============================================ || || 23rd 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... *** We are past the Autumn Equinox and into increasingly autumnal weather. It will be good to have your seasonal observations. Road Kill reports too. A big thank you to the stalwarts who keep contributions coming. Please remember, we ask all Readers to support the Bulletin with records, links, or news. Species records may go directly to Recorders or into the Bulletin. "The rest of the week is looking very unsettled. All regions can expect wet and windy periods. Temperatures also take a dip as colder air moves down from the northwest." https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ Covid-19-related information: We have gone to Alert Level 4. Please keep checking government advice and adapt your precautions accordingly as the pandemic changes. https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus Flu jab 'more important than ever' this winter https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54233515 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. "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 gives 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: Please see their map for which reserves and facilities you can now access. https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/ For Forestry England’s coronavirus guidance please follow this link: https://www.forestryengland.uk/article/coronavirus-visitor-guide National Trust in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/regionmidlands/in-and-around-lincolnshire-and-south-nottinghamshire Here is a selection of links to topical local and national stories and articles sent in by fellow-readers. Thanks to all senders. More links for you in "...and finally..." Rare King Stephen coin found by metal detectorist sells for £8,500 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54181150 In pictures: The beauty of the fens https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54153958 BBC News: Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2020 finalists revealed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54118899 ‘Nature in absolute freefall at moment’ – RSPB’s Beccy Speight – Frampton Marsh - watch https://www.channel4.com/news/nature-in-absolute-freefall-at-moment-rspbs-beccy-speight 'Seal selfies' harming animals on Yorkshire coast, charity says https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-54193104 BBMF Flypast marks Battle of Britain anniversary https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/54219509/flypast-marks-battle-of-britain-anniversary Moth and butterfly news: August 2020 https://www.birdguides.com/articles/invertebrates/moth-and-butterfly-news-august-2020/ Identify caterpillars - The Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/identify-caterpillars This week is #DormouseWeek - it’s the 30th anniversary of the NDMP. https://ptes.org/campaigns/dormice/ Our Forgotten Creature Living in our Hedgerows https://www.creaturecandy.co.uk/blog-creature-candy/2020/9/15/our-forgotten-creature-living-in-our-hedgerows Woman with 400 animals banned from keeping pets for 10 years https://lincolnshirereporter.co.uk/2020/09/woman-with-400-animals-banned-from-keeping-pets-for-10-years/ Shocking state of English rivers revealed as all of them fail pollution tests https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sep/17/rivers-in-england-fail-pollution-tests-due-to-sewage-and-chemicals How to prepare your wildlife garden for winter - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/wildlife-gardening/how-to-prepare-your-wildlife-garden-for-winter/ Japanese knotweed: How to Identify and Eradicate it https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/japanese-knotweed-removal/ Countryfile Calendar competition 2021: how to vote and theme - Countryfile.com https://www.countryfile.com/countryfile-tv-show/countryfile-calendar/countryfile-calendar-competition-2021/ Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2020: winners announced https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astronomy-photographer-of-the-year-2020-winners-announced/ Thank you for the