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions on the LNU or associated organisations. In particular this applies to such agencies, especially charities, taking a political stance.] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11. LNU Events Diary For LNU meetings also see https://lnu.org/meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Field Meetings generally start at 12 noon for 1.00pm, but please check the website details for each event. Indoor Meetings are normally held in Lincoln at the Whisby Education Centre at Whisby Nature Park. Indoor meetings start at 2pm, with both members and non- members welcome to attend. Next Meetings: "All LNU meetings are cancelled." We will update you if/as situation changes. Field Meetings: CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/field-meetings/ Whisby Workshops - CANCELLED. https://lnu.org/meetings/workshops/ Whisby Natural History "drop-in" sessions - CANCELLED https://lnu.org/meetings/drop-in-sessions/ Indoor Meetings 2020 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: None. ....and finally... Glue bird traps: Macron suspends use amid EU row https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53930797 Black turbine blade 'can cut bird deaths' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53909825 The Loch Arkaig ospreys have started their migration - excellent 30 minute video here: says Bob Sheppard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYE5GGUvWJk&feature=youtu.be Open Country: Brett Westwood's Summer Nature Diary - listen - 24 minutes https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lyyw Covid-19: Channel 4's "How to Avoid a Second Wave". Informative. https://www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-avoid-a-second-wave The Life Scientific: Heather Koldewey talks on saving seahorses and turning old fishing nets into luxury carpets. A great interview well worth listening to. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000m102 More episodes of The Life Scientific: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015sqc7 Seaweed: The food and fuel of the future? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53610683 The last families who lived on St Kilda - great photos https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53782411 Zoos are key to the planet's healthy future – don't let them go extinct https://theconversation.com/zoos-are-key-to-the-planets-healthy-future-dont-let-them-go-extinct-144297 Country diary: a tad curious about this creature's metamorphosis https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/24/country-diary-a-tad-curious-about-this-creatures-metamorphosis Country diary: oilseed rape is a mixed blessing for bumblebees https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/25/country-diary-oilseed-is-a-mixed-blessing-for-bumblebees Cartoon: Despite bats being critically important to our ecology AND adorable, we treat them with disdain https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/28/despite-bats-being-critically-important-to-our-ecology-and-adorable-we-treat-them-with-disdain Country diary: the heat ruffles all kinds of feathers https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/27/country-diary-the-heat-ruffles-all-kinds-of-feathers-heron-dragonflies ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/