contributions and sightings this week. Much appreciated. Please keep them coming. Roger old.museum@yahoo.co.uk - note - this is my best address for emails please. *** LNU Events *** Website says: "All field meetings during 2020 are cancelled." We will update you if/as the situation changes, including LNU Workshops, Drop-in sessions and Indoor Meetings. For more details see: https://lnu.org/meetings/ *** Butterfly Conservation - Lincolnshire Branch Members - Help Needed Please *** Lesley Robinson writes: Are you interested in becoming part of the local branch committee who amongst other things have organised field trips, the practical management of branch reserves, attended shows etc. and promoted Butterfly Conservation to the wider public? We meet once a month, at the moment via Zoom, to continue to promote and conserve butterflies and moths in our County. If you are interested, please contact Rachel Scopes (branch chairperson - tel: 07786 650875) or Lesley Robinson (secretary - tel: 07583 759419) for more information. *** 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/ The Road from Bardney to Baunber will be closed near the site of the "Omex corner Forest Incident" - supposedly 17th - 25th September. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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.] 16/9 2 Garganey on Teal Lake, Whisby NR 2 Great White Egrets, Deeping High Bank opposite Deeping St Nicholas turning 18 Curlew Sandpipers, Great White Egret, Whooper Swan, 3 Little Stints, 7 Spoonbills, 7 Spotted Redshanks, Frampton Marsh 16 Spoonbills on estuary, 2 Spotted Redshanks on Fenland Lagoon, Firecrest at yacht club, 2 Short-eared Owls, Pomarine Skua flew north past, ad Little Gull, Wood Sandpiper, Great White Egret, Gibraltar Point Glossy Ibis, Conisholme Fen Spoonbill, Alkborough Flats 4 Garganey flew from ditch on east side of Barton Reedbed, Far Ings Long-tailed Skua juv offshore, Purple Sandpiper on beach, Huttoft Car Terrace 17/9 3 Curlew Sandpipers, Hen Harrier ringtail, 2 Little Stints, Curlew Sandpiper, Frampton Marsh 3 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Bramblings, Theddlethorpe NNR Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Theddlethorpe St Helen Pied Flycatcher, 2 Redstarts, Rimac Barred Warbler in West Dunes, 4 Yellow-browed Warblers, 5 Pied Flycatchers, Wood Warbler, 2 Ring Ouzels, Firecrest, Brambling, Long-tailed Skua, Gibraltar Point Sooty Shearwater, Little Auk flew north past Huttoft Car Terrace Long-tailed Skua past Anderby Creek Pied Flycatcher at Belvoir Road, Cleethorpes 18/9 Brambling, Saltfleetby NNR 19 Spoonbills, Hawfinch, 3 Ring Ouzels, 2 Mealy Redpoll, 3 Redwings, 10 Pied Flycatchers, Lapland Bunting from Wash Viewpoint, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Little Gull, 2 Little Stints, 2 Black-throated Divers, Great Northern Diver, Pomarine skua, Sabine's Gull flew north past, 2 Long-tailed Skuas flew south, 3 Short-eared Owls, Gibraltar Point [Note - some of these numbers confused, treat with caution] 3 Great White Egrets on island, Deeping Lakes, Deeping St James 19/9 Great White Egret, Boultham Mere 2 Garganey on Teal Lake, Whisby NP Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Frampton Marsh 2 Sabine's Gulls north past, Pomarine Skua, Sooty Shearwater, 2 Little Gulls, 2 Little Stints, Spotted Redshank, Purple sandpiper, Ring Ouzel, Pied Flycatcher, Gibraltar Point Little Stint, Spotted Redshank, East Halton Gannet juv flew over North Lever Drain, Throckenholt Snow Bunting, Leach's Petrel flew south past, Sutton on Sea Pomarine Skua flew past, Sooty Shearwater, Huttoft Car Terrace 20/9 Pied Flycatcher north of Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby Red-breasted Flycatcher at visitor car park, Lapland Bunting flew over Mill Hill, 3 Pied Flycatchers, Little Gull, Spotted Redshank, Sabine's Gull reported flew north over , Yellow-browed Warbler at north end of West Dunes, 4 Spoonbills on Jackson's Marsh, Gibraltar Point 3 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats Cattle Egret on North Pond, Woodhall Spa Airfield 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Little Stints, Frampton Marsh 21/9 Great White Egret, Boultham Mere 3 Little Stints all juvs, 5 juv Curlew Sandpipers, Frampton Marsh Little Bunting in East Dunes, Honey Buzzard flew north, Yellow-browed Warbler in sycamores at south end of West Dunes, Firecrest, Short-eared Owl, 4 Spoonbills, Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Redshanks, Gibraltar Point Great White Egrets, Deeping High Bank, by turning for Deeping St Nicholas Pied flycatcher at golf course, Sandilands 3 Spoonbills, Alkborough Flats 22/9 Yellow-browed Warbler north of Tennyson's Sands, Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, Gibraltar Point Lapland Bunting on Roads Farm grassland, 5 Little Stints, 7 Curlews, Frampton Marsh Black-necked Grebe, Anderby Creek Great White Egret on farmland near Humberston Fitties Great White Egret, Boultham Mere Yellow-browed Warbler, Sea View Farm, Saltfleetby ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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: Carlton II is is now in Mali. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/cuckoo-tracking-project Fungi Families/Types Identity Parade https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/ ROAD KILLS? PLEASE LET US KNOW. Every drive is a transect! Hedgehogs? Badgers? Reports welcome. ROAD KILLS Wot - no roadkills? *** 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 17/9/2020 Several new hedgehog droppings. Bat hunting over garden 2030 - 20.45hrs echolocating at 55kHz 23/9 Several hedgehog droppings. Bardney Garden Grid ref TF 117 701 Mary and Phil Porter 22nd September 2020 X2 Robins singing X1 wren X2 chaffinches X1 male and x1 female blackbird Goldcrests again heard “wheedling” in the conifer at the bottom of the garden Long-tailed tit flock Chiffchaff calling Great spotted woodpecker heard but we haven’t put the nut feeder out yet and I didn’t see it in the garden Brief “yaffle” from the green woodpecker in next-door’s garden. X1 large female sparrow hawk still successfully catching small birds. Today it was a house sparrow. 30+ house sparrows in our flock. X3 collared doves X3 wood pigeons Migrant hawker, still quartering over its favourite areas by the pond and herb border. X1 Pair of common darters still laying eggs in pond. Can they be the same pair as last week? Ivy flowers opening and attracting many insects, including common wasps and one or two red admiral butterflies. Many white butterflies, they seem to be mostly small whites. Two small tortoiseshell butterflies. X1 22spot ladybird Many 7 spot ladybirds. My “Millenium oak” has produced many dozens of acorns. Some knopper and spangle galls but less than last year. The acorns seem to have won out this year. It is now a magnificent specimen, grown from an acorn I picked up in Dole Wood (near Thurlby, Bourne) in November 1999. CAMSHAW'S PLANTATION TFTF121743 R&A Parsons Fungi noted - mixed broadleaf woodland and associated rides. 18/9/2020 Panther Cap - Amanita pantherina - occasional https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/amanita-pantherina.php Brown Rollrim, Paxillus involutus - common https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/paxillus-involutus.php White Lactarius, probably L. piperatus https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/lactarius-piperatus.php Red Russula spp. Yellow Russula, probably R. ochroleuca https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/russula-ochroleuca.php Yellow bolete - determined by AP as Suede Bolete: Xerocomus subtomentosus https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/boletus-subtomentosus.php Leccinium sp probably Birch bolete: L scabrum [Birch present.] https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/leccinum-scabrum.php COLLEGE WOOD R&A Parsons 19/9/2020 Dry going - limited fungus spp. Fly Agaric: Amanita muscaria - flush under mixed scrub. Beefsteak fungus: Fistulina hepatica - young specimens on "the old cracked oak", and an oak tree by entrance gate. https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/fistulina-hepatica.php One gone-over B. badius HORKSTOW SE987179 Jenny Haynes 21 September 2020 Two bats, probably Pipistrelle, were flying around my house tonight. Speckled Wood butterfly in my garden yesterday. First one I’ve seen this year. NETTLEHAM Bill Ball TF004753 11.9.20 'Woolly bear' caterpillar of cream spot tiger moth Arctia villica. Unremarkable save that it was 2m up inside wall of my kitchen (painted yellow, in case you ask), a complicated crawl of at least 4m from nearest window, and no likely food plants in house. Any explanations? RAND Rand Wood TF081781 R&A Parsons 17/9/2020 Rand Wood - bridleway Dryad's Saddle Polyporus squamosus on stump in hedgerow TF079779 A young specimen [double] in good condition. https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/polyporus-squamosus.php Volvariella spp - possible V. speciosa similar location Approx TF078785 https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/volvopluteus-gloiocephalus.php WICKENBY Wickenby Wood TF 080 828 Ian Dunn 20.09.2020 Birds Magpie x 2 Woodpigeon x 3 In flower Common bird’s-foot trefoil Common chicory Common fleabane Common selfheal Creeping thistle Ragwort Willowherb (few small flowers, mainly on young plants) Yellow sweet clover Butterflies Small copper x 1 (on a patch of bare ground on the bank of the ditch alongside South side of wood). Small whites x 5 Speckled wood x 1 Fungi Fly agaric ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 7th – 22nd September 2020 Contributors: - Peter & Janet Roworth, John Walker, Cliff Morrison, Matt Blissett, Ruth Taylor and Owen Beaumont. Daily news and wildlife sightings: 070920 – Sea View to Rimac – 42 meadow pipit, 5 chiffchaff, 6 willow warbler, 5 swallow, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 47 pink-footed goose flying south and 38 onto Elm House Farm fields, 5 golden plover. 080920 – 3 skeins of pink-footed geese, 55, 61 and 52 over Sea View towards Elm House and beyond. At Sea View a green woodpecker, great spotted wood- pecker and tawny owl calling. Rimac – c60 pink- footed goose c60, 1 Lapland bunting, 5 reed bunting, c40 meadow pipit, 2 yellow wagtail, 1 alba wagtail, 1 peregrine (on beach), 2 buzzard. 090920 - 4 wheatear near Sea View on edge of saltmarsh and marsh harrier hunting nearby. 100920 - Paradise lagoon: 2 shelduck, 2 greenshank, at least 82 lapwing and 87 redshank, 27 teal, 3 mallard, 4 moorhen, 1 little egret, 1 common snipe, 250 black-headed gulls, 8 common gulls and 2 herring gulls. There have been several skeins of pink-footed geese over Sea View during the day and 12 birds were seen feeding with 86 Canada geese on stubble towards Elm House farm. Green woodpecker seen at Churchill Lane. 110920 - Green sandpiper along Great Eau near Sea View. Paradise lagoon: 1 common sandpiper, 4 greenshank, 1 cormorant, 3 shoveler, 42 teal, 1 mute swan, 1 common snipe, 15 herring gulls, 61 black-headed gulls and 33 common gulls. Crookbank – c30 meadow pipit, 1 lesser redpoll, c20 house martin, 5 lesser whitethroat, 2 blackcap, 3 chiffchaff, 4 willow warbler, 1 great spotted wood- pecker, 15 robin. Rimac – 1 buzzard, 3 snipe (2+1 in flight over and seemingly dropping onto freshwater marsh) 130920 - Cetti’s warbler calling from dense bramble scrub near Sea View car park. 3 bats around Churchill Lane at dusk. 140920 - Paradise lagoon: 4 common snipe, 4 greenshank, 7 shelduck. Hummingbird hawkmoth and goldcrest at Sea View. Butterflies seen at Rimac: red admiral, small white, green veined white, small copper, small tortoiseshell, brown argus, speckled wood, comma and peacock. 12 buzzards on a thermal above the dunes. C5000 gulls roosting c90% black headed and a single pomarine skua resting on shallow area of sea near beach. 150920 - Canada geese 320 flew off from the roost at Haven outfall. 160920 – A few small groups of siskins over dunes most days and several parties of migrating meadow pipits and a flock of 54 linnets over foreshore. At least 3 different southern hawkers in the Brickyard Lane area also 2 great-spotted and green woodpecker. Peregrine over beach several days and up to 300 common scoter on sea. 1-2 redpolls flying south along with a few siskins. 2 migrant hawkers ovipositing on branches/vegetation above water level at Churchill pond. Cetti’s warbler also there. 170920 - Marsh harrier, merlin and sparrowhawk hunting over saltmarsh, on Paradise lagoon 271 black-headed gulls, 4 greenshank, 5 shoveler, kingfisher along the Great Eau, whinchat near Sea View and 2 whimbrel and 94 pink-footed geese over the dunes. 190920 - At Sea View barred warbler (Tony Houseman), yellow browed warbler, 2 blackcaps, 3 goldcrests, 2 chiffchaffs, 2 lesser whitethroats, 1 willow warbler, 2 redstarts, 1 spotted flycatcher, 1 pied flycatcher, plus a good mixture of blue, great and long-tailed tits. On flowering ivy were 19 red admirals and 1 comma. Brickyard Lane: 25 pink-footed geese, 1 great spotted woodpecker, 1 blackcap, 1 bullfinch, 1 spotted flycatcher. 200920 - Single pied flycatcher and spotted flycatcher and 2 goldcrests at Sea View. 2 swallows over the area. Tawny owl activity at dusk with hoots and calling near Sea View. Brickyard Lane to Crookbank: 3 blackcap, 2 brambling, 1 buzzard, 3 chiffchaff, 1 crossbill, 3 corn bunting, 8 golden plover, 52 meadow pipit, 67 pink-footed geese, 2 redwing, 62 robin, 8 skylark, 4 snipe, 1 sparrowhawk, 1 willow warbler, 1 yellow- hammer. Brief Crookbank seawatch – 15 wigeon, 20 teal, 11 brent goose, 150 common scoter on sea, 3 sandwich tern. 210920 - 2 blackbirds, song thrush and black cap near Sea View. Skeins of pink- footed geese, 26, 14, 45 over the area and 396 Canada geese flying over saltmarsh in small numbers at dawn, 6 common buzzards soaring high over the area. Cetti’s warbler heard in sea buckthorn scrub near Sea View car park. Three weasels seen at Sea View. Butterflies seen: brown argus, comma, small copper, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, peacock, small white, speckled wood, meadow brown and small heath. 3 bats around Churchill Lane at dusk. Brickyard Lane: 3 siskin, Sea View: 2 siskin 220920 - 2 whimbrel on saltmarsh, 3 song thrush in scrub near Sea View and 2 swallows over the area. Sea view to Churchill Lane: 100 Meadow pipit, 3 song thrush, 1 stonechat, 1 whinchat, 1 grey wagtail, 4 blackcap, 1 yellow-browed warbler, 2 chiffchaff, 2 marsh harrier, 6 kestrel, 4 buzzard. Odonata seen over the past few days: migrant hawker, southern hawker, common and ruddy darter dragonflies, large red, emerald green and willow emerald damselflies. Birds include: several small skeins of pink foot geese some passing over south some now staying local with a flock of 185 feeding on stubbles adjacent to dunes. A few migrant siskins, redpolls, meadow pipits, linnets but few warblers as most have now left the NNR for warmer climes. A large roost of gulls c5000 continue to use the foreshore and c340 curlews. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 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 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: 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 *** 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 https://lnu.org/meetings/indoor-meetings/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12 ....and finally..... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** MailFails Last Week *** Mail fails: 10 mail fails to customers on Plus.com. ....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 links. Wild maple trees 'in serious need of conservation' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54240554 Saving Cumbria's plastic-lined river https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-54172011 The dancing cranes of West Sweden – a bucket list wildlife spectacle https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/feb/25/dancing-cranes-west-sweden-migrating-wildlife-spectacle-lake-hornborga Remarkable similarity between fluffy ant and fruit is not due to mimicry - Discover Wildlife https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/remarkable-similarity-between-fluffy-ant-and-fruit-is-not-due-to-mimicry/ Why blue and green are the brightest colors in nature https://www.zmescience.com/science/why-blue-and-green-are-the-brightest-colors-in-nature/ Millions of LEGO pieces lost at sea 23 years ago are still washing up on the English coast https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/lego-pieces-washed-beach-cornwall-04324/ ----------- ~ THE END ~ ----------- (..until next week!) Roger Parsons old.museum@yahoo.co.uk http://rogerparsons.info/